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☆☆☆ Heya guys! Heya Otakuuuu~!!!☆☆☆
☆☆Tegoshei desu! ☆☆
As I have mentioned in my blog last time, I am going to write a review of another sports anime which caught my heart. I first knew of it when my bestie @akielle sent me a video of its trailer around September last year. She knows I like sports anime, so she thought it might be to my liking.
The sports involved is ***"SUMO"***. I didn't know much about it, but I thought it's my chance to know more of the said sports. When it was aired around October, I gave it a shot and immediately, it got my attention. Let's talk about it some more, so just sit back, relax and enjoy!
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"HINOMARU SUMO"
## SUMO: *a brief introduction*
***SUMO*** is a traditional sport in Japan and is considered as their national sport. It is a form of wrestling where one forces his opponent out of the ring. Aside from that, if any part of the wrestler's body aside from the sole of their feet touches the ground, he automatically loses.
Before watching the anime, I thought that *Sumo* is very much similar to wrestling, but it turns out that the rules are more strict. I really thought that the *Sumo Wrestler* should be thrown out of the ring or totally get knocked down on the ground. However, even if only the knee or even the hand touches the ground, they lose.
As usual, I talked about *SUMO* with some of my students and I've learned that before it became a sport, it was a ritual for the gods. One of my students sent me a video of a *Sumo* match and I noticed that they threw something in the *dohyo (ring)* before the match. I asked my student about it and according to him, it was salt and it was done as a sort of purification just like how it was traditionally done in the ritual.
We also talked about some *Sumo wrestlers* in Japan now. One of them is half-Filipino, half-Japanese and he is already an *ozeki -- second highest rank in Sumo*. My student said that a lot of Japanese wants him to be the next *yokozuna -- highest rank in Sumo*. I personally would love that, too.
IMAGE SOURCE: This is Takayasu Akira. (the Filipino-Japanese I mentioned above)
Let's Get It On!!! (Here's the real deal!!!)
As you may already know, the anime is about Sumo, however, the setting is "High School Sumo". The main character is Ushio Hinomaru. He is considered "A National Treasure" in the world of *SUMO* when he was younger. However, he was somehow rejected by the gods of *Sumo* because of his physique.
He never grew when he was in middle school causing him to lose a lot of times in matches. Despite this, he doesn't know when to give up. When he became a high school student, he decided to join a school with very strong sumo team. Things happened and he found himself getting in a school called Oodachi High School whose *sumo club* is of which is almost non-existent.
Starting from the lowest of the lows, Hinomaru together with his newly formed sumo club team tried their hardest to climb up to the top. They only got one shot and they shouldn't, in any way, miss it.
Let's Get to Know The Main Characters: The Sumo Wrestlers of Oodachi High School
### Mitsuhashi Kei
> ***WHAT?*** This lanky guy is a Sumo Wrestler? How come?
This was my first reaction when I saw him. Well, for the record, he's an amateur. Somehow, he was inspired to join the sumo club when he saw one of Hinomaru's fight. Despite his figure, he is one of the club's precious members. His desire and his dedication to the team and to sumo is admirable.
His bouts are always so painful and exciting to watch. From the lanky Mitsuhashi, he trained pretty hard and finally gained muscle which can help him fight. Watching his bouts, I realized that everyone can do sumo even without a huge physique and heavy weight. You will need strong determination, desire/hunger to win, a lot of guts and the brain to think on how to counter gigantic opponents.
Mitsuhashi also plays a great role in igniting his teammates' spirit. Imagine, the thinnest sumo wrestler there is is struggling to do his best not only for himself but also for the team. He actually made me realize that if we have strong desire which is partnered with hard work, we can definitely achieve what we want.
Tsuji Kirihito
The most valuable substitute player and manager/coach of Oodachi Sumo Club. *Why only a substitute player?* you may ask. Well, this guy here has a lung problem... which I guess is asthma.
When he was young, he used to do sumo with Hinomaru. From then, he has always been supportive of him and wants him to achieve his dreams. In order to aid Hinomaru, he went to the same high school as him and became the manager. Through his wits, he honed and brought out the best in each wrestler from their team. He does some bouts against his teammates to help them, however, if he seriously competes he only lasts for 20 seconds.
During the nationals, Mitsuhashi encouraged him to continue Sumo by becoming their substitute player. When he played a bout that time, he realized how he loves Sumo. I tried to check some forums regarding the manga version, and I read that he did continue his 20-second Sumo. <3
### Kunisaki Chihiro
This "meathead" is the infamous *"National Treasure Eater"*. Despite being the typical "All brawn and no brains" person, he is actually one of my favorite characters. Yes, he's stupid and he's so loud and flashy! I can't deny that... however, I just can't help but stare at his bouts.
He aims to be the best mix martial artist in the world and sumo wasn't very attractive for him until he and Hinomaru had a friendly fight in their school while looking for club members. He then developed passion for sumo and joined the club. He didn't lose his primary dream, though. Instead, he wants to use what he learned from sumo to achieve his ultimate dream.
