Takanonami chases the rope at March (Haru) 1996

Yokozuna Takanohana, who forced a playoff at 14-1 last basho, goes after the cup that slipped away. Yokozuna Akebono, who withdrew at 0-3-12 last time, returns looking to make amends.

Ozeki Musashimaru went 9-6 last basho and looks to build on it.

In the sanyaku ranks, Takatoriki moves up to Sekiwake after going 12-3 at Maegashira 1; Akinoshima moves up to Komusubi after going 9-6 at Maegashira 4.

• Yokozuna Takanohanalast basho 14-1
• Yokozuna Akebonolast basho 0-3-12
• Ozeki Musashimarulast basho 9-6
• Sekiwake Takatorikilast basho Maegashira 1, 12-3
• Komusubi Akinoshimalast basho Maegashira 4, 9-6

After going 9-6 two basho ago, ozeki Takanonami took the last one at 14-1. 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.

Meanwhile, ozeki Wakanohana, after finishing 0-4-11 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 3 — he survived 1 of 2, but fell to sekiwake 1 time. The numbers add to the worry: his rating of 2266 sits 192 points below his peak of 2458, just No. 7 in makuuchi — thin for an ozeki. Can he summon the rank's pride anyway?

• Ozeki Takanonamilast basho 14-1 ・ champion ・ yokozuna bid
• Ozeki Wakanohanalast basho 0-4-11 ・ kadoban #3

Making their makuuchi debut: Ganyu.

• Maegashira 15 Ganyudebut

Takanohana tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2515. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Yokozuna TakanohanaELO 2515 ・ Belt Grinder
• Ozeki TakanonamiELO 2368 ・ Thrower
• Yokozuna AkebonoELO 2343 ・ Forward Pusher
• Sekiwake KaioELO 2331 ・ Thrower
• Ozeki MusashimaruELO 2312 ・ Forward Pusher

• Takanohana (Yokozuna) vs Tosanoumi (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Takanohana leads 21-7; the rating model gives Takanohana 84%; Belt Grinder vs Pulling Pusher — style matchup is even
• Takanonami (Ozeki) vs Kenko (Maegashira 1) →head-to-head: Takanonami leads 13-12; the rating model gives Takanonami 75%; Thrower vs Thrower — style matchup is even
• Akinoshima (Komusubi) vs Musashimaru (Ozeki) →head-to-head: Musashimaru leads 32-11; the rating model gives Akinoshima 30%; Thrower vs Forward Pusher — style matchup slightly favors Akinoshima