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.

  Since I have returned to the U.S., I have no idea what sort of souvenir sumo items might be on the market in Japan, but my experience was that I could find Kyokai sumo-related items only at the Kokugikan, and in a couple of stores in the Ryogoku area – and at the Sapporo jungyo, I found the best stuff at the yokozuna museums in Hokkaido: T-shirts, coin purses, miniature pennants. On a personal note, I was seriously disappointed at the paucity of souvenirs at the Las Vegas Koen. I was fully prepared to put a serious dent into my credit card just for some good souvenirs. I really wanted some more cushions like the ones I bought at Sapporo in 1999.

Does the Kyokai know the word ‘bobblehead?’ this is the kind of stuff that keeps fans thinking about sumo between tournaments – especially the casual fan that needs to be reminded once in a while that sumo still exists.

The leaders of sumo also need to allow the top-level rikishi to be themselves if they want to attract the young fans of today. If I remember correctly, I heard once that the Kyokai admonished Mitoizumi for throwing too much salt because of the expense. I would ask the
Kyokai, “What costs more – extra salt or empty seats?” While watching the streaming video, I always know when Takamisakari is coming down the hanamichi because I hear the cheers. I don't have to look at the schedule to know his match will be coming up soon. When he leaves, the audience cheers for him whether he won or lost. Whether you like him or not, he DOES get the fans in the arena excited about his matches – and wouldn't it be even better if it were coming from a top rikishi like an ozeki or yokozuna?

No, I don't believe every rikishi should adopt the antics of Takamisakari or Mitoizumi – they each need to develop their own personal styles – but the Kyokai should at least NOT discourage them because sumo is competing with other sports, like baseball – and more recently soccer – for the sports fans' yen. Like it or not, the younger Japanese fan today is much more attracted to something that looks like fun than they are to something steeped in ritual purification. Once sumo gives them something they feel is worthwhile to watch, they will then come to appreciate the history, ritual and the excitement of a good match and a good tournament that makes
sumo so much fun for most of us.

MH: In order to pass the idea of new marketing and merchandising for sumo, you have to realize that the men who run the Japan Sumo Association rarely have much experience or education in the business world. They are all former wrestlers, many of them dropping out of high school and entering the world of sumo in their mid-teens. The structured and sheltered life of a sumo wrestler is the only thing that they know. Even after they retire from competition and become coaches, stable masters, and executives in the sumo association, they still exist in that same small, and often times conservative world. It's a long shot to think that radical changes could come from within. They could possibly employ some type of council from a group of people who are knowledgeable in public relations, marketing, merchandising, and advertising. However, I'm not sure how much the Japan Sumo Association is concerned about mass marketing their sport. As the proud national sport of Japan, they do want to fill the stands, but I don't think their main objective is to make a huge

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