Wind Breaker – Episode 10 “Dialogue” Recap & Review

Dialogue

Wind Breaker episode 10 begins with the resolution of the long-standing tussle between Shishitoren and Bofurin. As a celebration, the Bofurin team shares a meal with Choji and Togame. While Sakura wonders why they are eating with their opponents, Togame bows his head and apologizes on behalf of Shishitoren, with Choji following suit. Umemiya asks Sakura to give the verdict and tells Togame, “You absolutely have to become a really cool guy! Don’t do lame stuff ever again!”

As they eat, Choji asks Umemiya how he manages to have so much fun while being at the top. Umemiya explains that it’s because he likes having people around him and sharing a meal with them. He adds that nobody ever gets to the top by themselves; it’s the people around them who help them reach the top, highlighting the importance of a team.

He continues, saying that if there had been another way to fulfil his duties without being the leader of Bofurin, he would have chosen that path. He didn’t really want to be at the top; he just had wishes he wanted to come true. Once he became the leader, his wishes became everyone else’s as well. To fulfill these wishes, he vowed never to lose, no matter what obstacle.

After the meal, the Bofurin team returns to their turf, while Choji and Togame feel regretful about their past actions. On the bright side, Choji is back to his cheerful, friendly self.

The Bofurin team arrives at Kotoha’s café to find Sasaki waiting for them. Sasaki apologizes for causing them trouble, and Umemiya comforts him. In Kotoha’s café, Umemiya throws a welcome party for Sakura and doesn’t let him leave.

While Sakura ponders how he can never be at the top since he’s all alone, Umemiya asks him about his “conversation” with Togame. He clarifies that he didn’t mean a psychic conversation but rather, “I meant it was a means to convey something and accept what’s conveyed. And fists are older than language. It’s a primitive means.”

Meanwhile, Sakura blushes as Umemiya praises him, saying he’s a good person. Sakura yells that he came to the town to become the strongest, but now he isn’t sure anymore because he cannot accept anyone, and hence there’s no team to support him to make it to the top. Nirei comforts him by reminding him that he told Nirei he wasn’t lame, indirectly accepting him for who he is.

Umemiya reminds him that to have a “conversation” with someone, one needs to accept them, and that happens when they want to know about them. Since Sakura had a good “conversation” with Togame, he is, in fact, able to accept others.

Eventually, the conversation about Sakura wanting to take over Umemiya’s place riles up Sugishita, Umemiya’s number one fan. The episode ends with Sakura and Sugishita threatening each other and wanting to duel it out.

The Episode Review

Another episode of Wind Breaker, and it doesn’t disappoint! Unlike many shonen anime with a focus on action, Wind Breaker is truly different in how heartwarming it is. Not only are the characters and situations engaging, but each episode features dialogues that help us learn some facet of life in a metaphorical way.

Take, for instance, this dialogue where Umemiya indirectly explains what true leadership is like: “I was able to become the top because everyone carried me up. Because people could relate to what I wanted to do and helped me out. So, I thought about it when I got to the top. My wishes were no longer just my own wishes.”

He clearly lays bare the fundamental trait of a successful leader, who rules not by power but by camaraderie and oneness. At the same time, he also relays the responsibility that comes with leadership.

In another instance, while explaining how the process of acceptance works, Umemiya says, “But to accept, you have to face each other first.” There is deep meaning behind this simple and obvious line. In terms of hardships, to accept a challenge, one needs to face it first.

There are many ways in which Wind Breaker’s dialogues can be interpreted, and their beauty lies in the simplicity of each idea, which simultaneously hides profound a meaning.