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Brothers no longer active on the dohyo come under the SFM microscope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.

  and amidst much teasing and kidding, we were in heaven! We both left walking on air, gifts from the sekiwake in hands, multiple photos in our cameras, and just so flattered by this recognition and the opportunity to eat with this man.

Time passed and I started going to sumo at every opportunity. In January 2003, I went to Takasago-beya asageiko with the former Robanoumi. By this time, Asashoryu was ozeki, and I, for one, was astounded, but not really surprised by his rapid rise to this rank. What happened to that skinny, barely mage’d youth I remembered from such a short time ago? What about all those naysayers that said that he would never make ozeki given his “attitude” and lack of “hinkaku” (loosely translated as “dignity”). Well, after keiko that cold day, Asa indicated that Rob and I should stick around, so we stood there like lumps while the media ran over to him for an interview. The future yokozuna, however, asked the media to leave. He told them that he had very special guests and had no time for interviews. Yup, he was talking about Robanoumi and me! We had chanko (as become customary at Takasago when Asashoryu was in attendance), after which Robanoumi and I were presented with more sumo calendars than we could carry, 		along with signed ones for ourselves.

Many other good times were had in the heya, and on occasion, Asashoryu (well, his driver) would drive Meike and me to our hotel with classic rock screaming from the radio and all of us singing at the tops of our lungs.

He always tried to get me (and Katrina Watts) to visit Mongolia. But he also wanted desperately to visit New York and always spoke of his desire to do so. He was “in love” with the Statue of Liberty and felt that it represented all that he thought was good with the world and freedom. In the meantime, he won the January 2003 yusho, which assured his promotion to yokozuna. I’ll never forget it. It was day 14, and Katrina and I were at the Kokugikan. We saw him win over I-forgot-whom and the look on Asashoryu’s face as well as the apparent emotion there was priceless. Who was this person and how was I fortunate enough to select HIM to follow from all the rikishi I had seen over the years?

Now my memory starts to play games. I don’t remember who – maybe his brother, maybe himself, maybe his then-fiancée – invited Katrina and me to the heya for the victory photo with the fish. But, I do know that 		Asashoryu invited us to the private party at a yakiniku restaurant with his family and heya-mates that same freezing Saturday night to celebrate the yusho/promotion. And his brother Sumiyabaazar gave the seat of honor, next to where the yokozuna would sit upon his arrival – to me. Contrary to reports and popular opinion about his drinking sessions during bashos, Asashoryu was careful to have just a beer or two since he still had one more day to compete. But, as you can imagine, we had a wonderful time, not to mention fantastic company, succulent BBQ and, for me, copious amounts of sake!

During our later meetings, Asa again expressed his desire to come to New York, but in July 2003, it looked pretty definite that his wish would be fulfilled.

Next Home
 
Sumiyabaazar and Asashoryu at Sri Chinmoy awards in New York