Brothers in Sumo –
part two
Brian Lewin
Brothers still active on the dohyo get their turn

Yokozuna Comparisons
Joe Kuroda
SFM’s most eminent historian, JK, has a crack at the impossible and tries to see who was the greatest of the tsuna wearers

Rikishi of Old
John Gunning
Takanobori – former sekiwake, former NHK man and all ’round gent

Heya Peek
Barbara Ann Klein
Kitanoumi-beya, Kitazakura, mirrors & photo bonanza

SFM Interview
John Gunning
Kazuyoshi Yoshikawa (son of the late sekiwake Takanobori) on life in sumo way back when

Sumo 101
Barbara Ann Klein
Behind every good man there stands a good woman – read and ye shall see. A departure from our regular 101 feature

Photo Bonanza
See the Hatsu Basho
plus much more through the lens of our photographers

Hatsu Basho Review
Lon Howard
Lon gives us his Hatsu Basho summary, along with the henka sightings results

Lower Division Rikishi
Mikko Mattila
Mikko Mattila covers lower division goings on in detail

Haru Basho Forecast
Pierre Wohlleben & Mark Buckton
Pierre predicts the Haru Basho banzuke while Mark highlights the ones to look out for in Osaka

Kimarite Focus
Mikko Mattila
Mikko takes us on a tour of his chosen kimarite

Minusha
John McTague
John’s unique bimonthly view of sumo news from outside the dohyo and in the restaurants!

Online Gaming
Alexander Nitschke
SFM’s own Alexander Nitschke covers the long running Hoshitori Game

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

Fan Debate
Feb's debate sees
a pair of Kiwis exchanging opinions on the honbasho going on the road

SFM Cartoons
Benny Loh & Stephen Thompson
In the third of our cartoon bonanzas, sit back and enjoy BL’s offerings and put a caption to ST’s pic to win yourselves a banzuke

Let’s Hear From You
What was it that
made you a sumo fan? A unique perspective from a sightless reader.

Readers’ Letters
See what some SFM
readers had to say since our last issue

Sumo Quiz
The Quizmaster
Answer the Qs and win yourself next basho’s banzuke.

cycle – an aberration with no real implications? Speaking only for me, I feel it is indicative of something – but what?

Some of the retired men’s numbers are slightly different than those published in December. This is because the Elevator Rules are still a work in progress. To be blunt about it, since there is no published research into this subject, the concept of what is right or wrong or reasonable is under continuing evaluation. Just when you think you’ve ‘nailed it,’ you run across another career that doesn’t fit somehow so you’re inclined to reconsider the criteria. Anyway, you’ll notice the Elevator Rules have changed slightly and that accounts for the modest differences in some of the retired rikishis’ numbers. As of this writing, I am very hopeful that in April I can announce that the Elevator Rules have had NO MORE CHANGES (fingers crossed)!

So far, 66 active and retired rikishi have met the qualifications to be ranked, but 22 of them were not studied at all because they have no elevator characteristics (yokozuna, ozeki, perennial sekiwake, etc.). 58 retired men did not meet the qualifications while 33 active ones have yet to qualify.

As for Kyokushuzan, his EI has been in decline because he hasn’t reversed direction for three straight basho and has
RETIRED

 RIKISHIMOQAFQCEI
1Takanofuji11.000.935510.29
2Itai11.800.82009.68
3Mainoumi10.620.82148.72
4Koboyama10.220.82508.43
5Daitetsu10.130.75867.69
6Daijuyama10.060.75817.63
7Jingaku9.470.79557.53
8Higonoumi10.460.71437.47
9Takamisugi10.080.72927.35
10Toryu8.320.85007.07

ACTIVE

 RIKISHIMOQAFQCEI
1Hokutoriki **8.360.80956.77
2Kyokushuzan 9.590.67276.45
3Tamakasuga *6.900.70734.88
4Tokitsuumi *6.730.70004.71
5Asasekiryu **8.290.56254.67
6Kaiho *6.950.64294.47
7Takamisakari **6.350.68184.33
8Toki *6.870.60534.16
9Kyokutenho6.180.61543.80
10Tamanoshima7.000.53333.73
*Elevator Retired List
**Not Yet Qualified
not moved very far in two of those, so he’s fallen behind Hokutoriki. Moreover, he is showing signs that he may no longer be capable of large upward moves, which would mean that his halcyon elevator period is behind him. Hokutoriki may hold promise, as he is still fairly young.
That’s the Elevator Ride for February. What’s in store for April? It’s been a surprise every time so far so why not look for another one? See you then.

Elevator Rules and Ranking
Interactive Section
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