SOS - Shinjinrui on Sumo Chris Gould Chris sinks his teeth into how sumo can go about pulling in the younger fans - currently so noticeable by their absence. The first of a three-part series. Sumo World Championships Mark Buckton Mark Buckton reports from Sakai near Osaka, site of the latest Sumo World Championships. Rikishi of Old Joe Kuroda Joe Kuroda finishes off his look at former yokozuna Minanogawa. Sumo 101 / Eric Evaluates Eric Blair Eric expains sumo fan terminology - with the inevitable twist - for those just getting into the sport and still subject to the know it alls. Age stands still for no man Joe Kuroda Former ozeki Kiyokuni will retire in November under the compulsory '65 and you are out' rule. JK takes a look at this quiet earth mover. Feel the Sumo Eduardo de Paz Read and feel the renowned Leonishiki's passion for all things sumo at his first live event. SFM Interview Mark Buckton Mark interviews Colin Carroll - again - Irish star of Sakai. Photo Bonanza See the Aki Basho bonanza as well as the largest collection of pics you are likely to see on the Sumo World Championships earlier in October. Aki Basho Summary   Lon Howard Lon wraps the September Aki Basho and throws in some henka sighting results for good measure. Lower Division Rikishi   Mikko Mattila The lower divisions, their members and results get the once over thanks to Mikko's eye of things 'beneath the curtain'. Kyushu Ones To Watch   Carolyn Todd Carolyn shares her thoughts on whom to keep an eye on in Fukuoka. Kimarite Focus Mikko Mattila Mikko's latest clarification of several of the sport's plethora of kimarite. Amateur Angles   Howard Gilbert Howard Gilbert - manager of New Zealand's amateur sumo team takes a look at the approaching Russians. Kokugi Konnections   Todd Lambert Click on Todd's bimonthly focus on three of the best sumo sites online. Fan Debate   Facilitator - Lon Howard Jesse Lake and Rich Pardoe hammer out their differences on a current furor - promotion criteria. SFM Cartoons    Benny Loh & Stephen Thompson In this issue's cartoon bonanza, sit back and enjoy Benny Loh's offerings and put a caption to Stephen Thompson's picture to win yourselves a banzuke. Sumo Odds ’n’ Ends    SFM's interactive elements including Henka Sightings, Elevator Rikishi and Eternal Banzuke! Lets Hear From You   What was it that made you a sumo fan? Kevin Murphy reveals all. Readers' Letters   See what our readers had to say since we last hit your screens. Sumo Quiz    The Quizmaster Answer the Qs and win yourself next basho’s banzuke.

Amateur Angles #3 The Russians are coming! The Russians are coming! by Howard Gilbert

In fact, most of the non-Japanese participants at this competition would have been training in sumo for less than two years, and many for far less time than that. A case in point was the surprise package for the tournament – New Zealand! Visesio Sakalia, weighing in at just over 100 kg (220 lbs), took silver in the heavyweight competition. Mark Tanu, a 16-year-old weighing 190kg (419 lbs), and with surprising speed, took bronze in the openweight competition, losing only to Sakuma, the eventual winner. Oscar Vaioa, the NZ middleweight came in a respectable 5th equal. These boys come from a rugby background, were only introduced to sumo at the beginning of the year, and had only participated in one tournament, way back in April. Apart from that, it was sumo training perhaps twice a week amongst themselves and with a few adults to compete against. If the same exposure to sumo that the Japanese athletes have was carried over into other countries, then the results would be very different! 7th Junior Sumo World Championships Results Lightweight (-80kg, -176 lbs) 1. Nachyn Mongush (Russia) 2. Masakatsu Ishiura (Japan) 3. Igor Ciurilov (Moldova) and Banzragch Baatar (Mongolia) Next

I can safely say the Russians are here! The past two months have been almost a benefit for Russians in the sport of amateur sumo. In this time, they have asserted their dominance in Europe, demonstrated that there is a strong crop of youngsters coming through, and swept most before them at the recent Sumo World Championships. In the past it has been, particularly, the women that have led the Russian assault, but this time the men have matched the dominance of their countrywomen. As Mark Buckton is particularly focusing on the Sumo World Championships just completed in Osaka, I will turn my attention to two other major tournaments that have occurred since the last edition. In late August, the Estonian town of Rakvere hosted the 7th Junior World Sumo Championships. This was the first time that the junior tournament, which is only for boys under 18 years of age, had been held outside of the Kokugikan in Tokyo. This came as a result of spirited lobbying by the Estonian Sumo Federation, the town of Rakvere, support from the Estonian Sports Ministry, the backing of seemingly everyone else in the

country, and no doubt was helped by the success of a certain Estonian behemoth by the name of Baruto. By all accounts, they delivered on everything they promised and a fabulous time was had by all. While this column is largely praising the Russians, we must realise that it was, in fact, Japan that fared the best in the Junior Sumo World Championships. They defeated Poland in the final of the teams event, with Russia and Ukraine taking bronze. Takayuki Sakuma won the open weight division, and compatriots Masahiro Yamaguchi (heavyweight, +100kg , + 220 lbs) and Takashi Shimako (middleweight, -100kg ,– 220 lbs) won their divisions as well. Lightweight (-80kg, -176 lbs) Masakatsu Ishiura was beaten in the final by Nachyn Mongush of Russia to claim silver. Russia claimed bronze in the middleweight and heavyweight divisions, and silver in the open-weight category. As these results show, Japanese dominance in this age group is almost total. I have no doubt that it comes down to strong fundamental skills and greater training and experience than competitors from other countries.