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SFM’s historian, JK, wraps his two-part article on the greatest of the tsuna wearers
What exactly is it and furthermore, what does it do? The ISF explain themselves and their purpose in existing
Man or myth? Sumo's first yokozuna comes under the spotlight
Tokitsukaze-beya and its famous find themselves the target of Barbara's peek into life inside the heya
Featuring interviews with amateur sumo's European Sumo Union General Secretary and the President of the newly founded Irish Sumo Federation
Would chanko exist without sumo? What is chanko anyway? Find out in Sumo 101
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
Lon gives us his Haru Basho summary, along with the henka sightings results
Mikko Mattila covers the lower division goings on like nobody else around
Mark Buckton glances back to look forward in his ones to look out for come May
Our man Mikko takes us on a tour of his chosen kimarite
Our gaming thread takes a break for April so we can look at the Spanish language book on the sport not long since released
Todd’s bimonthly focus on 3 of the WWW's best sumo sites today
April's man VS monkey debate covers the issue of reducing the number of honbasho
Sit back and enjoy the offerings
made you a sumo fan? Thierry Perran lets us in on his reasons for loving this sport
See what our featured letter is for this issue
Sumo Quiz
The Quizmaster
Answer the Qs and win yourself next basho’s banzuke.
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A Shot at the Impossible – Yokozuna Comparison Through the Ages – Part 2
by Joe Kuroda
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yet a wooden rooster”. He was referring to a Chinese legend about a fighting cock which displayed no outward emotion due to it remaining at complete peace internally, whatever was happening around it, and thus gave the impression of being a rooster chiseled on a woodcut.
Futabayama's record run started after, ranked at M3e in the January 1936 basho, he lost to yokozuna Tamanishiki on day 5. For the next three years, he remained undefeated and was, in turn, promoted from the maegashira ranks to sanyaku, then to ozeki and, finally, to yokozuna in January of 1938.
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Table 7 – Consecutive Winning Record
| | Yokozuna | Consecutive Wins |
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| 1. | Futabayama | 69 |
| 2. | Tanikaze | 63 |
| 3. | Umegatani I | 58 |
| 4. | Tachiyama | 56 |
| 5. | Chiyonofuji | 53 |
On Day 6 of the 2004 May basho, Asashoryu lost a bout to maegashira Hokutoriki and his consecutive bout winning streak came to an end at 35. Subsequently, the yokozuna later defeated Hokutoriki in a yusho playoff to claim his seventh yusho with a 13-2 record. So, while it is rather difficult to compare such a feat with rikishi active during the two-basho era, Futabayama's amazing record of 69 consecutive victories really stands out here as his record does not include any draws, holds or kyujo as was the case for Tanikaze, Tachiyama and Umegatani I.
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In the annals of sumo history, perhaps there has been no other individual who devoted so much of his own time in pursuit of the essence of sumo-do as did Futabayama. When Futabayama lost to M5 Akinoumi (later a yokozuna) on day 4 of the 1939 January basho after winning 69 straight, he sent a telegram to an acquaintance saying, “I am not
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