Nagoya Nears
Eric Blair
As Nagoya nears, EB gets a head start on the pack by focussing on points of interest, past and present surrounding sumo's hottest basho

Rikishi of Old
Joe Kuroda
The 42nd yokozuna Kagamisato falls under the JK microscope

Heya Peek
Barbara Ann Klein
Kokonoe-beya and the Chiyo Boys

SFM Interview
Mark Buckton
SFM's Ed-in-Chief interviews Estonian up and comer Baruto

Sumo 101
Barbara Ann Klein
SFM's Editor looks at all the twists and turns involved in the tsunauchi-shiki and adds a photo bonanza to boot

Photo Bonanza
See the Natsu
Basho and Kokonoe-beya photo bonanzas

Natsu Basho Summary
Lon Howard
Lon gives us his Natsu Basho summary, along with the henka sightings results

Lower Division Rikishi
Mikko Mattila
Mikko Mattila lets you know what is going on down below the curtain

Nagoya Ones to Watch
Mark Buckton
MB's mixed bag of things to look out for in Nagoya

Kimarite Focus
Mikko Mattila
Our man Mikko takes us on a tour of several defensive oriented kimarite

Amateur Angles
Howard Gilbert
The first of our regular column pieces on the amateur sumo scene from a man who knows more than most

Sumo Game
Bruce Rae
For a look at his very own: PTYW (Pick The Yusho Winners)

Sumo in Print
Barbara Ann Klein
SFM's Editor reviews the newly published biography of Akebono, Gaijin Yokozuna – but sees it as more than just a biography

Kokugi Connections
Todd Lambert
Check out Todd's bimonthly focus on 3 of the WWW's best sumo sites around

Fan Debate
Facilitator – Lon Howard
Sumo author Mina Hall and long long time fan Jim Bitgood discuss how to make sumo more entertaining – if such a concept is even necessary

SFM Cartoons
Benny Loh & Stephen Thompson		  
Sit back and enjoy the offerings of sumo's premier artists

Let’s Hear From You
What was it that
made you a sumo fan? James Vath in rural Japan lets us in on his gateway to the sport

Readers’ Letters
See what our readers had to say since we last went out

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

  his well-documented rise towards juryo. Wakanoho lost to Shimoda and Koryu, and had a couple of other difficult bouts, but his 5-2 at Ms12 ensures his debut in the top 10 makushita in Nagoya. He'll turn a still very young 18 on the eve of the next basho.

A couple of 22-year-olds in lower makushita bloomed with 6-1 finishes. Katsunofuji and Kazafuzan had both spent 2-3 basho in lower makushita fighting for kachi-koshi, but dropping back down to sandanme in-between makushita bashos. Kazafuzan, at Ms47, competed at a career-
high rank and beat some strong foes, finally showing some stability and not falling on his belly so easily. Katsunofuji, at Ms54, displayed a forward-

Kazafuzan
















 going style, losing only to Ikioi.

Both will have a refreshing Nagoya basho testing their sumo against rikishi they haven't yet met. The last 6-1 rikishi left is heavy Asahimaru, who was at the receiving end of

Asahimaru














Wakakirin's very vicious slapping attack but emerged as the bloody winner in that unusually brutal bout. He also beat Wakanami in a long one and generally seems quite prone to do well in long bouts. Former juryo Chiyohakuho did good keiko with Chiyotaikai before the basho and started with 5-0 at Ms57, but then re-injured his ankle in a loss against Miyamoto.

Kageyama's future looks brighter and brighter. He is maturing physically, and his speed, balance and power all appear to be on an upward
trend. He had a slightly different approach this basho compared to his largely morozashi-aiming style during the Haru basho. Kageyama had his revenge against Hakuba blocking his morozashi easily, using ottsuke efficiently, and exhibiting a stable lower body while not giving any ground to his opponent. He was able to go with his strong forward charge, as always, but also utilized powerful ottsuke and generally looked to be more refined and versatile. With better banzuke luck he would be making his debut in juryo in Nagoya, but it was not to be so he likely enters the hot Nagoya basho at Ms1 with Shimoda. Kageyama is pulling his weight at Kasugano-
beya's keiko with his devoted training attitude and he also appears to be pulling his 24-
year-old stablemate, Kimurayama, along to a fine kachi-koshi path. Kimurayama has scored three consecutive 4-3's and has progressed up the banzuke accordingly. Now, at Ms7, he has accelerated his ascension with a spirited 5-2, defeating Ryuo, Koryu, Kitataiki, Daishoma and Surugatsukasa.

The Sakaigawa duo, Kadomoto and Sawai, both reached kachi-

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