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Characters in order of appearance:

Transcript

  • Episode begins with Asirpa and Saichi crouching by a trap, near a river, in a snowy forest*

Asirpa: This is a trap for catching river fish called a rawomap.

  • Asirpa opens a compartment on the trap to show numerous fish caught inside*

Saichi: Look at them all! Asirpa: These are Sakhalin sculpin. At this time of year, sculpin are fatty and delicious. I’m going to clean the ones that we’ll use for stew right here, so help me. Saichi: Oh, no…

  • The bear cub is shown resting within Saichi’s coat*

Saichi: I forgot my dagger and bayonet.

  • Asirpa glares at Saichi*

Asirpa: If you don’t gut a sculpin fast, it doesn’t taste as good.

  • Saichi leaves to get his dagger and bayonet*

Asirpa: Go get them fast, fool! Saichi: You’re so mean!

  • Saichi runs through the forest, before stopping and changing directions*

Saichi: It would be faster to go this way… Makanakkuru: Stop!

  • Saichi looks back to find a man, Makanakkuru pointing at him*

Makanakkuru: Don’t move! Saichi: You need something? Makanakkuru: Don’t touch the string near your feet! Saichi: Huh?

  • Saichi looks down and notices a tripwire just in front of his foot*

Makanakkuru: It’s a trap called an amappo.

  • A crossbow is shown held up by a stick, attached to the trip wire*

Makanakkuru: If you touch the wire, it fires a poison arrow. Saichi: Thanks. You saved me. You’re Osoma’s… Makanakkuru: Her father. Asirpa is my older sister’s daughter.

  • Makanakkuru and Saichi walk through the forest*

Makanakkuru: Asirpa is smart. If she likes you, you must not be a bad person. Saichi: I’m sorry about how I acted back there. I thought there would be some who didn’t like me because I was Japanese. Makanakkuru: Asirpa told you that the villagers were gathering up gold to fight the Sisam, right?

  • Makanakkuru stops walking and turns to face Saichi*

Makanakkuru: And that it was stolen, and Asirpa’s aca and the others were killed. Saichi: Aca? Makanakkuru: It means “father” in the language of the Ainu. Our ancestors found that gold. And some men took it to buy weapons. Saichi: Do you know who could’ve stolen the gold nuggets? Makanakkuru: Everyone says it was the wrath of Waka-ush Kamuy, the goddess of water. The Ainu don’t wash their clothes in the rivers or defecate there. They go to those lengths to avoid defiling the rivers, and yet we tried to pan for gold there…For an Ainu to defile the rivers in order to make war is blasphemy.

  • Noppera-Bou (Wilk) is shown within Abashari Prison*

Makanakkuru: That gold is cursed. It’s haunted by demons.

  • Scene changes to Huci, Saichi, and Asirpa standing outside Huci’s house*

Saichi: Look at this, Granny. We caught all these sculpin!

  • Saichi hands a basket of sculpin to Huci*

Huci: Hinna, hinna.

  • Huci grabs a sculpin and circles it behind her head*

Saichi: What’s she doing? Asirpa: Offering it to her guardian spirit. If someone gives you something, offer it to your guardian spirit. Your guardian spirit goes in and out of the back of your neck. It’s called a turenpe, and everyone gets one when they’re born.

  • Scene changes to Huci, Saichi, and Asirpa sitting inside the house by a fire*

Asirpa: That’s said to be the reason people have different personalities and abilities. Some people can see them. Huci can, a little. She says you have a very strong turenpe. Saichi: Eh? So maybe it’s thanks to my guardian spirit that people say I’m immortal. Anyway, I’ve never seen you do that. Asirpa: In this village, only the old people do it. Saichi: Kids these days…

  • Asirpa takes the lid off a pot, to reveal a broth containing sculpin, potatoes, carrots, and a leafy green*

Asirpa: It’s ready. I made the broth from the sculpin. It’s kinaohaw. Saichi: It looks good! Let’s eat! Ah…

  • Saichi picks up a piece of the kinaohaw with his chopsticks and circles it behind his head*

Huci: Mmm, mmm. Saichi: Let’s eat.

  • Saichi slurps the broth of the kinaohaw from his bowl*

Saichi: Mmm! It’s good! It’s got a rich, flavorful broth.

  • Asirpa eats the kinaohaw from her bowl*

Saichi: How many days has it been since I’ve eaten so many root vegetables at once? Ahh…Sculpin stew is delicious…

  • Saichi opens a container of miso*

Saichi: Asirpa, it’s really good, but if you put miso in it, I bet it would taste even better! Asirpa: Shut up, Sugimoto. Put the poop away. Saichi: Here you go, Granny. This is miso.

