The BEST episodes directed by Akiyuki Simbo
#1 - Ladybug Bush / Feelings
March Comes in Like a Lion - Season 2 - Episode 4
Hinata has been friends with Chiho since elementary school, but now that they’re third-year middle school students, Chiho has become the target of bullying by classmates. While other students pretend they don’t see anything happening, only Hinata calls out to Chiho and still tries to be her friend. However, the situation only gets worse...
Watch Now:Amazon#2 - Black Mist / Light
March Comes in Like a Lion - Season 2 - Episode 12
After Hinata’s class returns from the trip, the atmosphere in the classroom changes again in a different and strange direction. At long last, Hinata's guardians are being called in for a parent-teacher-student conference.
Watch Now:Amazon
#3 - Slurp, Gulp
Gourmet Girl Graffiti - Season 1 - Episode 5
With everyone stuck doing summer lessons during the summer break, Shiina invites Ryo and Kirin over to her place to do some summer activities that they wouldn't be able to do otherwise. Upon arriving at Shiina's extravagant home, Kirin receives a tomato from someone she assumes is Shiina's mother, only to find her actual mother is someone completely different. Later, as the girls go searching for bamboo for a sōmen slide, they discover the woman from before is actually Shiina's household maid, Tsuyuko. While Shiina's mother prepares the slide, Tsuyuko helps Ryo and Kirin prepare the noodles and sauce. Later, Shiina's mother reveals she was the one who asked Shiina to invite Ryo and Kirin over, thanking them for being her friend. Afterwards, they have an overdue Tanabata festival and fireworks, crossing off pretty much every summer activity they had in mind.
Watch Now:Amazon#4 - Small Palm / Sunny Place
March Comes in Like a Lion - Season 2 - Episode 13
Mr. Kokubu continues to remedy the class bullying problem. As the situation seems to be winding down, Hinata finally get a letter from Chiho.
Watch Now:Amazon#5 - The Other House / Child of March Town
March Comes in Like a Lion - Season 2 - Episode 22
Rei finally pays a visit to his adoptive mother's residence, after neglecting to visit ever since he moved out. Afterwards, Rei invites Hina and Takahashi for some monja as a last farewell. But before Hina starts high school, she decides to do something drastic.
Watch Now:Amazon
#6 - Small World / Letter
March Comes in Like a Lion - Season 2 - Episode 6
When Rei visits the Kawamotos, Hinata talks to him about school. Little by little, she confides in Rei about the classroom atmosphere. But one day during lunch, the baseball team’s ace and all-around popular guy, Takahashi, pops in to Hinata’s class?!
Watch Now:Amazon
#7 - Kingdom
March Comes in Like a Lion - Season 2 - Episode 9
On the night before she leaves for a school trip to Kyoto, Hinata has dinner at home with Rei and her family, but can't finish the food on her plate because of a stomachache. Rei also leaves the same day as Hinata, but goes to Osaka to challenge Junkei Yamazaki for the Newcomer Tournament final.
Watch Now:Amazon
#8 - Silver Wings / River Scenery
March Comes in Like a Lion - Season 2 - Episode 10
In the world of shogi, one can only continue making an effort, but Yamazaki finds that Nikaidou and Rei never falter and always throw themselves into the “deep end.” Nevertheless, Yamazaki is determined to win and after beating Nikaidou in the Newcomer Tournament semifinals, he faces Rei in the match that will decide the next Newcomer King.
Watch Now:Amazon
#9 - Passing Time / Spring Comes
March Comes in Like a Lion - Season 2 - Episode 21
Hinata has been studying intently for the high school entrance exams, when she learns in shock that Takahashi, the classmate she has long admired, will be going to a school far away. People she had assumed will always be with her keep leaving her… Depressed Hinata ends up getting a fever just days before the exam. Nevertheless, Rei comes by on the day of the exam, to walk to school with her.
Watch Now:Amazon
#10 - Feelings / Confession
March Comes in Like a Lion - Season 2 - Episode 5
Rei sees his former homeroom teacher, Mr. Hayashida, for advice about bullying. Hayashida offers many examples and concludes with sound advice. After racking his brain, Rei also arrives at his own conclusion about what he can do to help Hina. Meanwhile, Akari has been carrying doubts in her heart about the incident, and opens up to Rei...
Watch Now:Amazon#11 - New School Term / Fighter
March Comes in Like a Lion - Season 1 - Episode 22
Rei begins a new school year, and embarks on new adventures. While looking back at the past, we'll look forward to the future.
Watch Now:Amazon#12 - Midday Moon / Adventurers
March Comes in Like a Lion - Season 2 - Episode 8
When the struggling Rei tells Mr. Hayashida that he wants to help Hinata and her family, his former homeroom teacher advises him to do what he can, one thing at a time. Taking those words to heart, Rei goes on a smooth winning streak with his matches. On the other hand, Nikaidou has suddenly been hospitalized?!
