Hinomaruzumou

You don't find a lot of anime that you can really say tick all of the boxes to being the perfect experience, however Hinomaruzumou undoubtedly comes close. It evokes powerful emotions every episode and had me on the edge of my seat for the outcomes of each sumo bout, which were never predictable and always had an enrapturing dramatic flare. The soundtrack, while not particularly striking among some of the greater soundtracks we have seen in anime, is very fitting and sets the mood brilliantly at every turn. Heavily recommend this series to anyone who enjoys suspenseful action-based anime, martial art-based anime or sport-based anime.

Fat guys wearing diapers and sweating like pigs. Over weighted = over powered. Who cares if you can't bend to tie your own shoe lases when can just walks thru walls anyway. Let the slimiest man win!

I never quite understood why sumo was called a sports instead of the male version of plus sized beauty modelling, but Hinomawhatever helped me to open my eyes to the beauty of this art. Partly because it quite closely follows the normal, formulaic pattern commonly seen in sports anime and partly because of its manly and bro cast. I never quite respected sumo nor thought much about it, ... but now I kinda do.

The setup for our story will seem rather familiar to anyone who has seen classic sports series. Main bro is a prodigy with the heart, but he can't be the unbeatable sumo Jesus just yet for there are several things in the way. He himself is a manlet, practically new unit between meter and decimeter -tier midget who is too short to officially be able to become a sumo pro. He also can't join the school with the best sumo club in Japan because he is terrible at reading maps, so instead he ends up in a school which sumo club is practically dead and the whole fight sports scene in the school ruled by thugs, delinquents and cool badasses. The nearly-a-Jesus type of character with these hardships/obstacles is used to create some rather interesting mixed martial arts battles very early on and also to introduce bunch of characters who get to discover the beauty of sumo sports in the same manner as the viewers who are new to sumo do when watching the series. Development and awe-inspiring coolness exists for a while, offering a strong start for the series. This commonly slows down the pace later on and requires some back stories, build-up and character depth. And this is more or less like the route that was now chosen, but the route itself is ever so entertaining to follow.

The events are rather simple since Hinomary is a simple series that doesn't try to really be anything more. Our cast contains a wide variety of characters from people who are totally ignorant to sumo to pros whose entire life centers around it. This brings quite a few different perspectives in to the mix and shows many sides of the sports itself. The series can be rather educational from this part and thanks to the colorful cast, the way Hinomary is dealing with the basics of sumo feel very natural and smooth. The author is clearly knowledgeable about other sports series as well as the sports in question and that at least carried all the way thru this season, which main focus outside showing what sumo is and who our main characters are, is a simple interschool sumo tournament where different sumo clubs from different schools face each others.

The strongest sides with the series lie within the awe moments, fights, GAR-like atmosphere and Hinomaru's (sumo Jesus's) personality. The weakest parts are the believability of other club's members success and the lack of a proper training arc + the pacing which can be -- at time -- jumpy and seem like new episodes start off from episodic settings rather than continuing from anywhere that was shown in former episode.

Outside Hinomaru, the most interesting (and relatively bro) main character is Chihiro Kunisaki, who is a talented wrestler that now joined Hinomaru's sumo team. The remaining 4 club members from "our side" can occasionally feel bit filler-ish and much less interesting. We have super shy and skinny dude who looks incredibly unfit to physically even participate in the sports. Fat dude who is practically the exact same as the thin dude (personality-wise) except has always loved sumo and is somewhat good at it. There is also another Jesus in the series named trainer-Jesus person and he is more or less like anyone else in the series except supposedly holds lots of sumo-wisdom and wear glasses and is training our main cast.. kind of. The last club member is a delinquent thug person who was portrayed to be incredibly cool and badass in the beginning of the series, but then his personality was put on a leash pretty much and now he is just another person doing sumo without many visible&interesting personality traits, but even he gets thru some development later on and his personality change gets explained rather well eventually. There is also one more "main"character in the series because all sports series need a mascot girl. Student council president who is the thug dudes sister and has a brother complex over him. The good part is that the opponents of our sumo Jesus themselves are way more interesting and cool than the main cast which is more so portrayed to be "real people" than completely badass sumo pros. Other basic sports elements exist also, such as tragic past story for main bro's mother and a love interest subplot. The series has many things to offer due to these simple elements, but it should be noted that these things didn't really go anywhere during the first season.

