Newly promoted to the sumo rank of ‘Yokozuna’, Mongolian  Kakuryu Anand, is currently leading the Hatsu basho tournament with 8 wins.  

Two Mongolian grand champions are absent from the tournament. Yokozuna Hakuho has skipped the basho after four days of competing due to the recurrence of an old injury of his right big toe.

Harumafuji retired from the sport in November after assaulting a junior wrestler, which received much adverse publicity.