Yuki Yuna is a Hero: The Great Mankai Chapter Episode 5

Yuki Yuna is a Hero: The Great Mankai Chapter Episode 5

The Hero Annals

Yuki Yuna is a Hero: The Great Mankai Chapter Episode 5 is the best episode of the season so far. It didn’t have anything to do with the new characters I can’t keep track of. And in their place, we were introduced to the original heroes, who are way better than the Sentinels.

So how do we learn about the original heroes? Is this information members of Taisha share with the current heroes? Of course it’s not. Taisha would never willingly give important information about the true nature of the heroes to the heroes.

Instead, everything we learn in this episode comes from a book called the Hero Annals that has apparently been passed down in Sonoko Nogi’s family for hundreds of years. It was written by one of the original heroes, Wakaba Nogi.

Itsuki, Fuu, (Yuna), Mimori, and Karin looking at the Hero Annals from the anime series Yuki Yuna is a Hero: The Great Mankai Chapter
Itsuki, Fuu, (Yuna), Mimori, and Karin looking at the Hero Annals

It’s unclear exactly how Wakaba is related to Sonoko. We can be pretty sure Wakaba isn’t Nogi’s mother since it’s implied 300 years have passed between the first generation of heroes and the current generation.

The Vertex first appeared in 2015 AD, and the first generation of heroes was formed in 2018 AD. However, the present story takes place in 301 DE (Divine Era). I’m going to make the assumption that the Divine Era began with the creation of the first heroes.

It also seems fairly unlikely that Wakaba would have survived into adulthood considering the track record for heroes. We probably won’t ever get confirmation of this, but my bet is that Sonoko is simply a descendant of the same Nogi family as Wakaba — not Wakaba’s direct descendant.

It’s clear that they’re related based on their family name and appearance, though.

The Original Heroes

I’ve already gone over Wakaba, but what about the other four original heroes? They are Yuna Takashima, Tamako Doi, Anzu Iyojima, and Chikage Kori. What’s interesting about these other original heroes is that they too resemble the other current heroes.

Yuna resembles Yuna (what a surprise), Tamako resembles Karin, Anzu resembles Fuu and Itsuki, and Chikage resembles Mimori. But, despite their appearances, it’s not (yet) confirmed that there’s any relation between these original and current heroes.

Also, something important that’s mentioned is that both Tamako and Anzu died within a month of their first battle as heroes. That seems to definitively confirm that, at least those two, aren’t the direct ancestors of Karin and the Inubouzaki sisters respectively.

Yuna Takashima invoking Shuten Douji from the anime series Yuki Yuna is a Hero: The Great Mankai Chapter
Yuna Takashima invoking Shuten Douji

Let’s talk about Yuna Takashima next, because I think she’s the most interesting. It’s obvious to me that she’s Yuna Yuki’s ancestor despite not having the same family name — she looks exactly like her.

However, I did find it extremely weird that the current heroes picked up on this connection as well. They can’t see what the original heroes looked like as we can. So all they have to go on are the written names. And simply based on both Yuna Yuki and Yuna Takashima having the same given name, they’re assuming a connection.

Anyway, the reason Yuna Takashima is cool to me is that she invokes the spirit of Shuten Douji in battle, which I think is awesome. Shuten Douji is one of my favorite Fate characters, so I enjoy seeing other series reference that mythical character as well.

Chikage is the least interesting of the original heroes so far. She’s not directly tied to one of the current heroes like Wakaba is, she doesn’t invoke Shuten Douji as Yuna does, and she doesn’t die as Tamako and Anzu do. She just kind of exists.

What is Taisha Hiding?

It’s a bit odd that someone from Taisha was able to get their hands on the Hero Annals and censor parts of it. I mean, it was basically her personal diary despite being written with the express purpose of informing future heroes.

I guess once Wakaba eventually died, members of Taisha went through all of her belongings and found it. But, if that was the case, why would it still be in possession of the Nogi family, even in its censored state? Wouldn’t they want to outright destroy it?

Taisha’s questionable actions regarding the Hero Annals aside, they’re generally pretty good at hiding the truth. For example, they use the heroes like disposable tools and yet are able to convince new heroes that their position is an honor.

Wakaba Nogi vs. Yuna Takashima from the anime series Yuki Yuna is a Hero: The Great Mankai Chapter
Wakaba Nogi vs. Yuna Takashima

Obviously, the Taisha organization is hiding the true fate that will inevitably befall the girls selected to be heroes. But I think there’s more to it than that. I think they also know why the heroes are destined for that fate.

You see, there are a couple of things that don’t really add up when it comes to Taisha, the heroes, and whatever god(s) they follow. Have you noticed that the girls seem to be repeatedly punished by the gods for doing the thing the gods granted them the power to do?

Yuna Yuki mentioned this at the start of the episode. She used the power granted to her by the gods to save the world and her friends. But then she was punished by the gods for the side effect of using the power she borrowed from them.

To me, it seems like either this power isn’t really bestowed upon the heroes by a god. I can’t really see why else the girls would be punished in the ways they are for supposedly doing god’s work.

Conclusion

What do you think of Yuki Yuna is a Hero: The Great Mankai Chapter Episode 5? Do you prefer the original heroes or the modern Sentinels? Which original hero do you like the most? And do you think the heroes’ power actually comes from a god? Let me know in the comments.

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My review of Episode 6 is available now.

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