Sanctuary is a drama series about a young man who resorts to sumo in order to relieve his family's financial burdens. The young punk's journey into a sumo world steeped in tradition ruffles feathers, as well as contributes to his growth and maturity.
As with many Japanese productions, it's got the "Japanese touch"... a lot of live drama has anime-type tropes and jokes... which takes some getting used to if you are not used to Asian cinema...
Juxtaposed to the anime-esque moments are the raw (and sometimes bloody) moments. There is hazing in sports, as Japan has social hierarchy. There is match fixing in sumo called yaochau. Successful Japanese men frequently party with escorts.
But what I enjoyed the most were the delicate traditions in sumo. When I first watched sumo, I was disappointed at how fast everything happened, and ended. But knowing what things mean adds depth and beauty to sumo.
The second last episode was empowering and uplifting. The ending may garner fixed feelings. I was a little taken a back, too. But it was a beautiful and somehow emotional ending. And I liked where it left off. Enjoy the ride.
As with many Japanese productions, it's got the "Japanese touch"... a lot of live drama has anime-type tropes and jokes... which takes some getting used to if you are not used to Asian cinema...
Juxtaposed to the anime-esque moments are the raw (and sometimes bloody) moments. There is hazing in sports, as Japan has social hierarchy. There is match fixing in sumo called yaochau. Successful Japanese men frequently party with escorts.
But what I enjoyed the most were the delicate traditions in sumo. When I first watched sumo, I was disappointed at how fast everything happened, and ended. But knowing what things mean adds depth and beauty to sumo.
The second last episode was empowering and uplifting. The ending may garner fixed feelings. I was a little taken a back, too. But it was a beautiful and somehow emotional ending. And I liked where it left off. Enjoy the ride.