Takanohana chases the rope at September (Aki) 1993

Yokozuna Akebono, who won the title at 13-2, goes for back-to-back championships.

Ozeki Wakanohana went forced a playoff at 13-2 last basho and looks to build on it. Ozeki Konishiki went 9-6 last basho and looks to build on it.

In the sanyaku ranks, Kotonishiki moves up to Sekiwake after going 12-3 at Maegashira 1; Kotonowaka moves up to Komusubi after going 8-7 at Maegashira 2.

• Yokozuna Akebonolast basho 13-2
• Ozeki Wakanohanalast basho Sekiwake, 13-2
• Ozeki Konishikilast basho Ozeki, 9-6
• Sekiwake Kotonishikilast basho Maegashira 1, 12-3
• Komusubi Kotonowakalast basho Maegashira 2, 8-7

Ozeki Takanohana won the title two basho ago at 14-1, then forced a playoff at 13-2 last time out. A champion and a runner-up in successive basho all but meets the "back-to-back championships or equivalent" standard — he may not even need the cup here, as a 13-win basho would set the promotion talks in motion. Fifteen days begin in which he can hardly afford a single loss.

• Ozeki Takanohanalast basho 13-2 ・ runner-up ・ yokozuna bid

Making their makuuchi debut: Musoyama.

Returning to makuuchi: Tatsuhikari, Tamakairiki.

• Maegashira 15 Tatsuhikarireturning
• Maegashira 15 Musoyamadebut
• Maegashira 16 Tamakairikireturning

Akebono tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2435. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Yokozuna AkebonoELO 2435 ・ Forward Pusher
• Ozeki TakanohanaELO 2378 ・ Belt Grinder
• Ozeki WakanohanaELO 2302 ・ Pulling Pusher
• Sekiwake KotonishikiELO 2255 ・ Belt Grinder
• Sekiwake MusashimaruELO 2192 ・ Forward Pusher

• Akebono (Yokozuna) vs Kotonowaka (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Akebono leads 24-3; the rating model gives Akebono 87%; Forward Pusher vs Thrower — style matchup slightly favors Kotonowaka
• Takanohana (Ozeki) vs Mitoizumi (Maegashira 1) →head-to-head: Takanohana leads 13-5; the rating model gives Takanohana 82%; Belt Grinder vs Belt Grinder — style matchup is even
• Kotofuji (Maegashira 2) vs Wakanohana (Ozeki) →head-to-head: Wakanohana leads 6-4; the rating model gives Kotofuji 26%; Belt Grinder vs Pulling Pusher — style matchup is even