Neokage

Alternate Titles: None

Original Japanese Release Date: 2007

Episode Length/Run-time: 26 Episodes

Summary:

Toraji is a high school Kendo teacher makes a bet with his friend who is also a kendo teacher that if Toraji can assemble a team which defeats his team then he will give Toraji free meals at a sushi restraunt for a whole year.  Now Toraji is focused on finding girls to join the club, driven by the need for food.  In doing so an unlikely group of girls with their share of quirks are assembled for the kendo team.

Review:

The best way to describe this anime is a harem with no romance.  It’s one guy, a lazy dude bringing a bunch of girls together for food, bringing a bunch of girls together.  And even though it’s about a sport it doesn’t seem to be the focal point of the series.  The relationship is really what’s important between character to character.

This anime is not really about the kendo, don’t walk into it expecting to learn something about kendo.  The Kendo does go through the motions but it’s not really focused on the actual action.  It’s focused on the mental aspects of the game and less on the movements.

As far as plot it’s hard to describe, being a heavy slice of life anime.  The kendo doesn’t come up all that often surprisingly, and trying to get the team together is most of the anime.  Most of the footage is on the girls lives and their day to day lives.  It really attempts to be a slice-of-life anime despite having the sports persona.

It’s enjoyable, yet average.

Reviewed by Neokage from the Otaku Momentum Podcast

[starrater]