English Dub Review: Sword of the Demon Hunter: Kijin Gentosho “The Twin Shizukas”
Overview
In April of 1872, Jinya departed Edo and now lives in Kyoto. He now runs a soba shop on Sanjyo Street. One night, Jinya saves a girl named Himawari as she’s surrounded by demons…
Our Take
After a five-year time skip, the story shifts to Kyoto, presenting a fresh look at Jinya’s day-to-day life while grounding the setting in real cultural flavor, complete with mentions of the city’s long tradition of historic eateries. The episode introduces several new faces, including Akitsu’s apprentice Hekichi and the mysterious swordswoman Kaneomi, while also showing how much Nomari has grown during the time jump.
Despite the storytelling remaining strong, the production noticeably struggles here, with rough art, stiff animation, and several cuts that feel unfinished. Still, the episode manages to give meaningful glimpses into Jinya’s growth, his new routines, and the evolving tensions surrounding the cast, maintaining emotional investment even when the visuals falter.
Overall, the episode succeeds in building intrigue and character development while keeping specific twists under wraps, offering a thoughtful setup for the next arc despite production setbacks. Jinya’s quiet life in Kyoto, his interactions with Nomari, Hekichi, and Kaneomi, and the subtle hints of larger conflicts all blend into a compelling new chapter, and with 2 episodes left, there’s a sense of escalation that sets the stage for the upcoming confrontation.
