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.		Matta-Henka: Another View by Lon Howard								has chosen to make more of it than either the foreign fans of yesteryear or the native Japanese fans.  I have a different view, which is shaped by my own remembrances from ‘back in the days’, and also by the effect of a pronouncement, made by the Nihon Sumo Kyokai in 1984, regarding the Two Hands Down rule.  During the modern era, rikishi closely adhered to Two Hands Down until around 1950.  Sometime around then, they began trying to get the jump on their opponent by touching down with only one hand.  The Kyokai complained but didn’t act, so rikishi took more and more license over the years, until – by the 1980s – hardly anyone bothered to touch with even one hand.  The ‘syncing up’ took place while half standing and most rikishi were nearly upright at first contact.  It was said that complaints about matta increased throughout this period, and finally the NSK took some action.     During the 1984 Nagoya Basho, the Kyokai announced they would begin enforcing Two Hands Down, known officially as Article No. 5 of the Rules of Competition.  My understanding of Article 5 is that it Next
		At some point in their education, almost all foreign sumo fans find themselves in a muddle over the tachiai, not quite getting the abstruse concept of starting with ‘mutual consent,’ syncing up the breathing, etc.  I still wonder about it too but pursuing a degree in the subject is for another time.  For the purpose here, just know that for most rikishi, job one at the tachiai is to get the jump on their opponent so they can control the flow of action. A rikishi employs many games to accomplish this but they all have the same goal, and that is to get his own body in motion just ahead of his opponent’s.  If he starts too early, his opponent will withdraw and a matta will be called; therefore, the timing must be close enough to his opponent’s charge so the opponent will feel ‘compelled’ to continue the action after contact – and the gyoji will feel compelled to allow it.  Many tachiai games play off the requirement that rikishi must touch the clay with both hands just prior to				beginning their charge, i.e.,  the Two Hands Down rule.  Just one scenario goes something like this:  Rikishi A studies precisely how long it takes Rikishi B to place his hands down before springing back up for contact – you can almost hear him counting, “One thousand one, two, three…”  A then times his own charge to start just at the time B’s second hand should be touching down.  But B has already seen this act and delays his charge to upset A’s timing.  A then either goes too soon or, if he’s seen B not moving, he also withdraws – and so they start over.  It’s matta either way and is often repeated several times as both rikishi try to frustrate the other.  There are several other tachiai games, but you get the idea. This leads into matta’s twin sister, henka.  My first serious look at sumo came in the early 1970s, and I don’t remember henka at all from that era.  Some erstwhile observers contend that it’s always been there, but that today’s ill-informed foreign  fan