Musashimaru chases the rope at May (Natsu) 1999

Last basho, Takanohana withdrew at 8-3-4 and Wakanohana withdrew at 5-5-5 and Akebono sat out the entire tournament — neither yokozuna finished the tournament. Whether both can return from day one and restore the dignity of the rank is the defining question of this basho.

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

In the sanyaku ranks, Takatoriki moves up to Komusubi after going 8-7 at Maegashira 1.

• Yokozuna Takanohanalast basho Yokozuna, 8-3-4
• Yokozuna Wakanohanalast basho Yokozuna, 5-5-5
• Yokozuna Akebonolast basho 0-0-15
• Ozeki Takanonamilast basho Ozeki, 12-3
• Komusubi Takatorikilast basho Maegashira 1, 8-7

After going 8-7 two basho ago, ozeki Musashimaru took the last one at 13-2. 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 Chiyotaikai, after finishing 3-8-4 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is his first kadoban since reaching the rank. The numbers add to the worry: his rating of 2340 sits 249 points below his peak of 2589, just No. 8 in makuuchi — thin for an ozeki. Can he summon the rank's pride anyway?

• Ozeki Musashimarulast basho 13-2 ・ champion ・ yokozuna bid
• Ozeki Chiyotaikailast basho 3-8-4 ・ kadoban #1

Making their makuuchi debut: Yotsukasa.

Returning to makuuchi: Daizen, Kyokutenho.

• Maegashira 11 Daizenreturning
• Maegashira 14 Kyokutenhoreturning
• Maegashira 15 Yotsukasadebut

Musashimaru tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2466. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Ozeki MusashimaruELO 2466 ・ Forward Pusher
• Yokozuna AkebonoELO 2431 ・ Forward Pusher
• Yokozuna TakanohanaELO 2392 ・ Belt Grinder
• Sekiwake KaioELO 2386 ・ Thrower
• Sekiwake AkinoshimaELO 2369 ・ Thrower

• Tochiazuma (Komusubi) vs Wakanohana (Yokozuna) →head-to-head: Wakanohana leads 8-4; the rating model gives Tochiazuma 47%; Forward Pusher vs Pulling Pusher — style matchup is even
• Akebono (Yokozuna) vs Tosanoumi (Maegashira 1) →head-to-head: Akebono leads 14-4; the rating model gives Akebono 67%; Forward Pusher vs Pulling Pusher — style matchup is even
• Musashimaru (Ozeki) vs Kotonowaka (Maegashira 1) →head-to-head: Musashimaru leads 29-13; the rating model gives Musashimaru 77%; Forward Pusher vs Thrower — style matchup slightly favors Kotonowaka