The appeal of "Jubei-chan": Revealing the secret behind his lovely eyepatch

Appeal and evaluation of "Jubei-chan: The Secret of the Lovely Eyepatch"

"Jubei-chan: The Secret of the Lovely Eyepatch," which aired on TV Tokyo in 1999, is an original anime series based on the swordsman Yagyu Jubei from the early Edo period. This series draws viewers in with its strange story that begins with a will from 300 years ago and its unique setting in which a modern-day junior high school student transforms into a swordsman. Below, we will take a closer look at the appeal, reviews, and recommended points of this series.

story

The story begins with the death of Yagyu Jubei, a master swordsman in the early Edo period, bestowing his apprentice Oda Go Koinosuke with a "lovely eyepatch" and leaving a will to find the second Yagyu Jubei. The condition was abstract: "chubby, bouncy, pompom." 300 years later, in the present day, Koinosuke nominates Nanohana Jiyu, a second-year middle school student who fits the condition, to be the second Yagyu Jubei. Koinosuke recognizes that Jiyu is worthy of taking on the name because she is "chubby, bouncy, pompom," and by putting on the lovely eyepatch, she transforms into "Jubei-chan," an unrivaled sword master. However, her transformation has a secret power hidden within it.

Jiyu is forced to accept a challenge from the Ryujoji family, who bear a deep grudge against the Yagyu family, but her transformation has the drawback of causing her to develop "transformation fever," which drains her physical strength. Through Jiyu's relationships with her family and friends, and her battles as a master swordsman, a story of friendship, a sense of justice, and growth unfolds.

character

The protagonist, Nanohana Jiyuu, is a transfer student in class 2B at Honkenkoshi Junior High School. She has a carefree personality, but she has a strong sense of justice when it comes to those who hurt her family and friends. By wearing the lovely eyepatch over her left eye, she transforms into an invincible swordsman, but the downside is that it consumes her physical strength. Jiyuu's father, Nanohana Aya, is a novelist who has been raising Jiyuu on his own since he lost his wife. He has come to prioritize Jiyuu and does not trust doctors.

Koinosuke Oda is the last disciple of the first Yagyu Jubei, and has been searching for the second for 300 years. He lives in his youthful form, but becomes a mummified body when he loses consciousness. He has no skill with the sword, but appears out of nowhere when Jiyuu plays the Koinosuke flute. Shiro Ryujoji is the captain of the kendo club who fell in love with Jiyuu at first sight, and Bantaro Sanbonmatsu is an old-fashioned gang leader who also fell in love with Jiyuu at first sight. The big and little monkeys are Bantaro's minions, and they form the Bankara Trio. Shoko Maruyama is Jiyuu's classmate, and she suggests that they form the Transfer Student Lovelies with Jiyuu.

Production background and staff

Jubei-chan: The Secret of the Lovely Eyepatch is animated by Madhouse and was created by Heitarou Daichi and Madhouse. The general director is Heitarou Daichi, the director is Hiroaki Sakurai, and the chief director is Hiroshi Nagahama. The character designs are by Takahiro Yoshimatsu, the art director is Hidetoshi Kaneko, the cinematographer is Jin Yamaguchi, the music is by Toshiro Masuda, and the sound director is Kazuya Tanaka. The producers are Kazuhiko Ikeguchi and Masao Maruyama, the animation producers are Tsunetoshi Koike and Masao Morosawa, and the film is produced by Bandai Visual.

The setting of this work, Honkengoe City, is modeled after Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture, and the townscape is reminiscent of the Edo period. The original character designs were done by Muchiri Muunii, and the uniquely deformed characters add to the charm of the work.

Evaluation and Appeal

"Jubei-chan: The Secret of the Lovely Eyepatch" is highly acclaimed for its unique setting and humorous story development. In particular, the scene where Jiyu transforms into a master swordsman after putting on a lovely eyepatch, Koinosuke's 300-year journey, and the showdown with the Ryujoji family are all fascinating scenes that keep viewers hooked. Additionally, the episodes depicting Jiyu's growth, his ties with his family, and his friendship are heartwarming and leave a lasting impression on viewers.

The characters are also rich in personality, and each adds color to the story, such as Jiyuu's natural personality, Koinosuke's humorous behavior, Ryujoji Shiro's hot-bloodedness, and Bantaro's old-fashioned atmosphere. In particular, Jiyuu's transformation and battle scenes are worth watching and provide visual enjoyment.

Subtitles and episodes

The subtitles for each episode are often symbolic of the story's development, drawing the viewer's interest. Below are the subtitles for all 13 episodes.

• Episode 1: The birth of the second Jubei Yagyu
• Episode 2: I was in love with your enemy
• Episode 3: The man's heart was wavering
• Episode 4: There was no turning back
• Episode 5: The enemy brings back memories
• Episode 6: Yesterday's ally is now my enemy
• Episode 7: I had grasped the secret without even realizing it
• Episode 8: I had this on my head
• Episode 9: He was the father of my premonition of love
• Episode 10: This is where we need to put in the effort
• Episode 11: But the road was curved
• Episode 12: I met a girl I didn't know
• Episode 13: When the night ended, the morning came

Each episode depicts Jiyuu's growth, friendship, and family ties, while featuring a mixture of humor and action. In particular, the episodes depicting Jiyuu's growth as a master swordsman and Koinosuke's 300-year journey have left a deep impression on viewers.

Theme songs and music

The ending theme "Forever" was written by Airin, composed by Toshikazu Tokura, and sung by 1999 Shojotai. The song features a melody and lyrics that symbolize the growth of freedom and friendship, leaving a deep impression on viewers.

Recommended points

"Jubei-chan: The Secret of the Lovely Eyepatch" is an appealing work with its unique setting and humorous story development. In particular, the episodes depicting Jiyu's growth, family ties, and friendship are heartwarming and leave a lasting impression on viewers. The characters are also rich in personality, each adding color to the story. The battle scenes and transformation scenes, which provide visual enjoyment, are also worth watching, and viewers will not tire of the show.

The appeal of this work is the setting that evokes the atmosphere of the Edo period and the uniquely deformed characters. It is recommended as a work that will provide viewers with fresh surprises and impressions. In particular, it is a must-watch for those who like humor and action, and those who want to enjoy a coming-of-age story.

summary

"Jubei-chan: The Secret of the Lovely Eyepatch" is an appealing work with a unique setting, humorous story development, and heartwarming episodes. Episodes depicting the growth of freedom, family ties, and friendship will move viewers, and the characters' rich personalities add color to the story. The battle scenes and transformation scenes, which provide visual enjoyment, are also worth watching, and will not bore viewers. This work is highly recommended for those who like humor and action, and those who want to enjoy a coming-of-age story.