Episode 22

## On the Night of the New Moon

**On the Night of the New Moon** (新月の夜に, *Shingetsu no Yoru ni*) is the twenty-second episode of the *Golden Kamuy* anime series.

## Synopsis

At last, Sugimoto's and Hijikata's groups have made it to Abashiri Prison. However, they're not the only ones who is after Noppera-bou...

## Plot

In Otaru, Huci is harvesting grain in the field while carrying O-gin' son on her back and singing a traditional Ainu song. Meanwhile, Asirpa talks of the upcoming season and that the salmon, or *Kamuycep*—"the fish of the Gods", is coming to the rivers. Asirpa points at *kutci* (kiwi berries) on a branch and asks Sugimoto to get it for her. They eat the berries, and Sugimoto comments on how sweet they are, but Asirpa mentions that eating too many will make his anus itch and so he should a lot of it. Asirpa then tells Sugimoto that the Ainu of the east call wild strawberries "salmon strawberries" because of them turning red when salmon appears in rivers. Sugimoto smiles and says that the Ainu really look forward to salmon each year.

Asirpa points at a tree that has a dent made by bear claws. Asirpa explains that bears eat nothing but kiwi berries at this time of the year, and so their meat often tastes like kiwi. Sugimoto compliments her on her knowledge, and Asirpa replies that it's her *Aca* that taught her everything. The girl confesses to Sugimoto that she is scared and that she doesn't know what to do if her father turns out to be Noppera-Bou, the man who killed the Ainu and stole their gold. Sugimoto says they've come so far so that she can meet Noppera-Bou. He then reassures Asirpa that he will be with her till the end no matter what happens.

Some time later, when all members of Sugimoto's and Hijikata's groups are present, Sugimoto discusses the prison plan with them. Nagakura comments that the guards in Abashiri Prison are not just worried about prisoners escaping—their concern is people who would want to take Noppera-Bou away. Shiraishi says they will have to go through the wall on the Abashiri side because it's less guarded. He explains that they could only pull this off now because of salmon spawning.

Later, Tanigaki, who is dressed in Ainu clothes, and Kiroranke reach the prison on the boat and go inside an Ainu hut where they have hidden a secret tunnel entrance. Down the tunnel, Sugimoto and Shiraishi are digging it further, with Cikapasi helping them to get rid of the boulders. However, they're found by prison guards led by Kadokura, who tells them they can't build a hut here. Tanigaki comes out of the hut and reminds the guards they had a deal that allowed them to fish in exchange for three salmon a day. Kadokura asks the guards if it's true but then bargains that they will allow them to fish for five salmon. The guards leave, and Kiroranke lets out a sigh of relief. Tanigaki looks at the other shore of the river and notices Inkarmat, who is putting her *Sirakki Kamuy* on top of her head.

At night, the group stays at Huci's 13th Sister's house. Asirpa and her grandmother cook salmon, and Asirpa elaborates on many ways to prepare a meal out of the fish. She chops off the fish's head, cuts out the cartilage in the middle of its upper jaw, and then asks Sugimoto if he knows what kind of dish they can make of it. Sugimoto playfully pretends that he doesn't expect the answer to be true, so Asirpa reveals it's *citatap*, making Sugimoto yell at others in excitement that it is indeed citatap. Asirpa recalls that *citatap* initially was a meal only made of salmon, followed by Sugimoto pinching Kiroranke while exclaiming it's the *citatap* of all *citataps*. Shiraishi starts mincing the meat while Asirpa continues to explain the recipe. Cikapasi picks up Hijikata's katana and asks if he can use it to make *citatap*. He is then joined by Hijikata, and the two mince citatap together while Nagakura watches them with concern. When it comes for Ogata's turn to mince the meat for *citatap*, Asirpa asks him to say *citatap* like everyone else did because she wanted them to come together. Suddenly, she hears him say *citatap*, which overfills her with joy. She comes to Tanigaki, Ushiyama, and Sugimoto and shares what she just heard, but the men don't seem to be impressed.

The group has a big feast, all eating together. Ushiyama takes interest in Inkarmat and asks if she has a man. Cikapasi notices that and takes a half-eaten bowl of food from Tanigaki and offers it to Inkarmat. Tanigaki is confused, and Asirpa explains that it's an Ainu betrothal tradition. Cikapasi asks why not be a real family, but Inkarmat stays silent, unsure of what to say. Tanigaki tells Cikapasi to give the bowl back to him and then walks out of the hut. Inkarmat follows him, and they have a conversation about Wilk. Tanigaki says that part of Inkarmat still hopes that Noppera-Bou is actually Wilk. She confirms it and shares some of her memories about Wilk.

