The zako are back in action! The short anime Hokuto no Ken: Kenoh-gun Zako-tachi no Banka (the “Zakoban”) began airing its second cour on Monday, July 6. While the main anime is on hiatus, Nobu and the henchmen of Kenoh’s army are taking over to let you experience the end of the century from their point of view.
Episode 13: “Trash should be disinfected!”
This first episode of the second cour (episode 13) bears a title that will immediately resonate with fans: it borrows one of the most iconic lines from the manga, that of the flamethrower-wielding henchman from the Seitei’s army. Here is the official synopsis:
Having inadvertently wandered into the territory controlled by the Seitei’s army, the Kenoh army group comes face to face with a mohawk-crested man carrying a flamethrower on his back.
Two new opening and ending themes featuring a legendary guest
This second cour comes with two new theme songs, with an amusing swap: The Canbellz, who performed the ending for the first cour, moves to the opening with “I’m a Loser,” while Itsuka, the artist behind the original opening, takes over the ending with “Shiroi Chō ga Tondara” (白い蝶が飛んだら), composed by Miura Seiji. This new ending features a special guest on guitar: Ujiki Tsuyoshi, the former member of Kodomo Band, the group that performed the theme song for the original Hokuto no Ken anime about forty years ago. A wonderful generational nod, as the artist shared on this occasion that while a musician always eventually retires, a work of art can endure through the ages.
Nobu and Kenshiro in a joint interview
To accompany this launch, the Animate Times website published a joint interview between Shimono Hiro, the voice of Nobu in the Zakoban, and Takeuchi Shunsuke, the voice of Kenshiro in the main anime. The two voice actors, who have known each other for a long time, exchange in a relaxed atmosphere about their perspectives as actors, their performances, and their respective works and characters. A recommended read (in Japanese) for those curious about behind-the-scenes details, available on Animate Times.
Where to watch Kenoh-gun Zako-tachi no Banka
The second cour airs every Monday on AT-X (8:00 PM, with rebroadcasts on Wednesday at 8:00 AM and Friday at 2:00 PM) and TOKYO MX (9:54 PM), then streams on Anime Times and various Japanese platforms. As a reminder, the series follows Nobu, a young man who, in the devastated world of 199X, lands a job… in Kenoh’s army, a workplace where the dead outnumber the applicants.
Source: Official anime website. © Buronson & Tetsuo Hara / Coamix. © Animatica.
