| Nagoya Nears Eric Blair |
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| Rikishi of Old Joe Kuroda |
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| Heya Peek Barbara Ann Klein |
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| SFM Interview Mark Buckton |
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| Sumo 101 Barbara Ann Klein |
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| Photo Bonanza See the Natsu |
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| Natsu Basho Summary Lon Howard |
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| Lower Division Rikishi Mikko Mattila |
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| Nagoya Ones to Watch Mark Buckton |
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| Kimarite Focus Mikko Mattila |
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| Amateur Angles Howard Gilbert |
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| Sumo Game Bruce Rae |
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| Sumo in Print Barbara Ann Klein |
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| Kokugi Connections Todd Lambert |
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| Fan Debate Facilitator – Lon Howard |
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| SFM Cartoons Benny Loh & Stephen Thompson |
| Let’s Hear From You What was it that |
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| Readers’ Letters |
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Sumo Quiz
The Quizmaster
Answer the Qs and win yourself next basho’s banzuke.
There is no doubt that the Japan Sumo Association made a mistake in letting Konishiki go. Konishiki is well-liked and recognized around the world. Being trilingual (English, Japanese, and Samoan), he would have been an excellent choice as an ambassador to the sport. However, even if the sumo association had tried to persuade him to stay on, it is doubtful that he would have accepted. Konishiki had dedicated his life for more than fifteen years to sumo and put all of his other interests on hold until after he retired. He is an artistic, creative, and intelligent character, and besides his television appearances and commercials, he is passionate about his charitable foundation and music. Being tied down to the sumo association's hectic schedule would not have given him much freedom and little time to travel home to his beach house in Hawaii. It's one thing to have to stay in the box when you are an active competing wrestler, but it's very difficult to do so after retiring…especially when you have a lot of ideas in your head and other goals to achieve. Needless to say, no one
I'm not totally against sumo modernizing and evolving in some ways, as long as it doesn't change the soul of the sport. Sumo is a window to a way of life hundreds of years ago and they are keepers of this long and rich history. I think every chairman that heads the association feels a direct responsibility to this. I respect the traditions, the ceremonies, and the symbolism of sumo. I celebrate in the colorful pageantry. I am inspired by the rikishi for their dedication and for overcoming so much hardship. I am thrilled by a perfectly executed technique on the edge of the tawara. I am in awe of the select few men who carry the title “yokozuna”. And I am grateful to have been even a miniscule part of this grand sport. While I do view sumo as an athletic endeavor, more importantly, I think of it as a living art. I hope that sumo's unchanging traditions can be preserved and appreciated for many generations to come.
JB: I think we are not really far apart or at opposite ends of the spectrum here – we both want to see sumo survive and thrive. I
Mina suggested that the NSK could use some type of council to support marketing and merchandising efforts. That would not be going against tradition since they already employ a council of advisors for one of its biggest traditions – promotion to yokozuna. A group of experienced business men could advise the leadership on good business practices for licensing and marketing sumo merchandise. I would enjoy knowing that I could help support sumo by buying sumo merchandise, since I am too far away to buy tickets to a tournament.
I've been collecting baseball cards off and on for about 50 years now. I've been collecting sumo cards since I discovered them only eight years ago. That is one of the ways that a sport
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