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.

is considered dull by even die-hard followers. This view presupposes that rikishi inspire respect by advancing and attacking, without fear of the result, and refocuses debate on the topics covered in the previous issue’s shinjinrui piece. Aggressive, fearless personalities on the dohyo can only be moulded by the harshest mental and physical conditioning in the heya, according to Dr Lyall Watson, who maintains that: ‘The future of sumo depends entirely on a return to classic sumo. What is needed is a new golden age, with trainers and fighters going back

to basic principles, and rikishi who dedicate themselves to the art.’ At a time when shinjinrui are implicitly demanding that sumo modernises, a firmer commitment to tradition may appear somewhat risky. Were sumo to adopt this strategy, it would have to balance the lurch towards the past with modernising initiatives in the other areas discussed. At present, sumo is undeniably suffering from a sizeable gulf between its values and those of shinjinrui. In blind pursuit of divergent paths, the NSK and shinjinrui hold vastly different world-views. The longer each deems their own to be unquestionably

correct, the more sumo stands to lose. Having briefly investigated the psychological and emotional barriers to shinjinrui enjoyment of sumo, we turn our attention to structural barriers in the final piece of the trilogy. We consider whether tickets are too expensive and difficult to acquire, whether tournaments are held in too few cities, whether the jungyo system needs reform, and whether the NSK should more openly embrace amateur sumo. Home Print version