Attention to Akeni Carolyn Todd SFM's newest addition to the writing staff takes an in-depth look at akeni, their history and production techniques Rikishi of Old Joe Kuroda Joe Kuroda slides former yokozuna Minanogawa under his SFM microscope Eric Evaluates Eric Blair Eric's wit scythes through the SML and makes clear his opinion of where the future lies for online sumo forums. Eternal Banzuke Phase II Lon Howard Stats, equations and mathematics all lead to a list of sumo's most prolific up and downers Matta-Henka: Another View Lon Howard A row that will never be fully decided but Lon gives his impressions on it all the same Heya Peek Mark Buckton Mihogaseki, former home of Estonian sekitori Baruto is toured (and peeked at) by SFM's Editor-in-Chief SFM Interview Mark Buckton Mark interviews shin-komusubi Kokkai Photo Bonanza See the Nagoya basho and Akeni photo bonanzas Nagoya Basho Summary Lon Howard Lon gives us his Nagoya basho summary, along with the henka sightings results Lower Division Rikishi Mikko Mattila Mikko Mattila casts his watchful eye over lower division goings on in makushita and below. Aki Ones to Watch Carolyn Todd Carolyn takes over the job of rikishi job performance prediction for SFM as she looks at those to keep an eye on come September Kimarite Focus Mikko Mattila Our man Mikko's latest trio of kimarite get thrown about the SFM literary dohyo Amateur Angles Howard Gilbert Howard returns with the second of his columns on the amateur sumo scene. Sumo Game SFM's very own quiz comes in for a bit of self scrutiny by our secretive man of questions. We'll call him 'X'. Sumo in Print Barbara Ann Klein SFM’s Editor reviews “The Little Yokozuna”, a book for “young” (and older) adults Kokugi Connections Todd Lambert Check out Todd's bimonthly focus on 3 of the WWW's best sumo sites Fan Debate Facilitator - Lon Howard Keri Sibley and Eduardo de Paz  ponder the concept of ‘to pay or not to pay’ makushita salaries SFM Cartoons Stephen Thompson Sit back and enjoy the offerings of one of sumo's premier artists Lets Hear From You What was it that made you a sumo fan? SFM’s own Todd Lambert details his path into sumofandom 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.

Kimarite Focus #8 Susoharai, Chongake & Nimaigeri by Mikko Mattila

displayed by Aminishiki against Tokitsuumi on day 6 in the 2006 Haru basho. Another descriptive example of a static sideways-stance susoharai is Tochinonada vs. Kyokushuzan on day 14 in Natsu basho 2000. Both rikishi had tried susoharai once before, but ‘Shuzan launched the decisive move from a very innocent-looking stance. Susoharai been the winning technique in makuuchi only 26 times since 1990. Quite a number of rikishi have only one susoharai victory on their makuuchi records, but Tokitenku is the only one with three susoharai in makuuchi. Susoharai frequency has gone up in the last three years. In 2004 there were four susoharai in makuuchi and the record year came in 2005 when as many five were demonstrated on the makuuchi dohyo, to the joy of the audience. In 2005 all five winners were different rikishi. In 2006 there have been two susoharai in makuuchi so far - once by Aminishiki (his first ever makuuchi susoharai,) and then by Tokitenku the regular leg technique user in these pages. Chongake doesn't ring a bell in an average sumo fan's mind because it hasn't been on exhibition much. Next

Let’s continue on the chosen path of covering rare techniques before returning to more commonly seen ones. Last time we went through some rare defensive kimarite, but now the spotlight will be on somewhat or even very rare leg techniques. Susoharai is the best known of the three covered in this issue and is also, clearly, the most commonly seen. Chongake and nimaigeri are true collector's items if there happen to be other people besides myself who collect kimarite sightings with devotion. Susoharai is a classic sweeping technique. Anybody can easily learn the move as such but to perfect the timing is the challenge. In susoharai, the attacker sweeps his opponent's foot from behind from the lateral aspect of the foot. In order to get into a position where an opening for a susoharai sweep comes, one must either be in a sideways stance with the foe or use a

yanking move to force the opponent to take a step forward and then with good timing and coordination of upper and lower body work, sweep that moving leg, causing a complete collapse to the opponent. Excellent examples of a rough susoharai where the set-ups for the sweep are dynamic are Asashoryu's susoharai against Miyabiyama on day 3 in Aki basho 2005, and possibly the roughest susoharai of recent history in sumo - Chiyotaikai's overwhelming susoharai against Kotooshu after maneuvering him into perfect position with a kotenage carousel before kicking his right foot hard from behind, causing an utter defeat to the tall Bulgarian. That bout was seen on day 2 in the 2005 Nagoya basho and is a “must see” for any sumo fan who appreciates leg techniques. On the other hand, a susoharai from a reasonably immobile sideways stance is brilliantly