<DATE> Contents

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.




Kokugi Connections

by Todd Lambert

pages have the same menu at the top of the page .  Starting at the top, there's the Heya Introduction, the Oyakata's Profile, Taiho Dojo, Deshi Details, Alumni, Recruiting, Charity Work, Shop, News, and Mail.  This is the home stable of Roho, its number one rikishi, who was involved in a bit of a controversy just this past Nagoya basho, and received an unprecedented 3-day suspension for actions off the dohyo.  Find out more about sumo's most decorated yokozuna, and an up and coming bad boy.

United Kingdom Sumo Association
(http://www.uk-sumo.com/)

This is the home of the fledgling organization whose lofty aims are to try and both promote interest in Ozumo (the professional sport), and to support the introduction of Amasumo (the amateur game).  Conceived of and staffed by some big names in the online sumo community, the UKSA has no sponsorship or affiliations as of yet, but hopes to achieve three straightforward goals (none involving Beckham).  These are to raise the profile of sumo throughout the UK, to provide learning opportunities and places to train both at home and in Japan, and to become the officially recognized as the body representing sumo in the UK.  Look what the lads from Sumo Ireland (see SFM #6) started!  Good luck and good training to both groups.

Home



Each issue of SFM, Todd Lambert – our man online –
will bring you a review of some sumo related sites
to be found on the World Wide Web. Enjoy.


Arkanda Sumo Pages (http://www.arkanda.net/sumo/ index.htm)

This website focuses on the statistics of the creme de la creme  of sumo - the yokozuna.  The top page is of a very simple design and divided into two sections: The Yokozuna and Links.  In the Yokozuna section, we have three further divisions: Statistics, Basho Results, and Banzuke Records.   In the Statistics section, we find the records of each yokozuna starting from their first basho as yokozuna, so that we may see how they performed solely during their reigns at sumo's most privileged position.  The yokozuna are grouped by time period, and each list of stats is accompanied by a likeness or photo of that particular grand champion.  In the Basho Results area, you can view a tournament-by-tournament comparison of each yokozuna’s performances since 1916, and see how each man performed relative to his peers.  There is a legend at the bottom of this section to explain the symbols used in the chart.  The Banzuke Records section allows
you to see which yokozuna slot 

each man received on the banzuke.  Not necessary these days, you may say, but several times in history there have been four grand champions.  Do you know who was considered numero uno each time out?  There are two charts, one for the pre-1890s, when the yokozuna rank became institutionalized, and one for after that point.  Lots of good information here for those who want to examine the yokozuna past and present a little more closely.

Odake-beya
(http://www.i-chubu.ne.jp/ ~kuraton/ index.html)

This is the homepage of the sumo stable established by the legendary Taiho, the yokozuna with the most tournament victories (32) to his credit.  It is now operated by his son-in-law, the former Futagoyama-beya bruiser and ex-sekiwake, Takatoriki (now known as Odake oyakata).   A nice, clean, easy-to-navigate page with lots of photos and personal profiles for the fans. 
The front page has a vertical menu near the center, and sub-










































































 

















L10 Web Stats Reporter 3.15