Kadoban pressure on Kaio at September (Aki) 2010

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

Ozeki Harumafuji went 10-5 last basho and looks to build on it. Ozeki Kotooshu went 10-5 last basho and looks to build on it. Ozeki Baruto went 8-7 last basho and looks to build on it.

In the sanyaku ranks, Aran moves up to Sekiwake after going 11-4 at Maegashira 2; Tochiozan moves up to Sekiwake after going 9-6 at Maegashira 1; Kakuryu moves up to Komusubi after going 11-4 at Maegashira 6.

• Yokozuna Hakuholast basho 15-0
• Ozeki Harumafujilast basho Ozeki, 10-5
• Ozeki Kotooshulast basho Ozeki, 10-5
• Ozeki Barutolast basho Ozeki, 8-7
• Sekiwake Aranlast basho Maegashira 2, 11-4
• Sekiwake Tochiozanlast basho Maegashira 1, 9-6
• Komusubi Kakuryulast basho Maegashira 6, 11-4

ozeki Kaio, after finishing 6-5-4 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 14 — he survived 12 of 13, but fell to sekiwake 1 time. His pre-basho rating stands at 2547 (No. 5 in makuuchi); the fifteen days ahead will show whether he can turn it around.

• Ozeki Kaiolast basho 6-5-4 ・ kadoban #14

Making their makuuchi debut: Sokokurai, Kyokunankai.

Returning to makuuchi: Masatsukasa, Kotokasuga, Koryu, Kasugao, Tochinonada, Tosanoumi, Toyozakura.

• Maegashira 8 Masatsukasareturning
• Maegashira 11 Kotokasugareturning
• Maegashira 12 Koryureturning
• Maegashira 13 Kasugaoreturning
• Maegashira 13 Sokokuraidebut
• Maegashira 14 Tochinonadareturning
• Maegashira 16 Kyokunankaidebut
• Maegashira 16 Tosanoumireturning
• Maegashira 17 Toyozakurareturning

Hakuho tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 3012. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Yokozuna HakuhoELO 3012 ・ Thrower
• Ozeki HarumafujiELO 2635 ・ Thrower
• Ozeki BarutoELO 2627
• Ozeki KotooshuELO 2604
• Ozeki KaioELO 2547

• Hakuho (Yokozuna) vs Kakuryu (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Hakuho leads 44-8; the rating model gives Hakuho 95%; Thrower vs Pulling Pusher — style matchup slightly favors Hakuho
• Harumafuji (Ozeki) vs Kisenosato (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Harumafuji leads 38-24; the rating model gives Harumafuji 69%; Thrower vs Belt Grinder — style matchup slightly favors Harumafuji
• Tokitenku (Maegashira 1) vs Kotooshu (Ozeki) →head-to-head: Kotooshu leads 14-8; the rating model gives Tokitenku 24%