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.
phase have become love-taps and at 28, he’s learning the Chiyo foxtrot – up, back and sideways. He may never see sanyaku again, much less defend it.
Tamanoshima has been hyped as a ‘comer’ of some kind or other for his entire four and a half years in makuuchi. I have never understood the buzz and now I can safely ignore it. He’s had consecutive kachi-koshi only three times in his entire career – never three straight – and now has posted three 5-10 records in his last four outings. This one at M4 is the last straw. Even if injured, at some point he has to get healthier or show he can ‘play through it’ if he’s going somewhere. Now nearly 28, regrettably, he isn’t.
I know I’m crashing a party in progress in saying I’ve seen final confirmation that neither Kaio nor Tochiazuma will don the tsuna, but what nailed it for me this time was how authoritatively Asashoryu dispatched both of them on the last two days when the heat was on. To move up they’ll need: (1) a shaman to exorcise their injuries, and (2) to raise their game overall, and (3) to beat the yokozuna on senshuraku. Watching them wobble to 10-5
and 9-6 respectively while the yokozuna ‘faltered’ at 13-2 shows how fanciful it is to think those things can happen for either of them.
As a stretch, I could throw Kotonowaka into this grouping because I thought he could stay in makuuchi for ‘a while’ longer, but now realize he’ll go intai as soon as the Vegas koen is over. I’m missing him already. It was painful watching him plod through the motions in Nagoya to a 4-11 at M7. Not on this list yet is Kisenosato but if he doesn’t start showing he’s learned something in his five makuuchi showings, I’m going to be tempted, despite his tender age. But – just 10 weeks ago he and Futeno had very similar makuuchi resumes, so I’m still watchfully waiting.
So goes the disappointment – now for some good stuff! While some people expressed dismay at Kotooshu’s fizzle in his first sanyaku showing in March, I predicted he’d come right back to the sanyaku party and stay there. This time, on his return to komusubi he WAS the party. Not only did he stop Asashoryu’s winning streak at 24, he manhandled Kaio and dumped Tochiazuma, losing only to Chiyotaikai and Hakuho
before first time yusho nerves consumed him on senshuraku against Wakanosato. Even with that, his 12-3 showing kept him in contention until Asashoryu’s final win. He and Waka will both be sekiwake at Aki and I look for a different outcome in their next meeting regardless of what’s at stake. Kotooshu has been a quick study in learning from his mistakes.
In eight basho since his first makuuchi outing in March of last year, Futeno was better known for his blog than his sumo. After posting 11 wins at M10 in May and now 10 wins at M3, other rikishi may be seen reading his blog looking for secrets. What suddenly turned him around is anyone’s guess but what has fans excited was not only that he beat two of the three ozeki, but that he was competitive and entertaining in all his bouts, including his losses. The progress shown in both his footwork and power compared to just 6 months ago is remarkable. As a shin-sanyaku in September though, he’ll have his first serious confrontation with expectations, and focus will be key.
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