In terms of production, Gonzo is underrated as ever. The first ED is beast as hell. Side character bros look awesome. Like really advanced awesome. Some sumo wrestlers still are just big and otherwise they do not stand out, but others have highly unique and manly character design which is also memorable. The music is fitting and those sounds when men fall on the tatami exactly as loud as they should be, meaning hella. The animation is especially fitting for a series of this sort and art design along the color choices do their work splendidly. It's subdued and simplistic and I see no reason to complain about it, much rather praise this simplicity for how efficient it is. Some weird errs still exist, such as sumo Jesus really looking like 1 feet tall compared to the bigger and fatter sumo dudes who are like 8 feet compared to him during certain shots. This may seem ridiculous/annoy some viewers. It stands out, but personally I didn't find it annoying.

I highly enjoyed this series because I am a huge fan of sports series and Hinomaru didn't especially do anything that was there to ruin the experience for me. The story board is somewhat lacking and clearly unoriginal + the other main characters are not as amazing as the real mains and their opponents, but the generic sports pattern itself is being dealt with in respectable manner and Hinomaru's way to deal with its characters and execute the common tropes are pleasure to watch even when the series lacks some depth.

ps, there is a a slice of life oriented sketch at the end of each episode that starts after the ED, highly recommend watching those

Hinomaruzumou is one of the most criminally slept on anime in recent memory. The 24 episodes it has run is not nearly enough to satisfy my desire to observe Hinomaru's sumo.
Fall 2018 saw a rebirth of sports anime. The trio of Run with the wind (Kaze ga Tsuyoku Fuiteiru), Tsurune, and Hinomaruzumou have collectively transformed the genre. These non traditional sports made room for more character growth and development than I've ever witnessed in sports anime, and I truly hope that Tsurune and Hinomaruzumou each receive second seasons some day. These three anime show us that sport anime have the potential to be less about ... the sport involved, and more about human growth, relationships, spirit and passion. If I were to define any of these three anime as being about sumo, cross country, or Kyudo, my definition would be severely lacking. These three masterpieces have ushered in a new era for the sports genre, and I am very interested to see how the industry and the community will react.
Before this anime I knew nothing about sumo, and I feel as though I knew even less about spirit. Sumo is a spiritual engagement, and Hinomaru & co. show us an overwhelming amount of spirit, too much to fit inside any one physical body.
The animation is the only weak point of this series, as I imagine studio Gonzo didn't have much of a budget to put up. This however, did not take away from the intensity and raw emotion of each and every bout.
If your a fan of sports anime or any sort of naturalism, I highly recommend this series. I was constantly reminded of Jack London's White Fang and the Call of the Wild. The kill or be killed mentality, the animalistic instinct and strength put into every move, the willpower to never back down and give your body for the sake of Sumo, all make this title a fantastic addition to the naturalist genre. On top of that the thrill of the mortal combat, watching these characters (and voice actors) give every ounce of spirit, not in the name of victory, but in the name of the Sumo gods, and their teammates. The voice acting was incredible thought the series, and the awesome action scenes were well balanced by a great variety of hilarious comedic scenes. Just watch OP2 of the series for an example of how intense and exhilarating the sumo can be.
I appreciate the reflection of how sumo is viewed in contemporary Japanese high schools, as the country becomes more westernized. I believe this westernization may result in a loss of the spirit that defines much of Japanese culture. But seeing these characters change their mind about sumo, and come to deeply respect the sport as an art accurately depicts my own journey that this series has taken me on. I now respect and am inspired more by those that participate in sumo than in any other sport.
Seeing Ushio and his team put 110% into every slap and throw for the sake of others has made me miss the joy of team sport, and the catharsis which can result from them. These characters continually put it all on the line and the final bout of destiny will have to go down as one of my all time favorite anime battles.
If you've ever enjoyed a sports anime before, I recommend this series that has so sadly flown under the radar, and has received none of the credit which it deserves.
So many elements came together to make this a great anime, and if I ever become a multi millionaire, I'm getting Gonzo to make another damn season!!

(Spoilers free!)

When they say that anime literally has everything you can think of, even the weird ones, they're speaking the truth. An anime about magic? Done. An anime about ghosts? There's one. An anime about turning war weapons into cute and beautiful girls? Look no further. And finally, an anime about soda cans also being feminized? Yes, it exists.

And now a shounen anime about sumo.

I can now finally add another entry on my "Japan's Greatest Ideas" list and not on the "Japan's Weirdest Ideas".

