The appeal and evaluation of Touken Ranbu - Hanamaru -: A deep look into the fourth installment of the series

The appeal and evaluation of "Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru"

"Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru" is a TV anime series that aired in 2018, based on the game "Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru" jointly developed by DMM GAMES and Nitroplus. This work is a sequel to "Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru" that aired in 2016, and features a heartwarming story depicting the daily lives of the sword boys. Below, we will explain in detail the appeal and evaluation of this work, as well as the recommended points.

story

The setting of "Touken Ranbu Hanamaru 2" is the year 2205. Revisionists have begun their attacks on the past, and the sword boys, inspired by the "Saniwa," are trying to protect history. The story is set in a "certain Honmaru" and depicts the sword boys' earnest and cheerful daily lives. Each episode is told from the perspective of a different sword boy, so the personalities and backgrounds of the characters are explored in depth.

For example, in the first episode, "Mutsuki: I Must Get Stronger," Yamatonokami Yasusada appears as the main character and the story depicts his growth and the bonds he forms with his comrades. Also, in the seventh episode, "Fuzuki: Time for the Big Challenge," the sword boys are movingly shown coming together to face difficulties. Through these episodes, the humanity and bonds between the sword boys are depicted in depth, leaving a strong impression on viewers.

character

The charm of "Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru" is, above all, its unique characters. Below, we will introduce the main characters.

Yamatonokami Yasusada (Mitsuhiro Ichiki)

This katana is said to have been used by Shinsengumi's Okita Souji, and is a sword that is difficult to handle and only suits a select few. At first glance, it may look demure, but it shows its true strength when it comes to combat. In the story, it is depicted as it grows as it deepens its bonds with its comrades.

Kashu Kiyomitsu (Toshiki Masuda)

Like Yamatonokami Yasusada, this is a tachi sword that is said to have been used by Okita Souji. Since he was born into a poor family, he believes that if he keeps it clean, the master will love him. Although his personality is the polar opposite of Yamatonokami Yasusada, they support each other as fighting buddies.

Heshikiri Hasebe (Tarusuke Araki)

This katana was made by Hasebe Kunishige, and its name comes from the fact that Nobunaga crushed a tea boy hiding under a tray shelf along with the shelf. He is extremely loyal to his master, and desires to be number one, but never says it out loud. He is a reliable presence who is comfortable doing the dirty work.

Yamaubakiri Kunihiro (Tomoaki Maeno)

It is a katana that is said to have been made in imitation of the sacred sword "Yamaubakiri", and she feels inferior because it is not the original. She hates being called beautiful, so she dresses shabbily on purpose, but she has plenty of ability and is a character who has many complicated issues.

Mikazuki Munechika (Toriumi Kosuke)

This sword was made by Sanjo Munechika, a swordsmith from the Heian period, and is known as one of the five great swords of Japan. Due to its beauty, the appearance of this sword warrior is as elegant as that of a Heian aristocrat. He is said to be extremely laid-back and generous, but sometimes he is too laid-back.

Izuminokami Kanesada (Ryohei Kimura)

This large sword was made by Kanesada, who was active from the end of the Edo period, and is said to have been the favorite of Shinsengumi vice-commander Hijikata Toshizo. He lived his life with both beauty and power as his themes, and it is said that his short temper was influenced by his former owner.

Kunihiro Horikawa (Junya Enomoto)

This wakizashi was made by Horikawa Kunihiro, a swordsmith active during the Azuchi-Momoyama period, and is said to have been a favorite of Shinsengumi vice-commander Hijikata Toshizo. He is also the partner and assistant of Izuminokami Kanesada. While he is polite and caring, he also has a burning fighting spirit in his heart.

Staff and production

Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru is directed by Tomoaki Koshida and animated by Doga Kobo. Lightworks is in charge of series composition and scriptwriting, while Junichiro Taniguchi is in charge of character design. The animation directors are Miyuki Koga, Akiko Kumada, and Mitsue Mori, with Yuta Takeuchi in charge of color design, Takeyuki Takahashi in charge of art setting, Yukari Yasuda (Olive) as art director, Takehiro Wu as director of photography, Kentaro Tsubone (REAL-T) as editor, Hiroki Gobumi as sound director, and Kenji Kawai as music director. Together, these staff members have created a beautiful visual and moving story.