  • Saichi hands the container of Miso to Huci*

Asirpa: Stop it!

  • Huci circles the container behind her head*

Asirpa: You’re making her offer poop to her guardian spirit.

  • Asirpa grabs an ornate wooden rod and stands behind Saichi*

Saichi: It’s not poop. Agh! What the hell is that? Asirpa: A sutu. A staff used to bring pain to the wicked. Sugimoto! Saichi: W…Wait! Stop!

  • Scene changes to the next day, Saichi sits on a trunk in Asirpa’s village holding a bear cub, while Asirpa stands beside him holding Osoma’s hand*

Saichi: Have you put on some weight over the past few days? Asirpa: Remember what I told you? Bears grow up fast. Village Child: Asirpa. Do this.

  • Five of the village children walk up to Asirpa, one of them holding a three-pronged stick, with cloth wrapped around the top*

Village Child: You’re the one who’s scariest. Asirpa: Okay. Saichi: What’s that.

  • Asirpa grabs the stick from the child*

Asirpa: It’s called a kisarari, which means “long-eared monster.” You wave It in front of a window while making horrible noises and scare the children. Try it, Sugimoto. Saichi: Me?

  • Saichi stands outside the window of a house holding the kisarari, as Asirpa, Osoma, and the village children sit inside looking at the window*

Saichi: *clears his throat*

  • Saichi waves the kisarari in front of the window*

Saichi: Whoa-oh-oh-oh.

  • Asirpa, Osoma, and the other children sit with blank expressions*

Saichi: Nngh!

  • Asirpa appears behind Saichi*

Asirpa: Stop it, stop it! Stop that, Sugimoto. You’re embarrassing me. Saichi: Huh? Asirpa: Give it to me. I’ll show you how it’s done. Saichi: *sighs* Asirpa: *clears throat* and *roars*

  • Osoma and the rest of the children react in shock and cry out in fear*

Village Child: Asirpa really is the scariest…Osoma peed her pants.

  • The bear cub licks the pee on the ground. Saichi and Asirpa stand outside the window of the house*

Saichi: Asirpa, give me a change to regain my honor. Asirpa: All right. Show me what you can really do. Saichi: *clears throat* Cha-ah-ah-ah!

  • Asirpa, Osoma, and the rest of the children walk away from the house. Asirpa, Osoma, and the rest of the children throw a ring into the air before holding sticks in the air and spinning the ring from their respective sticks to the next*

Asirpa: Well done, Osoma! You could be a great hunter!

  • Saichi sits on a trunk holding the bear cub while staring at Asirpa. Scene changes to later that night, as Saichi sits by a fire alongside Huci, who’s practicing needlework and Makankkuru. The bear cub, Asirpa, and Osoma are sleeping A wolf howls in the distance*

Makankkuru: Can you hear it, Sugimoto? That’s a sound you don’t hear often. Saichi: Hm? Makankkuru: A howl that’s lower and longer than a dog’s. A wolf. Saichi: I’ve seen a huge white wolf save Asirpa twice. What’s its story? Makankkuru: I see. So that howl was Retar?

  • Flashback shows Asirpa standing beside her father as he aims an arrow at a brown bear. A young and small Retar stands next to the bear growling*

Makankkkuru: Asirpa and her father found that wolf when they were going hunting. It looked like a little snowman, so they named it Retar, which means “white.” They were always together. Even after her father was killed, Asirpa would go into the mountains with Retar alone. But the two of them lived in different worlds.

  • Flashback shows Asirpa and Retar sleeping in a hunting tent, as Retar reacts to a distant howl, waking Asirpa up*

Asirpa: Howling…Is this your…? No! Don’t listen!

  • Asirpa jumps at Retar and attempts to hold his ears down. Retar shakes Asirpa off and licks her face, before exiting the tent*

Asirpa: No, wait! Get back to your shed!

  • Retar walks forward, pulling Asirpa with him, as she tries to force him back. Retar knocks Asirpa to the ground with his tail, before running towards the trees*

Asirpa: Retar! Makankkuru: He couldn’t be a pet dog.

  • Retar turns and looks at Asirpa*

Asirpa: Retar…

  • Retar howls and runs into the forest*

Makankkuru: He was a proud Horkew Kamuy. Asirpa: Don’t go, Retar! *cries* Come back, Retar! Are you going to leave me, too? *wails* Don’t go, Retar…Aca!

