Matsutarou might be one of the most frustrating protagonists of all time. Now of course, I wouldn’t say anime is bad just because the protagonist has a bad personality, just the opposite as it can result in interesting stories. Unfortunately, such protagonist is hard to write, which is why you don’t see much of them. And Rowdy Sumo Wrestler Matsutaro did not succeed in writing the character well. Watching this anime feels like being edged for a redemption arc, but it never comes. Matsutarou starts an employed asshole whom people hate and ends up as an asshole in a different field whom slightly less people hatebecause he is somewhat successful – not because he is any less of an asshole. He is not some “asshole with heart of gold”, no “protector of weak who acts out against authority”, he straight up does not have any positive qualities. His only strength is his very literal strength, and he uses it to strong-arm the world and the narration around his selfishness. The anime does not seem to realize this is a bad thing to happen instead of something the audience will cheer on.

Indeed, you will most likely spend the time watching this series waiting for the moment where there’s finally a retribution for all the terrible shit the protagonist pulls with no consequences, waiting for the ecstatic moment where he finally gets his teeth kicked in but no, except for the literally last minutes of the last episode he just spends the series bullying everyone around with no effort, falling upwards and winning at everything. The only moment he loses it was because he was throwing a tantrum due to something not falling into his lap immediately. Not that he’s not throwing a tantrum in remaining times, he is always doing it as he is always perceiving his as a victim of discrimination the moment any of the character tries to politely point out he’s being an asshole. Again, this isn’t a bad idea for story by itself, but it requires a satisfying breaking point, while unfortunately you get literally just this the whole time with no character growth at all. Well, to be fair growth *is* teased a few times, but every time Matsutarou reverts back to his old ways within minutes. Frequently he seems not simply childish but unironically mentally challenged with the way he acts.

If you are considering watching this series for sumo, don’t. There are only two serious matches in the whole series and only one of them being interesting. The story prefers its time being used on important plots like protagonist being mean to a cat and then turning it in for a finder’s fee or one of the side characters inexplicably developing telepathy for hitting their head too hard. Again, you are being teased that those short side plots are going to help develop the protagonist and again no such thing ever happens.

But to bring at least some small good things, this anime is at least quite unique in its style compared to your average seasonal both of its time and nowadays, and it also feels *very* Japanese in its nature, so if that’s something that’s among your top priorities you might end up being one of the few people liking this anime. Watching it also didn’t feel entirely unenjoyable as it strangely drags your interest in waiting for how they are going to turn this around. It’s just that the anime ends with the turn ever happening and retroactively robbing you of all the good will you have extended with your expectations.

Ultimately the story feels like a daydream of someone similarly unlikeable personality like Matsutarou, daydreaming about how they gather success and how they boss around everyone without changing any single thing about themselves.