Musashimaru chases the rope at May (Natsu) 1997

Yokozuna Takanohana, who won the title at 12-3, goes for back-to-back championships. Yokozuna Akebono, who forced a playoff at 12-3 last basho, goes after the cup that slipped away.

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

In the sanyaku ranks, Kaio moves up to Sekiwake after going 12-3 at Maegashira 1.

• Yokozuna Takanohanalast basho 12-3
• Yokozuna Akebonolast basho 12-3
• Ozeki Takanonamilast basho Ozeki, 11-4
• Sekiwake Kaiolast basho Maegashira 1, 12-3

After going 12-3 two basho ago, ozeki Musashimaru forced a playoff at 12-3 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.

Meanwhile, ozeki Wakanohana, after finishing 3-1-11 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 4 — he survived 2 of 3, but fell to sekiwake 1 time. His rating of 2428 remains near his career peak (No. 4 in makuuchi) — the ability is intact, and escape is well within reach.

• Ozeki Musashimarulast basho 12-3 ・ runner-up ・ yokozuna bid
• Ozeki Wakanohanalast basho 3-1-11 ・ kadoban #4

Making their makuuchi debut: Tochinonada.

Returning to makuuchi: Mainoumi.

• Maegashira 15 Mainoumireturning
• Maegashira 16 Tochinonadadebut

Takanohana tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2577. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Yokozuna TakanohanaELO 2577 ・ Belt Grinder
• Yokozuna AkebonoELO 2448 ・ Forward Pusher
• Ozeki MusashimaruELO 2442 ・ Forward Pusher
• Ozeki WakanohanaELO 2428 ・ Pulling Pusher
• Sekiwake KaioELO 2365 ・ Thrower

• Takanohana (Yokozuna) vs Musoyama (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Takanohana leads 26-11; the rating model gives Takanohana 89%; Belt Grinder vs Forward Pusher — style matchup is even
• Kyokushuzan (Maegashira 4) vs Akebono (Yokozuna) →head-to-head: Akebono leads 7-1; the rating model gives Kyokushuzan 14%; Thrower vs Forward Pusher — style matchup slightly favors Kyokushuzan
• Musashimaru (Ozeki) vs Oginishiki (Maegashira 5) →head-to-head: Musashimaru leads 11-2; the rating model gives Musashimaru 86%; Forward Pusher vs Thrower — style matchup slightly favors Oginishiki