Sengoku Youko: Yonaoshi Kyoudai-hen – Unforgettable Moments in a World of Monsters and Warriors
Sengoku Youko: Yonaoshi Kyoudai-hen (also known as Sengoku Youko) recently concluded its first part, leaving viewers with a mix of emotions—awe, excitement, some satisfaction and, of course, a desperate need to have the fantasy anime’s Part 2 — Sengoku Youko: Senma Konton-hen — release sooner rather than later.
This superb action adventure anime, set in a world divided between humans and monstrous beings called katawara, weaves a tale of unlikely alliances, epic battles and monumental personal growth.
It also features some standout things that, in my opinion, make the fantasy anime a must watch for any shounen fan.
1. The bandit ambush (Episode 1)
The series opens with our protagonist, Shinsuke, hiding in the bushes, poised to strike three armed bandits.
But still afraid to do so.
Suddenly, Tama and her brother Jinka appear and, while Shinsuke is worrying they are “travelers” who will be injured or killed by the bandits, Jinka, throws his mysterious punching paper slips at them, and immediately teaches the trio a lesson.
Tama, however, is upset that the men are now unconscious and unable to say where their leader is hiding, as that’s who she and Jinka are trying to find.
This scene sets the tone for the anime—a blend of action, humor, and camaraderie.
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It’s memorable because it comes within the first two minutes of the first episode, and so immediately introduces the anime’s main characters and their unique abilities, as well as sets up the anime perfectly for what’s to come next.
2. The outcast group
The main cast comprises outcasts—individuals each with their own tragic backstories and relatable motivations. Even so, Tama, Jinka, and Shinsuke form an unlikely trio, each with their own demons to face.
When Shakuyaku joins the group, and has an even more tragic story than the other three, we empathize with them even more.
Especially as the camaraderie between the four begins to grow, with Tama and Jinka even beginning to accept and like Shinsuke, although at first they thought he would be a hindrance.
Viewers appreciate characters who have depth and feel real, and Sengoku Youko easily delivers on this front.
With Season 2 now confirmed to be on its way, we also get Senya added to that group — just about as big of an outcast as it’s possible to be.
3. Tama’s enthusiasm
Tama, a katawara who loves humans, stands out for her unwavering enthusiasm. Her determination to protect humans, even if it means fighting her own kind, also resonates with viewers.
Whether she’s battling monsters or sharing heartfelt moments with her companions, Tama’s upbeat spirit shines through, with the katawara’s optimism and kindness making her a memorable character.
4. The slow-burning plot
Sengoku Youko doesn’t rush its storytelling. Instead, it builds momentum gradually.
While that may have felt too slow for some people in some episodes, the writing in the first part of the anime is so good, it does a beautiful job of setting up the plot for its larger narrative.
The slow-burning plot also allows you to invest in the characters and their journeys, making it a refreshing departure from faster-paced anime.
Not that there aren’t some incredibly fast-paced scenes. You only have to look at those wild battles.
5. The Sengoku Youko fight scenes
While the animation in the series isn’t always top-notch, the Sengoku Youko fight scenes are a cut above the rest of the anime.
Fights are crazy high-energy, dynamic and intense, and with everything from magic attacks to devastating sword strikes coming at you at incredibly high speed.
Every fight sequence also features characters using their massive amounts of spirit energy to enormously magnify their skills, making them even cooler and more nail-biting to watch.
6. The fox girl and her past (Episode 10)
Tama’s backstory unfolds over the course of the series so that, when we finally learn about her past life, it becomes that much more powerful.
As a cute fox girl at the beginning of the anime, she always seems to be happy and cheerful, when in reality she is hiding intense pain and loss.
A scene like Tama deciding to stay in the time-slowed-down training world the Mountain Goddess has set up for her (Sengoku Youko, Episode 10) is a superb example of the katawara hiding her own needs and her own pain.
After all, when she eventually returns to her friends, while they think she has been gone for just a few hours, in reality she has been gone for five years. Training so hard so that, when the time comes, she is strong enough to save them.
Yet, when she walks into the room, all she matter-of-factly says is “I haven’t seen you all in a while”.
7. The Sengoku Youko world-building
Sengoku Youko introduces a fascinating universe where humans and katawara coexist, and then it builds on that world with powerful writing, a striking art style and characters that are unlike any you have seen in other similar anime series.
Each new episode introduces another aspect to the story, and another reality about the world Tama, Jinka, Shinsuke, and Shakuyaku are fighting to survive in, and to make better.
Realities that are sometimes brutal, horrifying and cruel, but that also help to explain why each character in Sengoku Youko behaves and feels the way they do.
The anime invites us to explore this world alongside the characters, making every revelation not only significant, but also something that (surprising to me) stays with you long after the final episode ends.
8. The unseen threat
In the first couple of episodes, the plot hints at a sinister experiment involving humans turning into monsters. As our heroes uncover this conspiracy, tension mounts, and that unseen threat becomes creepier and more tragic.
The anticipation of facing an unknown enemy keeps viewers engaged as each new episode adds to what we know in a very well-paced fashion. The stakes are high, and the promise of an epic showdown looms large, yet new information is only presented right as we need it.
Impatient people like myself were pulled into the tension so much, we binge-watched most of Sengoku Youko, just so we could find out what Tama, Jinka, and Shinsuke were facing, and if it was as horrifying as we thought.
9. Sengoku Youko‘s soundtrack and theme songs
Finally, to me, Evan Call’s gorgeous soundtrack elevates the anime’s action sequences, adding intensity and emotion while those battles are in full swing, while it also makes the more poignant scenes that more touching.
Sadly, the Sengoku Youko OST hasn’t been officially released. Yet.
The anime’s theme songs are also standouts — the opening theme song ‘Hibana (Spark)‘ by MindaRyn — is a high-energy banger with a catchy beat and a beautiful melody.
It feels slightly like some of the better Black Clover theme songs, as it has that same energy.
My favorite though, the ending theme song — ‘Yūyami no Uta’ (aka ‘Song of Twilight“) by Keiko — grabbed me the first time I heard it play.
It then went on repeat on Spotify for me for a few days after that as, her vocals not only perfectly suit the emotions of the anime and its characters, but the music also has a slight “traditional” feel to it that fits the era perfectly.
In summary, what stands out in Sengoku Youko is that the anime perfectly balances action, character development, world-building and plot, to present a story and people that quickly burrow under your skin.
Whether it’s Tama’s unwavering spirit, Jinka’s refusal to ever give up, Shinsuke determined to become stronger at any cost, Shakuyaku sacrificing herself for her friends, a world made up of tradition, myth and religion that is much more unique than others, or the mysteries still waiting to be unraveled in its coming Part 2, this anime leaves an indelible mark.
In almost every sense, there are so many standout things about it, Sengoku Youko quickly became one of my favorites of recent years.
Hopefully, it will be for you too.
Every episode of Sengoku Youko, Part 1 is now streaming on Crunchyroll.
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