House of Five Leaves 9

Obligatory random shot? Check!

Considering it’s anime I was expecting Masa’s imouto to be completely in love with him, however House of Five Leaves has once again proved itself to be more mature, instead she has complicated feelings that may or may not turn out to be romantic love. But maybe I’m just projecting my expectation of incest within anime onto a series where it won’t emerge. Yet, I can still remember reading the previews for this season last season and laughing at how many shows had the words “sister” and “not blood related” in them. Last time I checked it isn’t blood that makes you family in real life or in anime. I would also like to say that I am open-minded as a person. I personally don’t have any problem with incest having run into it once in my life, but I would certainly like to hope that anime hasn’t warped my thinking. I guess the question is: “Where is the limit on being open-minded?”

...she looks like Okinu...

I felt really proud of myself again when a few of my predictions came true. Yagi is in fact a policeman, he’s even a commander. Also, Matsu did end up giving Masa the hair ornament saying to give it to his sister. However, Masa is an idiot. He gives the ornament to Sachi under the pretense that it is from Matsu, which isn’t what Matsu meant. Matsu gave it to Masa because of his debt to him, once it touched Masa’s hands it no longer had anything to do with Matsu. I really hope that this doesn’t cause a big confusion since we only have three episodes left. I like that she ran away to Edo clearly because she thought that Masa would side with her over the other brother about her arranged marriage.

..But has a cute pouting face!

Unlike other episodes this one felt like it had two clear halves; one being the end of Matsu’s rescue, and the other being its aftermath and the introduction of Sachi. This also made me feel as though next episode will be a continuation of the second half and that the story will conclude in the final two episodes. The end of this episode brought back a familiar scar—I mean face, wait, no I mean scar. The member of the Bakuro gang who originally kidnapped Yaichi has returned, and is looking for the person who sold the gang out. Now, while I should assume that this is Yaichi I have a feeling that if it were that obvious he would have just said his name; though the elders warning in episode eight all but confirms that suspicion.

"How would I get a scar like this eating pineapple, man?"

I appreciated the fact that Matsu explained why he didn’t like Ume in this episode. As God-like as I am when it comes to intelligence, I couldn’t figure out why Matsu was at odds with Ume. Matsu’s disdain for people who work hard for their family because of his failure is a realistic human element that I’ve come to expect from Five Leaves. Otake’s line about her not being a woman that Sachi should look up to has me curious about her past. From the preview it looks as though next week’s episode may also finally tell us how Otake met Yaichi, and maybe it will confirm whether or not I was right about Otake being in love with Yaichi.

Question: Without make-up or hair bands, what would Otake look like?

Yagi seems that he would become the antagonist, but considering the kind of person that Yaichi is and the way that he is almost training Masa to hold his emotions and thoughts within. The things he said at the end of the episode certainly don’t give hope to the MasaXYaichi that we’re all hoping for; but hey, there’s always fan fiction. Yagi’s motives are probably the biggest question at the moment. Since he has seemingly no reason to help out Masa in anyway, especially considering how important a person he is. You are probably thinking that Yagi is using Masa to bring down the Five Leaves somehow but I know the truth; that he is just secretly the only person hoping for a YagiXMasa ending!

Yagi: Looking more like a bad guy each episode...

The name of the next episode is “Dirty Stray Cat” which gives a connection to Mayoi Neko Overrun! that I never wanted to see. Though there is a chance that we will finally find out how, when, why and where Masa came into possession of his (fatter looking) cat; though in reality the episode title is probably in relation to Yaichi and his digression from heir of a good house to criminal and kidnapper. When this show started I had no expectation for it and had no idea where it would go. Looking back the first episode was the first two pieces of a puzzle, and since then we have found more pieces and been able to put them in their places. Now we have all the pieces and the last three episodes will put them into place, and I for one am really looking forward to it.

/ One Commentleave a comment /

• Kyokai says:

  June 16, 2010

  Masa is such a bakka! Why say the hair ornament is from Matsu? I see a spiral of misunderstanding originating from this but then again three more episodes left and at least Ichi has to have a good ending and I can bet it won't be with Otake. Isn't he a free flowing soul?

  What I love about the show is the heavy past of all characters. Most of us do. Gives a perspective to look forward to and hope against all hopes that something good would happen.

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