The Flowers of Hard Blood
Synopsis
Defying the odds, middle school student Shion Yasuoka is becoming a rising star of the professional shogi world. Despite losing her family at a young age and being unable to speak due to the trauma, in her loving adoptive family and at the shogi association, she has found the necessary emotional support to move on with her life and very demanding career. Her talent attracts the attention of Satoru Hani, a successful businessman and brother of the current "Meijin"—the title given to the defending champion of Japan's most prestigious shogi tournament. He decides to organize a tournament open to both men and women, including professional and amateur players, and urges Shion to participate in the competition. However, Satoru seems to know a lot about Shion's troubled past, and his actions bring suspicion from Shion's friend Ayumi Saitou and the police—who are still investigating the death of Shion's loved ones. As the end of Satoru's tournament approaches, Shion starts remembering events related to the night when she lost everything and will have to show her mental fortitude to defeat her opponents and foil the plans of the culprits who ruined her life. [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Audience Consensus
Overall, Shion no Ou is well-received as a compelling mystery anime with a unique blend of shogi and crime drama. Viewers appreciate the strong character development, particularly Shion's, and the suspenseful storyline. Criticisms focus on animation inconsistencies and a somewhat weak resolution to the central mystery, but the series is generally considered a worthwhile watch, even for those unfamiliar with shogi.
Strengths
- Well-constructed mystery with twists and turns.
- Strong character development, particularly for Shion.
- Effective integration of shogi into the plot, even for viewers unfamiliar with the game.
- High emotional impact and engaging storytelling.
- Excellent soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere.
Weaknesses
- Inconsistent animation quality.
- Weak motivation and execution of the killer's reveal.
- Pacing issues, with some feeling the story is unnecessarily elongated.
- Underdeveloped secondary characters in the latter half of the series.
- Predictable shogi match outcomes.