SOS - Shinjinrui on Sumo Chris Gould Chris sinks his teeth deeper into how sumo can go about pulling in the younger fans in part two of a three-part series. Azumazeki up close and personal Steven Pascal-Joiner / William Titus A wiz with a pen and a wiz with a lens get together with SFM to share their time with Azumazeki Oyakata - Takamiyama as was - with the wider sumo following world. Rikishi of Old Joe Kuroda Joe Kuroda takes a detailed look at the life and times of a former yokozuna forgotten by many - Maedayama. Eric Evaluates Eric Blair Eric calls the musubi-no-ichiban kimarite call on nakabi in Kyushu as perhaps only he could. Heya Peek Jeff Kennel First time heya visitor Jeff Kennel wrote about, photographed and even made a video of his time spent at Arashio Beya prior to the Kyushu Basho. All to be found within. SFM Interview Mark Buckton Mark interviews Russian up and comer Wakanoho of Magaki Beya. Photo Bonanzas See behind the scenes at the Kyushu Basho, morning training in Arashio Beya through the eyes of an artist and exactly what the Azumazeki lads had to eat halfway though the July Nagoya Basho. All originals, all seen here and nowhere else, and all for you. Kyushu Basho Summary Lon Howard Lon wraps the Kyushu Basho in Fukuoka 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 eyeing of life down below the salaried ranks. Hatsu Ones To Watch Carolyn Todd Carolyn ponders and puts fingers to keys on the ones to watch come January and the Hatsu Basho. Kimarite Focus Mikko Mattila Mikko's latest clarification of a handful of sumo's kimarite offers unequalled analysis and in depth explanations. Amateur Angles Howard Gilbert Howard looks at makushita tsukedashi and what it means in real terms. Kokugi Konnections Todd Lambert Click on Todd's bimonthly focus on three of the best sumo sites online. Fan Debate Facilitators - Lon Howard / Carolyn Todd Two SFMers talk over the yokozuna benefiting from weak opposition - or not as the case may be. SFM Cartoons Benny Loh & Stephen Thompson In this issue's cartoon bonanza, sit back and sample Stephen's artistic offerings. 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? Starting with issue #10, the SFM staff will reveal a little of their own routes into sumo fandom - starting with Benny Loh. 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.

many. Any thoughts on four per year being a better number than six? WT: No way, I’d hate that. Six is best. In one year just four basho? No! The year would be so long. MB: From another SFM reader and contributor, Dean Gutberlet in Nara but originally from New Zealand: What do you see as your perfect body weight? WT: 150kg. 148kg perhaps? Now I am 150kg. MB: You are known to prefer migi yostu when you fight. How did that come about? WT: My oyakata told me to use that and taught me how to do so. MB: Is sumo a job or a lifestyle? WT: Mmmmm, lifestyle. It is really enjoyable now that I’ve gone through the ranks. Really interesting

(in a voice and with facial expression inviting this 67kg, 165cm relative dwarf to join) and it will only get better. MB: Do you have a kesho (mawashi) now? WT: Not yet. MB: Any designs being put together? WT: Yes, one based on the flag of Russia – like Hakurozan’s. Flag (in English). Inside is the ‘ho’ from my shikona – a picture of a phoenix (again in English). MB: And the color? WT: Gold! (English once more and grinning yet again but more so at the color selected than his use of MB’s native tongue) MB: Wakanoho-san (using -zeki prior to the banzuke release not

being the done thing), many thanks for the time you have set aside for SFM today and from myself, SFM and many fans around the world, - good luck next time out and for the future.   WT (in English now) Thank you. Good luck. Good luck. (Shouts same to other rikishi nearby and has the same phrase returned). A final shake of the hand, a few words on the big blue eyes of an Irish chap sometimes seen watching asageiko at Magaki and a walk to the door past other rikishi hanging around and MB is once again on the streets of eastern Tokyo that give Japan its national sport – mentally panicking about how long this will take to transcribe. (In the end it took 4 hours!) Mark Buckton Home