Sumo Fan Magazine

Brothers in Sumo –
part one
Brian Lewin
Brothers no longer active on the dohyo come under the SFM microscope

NHK & the Ozumo
English Broadcast
Mark Buckton
A visit to NHK, years of watching the show and the opinions of our Ed-in-Chief

Hanging With the Rikishi
Barbara Ann Klein
Barbara Ann Klein recounts her experiences with the “boys” in a pictorial diary series

Rikishi of Old
Joe Kuroda
A look at a rikishi of yesteryear with Chiyonoyama – our man for December

Sumo Exhibit at the
Edo-Tokyo Museum
Barbara Ann Klein
SFM’s Editor takes in the exhibit celebrating 80 years of the Japan Sumo Association at this famous Tokyo museum

Heya Peek
John Gunning
John’s early morning trip to Hakkaku – a visit that almost didn’t happen

SFM Interview
Dave Wiggins sits down
with SFM’s Mark Buckton to discuss the broadcast scene – and maple syrup

Photo Bonanza
What a collection – All-Japan Sumo Tournament, Hakkaku-
beya visit and sumo exhibits at the Edo-Tokyo Museum

Kyushu Basho Review
Lon Howard
Lon gives us his Kyushu Basho summary, along with the henka sightings results, and his take on the year in brief

Lower Division Rikishi
Mikko Mattila
Mikko Mattila covers lower division ups and downs

Hatsu Basho Forecast
Pierre Wohlleben & Mark
Buckton
Pierre predicts the Hatsu Basho banzuke while Mark previews the ones to watch for in January

Sumo 101
Eric Blair
Eric explains all you need to know and then some about the Kokugikan building – the mecca of sumo

Kimarite Focus
Mikko Mattila
Mikko walks us through his chosen kimarite in expert fashion

Minusha
John McTague
John’s unique bimonthly view of news from outside the dohyo

Online Gaming
Eric Blair
For the lowdown on Guess the Kotomitsuki – baby of SFM’s John Gunning

Kokugi Connections
Todd Lambert
Todd’s bimonthly focus on 3 of the most interesting sumo sites today

Fan Debate
Intra heya bouts –
OK or not? See what our debaters had to say

SFM Cartoons
Stephen Thompson
In the second of our cartoon bonanzas, sit back and enjoy ST’s offerings

Let’s Hear From You
What was it that made you a sumo fan? American Todd Defoe tells all

Readers’ Letters
See what SFM readers had to say since our last issue

Sumo Quiz
The Quizmaster
Answer the Qs and win yourself next basho’s banzuke.

Sumo Exhibit at the Edo-Tokyo Museum

by Barbara Ann Klein

themes. For the succeeding two months, the subject of this pictorial would be occupy that space.

Frankly, I didn’t know what to expect. Would there be tsuna,

Next Home

This year, the Nihon Sumo Kyokai (Japan Sumo Association) enjoyed its 80th anniversary as a quasi-
governmental organization. In celebration, the Kyokai is having a special “fan appreciation day” at the Kokugikan on December 18. This date, however, will also mark the closing day of a very specialized exhibition at the Edo-Tokyo Museum, just a stone’s throw from the Kokugikan, marking the same 80th anniversary. On October 22, I was fortunate to be granted press access to the exhibition by the museum.

Mr. Yuji Tanaka, Curator of Japanese Modern History for the Museum met me at 9:30 AM, just as the Museum opened to the public. Guiding me up to the 6th floor, the Edo Zone permanent exhibition space, Tanaka-san walked me across the replica of the northern half of the Nihon-bashi bridge which had been constructed to actual size. From this vantage point, we could observe the goings-on on the 5th floor, which houses displays from the Tokyo and History Zones, plus more from the Edo Zone. The lower floor

also contains the space for special exhibitions with unique