Some fight for honor – they fight for sushi? It's the kendo team of Muroe High School, back for another round of kunai-swinging antics! With a group that includes the energetic Kirino, the spontaneous Saya, and the scatterbrained Satori, it seems that nothing can stand in their way. And this time, the stakes are much higher as their teacher Toraji's very job hangs in the balance, and their team is on the brink of breaking up. Even the quiet blade of justice, Tamaki, is close to tasting her very first defeat! Will the spirited young girls and boys of the kendo team be able to save themselves in the end or will there be no more kendo at Muroe High? It may be up to Toraji to lift the team's spirits and lead them into victory – oh wait, Toraji? I guess they really are doomed after all . . .

Highlights:

In the second part of Bamboo Blade, the shinai are flying faster than ever as the preliminary tournament looms nearer, but no need to fear: the kendo team has finally added a fifth member! After a joint training weekend with the Machido students from their practice match, it's onwards for the tournament, and trouble for our brave heroines as Kirino struggles with a mess at home, Tama is targeted for harassment by a group of girls, and Azuma wrestles with . . . an overly-full stomach? After the tournament, it's a brand new era for the kendo team, which means brand new adventures, including a gaijin (foreigner) who is looking to steal Dan away from Miyako and a chance meeting between Tama and a fellow anime fan during a Blade Braver concert, Suzuki Rin, who is not only a Shinaider fan but also a practitioner of kendo. When the Kanto High School Kendo Tournament arrives, its a series of wins and defeats that push the kendo club to their very limits. As the school puts pressure on the team, resignations are turned in and relationships are broken; can the brave girls and boys of Muroe High School's kendo team get it together in time to save their beloved sport? It may all depend on the blade of one Tamaki Kawazoe – if she's willing to do kendo ever again, that is.

Overall:

When I reviewed the first half of Bamboo Blade, I had confessed that I didn't know how the series was going to end but was looking forward to it, having been burned in the past by anime with good starts and lackluster ends. Well, this series is not one of them. It is, from start to finish, a solid watch with an ending that will satisfy any fan. But an ending is not enough to make this a must-watch; it is with the second half of Bamboo Blade that the series starts to mature in its storytelling and character development, making it a rewarding experience for those who stuck through the first thirteen episodes with some dislikes hoping to see improvement. The same cast from last time is still here, as crazy and hardworking as ever, and the focus never stays solely on one girl for too long. This is, after all, a sports anime: the value of a good team will always be one of the best merits of the genre, even one centered around the dated sport of kendo.

There are, of course, a few weak spots that keep from making this a most stellar series. The pacing of the story can be a little uneven; they spend more time on certain parts of their tournaments than others, and the conclusion to some rounds seem a little rushed. Despite being their advisor, Toraji is not very useful for most of these episodes, and even when he is, it is only in the most peripheral sense. On occasion, the humor overshadows the story; however, it strikes the perfect balance of comedy and seriousness towards the end, where it is needed the most. Despite these flaws,Bamboo Blade continues to do what it does best, which is spectacular kendo scenes and a bright, vibrant cast of characters that keep the story fresh and exciting. The last episode, with its introduction of a new generation of kendo players and the final scene which hints at a future second season, leaves the show ending on a high note which will make even the more cynical viewers declare that they now truly love kendo.

ComicsOnline gives Bamboo Blade season one part two 4 out of 5 bright bamboo beats.