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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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Jumonji
time out. He has lost focus somewhat over the past year or so and could be feeling that the time is approaching to hang it up at the relatively young (nowadays) age of 30. I have a feeling he might actually surprise us all and quit if he drops out of makunouchi rather than bounce around like a tired old pinball, up and down between the top two divisions. Add to this tale of possible woe and haircuts the fact that, in Nagoya, he has achieved kachikoshi only twice in six attempts as a sekitori, so whilst I think he should come up with a decent 9 or 10 ,wins – if not more – he may be a guy who simply wilts in the summertime heat of central Japan. My fingers are crossed for this not
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to be the case in '06 so a bold call at 11-4 for Jumonji and lots of people discovering that his shikona is his real name.
Daimanazuru – Another sekitori I have a lot of time for and one I have been fortunate enough to meet a couple of times in recent months, Daimanazuru recently announced his engagement and will be joining the ranks of married rikishi later this year. Hopefully he'll get a boost out of this fact that will then lead him to a solid kachikoshi. Don't expect this 14-year sumo veteran to be making a push for sanyaku, but do look for a good showing as he
Daimanazuru
puts to good use his years of experience and tries to impress his fiancée. 8-7 for me.
Iwakiyama – I have no idea what has happened to Sakaigawa-beya's heyagashira and Tochiazuma's semi-
biological Siamese twin in
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recent years. I think he is a great rikishi. One of the very best “oshi” men in the business, at times. Solid, agile when need
Iwakiyama (Photo by Meike Sinke)
be and in possession of great balance and determination come the crunch – but not recently. Victor in a maegashira-meets-yokozuna bout in the yokozuna's awful Aki 2004 basho, and a former komusubi himself, another makekoshi in Nagoya might see him on the precipice of a pay cut following demotion to juryo. I hope it won't come to that, but don't see or hear anything to indicate he will score big in Aichi, so will simply cross my fingers and say 9-6 after a dodgy start.
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