The summer anime Yoroi Shinden Samurai Trooper aired its 20th episode, “Shimei,” on August 25, 2026. The episode continues the high-stakes battle in the Tenkai world, where the allied forces of the Samurai Troopers and the Ten Braves are thrown into chaos by a sudden betrayal.
Note: This article contains spoilers for episode 20. Proceed with caution.
The Battle Splits
After defeating the first gatekeeper, Gaimen, with the help of the Ten Braves, the Samurai Troopers were preparing to move to the next gate. However, Ramaga, who had been waiting for an opportunity, suddenly turned traitor and split the allied forces into two groups. One group, consisting of Kai, Saizou, Kamanosuke, Seikai Nyuudou, and Isanyuudou, faced Ramaga, who had taken over Kai’s body. The other group—Sasuke, Kaihito, Musashi, Yamato, and Ryusei—engaged the second gatekeeper, Shimei, at the second gate.
Ramaga’s goal is to obtain the “Haou no Tate” (Shield of Hegemony) by sinking the souls of the baptized warriors into the Haou no Kagami. In an attempt to stop him, the “Myouji” group (the Ten Braves) were killed by Ramaga again, shocking viewers who had been happy to see them return.
Musashi’s Fear and Sasuke’s Resolve
While fighting Shimei, Sasuke was poisoned, forcing the group to prioritize his treatment. They discovered a spring in a nearby cave whose water could suppress any poison, and Sasuke was accompanied by Musashi. During this time, Musashi confessed his true feelings: he was afraid of fighting and losing more comrades. He said, “I’m scared to fight now. I don’t want to lose any more friends.”
This situation reminded some viewers of the original series’ OVA “Koutei Densetsu,” where Shin of the Suiko element refused to fight. However, Shin’s refusal was due to fear of the armor, not a fear of losing comrades.
“I’m scared to fight now. I don’t want to lose any more friends.”
Kai, who had been listening, decided to let Musashi evacuate as a civilian, saying, “It’s harder for me to see my comrades sacrifice themselves than to die myself. So I want you to live.”
Viewers were touched by this exchange, noting how much Kai had grown. They also reacted to Musashi calling Sasuke “Sasuke-kun,” which sparked a flurry of comments. The insert song “Yume wo Shinjite” played during this emotional scene, a callback to episode 7, which had also used it after Ryusei’s loss and Shion’s official joining.
Musashi eventually returned with renewed resolve, saying he didn’t want to disappoint himself. Fans appreciated the character growth, with comments like “This is the kind of story I want to see more of!”
The Original Troopers Appear
In the B part, the original Samurai Troopers took the spotlight. While Kai and the others were attacking the Tenkai world, the original team—Ryo, Touma, Seiji, Shin, and Shu—were defending the human world. Their battle scenes were a treat for fans, especially Shin, who received many comments about his cuteness and coolness. Jun, dressed in Unsu’s outfit, added to the nostalgic feel, with Shu’s voice actor Nishimura Tomohiro reprising his role.
Sasuke Dons the Haou Armor
The surprise of the episode came when Sasuke, inspired by Musashi’s resolve, decided to don the Haou armor to save his comrades who were being overwhelmed by Shimei. He succeeded, and viewers erupted with reactions like “Sasuke, you’re the second protagonist!” and “Sasuke, you really have the makings of a hero!” Sasuke then launched a fierce attack on Shimei.
The Aftermath and Next Episode
Although Shimei was ultimately defeated by the schemes of Sagume and Inmei, Sasuke’s ability to wear the Haou armor—a trait shared with Kai—raised new concerns among viewers. Meanwhile, the Ten Braves were defeated by Ramaga, and the situation continued to worsen. Sasuke, rushing to the scene, vowed to defeat Ramaga. The next episode, titled “Keikoku,” promises more shocking developments.
Staff and Cast
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Original Work | Yadate Hajime |
| Director | Fujita Youichi |
| Series Composition & Screenplay | Mutou Shougo |
| Main Character Design | Murota Yuuhei |
| Villain Character Design | Kotobuki Tsukasa |
| Yoroi Gear Design Concept | Okamoto Hideo |
| Animation Yoroi Gear Design | Suzuki Takuya |
| Chief Animation Director | Yamanaka Junko, Tanaka Tomoko |
| Main Animator | Nishimura Hiroyuki |
| Screen Design | Saitou Akira |
| Art Director | Taguchi Osamu |
| Color Design | Tanaka Miho |
| CG Director | Suzuki Masaomi, Itamura Takumi |
| Photography Director | Ishikuro Rumi |
| Editing | Sakamoto Kumiko |
| Sound Director | Tanaka Ryou |
| Music | Katayama Shuji (Team-MAX) |
| 2nd Cour OP Theme | Dannie May “BAD Idenko” |
| 2nd Cour ED Theme | Karanoya “Bakemon” |
| Animation Production | Sunrise |
| Production | “Yoroi Shinden Samurai Trooper” Production Committee |
| Character | Voice Actor |
|---|---|
| Kai | Ishibashi You |
| Uesugi Kaihito | Enoki Junya |
| Houjou Musashi | Murasawa Ayumu |
| Houjou Yamato | Takeuchi Shunsuke |
| Ishida Shion | Kumagai Kentarou |
| Oda Ryusei | Masuda Toshiki |
| Aragaki Mirii | Lynn |
| Nasuti Yagyu | Kinoshita Sayaka |
| Yamano Jun | Shimono Hiro |
| Sanada Ryo | Kusao Takeshi |
| Hashiba Touma | Nojima Hirofumi |
| Date Seiji | Okiayu Ryoutarou |
| Mouri Shin | Sasaki Nozomu |
| Shu Reiki | Nishimura Tomohiro |
| Ramaga | Konishi Katsuyuki |
| Sasuke | Satou Takuya |
| Saizou | Toriumi Kousuke |
| Kamanosuke | Terashima Takuma |
| Seikai Nyuudou | Sugita Tomokazu |
| Isanyuudou | Amasaki Kouhei (Tatsusaki) |
| Nezu | Suzumura Kenichi |
| Anayama | Sawashiro Chiharu |
| Unno | Takeuchi Ryouta |
| Kakei | Endou Daichi |
| Mochizuki | Kumagai Toshiki |
| Yashima no Sagume | Sakamoto Maaya |
| Inmei | Koyasu Takehito |
| Gomei | Maeno Tomoaki |
| Shimei | Endou Aya |
| Gaimen | Shirakawa Hiroshi |
Broadcast Information
- TOKYO MX: Every Tuesday at 23:30
- Kansai TV: Every Tuesday at 25:19
- BS11: Every Wednesday at 24:00
Streaming (unlimited): From July 8, 2026, every Wednesday at 0:00 on dAnime Store, U-NEXT, Anime Houdai.
Streaming (unlimited): From July 11, 2026, every Saturday at 0:00 on ABEMA, FOD Premium, J:COM STREAM, TELASA, DMM TV, Bandai Channel, Prime Video, milplus, Lemino.
Pay-per-view: From July 11, 2026, every Saturday at 0:00 on J:COM STREAM, TELASA, Bandai Channel, Video Market, Prime Video, music.jp, milplus, HAPPY! Video, Movie Full, Nico Nico Channel.
Free catch-up: From July 11, 2026, every Saturday at 0:00 on TVer, Kantele Doga, ABEMA.
Nico Nico Live: From July 11, 2026, every Saturday at 0:30.
(C) SUNRISE
Written by: Kigasawa Masashi
