Sanctuary is a drama series that explores the little-known world of professional sumo, revealing the ambitions, struggles and determination of young men who strive for fame, money and power. Presenting a fresh perspective on a traditional Japanese sport that is over 1,500 years old, the series breaks taboos and highlights the fighting spirit of these talented athletes.
To portray the sumo wrestlers, the actors underwent approximately one year of intense physical training under the supervision of Hollywood experts and a nutritional coach for Olympic athletes. For over six months, they trained in sumo to do justice to the reality of the sport.
The main character, Saruzakura, is played by Wataru Ichinose (Weakest Beast), a former professional martial artist. Saruzakura joins a sumo stable as a young disciple, but his motivations are more about money than the sport itself. The cast also includes Pierre Taki, who plays the master of the stable, Koyuki, who plays the master's wife, and Shota Sometani as Shimizu, Saruzakura's friend.
The director is Kan Eguchi, known for his passionate work on films such as Riding Uphill and The Fable. The script is by Tomoki Kanazawa, who also wrote the script for the hit series Hanzawa Naoki.
Sanctuary will consist of eight episodes, all of which will be available on Netflix starting May 4, 2023 in France. This captivating series promises to offer viewers a unique insight into the world of sumo and the determination of its athletes.
Are you familiar with the world of sumo?
- Netflix France (@NetflixFR) April 20, 2023
Sanctuary, our new Japanese event series, on May 4. pic.twitter.com/MMz1XZE26z
