March Comes in Like a Lion

- Season 1

(2016)

Meet Rei Kiriyama, a 17 year old professional shogi player that suffers from depression and doesn't know how to deal with his personal relationships.

Rei returns home were he finds his self proclaim friend Nikaidou. The next day, Rei has a shogi match and remembers the day he met the Kawamoto sisters for the first time.

Rei has a shogi match against Nikaidou and remembers the first match he had against him. After the match, he goes to visit the Kawamoto sisters.

Hina wants to cook a homemade lunch for a boy from her school. Rei and Nikaidou look for a place to eat but find the Kawamoto sisters instead.

Rei must pick up Momo from kindergarten. Nothing can go wrong with doing this errand, right? Unfortunately, this leads Rei to remember more of his past.

Rei remembers the beginning of his shogi profesional career and how hard it has been for him to continue this lifestyle. He later meets Hina and invites her a drink.

Rei has a talk with Takahashi. They both meet again in the Kawamoto's family home where they watch a shogi match featuring Rei. Hina asks Rei to teach her how to play shogi.

Rei and Nikaidou teach both Hina and Momo how to play shogi. When Rei returns home, he finds someone from his past waiting for him.

Rei has a shogi match with an old man called Matsunaga. After the match, they both go to have lunch.

Rei has another unpleasant conversation with Kyouko. On Christmas Eve, Rei has a shogi match that makes him question himself about his decisions.

Rei catches a cold and stays in his apartment for days. On New Year's Eve, the Kawamoto sisters go to Rei's apartment and force him to go to their house to take care of him.

Akari, Hinata, and Momo pay Rei a visit on New Year's Eve when he's left bedridden from a cold he's had since Christmas. The Kawamoto sisters forcibly take him to the doctor and then back to their home.

Rei is back at home but it seems like he is missing the Kawamoto's family home. Rei has a shogi match in the Lion King Tournament against an unique opponent.

Misumi has his shogi match with Gotou. Rei finally has his match against Shimada after preparing himself for this match and his possible match against Gotou.

Rei realizes that he completely underestimated Shimada, so he starts to sink deep into desperation.

The finals of the Lion King Tournament between Shimada and Gotou has finally began.

After finishing some work at school, Rei goes to see the last match between Gotou and Shimada. After the match, Rei asks Shimada an important question.

Rei and Nikaidou accompany Shimada in his first title match of the Lion King Tournament against Souya Meijin. After the match, Rei meets with Kyouko once again.

After the last workshop, Shimada invites Rei to his house to practice shogi before Shimada's last match against Souya.

Shimada tells the story of how he became a shogi player. The next day, he travels with Rei to Kyoto for his final match with Souya.

Shimada has a dream in the morning before continuing his match with Souya. He is doing the best he can, but Souya keeps getting the upper hand. Will he be able to bet Souya at least once?

Rei, Nikaidou and Shimada travel to Shimada's village for a shogi event. Shimada has to come to terms with his defeat.

A new school term begins. Rei and his teacher decide to create a shogi club.