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Brothers no longer active on the dohyo come under the SFM microscope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.

  higher ranked sekitori, yokozuna Haguroyama, was awarded the makuuchi yusho. Reportedly, Chiyonoyama was so disheartened by the outcome that he was said to have pledged to himself that one day he, too, would become a yokozuna.

The following November 1946 Basho, at M1, Chiyonoyama went on to win 10 bouts, losing three, and was promoted to sekiwake after the basho – only his third in makuuchi. Unfortunately, his knee injury flared up again and he was forced to withdraw from the next tournament. At the 1948 October basho he changed his name from Masaharu to Masanobu and finished with 7 wins and 2 losses, winning the kanto-sho award. Two basho later, in May 1949, at the first full 15-day tournament after World War II, he proceeded to beat yokozuna Azumafuji, Maedayama and Terukuni and finished with a 12 wins, 3 losses record, earning the shukun-sho award. On May 30, 1949 Chiyonoyama was officially promoted to ozeki at the age of 23.

By this time it appeared that no one could stop Chiyonoyama’s ascent to the top. His tsuppari was such a force that he could even blow away yokozuna 		Haguroyama and Terukuni. Added to this formidable weapon, Chiyonoyama learned to utilize yotsu moves to complement his oshi-zumo sumo style. At the following basho, in October 1949, Chiyonoyama recorded 13 wins and 2 losses and won his first makuuchi yusho. At the next basho, in January 1950, he won his second yusho with 12 wins and 3 losses. With two consecutive yusho, many – including Chiyonoyama himself – believed the promotion to yokozuna was imminent. However, at this basho, none of the three yokozuna were in top condition. Haguroyama had a 6 wins/4 losses/5 kyujo record, while Azumafuji ended with 6 wins/6 losses/3 kyujo and Terukuni had 2 wins, 2 losses and 11 kyujo. Pointing out Chiyonoyama’s 12-win record this basho, his shisho, Dewanoumi Oyakata took an unusual step by declining his rikishi’s yokozuna promotion: “We are grateful for the consideration, but I am not pleased at all with the 12-win yusho. As I firmly believe he is a man who could become a yokozuna in the very near future, I would like to decline the deliberation at this time”.

Even though Chiyonoyama did not protest loudly, it was obvious he felt let down. His 		next three basho were uneventful, with 9-6, 11-4 and 8-7 records. However, this 8-7 record must have given Chiyonoyama a wake-up call because he re-dedicated himself, going back on a hard training regimen after the basho. He especially concentrated on learning yotsu-zumo techniques again from both Kasugano oyakata (former yokozuna Tochigiyama) and his own shisho, Dewanoumi Oyakata. Chiyonoyama entered the 1951 May basho with so much confidence that he won nine consecutive bouts before losing to 202 cm-tall Ouchiyama. But then, he won the next five bouts to finish the basho with 14 wins and 1 loss, clinching his third yusho. After that basho, encouraged and endorsed by the Kyokai directors, the members of newly established Yokozuna Deliberation Committee in their inaugural session on May 28, 1951, overwhelmingly voted in favor of promoting Chiyonoyama Masanobu as the 41st yokozuna. Chiyonoyama thus became the very first yokozuna promoted by the Sumo Association.

Just turning 25 years-old and finally achieving his life-long dream of becoming a yokozuna, it appeared the reign of yokozuna Chiyonoyama was

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