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Brothers no longer active on the dohyo come under the SFM microscope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

  The United Nations had voted to award him the World Unity Award and UNICEF named him Honorary Goodwill Ambassador from Mongolia. He was the first sumotori ever awarded such an international distinction. Another honor was bestowed on him by Sri Chinmoy, a Buddhist organization with regional headquarters in New York, which ultimately became the sponsoring organization for his visit to the Big Apple.

And so, the trip, and my permanent close bonding with the yokozuna occurred in October 2003 with his New York visit. I went to the ceremony at the Sri Chinmoy celebration. He, in turn, came to Manhattan the next day with his brother, Sumiyabaazar, and a tokoyama, Tokowaka, serving as hairdresser and tsukebito. I invited my friend, Jude, to spend the day with us and as they say, a great time was had by all. While walking around New York City and its Times Square area, he (and I!) was
 
l. to r. Sumiyabaazar, Tokowaka (retired tokoyama) and Asashoryu in Times Square
 surprised by the number of people who actually knew who he was. Mage (rikishi hairdo) notwithstanding, there were people of all nationalities that whispered his name or rank as we walked by. Even a couple of the staff of my favorite Italian restaurant knew the yokozuna and stayed respectfully attentive during our meal service. And at dinnertime, when we entered my favorite sushi restaurant –, well, pandemonium broke out. The owner couldn’t believe his eyes, not to mention the Japanese clientele who were dining then.
 
Asashoryu, Woody Allen and Huzayomama
 
 I’ve had free sake from then on at Moto’s, which, sadly, closed its doors recently. We went to Madame Tussaud’s and had a blast. We went shopping for souvenirs – he insisted he had to bring something back for everyone in the heya, and he did – and people stared. But we were all sad when he finally had to leave and return to Japan the next day.

Blah, blah, blah, and so it went with our friendship and
The Emperor and the Yokozuna
 
 extended familial status cementing, with my finally going to Mongolia that May before his wedding receptions, my attending the happy couple’s Tokyo wedding reception, enjoying their and their families’ hospitality at every turn – and – my just bursting with pride at his accomplishments.

I could go on with up close and personal with Asashoryu, and others – and maybe will – in a future column, if I don’t get too many complaints about this “personal” diary.

What was the point of this particular article, anyway? Oh, yes. Keep following your boys, Sumoans. You never know, do you?

Photos by Barbara Ann Klein.

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