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.

  B: Worst is losing or when I am alone and no one is close.

MB: Are you close to any foreign rikishi?

B: Kokkai. He is nice guy.

MB: And the Russian brothers, do you often talk or meet with them?

B: We meet at tournaments.

MB: Many Japanese I speak to claim foreign rikishi are only in sumo for the money. Do you agree?

B: (Diplomatically) I like Japan. If sumo is not in Japan, this is not Japan.

MB: What is your favorite basho location?

B: Osaka, I like Osaka – and Kyushu.

When reminded of his appendix woes in Kyushu he laughed as he showed me his scar and also recalled his first Kyushu basho in 2004 which was blighted by an inner thigh injury, so he added:

Maybe not Kyushu, something is wrong there.

MB: I have a source telling me
that you like to make scary faces. Is this true?

B: (laughs out loud) Yes – it is for mental training.

MB: You are known as one of the more approachable sekitori while many Japanese sekitori are more reserved. Is it important to be ‘open’ as a rikishi?

B: Japanese sekitori no open. When I was child, I was open, so I am open now.

MB: Who is the best cook in the heya? (This was the best food question I could come up with after scribbling out the original.)

B: I can cook but, (pondering) Kato-san is best (fourteen-year stalwart of Mihogaseki – Masuryu).

MB: Will you be traveling to Estonia for the August World Junior Championships?

B: No idea, we return from Taiwan on maybe the 22nd and Estonia is on the 26th, I think. If someone wants to pay my ticket, I will go.

MB: Away from sumo, tonight is Japan's first World Cup game. Any predictions and who would you like to see win the
event?

B: I have no favorite. Brazil or England I think will win. France is old team. Germany, I think not. Tonight, Australia will win 2-0. It is always me versus the rest of the rikishi in sports – volleyball, soccer. They sit there (gestures to one side of the room), me here. (indicates same spot we are sitting in front of TV)

MB: Last question, what message would you like to send out to your fans or fans of sumo around the world?

B: Life is fun, enjoy it. Enjoy life, enjoy yourself, enjoy the other people.
___________________________
* some English expressions were a little difficult for Baruto-zeki who, whilst a very good speaker of English, is not native. For this reason, and to maintain the flavor of the interview, several answers have been explained or added to using notes in parentheses or paraphrased for clarity. If grammatically (slightly) incorrect but understandable, they have been left as spoken, for the most part.

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