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.

  can be more entertaining. The cards do not detract from the history or tradition of a sport at all. I think they add to it by providing information about the history of the sport. Along similar lines, I would spend money to buy a Chiyotaikai or Takamisakari bobblehead – but then I acquired a credit card account just for the ‘free’ Johnny Kelly bobblehead. How many other sumo fans would part with big bucks if they found a bobblehead of their favorite rikishi on eBay?

Speaking of entertainment vs. tradition in sports, I just found out that the Boston Celtics, the last bastion of tradition and history in the NBA, have finally caved in and are announcing they will have a dance team next year.

The NSK does not resist change and innovation, but it is very selective about what it wants to accept and sometimes is faced with accepting a fait-accompli. For instance:

How long have they used the time after the makuuchi dohyo-iri to announce the match-ups for the next day? I have noticed this only in the last year or two.

When did they start timing the
daily schedule to have the final match end at very close to 6 pm (Japan time) for the first fourteen days of a tournament – and concurrently fix the schedule to allow for TV coverage of the awards presentations before 6 pm on the last day? I believe it is relatively recently that the winner of a match has offered a hand to the loser when said loser has landed hard or gone over the side of the dohyo. (Was it Takanohana who pointedly ignored his defeated opponent after the guy crashed off the dohyo and hit the floor really hard?)

In a more historical vein: when did they apply time limits to the various ranks as to how long each rank has to prepare for a match? I think history shows that the preparations for a match could last for days before the two rikishi were simultaneously ready to fight. The point to all these questions, of course, is that sumo has made, embraced and survived many changes over the course of its history.

Recently, even rikishi as different as Chiyotaikai and Takamisakari have noted the value of entertaining the fans. I don't know what the original statements were in Japanese,
but the statements as translated into English for the “Rikishi Talk” notes on the Sumo Mailing List were the following from day 3 of the Natsu basho:
Chiyotaikai: “I am not sure if I have any drawing power to bring in more excitement to the basho, but personally I am hoping I can give a bit of show for everyone.”
Takamisakari: “… if we can get more ‘character’ rikishi, I am sure sumo can get more popular.” They know the importance of entertaining the fans and building fan support.
I agree that Konishiki will always be an ambassador for sumo. But I think it would be better if he and the association still recognized each other for the value each received from the other. The association should realize that retired rikishi should not be required to spend all their time working for them. Retired sports figures in America can get away from their sport, start their own businesses or just do nothing (when they have made millions of dollars in their careers), but they are still recognized by fans and the sport as the athlete they once were.

Final note: When I agreed to participate in the debate, I

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