Musashimaru chases the rope at March (Haru) 1995

Yokozuna Takanohana, who won the title at 13-2, goes for back-to-back championships. Yokozuna Akebono went a strong 12-3 last basho and anchors the field again.

Ozeki Wakanohana went a strong 12-3 last basho and belongs in the title conversation. Ozeki Takanonami went a strong 11-4 last basho and belongs in the title conversation.

In the sanyaku ranks, Naminohana moves up to Komusubi after going 9-6 at Maegashira 7; Daishoho moves up to Komusubi after going 11-4 at Maegashira 11.

• Yokozuna Takanohanalast basho 13-2
• Yokozuna Akebonolast basho 12-3
• Ozeki Wakanohanalast basho Ozeki, 12-3
• Ozeki Takanonamilast basho Ozeki, 11-4
• Komusubi Naminohanalast basho Maegashira 7, 9-6
• Komusubi Daishoholast basho Maegashira 11, 11-4

After going 12-3 two basho ago, ozeki Musashimaru forced a playoff at 13-2 last basho, only to see the cup slip away. A championship — or a 13-win basho — here would meet the two-basho standard and make the rope real. Fifteen days begin in which he can hardly afford a single loss.

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

Making their makuuchi debut: Asahiyutaka, Asanosho.

• Maegashira 15 Asahiyutakadebut
• Maegashira 16 Asanoshodebut

Takanohana tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2517. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Yokozuna TakanohanaELO 2517 ・ Belt Grinder
• Ozeki MusashimaruELO 2435 ・ Forward Pusher
• Yokozuna AkebonoELO 2394 ・ Forward Pusher
• Ozeki TakanonamiELO 2325 ・ Thrower
• Ozeki WakanohanaELO 2287

• Takanohana (Yokozuna) vs Daishoho (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Takanohana leads 11-2; the rating model gives Takanohana 93%
• Kotobeppu (Maegashira 1) vs Akebono (Yokozuna) →head-to-head: Akebono leads 6-0; the rating model gives Kotobeppu 12%
• Musashimaru (Ozeki) vs Misugisato (Maegashira 1) →head-to-head: Musashimaru leads 18-2; the rating model gives Musashimaru 92%; Forward Pusher vs Thrower — style matchup slightly favors Misugisato