Kisenosato chases the rope at July (Nagoya) 2014

Yokozuna Hakuho, who won the title at 14-1, goes for back-to-back championships. Yokozuna Harumafuji went a strong 11-4 last basho and anchors the field again. Yokozuna Kakuryu went 9-6 last basho and anchors the field again.

In the sanyaku ranks, Aminishiki moves up to Komusubi after going 10-5 at Maegashira 3; Aoiyama moves up to Komusubi after going 8-7 at Maegashira 1.

• Yokozuna Hakuholast basho 14-1
• Yokozuna Harumafujilast basho 11-4
• Yokozuna Kakuryulast basho 9-6
• Komusubi Aminishikilast basho Maegashira 3, 10-5
• Komusubi Aoiyamalast basho Maegashira 1, 8-7

After going 9-6 two basho ago, ozeki Kisenosato put up 13-2 last basho. Another championship-level run would put yokozuna promotion in sight. Fifteen days begin in which he can hardly afford a single loss.

Meanwhile, ozeki Kotoshogiku, after finishing 5-10 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 3, but he has fought his way out of all 2 previous ones. The numbers add to the worry: his rating of 2487 sits 249 points below his peak of 2736, just No. 8 in makuuchi — thin for an ozeki. Can he summon the rank's pride anyway?

• Ozeki Kisenosatolast basho 13-2 ・ yokozuna bid
• Ozeki Kotoshogikulast basho 5-10 ・ kadoban #3

Returning to makuuchi: Kagamio, Azumaryu, Wakanosato.

• Maegashira 14 Kagamioreturning
• Maegashira 14 Azumaryureturning
• Maegashira 16 Wakanosatoreturning

Hakuho tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2916. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Yokozuna HakuhoELO 2916 ・ Thrower
• Yokozuna HarumafujiELO 2762
• Yokozuna KakuryuELO 2726 ・ Pulling Pusher
• Ozeki KisenosatoELO 2726
• Sekiwake TochiozanELO 2652 ・ Forward Pusher

• Hakuho (Yokozuna) vs Aminishiki (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Hakuho leads 37-4; the rating model gives Hakuho 92%
• Aoiyama (Komusubi) vs Harumafuji (Yokozuna) →head-to-head: Harumafuji leads 15-3; the rating model gives Aoiyama 17%
• Kakuryu (Yokozuna) vs Ikioi (Maegashira 1) →head-to-head: Kakuryu leads 10-4; the rating model gives Kakuryu 81%; Pulling Pusher vs Thrower — style matchup slightly favors Ikioi