Plot Synopsis

Written by Tomoki Kanazawa and directed by Kan Eguchi, SANCTUARY is a drama series that centers on juvenile delinquent Kiyoshi Oze, who enters the sumo world, captivating fans with his cocky attitude -- and upsetting an industry steeped in tradition. Oze takes on the name Enno and becomes a sumo apprentice to a stable master who raises him believing in his potential while Enno acts crudely because of his lack of fear. Enno's only friend, Shimizu, loves sumo with a passion, but struggles because he lacks the physique for it. Kunishima is a newspaper reporter who gets relegated to covering sumo. The series takes a gritty look into the underbelly of professional sumo, a world full of young men with ambitions for money, women, fame, and power. While sumo is known across the globe as a part of traditional Japanese culture and a religious ritual passed down for over 1,500 years, the world of this sport remains veiled in secrecy. The "dohyo," the ring where the sumo matches are fought, is truly a "sanctuary" built on the foundation of this unusual world. The entire eight-episode first season of SANCTUARY dropped on Thursday, May 4, 2023 on Netflix.