Sanctuary Season 1 Review – A slow-burn, slice-of-life Japanese drama that fails to grab you

Episode Guide

Episode 1 – | Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 2 – | Review Score – 3/5
Episode 3 – | Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 4 – | Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 5 – | Review Score – 4/5
Episode 6 – | Review Score – 4/5
Episode 7 – | Review Score – 3/5
Episode 8 – | Review Score – 3/5

Another genre of TV that’s slowly gaining attention online next to K-dramas are Japanese dramas. J-dramas have come to be recognised on Netflix with the streaming platform producing original shows that air exclusively on the platform. This 8-episode mini-series, Sanctuary, is one such  original.

The show follows the world of Sumo Wrestling, one that has been represented comically in the media over the years. The show follows the life of Enno, a man who used to be a gangster by profession but is dragged into the world of wrestling in order to pay for his father’s medical expenses who is in a coma.

Enno (formerly known as Oze) used to live a happy life with his parents who run a sushi restaurant in Japan. However, after his father’s health deteriorates, Oze’s family is broken and his mother turns to sex work.

Growing up to hate sports, Oze is forced into the world of Sumo Wrestling – a world he does not respect and only wants to be a part of because of the money. The show follows his journey into becoming a powerful sumo wrestler, one that respects the art form. The show presents a unique take on the art of sumo wrestling and gives an insight into the nature of the sport. The sport traditionally has been male-centric and sadly, there is no change to it in the present day.

While this sexual discrimination sticks out like a sore thumb, there is hardly anything that can be done about it. The makers do a good job of presenting the true reality of the sumo wrestling tradition, even with that in mind. Oze is a conflicted character and leads a very hedonistic life. He is into women with bigger boobs and money, both of which are something he cannot have easily.

Throughout the show, Oze goes through various ups and downs, as a wrestler as well as a person which he finally comes to terms with as the show comes to an end. With not many conflicts in his story other than one member of the sumo wrestling council, the show does not leave you all that intrigued.

The show is a slow burn and could be termed to be a slice-of-life drama that narrates the journey of a conflicted character as he learns to be more understanding of his surroundings. Similarly, there aren’t many characters who stand out, but Enno and Kunishima do a great job in their respective roles.

Enno’s journey to self-discovery is similar to Kunishimia’s into being more understanding of her surroundings. The two characters are in a similar situation but other than that, there is not much that drives them to be closer to each other.

Aside from Enno/Oze’s story, the background of sumo wrestlers like Ryuki and Shizuuchi is really intriguing. Ryuki is a part of a family that looks like a cult while he suffers from panic attacks because he puts on a brave face in front of his father and the media. I wish there was some more exploration of Ryuki’s issues and his mental health struggles but the show fails to address it.

Shizuuchi’s character was one that you’re likely to empathize with a lot and one character that I feel achieved a full circle by the end of the show. While Sanctuary is not a completely well-rounded J-drama with no loose ends, it seems like Netflix’s honest attempt to shed some light in the sumo wrestling culture does pay off in the end, even if it’s not quite as good as it could have been.

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