  • Scene shows Asirpa sleeping with a tear in the corner of her eye*

Makankkuru: She may seem grown-up, but Asirpa is a lonely little girl. After that, she stopped smiling. But lately, she’s been much happier.

  • Makankkuru picks up the sleeping Osoma*

Makankkuru: She probably likes being in the mountains with you.

  • Makankkuru leaves with the sleeping Osoma. Huci sits beside Saichi and grabs his hand*

Huci: *Speaking the Ainu language* Sugimoto-san. Saichi: Hm? Huci: *Speaking the Ainu language* Asirpa is my treasure. Stay with her forever. Saichi: I understand. You really love her, don’t you? So does the rest of the village.

  • Saichi sits by the fire later that night, as Huci has gone to sleep. Saichi reflects on his encounters with Asirpa. Saichi goes to pet the sleeping bear cub but stops just above its head. Saichi stands above the sleeping Asirpa before walking to the door*

Saichi: Farewell.

  • Saichi leaves the house, walking through the snow. The next morning, Asirpa stands outside holding her sutu*

Asirpa: I’ll never forgive Sugimoto! For him to leave without telling me…

  • Asirpa walks through the forest*

Asirpa: I’ll need to whack him in the back of the head with a sutu, or I won’t feel right.

  • Asirpa looks inside of her hunting tent*

Asirpa: There’s no sign it was used. He went into town and didn’t come back? I have a bad feeling. But it’ll be very hard to find him that huge town. What do I do?

  • Asirpa plays a deer flute*

Asirpa: If I play a deer flute on a deer path, he might think a deer is here and come to hunt it.

  • Retar stands atop a cliff overlooking the forest. Scene changes to Otaru as Saichi walks up to the man who harassed Asirpa days earlier*

Saichi: Hey, big guy. Man: Huh? Oh, you? Saichi: Anything strange happen lately? Man: Mm. Oh, right. A girl who works at a place a friend of mine owns was badly hurt by a customer. Saichi: Huh? How is that strange? Man: Well, that customer had weird tattoos…

  • Scene shows Tatsuuma’s tattooed back*

Saichi: *chuckles*

  • Scene changes to a brothel*

Woman: I’ll bring the girl here now. Have this herring soba, and wait. Our soba is delicious, too! Saichi: Let’s eat.

  • Saichi slurps down the noodles from a bowl before drinking the broth*

Saichi: The broth is thick. I was born in Kanto, so this is the way I like it.

  • Saichi takes a bite of the herring*

Saichi: And the sweetness of the herring as it melts in your mouth…

  • Saichi slurps down the soba*

Saichi: Just like she said, it’s delicious. Haaah! This is hinna.

  • The door to the brothel opens, as two twin 7th Division soldiers, Yohei and Kohei stand in the entrance*

Kohei: Which man was it that’s asking about the tattoos? Woman: The one in the army cap.

  • Saichi suddenly launches himself across the room, drop-kicking both Yohei and Kohei in the face, knocking them to the ground outside. A 7th Division soldier stands before Saichi, before attempting to slam the butt of his rifle into Saichi’s face, who ducks under the strike. Saichi lifts the soldier over his shoulder before slamming him into the ground. Saichi then stomps on the soldier’s face, causing drops of blood to fly into the air. A 7th Division soldier stands behind Saichi with a gun aimed at him, as two other soldiers stand on the opposite side aiming their guns at him. Kohei places the tip of his rifle on the back of Saichi’s head*

Kohei: On your knees. If I shoot you like this, the bullet might hit someone as it comes out of your face.

  • Kohei is bleeding profusely from his nose. Yohei, who is also bleeding profusely from his nose, strikes Saichi in the back of his knees with his rifle, causing him to fall over on his back. Yohei bashes Saichi in the face repeatedly with the butt of his rifle*

Kohei: Get back. Let’s kill him.

  • Blood pours from Saichi’s nose as he looks up at the twin soldiers. A gunshot rings out, as Tokushiro is shown with his gun pointed in the air*

Tokushiro: Enough. Don’t kill him yet.

  • Saichi looks up at Tokushiro*

Tokushiro: I am your Grim Reaper. I can blow out the candle of your life at any time. *exhales*

  • Scene changes to the 7th Division’s base*

Saichi: I was just hired by a regular of the whore who got hurt.