Watch Now:Amazon
#13 - Agreement / Over the Cuckoo's Nest
March Comes in Like a Lion - Season 1 - Episode 5
Rei must pick up Momo from kindergarten. Nothing can go wrong with doing this errand, right? Unfortunately, this leads Rei to remember more of his past.
Watch Now:Amazon
#14 - Summer Vacation (Part 2) / New Year
March Comes in Like a Lion - Season 2 - Episode 20
Hinata has been coming up with new ideas for sweets one after another all throughout summer vacation, but struggles to focus on her studies and deciding which high schools to apply to. Rei decides to invite the three Kawamoto sisters to some nagashi somen fun at his school. When Hinata meets the members of Noguchi's Shogi Science Club and Hayashida, she begins considering Komahashi High, Rei's high school.
Watch Now:Amazon
#15 - Kyoto
March Comes in Like a Lion - Season 1 - Episode 20
The second day of the fourth match for the Lion King Tournament begins. Rei sure does get caught up with strange people.
Watch Now:Amazon
#16 - Rainy Season / Hachiya
March Comes in Like a Lion - Season 2 - Episode 7
Hinata is so enraged by her classmates and homeroom teacher. When Rei arrives for a visit at the Kawamoto home, he treats Hinata with kindness in his own way. On the other hand, the semi-finals of the Newcomer Tournament are here. Rei’s opponent is Subaru Hachiya, the “Irritated Prince of the East.” How will Rei fare against this strong, irritable yet irritating player?
Watch Now:Amazon#17 - Burnt Field (Part 1) / Burnt Field (Part 2)
March Comes in Like a Lion - Season 2 - Episode 17
Rei and Nikaidou are to be the board commentators for the final Kishou Championship match between Yanagihara and Shimada. All of the reporters and staff members that attend the pre-game reception turn out to be old friends of Yanagihara, who has been the reigning Kishou champion for years. Despite the immense pressure of an “away game” for the challenger, Shimada, he is determined more than ever to win his very first title.
Watch Now:Amazon
#18 - Burnt Field (Part 3) / Burnt Field (Part 4)
March Comes in Like a Lion - Season 2 - Episode 18
It’s the final match of the Kishou Championship and the honorary title of “Eternal Kishou” is on the line for Yanagihara. As the shogi game approaches the final stage, Shimada is dominating. Yanagihara reflects on how he’s been entrusted with metaphorical relay race-like “sashes” from friends who have given up or retired from the professional shogi world. Even while feeling bound by this pressure, Yanagihara continues to play.
Watch Now:Amazon
#19 - When the Cherry Blossoms Bloom / Small Murmur
March Comes in Like a Lion - Season 1 - Episode 21
The fourth match of the Lion King Tournament has finally ended. But for some reason, Rei finds himself in a very unfamiliar territory.
Watch Now:Amazon
#20 - The Old Year / The New Year
March Comes in Like a Lion - Season 1 - Episode 11
All of Rei's matches are done for the year, but a small tragedy happens as the year comes to a close. Will Rei be able to overcome it?
Watch Now:Amazon#21 - Being Here / Summer Vacation (Part 1)
March Comes in Like a Lion - Season 2 - Episode 19
Crescent Moon will put up a food stand at the March Town summer festival featuring "sweet chilled rice flour dumpling and syrup," an idea that Akari and Hinata came up with. Hinata also visits Chiho at the beginning of summer vacation. Chiho has gotten her smile back, even though she still bears the emotional scars of bullying.
Watch Now:Amazon#22 - Where the Sun Shines / Small World
March Comes in Like a Lion - Season 2 - Episode 11
Just when Rei thought he found a happy place within school, that place begins to disappear. Meanwhile, Shimada has a match against Gakuto Sakurai 7th-Dan, as they vie for the right to challenge Yanagihara, the venerable reigning Kishou champion.
Watch Now:Amazon
#23 - The Dark Star that Shines for You Alone (Part 3)
Pretty Boy Detective Club - Season 1 - Episode 3
On their way home from school, Mayumi Dojima and Manabu Sotoin are abducted by a group that call themselves the Twenties. They are after a secret hidden within the star that Mayumi saw ten years ago. The remaining members of the Pretty Boy Detective Club take action to save their friends and finally face the Twenties in a battle! What will Mayumi’s decision be after the search for the missing star ends?
Watch Now:Amazon
#24 - The Swindler, the Vanishing Man, and the Pretty Boys (Part 1)
Pretty Boy Detective Club - Season 1 - Episode 4
The Pretty Boy Detective Club obtains an invitation to a mysterious casino called Reasonable Doubt. When they arrive at the casino, they find that all the patrons and employees appear to be middle school kids. The manager of the casino, Lai Fudatsuki, challenges Nagahiro Sakiguchi to a showdown, and if Nagahiro wins, he acquires the right to operate the casino!
