Akira Houjou
main character
OVA
5.9
My TrackerPLANNING
Episode: 0 / 1
My Score:
Anime DetailsFINISHED
Estimated watch time
1h 7m
⚡ 1 days at 5 eps/day
Tags & Tropes
Yakuza100%Politics100%Noir79%Seinen73%Police70%Nudity66%Primarily Adult Cast66%Male Protagonist60%Primarily Male Cast53%Triads40%
overview details
Synopsis & Story
Two Japanese survivors of the Khmer Rouge massacres in Cambodia vow to find a sanctuary, even if they have to build it themselves. Returning to Japan, they take seemingly opposite paths: one becomes a politician, the other a gangster. As Asami and Hojo work through the linked worlds of politics and crime in modern Japan, they don't hesitate to do anything necessary to secure their own positions and stay true to their vow. Loyal to no one else, they find their friendship increasingly tested as they rise in their chosen fields. (Source: Anime News Network)
Trailer
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Featured Cast & Voice Actors
Franchise Universe & Related Entries
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Aniphoria guide
Sanctuary: should you watch it?
At a glance
Sanctuary has been poorly received, with an average AniList score of 59/100 — 24% of 780 ratings are 8/10 or higher.
It ranks #24 highest-rated anime of 1996, and #16 most popular anime of 1996 on AniList.
Of the 1.2K AniList users who started it, 3.4% dropped it, so it is rarely abandoned; 1.1K have finished it.
At about 1 h 7 min in total, it is a short commitment — a weekend binge.
Best for viewers who enjoy Action, Drama, Thriller — especially yakuza, politics, noir, seinen.
Main cast & creators
- Original creator
- Yoshiyuki Okamura
- Director
- Takashi Watanabe
- Character design
- Hidemi Kubo
Sanctuary FAQ
- How many episodes does Sanctuary have?
- Sanctuary has 1 episodes of about 67 minutes each, roughly 1 h 7 min in total.
- Is Sanctuary finished?
- Yes. Sanctuary has finished airing — the final episode aired May 1, 1996.
- Is there a season 2 of Sanctuary?
- No sequel is listed for Sanctuary as of October 2026. You can continue the story in the original manga.
- Is Sanctuary based on a manga?
- Yes. Sanctuary adapts the manga by Yoshiyuki Okamura.
- Who animated Sanctuary?
- Sanctuary was animated by Pastel and directed by Takashi Watanabe.