Kadoban pressure on Takanonami at July (Nagoya) 1995

Yokozuna Takanohana, who won the title at 14-1, goes for back-to-back championships. Yokozuna Akebono went a strong 13-2 last basho and anchors the field again.

Ozeki Musashimaru went a strong 12-3 last basho and belongs in the title conversation. Ozeki Wakanohana went 9-6 last basho and looks to build on it.

In the sanyaku ranks, Musoyama moves up to Sekiwake after going 11-4 at Maegashira 4; Kotonowaka moves up to Komusubi after going 9-6 at Maegashira 5.

• Yokozuna Takanohanalast basho Yokozuna, 14-1
• Yokozuna Akebonolast basho Yokozuna, 13-2
• Ozeki Musashimarulast basho 12-3
• Ozeki Wakanohanalast basho 9-6
• Sekiwake Musoyamalast basho Maegashira 4, 11-4
• Komusubi Kotonowakalast basho Maegashira 5, 9-6

ozeki Takanonami, after finishing 6-9 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is his first kadoban since reaching the rank. The numbers add to the worry: his rating of 2163 sits 317 points below his peak of 2480, just No. 9 in makuuchi — thin for an ozeki. Can he summon the rank's pride anyway?

• Ozeki Takanonamilast basho 6-9 ・ kadoban #1

Making their makuuchi debut: Tosanoumi.

• Maegashira 7 Tosanoumidebut

Takanohana tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2539. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Yokozuna TakanohanaELO 2539 ・ Belt Grinder
• Yokozuna AkebonoELO 2491 ・ Forward Pusher
• Ozeki MusashimaruELO 2439 ・ Forward Pusher
• Sekiwake MusoyamaELO 2277 ・ Forward Pusher
• Ozeki WakanohanaELO 2269

• Takanohana (Yokozuna) vs Kotonowaka (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Takanohana leads 35-6; the rating model gives Takanohana 91%; Belt Grinder vs Thrower — style matchup slightly favors Kotonowaka
• Naminohana (Maegashira 4) vs Akebono (Yokozuna) →head-to-head: Akebono leads 3-0; the rating model gives Naminohana 7%
• Musashimaru (Ozeki) vs Kitakachidoki (Maegashira 5) →head-to-head: Musashimaru leads 7-0; the rating model gives Musashimaru 91%; Forward Pusher vs Pulling Pusher — style matchup is even