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Brothers no longer active on the dohyo come under the SFM microscope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

  makushita regular class rikishi, Daishoma; and, pushed out Homasho. He lost to heavy Hokutoiwa with kotenage after going for his favourite shitatenage, but evidently, falling ahead of leaning Hokutoiwa. The gyoji’s decision went for Satoyama at first, but it was overturned after mono-ii. Satoyama’s sumo looked as good as usual – his sumo is simply so balanced – and his chances to keep winning with his own sumo in juryo should be good.

Mokonami’s 5-2 at Ms2e consisted of some good forward sumo but also of two completely one-sided losses to Satoyama and Takanotsuru.

Sawai had his second basho at makushita rank and had little problem going all the way to a strong 7-0 yusho. Being possibly the biggest Japanese talent since Kisenosato, he draws more and more attention now that he showed his true level after a shaky makushita debut with a mere 4-3 in the Aki Basho. Sawai beat fellow young turks Shibuya and Arawashi, as well as upper makushita Hokutoiwa, and Satoyama with authority. He goes for migi-yotsu which is his favourite style, but doesn’t rely on it too much. Defense against oshi worked well, his foothold was very firm and he maintained control in all bouts 		no matter what his foes threw at him. Yusho at Ms32 will carry him to the verge of juryo where he is likely to face the likes of Baruto, Shiraishi and Kakuryu in Hatsu Basho. Sawai’s eyes have a lot of fire in them. Oyakata often say that they were impressed by some new recruits’ sharp eyes and Sawai definitely qualifies as such a sharp-eyed young rikishi. There is a very intensive expression on his face during various phases of the preparation for his bouts, and he gives menacing looks to his foes. Intensity is the word to describe his character on the dohyo and during preparations.

Six rikishi finished with a 6-1 record. Sumanofuji (Ms5w) will be promoted to juryo for the 7th time already. His pushing power wasn’t so overwhelming but in most bouts he managed to get in a series of optimally timed thrusts in the middle of otherwise rather mediocre pushing attacks. That ability to synchronize his pushes is definitely one of Sumanofuji’s main weapons but unless he gets more weight behind those thrusts, he will likely drop from juryo once again after Hatsu Basho.

Thirty-one-year old Hokutoiwa, who weighs over 170kg and was last seen in juryo in the Nagoya Basho 2002, also got 6 wins. 		Yet, the power level wasn’t so convincing and he won a couple of bouts by a pull/twist after looking unable to push his foes anywhere. His only loss came against Sawai.

Young Mongolians Daitensho and Hakuba had a good basho, too. Hakuba, 22, has been going up and down in makushita for about 3 years now while 21-year old Daitensho has been a makushita rikishi for one year and will be at his highest rank ever in the Hatsu Basho.
 
Hakuba
 
Dewaotori at Ms17e got 5-2, but is still suffering from sluggish tachiai and lacks something despite good training. Tamarikido had a very strong Aki Basho but this time appeared much less robust, losing two bouts quite decisively and exhibiting signs of insecurity in some of his wins as well. It will be a big uphill

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