English Dub Review: Aoashi: “Tokyo Metropolis League Match 1 – Seikyo High School”

Overview: Aoi (Ciaran Strange) tries to work through his issues with Asari (Mitchell Stephens) and Kuroda (Ry McKeand) as Ashito is tested by Nozomi (Robert McCollum). 

Our Take: The B team continues to struggle with their team issues bogging down their playing efficiency. The best part of their match, against what should be an easy opposing team, is the process of Ashito figuring out why he, Asari, and Kuroda are at odds with one another. It is compelling in how it is on both sides of the equation in their collective pride and ego getting in the way of working together. 

Aoi doing what he does best, watching, is one of his most refreshingly open minded aspects in wanting to be patient and learn. The amazing understanding of Aoi putting himself in his teammates’ shoes, tactically, from what is happening on the field, is an effective means of showcasing that. It is also a smart way of allowing him to take a step back and realize the error of his ways. Ashito has a meaningful progression in letting go of some of his more selfish tendencies as a soccer player, improving himself in playing the team sport accordingly. It is also neat how it is shown how both Asari and Kuroda attentively watched and learned Aoi’s intentions on the field, with the former judging him harshly, simultaneously, making it even more gratifying. The boys’ teamwork and reconciliation makes for an earned scoring and ending in them finally learning from their mistakes, and like Nozomi said, becoming better.