Gasaraki Season 1 Episode 1 On the Ancient Stage of Stone

In the first episode of Gasaraki, titled "On the Ancient Stage of Stone," we are introduced to the Yashiro family, who run a highly respected arms manufacturer in Japan. The patriarch of the Yashiro family, Gouwa Yashiro, has laid out an ambitious plan for his son, Yushiro, who is set to become the pilot of a new type of mecha called a "Tactical Armor."

The episode takes place in a slightly alternate version of Japan, where the government is struggling to maintain control over its citizens. The Yamata no Orochi party, led by a man named Kazukiyo Gowa, seems to be gaining more and more influence with each passing day, and the government is beginning to fear that they'll soon lose their grip on power.

As we learn more about the world of Gasaraki, we also start to get a sense of the role that the Tactical Armors will play in the story. According to legend, the Armors were once used by the gods themselves, and possess an immense amount of power. The Yashiro family has been hired by the government to create a new type of Armor, one that's more advanced and deadly than anything that's come before.

Yushiro Yashiro, the son of Gouwa Yashiro, has been chosen to pilot the new Armor, despite the fact that he isn't particularly interested in the role. In fact, as we see in the episode, Yushiro is more focused on his studies at university, where he's studying traditional performing arts.

The episode then takes a turn when Yushiro attends a performance of a play called Gasaraki, which tells the story of a great warrior who faces off against a giant serpent. During the performance, Yushiro has a strange and unsettling experience, as if he's being transported to another world. It's clear that the play has some kind of connection to the ancient powers that the Tactical Armors possess.

Meanwhile, Kazukiyo Gowa and his followers are making their own plans for the future of Japan. They've created their own mecha, called the TAs (short for "Tactical Armor"), which they plan to use to overthrow the current government and establish a new regime. Their mecha, however, is not as advanced as the Yashiro family's, and they're desperate to get their hands on the new model.

The episode ends with Yushiro being formally introduced to the new Armor by his father and grandfather. It's clear that the Yashiro family is proud of their creation, but there's a sense of foreboding as the episode comes to a close. It's clear that the Tactical Armors are going to play a major role in the coming conflict between the government and Kazukiyo Gowa's Yamata no Orochi party.

Overall, the first episode of Gasaraki is an intriguing and thought-provoking introduction to the series. We're introduced to a complex and detailed alternate version of Japan, filled with political intrigue, ancient legends and powerful mecha. The characters we meet are all well-drawn and interesting, and the story is full of mystery and potential. Fans of mecha anime and immersive world-building will find a lot to love in Gasaraki.