Sanctuary

First of all, I had no clue about Sumo as such... Secondly, if any episode can motivate as Rocky did, it it the seventh... What a feeling... For those, who do not know, Sumo originated in Japan, the only country where it is practiced professionally and where it is considered the national sport. It is considered a gendai budo, which refers to modern Japanese martial arts. Many ancient traditions have been preserved in sumo, and even today the sport includes many ritual elements, such as the use of salt purification, from Shinto.

The series has some slower pace and displays the lives of wrestler, highly regimented, with rules regulated by the Japan Sumo Association. As the series portrays well, most sumo wrestlers are required to live in communal sumo training stables, known in Japanese as heya, where all aspects of their daily lives-from meals to their manner of dress-are dictated by strict tradition. Eugene Ko is just great, believe he had to do much to even come to form and create a body of a Sumo... Shota Sometani, Two face (do not know his name in cast) and others are cast very well! Loved to see Koyuki from the Last Samurai everybody loved... Ladies and Gentleman, you do not have to be a Sumo fan or addict to love this. Try it and see by yourself. It is worth... The camera and fighting shots are never seen before and awesome :)

I couldn't believe how fast this show crabbed my attention. It kept me guessing and questioning my thoughts on the different characters. I binge watched it with english dub. Now I'll watch it in its original language to get a much better feel for the show. .. .. I've been pulled in so fast, I can't wait to see what I missed first time around! I don't know why I enjoy foreign shows so much, especially japanese. I always watch first in englush to make sure I understand dully what I am watching- then in its original lingo so I get a better feel for what they are really saying from an emotional point.

GREAT SHOW! I hope I don't have to wait to long for the next season, omg, talk about leaving off in a cliff hanger!!

You simply cannot miss this gem of a show!

It's raw, gritty and a personal story that'll keep you glued to your screen. While it would've been amazing to see the 'foreigner's perspective', I'm hopeful that Netflix will greenlight seasons 2 and 3, so we can delve into more personal stories from both the US and Mongolia's perspective at the Yokozuna level. Yes even as foreigners they get the girls!

It's not just an entertaining watch, but hope future series will also sheds light on the business side of Sumo. How normal fans watch and how social media, along with the newer generation of fans, may threaten the future of this sport.

No spoilers here, but trust me, it's a fantastic study of the human condition, the hero's journey, and character arc that we usually find in great films and series, with a touch of comedy thrown in for good measure. In short, I highly recommend it!

The way the character and story elements were handled are borrowed heavily from Japanese manga and anime tropes, in that many of the premises and representations are larger than life and exaggerated. That can be good or bad depending on the viewer, and their familiarity with those storytelling devices and characterizations. In my opinion, it worked really well with Sanctuary in most instances to dramatize the story and embellish upon plot and character elements. This unique version of the anti-hero to hero origin story and progression hasn't been told in context of sumo before, and you'll be rooting for specific characters and empathizing with them as the season unfolds.

I've been to Tokyo and have seen sumo wrestling twice. Of course the show is dramatized and it's showing us an angle from someone that doesn't want to follow nor is interested in the etiquette that comes with sumo wrestling, thus giving people unfamiliar with the sport and culture more insight.

I loved the acting and the fights looked very real, like I've witnessed in Japan. There were some moments I could say: "Hey I've seen that!" which is always fun, but I love how I'm now able to see what happens in the training camps and close to the ring. The first season covers the start of a career in sumo, with some emotionally heavy themes. This show needs a second season, I'm hooked.