Kadoban pressure on Musoyama at March (Haru) 2004

Yokozuna Asashoryu, who won the title at 15-0, goes for back-to-back championships.

Ozeki Chiyotaikai went 10-5 last basho and looks to build on it. Ozeki Kaio went 10-5 last basho and looks to build on it. Ozeki Tochiazuma went 9-6 last basho and looks to build on it.

In the sanyaku ranks, Kotomitsuki moves up to Sekiwake after going 13-2 at Maegashira 4; Kakizoe moves up to Komusubi after going 11-4 at Maegashira 5; Shimotori moves up to Komusubi after going 11-4 at Maegashira 7.

• Yokozuna Asashoryulast basho 15-0
• Ozeki Chiyotaikailast basho Ozeki, 10-5
• Ozeki Kaiolast basho Ozeki, 10-5
• Ozeki Tochiazumalast basho Ozeki, 9-6
• Sekiwake Kotomitsukilast basho Maegashira 4, 13-2
• Komusubi Kakizoelast basho Maegashira 5, 11-4
• Komusubi Shimotorilast basho Maegashira 7, 11-4

ozeki Musoyama, after finishing 5-4-6 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 5 — he survived 3 of 4, but fell to sekiwake 1 time. His pre-basho rating stands at 2412 (No. 7 in makuuchi); the fifteen days ahead will show whether he can turn it around.

• Ozeki Musoyamalast basho 5-4-6 ・ kadoban #5

Making their makuuchi debut: Harunoyama, Futeno.

Returning to makuuchi: Chiyotenzan, Toyozakura, Wakanoyama.

• Maegashira 13 Chiyotenzanreturning
• Maegashira 14 Harunoyamadebut
• Maegashira 15 Futenodebut
• Maegashira 15 Toyozakurareturning
• Maegashira 16 Wakanoyamareturning

Asashoryu tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2699. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Yokozuna AsashoryuELO 2699 ・ Thrower
• Ozeki ChiyotaikaiELO 2520 ・ Forward Pusher
• Ozeki TochiazumaELO 2513 ・ Forward Pusher
• Ozeki KaioELO 2510 ・ Thrower
• Sekiwake KotomitsukiELO 2482 ・ Belt Grinder

• Asashoryu (Yokozuna) vs Shimotori (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Asashoryu leads 8-0; the rating model gives Asashoryu 91%; Thrower vs Belt Grinder — style matchup slightly favors Asashoryu
• Chiyotaikai (Ozeki) vs Kakizoe (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Chiyotaikai leads 7-5; the rating model gives Chiyotaikai 74%; Forward Pusher vs Forward Pusher — style matchup is even
• Miyabiyama (Maegashira 1) vs Kaio (Ozeki) →head-to-head: Kaio leads 31-15; the rating model gives Miyabiyama 29%; Pulling Pusher vs Thrower — style matchup slightly favors Kaio