Kadoban pressure on Kotoshogiku, Goeido at January (Hatsu) 2015

Yokozuna Hakuho, who won the title at 14-1, goes for back-to-back championships. Yokozuna Kakuryu went a strong 12-3 last basho and anchors the field again. Yokozuna Harumafuji went a strong 11-4 last basho and anchors the field again.

Ozeki Kisenosato went a strong 11-4 last basho and belongs in the title conversation.

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

• Yokozuna Hakuholast basho 14-1
• Yokozuna Kakuryulast basho 12-3
• Yokozuna Harumafujilast basho 11-4
• Ozeki Kisenosatolast basho Ozeki, 11-4
• Komusubi Takayasulast basho Maegashira 3, 10-5
• Komusubi Tochiozanlast basho Maegashira 1, 8-7

ozeki Kotoshogiku, after finishing 6-9 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 2518 sits 218 points below his peak of 2736, just No. 7 in makuuchi — thin for an ozeki. Can he summon the rank's pride anyway?

Meanwhile, ozeki Goeido, after finishing 5-10 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is his first kadoban since reaching the rank. The numbers add to the worry: his rating of 2513 sits 220 points below his peak of 2733, just No. 8 in makuuchi — thin for an ozeki. Can he summon the rank's pride anyway?

• Ozeki Kotoshogikulast basho 6-9 ・ kadoban #4
• Ozeki Goeidolast basho 5-10 ・ kadoban #1

Returning to makuuchi: Tokitenku, Sadanofuji, Kagamio, Tosayutaka.

• Maegashira 13 Tokitenkureturning
• Maegashira 15 Sadanofujireturning
• Maegashira 15 Kagamioreturning
• Maegashira 16 Tosayutakareturning

Hakuho tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2929. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Yokozuna HakuhoELO 2929 ・ Thrower
• Yokozuna KakuryuELO 2721 ・ Pulling Pusher
• Yokozuna HarumafujiELO 2703
• Ozeki KisenosatoELO 2655
• Sekiwake AoiyamaELO 2541 ・ Pulling Pusher

• Hakuho (Yokozuna) vs Tochiozan (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Hakuho leads 38-2; the rating model gives Hakuho 91%; Thrower vs Technician — style matchup slightly favors Hakuho
• Takayasu (Komusubi) vs Kakuryu (Yokozuna) →head-to-head: Kakuryu leads 13-10; the rating model gives Takayasu 23%; Pulling Pusher vs Pulling Pusher — style matchup is even
• Harumafuji (Yokozuna) vs Tochinoshin (Maegashira 1) →head-to-head: Harumafuji leads 23-6; the rating model gives Harumafuji 80%