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.

Haru Ones To Watch

Text by Mark Buckton
Photos by Barbara Ann Klein

through juryo – starting in earnest on March 12th. 9-6 in Osaka.

Homasho – The darling of Terao’s Shikoroyama stable, Homasho’s Hatsu performance and ultimate 10-5 record were both impressive and for all the right reasons. At times going against seasoned professionals and more often than not winning, this relative youngster will see in his second anniversary of entering the sport, in Osaka. A definite name for the future and to the delight of the home crowd – a Japanese lad to boot, he is one to watch

Next

Homasho

Baruto – Back in juryo for the March tournament, Baruto is a sanyaku man in the making. Set back by his appendix woes in November, his temporary drop back to juryo should prove just that – temporary. This is not a man long for the juryo rankings and although he probably won’t put up the consistent numbers needed in a single 15-day basho to be a yusho contender at this level, look for the signs of maturity taking over as he doesn’t rush his bouts so much and uses his size to soak up and

Baruto

wear out foes. 10-5 or better for Osaka.

Mokonami – Was I alone in seeing Asashoryu peeking out from behind Mokonami’s ‘mask’ in January? At times he displayed brilliant sumo and at others looked like he’d lost interest, like he was bored even. A man I have earmarked for Hakuho-like sumo in the future, it will take a while to climb without 100% full-on eyes front and centre but given the proper guidance, look for a quick rise

Mokonami