Basho Preview ・ 場所前展望
Banzuke →Wakanohana chases the rope at May (Natsu) 1998
May (Natsu) 1998 opens on May 10. After going 10-5 two basho ago, ozeki Wakanohana 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.
Banzuke Notes
Yokozuna Akebono went a strong 13-2 last basho and anchors the field again. Yokozuna Takanohana, who withdrew at 1-4-10 last time, returns looking to make amends.
Ozeki Musashimaru went 8-7 last basho and looks to build on it. Ozeki Takanonami went 8-7 last basho and looks to build on it.
In the sanyaku ranks, Chiyotaikai moves up to Komusubi after going 8-7 at Maegashira 1; Akinoshima moves up to Komusubi after going 9-6 at Maegashira 2.
- Yokozuna Akebonolast basho 13-2
- Yokozuna Takanohanalast basho 1-4-10
- Ozeki Musashimarulast basho Ozeki, 8-7
- Ozeki Takanonamilast basho Ozeki, 8-7
- Komusubi Chiyotaikailast basho Maegashira 1, 8-7
- Komusubi Akinoshimalast basho Maegashira 2, 9-6
Rope Run
After going 10-5 two basho ago, ozeki Wakanohana 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. His pre-basho rating of 2449 sits at career-peak level — the numbers back the ability.
- Ozeki Wakanohanalast basho 14-1 ・ champion ・ yokozuna bid
New Faces in Makuuchi
Making their makuuchi debut: Toki, Wakanosato, Kaiho.
Title Contenders (Rating)
Akebono tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2480. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.
解説 ・ InsightAkebono has climbed from a rating of 2420 to 2480 over the past year — the momentum is real.
One caveat: Takanohana is returning from a layoff — whether the numbers hold is an open question.
- Yokozuna AkebonoELO 2480 ・ Forward Pusher
- Ozeki WakanohanaELO 2449 ・ Pulling Pusher
- Yokozuna TakanohanaELO 2372 ・ Belt Grinder
- Ozeki MusashimaruELO 2365 ・ Forward Pusher
- Ozeki TakanonamiELO 2332 ・ Thrower
Day 1 Bouts to Watch
- Akebono (Yokozuna) vs Akinoshima (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Akebono leads 30-8; the rating model gives Akebono 82%; Forward Pusher vs Thrower — style matchup slightly favors Akinoshima
- Tochinonada (Maegashira 1) vs Takanohana (Yokozuna) →head-to-head: Takanohana leads 12-2; the rating model gives Tochinonada 37%; Thrower vs Belt Grinder — style matchup slightly favors Tochinonada
- Wakanohana (Ozeki) vs Aogiyama (Maegashira 1) →head-to-head: Wakanohana leads 7-1; the rating model gives Wakanohana 80%; Pulling Pusher vs Forward Pusher — style matchup is even