Hinomaruzumou or Hinomaru Sumo is about Ushio Hinomaru, a new student who enrolled at Oodachi High School and joined ... their very small sumo club with the intention of being a Yokozuna (the highest rank on professional Sumo). But it appears fate isn't very kind to him because he's too "small" for the sport.

Despite his disadvantage, Hinomaru makes up for it with training and strong spirit. And he's going to prove to everyone that you can still be a Yokozuna even if you're not big enough!

I know, I know. It has that clichéd sports anime feel of wanting to be at the top of the summit despite the main hero's glaring flaw(s). But don't let it deter you from watching this anime! It was brilliantly done and in just a few minutes, you can't help but be immediately get used to their world.

This is, after all, another retelling of that classic shounen and sports anime feel while giving it a breath of fresh air. It's advantage is the fact that it features a sport that (let's be honest) not everyone will immediately be interested in. They're taking a risk with this one and I'm all in!

I literally went in with little to none knowledge on sumo and so far, this is becoming educational for me. I never thought that I'd actually would like to learn more about sumo and find this, in general, something fascinating. I mean, it's just about two "fat" guys hugging each other, right? Wrong. I was so wrong. It was more than that and I admit, Hinomaru was able to influence me for I saw how passionate he was and I couldn't help but be interested as well.

The opening was wonderful and gives insights on future characters/rivals/events; and at the same time, makes it obvious that this IS shounen and you're in for a wonderful ride. The ending is very manly as well. The "ooh hah" parts really get my blood pumping!

The characters are so lovable. The main character can really inspire you and even though he's the good ol' shounen hero, I didn't mind at all. In fact, that made me love him even more. The supporting cast are amazing as well. I love their individual quirks and how they all blend so well together. This is truly an ensemble to watch out for!

The art style, at first, didn't truly catch my attention. It's not bad but it's not that great either. However, when the sumo matches are shown; wow, I was blown away. I love the way they used heavy and darker lines and palette during intense scenes and lighter ones during comedic scenes. As someone who read the manga, I'm glad they're staying faithful to the original art.

Another thing I'd like to point out on the art style is that I hardly saw any still shots which is a really good news. I tried pausing at random times to see if I'll see any goofy drawings but haven't seen one. A lot of anime nowadays resort to those aforementioned goofy shots because they either want to save money or speed up the animation process.

Overall, Hinomaru Sumo is a really great anime. Since it's about a sport I'm not very familiar with, it immediately piqued my interest and I'm so glad I tried it out. The opening and ending songs give me the classic shounen feel, and the characters, especially Hinomaru, are lovable; and I can't wait to get to know them better. The art is the typical one you usually see on anime nowadays but when it's sumo time, wow, it really brings a lot to the table!

I'm very excited for the next episodes and continue this wonderful journey!

P.S.: There are anime released before about sumo but none of them caught my attention like this one did.

P.P.S.: If you're thinking of reading the manga, I suggest you start from chapter 1. The anime skipped a lot of chapters after all. It's like the anime has its own storytelling of the same characters and universe while the manga has its own different style as well. Both are enjoyable and will make you appreciate Hinomaru Sumo even more. :)



Story: 10/10
Art: 10/10
Sound: 10/10
Character: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Overall: 10/10

Who knew watching 2 fat dudes hug could be this entertaining...

Art=6/Sound=9:
First of all, let's get the somewhat ugly art style and slightly above average animation out of the way; character designs that appear throughout the show are nothing special and usually their appearance reveals their personality before we even get to know them, every character seems basic and stereotyped to the max, even the MC has the classic shounen body scars to show he's been through some shit! Animation is very still typically but I can't deny that it becomes good and borderline great in action sequences! Sound wise, the OP, ED and OST ... are top notch, some of the best this season and probably this year! Voice acting is solid but doesn't stand out in any way to be honest.

Character=8/Story=7:
Although the characters are stereotyped heavily, I can't deny that I do love them and especially their chemistry and interactions as they all seem linked by the sport of sumo which can be seen as following a lot of shounen tropes but honestly it doesn't seem forced; also as a small guy, the MC makes me hype! The story is the typical, "I wanna be the best at something but I have a certain drawback so I'm gonna recruit some buddies and go on a journey until I learn to be the best I can be." Very simple underdog plot line but it's executed well enough that I'll let it slide

Overall=8:
Honestly this show is very simplistic and basic with minimal unique features; it mainly follows a very basic shounen route but yet, I can't help but enjoy it, and I enjoy it a LOT! I could give it a 6 or 7 but honestly, every time a new episode comes out, I find myself anticipating it and watching it instantly and that counts for more than anything else. Also, even if you hate sumo or know nothing about it, watch it because I think most would still enjoy it!