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
#25 - Harunobu / Beyond the Night Sky
March Comes in Like a Lion - Season 1 - Episode 3
Showdown between Rei and Harunobu in a shogi match! Will Harunobu finally defeat his lifelong rival? Tune in as we celebrate the end of Obon.
Watch Now:Amazon#26 - Flowing Away / White Storm
March Comes in Like a Lion - Season 2 - Episode 14
Chairman Jinguuji focuses more on attracting customers to the commemorative match between Souya and Rei, though Shimada warns him that neither Souya nor Rei are comfortable being the center of attention. On the eve of their match in Morioka, Rei and Souya attend a reception in honor of it, even though Rei is extremely nervous about playing against the Meijin for the first time.
Watch Now:Amazon
#27 - White Storm / Restart
March Comes in Like a Lion - Season 2 - Episode 16
On the way back home from their commemorative match in Morioka, Rei and Souya are forced to stay in Sendai for a night because of a typhoon. Rei is relieved after they find lodging, but soon gets a phone call from Chairman Jinguuji, who tells him a certain secret. Meanwhile, Nikaidou is out of the hospital and ready to make a comeback in the first qualifying round of the Jeweled King Tournament.
Watch Now:Amazon
#28 - What Lies on the Opposite Shore / Black River
March Comes in Like a Lion - Season 1 - Episode 12
Rei runs astray a little bit, but gets right back on track. Can he bear the cold jokes from his latest opponent, Tsujii, and emerge victorious?
Watch Now:Amazon
#29 - Something Given
March Comes in Like a Lion - Season 1 - Episode 10
Rei's next match is with Mr. Yasui. Mr. Yasui's memories with his daughter are on the line, so will Rei throw the match, or will he bring misery to others by winning?
Watch Now:Amazon#30 - White Storm
March Comes in Like a Lion - Season 2 - Episode 15
The commemorative match begins between Rei and Meijin Souya. There’s a clear gap between their levels, but Rei holds on tight to his opponent, which causes a lively discussion among staff members who are watching the match in a waiting room. However, during the middle stage of the match, Rei makes a move that will probably cost him the game. Even so, he doesn’t give up and continues to play, searching for the best possible move each turn. How will the match turn out in the end?
Watch Now:Amazon#31 - June / Ladybug Bush
March Comes in Like a Lion - Season 2 - Episode 3
During a lunch break between matches, Nikaidou pressures Rei to win all his matches so they can battle in the finals. Rei looks on coolly until Nikaidou points out feelings Rei never realized he had. Meanwhile, at the Kawamoto house, Someji, Akari, Hinata and Momo have a brainstorming session about Crescent Moon’s new summer sweet creation. Momo proposes novel ideas, but the usually cheerful Hinata seems down...
Watch Now:Amazon
#32 - Torrent / Passing Time
March Comes in Like a Lion - Season 1 - Episode 18
The Lion King Tournament is underway, although things are not looking good for the challenger. Still, he will not give up, and is determined to press forward.
Watch Now:Amazon
#33 - Fluffy, Sizzling
Gourmet Girl Graffiti - Season 1 - Episode 2
As spring arrives, Ryō invites Kirin for a cherry blossom viewing party, along with her aunt, Akira. While visiting the local food fair, Ryō and Kirin come across Ryō's schoolmate Shiina, with Kirin being a little jealous over her being so close to Ryō. After having their bento lunches and parting ways with Akira, Ryō invites Kirin to sketch the trees and makes her some tamagoyaki, expressing her joy that she could learn more about her.
Watch Now:Amazon
#34 - Teach Me How to Play Shogi / Image / Distant Thunder
March Comes in Like a Lion - Season 1 - Episode 8
Let's continue to learn Shogi! In this episode, we'll also discover a little more about Rei's Father, and not to mention that special guest he has..
Watch Now:Amazon
#35 - Moonlight / Lump of Ego
March Comes in Like a Lion - Season 1 - Episode 15
And now begins two of three matches to determine who will go up against Master Souya in the Lion King Tournament!
Watch Now:Amazon
#36 - The Pretty Boy in the Attic (Part 1)
Pretty Boy Detective Club - Season 1 - Episode 6
During the renovation of the Pretty Boy Detective Club headquarters, the team finds thirty-three paintings in the attic. The mysterious paintings appear to be based on works by legendary painters but are missing human figures. Who created these paintings and for what purpose? While the members of the Pretty Boy Detective Club each present their own theories, they find their way to the person who created the paintings...
