First Episode Impression: "Hinomaru Zumou"

Synopsis

This is a tale that takes on the combat sport of sumo and stars a “small” new student, Ushio Hinomaru. He has entered into Oodachi High School and aims to join the sumo club though it has gained a weak reputation. Though the sport of sumo is meant for those who “big” and “heavy”, these words mean nothing to the fiery Ushio who is determined to rise to the top alongside the small sumo club and gain the title of Hinoshita Kaisan! (a title for the highest rank in professional sumo, the equivalent of Yokozuna).

The Good

It’s rather surprising that this type of anime didn’t pop up sooner. The fact that it’s a sports anime that actually tackles an actual physical Japanese sport made for the first plus of the series. Other than this, the sheer manliness the episode presented left quite the impression for the series. The way that there are different characters with different body types and sizes also added to this and gave a unique look for the series. Art and animation aside, there was a good story flow for the introduction of the series.

Character-wise the was a solid introduction given to each of them. There was just enough revealed on their personality to leave room for development and there was a clear point to their roles. Other than this, the sumo portrayal, was, as expected, highly well done. The way that it went for the silent black and white moment for Ushio’s move and showing the impact instead was a different take for a fight scene.

The Bad

As a sports anime, it was clear that there would be some generic points associated with the genre to be expected. There’s the trope of the club being a weak one only to gain a strong member to help raise it up once more. Then there is the protagonist who has a fiery passion for the sport. Points like this are found in plenty of sports anime and it’s also clear what type of characters the secondary characters will be and what their roles are.

Conclusion

It’s a sports anime that is different and has a good amount of potential outside of tackling a traditional Japanese sport. More than the difference of sport, the general design that the episode presented certainly stood out and the way that it presented the match scene also had a different feel to it. There are some generic sports anime points to be found but in the overall set-up of the first episode, it does well in hooking in a viewer.

Rating: 7.5/10