Attention to Akeni Carolyn Todd SFM's newest addition to the writing staff takes an in-depth look at akeni, their history and production techniques Rikishi of Old Joe Kuroda Joe Kuroda slides former yokozuna Minanogawa under his SFM microscope Eric Evaluates Eric Blair Eric's wit scythes through the SML and makes clear his opinion of where the future lies for online sumo forums. Eternal Banzuke Phase II Lon Howard Stats, equations and mathematics all lead to a list of sumo's most prolific up and downers Matta-Henka: Another View Lon Howard A row that will never be fully decided but Lon gives his impressions on it all the same Heya Peek Mark Buckton Mihogaseki, former home of Estonian sekitori Baruto is toured (and peeked at) by SFM's Editor-in-Chief SFM Interview Mark Buckton Mark interviews shin-komusubi Kokkai Photo Bonanza See the Nagoya basho and Akeni photo bonanzas Nagoya Basho Summary Lon Howard Lon gives us his Nagoya basho summary, along with the henka sightings results Lower Division Rikishi Mikko Mattila Mikko Mattila casts his watchful eye over lower division goings on in makushita and below. Aki Ones to Watch Carolyn Todd Carolyn takes over the job of rikishi job performance prediction for SFM as she looks at those to keep an eye on come September Kimarite Focus Mikko Mattila Our man Mikko's latest trio of kimarite get thrown about the SFM literary dohyo Amateur Angles Howard Gilbert Howard returns with the second of his columns on the amateur sumo scene. Sumo Game SFM's very own quiz comes in for a bit of self scrutiny by our secretive man of questions. We'll call him 'X'. Sumo in Print Barbara Ann Klein SFM’s Editor reviews “The Little Yokozuna”, a book for “young” (and older) adults Kokugi Connections Todd Lambert Check out Todd's bimonthly focus on 3 of the WWW's best sumo sites Fan Debate Facilitator - Lon Howard Keri Sibley and Eduardo de Paz  ponder the concept of ‘to pay or not to pay’ makushita salaries SFM Cartoons Stephen Thompson Sit back and enjoy the offerings of one of sumo's premier artists Lets Hear From You What was it that made you a sumo fan? SFM’s own Todd Lambert details his path into sumofandom 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.

Nagoya Henka Summary by Lon Howard

the rikishi studied. With percentage numbers obviously rounded off, the current top ten list is:       Kyokushuzan Roho Hokutoriki Hakurozan Toyozakura Kyokutenho Kaio Kasugao Aminishiki Kotooshu Kotomitsuki Kakizoe Jumonji Dejima 20 8 8 7 5 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Five men are tied for the 10th spot with 2.86 per cent.  In a curious statistical outcome, that happens to be the precise henka percentage for the entire group.  This means that only about five makuuchi rikishi can be presently considered to be heavy on the henka, relative to the group.  If there appear to be some names missing, remember that our study didn’t begin until July 2005, so Next

Henka action was pretty typical in Nagoya in terms of the number of nominated bouts and the validation percentage – 32 nominations and 16 validated henka.  There was a spike in the percentage of henka winners though, as 13 of the 16 perpetrators won their bouts, raising the overall henka win rate to 66 per cent, over the seven basho we’ve studied.  Kyokushuzan maintained his 20 per cent henka rate by heading Nagoya’s list with three henka, followed by Aminishiki, Tochinohana and Hakurozan, with two each.    One reader pointed out something to me that needs to be made clearer, regarding the list of top ten henka perpetrators that have appeared here previously.  Rikishi have been listed in order of the percentage of their bouts

henka’d.  This list was compiled using only the bouts that were actually validated as henka.  For example, where Kyokushuzan is said to have henka’d in 20 per cent of his bouts since the study began in July of last year, it means that the 20 per cent figure represents actual henka – his nominated bouts that were not validated with 50+ per cent of the “yes” vote are not included in this figure and are ignored. In compiling the updated list of top ten overall perpetrators below, I have withdrawn the names of Shunketsu, Wakatoba and Takanowaka, none of whom have appeared in makuuchi since January.  Their percentages are 13, 11 and 10 respectively, but I won’t include them any more unless they reappear in makuuchi, with a healthy number of total bouts relative to most of