Anime Hajime Impressions: Benkyou – Cardcaptor Sakura Episodes 21 to 25

Original Run: April 7, 1998 - March 21, 2000
Number of Episodes: 70
Based on the Series Created By: CLAMP

As A Reminder:  Anime Hajime Impressions: Benkyou is not a review series. Anime Hajime’s LofZOdyssey attempts to watch an anime in Japanese with no English subtitles. Therefore, misinterpretations and misunderstandings are possible.

Feel free to leave comments, clarifications, and thoughts in the comments section below.

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Episode 16 to 20 Recap

Aside from Sakura growing ever more comfortable with her powers, the most significant development to happen in the last batch of episodes was the introduction of Meiling Li, Syaoran’s over-attached cousin. Essentially, Meiling is annoyed that Sakura, a girl, has dared to be even remotely friendly with her dearest Syaoran.

Although Meiling may be from the Li family, she has not inherited any of their Cardcaptor powers. Thus, her jealousy towards Sakura has only grown fiercer. Still, Meiling has become a consistent player in the search for the missing Clow Cards. 

Episode 21

Japanese Title: さくらのながーいマラソン大会
Romaji Title: Sakura no Nagai Marason Taikai
English Title: Sakura’s Long Marathon Race 

Episode Summary

Sakura’s school is holding its yearly marathon race. Like last year, Sakura is expected to do exceptionally well, if not win the event. Naturally, this does not please Meiling, who dreams of achieving the top two spots with Syaoran.

At the start of the race, Sakura, Syaoran, and Meiling immediately take the lead. At the same time, an eerie air descends over the unsuspecting racers. Sakura and Syaoran notice the change. Things become stranger when their group seems to be repeating the same length of the course.

This phenomenon is the work of the Loop Clow Card, which creates a sort of boundary that traps its victims in a constant repeat.

Fortunately, the combined effort of the Cardcaptors allows the group to defeat the spirit. However, this delay causes Sakura, Syaoran, and Meiling to finish the marathon in last place.

Principle Characters

Episode 22

Japanese Title: さくらとやさしいお父さん
Romaji Title: Sakura to Yasashii Otousan
English Title: Sakura and Her Kind Father 

Episode Summary

Sakura’s father, Fujitaka Kinomoto, is busy with work. Thus, Sakura is doing all she can to ease her dad’s worries.

One day, Sakura visits Fujitaka while he is teaching at his university. While there, Sakura runs into the Sleep Clow Card, which causes people to nod off instantly. The Cardcaptor gives chase and eventually corners the spirit in Fujitaka’s office.

After a brief battle, Sakura manages to seal the card, but in the process, she accidentally ruins her dad’s project. Feeling horrible for what she let happen, Sakura expects Fujitaka to get angry. To her surprise, her dad doesn’t even frown. Instead, he thanks Sakura for all the help she has given him the past few days.

Principal Characters

Episode 23

Japanese Title: さくらと知世とすてきな歌
Romaji Title: Sakura to Tomoyo to Sutekina Uta
English Title: Sakura, Tomoyo, and the Wonderful Song

Episode Summary

While at school, everyone is complimenting Tomoyo for her fantastic singing voice. Then, one of Sakura’s friends tells the legend of the haunted music room, which, like always, scares the living daylights out of Sakura.

At the same time, Sakura and Syaoran sense the presence of a Clow Card. The two Cardcaptors, along with Meiling and Tomoyo, agree to return to the school that night to investigate.

Beginning their search, the group hears a mysterious singing voice echoing through the halls. To their surprise, the voice sounds exactly like Tomoyo. It turns out to be the Song Card, which mimics the best singer within its range.

To seal the card, Tomoyo starts up a beautiful duet with the spirit. After the performance, the Song is effortlessly captured.

Principal Characters

Episode 24

Japanese Title: さくらの小さな大冒険
Romaji Title: Sakura no Chiisa na Daibouken
English Title: Sakura’s Little Adventure 

Episode Summary

It is just another peaceful day at Sakura’s house. Tomoyo has come over, and the two friends are enjoying their time together. Then, as though drawn to the Cardcaptor, a Clow Card arrives at the Kinomoto residence.

Sakura searches for the spirit throughout the house, eventually trapping it inside her father’s room. Right as she moves to seal it, the card leaps onto Sakura. In that instant, the whole world changes.

Upon touching the spirit, Sakura shrinks to the size of an ant. Due to her small size, a gust of wind carries her outside into the yard. There Sakura must contend with hungry cats and – now giant – insects. Eventually, she makes her way back into the house and finds the culprit – the Little Clow Card.

Luckily, Cerberus finds Sakura and tells her that she can reverse the shrinking spell by touching the Little one more time.

Before the spirit can affect Tomoyo, Sakura grabs onto it, reverts to her regular size, and seals the card away.

Principal Characters

Episode 25

Japanese Title: さくらのもう一人のさくら
Romaji Title: Sakura no Mou Hitori no Sakura
English Title: Two Sakuras 

Episode Summary

While Sakura is out shopping, she fails to notice someone who looks exactly like her. While the real Sakura heads back home, the fake one runs around, making all kinds of mischief. Many of Sakura’s friends, including Syaoran and Meiling, encounter the Cardcaptor’s doppelganger and are appalled by its actions.

The next day, Sakura’s bewilderment convinces her friends that they were mistaken in thinking Sakura could ever be so mean. Although Meiling refuses to admit she saw someone else, Syaoran had suspected something was up and tells Sakura to be careful.

After seeing the being herself, Sakura believes that this phenomenon must be the work of a Clow Card.

Back at home, Cerberus teaches Sakura how to make predictions using the cards. What she sees is her brother, Touya, in danger. Thus, she rushes off to find him.

Sure enough, Touya runs into the fake Sakura, who successfully lures the teenager into a trap. However, the imposter is surprised that Touya had gone along with the plan despite realizing the deception almost immediately.

The real Sakura makes it to the scene. Using the information she gathered from her Clow Card prediction, she realizes the identity of her other self – the Mirror.

Regretting its actions towards Touya, the Mirror quietly allows Sakura to seal it away.

The episode ends with the arrival of a mysterious woman standing outside Sakura’s house.

Principal Characters

Thoughts and Impressions

I suspect we are reaching the end of the character-development run of episodes. In the next batch, I’m willing to bet more narrative progress will be made.

On the one hand, I’m thrilled by the prospect of something happening. On the other, I have enjoyed this series quite a bit, and the Japanese has been relatively easy to understand. If a more detail-oriented story is on the way, I feel this entire study session is about to become much more difficult. 

But, I’ve been saying this for the past few posts, now. So, we’ll just have to wait and see.

Thanks for following along with me. If you’ve seen this series and feel I am wrong in my descriptions, please let me know in the comments below. I wouldn’t want to put this show in an inaccurate light.

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For Anime Hajime, I’m LofZOdyssey, and I’ll see you next week for Cardcaptor Sakura Episodes 26 to 30.