Kadoban pressure on Takakeisho at March (Haru) 2024

Yokozuna Terunofuji, who won the title at 13-2, goes for back-to-back championships.

Ozeki Kirishima went a strong 11-4 last basho and belongs in the title conversation. Ozeki Hoshoryu withdrew at 10-4-1 last basho — lasting the full fifteen days comes first. Ozeki Kotozakura went forced a playoff at 13-2 last basho and looks to build on it.

In the sanyaku ranks, Wakamotoharu moves up to Sekiwake after going 10-5 at Maegashira 1; Abi moves up to Komusubi after going 8-7 at Maegashira 2; Nishikigi moves up to Komusubi after going 8-7 at Maegashira 5.

• Yokozuna Terunofujilast basho 13-2
• Ozeki Kirishimalast basho 11-4
• Ozeki Hoshoryulast basho 10-4-1
• Ozeki Kotozakuralast basho Sekiwake, 13-2
• Sekiwake Wakamotoharulast basho Maegashira 1, 10-5
• Komusubi Abilast basho Maegashira 2, 8-7
• Komusubi Nishikigilast basho Maegashira 5, 8-7

ozeki Takakeisho, after finishing 2-2-11 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 8 — he survived 6 of 7, but fell to sekiwake 1 time. His pre-basho rating stands at 2581 (No. 5 in makuuchi); the fifteen days ahead will show whether he can turn it around.

• Ozeki Takakeisholast basho 2-2-11 ・ kadoban #8

Making their makuuchi debut: Takerufuji.

Returning to makuuchi: Nishikifuji, Kitanowaka, Roga, Daiamami.

• Maegashira 14 Nishikifujireturning
• Maegashira 14 Kitanowakareturning
• Maegashira 15 Rogareturning
• Maegashira 16 Daiamamireturning
• Maegashira 17 Takerufujidebut

Terunofuji tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2741. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Yokozuna TerunofujiELO 2741
• Ozeki KirishimaELO 2689 ・ Thrower
• Ozeki KotozakuraELO 2682 ・ Forward Pusher
• Ozeki HoshoryuELO 2630 ・ Thrower
• Ozeki TakakeishoELO 2581 ・ Forward Pusher

• Terunofuji (Yokozuna) vs Nishikigi (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Terunofuji leads 4-3; the rating model gives Terunofuji 85%
• Kirishima (Ozeki) vs Abi (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Kirishima leads 12-8; the rating model gives Kirishima 73%; Thrower vs Pulling Pusher — style matchup slightly favors Kirishima
• Ura (Maegashira 1) vs Hoshoryu (Ozeki) →head-to-head: Hoshoryu leads 11-6; the rating model gives Ura 32%; Technician vs Thrower — style matchup slightly favors Hoshoryu