It is humorous how Senya was a personality who wasn’t even current for many of the first spherical. Youko Sengoku. And but, now it’s all about him. It’s not like we’ve had an enormous time leap the place a whole technology of characters has been thrown out of the story – all the unique protagonists are nonetheless there, at the very least among the time. That’s what Mizukami Satoshi does – he loves his pathos. He has a uncommon dexterity for locating the proper place for a personality within the context of bigger occasions – one which frames their whole lives with the large plot occasions. Youko Sengoku and Spirit Circle are the 2 primary examples (and among the many greatest examples on the planet).
What we’re left with is a bunch of roads that Senya crosses on the crossroads. It’s not all the time instantly clear how integral he’s, nevertheless it turns into clear fairly rapidly. There’s nonetheless the matter of Jinka, after all, and that’s the place we choose up the story. He’s actually the place Tama thought he was, however he’s behind a barrier—one that provides no apparent technique to break by way of. He’s additionally swallowed the native sea deity, which has elevated his non secular energy. There’s not rather more to be executed about him at this level, nevertheless it appears fairly clear who the entity is that is perhaps sturdy and dedicated sufficient to ultimately battle him.
Tama’s subsequent cease is a go to to the venerable Hakke Neko for recommendation on learn how to save Jinka. It must be famous that the manga translations handled Hakke Neko as male and the subs as feminine – for all that issues, I don’t know which is appropriate. He is an awesome and hilarious character anyway, however in my reminiscence he is a man, so I will keep on with that. Hakke Nekko largely confirms what Tama suspects, suggesting that the easiest way to interrupt by way of a “easy” barrier like Jinka’s is a straightforward one – blasting by way of it with much more non secular energy. The issue is, even Senya cannot That so much, and nobody within the occasion is aware of anybody who does (and can be keen to make use of it)
However for a second, the (nearly) all-seeing cat sends Senya exterior as a bodyguard. The boy has a fairly good thought why, and certain sufficient, one other loopy God rapidly seems, this yet one more highly effective than any he’s ever seen. And acquainted too, though Senya can’t fairly place him at first. With good motive: Taizan has misplaced plenty of weight (and grown so much taller) for the reason that final time Senya noticed him. However he’s gained among the finest seiyuu of all time in Miki Shinichirou, who instantly proves himself to be the proper actor to take Taizan to the numerous wild locations he goes.
It’s value noting that when Senya enters the spirit world, he’s nonetheless the little boy he was earlier than the time leap. However no matter that claims about his self-perception, he’s a strong determine there, with an entourage now totally dedicated to his trigger. This time round, he’s capable of drive out the Tribe of the Void and free Taizan from his insanity with out harming him—one thing the Kami is immensely grateful for when he awakens. Taizan is a hell of plenty of work, however Senya is painfully conscious of his immense non secular energy, which is dwarfed by even his personal. If he had been ever to face the God in particular person, he’s fairly certain he’d be killed.
Taizan is within the space to have his fortune instructed by Hakke Neko, for which he pays with a wonderful blue stone. Tama tells the kids that Hakke Neko has a factor for stones, which vegetation a seed in Senya’s thoughts. The cat stone could not have been appreciated by the final Kami he supplied it to, however he is loopy about it. Even for the prospect to have it later, the cat fortuneteller is keen to offer Senya a studying. He tells him to deal with liberating his father and settling issues with the Tribe of the Void. That places Senya on the identical path as Tama – for now – as she units out to recruit the Mountain Goddess in her quest to avoid wasting Jinka Yamato. Tsukiko will not be instructed to not come, and Taizan has enterprise with that deity as properly.
Senya’s ideas wander to very harmful locations, as they so typically do, pondering Hakke Neko’s phrases. He measures his destiny towards the attainable destruction of the Tribe of the Void—and the dangers to all of Japan if he defeats them and Jinka goes berserk in consequence. Seeing this, Tama requires a break—a frenzy within the ocean to revive everybody’s life power. Whereas on the seashore, an previous canine land god, Furuon (Fukumatsu Shinya) approaches Senya to ask if he is aware of his pal Kumozou – like Senya a member of the silver-haired tribe. Senya thinks too actually when the previous canine (whom fox Tama is afraid of) describes a toddler, however a dialog with Taizen makes it clear who Furuon was actually speaking about.
There’s one other twist on this week’s street. Tsukiko is out for what seems like an everyday moonlit coaching session with Nau, complaining that she’s not sturdy sufficient to guard Senya as a substitute of being protected. She’s attacked by Taizan – nevertheless it’s clear that Taizan isn’t the one driving the automobile as soon as once more. Tsukiko resorts to “attractive swordswoman” mode to subdue her attacker, who reveals herself to be Kokugetsusai (Chiba Shigeru). If that identify sounds acquainted, it ought to – he was Jinka’s grasp, the person who raised him. And whereas his relationship to Taizan isn’t fully clear, he tempts Tsukiko with the potential of a particular sort of coaching…
We see over and over that the load of everybody and every little thing appears to be dumped on Senya’s shoulders. The one one sturdy sufficient, the one one who can (regardless of the second). No less than Tsukiko strives to share his burden, however Senya appears really alone, even when he’s along with his pals and allies. In the meantime, he attracts violence and blames himself for the destiny of these (like Furuon) who get caught up in it. It’s not fully honest, however from the start of Shinsuke’s story arc, it’s been clear that this was a significant theme in Sengoku Youko. Senya’s battle to hold all of it and nonetheless transfer ahead is each the center and soul of this story.
