It gives me great pleasure to introduce this latest issue of SFM. Of late, Chris Gould has really come through with some insightful and highly interesting articles to go with the usual bunch of top-of-the-range columns we release bimonthly. This time Chris looks at Kitanoumi’s rise and fall as well as the shenanigans surrounding the recent realignment of the tachi-ai. He even finds time to revisit Kasugano Beya a year after his last trip there. Lon releases his usual insights into what went on in September, as Alex leads us into November. Ozeki strength and rankings is another of Lon’s treasures and should not be missed. Michiko meanwhile, our Japanese writer based in Tokyo, looks at just how the oyakata have to contribute to improving things in and around sumo, Howard, down in NZ, our expert on amateur sumo looks at the slim chances the sport has of making it into the Olympic Games any time soon and Ryan will surely delight menko collectors with his latest take on the collectors side of sumo. All in all, another issue unequalled by anything else on the web – and we do it all in 4 languages – thanks to a top of the range team of translation lads – in Spain, France and Germany. Thank you to them all – and we hope you enjoy it. Mark Buckton Editor-in-Chief Sumo Fan Magazine editor@sumofanmag.com |