Basho Preview ・ 場所前展望
Banzuke →Akebono chases the rope at January (Hatsu) 1993
January (Hatsu) 1993 opens on January 10. After going 9-6 two basho ago, ozeki Akebono took the last one at 14-1. The standard is "back-to-back championships, or the equivalent" — stay at the front of the race here, and the rope becomes real.
Banzuke Notes
There is no yokozuna on this banzuke. Ozeki Akebono, Konishiki carry the top of the bill — and the extra weight that comes with it.
In the sanyaku ranks, Daishoho moves up to Komusubi after going 9-6 at Maegashira 1; Takamisugi moves up to Komusubi after going 8-7 at Maegashira 1.
- Komusubi Daishoholast basho Maegashira 1, 9-6
- Komusubi Takamisugilast basho Maegashira 1, 8-7
Rope Run & Kadoban
After going 9-6 two basho ago, ozeki Akebono took the last one at 14-1. The standard is "back-to-back championships, or the equivalent" — stay at the front of the race here, and the rope becomes real. Fifteen days begin in which he can hardly afford a single loss.
Meanwhile, ozeki Konishiki, after finishing 0-2-13 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 5, but he has fought his way out of all 4 previous ones. His pre-basho rating of 2183 is 201 points off his peak of 2384 — yet still the No. 5 figure in makuuchi. The ability is there; the question is the record.
- Ozeki Akebonolast basho 14-1 ・ champion ・ yokozuna bid
- Ozeki Konishikilast basho 0-2-13 ・ kadoban #5
New Faces in Makuuchi
Returning to makuuchi: Naminohana, Kyokugozan.
- Maegashira 14 Naminohanareturning
- Maegashira 16 Kyokugozanreturning
Title Contenders (Rating)
Akebono tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2356. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.
解説 ・ InsightAkebono has climbed from a rating of 2100 to 2356 over the past year — the momentum is real.
One caveat: Konishiki is returning from a layoff — whether the numbers hold is an open question.
- Ozeki AkebonoELO 2356 ・ Forward Pusher
- Sekiwake KotonishikiELO 2306 ・ Forward Pusher
- Sekiwake TakanohanaELO 2282 ・ Belt Grinder
- Sekiwake MusashimaruELO 2199 ・ Forward Pusher
- Ozeki KonishikiELO 2183 ・ Belt Grinder
Day 1 Bouts to Watch
- Akebono (Ozeki) vs Takamisugi (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Akebono leads 3-0; the rating model gives Akebono 85%; Forward Pusher vs Forward Pusher — style matchup is even
- Wakanohana (Maegashira 3) vs Konishiki (Ozeki) →head-to-head: Wakanohana leads 12-8; the rating model gives Wakanohana 35%; Pulling Pusher vs Belt Grinder — style matchup is even
- Takanohana (Sekiwake) vs Terao (Maegashira 5) →head-to-head: Takanohana leads 22-6; the rating model gives Takanohana 80%; Belt Grinder vs Pulling Pusher — style matchup is even