Terunofuji chases the rope at November (Kyushu) 2015

Yokozuna Kakuryu, who won the title at 12-3, goes for back-to-back championships. Yokozuna Hakuho, who withdrew at 0-3-12 last time, returns looking to make amends. Yokozuna Harumafuji, who sat out the entire tournament last time, returns looking to make amends.

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

In the sanyaku ranks, Yoshikaze moves up to Komusubi after going 11-4 at Maegashira 1.

• Yokozuna Kakuryulast basho Yokozuna, 12-3
• Yokozuna Hakuholast basho Yokozuna, 0-3-12
• Yokozuna Harumafujilast basho 0-0-15
• Ozeki Kisenosatolast basho 11-4
• Ozeki Kotoshogikulast basho Ozeki, 11-4
• Komusubi Yoshikazelast basho Maegashira 1, 11-4

After going 11-4 two basho ago, ozeki Terunofuji forced a playoff at 12-3 last basho, only to see the cup slip away. A championship — or a 13-win basho — here would meet the two-basho standard and make the rope real. Fifteen days begin in which he can hardly afford a single loss.

Meanwhile, ozeki Goeido, after finishing 7-8 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 2, but he has fought his way out of his only previous one. The numbers add to the worry: his rating of 2538 sits 195 points below his peak of 2733, just No. 10 in makuuchi — thin for an ozeki. Can he summon the rank's pride anyway?

• Ozeki Terunofujilast basho 12-3 ・ runner-up ・ yokozuna bid
• Ozeki Goeidolast basho 7-8 ・ kadoban #2

Making their makuuchi debut: Mitakeumi.

Returning to makuuchi: Shohozan, Toyohibiki.

• Maegashira 10 Shohozanreturning
• Maegashira 11 Mitakeumidebut
• Maegashira 13 Toyohibikireturning

Hakuho tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2821. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Yokozuna HakuhoELO 2821 ・ Thrower
• Yokozuna KakuryuELO 2746 ・ Pulling Pusher
• Ozeki TerunofujiELO 2685 ・ Belt Grinder
• Ozeki KisenosatoELO 2682
• Yokozuna HarumafujiELO 2655

• Kakuryu (Yokozuna) vs Yoshikaze (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Kakuryu leads 11-8; the rating model gives Kakuryu 75%
• Tochinoshin (Komusubi) vs Hakuho (Yokozuna) →head-to-head: Hakuho leads 27-1; the rating model gives Tochinoshin 21%; Belt Grinder vs Thrower — style matchup slightly favors Hakuho
• Harumafuji (Yokozuna) vs Myogiryu (Sekiwake) →head-to-head: Harumafuji leads 13-5; the rating model gives Harumafuji 69%