Musashimaru chases the rope at November (Kyushu) 1997

Yokozuna Takanohana, who won the title at 13-2, goes for back-to-back championships. Yokozuna Akebono went 9-6 last basho and anchors the field again.

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

In the sanyaku ranks, Dejima moves up to Sekiwake after going 11-4 at Maegashira 1; Tochinonada moves up to Komusubi after going 9-6 at Maegashira 2; Akinoshima moves up to Komusubi after going 8-7 at Maegashira 5.

• Yokozuna Takanohanalast basho 13-2
• Yokozuna Akebonolast basho 9-6
• Ozeki Takanonamilast basho 12-3
• Ozeki Wakanohanalast basho 12-3
• Sekiwake Dejimalast basho Maegashira 1, 11-4
• Komusubi Tochinonadalast basho Maegashira 2, 9-6
• Komusubi Akinoshimalast basho Maegashira 5, 8-7

After going 10-5 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

Returning to makuuchi: Yamato.

• Maegashira 12 Yamatoreturning

Takanohana tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2575. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Yokozuna TakanohanaELO 2575 ・ Pulling Pusher
• Ozeki MusashimaruELO 2453 ・ Forward Pusher
• Yokozuna AkebonoELO 2439
• Ozeki TakanonamiELO 2385 ・ Thrower
• Ozeki WakanohanaELO 2378

• Takanohana (Yokozuna) vs Tochinonada (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Takanohana leads 12-2; the rating model gives Takanohana 88%; Pulling Pusher vs Thrower — style matchup slightly favors Tochinonada
• Musashimaru (Ozeki) vs Tamakasuga (Maegashira 1) →head-to-head: Musashimaru leads 14-3; the rating model gives Musashimaru 80%; Forward Pusher vs Pulling Pusher — style matchup is even
• Tosanoumi (Maegashira 1) vs Takanonami (Ozeki) →head-to-head: Takanonami leads 25-13; the rating model gives Tosanoumi 28%; Pulling Pusher vs Thrower — style matchup slightly favors Takanonami