I wish we had sometime that spectacular from where I am from. It would have been quite a life experience.

Thanks very much for stopping by and commenting, I appreciate it very much Hope you keep on sharing your thoughts. There isn’t any qualification to post a comment, just share whatever you like. It doesn’t have to be insightful or what, even just your personal impression of the episode is fine like if you enjoyed or not ^^

But wow, this episode really makes me burst with all types of emotions!!! Emotions that I simply must share!! Most of all I love how the anime really portrays the team’s fight to reach Koushien!

I was an exchange student in Japan, and our school used to be one of the stronger in Kansai-area (but now that a lot of private schools pick out promising baseball players for their teams the competition is even more fierce!). Being a kouritsu/public school and fighting towards koushien is pretty hard!! But it doesn’t change the fact that everyone tries SO hard.

I remember when our team lost, last year. I think it was their second~third game. In the end everyone was working so hard to win. It was just heartbreaking to see all those boys, especially the third years (even the ones that hadn’t gotten to play), cry over their loss. Even I cried.

It’s such a big deal in Japan. Everyone is involved. The manager(s) make senbazuru, the school orchestra spends most of the spring practicing the cheering melodies, schoolmates, family & friends come to watch… but most of all, the team spends all their time (most of them every day! For three years!) working towards Koushien.

Nishiura really worked hard. And everyone of them deserved that victory!!

Still…. Kazuki’s (and, really, the rest of Tosei’s) wonderful act of kindness in cheering Nishiura on was quite extraordinary. It truly moved me! Ending your summer that early isn’t easy, but they accepted their defeat gracefully! Though it makes me really sad thinking about the fact that it was Kazuki & Junta’s last tournaments together as a Battery in high school.. :’(

Ah, my rant is done!

I’ve yet to watch the last episode, but it feels sort of good to have the anime end with a feel-good sort of episode! ^^ *goes to watch it~*

Hahaha. will be checking once a while

For your Tajima and Riou question, I believe p-kun had already elaborated Thanks p-kun

Riou did have several questions in mind, but couldn’t quite articulate it. Their faces were pretty close, it kinda excited me a bit :p LOL, the inner fangirl speaks!

@leongsh I love this show as well. The manga was already great as it was, but seeing it animated was a different beast all together!

I really respect how Tosei handled themselves. Eventhough they were hurting, but they still composed themselves and extended their congratulations and goodwill to the other team. How many people do that at this day and age, especially in professional sports? It’s wonderful and inspiring.

Old and new fans alike are all wishing for a second season. Let’s just hope that A-1 will obliged. They have done a terrific job so far.

@sonteen12 The Kazuki-Junta scene was heart-wrenching. Unlike other shows where you really didn’t care much about the opposing team, Oofuri really made me feel for Tosei. Mainly because of Kazuki, since he is such an all-around good guy and this was his last Summer Tournament

@p-kun LOL, you’re welcome I had a huge backlog, so I had to catch up really quick, thus the flood.

I was slightly irked as well that Hamada’s (?) voice was blaring at the background during the start of Tosei’s emotional scene. Though, I guess that’s how it would be in real life. You can’t just deafen yourself from the cheers. If they do see each other during the Fall Tournament, Kazuki won’t be there right?

As I have mentioned before, I really appreciate how the series highlights the families and other people that support the team. Again, props to Asa Higuchi for giving some attention on theis aspect.

I don’t know if Kazuki and Shingo were not in Koshien or not. I haven’t read the manga while following the anime for quite some time now, so maybe I missed it.

@afterthefray If you have read my previous posts, I always say that I am not familiar with baseball. As you’ve expressed, the baseball does not hinder the viewers from appreciating the show. The characters are really relatable and there is more a slice-of-life feel to this than sports. Though I have been told that the baseball in the anime is technically sound and impressive even. So, it doesn’t dumb down the baseball for non-baseball fans, but it still keeps it at a level that we can understand. So, it is all good. Asa Higuchi has managed to insert so much intricacies of baseball into the show. I find myself constantly researching about the terms they are mentioning. Baseball really is quite fascinating.

@applepie_1989 Thanks for the compliment I think I’ll be posting some Oofuri stuff from time to time, like maybe some manga chapter review or some post analysis or character profile posts. A lot ideas are popping in my head. So, just check back every now and then

@kaei The build-up was done well. Though, I found that it was more climatic last episode than it was with this.

The depiction of both teams post-game was perfect, too — the winners relieved, elated; the losers completely in despair. I loved how the captain held his tears in until the pitcher broke down in front of him. Also as someone mentioned up thread, Hanai noticed the red-rimmed eyes of the captain, and finally realised the weight of what they’d done.

I sure hope Mihashi isn’t ill next episode… so relieved there’s one more — thought this one was the last!

To think it’s all going to end, well, we have to wait for the second season to come and give us more oofuri love!

But really will miss Nishiura…

I like the part where Tajima jump on to Mihashi, especially when he say :”YATTA YATTA YAAAAAAAAAAAAAATAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNN”
It’’s very funny, couldn’t stop laughing.

Glad that Nishiura won, and yet hold respect to Tosei for having good sportsmanship and supporting the promising team. Good luck to both teams in the future to come.

Next episode if of curry, Bento, AND MORE CURRY! Can’t wait!

Thanks for posting these summaries. It’s really good.

This anime is one of the best I’d ever seen, though it’s a pity it’s not as popular as it should be. It has its own personal and unique charm, and even though I’ve never played baseball, the characters’ personalities and desires hit so close to home.

I wanted to see all these characters get even closer together, and see the anime explore all of them, but at the moment, this seems like an appropriate time to end the season. Continuing would make the series lose some of its novelty and charm after all the heartache we viewers have been through D: But that’s just my personal opinion.

My heart was beating so fast watching this episode. I know for sure I’ll cry at the next, and last.

This ep is simply touching. I love Tousei as much as Nishiura, so I can’t help but cried too when they did (even after rewatching for the 3rd time). And the fact that Nishiura’s cheering group was celebrating so loudly in the back when the mood for Tousei (and me) was so gloomy pissed me off. A loser can’t complain, I suppose ;_;. I hope if the story ever get to the Fall Tournament, Nishiura and Tousei get into different blocks.

I am happy that Nishiura didn’t forget to show their appreciation to the cheering group. In many sports anime families and supporters are so often neglected, while in real life, their support is crucial.

The conversation and cranes exchange between Tousei and Nishiura concludes the match perfectly, leaving no hard feeling on the table. I like that Nishiura truly showed their respect to the team they have just beat. I mean, good opponents are important for advancement, so they deserve respect too. I think this is why Oofuri gives you warm and fuzzy feeling.

And Tajima frog jump hugging Mihashi is just XD. And Mihashi’s mom stripping Mihashi in front of everyone… in the manga, there were female schoolmates watching, too…

BTW, did anyone know if Kazuki and Shingo have been in Koushien? My impression is that they weren’t regulars last year when Tousei reached Koushien. Please correct me if I’m wrong.

@Wonapalei: Tajima thought Riou’s eye color was unusual for a Japanese. And Tajima wrote Riou his email address.

Next ep is my absolute favorite slice-of-life chapter. Can’t wait for it!