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Season 1 – Sanctuary

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – Sanctuary 2023 Drama Sports Play Trailer Watchlist
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86% Tomatometer 7 Reviews 99% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
A young sumo wrestler joins the sumo world in pursuit of fame and riches.
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Sanctuary — Season 1

Critics Reviews

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Danny Minton Houston Community Newspapers ...the series is entertaining and enlightening, helping an audience which is mostly or even completely unfamiliar with the sport come to a basic understanding and even appreciation for one of Japan’s most important cultural traditions. Rated: B- Jul 22, 2023 Full Review James Delingpole The Spectator It’s often hard to tell how you’re supposed to respond: are you watching Benny Hill-style slapstick or the Tokyo equivalent of Our Friends in the North social realism? But that’s part of what makes it so watchable and different. May 25, 2023 Full Review Panos Kotzathanasis Asian Movie Pulse “Sanctuary” is a truly masterful series in all its aspects, and one of the best J-dramas ever to appear on the screen. Rated: 4 May 21, 2023 Full Review Jonathon Wilson Ready Steady Cut The act of competition and the toll that competition takes on the competitors is where Sanctuary excels, and there’s undeniably a solid story to be told about those things that isn’t saddled with overstretched melodrama or undermined by childish writing. Rated: 3/5 May 14, 2023 Full Review Kate Sánchez But Why Tho? A Geek Community A sports drama that pushes its characters and its audiences, Sanctuary is a phenomenal series. The beauty, the spirituality, the violence, and the politics of sumo are all on display in this excellently crafted Netflix series. May 7, 2023 Full Review Joel Keller Decider While Sanctuary moves a bit slowly at times, it’s a fascinating look inside sumo wrestling... May 4, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Harshwardhan S Started off slow and kept getting better every episode it's a real underdog becomes king show loved it waiting for s2 Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/27/25 Full Review Hamza B Sanctuary is exceptional. Bold writing, powerful performances, and a world that pulls you in from the first scene. It redefines how sumo is portrayed without losing its depth or complexity. Visually striking, emotionally layered, and relentlessly engaging. A second season is not a request. It's necessary! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/09/25 Full Review winnerdy w It is genuinely one of my favorite Netflix show because of the acting and storytelling I just wish there a second season Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/16/25 Full Review Audience Member It's a work of art. Captivating and exciting, it makes you love a sport that once seemed impossible to do. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/03/25 Full Review Justin W Sanctuary may not make you fall in love with Sumo. But it will gain your interest. First half of the season brings alot of comedy. With the later half doing a 180 giving a more serious feel. All the characters not just the main have a personality. By the end of the series you may become invested into this show. A fun switch from your average sports serious. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/26/24 Full Review peter S Simply remarkable. It'll take your breath away. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/02/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Sanctuary — Season 1

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Episodes

Episode 1 Aired May 4, 2023 Episode 1 With the promise of money, a poor kid from Fukuoka joins a sumo training stable, but his cocky attitude doesn't score him any points. Details
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Season Info

Director
Eguchi Kan
Executive Producer
Kaata Sakamoto
Network
Netflix
Rating
TV-MA
Genre
Drama, Sports
Original Language
Japanese
Release Date
May 4, 2023
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