Anime Reviews (2010-2019): Hinomaru Sumo – Part Two (2018/2019)

If you love sports anime and are open to watching a very cool sports anime about the world of sumo wrestling, definitely give “Hinomaru Sumo” a chance! I recommend it!

TITLE: Hinomaru Sumo: Part Two

ANIME RELEASE DATE IN JAPAN: 2018-2019

DURATION: Episodes 13-24

BLU-RAY INFORMATION: 1080p High Definition, 4×3, Japanese Dolby TrueHD 2.0, English Dolby TrueHD 5.1, Subtitles: English

COMPANY: Funimation

RATED: TV 14

Release Date: April 7, 2020

Original Creator: Kawada

Directed by Yamamoto Yasutaka

Series Composition by Uda Konosuke

Character Design: Kii Tanaka

Anime Production: GONZO

Featuring the following voice talent

Abe Atsushi/Ricco Fajardo as Ushio Hinomaru

Adam Gibbs as Tsuji Kirihito

Murase Ayumu/Stephen Fu as Mitsuhashi Kei

Ishikawa Kaito/Alejandro Saab as Sada Mizuki

Yoshito/Anthony Bowling as Sanada Yuki

Kumagai Kentaro/Brandon Potter as Gojou Yuma

Ono Daisuke/Bryan Massey as Hyodo Masato

Yashiro Taku/Chris Gardner as Sawai Rion

Takeuchi Ryota/Daman Mills as Shidō Tennōji

Tomimori Justin/Dave Trosko as Stefanov Daniel

Kakihara Tetsuya/David Matranga as Terehara Takuya

Kimura Subaru/David Wald as Kanamori Tsuyoshi

Tanabe Rui/Felecia Angelle as Hori Chizuko

Hosoya Yoshimasa/Gabe Kunda as Hikage Tenma

Sugiyama Noriaki/Howard Wang as Yomoda Jin

Takeuchi Shunsuke/Ian Sinclair as Kuze Sosuke

Shingaki Tarusuke/J. Michael Tatum as Saenoyama Norihiro

Komatsu Mikako/Jad Saxton as Gojo Reina

Namikawa Daisuke/Jarrod Greene as Araki Gennosuke

Goda Hozumi/Jeremy Inman as Shibakiyama Oyakada

Yoshinaga Takuto/Justin Briner as Kariya Shun

Sato Takuya/Marcus D. Stimac as Kunisaki Chihiro

Matsukawa Hiroki/Ray Hurd as Mamiya Keiichi

Ochiai Fukushi/Tyson Rinehart as Ozeki Shinya

Dedication and teamwork are the name of this game, so get ready to throw all of your weight behind this ragtag group of wrestlers! It’s tournament time, and these underdogs are prepared to prove that heft alone is not at the heart of sumo.

Back in 2014, mangaka Kawada created a sumo shonen manga titled “Hinomaru Zumo” (Hinomaru Sumo) which was serialized on “Weekly Shonen Jump” until ending in July 2019.

A 24-episode anime series aired from October 2018 to March 2019 and now the anime series is available on Blu-ray in North America courtesy of Funimation.

The series revolves around Ushio Hinomaru, a two-time Yokuzuna in elementary school and absolutely respects and gives his all to sumo. But unfortunately because he is short, the only way he can compete professionally is by joining a sumo club in school and winning the grand sumo tournament which will grant him the status to compete despite the size rule.

But as Ushio intends to join the Ishigami High sumo team, the powerhouse of sumo wrestling schools, he accidentally shows up at Odachi High and despite the school having a dedicated captain, Ozeki Shinya, the sumo club is non-existent and the dojo is used as a hangout for delinquents led by Gojo Yuma.

When Gojo and his friends desecrate the sumo area, Ushio challenges Gojo, who happens to be a former regional karate champion and defeats him.

This will lead to Ushio and Ozeki forming an alliance to create the sumo club and recruit more members to take on the powerful sumo clubs at other high schools.

Will Ushio Hinomaru’s dream of competing as a professional sumo wrestler ever happen? Considering he’s 5’2″ and many thinking he has no chance?

The main characters of “Hinomaru Sumo” are:

- Ushio Hinomaru – A two-time elementary school Yokuzana. But because of his size at 5’2″, he misses the requirement of competing in sumo (the rule is that you have to be 5’6″). So, the only way he can get by the rules is by becoming the champion in the high school level, which allows champions to bypass the rule and compete professionally. Ushio is known for his physique and scars all over his body and has always overcome challenges, especially since his parents have passed away and trying to be independent, he has to become a leader/teammate.
- Ozeki Shinya – The club leader of the Odachi High Sumo Club. Lacked confidence but after meeting and hanging out with Ushio, especially sparring against him, he has raised the level of his own skills.
- Gojo Yuma – A former karate regional karate champion. Was the leader of a group of delinquents but after his defeat from Ushio, he joins the sumo team to become stronger.
- Kunisaki Chihiro – A national wrestling champion who attends Odachi High School. He aspires to become a mixed-martial artist and while not good at school academics, he becomes a sumo wrestler in able to learn more from Ushio and competition.
- Mitsuhashi Kei – Joins the sumo team and wants to become better.
- Tsuji Kirihito – The coach of the sumo club, who grew up and trained with Ushio but sumo was cut short due to a health problem. He uses his skills to train the Odachi High Sumo Club members.
- Gojo Reina – Student Body President, Daichi High’s Beauty Queen and can’t stand Ushio for beating her older brother, despite hanging out the sumo club area all the time.
- Hori Chizuko – Loves sumo and wants to become the manager of the club.

As for special features, included are:

Episode 18 Commentary
Video Short “Graduation Sumo” !
Textless Opening and Closing Songs

As for extras, a digital copy for Funimation and six character cards are included.

When it comes to sports anime, it’s always consistent with individuals with special skills working as a team at their high school and taking on other teams.

May it be “Slam Dunk”, “Prince of Tennis”, “Touch”, “Ace of Diamond”, “Eyeshield 21”, “Captain Tsubasa”, “Haikyuu!!”, etc.

But this is the first time in which I have come across a sports anime based on the world of sumo and “Hinomaru Sumo” does a good job of portraying that world.

And I think that for many people, not only will this anime introduce people outside of Japan to sumo but may lead them to go out and watch sumo and take an interest in it.

The concept of a person who doesn’t fit the mold of a sumo wrestler, loves it but is unable to compete professionally because he’s too short, this is rather interesting. And the drive for him to become a yokozuna, pushes him to take on the top sumo wrestlers at various high schools, so he can win the grand competition and bypass the height rule.

His energy, his dedication helps fuel his fellow members of the sumo club and pushing them to become better as they go to compete against powerhouse sumo teams.

The first half was more about the formation of the team and of course, the introduction of the key characters.

With part two, this now focuses on the sumo tournament but also goes into introducing various characters from other schools.

But for the most part, the stories are focused on Odachi High Sumo Club being considered the underdogs and how the guys begin competing in individual and team competitions and focusing on each member’s primary matches.

You also become interested in the training which Hinomaru participates in and whether or not he will succeed in achieving his dream.

It’s a rather interesting anime series which I actually admit to being captivated by it all and enjoyed the series from beginning to end. It’s also cool to have a sport which may lead to one becoming interested in sumo wrestling.

Overall, if you love sports anime and are open to watching a very cool sports anime about the world of sumo wrestling, definitely give “Hinomaru Sumo” a chance! I recommend it!

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