  • Saichi sits in front of Tokushiro as several soldiers aim their guns at his back*

Saichi: Find a guy with weird tattoos and make him pay, he said. I tried to ask about the guy, and suddenly I’m surround by armed men with guns. Of course I’m going to run, right? Saichi (Thinking): No good, huh…I need to find a way out of here. Tokushiro: Do you like sweets? Saichi: Huh? Tokushiro: These are kushi dango, from Hanazono Park in Otaru.

  • Saichi eats a piece of the kushi dango*

Saichi: It’s good. It’s been so long since I’ve had anything sweet that my saliva glands feel like they’re about to burst. Tokushrio: Mhm, mhm, mhm.

  • Tokushiro draws on his table using the kushi dango*

Tokushrio: Immortal, immortal…One of my men was found half-dead by the riverside.

  • Flashback shows the swollen and pale Hyakunosuke on a stretcher*

Tokushiro: He wrote something with his fingers. Saichi: Hm?

  • Saichi stands to his feet*

Saichi: Thanks for the meal. Is the exit over there?

  • Tokushiro slams his fist on the table*

Tokushiro: You’re the one who did that to Private Ogata, right?

  • Tokushiro eats a piece of his kushi dango*

Tokushiro: Immortal Sugimoto…

  • Kohei and Yohei stand behind Saichi, pointing their guns at him*

Kohei: Sit. Saichi: You guys look alike. Which of you hit me with the gun? You should put a mark somewhere, on the forehead or some other place where it’ll stand out. Kohei: I’ll kill you.

  • Saichi sits down*

Saichi: You’ve got the wrong guy. My name isn’t Sugimoto. Tokushiro: I saw Immortal Sugimoto just once, at Port Arthur. I was far away, but I was in awe of the way he fought like a demon…It was you who I saw. When I saw the way you fought at the soba house, I was sure. Saichi: I was in the 2nd. I wasn’t at Port Arthur. Looks like you really do have the wrong guy.

  • Tokushiro eats the last of his kushi dango*

Tokushiro: Why did Private Ogata attack Immortal Sugimoto? It’s because you had one of the tatoos that show where the gold is. And you tried to flee from us because you were afraid we’d figure that out. You have one of the tattooed skins, right? Where’d you hide it? Saichi: Gold? Tattoos? I have no idea what you’re talking about. Hey, is your boss all right in the head? Tokushiro: A shell blew away a bit of my brain. *chuckles* Kohei and Yohei: *chuckle* Saichi: *laughs*

  • Tokushiro shoves his kushi dango stick into Saichi’s cheek, through his mouth, and out the other cheek*

Saichi: … Tokushiro: You’re an impressive man. You didn’t blink once. You really are Immortal Sugimoto. But if you’re immortal, and I can’t blow out the candle of your life…I’ll just chew the candle from the top down!

  • Tokushiro repeatedly clacks his teeth together. Scene changes to Asirpa and Retar standing on a cliff overlooking Otaru. Asirpa holds up a sock that emanates a dark aura*

Asirpa: This is one of Sugimoto’s socks. He forgot it.

  • Retar sniffs the sock, before wincing*

Asirpa: Retar, you stand out, so let’s wait for nightfall.

  • Scene changes back to the 7th Division base*

Tokushiro: There’s only one way to survive this. Work for me. I lost many men on the battlefield. I need more of them. I only have a little under a hundred men searching across all of Hokkaido. Saichi: That’s too many people to split the gold with, isn’t it? Tokushiro: The gold will be our war chest. The weapons and ammo we stole from Asahikawa aren’t going to last forever. Saichi: What are you planning to do? Tokushiro: Buy weapons from an American. The latest weapons, gathered from all over the world. We’ll start by taking over the 7th. Then we’ll take over the major ports that control the flow of goods to the mainland. Hokkaido will be ours. We were heroes on the battlefield, but when we got back home, we became vagrants. Did you gain anything from fighting? Or did you lose far more? I want a brave soldier like you. Fight with us.

  • Saichi pulls the kushi dango stick out of his cheek with no reaction*

Saichi: This is a waste of time. Tokushiro: Maybe I’ll bite down on that candle, then.

  • Scene changes to night, as Asirpa rides Retar through Otaru. Retar stands at the window of a hosue*

Asirpa: Is he inside?

  • Asirpa opens the window*

Asirpa: Okay, go.

  • Retar jumps through the window and approaches a sleeping man. The man wakes up and notices Retar*

Yoshitake: Aah! A monster!

