Hakuho chases the rope at May (Natsu) 2007

Yokozuna Asashoryu, who forced a playoff at 13-2 last basho, goes after the cup that slipped away.

Ozeki Kotooshu went 8-7 last basho and looks to build on it. Ozeki Kaio went 8-7 last basho and looks to build on it. Ozeki Tochiazuma withdrew at 8-4-3 last basho — lasting the full fifteen days comes first.

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

• Yokozuna Asashoryulast basho 13-2
• Ozeki Kotooshulast basho Ozeki, 8-7
• Ozeki Kaiolast basho Ozeki, 8-7
• Ozeki Tochiazumalast basho Ozeki, 8-4-3
• Komusubi Toyonoshimalast basho Maegashira 1, 8-7

After going 10-5 two basho ago, ozeki Hakuho 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 7-8 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 14 — he survived 9 of 13, but fell to sekiwake 4 times. His rating of 2527 remains near his career peak (No. 6 in makuuchi) — the ability is intact, and escape is well within reach.

• Ozeki Hakuholast basho 13-2 ・ champion ・ yokozuna bid
• Ozeki Chiyotaikailast basho 7-8 ・ kadoban #14

Making their makuuchi debut: Satoyama, Ryuo.

Returning to makuuchi: Otsukasa, Hochiyama, Hokutoriki.

• Maegashira 11 Otsukasareturning
• Maegashira 12 Satoyamadebut
• Maegashira 14 Ryuodebut
• Maegashira 14 Hochiyamareturning
• Maegashira 16 Hokutorikireturning

Asashoryu tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2842. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Yokozuna AsashoryuELO 2842 ・ Thrower
• Ozeki HakuhoELO 2738 ・ Thrower
• Sekiwake KotomitsukiELO 2538 ・ Belt Grinder
• Ozeki KotooshuELO 2534
• Ozeki TochiazumaELO 2530

• Asashoryu (Yokozuna) vs Toyonoshima (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Asashoryu leads 7-2; the rating model gives Asashoryu 93%; Thrower vs Technician — style matchup slightly favors Asashoryu
• Hakuho (Ozeki) vs Kotoshogiku (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Hakuho leads 56-7; the rating model gives Hakuho 82%; Thrower vs Belt Grinder — style matchup slightly favors Hakuho
• Homasho (Maegashira 1) vs Kotooshu (Ozeki) →head-to-head: Kotooshu leads 11-7; the rating model gives Homasho 41%