The BEST Episodes of March Comes in Like a Lion
Every episode ever - ranked by fan votes!
Last Updated: Dec 26, 2019
Network: NHK
Rei Kiriyama is a 17-year-old boy who recently started living alone, financed by his salary as a professional Shogi player. Despite his independence, however, he's yet to mature emotionally, and his problems continue to haunt him in his daily life. His relationship with his adoptive family is strained, and he has difficulties interacting with his fellow high school students. Meanwhile, his professional career has entered a slump. Burdened with the heavy expectations placed on him as the fifth to become pro in middle school, his wins and losses are fluctuating as his record and progression into the ranks begin to stagnate. Acquainted with Rei are the three Kawamoto sisters: Akari, Hinata, and Momo. Unlike Rei, they live happily in their modest home, which they warmly welcome Rei into as if he were one of their own. Despite his reservations about becoming too close to the family, he frequently visits, interacting with them and receiving the kind of care and affection he never quite had while under his foster home. This is the story of Rei's triumphs and failures, relationships new and old, and his growth as a person.
#1 - Black Mist / Light
Season 2 - Episode 12 - Aired Jan 6, 2018
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.
8.89 #2 - Ladybug Bush / Feelings
Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired Nov 4, 2017
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...
8.88 #3 - Small Palm / Sunny Place
Season 2 - Episode 13 - Aired Jan 13, 2018
Mr. Kokubu continues to remedy the class bullying problem. As the situation seems to be winding down, Hinata finally get a letter from Chiho.
8.71 #4 - Kingdom
Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired Dec 9, 2017
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.
8.64 #5 - The Other House / Child of March Town
Season 2 - Episode 22 - Aired Mar 31, 2018
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.
8.53 #6 - Passing Time / Spring Comes
Season 2 - Episode 21 - Aired Mar 31, 2018
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.
8.45 
#7 - Silver Wings / River Scenery
Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired Dec 16, 2017
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.
8.42 #8 - Small World / Letter
Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired Nov 18, 2017
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?!
8.38 
#9 - Agreement / Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired Nov 5, 2016
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.
8.37 #10 - New School Term / Fighter
Season 1 - Episode 22 - Aired Mar 18, 2017
Rei begins a new school year, and embarks on new adventures. While looking back at the past, we'll look forward to the future.
8.36 #11 - Feelings / Confession
Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired Nov 11, 2017
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...
8.29 #12 - Summer Vacation (Part 2) / New Year
Season 2 - Episode 20 - Aired Mar 24, 2018
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.
8.28 
#13 - Kyoto
Season 1 - Episode 20 - Aired Mar 4, 2017
The second day of the fourth match for the Lion King Tournament begins. Rei sure does get caught up with strange people.
8.27 #14 - Midday Moon / Adventurers
Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired Dec 2, 2017
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?!
8.18 
#15 - When the Cherry Blossoms Bloom / Small Murmur
Season 1 - Episode 21 - Aired Mar 11, 2017
The fourth match of the Lion King Tournament has finally ended. But for some reason, Rei finds himself in a very unfamiliar territory.
8.11 
#16 - Something Given
Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired Dec 17, 2016
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?
8.11 
#17 - Harunobu / Beyond the Night Sky
Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired Oct 22, 2016
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.
8.08 #18 - Burnt Field (Part 3) / Burnt Field (Part 4)
Season 2 - Episode 18 - Aired Mar 10, 2018
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.
8.07 #19 - Where the Sun Shines / Small World
Season 2 - Episode 11 - Aired Dec 23, 2017
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.
8.07 
#20 - Silver Thread / Water's Surface / Base of the Blue Night
Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired Feb 11, 2017
The Lion King Tournament finally begins. Rei continues to grow with his workshop buddies, but also runs into some trouble with his sister.
8.05 
#21 - The Old Year / The New Year
Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired Dec 24, 2016
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?
8.05 
#22 - Teach Me How to Play Shogi / Image / Distant Thunder
Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired Dec 3, 2016
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..
8.00 
#23 - What Lies on the Opposite Shore / Black River
Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired Jan 7, 2017
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?
8.00 
#24 - Moonlight / Lump of Ego
Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired Jan 28, 2017
And now begins two of three matches to determine who will go up against Master Souya in the Lion King Tournament!
7.98 #25 - White Storm
Season 2 - Episode 15 - Aired Jan 27, 2018
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?
7.97