Kadoban pressure on Kirishima at May (Natsu) 2024

Yokozuna Terunofuji, who withdrew at 2-5-8 last time, returns looking to make amends.

Ozeki Hoshoryu went a strong 11-4 last basho and belongs in the title conversation. Ozeki Kotozakura went 10-5 last basho and looks to build on it. Ozeki Takakeisho withdrew at 8-6-1 last basho — lasting the full fifteen days comes first.

In the sanyaku ranks, Asanoyama moves up to Komusubi after going 9-6 at Maegashira 1; Onosato moves up to Komusubi after going 11-4 at Maegashira 5.

• Yokozuna Terunofujilast basho 2-5-8
• Ozeki Hoshoryulast basho Ozeki, 11-4
• Ozeki Kotozakuralast basho Ozeki, 10-5
• Ozeki Takakeisholast basho 8-6-1
• Komusubi Asanoyamalast basho Maegashira 1, 9-6
• Komusubi Onosatolast basho Maegashira 5, 11-4

ozeki Kirishima, after finishing 5-10 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 2535 sits 158 points below his peak of 2693, just No. 8 in makuuchi — thin for an ozeki. Can he summon the rank's pride anyway?

• Ozeki Kirishimalast basho 5-10 ・ kadoban #2

Making their makuuchi debut: Oshoma, Tokihayate.

Returning to makuuchi: Mitoryu, Tomokaze, Takarafuji.

• Maegashira 13 Mitoryureturning
• Maegashira 14 Oshomadebut
• Maegashira 15 Tokihayatedebut
• Maegashira 16 Tomokazereturning
• Maegashira 16 Takarafujireturning

Kotozakura tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2652. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Ozeki KotozakuraELO 2652 ・ Forward Pusher
• Ozeki HoshoryuELO 2651 ・ Thrower
• Yokozuna TerunofujiELO 2623
• Komusubi AsanoyamaELO 2589 ・ Belt Grinder
• Sekiwake WakamotoharuELO 2573 ・ Belt Grinder

• Terunofuji (Yokozuna) vs Onosato (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Onosato leads 2-1; the rating model gives Terunofuji 68%
• Hoshoryu (Ozeki) vs Atamifuji (Maegashira 1) →head-to-head: Atamifuji leads 6-5; the rating model gives Hoshoryu 73%
• Daieisho (Maegashira 1) vs Kotozakura (Ozeki) →head-to-head: Kotozakura leads 13-10; the rating model gives Daieisho 30%; Forward Pusher vs Forward Pusher — style matchup is even