Kotooshu chases the rope at July (Nagoya) 2008

Yokozuna Asashoryu went a strong 11-4 last basho and anchors the field again. Yokozuna Hakuho went a strong 11-4 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.

In the sanyaku ranks, Toyonoshima moves up to Komusubi after going 11-4 at Maegashira 5.

• Yokozuna Asashoryulast basho 11-4
• Yokozuna Hakuholast basho 11-4
• Ozeki Kotomitsukilast basho Ozeki, 8-7
• Ozeki Kaiolast basho Ozeki, 8-7
• Komusubi Toyonoshimalast basho Maegashira 5, 11-4

After going 2-7-6 two basho ago, ozeki Kotooshu took the last one at 14-1. 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 5-10 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 16 — he survived 11 of 15, but fell to sekiwake 4 times. The numbers add to the worry: his rating of 2421 sits 168 points below his peak of 2589, just No. 15 in makuuchi — thin for an ozeki. Can he summon the rank's pride anyway?

• Ozeki Kotooshulast basho 14-1 ・ champion ・ yokozuna bid
• Ozeki Chiyotaikailast basho 5-10 ・ kadoban #16

Making their makuuchi debut: Kimurayama, Koryu, Masatsukasa, Chiyohakuho.

• Maegashira 12 Kimurayamadebut
• Maegashira 13 Koryudebut
• Maegashira 16 Masatsukasadebut
• Maegashira 16 Chiyohakuhodebut

Asashoryu tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2761. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Yokozuna AsashoryuELO 2761 ・ Thrower
• Yokozuna HakuhoELO 2735 ・ Thrower
• Ozeki KotooshuELO 2599
• Komusubi KisenosatoELO 2577 ・ Belt Grinder
• Sekiwake HarumafujiELO 2571 ・ Thrower

• Asashoryu (Yokozuna) vs Toyonoshima (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Asashoryu leads 7-2; the rating model gives Asashoryu 86%; Thrower vs Technician — style matchup slightly favors Asashoryu
• Kisenosato (Komusubi) vs Hakuho (Yokozuna) →head-to-head: Hakuho leads 45-16; the rating model gives Kisenosato 29%; Belt Grinder vs Thrower — style matchup slightly favors Hakuho
• Kotooshu (Ozeki) vs Aminishiki (Maegashira 1) →head-to-head: Aminishiki leads 19-18; the rating model gives Kotooshu 68%