Back to Middle School – Tokyo Revengers Ep 1 Review

Takemichi time travels to the past to save his middle school ex girlfriend? This is a First Impressions review for Episode one of the Tokyo Revengers anime.

I just need to put a little disclaimer before I begin the first impressions review: 

I have chosen to use the swastika in ‘the Tokyo Revengers’ title, as the manga uses.  The ‘manji’ symbol in Japanese does not denote hate, or the tilted swastika connotations associated in the West with fascism, and nazi-ism.  

As an American Indian woman, I view the ancient symbol as something sacred that denotes peace and wellbeing. 

I do not intend to offend persons while using this symbol for the episode preview synopsis, and leave this disclaimer as a warning for those who may be easily triggered by it.  

Thank you. 

There is also the issue that Hindustan (India) claims ownership of the swastika symbol, when (it is believed) America was the first to rise from the waters after the flood. 

“… First born among continents, America has been falsely denominated the New World. Hers was the first dry land lifted out of the Waters, hers was the first shore washed by the ocean that enveloped all the earth besides; and while Europe was represented only by islands rising here and there above the sea, America (Atlantis) already stretched in an unbroken line of land from Nova Scotia to the far West.” 

This would actually make America the oldest continent in the world, and the progenitor of all cultures globally

But like most ancient symbols such as the ankh, the swastika is attributed to another land. (When ironically, the Aryan people actually originated in India, along with the Egyptians – Egypsies, or ‘gypsies’. ) 

Either way, I think I’ve made my point, haha ☺. 

Now, on to the first episode review ~ 

That was not what I was expecting, in the best way possible. 

I fully did not expect Takemichi to influence the past and his present timeline so quickly.  

Also…why does Naoto actually look older than Takemichi? Haha. 

Now I’m wondering if he’s the one who sprinted onto the train platform and pushed him. Which would start Takemichi’s current journey back to the past, and save Naoto in the future to save Takemichi in the present.  

…So basically, just to start the time loop paradox, haha. 

I don’t know how he did it though. 

I mean…you couldn’t pay me to go back to middle school. Literally the worst time of my life. Now high school? I wouldn’t mind going back to my junior or senior year to redo some things…or maybe relive them, but keep them the same.  

Because those experiences and events made me who I am now, after all. And I don’t think I’d change that for the world. 

Takemichi wanting to change his life is understandable though, since he pretty much was/is a loser in the current timeline. Especially since his middle school girlfriend Hinata Tachibana was the only girlfriend Takemichi’s had his entire life.

I want to believe that he is suffering from some seriously low self-esteem that remained untreated and turned into full-blown depression and an embrace of the NEET lifestyle.  

I don’t know…maybe I just don’t want to believe his character is hopeless. 

Otherwise, I don’t see every single job he took after leaving his hometown to escape gang life not working out.

In the little flashback we got he didn’t seem like too bad a kid, provided Hinata Tachibana even mentioned he was acting differently when he went to visit her doorstep. 

Which should provide for some interesting moments in our story if the conciseness of Takemichi’s middle school self somewhat differs from his current, future cognition.

Just thinking about the episode though, I wonder why Takemichi didn’t find, break, and pull a bottle out on those older 3rd year bullies before they jumped him and his friends in the past?

Better yet, why didn’t he try to run for it immediately when he remembered the fight that happened in the park? 

Why just stand there waiting for the same event to happen that traumatized you in the first place?

Unless he had to remember there how miserable his life had become, in order to do things differently and change the dueling timelines? Or, the characters have a set pattern in this timeline that they always must obey, despite Takemichi’s intervention?

Or, maybe he was just scared?

Hmm. I don’t know. 

What are your thoughts? 

I love how cute everyone's hair is! The only thing I hate is the ridiculously oversized baggy Kingdom Hearts pants but...2005 was a different time. Haha. Tokyo Revengers Episode 1.
I love how cute everyone’s hair is! The only thing I hate is the ridiculously oversized baggy Kingdom Hearts pants but…2005 was a different time. Haha. Tokyo Revengers Episode 1.

So I know that Tokyo卍Revengers is based on a manga, but how did you enjoy season one, episode one of the anime adaptation so far? 

Do you think Takemichi and Naoto can save Hinata from her mysterious and untimely death? Or was Hinata always meant to die? 

What is with all of these delinquents? Don’t they ever go to class? 

Leave your thoughts in the comment section below, we’d love to hear from you! Also be sure to follow us for more Tokyo Revengers Episode Reviews and Discussions!          

We are also creating Anime and Japanese fashion-inspired merchandise for fellow fans, Visit our Redbubble store if you have a chance – you get cool gear, and it helps support the blog!         

次のエピソード: Spicy Delinquents in Training 

☆ In Asian Spaces  

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Author: In Asian Spaces

I write in my personal time and I haven't published much at all. I don't know if that qualifies me as a writer or not, but I'd like to change that. I have a deep passion for travel, cinema and (mainly) East Asian things, but I plan on writing various things to keep it spicy. Let's prosper together ~ よろしくおねがいします。

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