The next place Robby and Hatchi visit is Hamama II, a planet known for its eels. On Earth, eels are impossible to catch anymore due to being overfished by Totchina aliens. Hatchi, who has only ever heard stories about eels but has never seen or eaten any, is overjoyed. In addition, a Great Eel Festival is about to be held on the planet!
Meanwhile, loan shark Yang and his group, following Robby, also arrive at Hamama II. Yang desperately searches for Robby while being surrounded by muscular men in festival swimsuits.
Before Robby and Hatchi know it, they are forced to take part in the Great Eel Festival...
The episode opens with Nagaya Voyager closing up on the 29th planet on the Galaxy Highway: Hamama II, a kingdom famous for its eels.
Seeing Hatchi’s interest, Robby complains about how young people nowadays don’t even know the real taste of an eel – due to commerce treaties these were overfished by Totchinans and now it’s impossible to catch any on Earth anymore. Soon after he protests against being called old when Hatchi comments flatly that apparently now they are going to be quoting generational differences. As they approach the planet, Hatchi says that the Great Eel Festival is happening now, so they have a great timing.
However, once on Hamama II, the group cannot see any eel nor people – only a flatland and some oxen. Eventually, they spot a local – a buff, majorly naked man – and ask about the festival, to which he shouts “eel!” at them and sounds a gong. At this signal, the oxen start to run, chased and ridden by more locals – at the front of the herd, Robby, Hatchi and Ikku run for their lives. Only Hatchi is excited about this. Out of sudden, a giant eel emerges from nowhere and swallows the oxen whole, then chases the group as well. Eventually, more men shoot arrows into the eel, killing it and presenting it to the monarch. The wild chase turns into a festival of cutting the fish.
The two are approached by Unami – a young local who praises them for being brave enough to participate in the festival since the beginning. The praise is quickly corrected as the group admits they simply didn’t know the “great” in “Great Eel Festival” refers to the eel, and not the festival. Unami then offers to be their guide – initially, Robby refuses, saying he would prefer a young woman and not a child, but he changes his mind after hearing how Unami’s dad was swallowed by a giant eel last year.
At the same time, Yang and his crew approaches Hamama II from space. Allo is sure Robby is there, while Gras is excited about the ongoing festival. Yang says he will fortify himself with eel.
On the surface, Robby and Hatchi have changed into festival costumes – which are just briefs and an eel-like band around one’s forehead – and are enjoying the celebrations and food, despite Ikku’s loud protests that they are wasting money. Unami informs them about the special events of the festival – there’s one for catching baby eels. It comes with prize money depending on one’s performance, so Ikku demands they go and participate. Robby initially agrees, but just then a young Hamaman runs by them with a baby eel – still bigger than the Hamaman – biting into his head, and he changes his mind.
Yang asking for more eel to fortify himself.
Yang’s crew is also at the festival – Gras bought him an eel bone as a souvenir, but Yang bites into it and chews on the bits, then immediately says he feels energised and makes poses. He is so absorbed in this that he misses both Robby and Hatchi passing by him, as the two are participating in a parade. In the evening, Unami escorts the group to a hotel, mentions there will be an eel rodeo race tomorrow with more money prizes, and promises to return in the morning.
At the reception desk, Ikku pretends to be a mascot robot to lower the costs. For this, the group spent their last mons, so if they want to continue travelling, they really need to get the prize money from the eel rodeo. Robby and Hatchi head to their respective rooms to rest a bit before heading to the buffet for supper.
As it turns out, Yang, overfortified with eel, also plans to stay at the same hotel – at the reception, he asks if there are any Earthlings staying in, but the receptionist cannot answer – even when he is shown a photo of Robby, he says all Earthlings look the same to him, so he doesn’t know.
In the buffet, there are all sorts of dishes – Hatchi is overjoyed, Robby encourages him to try various things. He comments that he hasn’t seen any Hamaman women yet and that it’s strange – just then, a dance show is announced, so he literally runs off to watch it, sure there will be females there. Immediately after he’s gone, Yang enters the buffet – missing his target once more. However, by now he definitely has consumed way too much eel to strengthen himself – there is nothing on his mind, just Robby, and he mindlessly jumps on a giant grilled eel bit to eat even more. Allo and Gras are growing more and more concerned.
The festival dance is, again, only with men – Robby, very disappointed, decides to go to sleep and dream of pretty girls. Hatchi opts to try out the electric eel baths. It’s a weird experience, but he seems to be having fun, to Ikku’s astonishment. Elsewhere, the festival dance show is interrupted by Yang who jumps on the stage to confront the dancers. Allo and Gras try to stop him, but are tossed away into the crowd.
Hatchi and Ikku after hearing a weird noise at night.
In his room, Hatchi is staying up and reading. Ikku sends him to sleep, but then both of them hear weird noises – these, as it is immediately revealed, are made by Yang, who by now is acting like some sort of a monster and makes appropriate sounds. Somehow, he seems to sense Robby’s presence through the door, for he stops in the right place and calls out to him – but then a vein of his pops, some blood spills and he returns to normal, then tiredly walks away.
