Jubei-chan 2
| Jubei-chan 2 | |
| Anime | |
| Directed by | Akitaro Daichi |
|---|---|
| Studio | Madhouse |
Jubei-chan 2: The Counter Attack of Siberian Yagyu (十兵衛ちゃん２ ～シベリア柳生の逆襲～, Jubei-chan 2 ~Siberia Yagyuu no Gyakushuu~) is a 13-episode anime series written and directed by Akitaro Daichi, just like it's prequel Jubei-chan. It is also animated by the same company, Madhouse Production. Jubei-chan 2 aired in the year 2004 in Japan and has been licensed in the USA by Geneon Entertainment.
The second season is more serious than the prequel, but still relies heavily on humour while maintaining drama. The story focuses on the same protagonist, Jiyu Nanohana, a teenager girl who transforms into Jubei Yagyu the second while wearing a heart-shaped eyepatch.
Plot
300 years ago, Northern Yagyu was driven by Edo Yagyu out from Japan and eventually they had to change their name to the Siberian Yagyu. Jubei Yagyu from Edo was sent to assasinate the head of the Siberian clan. Jubei wished to disobey, but eventually the head of the opposing clad himself challanged him and the duel ended in Jubei's victory. In the heat of the battle, both Jubei's wife and daughter drowned, but Freasha survived for 300 years frozen inside ice.
This in turn makes Jiyu/Jubei II face two distinct enemies: The Siberian Yagyu who, fueled by 300 years old hatred, seek revenge and Freasha Yagyu who belives that as Jubei's only daughter, she has the right to inherit the Lovely Eyepatch instead of Jiyu.
A major theme of the series is power and how different people react to it. Jiyu doesn't want the responsibility and she's afraid to lose herself (Jiyu) for power (the form of Jubei) while Freasha doesn't understand anyone who isn't willing to have more power.
Characters
Characters (names are in western format - given name first.)
Jiyu Nanohana (Yui Horie): The reincarnation of Jubei Yagyu, thus referred as Jubei Yagyu the Second. Jiyu is optimistic and friendly 15 year old who has just started her 3rd year in highschool. Even thought Jiyu tries to forget what happened during the first season, she still feels guilty over what happened to Koinosuke. Even during the second season, she is still a bit clueless, thought she is more wiser now. Because of her guilt over Koinosuke and Ayunosuke, her fear of losing herself like she did during the 1st season and because her father didn't write the romance novel, Jiyu has attained quite impressive inner rage. She also has begun to show ninja skills while not wearing the eyepatch, thought she does this instictively.
Sai Nanohana (Keiji Fujiwara): Jiyu's father and has stopped being a ghost writer by the request of his daughter... at least for a time. Is in love with Mikage, who is married to another man.
Ayunosuke Odago: Koinosuke's only child, Ayunosuke was to follow her father's footsteps if he failed. for 300 years Ayunosuke waited for her father to return home, but he never returned. Now Ayunosuke has to finish her father's mission once and for all. Unlike her father, Ayunosuke is a competent ninja and a healer. She seems to have just learned how to speak japanese and slurs in speech alot. Ayunosuke is also much braver than her father ever was during his service to Jiyu, she doesn't panic when Freasha has her on gunpoint and will try and try again to succeed in her mission.
Freasha Yagyu (Erina Nakayama): Jubei Yagyu's daughter who has spent roughly three hundred years in suspended animation inside a block of ice. She seeks to kill Jiyu and seize the Lovely Eyepatch for herself. She has her own eyepatch called Fake which she uses to gain powers to her father. Jiyu is unaware that Freasha is the woman who is trying to kill her.
Mikage Tsumura: A former enemy, Mikage has now returned to assist Jiyu/Jubei in new battles she thinks to have begun. Her cover story is that she acts as an editor for Sai, much to his delight.
Kitafuro Yagyu: The most potential member of the Siberian Yagyu, Kitafuro is the son of the late leader of the clan, who was defeated by Jubei Yagyu. Kitafuro seeks for revenge and wishes to kill Jubei Yagyu the second.
Koinosuke Odago: Ayunosuke's father and Jiyu's former servant, Koinosuke doesn't appear physically untill the very end, but he still lingers in the memories of Jiyu and Ayunosuke. He sacrificed his own memories to find Jiyu.