Inkarmat tells Tanigaki about meeting Wilk in Otaru while wandering alone as an orphan. However, her fortune-telling told her she would never see him again. Even so, with every fortune that came true, she hoped to see him again. After learning of Wilk's death, she couldn't believe it since it was her death that would prevent her from meeting Wilk. Inkarmat met Lt. Tsurumi, who had Wilk's belongings and claimed he was dead. Tsurumi told her that Noppera-Bou knew about the gold's location and was working with Kiroranke. Inkarmat says she entertained the thought of her fortune being wrong; however, when she was drowning in the lake, she knew the fortune-telling was coming true and she was destined to die. It was Tanigaki who saved her life, and at that moment Inkarmat believed that fate could be changed. Now she hopes to see Wilk again, not out of love for him, but for her own sake: Inkarmat wants to free herself from her past and go into the future together with Tanigaki.

Tanigaki says he still has a job of his own—to bring Asirpa back to Huci. However, when the time comes, he promises to give Inkarmat the half-eaten bowl of food, thus promising he will marry her. The two return to the hut and witness Cikapasi slapping Shiraishi, who is eating the half-eaten bowl Tanigaki left.

A few days later, Kiroranke and Sugimoto continue to dig the tunnel. Sugimoto asks where the tunnel comes out, and Kiroranke replies that they dug as far as Hijikata told them to. Sugimoto comments that he hopes they won't poke their heads out into the guards' tavern. As Sugimoto comes out of the tunnel he sees Kadokura, who is calmly observing him while drinking tea. Kadokura greets them and says they did just as planned. Sugimoto asks him where they are, and Kadokura explains that they're in his lodgings.

In the evening, Kadokura explains that on Inudou's orders Noppera-Bou is moved to different cells every day. However, Kadokura knows the exact cell Noppera-Bou will be moved to next—it's cell #66 in Building 4. Shiraishi sums up their plan: they should break in, get Asirpa in front of Noppera-Bou to confirm his identity, then leave without a trace. Hijikata says that if they fail, the guards will find the tunnel and Kadokura will be a wanted man. Kadokura replies that if that happens, he will follow Hijikata; he reveals that before his death his father fought with Hijikata on the old shogunate's side, so he'd be happy to see Kadokura follow him. Sugimoto wonders how difficult it would be to get Noppera-Bou out of prison if he is indeed Asirpa's father. Kadokura replies that because of Noppera-Bou's Achilles tendon being cut it would be hard but not impossible. However, Asirpa says that if he is indeed Noppera-Bou, then there's no need to risk to try and take him out.

Before Asirpa could talk more, Hijikata notices something and turns to the tunnel, telling whoever is hiding there to come out. Hearing that, Ogata pokes his head out of the tunnel. Hijikata says he's heard of Ogata's past before: he is the son of the mistress of the former 7th Division leader. Hijikata wonders if there's more complex reasons behind Ogata deserting the 7th Division and seeking gold. Ogata scoffs and claims he has no plans of running the 7th Division. Before he leaves, he mocks the idea of anyone in the room actually trusting each other.

On another day, Shiraishi asks Inkarmat if she's tried her fortune-telling to find out Noppera-Bou's identity. She claims that she has done that many times, and usually the answer was that Noppera-Bou is not Asirpa's father. However, lately there have been more and more positive answers. When Shiraishi wonders which side is winning, Inkarmat explains that the last time she's done 1000 tries and 500 out of them came out as "yes". Shiraishi asks her to do a fortune-telling one last time. As *Sirakki Kamuy* falls from Inkarmat's head, multiple events are happening someplace else: Asirpa and Sugimoto are looking into binoculars; Inudou is training in the hall; Tanigaki and Cikapasi are on a boat; Kadokura is walking down the prison corridors; Ushiyama is training while Ienaga brings him tea; Ogata is sitting on a tree and watching through binoculars, too; Kiroranke is smoking.

Before the fox skull reaches ground, Shiraishi catches it in his hand. Inkarmat is surprised, but Shiraishi says they don't need the uncertainty and simply have to find it out for themselves.

On a black, moonless night, Sugimoto's and Hijikata's groups get ready to break into prison, and Sugimoto explains everyone's positions. Inkarmat, Cikapasi, Nagakura, and Ienaga stay in the *kotan*, while Ogata will be hiding in the mountains as a backup. Tanigaki should stand by with the log rafts by the riverside. Kiroranke, Ushiyama, and Hijikata are staying in the lodging house. Finally, Sugimoto, Shiraishi, and Asirpa will sneak into Noppera-Bou's cell with Toni Anji taking the lead.

