Kendo instructor at Muroe highschool, Ishida, has a hard time to pay his bills, when his old friend and coleague offers to pay for his sushi for one whole year. That is if his team wins at a friendly tournament. If only there were more than one loyal captain and the other that has not showed up in a while. To win, he would need a miracle. A big miracle. A miracle that, say, easily deflects dangerous stray tennis ball. And baseball... aaand a rugby ball. And principal falling from the third floor back up. With a broom.
Do you like kendo? Well this anime is for you! Do you at least know, what kendo is? You might enjoy this series. Have you got absolutely no idea what that thing even is? This show may entertain you anyway. Maybe you will even grow to love this honorable yet energetic art.
I recently watched Bamboo Blade second time after not having seen it in a long time. And I enjoyed falling in love with both kendo and splendid characters. Enthusiastic and always cheerful captain Kirino is my most favourite, although I realized that her bestie, passionate but often distracted Saya is my spirit animal (or should I say anime - AHAHA... maybe I shouldn't... ahem). Even though you are bound to have favourite characters, others are not far behind. Ethereal beauty, with the fierce beast inside her Miya-Miya, bespectacled Asuna, who is clumsy until she grabs her bamboo sword, then she is worhty oponent. An of course, brave captain - tiny and quiet Tamaki, who beats teachers in one blow and then goes to get a bento lunch.
Theme of this anime is not only kendo, but love for anything that you do with passion and for the good reasons. Something that you and your friends can enjoy. It also has great character development and the action scenes, man should I even start. It those moments where there is silence between crucial blow and referees resolution that makes your breath stop.
And finaly humor has all the good anime stuff, super deform, cats and some meta jokes and fourth wall breaks.
I hope you enjoy this show as much as I did. It is one of my favourite. I even love trailer made by funimation. Watch it, have fun and never give up :D