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.

Eternal Banzuke – Rules and Criteria

1.	A rikishi must have a string of at least 30 consecutive qualifying makuuchi basho in order to be listed on the Eternal Banzuke.
2.	A string begins with the first makuuchi appearance, and will only be broken under the following conditions:
	If the first makuuchi appearance is followed by at least three consecutive juryo or below appearances, the first appearance is discounted, and the string will begin with the second makuuchi appearance.
	If the second makuuchi appearance is followed by at least six consecutive juryo or below appearances, the first two appearances are discounted, and the string will begin with the third makuuchi appearance. It will not be broken again under any circumstances.
3.	The string ends with the last appearance on a banzuke at a rank above makushita. The rikishi's record is complete at this point.
4.	The Highest Median Rank (HMR) is determined by counting the number of appearances in the rikishi's string and then dividing that number by 2, carrying the result over to the next highest whole number. This whole number will be called the determinator. Then, starting with the rikishi's highest held career rank; begin counting the total number of banzuke appearances at that and each succeeding lower rank, carrying the total as you go. Stop the count at the rank where the total equals or exceeds the determinator. That rank is the rikishi's HMR, and it is the rank at which he resides on the Eternal Banzuke.
5.	When two or more rikishi occupy the same rank on the Banzuke, the order in which they appear is determined by adding the total appearances each of them had at the HMR and above, to obtain a tiebreaker number for each of them. They are then listed in tiebreaker number order – highest number on top. If that also results in a tie, make the same determination at the next highest rank, and keep going up in rank until the tie is broken, and no tie exists between or among any rikishi. If two or more rikishi are still tied at the rank of Ye, start at the next rank below the HMR and make the same determination, and keep going down in rank until all ties are broken.
6.	Special rules apply to banzuke appearances at the yokozuna and ozeki ranks. A minimum level of performance is set for these appearances. For yokozuna it is 10 wins and for ozeki it is 8 wins. If this level is not met for any such banzuke appearance, then that basho is simply removed from the count of appearances in the rikishi's string, and correspondingly, no credit is given for an appearance at that rank. In other words – don't count the basho or the rank held – it's as if the basho never happened.