Basho Preview ・ 場所前展望
Banzuke →Takanohana chases the rope at November (Kyushu) 1994
November (Kyushu) 1994 opens on November 6. After going 11-4 two basho ago, ozeki Takanohana 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 Wakanohana went a strong 12-3 last basho and belongs in the title conversation. Ozeki Takanonami went a strong 12-3 last basho and belongs in the title conversation. Ozeki Musashimaru went a strong 11-4 last basho and belongs in the title conversation.
In the sanyaku ranks, Kaio moves up to Komusubi after going 9-6 at Maegashira 2; Kotonishiki moves up to Komusubi after going 8-7 at Maegashira 3.
- Yokozuna Akebonolast basho 0-0-15
- Ozeki Wakanohanalast basho 12-3
- Ozeki Takanonamilast basho 12-3
- Ozeki Musashimarulast basho Ozeki, 11-4
- Komusubi Kaiolast basho Maegashira 2, 9-6
- Komusubi Kotonishikilast basho Maegashira 3, 8-7
Rope Run
After going 11-4 two basho ago, ozeki Takanohana 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.
- Ozeki Takanohanalast basho 15-0 ・ champion ・ yokozuna bid
New Faces in Makuuchi
Making their makuuchi debut: Shikishima.
Returning to makuuchi: Naminohana, Oginohana.
- Maegashira 15 Naminohanareturning
- Maegashira 15 Oginohanareturning
- Maegashira 16 Shikishimadebut
Title Contenders (Rating)
Takanohana tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2435. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.
解説 ・ InsightTakanohana has climbed from a rating of 2375 to 2435 over the past year — the momentum is real.
Just 8 points separate him from Akebono — 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.
- Ozeki TakanohanaELO 2435 ・ Belt Grinder
- Yokozuna AkebonoELO 2427 ・ Forward Pusher
- Ozeki MusashimaruELO 2393 ・ Forward Pusher
- Ozeki WakanohanaELO 2322
- Ozeki TakanonamiELO 2306 ・ Thrower
Day 1 Bouts to Watch
- Akebono (Yokozuna) vs Kotonishiki (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Akebono leads 30-11; the rating model gives Akebono 86%; Forward Pusher vs Belt Grinder — style matchup is even
- Takanohana (Ozeki) vs Kotoinazuma (Maegashira 1) →head-to-head: Takanohana leads 9-2; the rating model gives Takanohana 88%; Belt Grinder vs Thrower — style matchup slightly favors Kotoinazuma
- Higonoumi (Maegashira 6) vs Wakanohana (Ozeki) →head-to-head: Wakanohana leads 13-1; the rating model gives Higonoumi 15%