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.


Baruto
































 free place (for foreigners), so I am here.

MB: Onoe Oyakata will be starting his own stable in July and reports indicate that you will be joining him. Who else will the oyakata be taking with him and how do you feel about this issue?

B: Me and six more will go. How do I feel? I don't know. Here (gesturing to indicate he meant Mihogaseki-beya) is good. But new place will be good.

MB: What were your first impressions of Tokyo?

B: So big is Tokyo! So much people and cars, and so small streets.

MB: You came to Japan with another Estonian who left soon after. Have you had any contact with him and, if so, how does he feel about your success?

B: No contact – for two years now.

MB: After just two years in Japan you are, I understand, a good Japanese speaker. You also speak four other languages according to the local media. What is the secret of your linguistic success?

Next
B: (nodding and making a face to agree with the latter possibility) Yes, but bad things happened.
Sensing a reluctance in Baruto to go further on this issue, I moved on and switched tack:

MB: I have been informed by one of the SFM staff that you
were ‘discovered’ by an official from the Kagoshima Prefecture Sumo Association (KPSA), but
can you tell our readers how this led to you joining Mihogaseki-
beya?

B: He (KPSA official) asked me if I wanted to go to Japan. I said, why not? Only Mihogaseki had a