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.

 
Hokutoriki
 
 performances by the newlywed Hokutoriki and Tokitsuumi. I don’t know if Hakkaku Oyakata gave his blessing to ’Riki but he can’t diss the results, as the nodo-wa (pushing at throat) impeller was almost as dominating as he was in Natsu 2004 but unlike then, once in with the ‘big boys’ on days 13 and 14, this time he was sorely overmatched. Because of Hokutoriki’s low banzuke standing we probably weren’t overly surprised, but Tokitsuumi’s 12-win surge was a stunner. Just back from his second recent juryo stint, the normally cautious and deliberate technician unleashed some grit and attitude that his opponents were unprepared for. No doubt they will be ready for him in Osaka. I’m not looking for much of a follow-up from either man, though I’ll admit to being entertained by what I saw from them.
 Neither komusubi could contain the early banzuke meatgrinder and when Kyokutenho and Tamanoshima both stood at 1-7 after nakabi, there was little argument over which one might make their way out.
 
Tamanoshima
 
 Tamanoshima had injured his right shoulder on day 3 and was in severe pain daily after that. Refusing to withdraw, he then pulled some arm muscles as he fought on. Kyujo seemed unavoidable for him while a healthy Kyokutenho was poised to make hay against the maegashira men. Surprise! ’Tenho fumbled his way to a 4-11 mark, while Tamanoshima not only persevered but found his way to six straight wins to stand at 7-7. Unfortunately, by then, he was physically spent and couldn’t budge Iwakiyama on senshuraku, but he had earned fresh respect from
thousands of fans, me included. Naturally, many are now anticipating what Tamanoshima can do when completely healthy, but he’s had that chance before and nothing has come of it. I want to be wrong here but it just seems something is odd about his sumo, a certain stiffness when the chips are down…or something. Anyway, I remain a skeptic.

In Osaka, the komusubi ranks will have something old and something new. M1 Miyabiyama wedges his way
 
Miyabiyama
 
 back on the wings of his 8-7 slate, while M2 Roho finally gets over the sanyaku hump with 9-6. Roho has developed a signature powerful left uwate – a thing of beauty really – but when he is physically challenged. he still instinctively reverts to pulling instead of fighting his way through it,

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