Personally, I don't see why this anime isn't as popular as it should be. It feels as if this anime needs a little more attention so I decided to write this review.

As a fan of sports and shounen anime I think that Hinomaruzumou is actually quite original. There are all these anime that have already been done such as volleyball, tennis, boxing, baseball, etc. But never in my life I thought there would be one about sumo. Every single time I watch an anime that is about a certain sport, I think its great that these anime's teach you about how the sports work as ... well. Now learning about sumo was probably the best experience out of all the sports anime that I have watched. Since the first episode, this anime was screaming "HYPE" right from the get go. I think that learning about different sumo techniques such as slapping or grabbing the belt are very interesting and that is what makes sumo so unique. This also makes it like Hajime no Ippo just toned down a little bit.

The story and art are not totally perfect by any means. Of course there are things that I want to have improved such as like have more background information about the main character Hinomaru. Why does he look that way? These questions got in the way sometimes but overall didn't distract from the main story. The art is quite normal but that doesn't get in the way at all. Most of the time, I don't even notice it. The characters in this show are very likable and the introduction of each them are very smooth.

Overall, I think that this is one of the hidden gems of the season. Like I said before, I am a very big fan of sports and shounen animes so you can take this review with a grain of salt but I am loving this anime. The opening is very cool as well and I can't wait for what is going to come. Not only do I recommend this show to sports anime fans, but for everyone, as I think that it is a great watch this season.

(P.S These are my initial impressions. I am going to be writing a review at the final episode)

READ ALL YOU WANT BUT I WOULD SERIOUSLY URGE YOU TO GIVE THIS ANIME A TRY AND STOP LISTENING TO WHAT PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY!!


Sports anime have been doing well, with a number of great basketball, football, baseball and volleyball animes we finally dive down into an entirely different realm, which is the world of Sumo. Honestly, I never liked the sport in real and whenever sumo came to my mind I would think a bunch of sweaty overweight dudes slamming their chubbiness against each other. But boy o boy! This anime maintains the respect of the sport and shows it from the perspective of ... Ushio, who is only 152cm but his desire to win, passion for the sport and support of his teammates makes him achieve the impossible.

x-----------------Spoilers---------------x

- Story: Great story overall. There is a lot of background story telling also which in my opinion is done very well. I would encourage anime producers to please always rethink before splashing forward a 12 episode season. Since in my personal experience it never lets me synch or helps me in understanding all the characters. The moment i saw 24 episodes I was sure the story will have to be great and to my surprise it exceeded my expectations. The best part was that even though obviously the story has to revolve around the protagonist, the story telling of all the other characters has been done phenomenally.

-Characterization: Perhaps the most important part of the anime are the characters. The Daichi Sumo club and its members have been well characterized each having a strong background story which strengthened their individual character building throughout the plot. How Yuma who when sees the light to redemption seeks his path of making up to Ozeki and the sumo club for the lost years. Kirihito with his knack for analyzing his opponents and despite having a physical limitation, the way he overcomes it in the last few episode in order to compete in the final and wins it so convincingly is amazing. How, Chihiro the all out genius makes his way through fame and finally competes against his brother in the finals. How Ozeki and his love for the sport makes him realize his goal. How Kei evolves from being a weak individual to someone with a strong will and spirit. Last but not the least Ushio! His characterization is everything I love to see in a protagonist. Strong, fierce, passionate and compassionate makes the perfect recipe for the ultimate protagonist who despite being short in the end beats the Kuze the son of a Yokozuna and makes it to becoming pro. The bond between all these characters and the support characters in terms of their managers and rival teammates makes this anime a seriously hidden gem in the realm of animes.

Being an outsider, I have always been fascinated by Japanese culture and Anime is the main reason for this. This is one such anime which takes you a sport which is practiced professionally only in Japan and is full of ancient traditions.

The artwork is nice and more than anything, it gets you craving for more. The protagonist (Ushio) is the normal guy with a -never-give-up- attitude and a never ending love for the sport. In the anime, He sparks interest in everyone who is spectating and much like the anime, He will quickly get you interested in Sumo as well. I started reading up on ... it non-stop.

