Bungo Stray Dogs Episode 26 Review: Dazai, Chuuya, Fifteen Years Old

Bungo Stray Dogs is finally back with its third season and the first episode did not disappoint. Following the same steps of the second season, we are introduced to yet another story from Dazai’s days in the Port Mafia. And not just any story, we finally get to see how Dazai and Chuuya met and developed this love and hate relationship. Get ready because this is going to be good.

Plot

After being hinted about the ‘Dragon Head Conflict’, we are taken one year in the past where we see the ‘King of the Sheep’, aka the fifteen-years-old Chuuya, attacking a plane of the Port Mafia, claiming that he will kill them all. Meanwhile, Mori (who we are once again reminded the way he got to be the Leader of the Port Mafia), is sending Dazai on his first mission to retrieve information about what seems to be the resurrection of the late and ex-Leader of Port Mafia. Dazai then goes to Suribachi City with Hirotsu where he is attacked by Chuuya. As they engage in a fight, the ex-Leader appears in front of them and blasts them away with a huge explosion. Chuuya is being taken hostage to the Port Mafia where Mori offers him a deal, or more likely blackmails him, to work together with them in order to find out more about Arahabaki, a demon or a beast of the Gods, that has brought back to life the ex-Leader. Leaving both Chuuya and Dazai with no choice, they are forced to work together. As their investigation leads them to the questioning of one of the survivors of a bombing incident that seems to be related with their case, the house where he is located is bombed and they are assaulted by an unknown enemy.

Episode Highlights

Young Dazai and Chuuya: I am thrilled that the season decided to open with yet another story from Dazai’s past. Finding out more about him and Chuuya is going to be a delight. We got to explore Dazai’s past a bit more in the second season but his Port Mafia days has always been the most exciting part of Bungo Stray Dogs. Chuuya is a very lovable and powerful character but we never really got any significant information other than the fact that he used to be Dazai’s partner when Dazai was a Port Mafia Executive, that he has insane power levels and when he goes berserk he needs Dazai to stop him, and that he really cherishes and loves expensive wine. But this time we get to see his background, where he comes from and how he came to be a member of the Port Mafia that he seems to hate so much. Super intrigued about this story.

Mori sees himself in Dazai: That statement actually made a lot of sense if you think about it. He saw potential in him and kind of forced him to be his accomplice and later on an executive of the Port Mafia and even when Dazai decided to leave, he didn’t really harm him, which is weird because all traitors of the Port Mafia end up dead. He still wants him back to work for him even to this day, but obviously there are much more to this than just keeping Dazai alive because Mori likes him. He probably has use for Dazai’s power, that’s why. I mean let’s not forget the fact that Q is alive and well…

Port Mafia has a lot of enemies: Even though we are seeing the events of the past, Hirotsu mentions that there are three organizations that have conflicts with the Port Mafia: the Takasekai, GSS, and the Sheep. I guess that the Sheep no longer exists since the ’King of the Sheep’ is part of the Port Mafia now but still, if we add The Guild and the Agency and the Government on the enemies list, it seems like we still have a lot of story arcs to witness.

Themes & Trivia

Arahabaki: Arahabaki is an ancient Japanese god shrouded in mystery, its origins and historical relevance drenched with unreliable, scattered accounts. One theory considered it a sort of ‘guest god’, on a lower level of power of the main God of a shrine it manifests in.

Suribachi City: This is a reference to the events and landscape of the Iwo Jima Volcano Islands. More specifically references Mount Suribachi (JPN.: 摺鉢山, Suribachiyama) which is a 169m high mountain at the southwest end of the island in the northwest Pacific Ocean. The mountain’s name derives from its shape, resembling a suribachi or ‘grinding bowl.’ It is also known as ‘Mount Pipe’, since the sulfur gas and water vapor that rolls in from the summit, alongside the rest of the island, give the appearance of a smoking pipe when viewed from the sea. The island of Iwo Jima was the location of the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945. The island became globally recognized when Joe Rosenthal, who worked for the Associated Press at the time, published his photograph Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima which was photographed on Mount Suribachi.

Comments

I thought we would cut straight to the point and that this season would carry on after the events of the Dead Apple movie, but is seems that I was wrong. I mean I don’t have any complaints whatsoever because honestly for me the Port Mafia and young Dazai are my absolute favorite thing to watch about this series. On another note, I really like Randou-kun and I am quite curious about his abilities and the fact that he is always cold. Can’t wait to see from which author he was named after as well.

Do you think there is any value in the act of living?

Loved to see our beloved characters back into action and I really enjoy the dynamic between Dazai and Chuuya. There is no doubt that this season is going to be great.

NEXT TIME: The God of Fire