While Hinomaru Sumo anime could have seen some better days, the manga is definitely one of the best sports manga of all time right up till the ending. The way Hinomaru Sumo manga ended was just marvelous and left me with literal goosebumps.
Kawada is a genius! Enough said. Initially, I didn’t think Hinomaru Sumo would even last 5 years because it’s not the fantasy-action manga you regularly see serialized in Shōnen Jump. But since its conclusion last July 2019, I’m praising this manga to the moon!
While Hinomaru Sumo is not the talk of the town in the anime-manga community, this sports manga is well worth your time to read! It only has 28 volumes.
But jam-packed in these 28 volumes tells the story of Ushio Hinomaru — the man who fought for his dreams until the 250th chapter!
And I bet many of you anime fans are intrigued to know about the series’ finale. So, let us enlighten you in the world of sumo wrestling and competitions!
Disclaimer: This discussion will touch on the finale of the manga series, so please watch for spoilers.
Hinomaru Sumo manga ended with the final battle between the Hinomaru and Jin’o during the sumo grand championship. National Treasure Onimaru Kunitsuna defeated the Yokozuna Jin’o on the 16th day in chapter 250 of the manga.
If there is one way to describe their sumo bout, it’s comparable to a tiny yet ferocious demon opposing a powerful god.
But in that tiny body happens to be Hinomaru possessing gigantic willpower and sheer confidence. His multi-faceted demon aura blazes on the final chapters of the manga series.
I’m elated to see Hinomaru winning the sumo championship tournament! He deserves this well-earned victory! After all, his skill, stamina, and power backed up his ambitions through difficult training and hard work.
At the same time, I’m happy for Jin’o’s decision. Despite his loss, he found his reasons to continue his sumo wrestling career. It’s because Hinomaru rekindled Jin’o’s passion for sumo by defeating him in the ring. So now, Jin’o refuses to retire because he wanted to teach that brat [Hinomaru] a lesson,
“What shall I do to Hinomaru next? … I am still growing stronger!!”
Now that Hinomaru will take the Yokozuna mantle, it’s now his turn to live up to the expectations of wrestlers entering the sumo career. He will also likely lead the sumo wrestler group that Jin’o will leave behind.
The Birth of a Sumo Dream
It all started with Ushio Hinomaru’s dream to become a “Yokozuna” — the highest rank in the professional sumo world. “Yokozuna” is the same title given to high rankers in real-life Japanese sumo hierarchies.
After all, sumo’s a traditional sport that has been ‘celebrating Shinto ceremonies and the Shinto religion for over 1,000 – 1,500 years’!
Fans soon realize the main obstacle Ushio must face constantly throughout the series: his small stature against a world of giants!
A 16-year old boy like him has a height that is below average — a trait that puts him at a disadvantage in the sumo wrestling world. Throughout the series, not only is Ushio ridiculed as a “tiny guy”; many take his dreams for granted, too!
If you think about it, Ushio’s situation mirrors real life. Not many people would risk entering the sumo profession. Think how sumo wrestlers persistently train their whole bodies from thighs to shoulders! They must endure long hours of exercise just to develop muscular arms, thighs, and sometimes, 6-pack abs to become physically fit for sumo matches!
Endurance doesn’t even describe Ushio’s harsh work outs! He must overcome his weaknesses by developing a tenacious spirit through tireless hours of sumo drills and exercises.
Remember in Chapter 1 when he mentions to Captain Ozeki Shinya that he must have “heart, technique, and body” to become a Yokozuna? As early as Chapter 1, Ushio admits he doesn’t possess the “body”, which is why, at the very least, he must have the “heart” to achieve his “Yokozuna” ambitions!
Hinomaru vs Jin’o
The September Tournament is the highlight of the final sumo match between Ushio and Jin’o. Jin’o is the sumo wrestler who obtained 44 wins or championships in his sumo wrestling career!
He isn’t dubbed as the GOAT (greatest of all time) in the sumo world for nothing. In fact, him opposing Ushio brought the manga’s finale to great heights that one could only ever imagine!
The artwork in the last tournament arc is explosive! No other mangaka would have portrayed the final chapters so beautifully other than Kawada! Hinomaru challenges Jin’o in a magnificent and climactic sumo match to prevent Jin’o from retiring in his wrestling career.
He promises to give Jin’o “fun and enjoyment” so that Jin’o will not be lonely when the grand sumo wrestling tournament arrives. Hinomaru’s challenge may only seem as a façade; after all, his true intention is to attain the Yokozuna title by defeating Jin’o.
Ushio believes he can hit two birds with one stone: defeating Jin’o and saving Jin’o from loneliness. Defeating Jin’o means surpassing the strongest sumo wrestler in Japan. But at the same time, it also means Ushio will be saving Jin’o from loneliness while wrestling him in the final tournament.
