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.


Miyabiyama














two months ago? Yup, he's baack and he's baad.

We might've had a clue in Haru as he disabled his reverse gear and ramrodded most of his opponents out backwards in a 10-5 surprise at komusubi, sending him back up to sekiwake for the umpteenth time. That might've been a clue except that we saw the same thing from him during the latter part of 2004 and early '05, and then saw him revert to slip-
downs and slap-downs as he receded from sanyaku for the fifth time since losing ozeki; so we had no reason to expect he could keep it going… after all, he's nearing 29 now and would be expected to start losing steam, not gaining it.

But this time something seemed different. Even when he was going good in '04, he wasn't
going this good. He's not just cleaning house, he's clearing the house with a brazen determination that has shaken and shocked many observers. After dispatching Hakuho on day 5, he was upset by komusubi Kyokutenho, but after that it was more of the same. He simply overmatched the field the rest of the way, as did Hakuho. Neither of them lost again and both completed senshuraku at 14-1. Miyabiyama's blockbuster earned him not only the jun-
yusho but also the prestigious ginosho (technique prize) and shukunsho (outstanding performance prize).

As for Tochiazuma, he declared himself kyujo after his day 6 loss to M1 Kakizoe. Tamanoi Oyakata describes the ozeki's left knee injury as meniscus and knee ligament damage, requiring four weeks of treatment. Whether that estimate for treatment also includes rest, or for how long, is unknown. Whatever the case, he'll not do much keiko before Nagoya and will be starting from scratch, kadoban for the seventh time. If he doesn't show at Nagoya or posts less than eight wins, he will be demoted to sekiwake for the third time since first appearing as ozeki in 2002.
 After bursting from the blocks 7-0, Chiyotaikai did not disappoint the legions of fans anticipating another washout. Well, some were disappointed, but assuredly, none were thunderstruck when he reprised his familiar act and crawled home with only three more wins.

Chiyotaikai

















There was some talk that his arm had begun to bother him again, but whatever… 10-5 is acceptable for an ozeki and it appears he can further defend the rank, and by doing so would add to his ozeki records for longevity.

Kaio and Kotooshu swapped the roles each of them played in Haru. This time it was Kotooshu who came back from

Next