Tsurune: Kazemai High School Archery Club - The appeal and reviews of the first season

The appeal and evaluation of "Tsurune: Kazemai High School Archery Club"

"Tsurune: Kazemai High School Archery Club" is an anime series based on the novel by Kotoko Ayano, and was broadcast on NHK General TV from October 22, 2018 to January 21, 2019. This 13-episode series captivated many viewers with its beautiful visuals and careful storytelling by Kyoto Animation. Below, we will take a closer look at the appeal and reviews of this work.

story

"Tsurune" is a coming-of-age story with the theme of Kyudo. The protagonist, Narumiya Minato, is a member of the Kyudo club in his junior high school and advances to the finals of the prefectural tournament as a member of the team. However, due to a problem he has, the team loses the last match. Shocked by this, he quits archery and goes on to his local Kazemai High School. Minato declines an invitation from his childhood friends Takehaya Shizuya and Yamanouchi Ryohei to join the Kyudo club and returns home alone. However, while cycling to relax, he meets a skilled archer, Takigawa Masaki (nicknamed Masa-san), at the "Yata no Mori Kyudo Field". As he spends time there, Minato realizes that he wants to shoot the bow again and decides to face the problem that caused him to leave Kyudo.

This story depicts the struggles and growth of adolescence, while also carefully depicting the process of deepening relationships and self-understanding through the sport of Kyudo. In particular, Minato's attitude toward Kyudo and the way his bonds with his friends deepen are deeply moving to the viewer.

character

The charm of "Tsurune" lies in its unique characters. The main characters are introduced below.

• Narumiya Minato : A boy who started Kyudo after being fascinated by a Kyudo match he saw with his mother when he was young. He loves Kyudo and loses confidence in his last match in junior high school, but decides to face Kyudo again. He has an active and straightforward personality.
• Takehaya Shizuya : Minato's best friend and captain of the archery club. He is intelligent, caring, and relied on by everyone. He wears glasses, but wears contacts when shooting a bow. He is the son of a doctor and has a pet dog named Kuma.
• Ryohei Yamanouchi : A friendly, cheerful and honest boy. He is childhood friends with Minato and Seiya, and quickly becomes friends with Nanao, but is a bit scared of Kaito. He is sensitive to the feelings of others and interacts with people with pure feelings.
• Kaito Onogi : The youngest of three siblings, and Nanao's cousin. He has sharp eyes and a healthy tan. He doesn't like Minato, who ran away from Kyudo, but at heart he loves Kyudo. He is the type of person who is easily liked by animals, and has a cat named Lucy as a pet.
• Kisaragi Nao : Kaito's cousin, he has slightly curly, light-colored hair. He has a princely temperament and is a super positive thinker. There is a Nao fan club. He often has fun with Ryohei, but he secretly worries about his height.
• Takigawa Masaki : A mysterious man whom Minato met at the "Yata no Mori Archery Range". He has an easy-going personality, is good-looking, and is a top-notch archer. He likes coffee, and there is a reason why he shoots at the archery range at night.
• Shu Fujiwara : He has an un-Japanese appearance and an aristocratic presence, and his archery is spectacular. He is highly regarded even at the powerful archery school, Kirisaki High School, and seems to have had a past connection with Minato.

Each of these characters has their own personality and background, and they are depicted growing through Kyudo. In particular, the relationship between Minato and Kaito, Seiya's leadership, and Nanao's positivity all enrich the story.

Production and staff

Tsurune is known for being produced by Kyoto Animation. It has a stellar staff, including director Takuya Yamamura, series composition by Michiko Yokote, character design by Mirai Kadowaki, chief animation director Nobuaki Maruki, and art director Shoko Ochiai. The music is by Harumi Fuki, and music production is handled by Lantis.

Kyoto Animation's beautiful drawings and careful direction are the main attractions of this work. In particular, the realistic depiction of the sound of the bowstring being pulled and the moment the arrow flies in the air in the archery scene gives the viewer a sense of presence. In addition, the characters' expressions and movements are drawn in detail, conveying the subtleties of their emotions.

Theme songs and music

The opening theme is "Naru" by Luck Life, with lyrics and music by PON and arrangement by Homma Akimitsu and Luck Life. The ending theme is "Orange Color" by ChouCho, with lyrics and music by Fujii Mariko and arrangement by Murayama Jun. These songs are important elements that add to the atmosphere of the story.

Ratings and Recommendations

"Tsurune: Kazemai High School Archery Club" has been highly praised as a work that depicts the struggles and growth of youth through the sport of archery. In particular, Kyoto Animation's beautiful drawings and careful storytelling have impressed viewers. Another part of its appeal is the growth of the unique characters and the deepening of their relationships.

This work is recommended for those who like sports anime and youth anime, as well as those who want to enjoy beautiful images and music. In particular, those who are interested in the Japanese culture of Kyudo will enjoy the realistic depiction and deep story. It is also a perfect work for those who want to be moved by the portrayal of character growth and human relationships.

subtitle

The subtitles of each episode also symbolize the development and theme of the story. Below are the subtitles of all 13 episodes.

• Episode 1: The Boy in the Garden
• Episode 2: No arrows or shields can withstand it
• Episode 3: The moment we met
• Episode 4: We're Not Supposed to Meet
• Episode 5: The Arrowman
• Episode 6: The reason for drawing the bow
• Episode 7: Reunion
• Episode 8: Aiming the Arrow
• Episode 9: The Secret
• Episode 10: A Heart That Won't Let Go
• Episode 11: The Pain of Empty Space
• Episode 12: Five Arrows
• Episode 13: Irreplaceable

Additional Information

"Tsurune" won the Special Jury Prize in the Novel Category at the 7th Kyoto Animation Awards and was later made into an anime. The original novel was written by Kotoko Ayano, and the original illustrations were done by Chinatsu Morimoto. The anime was produced by Kyoto Animation, and the copyright belongs to Kotoko Ayano and Kyoto Animation.

This work has been highly praised for depicting the struggles and growth of adolescents through the sport of Kyudo. In particular, Kyoto Animation's beautiful drawings and careful storytelling have impressed viewers. Another part of its appeal is the growth of the unique characters and the deepening of their relationships.

This work is recommended for those who like sports anime and youth anime, as well as those who want to enjoy beautiful images and music. In particular, those who are interested in the Japanese culture of Kyudo will enjoy the realistic depiction and deep story. It is also a perfect work for those who want to be moved by the portrayal of character growth and human relationships.

"Tsurune: Kazemai High School Kyudo Club" has been highly praised as a work that depicts the struggles and growth of youth through the sport of Kyudo. In particular, Kyoto Animation's beautiful drawings and careful storytelling have impressed viewers. Another part of the appeal is the growth of the unique characters and the deepening of their relationships. This work is recommended not only for those who like sports anime and youth anime, but also for those who want to enjoy beautiful images and music. In particular, those who are interested in the Japanese culture of Kyudo will enjoy the realistic depictions and deep storyline. It is also a perfect work for those who want to be moved by the portrayal of character growth and human relationships.