|
|
Sumo Souvenirs |
|
Mark Buckton
Second of a two parter on sumo souvenirs - some hints on avoiding the fluff.
|
|
|
Konishiki |
|
Chris Gould
Takamiyama's 60s / 70s successes notwithstanding Konishiki was sumo's
first full-on mover and shaker from lands afar leaving Chris G to take
an in-depth look at the ripples the big guy left behind when exiting
the sumo pool.
|
|
|
Rikishi of Old |
|
Joe Kuroda
Joe Kuroda's looks back at the life and times of former yokozuna Shiranui.
|
|
|
Eric Evaluates |
|
Eric Blair
Eric IDs the true winners of the henkafest that was the Haru Basho senshuraku.
|
|
|
Rikishi Diary |
|
Mark Kent
Mark Kent - English pro-wrestler and amateur heavyweight sumotori -
takes his training a step further on his road to European and World
sumo glory.
|
|
|
Heya Peek |
|
Mark Buckton
Oitekaze Beya just to the north of Tokyo and not far from the abode of SFM's Ed-i-C falls under the microscope.
|
|
|
SFM Interview |
|
Carolyn Todd
Carolyn interviews Riho Rannikmaa during his recent trip to Osaka -
head of all things sumo in Estonia, friend and mentor of Baruto, this
is a man with something to announce.
|
|
|
Sumo à la LA |
|
Alisdair Davey
SFM's man in the shadows reports on his recent jaunt in LA, as guest of
the Californian Sumo Association and SFM reporter at large.
|
|
|
Photo Bonanzas |
|
Hot on the heels of the recent Ise bonanza - Haru up close and very very personal - some of our best pics to date.
|
|
|
Haru Basho Summary |
|
Lon Howard
Lon wraps the Haru Basho and chucks in a few bits on the henka issues the top dogs are suffering from at present.
|
|
|
Sumo Menko |
|
Ryan Laughton
Sumo cards of old brought to life once again by expert collector Ryan
Laughton. None of your BBM offerings here - Pt II of III.
|
|
|
Natsu Ones To Watch |
|
Carolyn Todd
Carolyn ponders the ones to watch come May and Natsu when sumo comes home to Tokyo.
|
|
|
Kimarite Focus |
|
Mikko Mattila
Mikko's latest look at sumo's kimarite offers unequalled analysis and in depth explanations.
|
|
|
Amateur Angles |
|
Howard Gilbert
On your marks, get set, go - Howard Gilbert walks us through the months ahead on the amateur calendar.
|
|
|
Kokugi Konnections |
|
Todd Lambert
Click on Todd's latest selection of the best sumo sites the WWW has to offer.
|
|
|
Fan Debate |
|
Facilitator - Carolyn Todd
Should it or shouldn't it? Honbasho go on the overseas road that is.
See what SFM's Chris Gould and James Hawkins have to say.
|
|
|
SFM Cartoons |
|
Benny Loh & Stephen Thompson
In this issue's cartoon bonanza, sit back and sample ST's latest 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 - A. S. - the face in the crowd
reveals almost all - to see everything you'll have to close your eyes.
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
 |
|
win
against an injured and struggling 7-7 ozeki – followed by another knock
on the one who had simply repaid his own henka – all fuse to paint a
new kind of yokozuna – one who feels no constraints or sense of
role. In addition, his sumo is now more vulnerable in that at
times – when he doesn’t take control of a match – he seems more intent
on mauling and pummeling his opponents, as opposed to finding a way to
defeat them. I didn’t think I’d ever see the day when Miyabiyama
would out-focus the yokozuna but he did on day 2. This, by the
way, is my Upset of
|
|
|
|
the
Basho because it confirmed how easily Asashoryu is distracted these
days. Yes, his strength and natural ability will still prevail
most often but if this trend continues, his struggles will mount as
foes seek to divert his attention from simply winning the match.
Whatever one’s opinion about a yokozuna’s image or duty, he IS the
public face of sumo, and as such, Asashoryu is changing what sumo looks
like. That’s something not even Taiho accomplished, and sumo’s
powers that be are going along with him. One thing to
|
|
|
|
contemplate
is – will some of tomorrow’s top rikishi emulate his conduct, as
happened with boxing after Cassius Clay burst out in the 1960s?
If they did follow and were also condoned – as Asashoryu is now – sumo
would probably never look the same again. Since sumo has no
analogy in sports anywhere in the world, it’s then fair to ask the
question: “If you change it, will they still come?” I don’t
pretend to know the answer but I will show up for Natsu, so see you
then.
Home
|
|