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.

those below the rank of ozeki, will be eliminated from the count. For ranks below ozeki though, the effect of this will be barely visible, but consistency is important.

The EB seen here does incorporate one rule change since it was introduced in April: There will be no interruptions in a rikishi's qualifying string of basho once he enters makuuchi. The string will always begin with the first makuuchi appearance, and will always end with the intai (career-ending) banzuke appearance. I like to think my mind can always be changed with a good argument, and it was changed in this case.

As was the case in last issue's introduction, many of the ranks on the EB are yet to be occupied, simply because there hasn't been enough time yet to study that many careers. In this issue's Banzuke, if a particular rank has only one occupant, the tie-breaker number for that rikishi isn't shown because it isn't required. The tie-breaker numbers are displayed for each rank occupied by more than one rikishi in order to distinguish and substantiate their exact place on the EB. As more and more men are added, every makuuchi rank will likely be occupied by at least two rikishi, which will require that tie-breaker numbers be displayed for all. Also, remember that for all the men still active, their rankings are subject to change every two months with the publication of each new regular banzuke, while the Banzuke positions for all retired rikishi are, of course, written in hard rock. More to come in August.

Eternal Banzuke – Rules
Interactive Section
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 Never Ending
Jidai Blending

ETERNAL BANZUKE
TB East Rank West TB
  Asashoryu Y Akebono  
  Takanohana II Y2    
  Musashimaru O Chiyotaikai  
  Wakanohana III O2    
      Konishiki 39
  Kaio S Musoyama 35
      Tochiazuma 28
  Takanonami S2    
  Kotomitsuki K Wakanosato  
39 Kotonishiki 1    
24 Miyabiyama      
46 Akinoshima 2 Tosanoumi  
41 Takatoriki      
28-26 Dejima 3    
28-23 Tochinonada      
39 Tochinowaka 4 Kyokutenho  
18 Tamanoshima      
48 Kotonowaka 5    
31 Misugisato      
33 Kirishima      
32 Kyokushuzan 6 Terao  
18 Kenko      
      Toki 26
  Tamakasuga 7 Kyokudozan 25
      Takamisakari 18
    8 Higonoumi 30
      Kotoryu 29
27 Kaiho      
20 Takanowaka 9 Minatofuji 28
18 Aminishiki   Tokitsuumi 24
15 Kotobeppu      
54 Mitoizumi   Daishoho 26
37 Kotoinazuma 10 Shikishima 18
      Asanosho 17
  Kasugafuji 11 Jumonji 19
      Hayateumi 18
37 Kitakachidoki      
33 Oginishiki 12 Asanowaka 35
32 Hamanoshima   Tochisakae 19
26 Mainoumi      
28 Kushimaumi 13    
18 Wakashoyo      
  Chiyotenzan 14 Aogiyama 36
      Otsukasa 22
    15 Oginohana  
  Daizen 16