Even though the anime does not explain each and every details about Sumo (cant blame them, traditions in Sumo is too vast to be explained over a couple of shows), I can guarantee one thing... If you are like me who is fascinated by Japanese culture.. this anime will open new doors for you.

The opening and closing soundtrack is just awesome.. It gets your blood boiling.. and that is exactly how the anime feels.

Absolutely amazing anime. Alot of sports anime tend to focus only or mainly on the MC but in this show they give everyone a bit of the spotlight. Sumo isnt something im interested in usually, but this anime is great. The way the story is told is beautiful, the pacing is good and the bouts are great.

Overall this anime ticks all the boxes for me ; it looks decent, the battles/bouts are emotional and explain techniques well enough to understand how it all works.

Something felt missing though, im not sure what exactly it is but something didnt quite sit right at times.

Still, ... definitely a solid anime and would recommend

There's few things I love more in storytelling than an underdog story. This was that through and through. This journey we went on with Ushio has it all. Highs and lows and everything in between. Going along this path with him trying to become a yokozuna was an absolute delight. Being a small guy myself it was a natural fit for me love and cheer for him. Ushio himself was such a good character. Typical shonen lead perhaps but the way the story used him and explored more about him was done so well. How his love for sumo drew more people to the sport.

Myself ... being kind of like that too. didn't really know too much about sumo beforehand and while the show didn't make me an expert or anything it did open my eyes to how thrilling it can be. Going along with Odachi on all their bouts was incredibly thrilling. The whole team and managers and their whole support network were awesome. All congregating for their love of sumo or just support of Ushio which turned police into love of sumo. Reina's words at the end summed it up. This is love. Love for Ushio's sumo. A spirit that can make you even see the best in yourself somehow. Truly a beautiful message.

Small negatives I have are again it feels kinda tropey at the beginning and the animation looks really bad in a fair amount of spots. But overall it wasn't horrible and the bouts themselves you can tell they poured it on. Cause every single sumo match looked amped up. But the way the show too builds upon those early moments is really well done. Bringing it all back through Yuma and Ozeki and Ushio and how they've changed since then and built that sumo club to the best in Japan.

Loved following this show for these past month's and while I know a second season isn't gonna happen I greatly enjoyed my time with Ushio and everyone at Odachi.

8/10.

I have to clap for the idea of doing a sumo anime. I'm not sure how popular the sport is in Japan, but at least in the West it's not so popular. Well, the story is focused on Ushio, a boy who dreams of being a "yokozuna", that is, a professional in the sport. He ends up entering a school where sumo is not something of great relevance (what a surprise), he gets the gym to train after beating the boss of the delinquents who sees the juice as a way to start over (what a surprise). Speaking objectively, the anime is not bad, but ... unfortunately it had much more potential, the struggles that were most exciting were the protagonist, and their companions were static scenes that sometimes tried to apply some emotion. But I must praise the last two episodes, they were really good and well directed.(I apologize for my spelling mistakes)

(PT-Br) Eu tenho que bater palmas para ideia de fazer um anime de sumo, não sei ao certo o quão popular o esporte é no japão, mas pelo menos no ocidente não é tão popular. Bem, a história é focada em Ushio, um garoto que sonha em ser um "yokozuna", ou seja, um profissional no esporte. Ele acaba entrando em uma escola em que o sumo não é algo com muita relevância (que surpresa), ele consegue o ginásio para treinar após vencer o chefe dos delinquentes que vê o sumo como uma forma de recomeçar (que surpresa). Falando de forma objetiva, o anime não é ruim, porém, infelizmente ele tinha muito mais potencial, as lutas que mais empolgavam eram a do protagonista, enquanto as dos companheiros deles eram cenas estáticas que as vezes tentavam aplicar alguma emoção. Mas eu devo elogiar os dois últimos episódios, eles foram realmente bons e bem dirigidos.

This anime is unexpectedly the one that I find myself the most invested in this season! What a pleasant surprise to have this show(about sumo of all things!) be the best, and yet the most under appreciated. I’m honestly surprised at how little attention it’s gotten because I think it’s a glossed over treasure.

