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SOS - Shinjinrui on Sumo |
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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.
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Sumo World Championships |
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Mark Buckton
Mark Buckton reports from Sakai near Osaka, site of the latest Sumo World Championships.
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Rikishi of Old |
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Joe Kuroda
Joe Kuroda finishes off his look at former yokozuna Minanogawa.
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Sumo 101 / Eric Evaluates |
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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.
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Age stands still for no man |
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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.
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Feel the Sumo |
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Eduardo de Paz
Read and feel the renowned Leonishiki's passion for all things sumo at his first live event.
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SFM Interview |
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Mark Buckton
Mark interviews Colin Carroll - again - Irish star of Sakai.
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Photo Bonanza |
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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.
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Aki Basho Summary |
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Lon Howard
Lon wraps the September Aki Basho and throws in some henka sighting results for good measure.
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Lower Division Rikishi |
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Mikko Mattila
The lower divisions, their members and results get the once over thanks to Mikko's eye of things 'beneath the curtain'.
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Kimarite Focus |
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Mikko Mattila
Mikko's latest clarification of several of the sport's plethora of kimarite.
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Amateur Angles |
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Howard Gilbert
Howard Gilbert - manager of New Zealand's amateur sumo team takes a look at the approaching Russians.
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Kokugi Konnections |
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Todd Lambert
Click on Todd's bimonthly focus on three of the best sumo sites online.
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Fan Debate |
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Facilitator - Lon Howard
Jesse Lake and Rich Pardoe hammer out their differences on a current furor - promotion criteria.
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SFM Cartoons |
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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.
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Sumo Odds ’n’ Ends |
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SFM's interactive elements including Henka Sightings, Elevator Rikishi and Eternal Banzuke!
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Readers' Letters |
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See what our readers had to say since we last hit your screens.
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Sumo Quiz |
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The Quizmaster
Answer the Qs and win yourself next basho’s banzuke.
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down
and start a family. Initially, Minanogawa resisted, having a bitter
memory of the brothel woman from whom he contracted a venereal
disease. When he was introduced to
Miss Kazue Yoshioka from Kagawa, however, he decided immediately that
he would marry her. She even invited Minanogawa’s mother to live
with them in their new home, and so began one of the few happy times in
his life. This was not to last very long.
In 1940, Minanogawa’s mother died suddenly and he went into a
depression. As yokozuna, he should have been the center of
attention, but the nation’s sumo interest was focused on
Futabayama. At best, sumo fans simply considered Minanogawa to be
a weak-minded and feeble-spirited yokozuna, while others called him
much worse. To get him back on track, a supporter suggested that
he move to Mitaka City in rural western Tokyo. Minanogawa
was all in favor of this move, but did not want to commute by train, so
he bought an automobile. And so, the first rikishi ever to commute with
a bicycle became the first rikishi ever to drive his own car to the
Kokugikan!
At the May 1941 basho, Minanogawa suffered from a sciatic nerve
problem, and with a 2-3 record, was forced to withdraw. He was already
36 and no one expected him to produce any more remarkable records. Many
even thought that the fact that he lasted this long was an achievement
in itself. He, himself, now thought about retirement.
With Futabayama as their yokozuna, Tatsunami Ichimon’s jungyo were
always sold out, while the Dewanoumi group required every little extra
bit to bring in the crowds. By this time, Maedayama was showing great
promise and the Kyokai was hoping that he could soon take over
Minanogawa’s spot.
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However,
Maedayama was not ready yet, so the Kyokai asked Minanogawa to hang on
until Maedayama or Akinoumi could achieve the highest rank. In a way,
Minanogawa was not quite ready
to retire as there was no immediate prospect of obtaining a toshiyori
share which would permit him to stay with the Kyokai. The house in
Mitaka needed to be paid for as well, so he could not yet afford to
purchase a share. His shisho, Sadogatake oyakata, wanted Minanogawa to
eventually inherit his heya, but had no spare share or money to give to
his protégé.
Anticipating that his prospects after active sumo would diminish,
Minanogawa accepted an offer from one of his supporters to study Law
and Economics at Waseda University. The public did not consider this to
be peculiar - they always thought he was idiosyncratic.
At the January 1942 basho, Minanogawa – now 38 - finished with 9
wins and 6 losses. Ozeki Akinoumi had a 13-2 record, beating both
yokozuna, Futabayama and Futahaguro. Futahaguro had been promoted
to yokozuna at the previous basho, but he was Futabayama’s junior
heya-mate, so Minanogawa’s retirement was again postponed. But now,
with Akinoumi coming so close to becoming yokozuna, Minanogawa’s
retirement was finally approved.
There was still the question of the toshiyori. Luckily, at a Kyokai
directors’ meeting, Sadogatake oyakata submitted a proposal to
establish a one generation toshiyori share system for retiring
yokozuna, and thus, yokozuna Minanogawa became Toshiyori Minanogawa.
Soon, there was a director’s vacancy in the Kyokai and Dewanoumi
oyakata invited Minanogawa to serve since his attendance at Waseda
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labeled
him as “erudite”. He was nominated quickly, but everyone soon realized
what a huge mistake this was: Minanogawa was no longer interested
in sumo-related activities, and in fact, was content just tending to
his vegetable garden.
Before long, an opportunity arose as a fitness instructor at a flying
school. Minanogawa had no second thoughts about taking this position
and resigned from his Kyokai post, giving up the toshiyori share which
could have provided a lifetime of security for him and his family.
This all transpired right after World War II, when everyone was
struggling to eke out a living, while still having a dream of a new
life. A nationwide election for Parliament seats generated a
great deal of interest and excitement, and now-civilian Tomojiro was
caught up in the frenzy as well. He believed that his career as
yokozuna and his college education would bolster his chances for
election. He campaigned on the premise that he had been a yokozuna, so
he would not get beaten. In his district, there were 12 new Parliament
members to be elected but there were 134 candidates, some with deep
local and political connections. When the election results were
announced, Tomojiro did not see his name in the winners’ column. In
fact, he had suffered a resounding defeat, finishing 70th.
Despite this loss, Tomojiro never lost hope, and much to the consternation
of his family and friends, he ran again for a political post and, once
more, lost badly. He spent almost all of the money he received
from the Kyokai on the political campaigns, and had to put his land and
house up for sale as he was running out of funds very quickly. He
needed a job - any job.
Tomojiro opened a private investigation office. He mostly
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