Hatchi, although scared, peeks out from his room and finds the blood on the floor – he runs back into his room and hides under the covers, shaking. He says he’s scared of ghosts and this, for sure, was a ghost of a Hamaman eaten by an eel. Ikku initially mocks him for being scared, but eventually understands the issue.
As Hatchi doesn’t sleep well, in the morning he passes on participating in the rodeo race as he is too tired. Robby, on the other hand, excitedly enters. His enthusiasm only increases when Unami tells him winning would grant him a commendation from the king, which would make him a hero – this, by his vision, would make girls attracted to him.
Just as Robby is choosing an eel to ride on for the race, Yang enters the scene, once more chewing on the bone Gras bought for him. This time, the groups actually meet – Hatchi is surprised they were actually followed to another galaxy, Allo and Gras seem proud of this fact and tell him not to underestimate them. Yang jumps on the nearest eel, throws a Hamaman out of his seat and takes his place. Then, he demands for his debt to be paid – Robby replies he doesn’t have a single mon on him, but he will pay back when he’s on Earth again. He then tries to move away on his eel, but is followed – just as the race officially starts.
Yang keeps chasing Robby around the course, still demanding his money back, with interest – at some point he even manages to catch Robby’s briefs and pulls, but the other manages to escape. During this, Yang keeps shouting things that are completely misinterpreted due to the syllable order in Japanese – he demands interest and bills, but repeats the words until they blend together and Robby hears ass-butt. Absorbed in their own race, they don’t notice they were in the lead until Yang actually wins the whole competition and is dragged away to participate in the decoration ceremony with the king himself.
Robby, finishing second, still got prize money, so he tips their guide as promised. Hearing Unami’s dad will be thrilled with this, he and Hatchi inquire further and find out the man was swallowed, yes, but broke through the eel’s belly and ended up killing the fish instead. Before parting, Unami answers one more question: all Hamamans are men, there are no women, and even though Robby and Hatchi both thought their guide was a girl, he’s a boy.
Back in space, the group is thinking about Yang following them – doing so for a debt of 20 million mon seems inefficient. Ikku asks Robby if he was told anything specific during the race, to which Robby answers that not really, but is clearly traumatized by the memory.
In an after-credits scene, Yang is shown playing volleyball with his crew and talking – he mentions his feelings towards Robby and Allo and Gras misinterpret this as wanting to collect the money. He corrects them, although not directly, and it appears it is only now that his two subordinates finally understand why they are chasing one debtor across the galaxies.
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For checking the timestamps for used music tracks, please select the tab that reflects the presence or lack of this short intro animation.
[01:30] Isekandar (opening section)
[01:41] Visit (approaching Hamama II)
[03:00] Melancholy (seeing oxen instead of eel)
[03:26] Speedy (oxen run begins)
[04:03] Slapstick (giant eel appears)
[04:44] Tribute (eel brought to king Nurumite)
[05:21] Good condition (Unami offers guide services)
[05:56] Painful (Unami talks about his father)
[06:10] Main theme (Robby agrees to hire Unami)
[06:26] Yang (Yang’s Finance arrives at Hamama II)
[06:57] Up tempo (Robby, Hatchi and Ikku at the festival)
[08:21] Allo & Gras (Gras brings an eel bone)
[09:36] Jazzy (at Unazuki hotel)
[11:01] Miserable (Yang looking for Robby)
[11:52] Funny (at the buffet)
[12:48] Crisis (Yang enters the buffet)
[13:14] Conversation (Robby decides to go to sleep, Hatchi chooses a bath)
[13:33] Crisis (Yang interrupts the dance)
[13:48] Hatchi (Hatchi in the bath)
[14:05] Isekandar (Isekandar ad plays)
[14:38] Unrest (Hatchi hears weird noises in his room and it’s Yang)
[16:13] Melancholy (Hatchi gets scared of ghosts)
[16:35] Laid back (next morning, before the race)
[17:33] Allo & Gras (Yang’s Finance arrives to the race)
[17:48] Crisis (Yang sees Robby on a race eel)
[18:39] Slapstick (race)
[19:38] Allo & Gras (Yang taken to receive the main prize)
[20:16] Journey (Robby comes back with second place prize)
[20:56] Take off (leaving Hamama II)
[23:45] Main theme (next episode preview)
[01:37] Isekandar (opening section)
[01:48] Visit (approaching Hamama II)
[03:07] Melancholy (seeing oxen instead of eel)
[03:33] Speedy (oxen run begins)
[04:10] Slapstick (giant eel appears)
[04:51] Tribute (eel brought to king Nurumite)
[05:28] Good condition (Unami offers guide services)
[06:03] Painful (Unami talks about his father)
[06:17] Main theme (Robby agrees to hire Unami)
[06:33] Yang (Yang’s Finance arrives at Hamama II)
[07:04] Up tempo (Robby, Hatchi and Ikku at the festival)
[08:28] Allo & Gras (Gras brings an eel bone)
[09:43] Jazzy (at Unazuki hotel)
[11:08] Miserable (Yang looking for Robby)
[11:59] Funny (at the buffet)
[12:55] Crisis (Yang enters the buffet)
[13:21] Conversation (Robby decides to go to sleep, Hatchi chooses a bath)
[13:40] Crisis (Yang interrupts the dance)
[13:55] Hatchi (Hatchi in the bath)
[14:12] Isekandar (Isekandar ad plays)
[14:45] Unrest (Hatchi hears weird noises in his room and it’s Yang)
[16:20] Melancholy (Hatchi gets scared of ghosts)
[16:42] Laid back (next morning, before the race)
[17:40] Allo & Gras (Yang’s Finance arrives to the race)
[17:55] Crisis (Yang sees Robby on a race eel)
[18:46] Slapstick (race)
[19:45] Allo & Gras (Yang taken to receive the main prize)
[20:23] Journey (Robby comes back with second place prize)
Hatchi: [looking at a herd of oxen in vague confusion] My generation wouldn’t take these for eels under any circumstances.
