Terunofuji chases the rope at May (Natsu) 2017

Yokozuna Kisenosato, who won the title at 13-2, goes for back-to-back championships. Yokozuna Kakuryu went 10-5 last basho and anchors the field again. Yokozuna Harumafuji went 10-5 last basho and anchors the field again. Yokozuna Hakuho, who withdrew at 2-3-10 last time, returns looking to make amends.

In the sanyaku ranks, Yoshikaze moves up to Komusubi after going 8-7 at Maegashira 4.

• Yokozuna Kisenosatolast basho Yokozuna, 13-2
• Yokozuna Kakuryulast basho 10-5
• Yokozuna Harumafujilast basho 10-5
• Yokozuna Hakuholast basho Yokozuna, 2-3-10
• Komusubi Yoshikazelast basho Maegashira 4, 8-7

After going 4-11 two basho ago, ozeki Terunofuji forced a playoff at 13-2 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 1-5-9 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 5, but he has fought his way out of all 4 previous ones. The numbers add to the worry: his rating of 2534 sits 199 points below his peak of 2733, just No. 9 in makuuchi — thin for an ozeki. Can he summon the rank's pride anyway?

• Ozeki Terunofujilast basho 13-2 ・ runner-up ・ yokozuna bid
• Ozeki Goeidolast basho 1-5-9 ・ kadoban #5

Making their makuuchi debut: Onosho, Yutakayama.

Returning to makuuchi: Toyohibiki, Chiyotairyu.

• Maegashira 13 Toyohibikireturning
• Maegashira 14 Onoshodebut
• Maegashira 14 Chiyotairyureturning
• Maegashira 16 Yutakayamadebut

Kisenosato tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2812. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Yokozuna KisenosatoELO 2812 ・ Belt Grinder
• Yokozuna HakuhoELO 2671 ・ Thrower
• Yokozuna HarumafujiELO 2668 ・ Thrower
• Sekiwake TakayasuELO 2657 ・ Pulling Pusher
• Yokozuna KakuryuELO 2650 ・ Pulling Pusher

• Kisenosato (Yokozuna) vs Yoshikaze (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Kisenosato leads 15-6; the rating model gives Kisenosato 88%; Belt Grinder vs Pulling Pusher — style matchup is even
• Mitakeumi (Komusubi) vs Kakuryu (Yokozuna) →head-to-head: Kakuryu leads 8-6; the rating model gives Mitakeumi 41%; Forward Pusher vs Pulling Pusher — style matchup is even
• Harumafuji (Yokozuna) vs Kotoshogiku (Sekiwake) →head-to-head: Kotoshogiku leads 35-30; the rating model gives Harumafuji 72%; Thrower vs Belt Grinder — style matchup slightly favors Harumafuji