Brothers in Sumo –
part one
Brian Lewin
Brothers no longer active on the dohyo come under the SFM microscope

NHK & the Ozumo
English Broadcast
Mark Buckton
A visit to NHK, years of watching the show and the opinions of our Ed-in-Chief

Hanging With the Rikishi
Barbara Ann Klein
Barbara Ann Klein recounts her experiences with the “boys” in a pictorial diary series

Rikishi of Old
Joe Kuroda
A look at a rikishi of yesteryear with Chiyonoyama – our man for December

Sumo Exhibit at the
Edo-Tokyo Museum
Barbara Ann Klein
SFM’s Editor takes in the exhibit celebrating 80 years of the Japan Sumo Association at this famous Tokyo museum

Heya Peek
John Gunning
John’s early morning trip to Hakkaku – a visit that almost didn’t happen

SFM Interview
Dave Wiggins sits down
with SFM’s Mark Buckton to discuss the broadcast scene – and maple syrup

Photo Bonanza
What a collection – All-Japan Sumo Tournament, Hakkaku-
beya visit and sumo exhibits at the Edo-Tokyo Museum

Kyushu Basho Review
Lon Howard
Lon gives us his Kyushu Basho summary, along with the henka sightings results, and his take on the year in brief

Lower Division Rikishi
Mikko Mattila
Mikko Mattila covers lower division ups and downs

Hatsu Basho Forecast
Pierre Wohlleben & Mark
Buckton
Pierre predicts the Hatsu Basho banzuke while Mark previews the ones to watch for in January

Sumo 101
Eric Blair
Eric explains all you need to know and then some about the Kokugikan building – the mecca of sumo

Kimarite Focus
Mikko Mattila
Mikko walks us through his chosen kimarite in expert fashion

Minusha
John McTague
John’s unique bimonthly view of news from outside the dohyo

Online Gaming
Eric Blair
For the lowdown on Guess the Kotomitsuki – baby of SFM’s John Gunning

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

Fan Debate
Intra heya bouts –
OK or not? See what our debaters had to say

SFM Cartoons
Stephen Thompson
In the second of our cartoon bonanzas, sit back and enjoy ST’s offerings

Let’s Hear From You
What was it that made you a sumo fan? American Todd Defoe 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.

  reports place the responsibility with different people, but it is clear that due to egos and infighting between the respective parents the following year, the engagement was called off, devastating young Rie and obviously Taka, whose personality changed noticeably thereafter. While he still spoke with his brother, Taka became publicly much more withdrawn, and more mechanical and emotionless in his sumo. The wins still came, but he was noticeably less celebratory about them, whether torikumi or yusho.

The next sign of trouble would come after three more historical achievements, beginning in September 1993, when Waka joined his brother to make the first brother ozeki duo in sumo history. About two years later in the 1995 Kyushu basho, they made history in a different way, when they competed in the first sibling playoff for the makuuchi yusho. Waka won the match, which he would later describe as the most painful thing he ever had to do in sumo. Two and a half years later, Waka would rise again to meet his brother, creating the first brother yokozuna after winning his second consecutive yusho at the 1998 Natsu basho. Not long after that point, believing that his elder brother was slacking off after having made the rank, 		Taka publicly made critical statements accusing Waka of “lacking dedication”. At least one reason for these comments may have been the fact that, during the course of treatment for some of his many late-career injuries, Taka came under the influence of a physical therapist of questionable methodology. His unorthodox teachings prompted Takanohana to at one point publicly cut ties with his family, and his father to accuse him of having been brainwashed.


Takanohana-oyakata
 
 Things eventually thawed out a bit, particularly after Wakanohana retired in March 2000 and, leaving the sumo world, became Hanada Masaru again. But even then it was an uneasy peace, and Takanohana’s retirement in the 2003 Hatsu basho did little to warm things up further.

Just how uneasy would come to light in events over these past 		two years. In January 2004, Futagoyama Oyakata, battling cancer and in declining health, turned over control of the heya to his younger son, who changed its name to Takanohana-beya. The once-mighty heya, with the last of its sekitori flickering out, was struggling, almost as a reflection of the condition of the stablemaster who brought it to those heights. In contrast, Masaru, who had had rough times trying his hand at various sports and as a TV talent, seemed to have found his niche running a small but successful chain of chanko nabe restaurants.

Then, the inevitable happened. On May 30th of this year, Hanada Mitsuru succumbed to his illnesses and passed away. Unfortunately, instead of bringing the family together, the death seemed to have the exact opposite effect, with the two brothers having a very vocal and public dispute over funeral arrangements, the estate and other matters. In the end, Masaru made some statements and gestures apparently aimed at restoring the peace, but there was some question as to his sincerity and motivation, particularly from his brother, who has thus far rejected those overtures.


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