is a Japanese sports drama streaming television series created by that premiered on Netflix on 4 May 2023. The series consists of eight episodes, all first released in May 2023.
The show stars in the role of Kiyoshi Oze, an outspoken and violent young man who joins the world of professional sumo under the shikona, or ring name, Enno for the sake of money. The name of the series was chosen to represent the dohyō, a place where wrestlers bet on their future and which is forbidden to outsiders.
Synopsis
The series portrays a rookie wrestler, Enno, a debt-ridden delinquent who lives in violence and with a broken family, as he tries to make his way in the world of professional sumo. As he is scouted by the master of Ensho stable for his talent and physique, and climbs the ranks only for the money with no interest for sumo, he becomes the target of criticism from the sumo executives for his over-the-top personality and his lack of respect for the traditions of the sport.
Cast and characters
Main
Wataru Ichinose as Kiyoshi Oze, an outspoken and violent young man who joins the world of professional sumo under the shikona, or ring name, Enno for the sake of money and fame. Pierre Taki as Ensho-oyakata, a toshiyori who used to be an ōzeki under the name Enfu. He recruited Kiyoshi within his stable after he saw his talent during a judo competition. Shioli Kutsuna as Asuka Kunishima, a progressive journalist who grew up abroad and finds herself transferred from the political department to the highly confidential sumo correspondents' department. Shota Sometani as Shimizu, a fan of sumo who joined the same stable as Kiyoshi. Although he aspires to be a great wrestler, he fails to build weight by eating and shows his limitations as a wrestler during his matches. Hiroki Sumi as Shizuuchi, a low-ranking wrestler from Kose stable with a bright future but also perceived as a monster because of his strength and the scar on his face. Koyuki as Hana, the wife of Ensho and ōkami-san at Ensho stable. So Kaku as Ryuki, a sekiwake of the prestigious Ryukoku stable. Seen as the "Kakukai Prince", he promotes an ethic in sumo that Kiyoshi upsets. Suzuki Matsuo as Inushima-oyakata, a former ōzeki under the name Kenga. He's an ambitious toshiyori who seeks to take over the chairmanship of the Sumo Association at the next elections and a rival of Ensho within the Sumo Association. His relation with him is the illustration of the Japanese expression , meaning "being like dog (ken/inu) and monkey (en)".
Supporting
Tomorowo Taguchi as Tokitsu, the head of Kunishima's Sumo department at the Kanto Shimbun. Kitaro as Koji, the father of Kiyoshi. A sushi restaurant earnest owner who, saddled with debt, lost his business. Kimiko Yo as Sanae, Kiyoshi's depressed and alcoholic mother who fled the family home after Koji's restaurant went bankrupt. Onigiri as Umayama-oyakata, a toshiyori who helps Inushima on his quest to power. Akira Nakao as Kumada-oyakata, a toshiyori and current chairman of the Sumo Association. Kensho Sawada as Enya, a member of Ensho stable and former komusubi who seeks to regain his lost rank. Goro Kishitani as Ryukoku-oyakata, a former yokozuna and an expecting and straight-laced master. Father of Ryuki. Nobuko Sendo as Yayoi, mother of Ryuki and ōkami-san at Ryukoku stable. Rio Teramoto as Nanami, a lounge girl in a hostess club who takes advantage of Kiyoshi. Katsuya Maiguma as Yasui, a sensationalist journalist looking for a scandal in sumo. Daichi Kaneko as Murata, the CEO of an IT company who will become Kiyoshi's patron. Yoshie Kazuya as Enga, a senior member of Ensho stable who constantly represses Kiyoshi.
Episodes
Production
Development
The series is the first collaboration between Kan Eguchi and Kanazawa Tomoki since Riding Uphill in 2018. Director Kan Eguchi began working on a series centred on professional sumo after the release of The Fable in 2019. He described the series was first and foremost conceived to put forward the story of young wrestlers in clash of desire, ego, and stubbornness that can be seen in professional sumo "by peeling off [the] thin skin [of the sport]" and the "soul-shaking" master-student relationship wrestlers develop throughout their career. During the audition process for the wrestlers, a hundred or so actors were selected and put through a series of physical tests to ensure that only actors who were both physically fit and able to follow the training in real-life situations were retained.