SOS - Shinjinrui on Sumo 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. Sumo World Championships Mark Buckton Mark Buckton reports from Sakai near Osaka, site of the latest Sumo World Championships. Rikishi of Old Joe Kuroda Joe Kuroda finishes off his look at former yokozuna Minanogawa. Sumo 101 / Eric Evaluates 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. Age stands still for no man 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. Feel the Sumo Eduardo de Paz Read and feel the renowned Leonishiki's passion for all things sumo at his first live event. SFM Interview Mark Buckton Mark interviews Colin Carroll - again - Irish star of Sakai. Photo Bonanza 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. Aki Basho Summary   Lon Howard Lon wraps the September Aki Basho 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 eye of things 'beneath the curtain'. Kyushu Ones To Watch   Carolyn Todd Carolyn shares her thoughts on whom to keep an eye on in Fukuoka. Kimarite Focus Mikko Mattila Mikko's latest clarification of several of the sport's plethora of kimarite. Amateur Angles   Howard Gilbert Howard Gilbert - manager of New Zealand's amateur sumo team takes a look at the approaching Russians. Kokugi Konnections   Todd Lambert Click on Todd's bimonthly focus on three of the best sumo sites online. Fan Debate   Facilitator - Lon Howard Jesse Lake and Rich Pardoe hammer out their differences on a current furor - promotion criteria. SFM Cartoons    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. 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? Kevin Murphy reveals all. 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.

Eternal Banzuke – Phase Three by Lon Howard

Since he didn’t even record a kachi-koshi in those seven basho, none of them is credited toward his standing on the Eternal Banzuke.  See the Rules. My guess for now, though, is that he won’t end up being the lowest ranked ex-yokozuna – maybe you know who I’m thinking about.   Here’s what the Banzuke looks like to date. Due to the scant progress this time, the only other thing of note to report for now is that Chiyotaikai is no longer the only ozeki to hold that rank on the EB.  The 1980s ozeki duo of Hokutenyu and Asashio both used rapid early banzuke advances and great longevity to join that exclusive club, although they are at O2e and O2w, while Chiyotaikai is at Ow.  Chiyo may yet prove to be the highest ranking ex-ozeki on the Eternal Banzuke.  These are the only noteworthy items this time.  I hope to have more to report in the next segment.  As with the elevator rikishi study, these things take some time, so see you in December. Home

Maybe I’m getting lazy, but there wasn’t too much progress on the Eternal Banzuke this time – anyway there are exactly 100 names down for now.  Two ex-yokozuna share the limelight in this phase – one of them for not showing up at all!  To recall, there had to be some arbitrary minimum length of time in a rikishi’s career in order to be ranked – it didn’t make much sense for someone to hold a high banzuke rank if they spent less than a handful of years in makuuchi.  That’s why a minimum of five years time (30 basho) in the top division was selected.  So guess who is left outside?  None other than the 60th yokozuna, Futahaguro.  On entering the top division, the Cup-less prodigy required only 13 basho to cinch up a tsuna, and was shown the door in only seven basho after that, having

spent barely three years there – far short of the minimum 30 basho required to be ranked on the EB.  The other yokozuna of note this time is Takanosato.  He is the first yokozuna so far (eleven studied to date) to hold an EB rank below sanyaku, showing up at M1w.  This is mostly because it took him a long time to make yokozuna due to a continual battle with diabetes.  In the 12 basho it took him to reach sanyaku, he had as many juryo appearances as those in makuuchi.  He did show early domination as a yokozuna, winning 41 bouts in his first three basho, with two yusho.  After that though, the burden of his diabetes, surgery on both elbows, and a bum knee was too much.  He treaded water a bit, and then completed only one basho in his final eight times out.