Terunofuji chases the rope at July (Nagoya) 2021

Yokozuna Hakuho, who sat out the entire tournament last time, returns looking to make amends.

Ozeki Shodai went 9-6 last basho and looks to build on it.

In the sanyaku ranks, Wakatakakage moves up to Komusubi after going 9-6 at Maegashira 1; Meisei moves up to Komusubi after going 8-7 at Maegashira 2.

• Yokozuna Hakuholast basho 0-0-15
• Ozeki Shodailast basho 9-6
• Komusubi Wakatakakagelast basho Maegashira 1, 9-6
• Komusubi Meiseilast basho Maegashira 2, 8-7

Ozeki Terunofuji has now lifted the cup two basho running. That already meets the "back-to-back championships" standard — how he performs here will decide whether the promotion council convenes. Fifteen days begin in which he can hardly afford a single loss.

After going 10-5 two basho ago, ozeki Takakeisho 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 Asanoyama, after finishing 7-5-3 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 2, but he has fought his way out of his only previous one. His rating of 2583 remains near his career peak (No. 4 in makuuchi) — the ability is intact, and escape is well within reach.

• Ozeki Terunofujilast basho 12-3 ・ champion ・ yokozuna bid
• Ozeki Takakeisholast basho 12-3 ・ runner-up ・ yokozuna bid
• Ozeki Asanoyamalast basho 7-5-3 ・ kadoban #2

Making their makuuchi debut: Ichiyamamoto.

Returning to makuuchi: Ura, Chiyonoo, Tokushoryu.

• Maegashira 13 Urareturning
• Maegashira 14 Chiyonooreturning
• Maegashira 15 Tokushoryureturning
• Maegashira 17 Ichiyamamotodebut

Hakuho tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2711. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Yokozuna HakuhoELO 2711
• Ozeki TerunofujiELO 2691
• Ozeki TakakeishoELO 2614 ・ Forward Pusher
• Ozeki AsanoyamaELO 2583 ・ Belt Grinder
• Sekiwake TakayasuELO 2571 ・ Pulling Pusher

• Hakuho (Yokozuna) vs Meisei (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Hakuho leads 2-0; the rating model gives Hakuho 77%
• Terunofuji (Ozeki) vs Endo (Maegashira 1) →head-to-head: Terunofuji leads 10-5; the rating model gives Terunofuji 79%
• Daieisho (Maegashira 1) vs Takakeisho (Ozeki) →head-to-head: Takakeisho leads 19-9; the rating model gives Daieisho 35%; Forward Pusher vs Forward Pusher — style matchup is even