Yokozuna Comparisons
Joe Kuroda
SFM’s historian, JK, wraps his two-part article on the greatest of the tsuna wearers

Amateur Sumo's Global Aspirations
Courtesy: International Sumo Federation
What exactly is it and furthermore, what does it do? The ISF explain themselves and their purpose in existing

Rikishi of Old
Joe Kuroda
Man or myth? Sumo's first yokozuna comes under the spotlight

Heya Peek
Barbara Ann Klein
Tokitsukaze-beya and its famous find themselves the target of Barbara's peek into life inside the heya

SFM Interview
Mark Buckton
Featuring interviews with amateur sumo's European Sumo Union General Secretary and the President of the newly founded Irish Sumo Federation

Sumo 101
Barbara Ann Klein
Would chanko exist without sumo? What is chanko anyway? Find out in Sumo 101

Photo Bonanza
See the Haru
Basho through the eyes of the fans in the seats as SFM gives the mantle of photographer(s) for this basho to Barbara & Gerald Patten. And don't miss our all-Mongolian Bonanza supplied by our Editor, Barbara Ann Klein

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

Lower Division Rikishi
Mikko Mattila
Mikko Mattila covers the lower division goings on like nobody else around

Natsu Basho Forecast
Mark Buckton
Mark Buckton glances back to look forward in his ones to look out for come May

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

Sumo in Print
Mark Buckton
Our gaming thread takes a break for April so we can look at the Spanish language book on the sport not long since released

Kokugi Connections
Todd Lambert
Todd’s bimonthly focus on 3 of the WWW's best sumo sites today

Fan Debate
Facilitator – Lon Howard
April's man VS monkey debate covers the issue of reducing the number of honbasho

SFM Cartoons
Benny Loh & Stephen Thompson
Sit back and enjoy the offerings

Let’s Hear From You
What was it that
made you a sumo fan? Thierry Perran lets us in on his reasons for loving this sport

Readers’ Letters
See what some
See what our featured letter is for this issue

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

 
Stanley Somerville (RSA) vs. James B. Thompson (USA) – World Games 2005
 Junior lightweight – under 75 kg, or 165 lbs
Junior middleweight – under 100 kg, or 220 lbs
Junior heavyweight – over 100 kg

From 1980, we began holding international sumo tournaments. 1992 saw the holding of the first Sumo World Championships under the aegis of the IFS which was attended by a total of 73 competitors from 25 different countries and territories. Since then, the Sumo World Championships have been held annually and the number of participants has continued to increase. The 14th Sumo World Championships will be held on October 15th, 2006 in Sakai city, Osaka, Japan and promises to be once again a great success.

The IFS also continues in its bid to make sumo an Olympic Sport. There are 3 main sports bodies connected to the IOC – ARISF (Association of IOC Recognized International Sports Federations), IWGA (International World Games Association), and GAISF (General Association of International Sports Federations). One of the criteria

Next
successful championship and some of the young wrestlers may just be the next Kotooshu or Baruto.

The rules of amateur sumo are essentially the same as in professional sumo, with only a few differences. In amateur sumo there is less emphasis on the religious aspect of sumo and the trappings associated with professional sumo, such as the kesho-mawashi, are not used. There are two types of dohyo – the earth dohyo and the mat dohyo. The earthen dohyo is the same as in professional sumo, whereas the mat dohyo is made up of a plastic sheet with attached tawara being placed over mats. IFS often donates mat dohyo and mawashi to National Sumo Federations to help promote sumo. There are
gyoji and referees, but they wear a uniform similar to amateur boxing referees – a white suit with a black bow tie. Out of respect for different religions and cultures, male wrestlers are allowed to wear spats under the mawashi, and female wrestlers must wear a leotard under the mawashi. There are also weight categories.

Men lightweight – up to 85 kg, or 187 lbs
Men middleweight – up to 115 kg, or 253 lbs
Men heavyweight – over 115 kg

Women lightweight – up to 65 kg, or 143 lbs
Women middleweight – up to 80 kg, or 178 lbs
Women heavyweight – over 80 kg