Fist of the North Star Episode 9: Jackal’s Brutal Games and Kenshiro’s Unexpected Jokes Draw Viewer Reactions

TV anime Fist of the North Star -FIST OF THE NORTH STAR- aired its ninth episode, titled “Mad Dogs Must Die,” on May 22. The episode introduced Jackal, a cunning bandit leader who commands a motorcycle gang and prefers to flee from strong opponents rather than fight head-on. After confirming Kenshiro had left a village, Jackal set his sights on a small group led by a woman called Toyo, who cared for children in a dried-up well village.

When Kenshiro arrived, he broke the bedrock that adults had given up on and restored the well — but that made the village a perfect target for Jackal. This article covers the episode’s key moments and real-time viewer reactions from X (formerly Twitter).

Warning: Spoilers ahead for those who have not seen the episode.

Kenshiro’s Playful Side and a Shocking Turn

Believing his presence would cause unnecessary conflict, Kenshiro left the village secretly with Lin and Bat under cover of night. Jackal seized the opportunity, leading his bike gang to subdue Toyo’s group. He then attempted to execute the children by hanging in front of Toyo for sport. Viewers cheered the classic “Hyaa-haa!” battle cries from the bikers, but quickly turned grim when Toyo’s rifle misfired. “Not being able to shoot the head in one shot was the biggest mistake…” one viewer lamented as the village fell.

Kenshiro, alerted by the gunfire, returned. He freed the children, and enraged by Toyo being stabbed, he captured a thug who pleaded for his life. Kenshiro’s cold response: “I hear no weeping from villains.”

Jackal, knowing Kenshiro’s strength, ordered an immediate retreat, but one subordinate — a former pro boxer — challenged Kenshiro. With a calm “Is it okay if I kill this one first?” Kenshiro struck him down in one blow. The thug’s death cry “Abeshi!” joined the famous series’ cries alongside “Hidebu” and “Tawaba.” Viewers reacted to the string of iconic lines: “I hear no weeping from villains,” “Is it okay if I kill this one first?” and “Abeshi!”

But then came the shock: Jackal, to prevent pursuit, tied dynamite to the children and released them. The explosion fatally wounded Toyo. As she lay dying, she revealed the true reason Bat left the village: not out of rebellion, but because he ate too much and feared he would deprive other children of food. With her last breath, she said, “Take care of yourself, Bat…” And Bat finally cried out, “Mother!”

Viewers were moved: “Toyo is too saintly…” and “In the post-apocalyptic world, the kind ones die first.” One wrote, “I’m just grateful the new anime let us see this scene properly.”

Comedy Relief: Kenshiro’s Half-Joking Threats

The scene shifted to a familiar bar. Kenshiro asked the owner to look after the children for about a month while he went after Jackal. The owner, naturally reluctant, was pressured when Kenshiro pressed a pressure point and warned: “Only I know how to fix it… If I don’t come back, you’ll die.” The over-the-top reaction turned the moment into comedy. Viewers enjoyed it: “One of the few comedic scenes & Kenshiro’s humor,” “That’s some ‘moderate’ threat lol,” and “Kenshiro’s kind of mean-spirited lol.”

Jackal’s Cold Betrayal and Fox’s Acrobatic Fight

Kenshiro soon located Fox, Jackal’s right-hand man. Jackal used Fox as a decoy to buy time. When a subordinate protested, “Fox is your right arm!” Jackal coolly pointed to his own arm and said, “My right arm is right here.” Viewers noted the twisted logic: “Jackal’s famous line is here!” and “Surprisingly iconic quotes in the Jackal arc.”

During the fight, Fox used superhuman leaps, but Kenshiro lay on the ground, grabbed Fox from behind, and juggled him mid-air like a ball. Fans reacted: “Why are they in the same pose? lol” and “Kenshiro is playing around!” Even the production staff commented on Twitter: “The Fox-juggling scene was a big challenge; we’re grateful to NIA Animation for fully recreating it!”

Staff tweet about the Fox juggling scene

Next episode airs on May 29 at 25:00 (late-night slot), continuing the Jackal arc.

Broadcast Info:

• Started April 10, 2026 (Friday)
• TOKYO MX / BS11: Every Friday 25:00~
• Prime Video: Every Friday 25:00~ worldwide exclusive streaming
• *First two weeks (April 10 and April 17) had double episodes.

Staff:

Cast:

(C) Buronson・Tetsuo Hara / Coamix, “Fist of the North Star” Production Committee