Sumo Fan Magazine

Amateur Sumo – the sport as it should be Mark Buckton Sakai World Sumo Champs – not all about winning Las Vegas Koen Joe Kuroda Our man reports from the fight capital of the world Rikishi of Old Joe Kuroda A look at a rikishi of yesterday with Kotozakura – our man for October Heya Peek John Gunning John’s early morning dash to Azumazeki-beya & report on TKOTU SFM Interview Katrina Watts sits down with SFM’s Mark Buckton to discuss amateur sumo Photo Bonanza SFM’s best yet – Aki Basho/ Las Vegas / Amateur World Champs / Azumazeki-beya visit – seen nowhere else Aki Basho Review Lon Howard Lon gives us his Aki Basho summary, along with the henka sightings results, and his take on the tournament while ‘gem’ of the basho takes a break Lower Division Rikishi Mikko Mattila Mikko Mattila returns to cover lower division ups and downs Kyushu Basho Forecast Pierre Wohlleben & Mark Buckton Pierre predicts the Kyushu Basho banzuke while Mark previews the ones to watch next time out Sumo 101 Barbara Ann Klein Discovers and explains amasumo & ozumo variations Kimarite Focus Mikko Mattila Mikko once again walks us through his chosen kimarite Minusha John McTague John’s unique bimonthly view of news from outside the dohyo Online Gaming Zenjimoto of ‘game fame’ covers some of the very best sumo games around – his own! Kokugi Connections Todd Lambert Todd’s focus on 3 of the most interesting online sumo sites today Fan Debate Is the limit on foreign rikishi fair? See what our debaters had to say SFM Cartoons Benny Loh In the first of our cartoon bonanzas, sit back and chuckle at Benny Loh’s offerings Let’s Hear From You What was it that made you a sumo fan? Gernobono tells all Readers’ Letters See what SFM readers had to say since our last issue Sumo Quiz The Quizmaster Answer the Qs and win yourself next basho’s banzuke.	over his face – to watch a family member compete. In such good spirits was the event carried out that disagreements and disputed calls were rare, and when the disagreements did come they were few and far between. Yet, notably, the first mono-ii of the tournament – in a bout between middleweight women – saw a reversal of a victory given to the Japanese competitor, although the mono-ii was itself not called until the fans of her German opponent booed loud enough to make their feelings known. The tachiai was another aspect of the sport many were waiting to see after all the hullabaloo in Riesa, Germany during the previous World Championships, and whilst the ‘both hands down’ rule seemed, for the large part, respected, the Japanese men, in particular, raised a few eyebrows with the speed at which they were up and at their foe. Few matta were called against the Japanese men and things seemed to settle in the afternoon – the result of a “talking-to” discussed but not confirmed. As the sun was on its downward glide in Japan, medal time approached and the flags of the	nations in contention were prepared for raising – however, a strange phenomenon took place – the opening ceremony! Held a full 4 and a half hours into the event, the colorful interlude of flags and competitors, speeches and national anthem (of Japan) playing, led to the event losing some of its steam because when the team events resumed shortly after, a few unexpected results came in. Those not expected to win did and the shoe-ins for a medal slipped up unwittingly. Photo by John Gunning Still, all cannot be perfect in an amateur world – and in any sport. Upsets are indeed the norm in competitive play. But life goes on. And, for the	Hong Kong team, particularly the women, the event in Sakai was about being there, representing the land of their birth, but above all, enjoying it. No medals made their way back to the clubhouse in Kowloon, but if any team is remembered for its ability to wear a smile while taking part ’twill be the Hong Kong contingent under Mr. YC Mak. Most memorably facing the Hungarian women’s team near the end of the day, the 55-75kg female rikishi of Hong Kong were facing the 100-168kg women from the land of the Rubik’s cube and ballpoint pen. The result was inevitable and Hungary moved on to the final, but not after giving all in the stadium a chance to admire all that (any) sport should be, as gentle Europeans embraced grinning Asians – albeit as they carried them bodily out of the ring. Not quite the end – but one of the memories that will certainly stick is of an industrial city south of Osaka whose only mention in Lonely Planet is its playing host to Japan’s largest ‘kofun’ tomb. Interview with Katrina Watts Home