Nagoya Nears
Eric Blair
As Nagoya nears, EB gets a head start on the pack by focussing on points of interest, past and present surrounding sumo's hottest basho

Rikishi of Old
Joe Kuroda
The 42nd yokozuna Kagamisato falls under the JK microscope

Heya Peek
Barbara Ann Klein
Kokonoe-beya and the Chiyo Boys

SFM Interview
Mark Buckton
SFM's Ed-in-Chief interviews Estonian up and comer Baruto

Sumo 101
Barbara Ann Klein
SFM's Editor looks at all the twists and turns involved in the tsunauchi-shiki and adds a photo bonanza to boot

Photo Bonanza
See the Natsu
Basho and Kokonoe-beya photo bonanzas

Natsu Basho Summary
Lon Howard
Lon gives us his Natsu Basho summary, along with the henka sightings results

Lower Division Rikishi
Mikko Mattila
Mikko Mattila lets you know what is going on down below the curtain

Nagoya Ones to Watch
Mark Buckton
MB's mixed bag of things to look out for in Nagoya

Kimarite Focus
Mikko Mattila
Our man Mikko takes us on a tour of several defensive oriented kimarite

Amateur Angles
Howard Gilbert
The first of our regular column pieces on the amateur sumo scene from a man who knows more than most

Sumo Game
Bruce Rae
For a look at his very own: PTYW (Pick The Yusho Winners)

Sumo in Print
Barbara Ann Klein
SFM's Editor reviews the newly published biography of Akebono, Gaijin Yokozuna – but sees it as more than just a biography

Kokugi Connections
Todd Lambert
Check out Todd's bimonthly focus on 3 of the WWW's best sumo sites around

Fan Debate
Facilitator – Lon Howard
Sumo author Mina Hall and long long time fan Jim Bitgood discuss how to make sumo more entertaining – if such a concept is even necessary

SFM Cartoons
Benny Loh & Stephen Thompson		  
Sit back and enjoy the offerings of sumo's premier artists

Let’s Hear From You
What was it that
made you a sumo fan? James Vath in rural Japan lets us in on his gateway to the sport

Readers’ Letters
See what our readers had to say since we last went out

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

sight of number 20 on the current all-time list, that being Hamanoshima at 5.88. No other active rikishi is close yet, but I'll stick my neck out and say that Takekaze has the potential to rack up some serious ‘frequent rider’ miles on the banzuke elevator as his career unfolds further.

In the ‘rookie’ class (those with
under 15 basho), Hakurozan may be a real comer with a six basho EI of 9.69 and in a small surprise, Kisenosato stands at 6.58 with only 10 basho under his belt (‘basho’ in this case means banzuke appearances).

As reported in April, the Elevator Rules are now complete, and may be reviewed here. It's possible they may
contain a bothersome idiosyncracy for some, but I've found that eliminating one such
quirk always produces another, and I've opted to employ as much simplicity as my bureaucratic heritage allows.

As our study progresses further back in time from here, the next question is whether another halcyon elevator era may appear, or will the top 20 list
continue to remain largely unchanged? And finally, will Hokutoriki return to form in Natsu and continue to scratch his way toward the top? See you in June with more results!

Elevator Rules and Ranking
Interactive Section
Home
 CURRENT ELEVATOR RANKING

 RIKISHIMOQAFQEIMID
YEAR
1.Takanofuji 11.00 0.935510.291989
2.Itai11.58 0.80399.311987
3.Sadanoumi10.61 0.76748.151984
4.Daitetsu10.13 0.75867.691986
5.Jingaku9.47 0.79557.531988
6.Daijuyama9.91 0.74607.391986
7.Kirinji10.23 0.68677.021982
8.Higonoumi10.06 0.68636.901997
9.Mainoumi9.21 0.73686.781995
10.Kasugafuji8.88 0.76196.771993
11.Kyokudozan8.40 0.80436.761993
12.Takamisugi9.70 0.68126.611990
13.Kotofuji10.00 0.65716.571992
14.Kyokushuzan9.59 0.66676.39 
15.Daishoho9.73 0.65636.381994
16.Koboyama9.06 0.68756.231986
17.Tochiazuma I *8.34 0.74146.181972
18.Ozutsu8.19 0.75006.151986
19.Tochihikari **8.52 0.70496.001979
20.Hamanoshima9.14 0.64295.881998
*the sekiwake
**aka Kaneshiro

TOP TEN ACTIVE RIKISHI

 RIKISHIMOQAFQEI
1.Hokutoriki 9.29 0.8261 7.68
2.Kyokushuzan *9.59 0.6667 6.39
3.Asasekiryu8.53 0.6111 5.21
4.Roho8.30 0.5556 4.61
5.Takekaze6.20 0.7143 4.43
6.Tokitsuumi *6.85 0.6444 4.41
7.Takamisakari6.00 0.6250 3.75
8.Tamanoshima *6.91 0.5313 3.67
9.Jumonji6.67 0.5500 3.67
10.Buyuzan6.74 0.5385 3.63
*Fully qualified to be ranked