In high school sumo, there are the so-called "National Treasures" including Hinomaru. In the anime, he defeated really strong "National Treasures". His ability is similar to that of ***Kise from Kuroko no Basuke***. He learns, copies and modifies the moves of his opponents. He perfects them in just a few tries even if the original owner of those moves took a lot of time to perfect it.
I really like how ambitious he is. He's so fun to watch that oozing with positivism. I especially like his bouts against the National Treasures as well as his bout with Hinomaru and his older brother. He's also a ball of sunshine which can sometimes burn you! *Get it?! hahaha*
### Gojou Yuuma
A former delinquent turned sumo wrestler. Yes, he was a delinquent who used to bully the only real member of the Oodachi High School Sumo club who is Ozeki Shinya. He somehow kicked out Ozeki of the Dojo and used it as a place to hangout with his group.
His life as a delinquent ended when Hinomaru defeated him. He was so shocked because he was way bigger than Hinomaru and he was considered the strongest in their high school. Because of that defeat, he found his resolve to change and become stronger through Sumo.
The best part about Yuuma is his willingness to change. He wanted to be better, so he learned how to swallow his pride. Before he became a delinquent, he used to practice karate. His master kicked him out, but he asked sorry because he wanted to improve his own sumo by inculcating karate in it.
Being a useful member to the team is also his way to say sorry to Ozeki, but good old Ozeki told him that he was long forgiven and that he should do his best for himself as well. *Yuuma is such a marshmallow. lol*
### Ozeki Shinya
***Meet the ultimate cinnamon roll!*** Ozeki is such a sweetheart and his love towards sumo is the real deal. Among everyone in Oodachi, he has the very suitable physique for sumo. He is also someone who has the strongest foundation, though his techniques and his mastery of the basics is great.
The thing is, he lack the experience. He wasn't able to have any real bouts and didn't join any competition despite being a senior student in high school. Yuuma and his gang were actually to be blamed. They took over the dojo, so Ozeki couldn't form a team for the past 2 years. Instead of using the dojo, he created his own dohyo near the back gate of their school which was later on destroyed by Yuuma's gang. This caused Hinomaru's rage and thus started their journey as a sumo team.
When he finally got the dojo back from the hands of the delinquents, he formed a real club with Hinomaru at first. And then all the other members came in. They're a small sumo club, but with a really big heart for sumo.
Having a huge heart for sumo, Ozeki became the captain and with the help of Hinomaru and Kirihito, Ozeki was able to awaken his dormant ability.
### Hinomaru Ushio
Hinomaru Ushio is the embodiment of hope and perseverance. He wasn't blessed by the gods of sumo, but because of his passion towards sumo, he persevered and became a symbol of hope to a lot of people.
Ever since he was young, his love for sumo has been unceasingly flowing in his veins. He showed great potential and was considered one of the National Treasures. He gained the name "Onimaru Kunitsuna". Unfortunately though, in middle school, he stopped growing while all the other kids grew bigger and stronger. It made him want to give up at first, but his passion persevered.
He turned his flaws into strengths. In order to fill up what he lacked physically, he trained harder more than anyone. His mother who actually left him in the end became his strength. There was a time when his mother was in the hospital asking forgiveness from him. She said sorry to him for giving him such a body. It was heartbreaking, but Hinomaru faced all the odds and did his best to succeed.
Maybe because of the way he see things and accept whatever happens positively, a lot of people were attached to him. They acknowledged him and his ability. They helped him become stronger and closer to achieving his dreams. I really admire his optimism and his passion for his craft. It made me want to do my best even more in the field that I chose. :D
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What does @tegoshei think about HINOMARU SUMO as a whole?
To be honest, I never thought SUMO can be this interesting. Because of this anime, I learned more about the national sport of Japan. It's the kind of sport where you have to put your physical and spiritual strength into it.
Story-wise, it's really interesting and exciting. You actually can't tell can win in every bout. The backstories as well as the character development are equally good. I guess, it's commonplace especially in sports anime.
The art style is also to my liking. Since it's not the typical "ikemen" guys, the art style brought out the coolness of the characters in the hottest way possible. During bouts of really strong wrestlers, especially the *National Treasures*, the effects become extremely fantastic!
It's an anime full of guts, so I believe the soundtrack fits it so much. I have written about the first opening song of this anime a couple of times because it's just too catchy and the enthusiasm of the song reflects the whole series. The same goes with the second opening and all the ending songs.
The anime ended in a time skip and I'm really looking forward to a second season where most of them jumped in the world of professional sumo, especially Hinomaru.
*PS: There's actually a slight love story blooming between Hinomaru and Yuuma's sister. I really ship them, and I am truly surprised when I read in a forum that they are actually in a relationship now in the manga version. I'm thinking of reading it soon. (^_^)/*
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That's all for this post! I hope you enjoyed reading it~! ^^ Let's keep watching anime! Baibai~! @tegoshei
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