Kadoban pressure on Kotooshu at November (Kyushu) 2011

Yokozuna Hakuho, who won the title at 13-2, goes for back-to-back championships.

Ozeki Baruto went 10-5 last basho and looks to build on it. Ozeki Harumafuji went 8-7 last basho and looks to build on it. Ozeki Kotoshogiku went a strong 12-3 last basho and belongs in the title conversation.

In the sanyaku ranks, Homasho moves up to Komusubi after going 10-5 at Maegashira 1.

• Yokozuna Hakuholast basho 13-2
• Ozeki Barutolast basho Ozeki, 10-5
• Ozeki Harumafujilast basho Ozeki, 8-7
• Ozeki Kotoshogikulast basho Sekiwake, 12-3
• Komusubi Homasholast basho Maegashira 1, 10-5

ozeki Kotooshu, after finishing 1-6-8 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 4, but he has fought his way out of all 3 previous ones. The numbers add to the worry: his rating of 2426 sits 263 points below his peak of 2689, just No. 12 in makuuchi — thin for an ozeki. Can he summon the rank's pride anyway?

• Ozeki Kotooshulast basho 1-6-8 ・ kadoban #4

Making their makuuchi debut: Myogiryu, Shohozan, Sadanofuji, Aoiyama, Tsurugidake.

Returning to makuuchi: Takarafuji.

• Maegashira 11 Myogiryudebut
• Maegashira 14 Takarafujireturning
• Maegashira 15 Shohozandebut
• Maegashira 15 Sadanofujidebut
• Maegashira 16 Aoiyamadebut
• Maegashira 16 Tsurugidakedebut

Hakuho tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2903. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Yokozuna HakuhoELO 2903 ・ Thrower
• Ozeki KotoshogikuELO 2698 ・ Belt Grinder
• Sekiwake KisenosatoELO 2695 ・ Belt Grinder
• Ozeki BarutoELO 2661 ・ Thrower
• Ozeki HarumafujiELO 2645 ・ Thrower

• Hakuho (Yokozuna) vs Homasho (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Hakuho leads 17-0; the rating model gives Hakuho 90%; Thrower vs Forward Pusher — style matchup slightly favors Hakuho
• Baruto (Ozeki) vs Toyonoshima (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Baruto leads 19-4; the rating model gives Baruto 64%; Thrower vs Thrower — style matchup is even
• Okinoumi (Maegashira 1) vs Harumafuji (Ozeki) →head-to-head: Harumafuji leads 14-6; the rating model gives Okinoumi 29%; Thrower vs Thrower — style matchup is even