The latest installment of the unexpected hit anime series Turkey! Time to Strike, Episode 7, titled “Embrace the Loft Ball,” premiered on August 20, 2025, delving deep into the emotional complexities of Nanase Nikaidō and further unraveling the show’s intricate time-traveling narrative. What began as a seemingly straightforward sports anime about a high school bowling club has consistently surprised viewers with its genre-bending leap into Japan’s Sengoku period, and this episode continues that trend by focusing on one of its most enigmatic characters.
A Deeper Look into Nanase Nikaidō
Episode 7 sheds light on Nanase Nikaidō, a character often perceived as a lovable goofball, revealing the underlying struggles that have shaped her. The narrative explores her complicated feelings surrounding her father, who left their family to pursue his own dreams. This personal revelation highlights Nanase’s internal conflict, torn between anger and a nuanced joy for her father’s pursuits, and how these unresolved emotions have impacted her and her mother’s lives. The episode serves as a powerful reminder that even the most lighthearted characters can harbor significant emotional depth.
Unveiling Future Connections and Present Dilemmas
Beyond Nanase’s personal journey, “Embrace the Loft Ball” introduces a pivotal plot point involving a traveling performer. This character is revealed to be from the future, with a simple ballpoint pen serving as undeniable evidence of their origin. This discovery adds another layer to the already complex time-traveling predicament faced by the Ikkokukan High School bowling club members—Mai Otonashi, Rina Godai, Sayuri Ichinose, Nozomi Mitaka, and Nanase Nikaidō—who were transported to the past after a mysterious incident during a bowling match.
Furthermore, a significant development in the episode is the realization that Suguri, a character they’ve encountered in the Sengoku period, now knows the true identities of Mai and her friends. This revelation prompts the girls to ponder how they should proceed and interact with Suguri, adding a new dimension of tension and uncertainty to their quest to return to their own time.
The Series’ Signature Twists and Ongoing Narrative
Turkey! Time to Strike is produced by Bakken Record and Pony Canyon, with Susumu Kudo directing and Naomi Hiruta handling the scripts. The anime has garnered attention for its initial premise as a coming-of-age sports story that abruptly pivots into a time-travel sci-fi adventure, surprising many viewers. This narrative flexibility allows the series to explore various themes, from personal growth and resilience within the bowling club to the challenges and dangers of surviving in a historical era.
Episode 7 reinforces the series’ reputation for unexpected twists, urging viewers to avoid taking events at face value. As the characters grapple with the implications of their actions on the future and their immediate safety in the Sengoku period, the emotional core of the series, particularly through Nanase’s story, continues to shine, making Turkey! Time to Strike a compelling and unpredictable anime. The series is currently being simulcast internationally on Crunchyroll.
