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.

Other points of light were Ishide’s first winning record in makuuchi at age 29 with 9 wins, and Iwakiyama’s intrepid return to action after missing four days due to an injured left shoulder, finishing at 9-3-3. M9 Kotoshogiku continued crawling up at 8-7, while shin-nyumaku Tamaasuka sparkled with a 9-6 at M14. The other shin-nyumaku, Hakurozan (younger brother of Roho), ‘matadored’ Kotonowaka on senshuraku to claim kachi-koshi. Finally, Tokitenku posted consecutive kachi-koshi in makuuchi for the first time, at 9-6.

Kyokushuzan’s 5-10 at M1 and Takamisakari’s 10-5 at M11 were simply de rigueur based on their rank and they now appear set to ride the banzuke elevator from opposite ends. Ama’s 6-9 was only his first make-koshi in the top division but he did not ‘compete’ in many of his bouts and it appears he may have topped out unless he adds more weight, muscle or variety to his straight-on torikumi.

Tamakasuga (0-3-12), along with Buyuzan and Katayama (4-11 apiece) will slide back to juryo, while for the second basho in a row, there was an ugly and potentially career-threatening injury. On day 14, Kaiho’s right ankle twisted and fractured under Iwakiyama’s bulk while falling on his back and it appears he’ll be out at least three months. If he can’t return this year he could fall to makushita (as will Hayateumi due to his injury in May) before making a comeback.

Unlike last time, there’s no doubt about the upset of this basho. Clearly it was Kotooshu’s narrow win against Asashoryu on day 8, which launched a zabuton-flinging fury, firing up the fandom by sending the yusho race back to square one, and snapping the yokozuna’s 24-match zensho in the process. It was great theater but at the end, the lead dog stayed put and the view from the pack didn’t change a lot. With good doctoring and some luck, those nipping at his rear can stay on

the dohyo come Aki long enough to make senshuraku a happening again. That’s a wrap from Nagoya, see you in October!

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