Sumo Fan Magazine

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.

Letters to the Editor

Look for this feature in Issue 6 of Sumo Fan Magazine due out on April 17.

Barbara Ann Klein
Editor

Hello,

I just wanted to get in touch with your magazine as I manage a music band named SUMO in Switzerland.
I thought that maybe you would be interested in knowing about our music as we have something in common which is the SUMO.
Please find hereafter our website: www.sumomusic.ch

I don’t expect an answer I just thought that maybe it could be funny to mention us to you.

Enjoy the passion of SUMO.

Best regards

Romain Krief

Well, Romain, you’ve got your answer by our posting your letter. Thanks for the common interest point and for reading our magazine! – Ed.

Home

Each issue, we will feature a letter from one of our readers. The sender will receive a sumo-related prize of our choosing – this month being a picture banzuke from the Hatsu Basho – Congratulations, Judith-zeki – your e-banzuke is on its way!

FEATURED LETTER

Dear Editor:

I have always been fascinated with the incredible focus and devotion shown towards feeding the rikishi. I have many questions which need answers:

What is the daily responsibility of rikishi in terms of providing meals?

Is there a clear pecking order of responsibility?

Where do the recipes for Chanko Nabe begin? Is there a legacy of passed down recipes from the heya?

Are there idiosyncratic requests for various higher level rikishi? i.e.: “Eatonosato” will consume anything that doesn’t include

natto. “Nattonosato” MUST have natto in his chanko nabe.

I would love to hear the variations of cultural influences and the ways that the various heya have adapted to the changing needs of the multiple individuals whose culinary and personal favorites weigh into the recipes.

Regards,

Judith

Dear Judith –

Thank you for your letter. You have touched upon a very interesting topic and one that I do not believe has been explored before in such depth or from an up-close viewpoint. In fact, it seems a perfect subject for an upcoming “Sumo 101” column.