| 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.
Shimoda was a prestigious university rikishi with several titles and an outstanding reputation. His short frame might later become a major obstacle, but in the Natsu basho, Shimoda's sumo looked large. He showed himself to be naturally fast and dynamic, with no signs of jitters in any of his bouts. He stayed low during his attacks, got inside and didn't fall for any pulling attempts. He took charge of his bouts by taking the initiative, breaking his foes' grips and never allowing himself to be put in real danger. He conquered a number of formidable rikishi in his first professional basho – neither Wakanoho, Bushuyama nor Kanbayashi could find a way to suppress Shimoda's attacks. The caliber of his foes won't necessarily increase dramatically in the Nagoya basho, but he will be part of a high makushita group of enticing quality.
Kanbayashi and Ryuo were the only promotees to juryo. Kanbayashi locked in his promotion early with a 4-0 start
Next
fact, Toki decided to retire just before the start of the basho. All were former makuuchi rikishi who finished their career at makushita rank.
The winner of the makushita yusho was newcomer (to professional sumo) Shimoda, whose historical 7-0 record at makushita tsukidashi (Ms15Td) was speculated to be the wave taking him straight to
Toki
fast debut in juryo since the first salt throw in ozumo. In sandanme, the yusho was captured by former juryo man Maikaze, whose streak of losing records came to an abrupt end with an unblemished and unexpected 7-0 yusho. The last man standing on the honbasho dohyo in the jonidan division
Takanotsuru
