Hinomaru Sumo

About Hinomaru Sumo

If you are hunting for a new action series, Hinomaru Sumo (火ノ丸相撲) deserves a look (2018). The setup goes like this. The setup: It is a divine ritual, a martial art, a combat sport—it's sumo!! A "small" new student, Ushio Hinomaru, appears before the weak little sumo club of Oodachi High School!

Soon after, the words "big" and "heavy" are the rules to this sport, which does not fit this newbie any inch, but this guy goes and does what...!? Ushio and the small sumo club climbs its way to the top! The goal is Hinoshita Kaisan (A title for the highest rank in professional sumo, equivalent of Yokozuna)!

In an action series like this, fight choreography, pacing and sound design carry much of the weight. Ushio Hinomaru (Atsushi Abe) and Yuuma Gojou (Kentarou Kumagai) are two of the characters you will meet early. It will appeal most to viewers who like fast, high-impact fights. With 24 episodes in total, there is enough room for the story to develop.

Production & Appeal

Production sits with GONZO, which means the visual identity of Hinomaru Sumo follows that studio's craft. Within the action category, fight choreography, pacing and sound design carry much of the weight. At 7.2/10 it earns a solid reception, a safe pick for fans of the genre. Voice casting, including Atsushi Abe as Ushio Hinomaru, adds to the appeal for fans who follow seiyuu. It aired in 2018, which makes it easy to place in the wider anime calendar.