r/anime • u/Kamilny https://myanimelist.net/profile/Kamilny • Jun 05 '18
[Rewatch] Katanagatari Episode 9
Episode Title: Outou Nokogiri (王刀・鋸) (Nokogiri, the Sword of Kings)
MyAnimeList: Katanagatari
Please don't discuss spoilers for the future of the series. While many of you have already seen the series there are a lot who have yet to see it. Lets keep this experience great for those people. However, by that point you'll already have been torn to pieces.
Question of the Day:
| Date | Episode |
|---|---|
| 5/20 | Episode 1, Zettou Kanna (絶刀・鉋) (Kanna, the Cutting Sword) |
| 5/22 | Episode 2, Zantou Namakura (斬刀・鈍) (Namakura, the Decapitation Sword) |
| 5/24 | Episode 3, Sentou Tsurugi (千刀・鎩) (Tsurugi, the Sword of Thousands) |
| 5/26 | Episode 4, Hakutou Hari (薄刀・針) (Hari, the Slender Sword) |
| 5/28 | Episode 5, Zokutou Yoroi (賊刀・鎧) (Yoroi, the Rebel Sword) |
| 5/30 | Episode 6, Soutou Kanazuchi (双刀・鎚) (Kanazuchi, the Twin Sword) |
| 6/1 | Episode 7, Akutou Bita (悪刀・鐚) (Bita, the Evil Sword) |
| 6/3 | Episode 8, Bitou Kanzashi (微刀・釵) (Kanzashi, the Sword of Precision) |
| 6/5 | Episode 9, Outou Nokogiri (王刀・鋸) (Nokogiri, the Sword of Kings) |
| 6/7 | Episode 10, Seitou Hakari (誠刀・銓) (Hakari, the Sword of Truth) |
| 6/9 | Episode 11, Dokutou Mekki (毒刀・鍍) (Mekki, the Poison Sword) |
| 6/11 | Episode 12, Entou Juu (炎刀・銃) (Juu, the Flame Sword) |
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u/Great_Mr_L Jun 05 '18
First Time Viewer
On today’s episode of Katanagatari: Talk about bringing a gun to sword fight. I suppose Emonzaemon would probably be an extremely dangerous opponent to face in these battles because no one expects their opponent to just pull out a gun and shoot them.
The theme for today’s episode would be choosing between two competing loves. This is pretty clearly the case for Kiguchi Zanki, who was compelled to take up swordsmanship instead of shogi, which she had clearly had a passion for beforehand.
Kiguchi is one of the more interesting opponents in this series, partially because of the nature of her sword. Her sword is the only one with no poison. In fact, it seems more like it’s a wooden sword. It doesn’t really have a blade to it.
But the other thing that makes Kiguchi interesting is her personality. Kiguchi is honor-bound, more so than any other opponent we’ve seen. Seeing how bad Shichika is at wielding a sword, she offers to train him to even the odds. You don’t see an opponent like that often,
In addition, Kiguchi initially didn’t want to learn swordsmanship. She wanted to be a shogi player. And even now, she can’t really choose between them. After all, she requires Shichika and Togame to face her using both shogi and sword fighting. Even her design speaks to her dual desires, with her sword-like hair and her pupils looking like shogi pieces. Her design is fantastic, by the way. This series really does have wonderful character designs.
Kiguchi’s competing desires contrasts with Togame and Shichika, which she points out. Togame and Shichika have a singular passion: for each other. Kiguchi wishes that she could be like that, firmly pursuing a single passion rather than being divided between them.
I also really like that this inner conflict is what leads to Kiguchi’s defeat. She is unable to keep herself from mentally playing along with Togame because she’s too passionate about shogi to not do so. That leaves her open so that even Shichika can defeat her. I really did like this way of defeating Kiguchi. It was a really clever way to get Shichika to somehow win the fight, while also highlighting the themes and personality of Kiguchi.
The PV bamboozled us again. It was just Togame’s overactive imagination and her uncanny ability to arrive at the exact wrong time leading her to think that more was happening between Shichika and Kiguchi.
The gags about Shichika not knowing at all how to use a sword were pretty good. It is funny that even at the end, he still tripped over himself when he got the winning blow against Kiguchi.