Theme songs and music

The opening theme of "Touken Ranbu -Hanamaru-" is "Under the Sun of the Hanamaru Seal", with lyrics by Genki Mizuno and songs by Yamatonokami Yasusada (Mitsuhiro Ichiki) and Kashuu Kiyomitsu (Toshiki Masuda). The ending theme is different for each episode, and a variety of songs are used, as follows:

• ED1 "Heaven and Calendar" - Sung by: Higekiri (Natsuki Hanae), Hizamaru (Nobuhiko Okamoto)
• ED2 "Let's hope it's sunny tomorrow" - Sung by: Namazuo Toushirou (Saito Souma), Honebami Toushirou (Suzuki Yuto), Ichigo Hitofuri (Tamaru Atsushi)
• ED3 "A Strange Journey is a Stylish Fate" - Sung by: Shokudaikiri Mitsutada (Takuya Sato), Okurikara (Shin Furukawa), Taikogane Sadamune (Kouji Takahashi)
• ED4 "Happy Fake Things" - Sung by Yamanbagiri Kunihiro (Maeno Tomoaki), Shishio (Osaka Ryota), Kotorimaru (Hoshi Soichiro)
• ED5 "Michiyuki, Gathering" - Sung by: Hachisuka Toushiro (Okitsu Kazuyuki), Urashima Toushiro (Fukushima Jun), Nagasone Toushiro (Araki Tarusuke)
• ED6 "Hanairogoromo" - Sung by: Sozo Samonji (Yuki Yasu), Sayo Samonji (Ayumu Murase), Gosetsu Samonji (Takuya Sato)
• Ending 7 "When the Bells Rise" - Sung by: Maeda Toushirou (Irie Reona), Namazuo Toushirou (Saito Soma), Yagen Toushirou (Yamashita Seiichiro), Gokotai (Kasuya Yuta), Akita Toushirou (Yamatani Yoshio), Ran Toushirou (Yamamoto Kazuomi), Hirano Toushirou (Asari Ryota), Bonebami Toushirou (Suzuki Yuto), Atsushi Toushirou (Yamashita Daiki), Hakata Toushirou (Osuga Jun), Ichigo Hitofuri (Tamaru Atsushi), Goto Toushirou (Murata Taishi), Shinano Toushirou (Kobayashi Yusuke), Knife Toushirou (Miyata Yuki)
• ED8 "A Pair of Sparks, Touching a Secret" - Sung by Kikko Sadamune (Yamanaka Mahiro), Sengo Muramasa (Suwabe Junichi)
• ED9 "Hasendo" - Sung by Taro Tachi (Yuki Tai), Jiro Tachi (Eiji Miyashita)
• ED10 "Sen no Kokuin" - Sung by: Oodenta Mitsuyo (Namikawa Daisuke), Sohaya no Tsurugi (Asari Ryota)

These songs are an important element in bringing out the personalities of the Touken Danshi and the atmosphere of the story.

Evaluation and recommendation points

"Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru" is a work that features a heartwarming story depicting the daily lives of the sword boys and unique characters. Below, we will explain in detail the evaluation and recommended points of this work.

evaluation

This work has been highly praised not only by fans of the original game, but also by anime fans. In particular, the story, which deeply depicts the humanity and bonds between the sword warriors, left a strong impression on viewers. In addition, the beautiful visuals and moving music have also been points of praise.

The series has also received positive reviews in anime magazines and on websites. For example, one anime magazine commented that "The appeal lies in the heartwarming story that depicts the daily lives of the Touken Danshi. The characters' personalities and backgrounds are explored in depth, leaving a strong impression on viewers." Another website review said, "Beautiful visuals and moving music enhance the story. The story deeply depicts the humanity and bonds between the Touken Danshi, leaving a strong impression on viewers."

Recommended points

The reasons why we recommend "Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru" are as follows:

• Heartwarming story : The heartwarming story of the sword boys' daily lives provides healing and inspiration to viewers. Each episode is told from the perspective of a different sword boy, so the personalities and backgrounds of the characters are explored in depth.
• Characters with a wide variety of personalities : Yamatonokami Yasusada, Kashuu Kiyomitsu, Heshikiri Hasebe, Yamabagiri Kunihiro, Mikazuki Munechika, Izuminokami Kanesada, Horikawa Kunihiro, and many other characters with a wide variety of personalities appear in the series. Their personalities and bonds are depicted in depth, leaving a strong impression on the viewers.
• Beautiful visuals : The visuals by Doga Kobo bring out the charm of the sword boys. The attention to detail in the character designs and background art has been highly praised.
• Emotional Music : Kenji Kawai's emotional music enhances the atmosphere of the story, with a wide variety of songs used, including the opening and ending themes.
• A must-see for fans of the original game : For fans of the original game "Touken Ranbu-ONLINE-", this is a valuable work that allows you to learn a new side of the sword boys. While faithfully recreating the world of the game, you can also enjoy the anime's unique story.

Conclusion

"Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru" is a work that is appealing for its heartwarming story depicting the daily lives of the sword boys and its unique characters. Its beautiful visuals and moving music are also points of praise, and it is a work that is recommended not only for fans of the original game but also for anime fans. Through this work, you will be able to deeply feel the humanity and bonds of the sword boys.