REVIEW: ‘Wind Breaker’ Episode 4 — “Clash”

With Wind Breaker Episode 4, “Clash,” two new potential favorite characters enter the ring. The first, Umemiya (Yuichi Nakamura), is the charming leader of Fuurin. In contrast, there’s Chōji Tomiyama (Kikunosuke Toya), the leader of Fuurin’s opposing group of would-be delinquents, Shishitoren. Their meeting and the subsequent reactions to it build the episode’s spine. Despite being a setup installment that establishes the upcoming arc, it’s full of winsome moments that speak to the strong foundation created by mangaka Satoru Nii.

Before their standoff, though, we first get a complete introduction to Umemiya. While Sakura (Yuma Uchida) can’t shake the sense that their leader is foolish, there’s no denying the influence he holds over the members. He’s bumbling and wildly enthusiastic about his garden, showing off each and every one of his plants to the apathetic audience, but even his penchant for gardening speaks to his character.

We’ve only just met him, but his prioritizing relationships stand out from the gardening to realizing he and Kotoha (Ikumi Hasegawa) grew up together in a group home. He welcomes his underclassmen in as “younger brothers,” seeing everyone in town as his extended family.

He even wins the constantly prickly Sakura over relatively quickly. The entire group who faced down with Shishitoren in Episode 3 expects some form of outburst. Instead, they — mainly Sakura — are shocked when Umemiya agrees with how the standoff was handled. He even goes as far as to ruffle Sakura’s hair while thanking him for standing up for their town. In what might be the line to define Sakura as a character, he thinks to himself at this moment that he feels so “relaxed it’s pissing me off.” Such is the charisma of Umemiya.

Upon Tomiyama’s arrival, Umemiya shows off his leadership and power. Tomiyama is a hilarious contrast to the Fuurin leader. While all of Wind Breaker Episode 4 is entertaining, it’s even more vibrant in group meetings. While Umemiya is all calm energy, Tomiyama is restless, unable to keep still.

He desperately tries to provoke Umemiya — whom he calls Ume — into a fight. From fighting Fuurin members to trying to pick a fight specifically with Umemiya, he’s wound up and ready to go. He’s bored with his group and wants whatever it is that Umemiya has that makes him seem so at peace.

The contrast between characters is further highlighted with the arrival of the rest of the Shishitorenn gang. Jo Togame’s (Yūichirō Umehara) lackadaisical attitude and drawn-out speech pattern offer another lovely discordance between characters. It’s a fun comparison to Fuurin’s main leaders, with Umemiya’s aforementioned chill contrasting greatly with Hiragi’s (Ryōta Suzuki) stress-induced stomach pain.

Each group has a colorful cast of characters that builds to their decision to hold an official fight, all the more epic in tone. It won’t be an all-out brawl, but five members from each team will duke it out in a one-on-one fight. Aside from the one between Umemiya and Tomiyama, Sakura and Togame are the most anticipated.

For a show that centers itself, presumably, on fighting, there’s been shockingly little since the premiere. All of this looks to be changing with the upcoming arc, which might as well be Wind Breaker’s version of a standard training or competition arc. It builds the necessary tension between each group without letting the story descend into unnecessary darkness. While the characters carry burdens from their past, the show is, rightfully, refusing to be buried by that tone. Wind Breaker Episode 4 continues to show off its spirited atmosphere, emboldened by continually strong artistry and voice work.

The colors and subtle character animations of the standoff between Umemiya and Tomiyama are standouts. From the obvious visual gags of their complete physical differences to how the direction captures Tomiyama’s boundless energy, it’s engaging. It might not be the most visually distinct episode of the series so far (which is still the first), but it makes up for it with the kineticism of the character movement and how each frame is filled. There’s constant movement with little to no unnecessary empty space.

Wind Breaker Episode 4 sets the table for a thrilling upcoming arc that promises greater action. But “Clash” doesn’t suffer because of it. Instead, it continues to showcase its formidable confidence in tone and direction as we continue to grow increasingly attached to this group of ragtag, delinquent do-gooders.

Wind Breaker Episode 4 is out now on Crunchyroll.