Anime Hajime Impressions: Benkyou – Cardcaptor Sakura Episodes 26 to 30

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 21 to 25 Recap

Having now had several successes under her hat, Sakura has proven herself a most capable Cardcaptor. Her sound judgment and quick think have led her to be victorious over increasingly challenging spirits. Her support team has become more varied but no less helpful.

However, Sakura is about to begin a new leg in her mission with a mysterious woman’s arrival.

Episode 26

Japanese Title: さくらとすてきな先生
Romaji Title: Sakura to Suteki na Sensei
English Title: Sakura and Her Beautiful Teacher 

Episode Summary

As Sakura is running late, she runs into a beautiful woman who tells the Cardcaptor they will meet again tomorrow. Sure enough, the woman appears at Sakura school. She turns out to the new math teacher Kaho Mizuki.

Although everyone is smitten by Ms. Mizuki’s beauty, Syaoran has a funny feeling about her.

Later in the day, Sakura and Meiling her a rumor about power love charms sold at a nearby shrine. The two girls, along with Tomoyo and Syaoran, head out there after school. Upon arriving on the grounds, Sakura and Syaoran both sense the presence of a Clow Card.

Then, without warning, the group is transported to an unknown location; they had been taken by the Maze Card.

Sakura and her friends’ hope of escaping is not high since the maze keeps changing. After a massive shift, Meiling gets separated. Fortunately, she is saved by none other than Ms. Mizuki.

To Sakura and Syaoran’s shock, Ms. Mizuki effortlessly escorts them outside.

Once free, Ms. Mizuki assures Sakura that she can go ahead and seal away the Clow Card and not worry about her knowing. Adding to the mystery, a worried Touya (who went searching for his sister) appears. Sakura is surprised to see that Touya and Ms. Mizuki seem to know one another.

As the group disperses, Syaoran warns Sakura to be wary of Ms. Mizuki until they learn more about her.

Principle Characters

Episode 27

Japanese Title: さくらと思い出の神社
Romaji Title: Sakura to Omoide no Jinja
English Title: Sakura and the Shrine of Memories 

Episode Summary

Sakura has her Tokyo Tower dream again. This time a shadowy Ms. Mizuki-shaped figure is standing before her. Remembering the past times she had this dream, Sakura wonders if something big is on the way.

Despite Syaoran’s warnings, Sakura grows fonder of Ms. Mizuki. Sakura also learns that she was right in thinking her brother, Touya, and Ms. Mizuki knew each other.

At night, Cerberus leads Sakura to the location of the next Clow Card. To the Cardcaptor’s surprise, it is back at Ms. Mizuki’s shrine, the same she encountered the Maze. Syaoran arrives not long after, and the group beings their investigation.

Nothing turns up. Sakura and Syaoran have their first real heart to heart, and they both admit to one another that they like Yukito. Then, Sakura is captured by a spirit and dragged into a giant cherry blossom tree without warning.

Inside, Sakura realizes she might be in a memory. Sure enough, a junior high school-aged Touya and a younger Ms. Mizuki appear. Sakura watches as the two have their first meeting, as well as subsequent encounters after that. It turns out that the two were once in a relationship (possibly confirming the other woman in Touya’s life).

Back outside, Syaoran successfully releases Sakura from her capture, and the two seal away the Return Card. All the while, this encounter was being watched by Ms. Mizuki.

Principal Characters

Episode 28

Japanese Title: さくらとおまじないカード
Romaji Title: Sakura to Omajinai Kado
English Title: Sakura and the Enchanted Cards 

Episode Summary

There has been a recent rumor going around about unique cards that grant wishes. Not only that, but these cards can also be bought at Maik Matsumoto’s shop Twin Bells (see episode 5).

Upon investigation, Sakura is surprised to see these items resemble Clow Cards. For another surprise, Sakura senses an actual Clow Card somewhere in the store. However, the sensation is only a residual; the card had already been purchased. Sakura asks what the card was, and according to Maki, it had been the Shoot Card.

Relaying this information to Cerberus, the guardian warns Sakura that she must capture the Shoot Card immediately; it is extremely dangerous.

Sakura begins her search and is joined by Syaoran. Together, they discover that it is Meiling who has the card. Annoyed that Sakura and Syaoran are together again, Meiling refuses to give the card up. This causes its power to activate.

The Shoot Card proves to a particularly nasty opponent. Thanks to Syaoran’s willingness to act as bait, Sakura successfully seals away the spirit.

Principal Characters

Episode 29

Japanese Title: さくらのあまーいクッキング
Romaji Title: Sakura no Amai Kukkingu
English Title: Sakura’s Sweet Cooking 

Episode Summary

Sakura is learning how to bake a cake for her home economics class.

During the lesson, Sakura and her friends walk away as their cakes are being baked. When they come back, they are horrified to find that everyone’s work comes out far too sweet. In fact, it isn’t just Sakura’s class. Every cake baked at the school has been turning out overly sweet. Thus, Sakura and Syaoran suspect this to be the work of a Clow Card.

When their class leaves the second round of cakes to bake, the Cardcaptors stay behind. Sure enough, they encounter the Sweet Card, which transforms everything it touches into a desert.

After some quick thinking, and a little salt to help dilute the sugar taste, Sakura and Syaoran seal away the spirit.

Principal Characters

Episode 30

Japanese Title: さくらとケガをしたカード
Romaji Title: Sakura to Kega wo Shita Kado
English Title: Sakura and the Injured Card 

Episode Summary

Sakura and Tomoyo are out chasing a Clow Card. The two successfully trap the spirit in a nearby backyard. However, before they can finish the job, they must hide away to avoid being spotted. This gives the card, the Dash, the chance to take refuge with the family whose back yard it entered.

The Dash sparks a friendship with the household’s daughter Rei Tachibana.

It turns out that Rei is an older student at Sakura’s school, as well as a budding track and field star. Unfoturntly for Rei, her times have not been great recently. Then, almost like a miracle, Rei’s speed improves dramatically.

Sakura knows this is the work of the Dash. Although  Sakura needs to seal away the spirit, she doesn’t want to hinder Rei’s chance at the upcoming track meet. But Sakura also knows that Rei’s improvement has been the work of magic, not skill.

Therefore, with a heavy heart, Sakura seals the Dash. At the track meet, though, Rei pulls through and wins her even with her own power.

Principal Characters

Thoughts and Impressions

Aside from the Clow Cards’ existence, the introduction of Kaho Mizuki has been the first real question mark of the series. It is impossible to tell how she will play into events from this point onward.

I will say this; the show is doing everything it can to build an ominous air around Ms. Mizuki. I’m not sure if I fully buy it, though.

On a final note, it finally feels as though this series is on the verge of taking a drastic turn. The Clow Cards have mostly been a nuisance thus far. I suspect that will be changing.

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 31 to 35.