Sumo Do, Sumo Don't (Japanese: シコふんじゃった。, Hepburn: Shiko funjatta) is a 1992 Japanese film directed by Masayuki Suo. It was chosen as Best Film at the Japan Academy Prize ceremony. It is one of the few notable depictions of sumo in film.
Contents
Plot
Kyoritsu University student Shuhei Yamamoto gets a job with his uncle's connection but learns from the supervisor of his graduation thesis, Professor Anayama that he's missing the credits to graduate. The professor makes a deal with Shuhei that if he participates in the tournament for Kyoritsu's sumo club, he would be willing to overlook the missing credits. Shuhei reluctantly accepts at the request of Natsuko Kawamura, a graduate student from the Anayama Lab and a sumo club manager.
The Sumo Club's only member is Aoki Tomio, a traditionalist sumo enthusiast who has repeated years. Shuhei and Aoki struggle to recruit Shuhei's younger brother Haruo and obese Hosaku Tanaka. The amateur team loses at the tournament, and are abused by alumni at the afterparty. Shuhei promises they'll win next, recruiting a British student and experienced footballer George Smiley who joins to save on rent. During the summer vacation, the team visits Anayama's hometown for a training camp. At the end of the camp, the team plays a practice match against elementary schoolers in the neighbourhood.
The team wins the next third league match and replaced the second league. Haruo breaks his arm in the third match, and Shuhei is injured. Masako Mamiya, a female manager with a crush on Haruo, volunteers to join as a member. On the day of the match, Masako binds her chest with bandages and tape but loses. The Sumo Club is inspired by her attempt, with Tanaka and Aoki winning their matches. The team wins the league match in the final round, when Shuhei dramatically throws his opponent out of the ring.
Tanaka is scouted for sumo wrestling, Smiley returns to Britain, Masako and Haruo leave to study abroad in London, and Aoki graduates. Shuhei declines the job offer to continue the sumo club as the sole member. Natsuko visits him in the club, and the movie ends as they playfully practice shiko.
Reception
The film has been described by Japan Times columnist and sumo commentator John Gunning as "well-crafted and at times touching" and he notes that it is virtually the only big-screen sumo film with the exception of the Wakanohana Kanji I biopic Devil of the Dohyō.
Awards and nominations
16th Japan Academy Prize
Won: Best Picture
Won: Best Director - Masayuki Suo
Won: Best Screenplay - Masayuki Suo
Won: Best Actor - Masahiro Motoki
Won: Best Supporting Actor - Naoto Takenaka
Nominated: Best Supporting Actress - Misa Shimizu
Nominated: Best Editing - Junichi Kikuchi
Source:
Won: Best Picture
Won: Best Actor - Masahiro Motoki
Won: Best Supporting Actress - Misa Shimizu
Won: Best Director - Masayuki Suo
TV series
The film was remade as a television series, with Misa Shimizu and Naoto Takenaka reprising their roles, which premiered on Disney+ on October 26, 2022.