| Brothers in Sumo – part one Brian Lewin |
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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 |
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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 |
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| SFM Interview Dave Wiggins sits down |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 – |
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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.
DW – may be small but can sure get through his maple syrup!
MB – And to wrap Dave, how do you see the current ban on new foreign rikishi entering sumo as having an effect on the local boys wanting to progress up the ranks?
DW – Well, I do think the Japanese rikishi will end up dominating, but not necessarily improving. As we have seen over the past couple of years, the hungrier foreign rikishi haven’t really changed sumo but have added to it. In doing so, they have met little resistance as Japan has other choices for its youth nowadays.
MB – A big thanks for the above Dave – much appreciated and here’s to many more basho behind the microphone and off the screen!
Reaction to Dave’s answers above can be addressed to the SFM Editor-in-Chief via ed_in_chief@sumofanmag.com who will ensure they are forwarded.
Photos by Mark Buckton.
Home
DW – Aah – that came from the American football term pancake block in which a player blocking another puts him on his back and is said to have ‘pancaked’ him. Add a little MAS imagination and you have what you hear today. (ed. – Man About Sports, MAS, Wiggins’ by-line in the Asahi Shinbun)
MB – To date, what has been your most memorable day of commentary?
DW – Probably Akebono’s 10th yusho that secured him the title dai-yokozuna. I was fortunate enough to be leading the
broadcast that day and was really happy for him.
MB – And memorable in a different way – the most embarrassing?
DW – In sumo I guess that would be getting names wrong from time to time but hey, we’re all human. Back as an American football commentator, I once asked the University of Hawaii football coach if he had any ‘unhung’ heroes in the changing room. Unhung, unsung – kinda similar.
MB – Slighly more serious now – will (Osaka Governor) Ms Ota ever present the trophy at the Osaka Basho?