  • Asirpa hits Yoshitake in the back of the head with her suta*

Yoshitake: Augh!

  • Asirpa holds up a torch to find that she had hit Yoshitake and not Saichi*

Asirpa: Huh? You’re not Sugimoto. You’re…The Scat King. Yoshitake: Shiraishi Yoshitake, the Escape King! Huh? Wait, are you that Ainu kid from before?

  • Retar suddenly bites Yoshitake’s head*

Yoshitake: Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow! Asirpa: Don’t eat him.

  • Retar stops biting Yoshitake’s head*

Asirpa: Retar wouldn’t mistake a scent. Where is Sugimoto? Yoshitake: He ain’t with me! I’m alone! Asirpa: That doesn’t make sense. I followed the smell of his sock…Why did it lead me here? Yoshitake: Sock? Was it then…?

  • Flashback shows Saichi and Yoshitake sitting together by a fire*

Yoshitake: That’s it! We put on the wrong socks then!

  • Asirpa looks at Yoshitake with a disgusted look*

Asirpa: Disgusting. Yoshitake: What, did Sugimoto betray you? He ran off with the skins, didn’t he? Asirpa: Shut up. Yoshitake: I see, that explains it. So the rumor was about Sugimoto. Asirpa: Rumor? What rumor? Yoshitake: Yesterday, a man with a big scar on his face got in a huge fight before he was taken to the 7th’s hideout. Asirpa: …! Yoshitake: He’s probably long dead.

  • Asirpa points an arrow at Yoshitake’s face*

Asirpa: Take me there. This poison arrow can kill a bear in ten steps, but you’ll die before you can even take one. Yoshitake: *chokes up* Fine! Fine! Just don’t point that thing at me! Scary kid…

  • Yoshitake gets up and walks out of the room*

Yoshitake: Hang on. I’ll wash my face to wake myself up. Asirpa (Thinking): My bad feeling was right. Sugimoto is…

  • Retar turns to the window*

Asirpa: What’s wrong?

  • Asirpa opens the window to find Yoshitake running through the snow*

Asirpa: Oh? He ran.

  • Yoshitake jumps to the top of a wall, before running along the roof of a house, then diving into the deep snow. Tunneling through the snow before peeking his head out, as Retar bites him, puncturing his temples with his teeth*

Yoshitake: Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow!

  • Retar pulls Yoshitake out of the snow with his teeth*

Asirpa: Retar can run a full night if he has to. You can hide under the bottom of a latrine, and he’ll still find you.

  • Yoshitake clutches his head*

Asirpa: Keep running, Escape King. You’ll never escape from a Horkew Kamuy. Yoshitake: *whimpers*

  • Scene changes to a dark room in the 7th’s hideout, as Saichi is bound to a chair. Yohei and Kohei enter the room*

Yohei: You alive, kushi dango boy?

  • Saichi sits motionless as two kushi dango sticks impale his cheeks*

Kohei: Is this realy Immortal Sugimoto? You don’t think we got the wrong guy, do you, Yohei? Yohei: His face had swelled up to twice the size after I hit him so much, but the swelling’s all gone now, Kohei. If he’s real, I bet we could rip out all his guts, and he’d be healed by tomorrow.

  • Yohei pulls out a knife*

Kohei: If we kill him, we won’t be able to find out where the tattoos are, Yohei. Yohei: Let’s stop wasting time and just chop off fingers until he spits it out. Saichi: You’re the one who hit me in front of the soba place, right? Yohei: Huh? What? Saichi: I’ll put a mark on you, so people can tell you apart. Yohei: Huh? Shut your mouth, asshole.

  • Saichi slams the top of his head into Yohei’s face, knocking out one of his teeth, and causing him to fall backward into Kohei. Saichi flips himself while bound to the chair, across the room towards Yohei and Kohei, who quickly run out of the way as Saichi lands. The landing causes the chair he was bound to, to shatter. Saichi brings his tied hands under and around his feet, before wrapping his legs around Kohei’s neck and squeezing them. Yohei stabs the tip of his knife into Saichi’s chest, as Saichi holds him back with his arms while simultaneously choking Koehi with his legs*

Saichi: *roars* I’m Immortal Suigmoto!

  • Episode ends*

Episode Rating

Story & Pacing (9.6/10)

  • The episode seamlessly transitions between three main storylines:
    • Sugimoto's time in Asirpa’s village – offering warmth, humor, and deeper insight into Ainu traditions.
    • Tsurumi’s ruthless interrogation – creating a suspenseful, high-stakes power struggle.
    • Asirpa tracking Sugimoto – reinforcing her resourcefulness, loyalty, and intelligence.
  • The flow between lighthearted moments and dark intensity is masterfully done. Sugimoto’s miso antics and Asirpa’s scaring children contrast beautifully with the brutal torture scene at the end.