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
#37 - The Pretty Boy in the Attic (Part 2)
Pretty Boy Detective Club - Season 1 - Episode 7
The artist who created the paintings found in the attic was a former art teacher named Kowako Towai. She was a suspect in a kidnapping case that happened seven years ago. How will the Pretty Boy Detective Club solve the mystery of the thirty-three paintings in the attic and the kidnapping case?
Watch Now:Amazon
#38 - Passing the Night / Kyoto
March Comes in Like a Lion - Season 1 - Episode 19
Match Four of the Lion King Tournament begins in Kyoto. We find out a little more about the Challenger, and the reasons he continues to persist.
Watch Now:Amazon
#39 - Akari / Beyond the Bridge
March Comes in Like a Lion - Season 1 - Episode 2
Who was that mysterious figure who stole his mail? And Akari's job is what?! Tune in as we continue to explore Rei's past.
Watch Now:Amazon
#40 - Important Things. Important Matters / Teach Me How to Play Shogi
March Comes in Like a Lion - Season 1 - Episode 7
What will Kiriyama and Takahashi talk about? Will it end well? Let's hope the cute kitties can teach us how to play shogi!
Watch Now:Amazon
#41 - Child of God
March Comes in Like a Lion - Season 1 - Episode 6
Does Rei want to go somewhere, or just run away? Let's discover more of the Shogi world as Mr. Hayashida comes to the rescue!
Watch Now:Amazon
#42 - Hina / V.S.
March Comes in Like a Lion - Season 1 - Episode 4
Will Hina be able to give her home made lunch to the person she is concerned about? Tune in as a fateful meeting unfolds in front of our eyes...
Watch Now:Amazon
#43 - Silver Thread / Water's Surface / Base of the Blue Night
March Comes in Like a Lion - Season 1 - Episode 17
The Lion King Tournament finally begins. Rei continues to grow with his workshop buddies, but also runs into some trouble with his sister.
Watch Now:Amazon
#44 - Warm, Juicy
Gourmet Girl Graffiti - Season 1 - Episode 1
Ryō Machiko is a girl who has been struggling to make her cooking taste good ever since her grandmother passed away a year ago. Her second cousin, Kirin Morino, comes to stay with her in Tokyo to study at a cram school following an argument with her moth. To Ryō's surprise, Kirin enjoys her nabe, with Ryō discovering it tastes good herself. The next day, after Kirin comes down with a fever following her first class, Ryō makes her some kitsune udon and inarizushi, reminding her of when her grandmother looked after her. That night, Kirin theorises that the reason Ryō hasn't been enjoying her cooking is because she's been eating alone, deciding to become more like a family member to her. The next day, Kirin returns home to make up with her mother, with Ryō looking forward to next week when they can eat together again.
Watch Now:Amazon
#45 - The Swindler, the Vanishing Man, and the Pretty Boys (Part 2)
Pretty Boy Detective Club - Season 1 - Episode 5
Nagahiro loses to Lai, but the Pretty Boy Detective Club figures out the trick that Lai used to win. In order to battle Lai again, they sneak into the Reasonable Doubt Casino. But at the moment of the showdown, the detectives are met with an unexpected situation! What will be the outcome of the battle between the rival middle schools?
Watch Now:Amazon
#46 - Setting Sun / Ramune
March Comes in Like a Lion - Season 2 - Episode 1
The After School Science Club merged with a proposed shogi club to become “the Shogi Science Club.” Club activities include Rei teaching the members how to play shogi and Rei being taught various science experiments. Rei realizes that he’s delighted to have a warm place where he belongs at school. With ramune in hand, he heads for the Kawamoto home.
Watch Now:Amazon
#47 - Blinding Darkness / Just a Little Water
March Comes in Like a Lion - Season 1 - Episode 14
Shimada and Rei's battle continues as Rei begins to drown in his embarassment. Watch as their battle finally comes to a close
Watch Now:Amazon#48 - Chaos / Kumakura
March Comes in Like a Lion - Season 2 - Episode 2
Rei is at the Shogi Hall with Nikaidou and other players to watch the live broadcast of the final game for the Meijin Championship between Souya and Kumakura. Meanwhile, veteran player Yanagihara describes the game as “chaos,” but what does that portend for the Meijin Championship?
Watch Now:Amazon
#49 - Distant Thunder
March Comes in Like a Lion - Season 1 - Episode 9
Rei has a match with the old Mr. Matsunaga. If Mr. Matsunaga loses one more game, he'll have to retire. How will Rei handle the match?
Watch Now:Amazon
#50 - Running Through the Night / Middle of the Slope
March Comes in Like a Lion - Season 1 - Episode 16
Master Souya's challenger in the Lion King Tournament has been determined! Also, Rei decides to take a step in the direction that will benefit him in the long run.
Watch Now:Amazon