It feels like a breath of fresh air as it actually added some new things, sure there are some the troupes you can’t escape but the unique touches are enough to set it apart! I’m a HUGE shounen anime fan so for me it already had a lot that I ... liked. I just randomly checked it out on a whim and found myself hooked 10 minutes in! And why? Cause of the main character, Ushio. Even his first few lines drew me in! He definitely has the similar shounen troupe of a huge aspiration to achieve but he’s actually really likable I find. His insane determination and a surprisingly charismatic side make him an MC I actually care about and I wanna see what he does next. Like I really wanna see if this short dude can become a Yokozuna!

The side characters are great too, all the different types of fighters and personalities add the usual fun roster of friends. They aren’t as strong and distinct as Ushio but they’re a nice compliment. They give the right amount of backstory to keep you interested, while it’s nothing out of the normal troupes, it’s still portrayed well so you aren’t bored.

The plot is pretty straight forward and doesn’t do much that’s different but the characters pull enough weight that you don’t you even notice. You just wanna see what’s gonna happen next! The biggest thrill is watching these characters fight!!! The way the fight scenes are animated kept me on the edge of my seat and wanting more. Another thing that's enjoyable is how informative it is about sumo wrestling! I never would have had the slightest interest in it before but I found myself looking up things about it out of curiosity.

The sound is amazinggggggg. The opening and ending songs are just to die for! I love when the music is top notch and distinct it’s usually a good sign the anime is going in a good direction, in my opinion. But both songs get watched in their entirety. Every. Time.The English dub is pretty good, better than the Japanese even! It’s the typically good Funimation voice work but, as it seems I just can’t get enough of Ushio, I really like the person they chose (Ricco Fajardo) for him, it’s a real good fit.

So this lil gem is a good one in my book! I think everyone should give it a shot. If you like shounen/ sports anime, good fighting scenes, fun characters and great anime music then this one is for you :) I’ll definitely be anticipating future episodes with a lot of excitement!

This anime should [honestly] get more views.

The first thing I would like to say is that although this is a sports anime, it is different from the usual sports anime that we typically see. Most sports anime will have a common theme so they tend to be redundant but Hinomaruzumou is the first anime (that I know of) dealing with sumo as the theme.

I guess you could say the only thing Hinomaruzumou has in common with other sports anime is that the main lead, Hinomaru, wants to be the best and is aiming for the top.

The art might not be super attractive to some but ... don't let that fool you from the actual plot. I wasn't expecting much when I started watching it, because honestly, I thought it was going to be boring because it was about sumo, but I was sucked in immediately after only a few minutes.

The character designs aren't flawless but they are likable. I like the easy camaraderie they all have with each other.

To anyone who is on the fence about watching Hinomaruzumou, I'd say it wouldn't hurt to give it a try.

The embodiment of hype!!!

Hinomaruzumo has been completely overlooked by a lot of people, and i don't understand why...

In terms of story, it's nothing groundbreaking, an underdog trying his best to get to the top. Sounds cliché right?

Well... Yeah... It is.

But that's not what the charm of the show is. This show is phenomenal at getting you hyped up.
The first opening is intense, in visuals, and especially with the song. When that's over, you see intense fight scenes.
...
Hell, even after the fights!
The first ending is the most hype-inducing of all. So even after you've finished an episode, it somehow keeps you hyped up, which is something only a few shows are able to do.

Another great aspect is the characters.

While the show is generally about sumo, it's not limited to only that. We even have a wrestler and someone who practices karate.

This show definetly has clichés, but when you're as hyped up as the show makes you.
You hardly even notice it!

What an incredibly underrated anime. I must assume that it's because its an anime about Sumo, and not a more popular sport like Baseball or Basketball, that this anime has been pushed to the background, but it is absolutely fantastic and a must watch for fans of sports animes.

The premise is familiar to anyone who likes underdog sport stories. An undersized, underdog wills his way through overwhelming challenges as he strives to gain strength and become the best. In this regard, Hinomaruzumou doesn't do anything different. It's the same story as Kuroko's Basketball or Hajime No Ippo. And ... while the animation quality lags behind those two, it's just as good as they are. In fact, Hinomaruzumou has pretty much the same intensity as Hajime No Ippo does. The fights are very intense and dramatic.

The characters are great as well. My personal favorite character wasn't even Ushio, the MC, it was Chihiro. But, there were a number of good characters in the anime, and with the exception of Chihiro, all of them were underdogs trying to overcome the odds. It really made you get behind the entire team.

There wasn't really much fault to find in this anime, other than the subpar animation style. It wasn't terrible, but you could tell this was a lower budget animation. In spite of that, the action was well done, and the twists and turns in each match made them all fun to watch. The chemistry between the cast was great, and surprisingly, the anime even managed to get me a little misty eyed at times. Good drama, good comedy, good action.

