“Small but determined Hinomaru Ushio must win High School Yokozuna to overcome size limits and turn pro in sumo.”
Hinomaru Sumo
火ノ丸相撲
Would You Love or Hate This?
AI-powered analysis tailored to your taste
Based on your preference for character-driven stories with layered emotional arcs, this title's exploration of identity and belonging would deeply resonate. The pacing mirrors series you've rated highly, and its thematic depth aligns with your appreciation for nuanced storytelling...
However, the slow initial episodes might test your patience given your history of dropping shows that don't hook you early. The art style shift in the middle arc could also be a concern...
Synopsis
Small but determined Hinomaru Ushio must win High School Yokozuna to overcome size limits and turn pro in sumo.
In professional sumo, there are no weight classes. It's a savage sport where the strongest survive, and anyone willing to test their mettle can step into the ring. There is, however, a minimum size requirement to be a pro sumo wrestler, and young Hinomaru Ushio, incredibly talented and hardworking though he may be, does not meet that requirement. This small boy has big dreams of reaching the highest class of sumo, Hinoshita Kaisan. The only way he could possibly go pro is if he becomes the High School Yokozuna, a title given to the strongest wrestler in high school tournaments. Ushio is under a lot of pressure, as well as a time limit. If he can't show off his skills in the high school tournaments, he may lose his chance to go pro permanently, and the odds are stacked against him. Instead of enrolling in Ishigami High, the best school for sumo in Japan, he enrolls in Odachi High and must build a sumo club from the ground up with the one devout member Shinya Ozeki. Odachi High is the true underdog of the sumo world, but Ushio has to push forward with all his strength if he is going to make it professionally.
What people say
Community consensus
Derived from 27 sampled reviews
What 27 viewers settled on.
Mostly aligned
σ 1.22 · some divergence
—
Not enough recommend signal yet
↓ 1.63
Running avg · Nov 2018 → Jun 2025
- 8 “Hinomaru Sumo’s adaptation captures genuine heart and a deeply likable lead, easily becoming the best sumo anime I’ve seen by forming a beautiful, hook-you-till-the-end connection with viewers....”
- 7 “Hinomaruzumou is a good sports anime with interesting characters and a handful of enjoyable moments. Yet the storytelling feels rushed, the matches end too quickly, the art sometimes looks bland,...”
- 8 “This anime excels by giving every character their moment in the spotlight rather than focusing solely on the protagonist, with beautiful storytelling, good pacing, and emotionally charged bouts...”
Watch Order & Related
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See all credits →Production slate
- Format 24 × 23′ eps × min
- Total runtime 9h 12m all episodes
- Aired Oct 2018 – Mar 2019 Fall 2018
- Source Tv media type
- Rated PG 13 - Teens 13 or older
- Ref. BS-13586 catalog
Produced by
- Nihon Ad Systems Producer
- Pony Canyon Producer
- Shueisha Producer
- BS11 Producer
- Jinnan Studio Producer
- Cygames Producer
- CA-Cygames Anime Fund Producer
Licensed by
- Funimation Licensor