Misugisato takes a gold star off yokozuna Akebono

12 days remain in the race.

• Maegashira 12 Kasugafuji3-0
• Ozeki Takanonami3-0
• Ozeki Takanohana3-0
• Maegashira 14 Mitoizumi2-1
• Maegashira 15 Naminohana2-1
• Maegashira 14 Oginishiki2-1
• Maegashira 12 Asanowaka2-1
• Maegashira 13 Kitakachidoki2-1

Misugisato (Maegashira 3) defeated yokozuna Akebono by Tsukiotoshi for a kinboshi gold star. It is career kinboshi No. 5.

• Maegashira 3 Misugisato1-2

Kotobeppu (Maegashira 4) beat Musashimaru (Ozeki) by Tottari — pre-basho ratings gave just a 11% chance.

Daishi (Maegashira 6) beat Wakanohana (Ozeki) by Tsukiotoshi — pre-basho ratings gave just a 16% chance.

• Maegashira 4 Kotobeppu2-1
• Maegashira 6 Daishi2-1

Ozeki Takanohana, bidding for yokozuna, stands at 3-0 — 10 wins short of the 13-win benchmark.

• Ozeki Takanohana3-0 ・ yokozuna bid

• Akebono (Yokozuna, 2-1) vs Musoyama (Sekiwake, 0-3) →head-to-head: Akebono leads 22-6; the rating model gives Akebono 70%; Forward Pusher vs Forward Pusher — style matchup is even
• Kotonishiki (Komusubi, 1-2) vs Musashimaru (Ozeki, 2-1) →head-to-head: Musashimaru leads 26-18; the rating model gives Kotonishiki 17%; Belt Grinder vs Forward Pusher — style matchup is even
• Takanohana (Ozeki, 3-0) vs Higonoumi (Maegashira 6, 0-3) →head-to-head: Takanohana leads 15-1; the rating model gives Takanohana 92%; Belt Grinder vs Thrower — style matchup slightly favors Higonoumi