<DATE> Contents

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.

Eternal Banzuke – Rules & Criteria

1.    A rikishi must have a string of at least 30 consecutive qualifying banzuke appearances in order to be listed on the Eternal Banzuke.

2.    A qualifying string begins with the first makuuchi appearance and ends with the last makuuchi appearance. 

3.    A rikishi’s position on the Eternal Banzuke is based on his Highest Median Rank (HMR).  It is the highest rank held at least 50 per cent of the time during his qualifying string.  It is determined by first counting the total number of banzuke appearances in his qualifying string – if the result is an odd number, then add 1 to it in order to obtain an even number.  That number is then divided by 2, and the result is called the determinator.  Then, starting with the rikishi’s highest held career rank, begin counting the total number of banzuke appearances at that and each succeeding lower rank, carrying the total as you go down.  Stop the count at the rank where the total equals or exceeds the determinator.  That rank is the rikishi’s HMR, and it is the rank at which he resides on the Eternal Banzuke. 

4.    When two or more rikishi occupy the same rank on the Banzuke, the order in which they appear is determined by adding the total appearances each of them had at the HMR and above, to obtain a tie-breaker number for each of them.  They are then listed in tie-breaker number order – highest number first.  If that number is also a tie, make the same determination at the next highest rank, and keep going up in rank until the tie is broken, and no tie exists between or among any rikishi.  If two or more rikishi are still tied at the rank of Ye, start at the next rank below the HMR and make the same determination, and keep going down in rank until all ties are broken.     

5.    Special rules apply to banzuke appearances at the yokozuna and ozeki ranks.  A minimum level of performance is set for these appearances.  For yokozuna it is ten wins and for ozeki it is eight wins.  If this level is not met for any such banzuke appearance, then that basho is simply removed from the count of appearances in the rikishi’s string, and correspondingly, no credit is given for an appearance at that rank.  In other words – don’t count the basho or the rank held – it’s as if the basho never happened.





















































 

















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