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.

Angel Mak – Hong Kong Sumo Association Team Member Interview by Mark Buckton

(It is) not only for 300- or 400-pound women or men – (it is) for everyone. MB: What role does weight play in Asia where the women are generally lighter and perhaps not so tall? AM: As for the Asian Sumo Championships, we have a lightweight team so we try to practice hard for the Asian Championship, so the Hong Kong team can be the champions. But we need to spend more time on practice, because in Hong Kong everyone is busy and studying or working, so we need more time to gain power. MB: Why does Hong Kong have a team independent to that of China? AM: In the Olympic Games you can see Hong Kong has a team and China has a team because we are a different city. MB: Do you see Hong Kong as a different country (to China) nowadays? AM: No, no, Hong Kong belongs to China so we can now do sumo together. Next

Angel Mak, 22, is the daughter of the Chairman of the Hong Kong Sumo Association and one of the sport’s lightest competitors – just 55kg (121 lbs) in 2005, 53kg (117 lbs) this year. During the 2005 Shinsumo tournament in Sakai, Osaka, Angel went head to head with a girl 113kg (249 lbs) heavier. Angel lost, but endeared herself to many with her broad smiles that day, indicating that winning certainly isn’t everything. At the 2006 event, she sat down for a while with Editor-in-Chief to share some of her opinions on amateur sumo today.   MB: Thanks for talking to us today Angel, let me start by asking how you got into sumo?    AM: My dad is the head of Hong Kong sumo and when I knew that there was Shinsumo in the Asian Games, Asian Championships, I didn’t join it the first year, but I felt is was very exciting. I thought - why can’t women do that? I

thought women can only watch the men do the sumo. It was very exciting and interesting, so I tried it, as I never thought I could one day do this on the (real) dohyo, but now I can, and I joined the Hong Kong sumo team.    MB: Last year you certainly had your moment in the spotlight due to the fight you had in the women’s team event when you went head to head with a 168kg  (370 lbs) Hungarian woman. How did you feel after that fight?   AM: I felt very happy and I’m proud of that because I could represent Hong Kong, and the audience was very happy. Although we lose sometimes, we still take part. Everyone thought I would lose and that I wouldn’t want to join (and with that attitude) no-one would do sumo. We have to support sumo and sumo can be promoted all over the world that way.