Ep 1. In Name Only

In Name Only is the first episode of the popular anime series House of Five Leaves. The episode sets up the story and introduces the main characters. The show is set in the Edo period, and in this episode, we see the protagonist, Masanosuke Akitsu, searching for a job as a bodyguard.

Masanosuke is a ronin – a samurai without a master. He is struggling to find work due to his lack of experience, personality, and inability to show his sword fighting skills. However, a chance encounter with Yaichi, the leader of a group of criminals, sets Masanosuke on a completely different path.

Yaichi offers Masanosuke a job as a bodyguard, and Masanosuke accepts. He soon finds out that Yaichi is not a typical criminal, and his group, the Five Leaves, is not a typical gang. The Five Leaves are a group of outcasts who commit crimes to help people. They are not interested in wealth or power and only seek to live a good and fulfilling life.

Masanosuke is intrigued by the Five Leaves and joins the group. He quickly becomes friends with them and learns that they all have their reasons for joining the group. The members of the Five Leaves are: Yaichi, the leader; Ume, the cross-dressing second-in-command; Otake, the quiet and reserved woman, and Matsukichi, the cheerful and energetic young man.

The group's latest mission is to kidnap a young boy named Masa. Masa's family has a lot of money, and they are willing to pay a ransom to get him back. However, Masa is not at all interested in returning home, and he becomes a pawn in the group's game.

Masanosuke is tasked with protecting Masa, but he doesn't understand why the group is kidnapping him. Masanosuke starts to lose his trust in Yaichi and the group, but he is also drawn to them. He learns that there is something deeper going on, and he wants to know what it is.

In Name Only sets up the main storyline and introduces the characters well. The anime's art style is beautiful, and the backgrounds are detailed and lively. The characters are all unique and have their own personalities and quirks.

The music in the anime is also worth mentioning. The opening and ending themes are catchy and fit the anime's tone well. The background music is also well done and enhances the scenes' emotions.

Overall, In Name Only is an exciting and intriguing start to the House of Five Leaves series. The episode introduces the main characters and sets up the story well. It does a good job of letting the audience know what to expect while keeping some things a mystery. House of Five Leaves is an excellent anime for fans of samurai, action, and drama.