The high-stakes world of competitive high school bowling takes a fantastical turn in Turkey! -Time to Strike-, an original Japanese anime series that has captivated audiences since its premiere in July 2025. Far from a simple sports narrative, the series plunges its characters—the members of Ikkokukan High School’s bowling club—into an unexpected journey through time, specifically to Japan’s tumultuous Warring States period. Episode 5, titled “A Curveball of Conflicts” (or “Feathers Fly at Dawn”), delves deeper into the girls’ desperate attempts to return to their own era, while also exploring character dynamics and the peculiar challenges of their historical predicament.
Bowling Through Time: The Premise of Turkey! -Time to Strike-
Created by Tatsunoko Production and Bakken Record, Turkey! -Time to Strike- follows Mai, the seemingly “genius who never wins” captain of the Ikkokukan High School Bowling Club, and her teammates Rina, Sayuri, Nozomi, and Nanase. Their story begins in the city of Chikuma, Nagano, focusing on the team’s internal struggles and the pursuit of victory. However, a mysterious phenomenon involving a glowing bowling ball transports the entire club to the Warring States period, setting the stage for a unique blend of sports and time-travel adventure. The series explores how these modern high schoolers navigate a completely alien historical era, often using their bowling skills in unexpected ways to overcome obstacles.
Episode 5 Breakdown: “A Curveball of Conflicts”
Aired on August 5 or 6, 2025, Episode 5 pushes the narrative forward as the Ikkokukan High School Bowling Club grapples with the pressing need to find a way back home. The episode’s core conflict revolves around their attempts to manipulate their bizarre circumstances to initiate another time slip.
The Desperate Plan: Nanase’s Leap of Faith
With conventional methods proving futile and the reality of their temporal displacement settling in, the team is faced with a peculiar proposition from the analytical Nanase. Convinced that their initial time jump was connected to their bowling activities, Nanase proposes a seemingly illogical, yet hopeful, plan: throwing a bowling ball off a cliff. Her reasoning is shrouded in a complex and somewhat confusing logic, implying that a “miracle” might occur, triggering another temporal shift. This desperate measure underscores the girls’ increasing urgency and their willingness to embrace the absurd in their quest to return home.
Character Focus: Nozomi, Anzu, and Mai’s Sentimental Strike
Episode 5 offers notable character development, particularly for Nozomi and the enigmatic Anzu. Nozomi, who has primarily been portrayed with a sense of self-preservation, steps up to assist Anzu. This interaction reveals a softer, more curious side to Anzu, who had previously been depicted as rather hostile towards the time-traveling bowlers. Her interest in modern technology, like smartphones, provides a glimpse into her personality beyond her initial cold demeanor.
Additionally, the episode touches upon the personal significance of Mai’s bowling ball. It is revealed that the ball is a cherished gift from her deceased parents, adding an emotional layer to its importance beyond just a tool for their sport or their current predicament. This revelation prevents the team from using it for Nanase’s risky plan, leading to the use of a different ball for the cliff experiment.
Scientific Whimsy in the Sengoku Period
Amidst the time-traveling antics, Episode 5 injects elements of real-world science and history, albeit in a humorous and often bewildered context for the characters. The girls find themselves learning about concepts like climate change and gravity. Specifically, the episode references the “little ice age” experienced in Sengoku Japan, highlighting how environmental factors differ significantly from their own time. The persistent force of gravity, however, remains a constant, preventing their experimental bowling ball from simply floating away and back to their future.
As Turkey! -Time to Strike- continues its run, Episode 5 serves as a pivotal moment, showcasing the growing desperation of the Ikkokukan High School Bowling Club. With a mix of zany scientific theories, character development, and the overarching mystery of their time travel, the series promises more unexpected “strikes” and “spares” in the episodes to come.
