Wind Breaker, Episode 8 titled “Succeeding the Past” continues with the intense confrontation between Jo Togame and Sakura Haruka, which started in the previous episode.
The episode opens with Sakura, frustrated by Togame’s refusal to fight back, confronting him about his hypocrisy.
We then see a flashback as Togame reflects on his actions and the unforgiving principles he upholds within the Shishitoren gang as he culls all the “scumbags” ie: gang members who lost fights.
Meanwhile, he has already realized he chose the wrong path on the day he agreed to be the one who “skinned” the Shishitoren members who were beaten in fight, just because Tomiyama thought that would make things more “fun”.
Back to the present day, Sakura accuses Togame of being just as much of a “scumbag” as his teammates, despite his claims of upholding a higher moral code within Shishitoren.
Because of that, Sakura insists he is going to win the fight just to prove that he’s right about Togame’s messed-up moral compass.
And, when he does, he believes it will make Togame re-think his morals, so that he can become an awesome guy Sakura will want to fight again.
At this point, the confrontation becomes not just physical but also philosophical, as Sakura challenges Togame’s beliefs and actions.
We then get another flashback as Togame remembers agreeing to do the “skinning” for Tomiyama, just so he can see Tomiyama smile again.
As he is lost in thought, Sakura has already re-started the fight and kicks him hard, almost knocking him onto the stage floor. This motivates Togame to begin fighting seriously again.
The fight between Togame and Sakura intensifies, with both characters exchanging powerful blows, but enjoying the fight so much at this point, they’re laughing.
(The animation during this fight scene, by the way, is superb!)
Finally, the two knock each other onto the floor and then decide it is time to end the fight with an all-out effort.
But, during a final punch, Togame not only realizes Sakura is faster than he is with a punch to the face, but that this is what he should have done himself when Tomiyama suggested kicking the members out of Shishitoren who failed.
Fought Tomiyama for the right to make moral decisions, and not those based on bullying.
That is when, as Sakura’s fist is about to hit his face, Togame unclenches his own fist and moves his hand to the side, so he misses Sakura’s face.
He then falls to the stage floor, and announces he is giving up and Sakura has won the fight.
This angers Sakura, who cannot understand anyone giving up but, as he is shouting at Togame, Tomiyama appears on the stage, ends the fight, and begins to shout to Umemiya to get up onto the stage to fight him.
Togame then stands up and, walking towards Tomiyama, tells him he himself was in the wrong when he agreed to run Shishitoren the way Tomiyama wanted.
But, as he puts his hand on Tomiyama’s shoulder, Tomiyama (the little psycho) turns and kicks him full force so that he flies to the back of the stage.
This violence for no reason infuriates Sakura who grabs Tomiyama, and is about to punch him when Umemiya appears from behind telling him he will take over.
Then, as Sakura steps off the stage and back to sit with the other Bofurin members, Hiragi tells him, even though he knows Sakura hated how the fight ended, the last bit was Togame’s way of setting things right.
He then adds that Sakura did an amazing job.
Meanwhile, Umemiya is now on stage but, before his fight with Tomiyama starts, he asks him what he felt when he saw the fight between Togame and Sakura.
Tomiyama is confused, as he didn’t feel anything.
It is at that point Umemiya realizes he is dealing with someone who is incredibly mentally disturbed. And that makes his job beating him in the upcoming fight even easier.
Tomiyama, being the psycho he is, then announces to the entire theater that Bofurin has strong guys while the guys in Shishitoren are weak.
This upsets the Shishitoren members, who don’t like being told this by their leader.
But Tomiyama hasn’t finished, as he also shouts that, once he beats Umemiya in the fight, Bofurin will belong to him. (Regardless that nobody, let alone Umemiya, ever agreed to this).
He then runs at Umemiya before the fight has even been officially announced and tries to hit him, but quickly realizes, while he may be strong, Umemiya is even stronger.
Wind Breaker, Episode 8 ends with Umemiya announcing, as Tomimiya doesn’t understand basic decency, he is 100 percent sure he himself will win. (see video below)
You will find recaps for the previous seven episodes on Leo Sigh so you can catch up on those as well. They are Wind Breaker, Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4 , Episode 5, Episode 6, and Episode 7.
You can watch all eight released episodes of Wind Breaker on Crunchyroll now.
