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.

costs’ over ‘perfecting technique’, an attitude which they were loathe to promote. However, the man who enables us to best understand the Konishiki debate, elucidating most of the arguments behind his non-promotion, is Kitao Koji. Had the Hawaiian not suffered his dreadful injury at the hands of Kitao, he would surely have moved about more elegantly at the time of his promotion push. But it was the relationship between Kitao and the YDC that would unwittingly thwart Konishiki’s yokozuna aspirations. In July 1986, the NSK suffered a banzuke headache. With five ozeki, and a potential sixth in Hoshi, sumo’s second rank would soon fall foul of overcrowding regulations. The YDC had a bright idea; they would use the ‘equivalent circumstances’ criterion to confer yokozuna status upon Kitao, freeing up an extra ozeki slot for Hoshi. Thus, despite only posting consecutive runner-up scores, Kitao was promoted to the top rank. Alas, though, the NSK soon regretted elevating Kitao so quickly. He was still only 23 and, although some very successful yokozuna have held the rank from a younger age, he seemed ill-equipped to cope with the responsibility. Under his new name of Futahaguro, his relationship with his stablemates became increasingly fractious and gave rise to an jungyo incident in late-1987. Then, with the New Year approaching, Futahaguro became embroiled in another incident

which resulted in Tatsunami oyakata’s wife getting hurt as she tried to intervene. Futahaguro was asked to resign from the NSK immediately, the first yokozuna to leave active sumo without winning a single yusho. Shocked by a disastrous yokozuna promotion based on ‘equivalent circumstances,’ the NSK and YDC were determined to interpret this criterion more strictly in future. Their resolve to do so was buttressed by the underperformance of two other yokozuna. Onokuni Yasushi, who was of similar build to Konishiki but at least 35 kilograms lighter, became

tournaments on the first rung before retiring with a whimper. With a third yokozuna, Hokutoumi Nobuyoshi, in decline at the time of the Konishiki Affair (he retired the following month), the NSK yielded to no-one in their belief that the next yokozuna was to set the sumo world alight. Unfortunately, given his injury record, they were unable to place that level of confidence in Konishiki.     The consequences for sumo Konishiki admitted years later that the events of March/April 1992 hurt him badly. Understandably, given the appalling build-up, he faltered in the all-important tournament of May

Very rare banzuke with no yokozuna - and headed by two Americans

the first yokozuna to post a losing score (7-8) over fifteen days in September 1989. Then, Asahifuji Seiya, promoted after winning consecutive basho, lasted just eight

1992 and watched in frustration as his fellow countryman, Akebono Taro, thrust his way to the yusho. Within Next