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Summer 2024 anime viewers have already been transfixed by the excellent adaptation ofShonen Jump’sThe Elusive Samurai, airing on Crunchyroll, and with the upcoming release ofepisode #4, this shows no signs of slowing down. In light ofThe Elusive Samurai’spopularity driving higher manga sales, viewers can prepare as the story soon crosses into volume #8. Tokiyuki Hojo has already proven himself to be a unique and talented warrior. Still, in episode #4, an equally eclectic and fascinating enemy will surface, with a frighteningly keen eye as an archer.
The plot ofThe Elusive Samuraibegan with Tokiyuki Hojo’s clan being massacred as part of Takauji Ashikaga’s violent overthrow during his bid for a shogunate of his own. The series doesn’t shy away fromhow dangerous the world has become for its 8-year-old protagonist, but it also presents new opportunities for him to grow as a fighter while his list of enemies expands.
Still, the latest introduction teased at the end ofThe Elusive Samuraiepisode #3 indicates that fans will haveanother buzzworthy, oddball character for Tokiyuki to face.
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When Does Episode #4 of The Elusive Samurai Release?
Produced by CloverWorks Studio, Based on the Manga by Yusei Matsui
Crunchyroll releases new English-subbed episodes ofThe Elusive Samuraiweekly every Saturday for fans outside of Japan.Episode #3 will be released on Saturday, June 16, 2025, at 9:00 AM PDT (12:00 PM EDT).Crunchyroll has yet to reveal an English dub for the series, but the latest updates can be found at theCrunchyroll Summer 2024 lineup portal.
The Elusive Samuraihas debuted alongside an impressive anime slate, including long-anticipated returns likeTower of Godseason 2, fascinating adaptations like Inio Asano’sDead Dead Demon’s Dededede Destruction,and more. While other new Crunchyroll comedy series have been making strong early impressions,Yusei Matsui’s latest adaptation has had no trouble standing out. Perhaps most encouragingly,The Elusive Samuraihas been an outstanding visual showcaseworth checking every passing week of the summer.
What Happened in The Elusive Samurai Episode #3?
The Elusive Warriors Undergo Training
InThe Elusive Samuraiepisode #3, Yorishige sets up a training exercise for him and his retainers at the Suwa Grand Shrine, where the priest bolsters the young prince’s confidence by seemingly stopping the rain. Furthermore, to add to the pageantry of the moment, Yorishige assembles the Suwa Sect to cheer for Tokiyuki, and even though it turns out to be a heavily rehearsed moment, it helps Tokiyuki. InThe Elusive Samurai,Yorishige is believed to be a god in human form, so his backing of Tokiyuki is seen as a big dealfor his supporters in episode #3.
After the catharticvictory in episode #2 of Tokiyuki over Muneshige Godaiin, the uncle of Tokiyuki and executioner of Tokiyuki’s half-brother, Kunitoki, the training doesn’t end with a mere pep-talk.The Elusive Samuraiepisode #3 features a thrilling training sequence where Ayako Mochizuki, Kojiro Nezu, and Shizuku join Tokiyuki on a hunt,only to encounter the so-called ox demon, Botan. When weapons aren’t enough, they use their evasiveness to lure the giant boar into a deadly trap, marking their first successful training exercise.
Along with creating a name for themselves, the Elusive Warriors, Tokiyuki’s retainers, bond with the young prince, but their struggle is far from over as they move to retake the Kamakura shogunate. The last moments tease the events ofThe Elusive Samuraiepisode #4, withthe bug-eyed archer, Sadamune Ogasawara, revealed to be Tokiyuki’s next adversary. Running away may not be the only answer in this next episode, though, as the Hojo prince will soon learn.
The Elusive Samurai Episode #4 Introduces a Recurring Villain
Sadamune Ogasawara Has the True All-Seeing Eye
The Elusive Samuraihas already introduced unusual and exaggerated characters based on actual historical figures, but Sadamune Ogasawara will be the strangest new addition in the release of episode #4.His extreme protruding eyeballs are played up to enhance his portrayal as a keen archer, able to identify the gender of multiple ticks plucked from a boar by Takauji from multiple yards away in chapter #6 of the manga. This is all inspired by Sadamune’s real-life counterpart and his history as an archery instructor to Takauji and emperor Go-Daigo.
Sadamune will appear at the Suwa Grand Shrine in the release ofThe Elusive Samuraiepisode #4, suspecting him of harboring Hojo fugitives. However,Yorishige addresses this by proposing an archery challenge where they can shoot non-lethal arrows at live targets, including dogs and human participants, while roping Tokiyuki into the challenge. Under the bogus name Chojumaru, Tokiyuki won’t be able to escape but will take advantage of his talents to give Sadamune a worthy match starting inThe Elusive Samuraiepisode #4.
The Elusive Samuraiepisode #4will air on Crunchyroll on Saturday, July 27.
