Uchouten Kazoku

A young tanuki receives a dangerous delivery mission from an older tengu.

Since the relocation during the Heian era, humans, tanuki, and tengu have maintained a delicate balance. However, this equilibrium is disrupted when a young tanuki is assigned a critical task by an older tengu. The tanuki must deliver a dangerous letter, a mission that carries significant risk and potential consequences for the fragile peace among the three groups. This assignment forces the young tanuki to navigate a hazardous journey, highlighting the tensions that exist beneath the surface of their coexistence. The narrative focuses on the immediate challenge of the delivery rather than the broader historical context, emphasizing the personal stakes involved in this specific errand.

Yasaburo visits Yajiro, a frog who forgot how to transform, while the Shimogamo brothers help their mother during a storm.

Yasaburo travels to the bottom of a well to see Yajiro, who currently resides there in frog form and has forgotten how to transform back into his original self. Meanwhile, a storm approaches, causing the three Shimogamo brothers, who are not frogs, to race urgently to assist their mother. She is terrified of thunder, prompting the siblings to hurry to her side to provide comfort and safety during the severe weather event.

Yasaburo seeks Benten's help to secure a vessel for Shimogamo tradition

Yasaburo strives to honor a Shimogamo family custom by creating a leisure cruiser, a task his predecessor Yaichiro failed to complete. To achieve this goal, he requests the use of Yakushibo's flying inner parlor. However, the situation escalates when he is forced to enter into a hazardous agreement with Benten. This dangerous deal becomes the central obstacle in his attempt to fulfill the family obligation and launch the necessary vessel.

The Shimogamo Family Faces Ebisugawa Harassment During the Daimonji Cruise

The Ebisugawa family targets the Shimogamo family during the traditional Daimonji leisure cruise. Yasaburo engages in a brave fight but ultimately loses the Fujin Raijin folding fan. Following the crash of the inner parlor, he becomes afraid of Benten's wrath. Consequently, Yasaburo decides to go into hiding to avoid the consequences of his defeat and the loss of the valuable item.

Benten captures Yasaburo in Kyoto to perform tanuki tricks for the Friday Fellows.

While Yasaburo hides from Benten in Osaka, Kinkaku and Ginkaku help her locate him during a trip to Kyoto. Benten forces Yasaburo to perform tanuki tricks for the Friday Fellows. The episode reveals that Yasaburo’s mother was once saved by a man who gave her onigiri. Additionally, it is disclosed that Hotei, a member of the Friday Fellows, has loved tanuki since he saved one and fed it onigiri. This connection explains his enduring affection for the creatures and ties into the events surrounding Yasaburo’s capture and subsequent performance for the group.

Professor Yodogawa pursues Benten and Yasaburo while viewing autumn leaves

Professor Yodogawa chases Benten and Yasaburo to view autumn foliage. After she leaves them, Yodogawa critiques his eating philosophy. Yasaburo also hears a story about a conversation between Yodogawa and Shimogamo Soichiro, Benten's first tanuki hot pot victim. Yasaburo then reports this information to Yajiro.

Yasaburo and friends persuade Professor Akadama to bathe, leading to a confrontation with the Ebisugawa twins.

Yasaburo, Yashiro, and Yaichiro successfully convince Professor Akadama to take a much-needed bath. Upon arriving at the bathhouse, the group encounters the Ebisugawa twins, resulting in a brief scuffle. The incident reveals that Yajiro was at least partly responsible for Shimogamo Soichiro's death in the Friday Fellow's hot pot. This revelation adds a layer of tension to the social gathering, highlighting past conflicts among the characters. The episode focuses on the interaction between the main group and the twins, uncovering hidden connections to previous events involving Shimogamo Soichiro.

Yajiro recounts the night their father was eaten to Yasaburo and Yaichiro

Yajiro shares his version of the events surrounding the night their father was consumed by a creature with Yasaburo and Yaichiro. Later, Yasaburo learns additional details from a continuation of the story that Yajiro is unaware of. This new information reveals that Soichiro encountered Professor Akadama while traveling to the afterlife. The narrative expands on the family's tragic past by providing a specific interaction that occurred during Soichiro's journey beyond death, adding context to the circumstances of his demise.

Yasaburo Persuades Professor Akadama Amidst Kaisei's Brotherly Conspiracy

Yasaburo is interrupted while warming himself and tasked with convincing Professor Akadama to attend the council where the new Nise-emon will be chosen. He eventually succeeds in his quest for warmth, but while crossing the wall separating the men's and women's baths, he receives an ominous apology from Kaisei. She warns that her brothers are plotting something.

Ebisugawa Soun's secret dealings revealed during the Nise-emon election and Soichiro's death anniversary

The true significance of Kaisei's enigmatic apology is clarified as the Ebisugawa family's scheme to cook Yaichiro in a hot pot is exposed during the Nise-emon election. This same day marks the anniversary of Soichiro's death, a tragedy for which Soun is ultimately held responsible. The narrative connects these events, shedding light on the hidden machinations within the Ebisugawa household and the personal consequences of their actions on the characters involved.

Yasaburo escapes Soun but is recaptured by Ebisugawas while Yashiro and Yaichiro face separate dangers.

Yasaburo receives assistance from Benten to flee Soun and his Elite Guard, yet the Ebisugawas successfully recapture him using a clever scheme involving Kinkaku-Ginkaku. In a parallel development, Kaisei aids Yashiro in escaping the Electric Brandy factory. Meanwhile, Yaichiro is surrendered to the Friday Fellows, who intend to use him as the primary ingredient for their year-end hot pot. These events highlight the ongoing struggles of the characters against various antagonists and dangerous situations.

Yashiro devises a plan to return Yajiro to the game while Yasaburo rescues Yaichiro.

Yashiro formulates a strategy to bring Yajiro back into the competition, resulting in a decisive victory over Kinkaku and Ginkaku. During this time, Yashiro delays the Nise-emon decision meeting. Simultaneously, Yasaburo works to save Yaichiro from their current predicament. Despite these efforts, their mother remains at risk of being prepared as Friday Fellow hot pot. The situation highlights the ongoing tension between the characters as they navigate these conflicting objectives and threats within their family dynamics.

The Eccentric Family