Kadoban pressure on Kotooshu at May (Natsu) 2013

Yokozuna Hakuho, who won the title at 15-0, goes for back-to-back championships. Yokozuna Harumafuji went 9-6 last basho and anchors the field again.

Ozeki Kisenosato went 10-5 last basho and looks to build on it. Ozeki Kakuryu went 8-7 last basho and looks to build on it. Ozeki Kotoshogiku went 8-7 last basho and looks to build on it.

In the sanyaku ranks, Okinoumi moves up to Komusubi after going 11-4 at Maegashira 7.

• Yokozuna Hakuholast basho Yokozuna, 15-0
• Yokozuna Harumafujilast basho Yokozuna, 9-6
• Ozeki Kisenosatolast basho 10-5
• Ozeki Kakuryulast basho Ozeki, 8-7
• Ozeki Kotoshogikulast basho Ozeki, 8-7
• Komusubi Okinoumilast basho Maegashira 7, 11-4

ozeki Kotooshu, after finishing 1-5-9 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 6, but he has fought his way out of all 5 previous ones. The numbers add to the worry: his rating of 2522 sits 167 points below his peak of 2689, just No. 11 in makuuchi — thin for an ozeki. Can he summon the rank's pride anyway?

• Ozeki Kotooshulast basho 1-5-9 ・ kadoban #6

Making their makuuchi debut: Chiyootori, Homarefuji, Azumaryu, Daikiho.

Returning to makuuchi: Kyokushuho.

• Maegashira 12 Kyokushuhoreturning
• Maegashira 14 Chiyootoridebut
• Maegashira 15 Homarefujidebut
• Maegashira 16 Azumaryudebut
• Maegashira 16 Daikihodebut

Hakuho tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2917. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Yokozuna HakuhoELO 2917 ・ Thrower
• Yokozuna HarumafujiELO 2746
• Ozeki KisenosatoELO 2680
• Sekiwake GoeidoELO 2627
• Komusubi TochiozanELO 2626 ・ Forward Pusher

• Hakuho (Yokozuna) vs Tochiozan (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Hakuho leads 38-2; the rating model gives Hakuho 84%; Thrower vs Forward Pusher — style matchup slightly favors Hakuho
• Okinoumi (Komusubi) vs Harumafuji (Yokozuna) →head-to-head: Harumafuji leads 14-6; the rating model gives Okinoumi 13%
• Kisenosato (Ozeki) vs Myogiryu (Maegashira 1) →head-to-head: Kisenosato leads 16-5; the rating model gives Kisenosato 71%