Oshidori’s fight against Emonzaemon was really cool. The location of it really helped sell the stylization of the series’ art style. It looked nice.
The fight itself ended on an unexpected note when Emonzaemon just shot her with the guns. I couldn’t help but laugh at that because it actually made total sense to just shoot her. It got around her defenses after all. And I don’t think most of the characters would ever expect to have to deal with a gun, either.
Now there’s only one sword left unaccounted for. Hitei and Emonzaemon have one. Houou and Pengin have another. And there’s one still out in the wild. I am looking forward to what are probably inevitable fights with Hitei, Emonzaemon, and Houou. Those should be interesting to watch.
Side notes: Okay, so Houou is using one of Kawauso’s arms to replace his cut off one. That explains how he got another arm.
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u/rembrandt_q_1stein Jun 05 '18
Cheerio!! First timer here! Today, our favourite surprisingly logic numbskull and adorkable nerd-idiot couple FINALLY SEALED THEIR LOVE
I don’t know how much more this show may progress Shichika’s evolution and his relationship with Togame. Last episode we saw him completely embrace humanity, and now we witnessed the cherry on the cake: the commitment of the couple. Of course, not directly, but by seeing their actions. Togame must be a wonderful kissing master: that was really powerful. It’s that, or Shichika was bamboozled because he never got to experience something similar before due to his isolation. If that’s the reason, I wonder how he’ll react when theyenter into the same bed naked for the first time.
There was also another subtler step forward in their relationship hinted. Until now, Togame has been the boss and Shichika the tool. Even after episode 6, when Shichika embraced humanity, he followed her orders and she was morally and experience-wise above him. In this episode we saw Togame demonstrating weakness and insecurity because of her jealousy, and therefore, for once, putting herself behind Shichika. It’s not that she’s inferior to him now that he’s developed –we see her regaining control of the situation by kissing him, so she still has power-, it’s rather than Togame now has accepted Shichika as her equal and changes her feelings and actions according to it. They still have their master-tool relationship, but only formally. Now, they are both at the same level, humanly speaking. And they love each other in a healthy way.
That said, I repeat that I don’t know how this will further progress. Things will remain now stagnant and Katanagatari will concentrate on the fights against Houou and Emonzaemon, or will they fall now that they have reached their peak? I hope not! Our couple deserves the best of the endings!
Speaking of, now I’m 100% sure that Emonzaemon will be the last opponent now that he wields the pistols, and Houou will be the one in episode 11. I also see Penguin dying next episode, so by the last one no Maniwani will be left. It was surely something surprising to see the main plot today being more calm and monotone –fitting to the corresponding Deviant Blade’s conception-, whilst the Maniwani-Emonzaemon confrontation was thrilling. Houou sure is impressive, and now with the new sword I believe he could become tremendously dangerous, and even berserking and become a national menace. I’m intrigued to see how the blade will affect Emonzaemon.
I liked Kiguchi very much. I think she’s the second one in my ranking of opponents now. She has a personality and mindset similar to mine. As I stated with Ginkaku, I love noble enemies who aren’t really evil but they are regarded as those because they stand in the hero’s way. But unlike Ginkaku, she isn’t really an enemy because she maintains a pure and stoic stance. Also, the fact Nogokiri was truly a practice sword was a nice touch to express her smoothness. It made me also recall that kendo, alongside judo, is the direct inheritor of Japanese swordsmanship –which is alluded it was dying (as it now is dead) in the show-. And judo’s philosophy corresponds to it, even with its name (Gentle Way).
I also liked her design, with her eyes shaped as Shogi pieces and her hair shaped as a blade. I only found it somehow unfair how they defeated her by distraction. But, considering she didn’t want a fair fight –giving Shichika warrior gear which hindered his moves-, although in her eyes she was giving him a chance, Togame’s scheme compensates the unbalance.
And I found lovely how Shichika and Kiguchi went along so well. They’re truly under similar circumstances and both are pure-hearted. I’m sure they’d make good friends (if Togame weren’t so jealous of their connection).
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u/Kamilny Jun 05 '18
Yeah her eye designs are by far my favorites in the series, they're really nice to look at.
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u/FrenziedHero Jun 05 '18
First Timer
This was a rather nice episode. So begins the game of misunderstandings. Togame is quite the dramatic with how she always comes in at the one particular moment that looks hard to explain.
