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.

the images of several ‘reformed’ men like Kotomitsuki and Tochiazuma come out a little ‘scrubbed’ here since, because their names are missing from this list, their percentages are obviously below average. Kyokushuzan continues to henka in spurts.  Although our study began with last year’s Nagoya basho, all but one of his henka have occurred this year.  Here – in Nagoya – he had nary a nomination for the first 12 days, but acted out on each of the three final days, winning two of them.  As you recall, six of his nine wins in May occurred in bouts in which he performed his henka. The list of top five henka targets has a new member, with Tamanoshima being hit on twice in Nagoya, by Tochinohana and Dejima.  I got a particular kick out of the evil eye Tama flung at Dejima as he lifted himself off the dohyo on day 14, with the gaze continuing from the hanamichi as he made his way out – and not

without reason, as that loss officially eliminated him from the yusho race. Here is the current top ten list of targets, in order of the percentage of their bouts in which they were a henka target.  As with the list of top ten perpetrators, only the bouts voted as actual henka were included in the calculation.  Also, it only includes those rikishi with at least 75 bouts during the study period    Kasugao Hokutoriki Kotoshogiku Tamanoshima Iwakiyama Tosanoumi Toyonoshima Roho Futeno Tochinonada 7 6 6 6 5 4 4 4 4 4    Roho has lost all four of the bouts in which he was targeted, while the top four grouping of Kasugao, Hokutoriki, Kotoshogiku and Tamanoshima have each lost five of six.  Toyonoshima  remains 4-0,

which may be expected, due to his short stature and excellent balance.    The detailed study of the henka win percentage rate based on “yes” vote ratios of 2-1, 3-1 and unanimous votes will not be covered in this issue since few changes in those rates occur in just one basho.  See the Natsu Henka Summary for a refresher on that aspect.  Suffice it to say that the win rate continues to be higher for those bouts with the higher percentage of “yes” votes. That’s the quickie henka look at the Nagoya basho.  Once again, this couldn’t happen without your votes, so keep them rolling in come September.  Sometimes it seems the henka action might be slowing down and we’ll be out of business here, but it never actually turns out that way.  Thanks so much for paying attention.  If I have missed something, I won’t know unless you ask a question, so please send them to fan_liaison_director@sumofanmag.com Home