Kadoban pressure on Kotooshu at May (Natsu) 2008

Yokozuna Asashoryu, who won the title at 13-2, goes for back-to-back championships. Yokozuna Hakuho went a strong 12-3 last basho and anchors the field again.

Ozeki Kotomitsuki 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 Chiyotaikai went 8-7 last basho and looks to build on it.

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

• Yokozuna Asashoryulast basho Yokozuna, 13-2
• Yokozuna Hakuholast basho Yokozuna, 12-3
• Ozeki Kotomitsukilast basho Ozeki, 8-7
• Ozeki Kaiolast basho Ozeki, 8-7
• Ozeki Chiyotaikailast basho Ozeki, 8-7
• Komusubi Asasekiryulast basho Maegashira 1, 8-7

ozeki Kotooshu, after finishing 2-7-6 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 2, but he has fought his way out of his only previous one. The numbers add to the worry: his rating of 2388 sits 301 points below his peak of 2689, just No. 18 in makuuchi — thin for an ozeki. Can he summon the rank's pride anyway?

• Ozeki Kotooshulast basho 2-7-6 ・ kadoban #2

Making their makuuchi debut: Tochinoshin, Kotokasuga, Hakuba.

Returning to makuuchi: Tosanoumi, Tamanoshima, Hakurozan.

• Maegashira 12 Tosanoumireturning
• Maegashira 13 Tamanoshimareturning
• Maegashira 14 Tochinoshindebut
• Maegashira 15 Hakurozanreturning
• Maegashira 16 Kotokasugadebut
• Maegashira 16 Hakubadebut

Asashoryu tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2811. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Yokozuna AsashoryuELO 2811 ・ Thrower
• Yokozuna HakuhoELO 2779 ・ Thrower
• Sekiwake HarumafujiELO 2562 ・ Thrower
• Ozeki KotomitsukiELO 2557 ・ Belt Grinder
• Sekiwake KotoshogikuELO 2548 ・ Belt Grinder

• Asashoryu (Yokozuna) vs Kisenosato (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Asashoryu leads 13-4; the rating model gives Asashoryu 83%; Thrower vs Belt Grinder — style matchup slightly favors Asashoryu
• Asasekiryu (Komusubi) vs Hakuho (Yokozuna) →head-to-head: Hakuho leads 13-2; the rating model gives Asasekiryu 14%; Thrower vs Thrower — style matchup is even
• Kotomitsuki (Ozeki) vs Kokkai (Maegashira 1) →head-to-head: Kotomitsuki leads 13-7; the rating model gives Kotomitsuki 67%; Belt Grinder vs Pulling Pusher — style matchup is even