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.	pass through the various tournaments before turning pro? KW – Fortunately, yes. When they first enter pro sumo, they seem happy to find a familiar face. I’m happy to continue to cheer for them and it’s exciting to follow their careers. It’s an advantage to have known them as amateurs. For example, I first met Kotokikutsugi (ed. note – currently Kotoshogiku, M6E Sadogatake-beya) when he competed as a junior, so I have a good idea of his innate sumo talent and high hopes for him to	rise through the ranks. In addition, some of the college rikishi I used to cheer for are now oyakatas. It’s always good to know people in high places. (Big smile.) MB – Finally, as a regular guest on the bi-lingual NHK coverage of professional sumo, how does the coverage and attitude with which you approach ‘ozumo’ compare to that used in ‘amasumo’? KW – My jobs are quite different. For the amateur	sumo, I am involved in some administrative work and do the stadium announcing – without any commentary. For the professional sumo, it’s an opportunity to share information and my enthusiasm for the sport with the viewers. Needless to say, the latter is more fun, but it’s hard to say which job is more important. MB – Thank you, Katrina for a very enjoyable and interesting session. Home