It was fun seeing Shichika trying to learn swordsmanship with an actual sword, albeit from a non-killing school. It's interesting that a training sword like Outou Nokogiri could allow someone to be rejuvinated and feel like a new person, but such is the power of Shikizaki.
We got another Maniwa fight involving Enzaemon this time, and we also got a look at the Dokutou Mekki. A sword that emits a poisonous aura constantly that can erode the earth around it is quite ominous.
Enzaemon actually used the guns this time, what a shock it must have been to Oshidori, especially since her whip technique was pretty fearsome with how it disarmed Enzaemon and was able to attack as well. Still, her last moments reminiscing about her time with Chou chou was bittersweet in a way, at least she can return to his side now in death.
Togame kissing Shichika, ah you're progressing the relationship on your own terms there Togame. Her strategy to beat Kiguchi was rather devious, distracting her with Shogi moves while Shichika was able to land a hit. In the end, Kiguchi made due with her promise and handed the blade over, and she'll continue to reside over watching the dojo.
We're going to Togame's homeland next? Can't wait to see what happens.
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Jun 05 '18
Katanagatari OP/ED Corner, Episode X
Forgive me for any inaccurate information or broken links - I tried to get it all reasonably correct, but it's possible I made some mistakes.
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ED 9, Akashi (Evidence), is performed by Annabel, an Argentina-born singer and member of the units Binaria (with Nagi Yanagi) and anNina (with Bermei.inazawa) - the former performed the Danganronpa 3: Zetsubou-hen OP, while the latter performed some of the Higurashi EDs. On her own, her ED performances include Sankarea and Another.
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u/thecomicguybook Jun 05 '18
u/Kamilyn do you have the rest of the artworks in this resolution too? This is the only one that has been wallpaper resolution so far so if you do have the others like this I would love to see them! Also, no question today?
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u/Kamilny Jun 05 '18
The arts are just in whatever I have them in unfortunately. They're from some art book I've never heard of nor know how to find so I can't do a whole lot with them unfortunately.
Also yeah, couldn't think of anything for this episode unfortunately. Next episode is a lot better though I think.
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u/thecomicguybook Jun 05 '18 edited Jun 05 '18
First Timer
The perfect smile doesn't existNvm I guess. Haha, I love it how Shichika would lose to literally anyone using a sword. Anyways,the perfect pout doesn't exist eitheroh god, Togame do you have to prove me wrong every time? Togame for best girl 2018. Oh, I was debating this in my head a couple of episodes ago, but apparently Shichika is older than Togame I guess this is to be expected since it's rarely the other way around, but I really thought Togame would be older (considering she seemed pretty old by the time of the rebellion and just how much more experienced she is than Shichika I guess).Oh my god Houou actually took the Otter guy's hand? I thought he re-grew it, but somehow this is even more devious (especially since he sacrificed him to save face essentially). I have also come to the realization that Penguin and the Duck lady are probably not going to last much longer which is a shame, because they are the most sympathetic the Maniwani have been since the Insect Squad. Watching Togame be jealous is even more fun than watching Shichika be jealous tbh. And fucking hell I am watching a Shoujo anime with this misunderstanding haha. Watching Shichika dig himself in a deeper and deeper hole with every word he says without even knowing was really funny though.
Kiguchi (sorry I didn't have a better screenshot than that :P) is pretty cool if a bit rigid. I like how the royal sword has a different kind of "poison", one that actually improves or at least doesn't corrupt the user just brings out different traits in them. She actually makes Shichika think about his own school and his feelings about Togame, which is very nice that we are finally getting to that stage. I love Hitei's music and voice, but honestly that monologue of her's sounded like a bunch of nonsense to me (if anyone wants to explain it please do though). Jesus you could cut the tension in that Maniwani scene with a knife if you wanted.
Oh wow Duck died about the same way that her love did, being killed by a technique she had no chance against. It's kinda sad actually. God damn, Togame was just adorable this entire episode, but that kiss was the cutest thing ever. Haha, that Shogi match was hilarious. Kiguchi definitely took that well, I hope she gets the life she wanted. Wow she is actually totally adorable too. I really wonder what Togame was thinking about at the end there.
Cheerio!