Debt, violence, family dysfunction…
Pushed to the brink, delinquent Kiyoshi OZE (Wataru ICHINOSE) takes on the world of sumo as a wrestler under the name “Enno” in this bold and intense human drama.
While sumo is known across the globe as a part of traditional Japanese culture and a religious ritual passed down for over 1,500 years, the world of this sport remains veiled in secrecy. The “dohyo,” the ring where the sumo matches are fought, is truly a “sanctuary” built on the foundation of this unusual world.
Unmotivated to train, often skipping practice and defying his more experienced seniors, Oze is branded as a hopeless case, but he gradually delves deeper into the world of sumo. This human drama depicts Oze and the young people surrounding the world of sumo as they struggle to find their way in life, including Shimizu (Shota SOMETANI), who loves the sport but is not blessed with an ideal physique, and Asuka KUNISHIMA (Shiori KUTSUNA), a newspaper reporter who is relegated to covering sumo.
This tale of spirited young people fighting for an improbable victory in the depths of despair while at the mercy of the “sanctuary” is about to begin.
(Source: Netflix)
Following and in contrast to the more light-hearted Disney+ remake of Sumo Do, Sumo Don't in October 2022, as well as capitalising on the consistent popularity of sumo wrestling, the gritty Sanctuary is directed by Kan EGUCHI (The Fable movies) based on a screenplay by Tomoki KANAZAWA. Netflix will debut this 8 episode sports drama series on May 4, 2023.