Characterization & Dialogue (9.7/10)

This episode shines in character moments, subtle development, and tense confrontations.

  • Sugimoto Saichi continues to prove why he’s one of the best protagonists in anime/manga.
    • His time with Asirpa’s village shows how much he enjoys the peace he’s found, even if he knows it’s temporary.
    • His goodbye scene is surprisingly poignant—showing his desire to keep Asirpa out of danger, even if it hurts her.
    • His torture resistance and ability to turn the tables on the Nikaido twins was absolutely badass.
  • Asirpa is as strong-willed and sharp as ever.
    • Her childhood connection to Retar adds depth to their bond and reinforces her past trauma.
    • She cleverly tracks Sugimoto using his sock, showing both her intelligence and humor.
    • Her threats to Shiraishi were both hilarious and terrifying—she’s not to be underestimated.
  • Tokushiro Tsurumi remains a phenomenal antagonist.
    • His unhinged performance (laughing about his brain injury while torturing Sugimoto) makes him as terrifying as he is fascinating.
    • His long-term plans to use the gold for military dominance add political intrigue to the story.
    • His mind games (offering sweets before stabbing Sugimoto in the cheek) show how calculated and unpredictable he is.
  • The Nikaido Twins (Kohei & Yohei) debut as excellent mid-tier villains.
    • Their brutal, unhinged nature makes them stand out.
    • Their over-the-top sadism is immediately satisfying to watch backfire on them when Sugimoto wrecks them.
  • Shiraishi Yoshitake (Escape King) is a perfect comic relief character.
    • His sock mix-up leading Asirpa to him was both disgusting and hilarious.
    • His failed escape from Retar was a great moment.

Action & Visual Storytelling (9.7/10)

  • Sugimoto vs. The Nikaido Twins was a brutal, well-executed fight.
    • The headbutt to knock out Yohei’s tooth was satisfying and cinematic.
    • The chair escape and leg chokehold showcased Sugimoto’s resourcefulness and sheer toughness.
  • Tsurumi’s psychological torture scene was visually haunting.
    • The close-up on the kushi dango piercing Sugimoto’s cheek was chilling.
    • Tsurumi’s calm, almost musical voice while discussing war plans made the scene even more unnerving.
  • Asirpa & Retar tracking Sugimoto was a great blend of comedic and strategic elements.

Worldbuilding & Themes (9.6/10)

  • Ainu Cultural Elements Shine Again.
    • The rawomap fishing technique adds more authenticity to Asirpa’s survival skills.
    • The spiritual ritual of offering food to guardian spirits adds depth to Ainu traditions.
    • The Retar flashback emphasizes the importance of wolves in Ainu culture.
  • Tsurumi’s Vision of Military Power Expands the Political Stakes.
    • His plan to use the gold to arm the 7th Division and seize control of Hokkaido adds an intriguing military coup subplot.
    • This makes the battle for the gold even bigger than just survival or revenge—it could alter Japan’s future.

Themes & Symbolism (9.6/10)

  • "Family & Belonging" vs. "The Brutality of War"
    • Sugimoto finds temporary warmth & community in Asirpa’s village, but violence and betrayal quickly pull him back into danger.
  • "The Strong Survive" vs. "Compassion"
    • Tsurumi believes power is all that matters.
    • Asirpa & Sugimoto believe in loyalty & personal bonds—even if Sugimoto’s way of showing it (leaving Asirpa) is flawed.
  • "Animal Instinct" vs. "Human Strategy"
    • The Nikaido Twins act like cruel predators, but Sugimoto outsmarts them and turns the hunt around.
    • Asirpa & Retar strategically hunt down Shiraishi, showing that patience & intelligence win over brute force.

Final Verdict: 9.6/10 – A Near-Perfect Episode

This episode blends humor, culture, brutality, and tension perfectly, continuing Golden Kamuy’s exceptional storytelling.

  • Sugimoto’s village moments add warmth.
  • Tsurumi’s mind games add darkness.
  • The Nikaido fight & escape sequences add thrilling action.
  • Asirpa’s wolf connection & hunting skills reinforce her growth.

Every element lands flawlessly, making this an easy 9.6/10—one of the best episodes so far!