English Dub Review: Katana Maidens: Toji no Miko “Resolve for Tomorrow”

We have no resolve.

Overview (Possible Spoilers Below)

The episode begins immediately after Yukari’s all-out assault on Mokusa, As she also proceeds to systematically raid the Three Toji academies by association with them, along with disarming & arresting any Toji or directors that may pose a threat to her. These scenes set a menacing tone and give a proper sense of urgency that’s affecting everyone involved while driving the plot forward. It also feels like the plot was attempting to be topical by delving into subjects such as abuse of power & corruption within our own media & government by falsely claiming to the public that the schools that were raided are committing “Acts of Terrorism”. At the same time this is going on, Yukari proceeds to let the Noro (Aradama Blood) she’s stockpiled for quite some time, engulf her. We do get scenes of Yukari’s elite guard giving info-dumps mid-conversation, along with Sayaka’s ex-teacher Yukina is being a demanding cunt to the Japanese Coast Guard as her obsession with Sayaka progressively makes Yukina even more unhinged.

As we cut back at the sub they used to escape during the events of the last episode, Dr. Friedman suggests they cut their losses and flee overseas to escape seeing that they’re out of solutions & resources to combat them. However, Kanami and her friends decide to keep fighting as they’re technically the only Toji left who will stand against Yukari’s “Martial Law” shit against the Toji. Out of nowhere, just about every female character in this show is suddenly hit with an odd sensation that keeps leading to some trippy visuals. Of course, in response to this, Friedman warns them that something like this also happened right before the Tagitsu incident 20 years ago, which means that Yukari is attempting to summon another Kaiji-Sized Aradama monstrosity.

As Akane & Friedman figure out what to do next, Kanami and her friends decide to go confront Yukari while Akane stages a public press conference to draw attention to Yukari knowing that Yukari will attempt to throw everything at her in terms of firepower. Later on, Akane appears before the gathered press & mass media as she attempts to warn everyone about the coming of the new Aradama threat despite leaving herself open for a possible Sniper. At the same time, Kanami and her friends launch from the submarine in a specialized aircraft and land directly into the heavily guarded Sword Administration building and entrust Mai to take command. The episode ends on an exciting cliffhanger, as Yukari’s Elite Guards scramble to respond, while Kanami makes a grandiose entrance into enemy territory wearing full armor.

Our Take

Despite this show supposedly being 24 episodes long, The plot is starting to pick up even further. And it’s abundantly clear that Yukari isn’t taking any more chances as exemplified by using her political power to go after any potential threats that would oppose her, much in the same way Darth Sidious rose to power in Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith.

What’s easily the biggest plot-hole for me in this episode, is If the Toji are so commonplace within this show’s universe and by-extension Japanese society, wouldn’t shutting down several Toji schools create some form of public outrage? Based on observation, there were no protestors or anyone showing resistance against them on the news. You’d think they’d be some pro-Toji supporters would be voicing their concerns, but it kinda bothered me that everyone just blindly accepted Yukari’s “Terrorist” claim.

With 14 episodes left, I’m hyped enough to see what happens next!