[REVIEW] Disney+ Hotstar’s TV Remake of the Classic Japanese Film ‘Sumo Do, Sumo Don’t’

Back in 1992, ‘Sumo Do, Sumo Don’t’ swept the Japan Academy Film Prize, including the award for ‘Best Film’ and is largely regarded as a classic and one of the best sumo-themed movies ever produced. 30 years on, Disney+ has released a remake in the form of a Japanese TV series – thankfully not some half-baked American reimagining - and we got a sneak preview of it.

Here's a Japanese trailer of the series:

The original movie is now streaming on Disney+ Hotstar and we found out that some of the original cast including Naoto Takenaka and Misa Shimizu will reprise their respective roles from three decades ago. On top of it all, while remakes usually carry a bad rep for being unable to replicate the magic of the original work, the movie’s original director, Masayuki Suo will be reprising his role in the comedy sport series.

Here's a trailer of the original movie:

WARNING: Spoilers Ahead

Episode 1

We started the series thinking that it would revolve around middle-aged men wrestling each other half-naked in various competitive matches. Instead, it revolves around Ryota Moriyama (played by Shono Hayama) who is a guy who doesn’t put much heart into anything he does including his studies but somehow manages to get a job offer at a top company.

However, he is blackmailed by his professor who says he can’t graduate from Kyoritsu University unless he joins the sumo club, which is on the verge of disbanding. There he meets the tough Honokka (played by Rikka Ihara) who is the sole member of the club and unexpectedly…a girl!

The first episode depicts Ryota as the atypical, skinny sumo wrestler and his struggles to learn the sport and to even put on the ‘mawashi’ or loincloth from his taskmistress –– the sumo-crazy Honokka.

Episode 2

In this episode, Ryota and Honokka struggle to recruit and retain members for their failing club. However, they manage to retain some outside interest in the form of a reporter from the editorial club, Noguchi and the muscle man Ito who proves that muscles and size isn’t doesn’t mean much for a wrestler. As a quote from the show sums up: “Sumo is the miracle of balance to defeat someone big”. The duo also face pressure from the alumni of the club.

Episode 3

Honokka meets Tomio Aoki, who wrote what she considers to be the ‘Sumo Bible’. Unfortunately, it turns out that Aoki wove a web of lies throughout the book and the other senior members of the alumni are still furious over it. Ryota also finally meets his blue-haired online friend who visits the club under the pretense of doing an editorial cover story. With four members in the club, they gear up for an upcoming tournament.

Rojak’s Take

Although we didn’t know quite what to expect when we started the series and had some misgivings, this show caught our attention enough for us to try out episode two. Despite the rather squeamish shots of err…old men’s butts, the show managed to clear up a lot of misconceptions we had about sumo wrestling. Plus, our own thighs ached just from watching the various exercises that a wrestler had to go through!

Also, Japanese shows have the tendency to look like they were actually shot in the 90s but it was still enjoyable. We also liked how the show veers away from gender stereotypes by placing two ladies as guardian teachers in charge of the club.

One thing we do wish was that although there are hints of romance, there would be more of it in the storyline. Things were also starting to be a bit boring and certain comedic scenes fell flat in the second half of episode three, so hopefully, things pick up for us to be hooked on this show in episode four. Overall, it is not a must-watch series but works as a light-hearted show to enjoy.

Sumo Do, Sumo Don't is now streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.

Image Credit: whatsondisneyplus.com, asianmoviepulse.com