What Will Become of the Dynasty?
Brian Lewin
The Hanada Dynasty – past or present?

Rikishi of Old
Joe Kuroda
A look at a rikishi of yesteryear with Tenryu our man for August.

Heya Peek
John Gunning
John attends a chanko session at Chiganoura Beya.

Photo Bonanza
For a glimpse at some of the sights you won't see on TV.    

July Basho Review
Lon Howard & John Gunning
Lon gives us his Nagoya Basho summary and his take on upset of the tournament while John chips in with his ‘gem’ of the basho.

Lower Division Rikishi
Mikko Mattila takes a break and Eric Blair covers the lower divisions in his own ‘unique’ way.

Aki Basho Forecast
Pierre Wohlleben & Mark Buckton
Pierre predicts the Aki Basho banzuke while Mark previews the ones to watch next time out.

Sumo 101
Barbara Ann Klein
Gyoji goings on and several things you never knew about the ones officiating.

Kimarite Focus
Mikko Mattila
Mikko walks us through his 2 chosen kimarite.

Minusha
John McTague
John's unique view of news from outside the dohyo.

Boletín de Sumo en Español
Eduardo de Paz Gútiez
An article on sumo’s very first fan mag – Boletin de Sumo en Espanol

Online Gaming
Jezz Sterling
Hear from the founder of Bench Sumo of one of sumo's most popular games.

Kokugi Connections
Todd Lambert
Todd’s focus on 3 of the most interesting online sumo sites today.

Fan Debate
Henka – good, bad or ugly? See what our debaters think.

Let’s Hear From You
What was it that made you a sumo fan – the Petros Zachos story.

Ngozi on the Road
Ngozi T. Robinson
NTR visits an amasumo event in the north-east U.S. and tells us what it was like.

Sumo Quiz
The Quizmaster
Answer the Qs and win yourself next basho's banzuke.

he came back to go 9-3-3 and secure himself a high maegashira slot at the very least, by August 29th. Look for more of the same in the Aki basho. Prediction – 9-6 and sekiwake in Kyushu.

Kokkai
The Georgian whose younger brother has just entered sumo once stated his desire to become the first European to enter Sanyaku, but was beaten to that goal by Bulgarian Kotooshu. That fact notwithstanding though, and considering the decent record he has put on the board against the ozeki in recent basho – sumo wise and statistically; he even beat the yokozuna in July – his desire in getting into the top ranks is far from an unachievable goal. Prediction – cooling down a bit by week two when the bouts will get easier and his concentration could lapse and an 8-7 on senshuraku to give him a ticket in business class.

Wakanosato
For so long Wakanosato was the man everyone in sumo was nominating as the next ozeki, he was almost a permanent resident in the rank of komusubi or sekiwake between Kyushu of 2000 and the Natsu basho of 2005 (just 3 trips down to maegashira 1), but a short while ago, when the heat was really on, it all fell apart. Back in sanyaku in autumn, almost certainly sekiwake again following his trip down the banzuke, Wakanosato has

nothing to prove this time out so could do well. At just turned 29, however, I see him accelerating down the incline and towards a period of sanyaku / maegashira mediocrity and elevatorhood – never to challenge again for ozeki, never mind further. Prediction: 7-8.

Futeno
A man who promised so much when he first appeared in makuuchi but apparently failed to deliver, Futeno looks like he is coming good – and coming good with a vengeance. After a bit of a lackluster start in the sport’s top division following his March 2004 debut, his past 3 kachi-koshi (8-7, 11-4, 10-5) are impressive in their own right, but particularly so when considering the level of opposition he is beating; 2 ozeki and a host of sanyaku regulars in the last basho alone, and the quality of sumo he is doing it with. Looking like he could be on a roll, Futeno’s sanyaku debut next month will see him needing more than the yorikiri finishes for which he has become known (almost two-thirds of recent kimarite used) and will potentially prove his breaking point this time round as the quicker and more experienced boys at the top get used to this relative youngster. Prediction – 7-8 and upper maegashira ranks in Kyushu.

Tosanoumi
A full decade at the top, 13 sansho, 11 kinboshi and 7 tournaments at sekiwake, 1003 career fights at time of

typing with over 900 in makuuchi – 456 of which have been victories – and a 5-10 as a maegashira 4 could spell the beginning of the end for the Isenoumi man. At 33, he is one of the oldest in the sekitori ranks and probably fighting at a rank he won’t have seen since around 1998. It could be now or never for the Shikoku native. Personally, I see him hanging on for a while yet if his injuries don’t take too much of a toll and he can avoid too many belly flop defeats. Prediction – 9-6 but second week collapse after a blistering start – again depending on those injuries!!

And finally – Kaiho
Former komusubi and Hakkaku’s main man a few months ago, Kaiho truly is at a roundabout in his career. Drive straight on and he’ll fall into the abyss of another former sekitori floundering in makushita, sandanme and beyond. Veer off to the left or right, just once put the wrong amount of weight on his injured ankle and he may as well call it a day. Come back on himself, fit enough and in the right frame of mind for juryo and makuuchi competition once again and the opportunity is there for a comeback when he recovers from the injury sustained against Iwakiyama in Nagoya. Not fighting in September but long term prediction mixed with hope – return to maegashira ranks within a year.

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