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.

SFM Interview –
Stephen Gadd


by Mark Buckton
members representing European nations?

SG – We are always glad to welcome new member federations – but only those federations who truly want to develop sumo, no ghost federations with just a president and an e-mail address. To develop the sport of sumo, we need active new-member federations who have a desire to contribute to sumo and, from the ESU point of view, we will of course do our best to support new federations to grow and develop, but there has to be a base upon which to work. I know from my own experiences how difficult it is to develop sumo. With regards to Greece though – they are already members of the ESU – since May 2005.

MB – In your personal opinion, which EU nation has the strongest all-around capability across the weight classes and in both the male and female versions of the sport?

SG – Russia, without a doubt.

MB – Do you see any Europeans coming up with the ability to make the leap to the professional game?

Next
For anybody who has dabbled in amateur sumo, the name
Stephen Gadd is probably one he or she will instantly associate with either the Dutch Sumo Federation or the European Sumo Union. President of the former and General Secretary of the
latter, in a time of change in the amateur game that will see
major developments affecting the way amateur sumo is viewed globally in the near future, Stephen kindly took the time out to liaise across the time zones and answer a few questions for
SFM's Japan-based Mark Buckton.
Mark Buckton – Stephen, how and when did you first develop an interest in sumo?

Stephen Gadd – I was always interested in sumo; I went to Japan many times for judo reasons and on the days off went to watch some sumo tournaments.

MB – What did / do your friends and family think about your involvement in the sport?

SG – They thought I was mad and should seek medical attention

MB – As our intro says, you are both the head of the Dutch Federation and also the General Secretary of the European Sumo Union – can you tell us what
this latter post entails?

SG – Essentially, on the first part of the question, I am responsible for all aspects of Dutch sumo development, contact with our Olympic committee and, in principle, the day-to-day running of the national federation. With regards to my ESU post, I am the contact person between the directing committee of the ESU and all member federations. I also serve as the link between ESU member federations and the IFS – International Sumo Federation.

MB – EU sources tell me that both the Greek and Irish flags could soon be represented in the amateur game. How does the ESU see this increase in
 
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