I would definitely recommend this anime to anyone who loves sports tournament type animes. This really should be more popular than what it is.

Spoiler free!!

Hinomaruzumou is a anime about a guy, Ushio Hinomaru, he wants to become a hoka...uggh... he wants to become yokozuna, the highest rank sumo wrestler can achieve. There is just one problem, he is short, too short to be able to entre professional sumo world because of requirements for pro sumo wrestler, which is why we will cheer Ushio on.

Overall story is centered around Dachi High School sumo club with our protagonsit, Ushio, at the center and other members of the club who are inspired by Ushio. They have bonded thanks Ushio's love for sumo and they are moved by his determination and ... want to help him achieve his goal despite everything that stands in his way to the top.

Our protagonist is likable character with sense of comradery, passion, which will have immediate impact on you, he also has flaws, insecurities and his own struggle of overcoming what he has no control over like his height or people's perception of him.

The anime has good supporting cast with their own stories why they are into sumo or around our protagonist.

This is very good anime to start your watching career with, it is simple story, which it does not mean it's bad in this case, to follow, with good dialogue and animation, ups and downs. Or for veteran watcher who wants to relax and enjoy progress of Ushio and his friends, with great fights, music in this likable package.


P.S.: This are my opinions and thoughts about the show. I was hooked immediately after watching first episode, so I would give it a try at least and if at the very least it intrigued you, keep watching it gets better, in my opinion.

For me, Hinomaruzumou is a tipical case where the anime is so unrated!
This anime has a great history and is so dificult for me believe that people doesn't like it! Because the motivation of the protagonism is so similar a motivation in haikyuu, but in haikyuu this problematic is more shallow ant don't have the same impact!
The diference is a simple thing, this anime is more realist!
The power isn't a fantatic or magic thing, is a simple moviment, but the art of this anime is so diferent and make you cry and be crazy with simple fight moviments!
The anime don't wof only with a escolar ... problem, and have a big impact!
Don't is a "best anime ever" because have animes as a "Hajime no Ippo" and "Ashota no Joe" but is a anime level "haikyuu" and "kuroko no basket"! With certain is a so much important sports anime!

Hinomaruzumou was pretty good!

Typical sports anime, characters super focused on getting better.

I especially liked the mc Hinomaru cause he was against all odds - better yet against sumo gods - and kept proving everyone wrong (much like Hinata from Haikyuu but Hinomaru was doing it alone).

But as they said in the anime: he didn't have luck with his body but he had the opportunities and he grabbed them!

About his team.. I liked everyone but I feel bad for the short one that just started playing sports :( Chihiro was pretty cool; The captain got the best team he could've asked for and the ... other senpai, well, he got to redeem himself.

This is my first review btw.. I'm not really good at this.

One day I was chillin' and thought " Man, has anybody made an anime about sumo wrestling? ".

Looked it up and found one called "Hinomaru Sumo" :O nice.

Here are some tips for becoming a sumo wrestler that I'll share with you after watching the anime:

1) Remove your shirt to instantly become WIDE.
2) Get rid of those pants, only mawashi belts for maximum THICCness.
3) Practice leg stomps and palm strikes for the ultimate sumo workout.
4) Keep an arsenal of special moves and work on them since that's all you'll be using anyways.
5) Tell your barber to give you a killer haircut and hair dye. Helps ... with being noticeable.
6) If you focus and clench hard enough, a flame with the same colour as your hair will start beaming from your eyes. Then your opponent is fuked.
7) Practice shouting for intimidation e.g. "HOOH!" "AAAH!" "HAAAAAAAAAAH!".

Congratulations, you've become a sumo wrestler!

As a competitor in wrestling and BJJ, this story really connected with me. The excitement and anxiety of preparing for a competition and the pressures of not letting your team down as well as suffering and overcoming hardships with a team are conveyed very well in this series. It has similar themes to Eye Shield 21, so if you liked that, you may like this. The matches always excited me and I love the character interactions. It is also realistic. It has typical shonen cliches, such as hardworking and the power of friendship will help you overcome all odds, but this is challenged as the ... opponents also have those same shonen powers so it is believable for the main cast might to lose at any given moment. This series is inspiring and heart warming. If you are a fan of grappling or Eye Shield 21, you will probably enjoy this.