Sumo Fan Magazine

<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.

Kyushu Ones to Watch

Text by Carolyn Todd
Photos by Barbara Ann Klein

higher division and more experienced rikishi.

Toyozakura: I was all doom and gloom about his brother before Aki but I was really happy to see how both Muko brothers ended up. With all the probable demotions from makunouchi, it looks as though Toyo will get a great promotion, but what will he do with it? This is a guy who writes the kanji for sanyaku in the air before every bout to focus on his goal, so he’s definitely not without ambition, but last time he was in makunouchi he got bounced straight back out again. Will he be out of his depth higher up the banzuke? I’m going to stick my neck out and say that he’ll be OK, and he’ll make KK.

Toyozakura

Ama: Yet again, Ama’s one to watch in Kyushu. He was in overdrive in Tokyo and then won the one-day tournament. He seems to be in high spirits with renewed confidence and Kyushu will see him just below sanyaku. He’s aiming to put on more weight and as that’s been his only previous disadvantage, it’ll be exciting to see how added bulk will affect his performance. I think he’s over his performance blip and will be a serious threat in Kyushu.

Ama

Sawai/Goeido: Everyone’s been watching Sawai/Goeido closely since the beginning of his career so it almost seems as if it’s taken forever for him to reach juryo, but it’s only been 10 basho. Kyushu will see him joining his long-term rival Tochiozan and hopefully his back problems are under control, putting him back on course to fulfil his potential. His heya-mate Hochiyama will be back down with him in juryo and it’ll be interesting to see how they do at the same level. If his injuries are really recovered, Goeido could take juryo by storm.

Gagamaru: We need to keep a close eye on Gagamaru. Now that he’s got his shiny new mage, I think it’ll give him new impetus to succeed, as if he’s been given that ultimate badge of office/honor. His 5-2 result will put him in makushita for the first time in Kyushu, the second highest ranked Georgian after Kokkai, a great achievement for what will be only his 7th basho. It’ll be interesting to see if he can stay fit and cope with the