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When Dejima beat Asashoryu |
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Chris Gould
Former ozeki Dejima Takaharu retired during the 2009 Nagoya basho. Luckily, an SFM-er was present for one of his finest sumo hours...
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Rikishi of Old |
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Joe Kuroda
Azumafuji – downtown Tokyo boy and a character unlike so many others to fill sumo’s top rank. One of the sport's oft-ignored yokozuna but one JK of SFM fame brings to life and fleshes out like no-one else can – or could.
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SFM Interview – Nakamura Okamisan |
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Michiko Kodama
Never before has a full on interview with a heya Okamisan made it into the English language sumo media, making this interview with the delightful Nakamura Okamisan another SFM first.
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SFM Interview |
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Chris Gould
Andrew Freund, Director of the California Sumo Association, gives a very detailed insight into the world of amateur sumo, and from a very influential perspective.
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Eric Evaluates |
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Eric Blair
Eric passes judgement on the best of the rest – the non-SFM bods covering sumo over the past few years, those he sees as keeping the seat warm while he was on his way up.
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Nagoya Basho Summary |
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Chris Gould
Chris G is now settling into this slot and is proving a worthy successor to Lon Howard’s wonderful pieces over the past few years. Have a read and see what you think of the comments of a man closer to sumo than most will ever be.
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Aki Basho 2009 - Ones To Watch |
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Alexander Herrmann
Aki, September, Tokyo and with the oppressive heat of summer behind us we can turn to the back end of the year with our OTW offering from our very own AH. Perhaps one of the more difficult jobs – predicting a rikishi's performance in an upcoming basho – AH has it down to a tee, many feel.
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Heya Peek |
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Chris Gould
Tomozuna-beya, one of the bigger names of sumo in recent years, falls under the spotlight this issue, as an ozeki in his twilight continues to bamboozle even his own stablemates.
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Photo Bonanzas |
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Haruna Miyashita/Chris Gould
SFM's Numero Uno photographer Haruna Miyashita offers a bonanza on a Nakamura Beya asageiko session, chanko later (at which three SFMers were guests of the oyakata) and a couple of the lads getting their hair done afterwards – all prior to an interview with the heya Okamisan. Some of the most artistic dohyo shots on sumo you will see out there today.
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Sumo Menko |
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Ryan Laughton
Ryan Laughton guides us further into this never boring world of sumo collectability – and as the famed Menko Man of the Sumo Forum, who better to lead the way?
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Amateur Angles |
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Howard Gilbert
Howard Gilbert looks at the goings on – in more ways than one – at the recent World Games in Taiwan – where he was a part of the Kiwi contingent.
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Kokugi Konnections |
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Chris Gould
See some of the more notable matches from the career of recently-retired Dejima Takeharu – a Kokugi Konnections video tribute.
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Let's Hear From You |
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Shinichi Muramatsu
Shinichi Muramatsu, a human resources manager in his 40s, explains how he converted to sumo fandom.
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Morph Corner |
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Olivia Nagioff
Morphing into form once more on SFM's hallowed dohyo - another collection of sumo images unique to this publication courtesy our techno genius. A side of sumo unique to SFM.
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Readers' Letters |
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See what one of our readers thought about our last issue – impressed or otherwise?
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SFM Cartoons |
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Benny Loh & Stephen Thompson
Sit back and enjoy this issue's cartoon bonanza courtesy of the SFM men in Thailand and Malaysia.
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Nakamura picture show!
Michiko Kodama/
Haruna Miyashita
In mid-August, SFM writer Michiko Kodama sat down with Nakamura
Okamisan at the heya she runs with her husband (the former
Fujizakura) in the Shin-Koiwa area of eastern Tokyo. Haruna
Miyashita was there with her camera.
Read more...
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Chris Gould
This was absolutely not meant to happen. Least of all so early – Day
Three! The arena should not be filled with a patriotic roar and the
purple snow of falling floorcushions. Asashoryu Akinori,
sumo’s finest active wrestler, is not supposed to be lying pole-axed
against front-row spectators. Read more...
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Olivia Nagioff
Who made the biggest bang at the Nagoya Basho?
See more...
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Joe Kuroda
Amid swirling social chaos, unrest and confusion right after Japan's
defeat in World War II, Azumafuji more than any other rikishi
literally carried sumo on his massive shoulders when the sport
was in danger of neglect from a Japanese public eager to throw
away old relics and accept the brave new world. Read more...
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Chris Gould
"One of the most important things to me is to maintain the authenticity,
respect, and protocol of the sumo tradition, whether professional or amateur.
...demonstrating the beauty and discipline of sumo to Americans who have
never seen it before live." Read more...
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For all the sumo related news, views, tournament
coverage and historical analysis you will ever need -
in English, French, German and Spanish.
We welcome your comments so if you have
something to say please mail us at
editor@sumofanmag.com.
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You Could Be Advertising Here!
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Sumo Fan Magazine (SFM) logo and slogan are © Copyright 2005 by Sumo
Fan Magazine. Furthermore, all submissions and other content found on
this site are © Copyright 2005-2009 SFM and the writers, photographers and
artists who produced them, except where otherwise indicated. No part
may be reproduced in any form, without express written permission of
SFM.
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fx Service
(Foreign Exchange) |
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Editor-in-Chief and Creative Director – Japan
Mark Buckton
Editor
Chris Gould
Staff Writers
Eric Blair
Howard Gilbert
Joe Kuroda
Todd Lambert
Ryan Laughton
Contributing Writer
Lon Howard
Contributing Photographer
Haruna Miyashita
Website System Admin & Hosting
Alisdair Davey
Magazine & Website Layout Designer
Olivia Nagioff
Cartoonists
Benny Loh
Stephen Thompson
Staff Translators
Denis Chaton – French
Alexander Herrmann – German
Eduardo de Paz – Spanish
SFM Interpreter
Enatsu Watanabe
SUMO ARTIST
Lynn Matsuoka
Asanowaka
was a classic looking figure in sumo, and briefly carried the sword
during Akebono's dohyo-iri. He was incredibly funny and would say some
things other rikishi wouldn't dare say. He was, of course, famous for
his froglike shikiri for which the Kyokai kept reprimanding him, the
crowd loved it! This ink jet print, ed. 100, 9.5 x 11 inches is signed
and numbered by the artist, available for $550. from the studio. Please
contact artist@aloha.net
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