[sumo] Sumo Fan Magazine

[Lon Howard]

The latest issue of Sumo Fan Magazine  - www.sumofanmag.com - was  
released on December 31st, with this introduction from the Editor-in- 
Chief:


We have intentionally delayed putting it out this year to give  
ourselves a break but also to fill the gap so many face with too  
little to do and not enough sumo related articles to read during the  
festive season.

As ever, we will have a range of pieces with regulars including

Joe Kuroda's Rikishi of Old - something Asashosakari may find of  
interest given comments on SF a few days ago

Chris Gould has put together a brilliant assessment of a certain  
disruptive, restaurant related, mage shearing incident - 75-years-on  
and how it relates to now.

Interview wise we were fortunate enough to pin down the head of the  
European Sumo Union, Mr. Gunther Romenath when in Japan recently.

Ryan Laughton highlights the single most collectable set of Sumo  
Menko out there - if you can find them - Nishinoshima?

Our Heya Peek this time out is an 'on the road' version by a relative  
new SFMer - Martina Lunau - a face increasingly well known in sumo  
circles here in Japan and of course - on SF.

Oh - and of course we have the full range of regular articles and  
bonanzas - photos / cartoons / 'morphs' / interactive bits and bobs /  
henka sumaries / basho reviews (those to keep an eye on in January)  
and wraps plus our bimonthly guide to the best the WWW has to offer -  
- - - as well as expert analysis on things 'ama' by our Amateur Sumo  
man - HG and, and, and, as we did last time, a tribute -

this time to the Americans out there - for the massive role they have  
played in sumo to date - with 3 'How I.......' pieces - coupled to an  
interview delayed an issue - with Joe Klemmer of the Sumo Mailing  
List - one of the vehicles of US fan interest in the days pre-Sumo  
Forum - answering the same Qs Mikko (former Rijicho) / and Mike (Sumo  
Talk) faced in October.

Enjoy it all and Happy New Year from all at Sumo Fan Magazine as we  
enter our fourth calendar year of existence.

Mark Buckton


Lon Howard
Shomishuu