Robby: It’s a monster!
Hatchi: A dinosaur! Ikku: It’s a giant eel! Robby:That’s an eel?! Hatchi: Eels sure are big, aren’t they? Robby: That’s too big! It’s swallowing those oxen whole! Hatchi: Being chased by a giant eel is not something you get to do very often. Robby: I don’t wanna! What kind of festival is this?! Ikku: It’s the Hamama II Great Eel Festival!
Robby: I know that!
Hatchi: It tingles, it tingles! Th-Th-This electric eel bath is terrific! Ow-w-w… It stings, but it’s terrific!
Ikku: You really do like experiencing the strangest things. Are you a masochist?
Hatchi: I-I-I-don’t even know, myself!
Ikku: I took you to be pretty down-to-earth, but you’re afraid of ghosts.
Hatchi: Events that can’t be explained by science are way mysterious and scary, right?
Ikku: Ah, so that’s your type. There, there.
Yang: Wait the hell up, Robby! Pay your interest!
Robby: I can’t pay you a single mon right now! Yang:Rishi-rishi-rishi-rishi-shi-ri! [Rishi – “interest”] Robby:Shiri? [Shiri – “butt”] Yang: Pay your bill! Robby: I’m telling you, I don’t have a single mon! Yang:Tsuke-tsuke-tsuke-tsuke-ke-tsu! [Tsuke – “bill”] Robby:Ketsu? [Ketsu – “ass”] Yang: Butt! Robby: I don’t understand!
Planet Hamama II (“Hamama-two”) is named after Hamamatsu, also a station of the original Tōkaidō. It’s currently a town similarly known for its eels. They are said to boost virility – as can be seen, Yang clearly believes they do.
Robby: Ever since commerce treaties with aliens feel through and they were overfished by the Totchinans, we haven't been able to catch any eel back on Earth.
The actual situation in Japan is similar: Japanese eel is an endangered species and remains a luxury good even ten years after it was declared as such.
Robby: [running away from oxen] Maybe they've confused this for the Day of the Ox?
In Japan, one of the summer features is the Midsummer Day of the Ox. It is considered a good day to eat eel.
The eel-catching event refers to a restaurant in which the customers are asked to catch their own meal.
King Nurumite’s name means “slippery hand” (nuru' – slippery, te – hand).
Curiously enough, the Unazuki Hotel is most likely named after Unazuki Onsen – which is roughly 400 km away from Hamamatsu.
Hatchi: I'm curious about the electric eel baths.
Electric baths are a real thing in Japan – though they use electrodes, and not living eel.
Just like how Hatchi got scared of an inexistent ghost, in Hizakurige Yaji and Kita also had a similar adventure while in Hamamatsu – both of them thought a hanged piece of clothing was a ghost.
Unami: Hamamans only have males.
Hamamans being only male is fact-based – though in the wild the gender ratio is balanced, farmed eel are 90% male.
Robby: Space runaway!
This line, said by Robby at the end of the episode, is the same phrase that can be heard at the end of episodes of Space Runaway Ideon, a series in which Earthlings face aliens called the Buff Clan. Hamamans being described by Robby as buff most likely comes from this, too.
The after-credits scene of Yang & co playing volleyball can be seen in other anime directed by Shinji Takamatsu: Danshi Kōkōsei no Nichijō and Sakamoto desu ga?, where the scene – presented in the same way as in this episode – was a recurring gag. One of the characters playing volleyball in ‘Sakamoto…’ is voiced by the same voice actor as Yang, too.
In addition, there are also bonuses for Cute High Earth Defense Club LOVE! which use the same format and that's how the LOVE! OVA starts.
Staff notes for the episode:
Opening: Hamama II, home of eel-based virility. At last, a close encounter with Yang! Not sure what kind of anime this is anymore (heh).
Ending: Akka Sakka, the planet of love and hope. Pure! Right! Amusing! A once-per-year starry night! Who will be the one to ring the bell?!
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