The eyes of Japanese sportsdom will again be turned on the Kokugikan arena at Kuramae, Asakusa from Sunday for 15 days for the New Year's Sumo Grand Championship Tournament. Besides the 15,000 rabid fans expected to jam the sumo pavilion daily, millions will be viewing the matches by television or listening to accounts over the radio.
    Sumo experts pick 275-pound Yokozuna-ranked Chiyonoyama of the East team as the slight favorite over newly promoted Yokozuna, Tochinishiki, to capture top honors. Tochi, 242-pound top man of the West aggregation, noted for his clever, speedy tactics, has stomped off with the championship Emperor's Cup the past two straight grand tourneys, losing only one of his 15 matches in the last.
    The experts favor Chiyo on the basis of his recent impressive display of superior strength in his matches against 354-pound teammate, Kagamisato, a Haridashi Yokozuna, in tours of the countryside and in workouts.
    Tochinishiki has on his practice bouts parrying off his opponents' attacks on his vulnerable spots, but has not looked as formidable as Chiyonoyama. However, much fan interest is drawn to the performance of Tochi in his first appearance in a grand championship tournament since his elevation to Yokozuna.
    Rated behind Tochi are; Yokozuna, Yoshibayama, 322 pounds, of the West side, followed by Kagamisato, Ouchiyama, a third-ranking Sekiwake, and Mitsuneyama, an Ozeki (second rank). Although he is rapidly regaining his form in recent workouts, Mitsuneyama who has been convalescing from illness is placed below Ouchiyama.