SOS - Shinjinrui on Sumo   Chris Gould Wrapping up his look at increasing the popularity of sumo, Chris Gould caps a series the NSK would do well to refer to. Sumo Souvenirs   Mark Buckton Souvenirs are a part of every sport and sumo is no different - or is it? A look at collectibles and the downright trashy, the bona fide versus the unproven. Rikishi of Old   Joe Kuroda Joe Kuroda's latest look at times past focuses on former makunouchi man Dewagatake. Eric Evaluates   Eric Blair Eric takes a no-nonsense look at the claims of fixed bouts in the Japanese media. Rikishi Diary   Mark Kent Mark Kent - English pro-wrestler and amateur heavyweight sumotori - takes us through the first month or so of his training and preparation for the various European events lined up in in 2007. Heya Peek   Chris Gould SFM's Chris Gould was in Japan for the Hatsu Basho and popped along to the new Shikoroyama Beya to give SFM an online exclusive peek into sumo's newest heya. SFM Interview   Mark Buckton Mark interviews Mark - Buckton on Kent that is as Mark Kent, the UK's only active heavyweight amateur answers a few questions on his own recent entry into the sport. Photo Bonanzas   Sumo Forum stepped in to take the weight off the shoulders of SFM as far as Hatsu went so we could sit back, relax, enjoy the sumo and take a few more select pics you won't see anywhere else. Hatsu Basho Summary Lon Howard Lon wraps the Hatsu Basho and chucks in a few bits on the rush of henka that threatens to sully the good name of at least one foreign ozeki. Sumo Menko   Ryan Laughton Sumo cards of old brought to life by expert collector Ryan Laughton. None of your BBM here. Haru Ones To Watch Carolyn Todd Carolyn ponders and puts fingers to keys on the ones to watch come March and the Haru Basho. Kimarite Focus   Mikko Mattila Mikko's latest look at sumo's kimarite offers unequalled analysis and in depth explanations. Amateur Angles   Howard Gilbert Howard looks at the 'sumo factory' of lore - Nichidai. Kokugi Konnections Todd Lambert Click on Todd's bimonthly focus on three of the best the WWW has to offer. Fan Debate Facilitator - Carolyn Todd Moti Dichne comes back for more and takes on Bradley Sutton on the subject of 'Modernize the heya - yea or nay?' SFM Cartoons Benny Loh & Stephen Thompson In this issue's cartoon bonanza, sit back and sample Benny's artistic offerings. Sumo Odds & Ends SFM's interactive elements - as always includes Henka Sightings, Elevator Rikishi and Eternal Banzuke! Let's Hear From You What was it that made you a sumo fan? Ryan Laughton - sumo fan and menko expert reveals all. Readers' Letters   See what our readers had to say since we last hit your screens. Sumo Quiz The Quizmaster Answer the Qs and win yourself a genuine banzuke.

way around, but it takes a special person, really motivated to have to WANT to live heya life as an up and comer.  Comes down again to the question I raised in the beginning.  How many potential sumo superstars never join the sport because they are turned off by what they will have to face?   MD: I doubt that even one potential superstar was “turned off” by what he knew he had to “face”. To join sumo, you really have to WANT it. And when you do, that is already motivation enough, and all the “hardships” you mention will be easily overcome. Many Japanese youngsters are pretty used to all sorts of hardships as they grow up - at school, at home - it’s nothing like growing up in the West. A strict, correct relationship is pretty commonplace. Look at the foreigners. I bet it’s even harder for them, as they have to go through a culture crisis on top of the whole package. Yet, they come, and succeed. Foreigner teenagers are not less spoiled than the Japanese… BS: I would like to see more native Japanese kids support their national sport, but IMO, until heya life becomes a little less rigid, I don’t think we will see many future ozeki and yokozuna who started as teenagers a la Takanohana, Wakanohana, Chiyonofuji, Futahaguro, Hokutenyu, Hokutoumi, Kirishima, Kitanoumi, Kotokaze, Onokuni, Takanonami, Wakashimazu. Almost all of the ozeki and yokozuna from the time when sumo was at a popularity high started when they were teenagers. Even the current Japanese ozeki: Tochiazuma, Kaio, and Chiyotaikai started as teenagers.   (The two

recent ozeki who weren’t teenagers when starting are the only ones recently to have fallen from the rank, Miyabiyama and Dejima). So I do think age has something to do with it. MD: Yes, they all started when they were teenagers. (Taka-Waka-Tochiazuma were doing sumo for many years and were essentially brought up for it, so they are not a good example.) They all entered heya life as it is now, and all, like you said, succeeded in the end. So why change it? Maybe the new generation don’t want to enter sumo, regarding it as an archaic sport, without even getting into the heya debate? Or maybe more and more, as I have repeated, just find it more rewarding to use college as a good practicing ground? BS: IMO, you couldn’t be more wrong with your argument about age not being a factor.  As I mentioned, how is it special that the best college guys who have been doing sumo for four years are joining prosumo?  That’s like saying, I can’t believe that the best college players are joining the NBA.  It’s natural. There will always be sumo in colleges, and by definition there will always be four or five guys a year who are the top echelon of their class; however, I feel that when you see younger “sensation” recruits, that is more of a litmus test of the popularity of the sport. MD: Nothing special about the best college guys, just a fact. Still, I don’t see how you compare the NBA with sumo, as there simply is no comparison. I won’t pursue the age

factor, since we seem to be at odds on this issue. I’ll just summarize my opinion and maintain that any relaxing of heya life won’t bring in anyone younger. The reason all the new “stars” are college grads is precisely the issue - the guys with the talent want to hone it for 3-4 more years under the guidance of excellent trainers, it’s the best way to get them ready for the pros. Those that don’t, attempt to rely on their natural talent, which doesn’t always work these days as a 15-year-old high school drop-out who has been doing sumo for a year can never match a 22-year-old college sumo graduate. BS: I don’t think that by changing the way some things are done in the heya that the tradition of sumo goes down the drain. Things have changed in the Kokugikan and I don’t think it has had a negative effect on sumo.  How about not beating the kids with a stick?  How about giving them the option of living outside of the heya if they can financially support themselves, even if they are a low rank.  How about letting them get married to whomever they want? I’m not saying heya have done nothing to “get with the times.” They have internet access, many heya have blogs, etc. This hasn’t affected the traditions, and I don’t think changing other things would either. MD: Having them live inside the heya keeps them out of trouble and focused on the mission at hand. The first perk is having your own room when you become sekitori. These goals are supposed to drive the rikishi to achievements. Changing aspects of heya life will not cause Next