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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
The 42nd yokozuna Kagamisato falls under the JK microscope
Kokonoe-beya and the Chiyo Boys
SFM's Ed-in-Chief interviews Estonian up and comer Baruto
SFM's Editor looks at all the twists and turns involved in the tsunauchi-shiki and adds a photo bonanza to boot
Basho and Kokonoe-beya photo bonanzas
Lon gives us his Natsu Basho summary, along with the henka sightings results
Mikko Mattila lets you know what is going on down below the curtain
MB's mixed bag of things to look out for in Nagoya
Our man Mikko takes us on a tour of several defensive oriented kimarite
The first of our regular column pieces on the amateur sumo scene from a man who knows more than most
For a look at his very own: PTYW (Pick The Yusho Winners)
SFM's Editor reviews the newly published biography of Akebono, Gaijin Yokozuna – but sees it as more than just a biography
Check out Todd's bimonthly focus on 3 of the WWW's best sumo sites around
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
Sit back and enjoy the offerings of sumo's premier artists
made you a sumo fan? James Vath in rural Japan lets us in on his gateway to the sport
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.
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Ozeki Chiyotaikai
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times he reversed his stance with his practice opponent to observe himself in the mirror in the corner. Some things never change, although his mirror gazing this day was a bit less than previously.
Soon Chiyotaikai began coaching his juniors. One young rikishi, in particular, was encouraged to strengthen his neck by lifting a (what looked to me to be at least) 5 kilo metal weight – suspended in a towel – with his TEETH. Ouch! I hope Kokonoe-beya has a good dental plan! The wrestler, whom I believe was Osuzuki, hardly broke a sweat despite constant urging by the ozeki to continue the repetitions. (We were later
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Rachimi
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Chiyotenzan, but including the aforementioned Chiyonoshima, did some serious training bouts with one another. For at least a half hour after we arrived, we watched the “round-robin” training bouts while those not actually fighting were doing a variety of other exercises. One rikishi, who we later identified as Chiyonoshin, spent the entire keiko time with his back to us – making him difficult to identify until we saw him at the Kokugikan later wearing the same knee support.
Another young man, Chiyofubuki, was put through a particularly difficult round of butsukari-geiko with the others,
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but ended in good humor, thankful, I suppose, for the added attention given to his development.
About a half hour after we arrived, Chiyotaikai's main tsukebito, Rachimi, came in, followed by the ozeki, himself. Now, Chiyohakuho began coaching the lower ranks and participating in bouts, and even Chiyotenzan did a bit of somewhat half-hearted appearing keiko. Another side story here – 'Tenzan was always notorious for checking himself in the mirror during keiko. Even watching him as a sekitori in training bouts with the lower ranks, I cannot count how many
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