Basho Preview ・ 場所前展望
Banzuke →Musashimaru chases the rope at September (Aki) 1994
September (Aki) 1994 opens on September 11. After going 12-3 two basho ago, ozeki Musashimaru took the last one at 15-0. 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
Yokozuna Akebono, who sat out the entire tournament last time, returns looking to make amends.
Ozeki Takanonami went a strong 12-3 last basho and belongs in the title conversation. Ozeki Takanohana went a strong 11-4 last basho and belongs in the title conversation.
In the sanyaku ranks, Mainoumi moves up to Komusubi after going 9-6 at Maegashira 4; Hamanoshima moves up to Komusubi after going 8-7 at Maegashira 2.
- Yokozuna Akebonolast basho 0-0-15
- Ozeki Takanonamilast basho 12-3
- Ozeki Takanohanalast basho Ozeki, 11-4
- Komusubi Mainoumilast basho Maegashira 4, 9-6
- Komusubi Hamanoshimalast basho Maegashira 2, 8-7
Rope Run
After going 12-3 two basho ago, ozeki Musashimaru took the last one at 15-0. 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.
After going 0-0-15 two basho ago, ozeki Wakanohana put up 14-1 last basho. Another championship-level run would put yokozuna promotion in sight. Fifteen days begin in which he can hardly afford a single loss.
- Ozeki Musashimarulast basho 15-0 ・ champion ・ yokozuna bid
- Ozeki Wakanohanalast basho 14-1 ・ yokozuna bid
New Faces in Makuuchi
Returning to makuuchi: Wakanoyama.
- Maegashira 16 Wakanoyamareturning
Title Contenders (Rating)
Akebono tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2427. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.
解説 ・ InsightJust 2 points separate him from Musashimaru — the data says it's a two-horse race.
One caveat: Akebono is returning from a layoff — whether the numbers hold is an open question.
- Yokozuna AkebonoELO 2427
- Ozeki MusashimaruELO 2425 ・ Forward Pusher
- Ozeki TakanohanaELO 2358 ・ Belt Grinder
- Ozeki WakanohanaELO 2322
- Ozeki TakanonamiELO 2296 ・ Thrower
Day 1 Bouts to Watch
- Musashimaru (Ozeki) vs Hamanoshima (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Musashimaru leads 8-0; the rating model gives Musashimaru 87%; Forward Pusher vs Belt Grinder — style matchup is even
- Kasugafuji (Maegashira 6) vs Wakanohana (Ozeki) →head-to-head: Wakanohana leads 8-0; the rating model gives Kasugafuji 15%
- Takanonami (Ozeki) vs Tochinowaka (Maegashira 5) →head-to-head: Takanonami leads 18-5; the rating model gives Takanonami 82%