Welcome to the website of the Internet Sumo Pool, also known as the "ISP".

Here, you'll find the records of past contests, the "banzuke", or rankings of
the players before each "basho" (tournament), the rules, links to the websites
of our players, and to other websites about sumo.

The ISP began in July 1996 as an extension of the "World Famous Sumo Pool"
from Compuserve to the internet at large.

The game runs during the official sumo tournaments (hon-basho) in Japan, which
are held for 15 days each January, March, May, July, September and November. The
object is to pick the winner of selected matches each day. The player who makes the
most correct picks wins.

Although called a "pool", no money is involved. We do award prizes, however. We're
indebted to Stone Bridge Press, publishers of Japan (and sumo) related books and
software, for providing prizes. Additional prizes are often given out as well.

Most of the day-to-day ISP activity takes place on the Sumo Mailing List. If you're
interested in sumo, this mailing list is an invaluable source of information, opinions,
rumors [:-)] and friendship. You can subscribe by sending an e-mail to
"Majordomo@brooks.statgen.ncsu.edu". Leave the subject line blank, with
"subscribe sumo" (no quotes) as the message.

I guess that's about it. Feel free to ask me any questions- my name is Dale- drc@oz.net.
Otherwise, just think of a shikona ("fighting name") and give it a try!.