Kannazuki no Miko Moderoid Take no Yamikazuchi

I somehow forgot to write an article on what is arguably the only noteworthy piece of merchandise for Kannazuki no Miko for almost two decades, despite having dedicated a series of extensive articles to this relatively forgotten franchise. I might as well use this opportunity to remind readers why I gave such special attention to this mecha series wrapped in Yuri in the first place.

Sometime in late 2023 before I even began my recent journey visiting the series, Good Smile Company announced a MODEROID kit of Take no Yamikazuchi, the titular mecha of Kannazuki no Miko. Released in April 2024, the MODEROID Take no Yamikazuchi was priced at 6,900 yen.

At a glance, Take no Yamikazuchi may appear rather plain, especially when compared to other mecha designs from its era. It lacks the visual flamboyance or mechanical excess that often defines the genre. However, what truly sets it apart is not its appearance, but the theme and symbolism it carries; an idea that is beautiful, even if Kannazuki no Miko itself never fully realized its potential.

Take no Yamikazuchi embodies the struggle of a mortal defying a predetermined, sinister fate. Against all odds, that struggle succeeds, at least in partthrough nothing but sheer willpower.

Originally, Take no Yamikazuchi served as one of Orochi’s servants, Orochi being the embodiment of primordial evil in the series. Its pilot, Ogami Souma, was destined to become a mindless pawn of that evil. Yet through his pure love for the Solar Miko, Souma ultimately defied his tragic fate. He broke free from Orochi’s curse and chose instead to faithfully serve as the Miko’s guardian until the very end.

While one could argue that the Solar Miko hardly deserved Souma’s devotion, given her overwhelming yuri obsession toward the Lunar Miko. The heroic feat of Ogami Souma remains one of the most compelling aspects of the series. His character archetype deserves to be remembered, revisited, and perhaps even reinterpreted in future works.

During its release, Goodsmile company also made the Moderoid for evil version of Take no Yamikazuchi which was briefly used by the Lunar miko as exclusive release. Personally, Moderoid is out of my strike zone due to backlog in model kit so I will just wait for Diecast rendition of Take no Yamikazuchi no matter how slim the chance.

Kannazuki no Miko has many flaws that prevented it from becoming a truly great mecha series. Mostly due to its yuri element. Still, for those willing to invest the time and look beyond the surface, it remains a series with a surprisingly meaningful core and an essence worth appreciating.