July (Nagoya) 1998 preview — Wakanohana tops the rating chart

Yokozuna Akebono went 10-5 last basho and anchors the field again. Yokozuna Takanohana went 10-5 last basho and anchors the field again. Yokozuna Wakanohana, who won the title at 12-3, goes for back-to-back championships.

Ozeki Takanonami went a strong 11-4 last basho and belongs in the title conversation. Ozeki Musashimaru went 10-5 last basho and looks to build on it.

In the sanyaku ranks, Kotonishiki moves up to Komusubi after going 11-4 at Maegashira 2.

• Yokozuna Akebonolast basho 10-5
• Yokozuna Takanohanalast basho 10-5
• Yokozuna Wakanohanalast basho Ozeki, 12-3
• Ozeki Takanonamilast basho Ozeki, 11-4
• Ozeki Musashimarulast basho 10-5
• Komusubi Kotonishikilast basho Maegashira 2, 11-4

Making their makuuchi debut: Dewaarashi, Kinkaiyama.

Returning to makuuchi: Kyokutenho.

• Maegashira 14 Dewaarashidebut
• Maegashira 15 Kinkaiyamadebut
• Maegashira 15 Kyokutenhoreturning

Wakanohana tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2458. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Yokozuna WakanohanaELO 2458 ・ Pulling Pusher
• Yokozuna AkebonoELO 2447 ・ Forward Pusher
• Ozeki MusashimaruELO 2371 ・ Forward Pusher
• Ozeki TakanonamiELO 2367 ・ Thrower
• Yokozuna TakanohanaELO 2348 ・ Belt Grinder

• Akebono (Yokozuna) vs Kaio (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Akebono leads 25-6; the rating model gives Akebono 74%; Forward Pusher vs Thrower — style matchup slightly favors Kaio
• Oginishiki (Maegashira 1) vs Takanohana (Yokozuna) →head-to-head: Takanohana leads 12-2; the rating model gives Oginishiki 32%; Thrower vs Belt Grinder — style matchup slightly favors Oginishiki
• Wakanohana (Yokozuna) vs Musoyama (Maegashira 2) →head-to-head: Wakanohana leads 14-11; the rating model gives Wakanohana 81%; Pulling Pusher vs Forward Pusher — style matchup is even