Sugimoto, Shiraishi, Asirpa, and Toni head out, but then immediately run into two guards. Sugimoto and Toni knock them out, and Ushiyama with Kiroranke come to carry their bodies away. Ushiyama comments that starting tomorrow morning Kadokura will become a wanted and unemployed man.

Following Toni's lead, Sugimoto, Shiraishi, and Asirpa reach the prison building. Shiraishi explains that all of the windows have bars on them, except one—the ceiling, which is also the only way for them to get in. After Asirpa shoots an arrow over the prison building, Toni picks up the arrowhead from the other side of the ward. The arrowhead has a rope attached to it, which creates a tightrope that the group uses to get on the roof. Shiraishi cuts through the wood planks with a saw, while Kadokura, who is walking underneath, mumbles that he can hear the noise.

Kadokura comes to the watchtower, where two guards are on their duty. He starts a small talk with one of the guards but then breaks his cup and damages his finger, distracting the two men who are trying to help him. Meanwhile, Sugimoto, Shiraishi, and Asirpa make it down to the prison halls and get to Noppera-Bou's cell. Shiraishi manages to pick the lock, and Asirpa opens the cell door. At that moment, Kiroranke notices that Hijikata isn't in the lodging house with them. He suspects that Hijikata might be planning something.

When Asirpa enters the cell, she sees a prisoner sitting before her, with his face hidden by shadows. She softly calls him *aca* and explains that she is his daughter, Asirpa, and that she came for him from Otaru. As the man remains silent, Sugimoto asks Shiraishi to light up a match so they can see his face. The prisoner tries to cover from the light but then starts screaming, revealing his disfigured skinless face. After looking into his eyes, Asirpa confirms that the prisoner is not her father. Kadokura alerts other guards of intruders, and Sugimoto realizes that they've been set up. Asirpa is taken away by Toni, and Sugimoto fires a few shots at the guards. However, when the guards try to fight back, they find their rifles to be out of order. Shiraishi wonders if the prisoner is one of Kiroranke's allies, and Sugimoto tries to get an answer from him, but to no avail. Shiraishi says the man must be a double.

Meanwhile, Toni carries Asirpa away to meet the real Noppera-Bou. The alarm bell rings, and Warden Inudou walks out of the prison hall. A guard reports to him about intruders in Ward 4, and Inudou concludes that someone has finally come for Noppera-Bou. Tanigaki notices Inkarmat walking towards him while carrying a lantern. He wonders what she is doing here, but she tells him to run or else he will get caught up in what's about to happen. While they talk, the prison guards see the lights coming up Abashiri River. Inudou tells the guards to calm down and remember their training. The next moment the bridge is blown up, and it's revealed that the 7th Division has come to Abashiri Prison for Noppera-Bou. Hijikata realizes that the 7th Division has been watching them the entire time and says one shouldn't underestimate an intelligence officer. Inudou orders his guards to prepare for the fight.

On the ship, Tsukishima tells Tsurumi that the bridge has been destroyed. Tsurumi smiles and says that's what he's been waiting for, and several Ikazuchi-class destroyers are seen on their course to Abashiri Prison. Rear Admiral Koito Heiji, Commander of the Ominato Guard District, and the father of Koito Otonoshin, is commanding one of the ships.

When a 7th Division soldier reports that they've passed the remains of the bridge, Tsurumi laments that they'd take fewer causalities if they were just "creepy creatures who feed on the orcas after they kill each other". Tsukishima, who is standing beside other 7th Division members like Koito, Usami, and Nikaidou, notes that no matter how well-trained they are, the prison guards are still just guards. Tsurumi announces that tonight, they're the hunting orcas and they will capture Noppera-bou and Asirpa.

## Adapted Chapters

* Chapter 125
* Chapter 126
* Chapter 127
* Chapter 128
* Chapter 129
* Chapter 130

## Character Appearances

* Huci
* Osoma
* Genjirou Tanigaki
* Kiroranke
* Toshizou Hijikata
* Inkarmat
* Cikapasi
* Shinpachi Nagakura
* Asirpa
* Saichi Sugimoto
* Kano Ienaga
* Tatsuma Ushiyama
* Yoshitake Shiraishi
* Hyakunosuke Ogata
* Wilk *(Flashback)* *(Mentioned)*
* Toshiyuki Kadokura
* Huci's 13th Sister *(Debut)*
* Tome Ogata *(Mentioned)*
* Koujirou Hanazawa *(Mentioned)*
* Toni Anji
* Shirosuke Inudou
* Tokushirou Tsurumi
* Hajime Tsukishima
* Heiji Koito *(Debut)*
* Otonoshin Koito
* Tokishige Usami
* Kouhei Nikaidou