Whoever is at the top is lonely. Since Jin’o has always been number one, he’s often perceived as someone undefeatable. What more could he achieve now that he has reached great heights?
There is nowhere to go up to because he is the god of the sumo ring, the Yokozuna, and the greatest sumo wrestler of all time. He has reached the top. So, it makes sense why he wanted to retire and let go of his sumo career. He doesn’t find fulfillment in it anymore, which is why he’s ready to let it go.
Gods of Sumo Matches
With all powerful titles under his belt, Jin’o realized it’s also been boring. He may be number one in sumo wrestling but doing sumo bouts doesn’t give him purpose anymore. He feels he fulfilled his sacred duty as Yokozuna for a long time.
And he doesn’t find enjoyment in it anymore unlike the first few rewarding bouts he’s had in the past when he first won his sumo matches.
After defeating the son of greatest Japanese Yokozuna, Kuze Sosuke aka Kusanagi no Tsurugi, Jin’o announced his retirement. Since his tournament with Hinomaru might be the last one he will be having, the national treasures decided to give his all to win.
It’s emotional when you think about it: the small but firm Hinomaru opposes the dignified and overwhelming Jin’o in the grand sumo tournament. But truthfully, both sumo wrestlers are on each side of the same coin. They have more similarities than one initially thinks.
Each one puts sumo at a pedestal thinking that it’s a divine sport bestowed by the gods. And moreover, they perceive themselves as supernatural beings tasked to carry the burden of upholding the sumo sport in Japan and in the world.
Jin’o: In the sumo ring…I am god!! (Chapter 247)
Hinomaru: I will be a fierce demonic god and strut in this hell as one who draws a sword against god. (Chapter 248)
Look how Jin’o also questioned Ushio’s strength in Chapter 248 during the tournament climax:
“Can you really carry the future of grand sumo on such small shoulder of yours? Can you keep showing the world how strong sumo wrestlers are like I do? Let me ask you once again. What kind of god will you be? Will there be love?”
Jin’o won’t allow anyone to take the Yokozuna position unless that sumo challenger deserves to be one. Unless that sumo wrestler has the spirit and will of a divine being, he’s not allowed to take the seat of Yokozuna. That’s how important sumo is to Jin’o.
Jin’o won’t let anybody replace him as Yokozuna because he has been protecting the reputation of the sumo sports for a long time. Sumo is a sacred sport; that’s why Jin’o doesn’t want anybody sully the name of sumo by some nobody just because they want to attain Yokozuna status.
Since Hinomaru has a small size, Jin’o thinks his opponent doesn’t possess the body fitting for a Yokozuna. Even Hinomaru acknowledges this by saying,
“The god of sumo doesn’t like me. Maybe I can’t be a sacred body of god as a Yokozuna is expected to be.”
The Demon in a Small Body
Using the Triple Combo Attack, Hinomaru grabs and lifts Jin’o by throwing him on the ground. During this fierce battle, Hinomaru has an inner monologue thanking everyone who supported him on his sumo journey, especially his mom.
He thanked his mom for the exceptionally small body that she gave her. Without his small body, he wouldn’t face many disadvantages. Now that those disadvantages enriched his sumo experience, Hinomaru only perceives them as good memories.
Will you get to see this fight animated?
Not hearing any Season 2 news announcements of the Hinomura Sumo anime makes me sad. In my opinion, the manga, characters, and anime are all underrated. Kawada carefully weaved his “heart” in a magnificent storyline.
His characters show unyielding determination in a difficult sport such as sumo. And yet, the anime is not getting the recognition it deserves despite having fleshed-out characters and plotlines.
Sure, the theme of “working hard to achieve your dreams” might come off as cliché to many fans. We have the formulaic plot of a main character possessing ambitions and going off on various adventures to achieve his dreams. And on top of it all — it’s sumo — a sport that’s not as attractive compared to other sports manga (volleyball for Haikyuu!!, baseball for Diamond no Ace, and basketball for Slam Dunk).
But Hinomaru Sumo is deeper than that. Ushio’s resolution bears fruit as one slowly reads through the explosive and sumo-battle filled pages of the manga.
With an incredible finale, Kawada showcased his breathtaking artistry during the September Tournament final sumo match! I look forward to seeing more of his future works!
About Hinomaru Sumo
Hinomaru Zumou or better known as Hinomaru Sumo is a manga series penned and illustrated by Kawada. It began its serialization in Shueisha’s Weekly Shōnen Jump in May 2014. The sumo manga series ended in July 2019 with an astounding total of 28 tankōbon volumes.
Later, in 2018, Gonzo adapted the manga series into a 24-episode anime television series. The first episode aired on 5th October 2018.
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