Thoughts after watching Episode 17, story that moved a former engineer to the core
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Emerging from the mire: The weight of a decision that resonates across 32 years in Episode 17.
“In the end, am I always the one who gets saddled with the responsibility?”
Do you ever feel like your spirit is about to break under the absurdity of organizational life and the loneliness of being forced to make decisions with no clear “right” answer? There is, in fact, a story that can give modern-day “adults in the trenches” the kind of courage that stirs the soul and the vitality to face tomorrow. That story is Episode 17 of Space Battleship Yamato, originally broadcast 50 years ago.
In this article, I, a former engineer who spent 32 years getting my hands dirty maintaining machinery in the harsh working environment of Sapporo, will draw upon my own life experiences to deeply analyze the true intent behind Susumu Kodai firing the Wave-Motion Gun while shouldering “full responsibility,” as well as the “lion-like mentorship” demonstrated by Captain Okita.
What You Will Learn from This Article:
The weight of decision-making: Understand what it truly means to take responsibility in an extreme situation where there is no escape.
A remedy for organizational absurdity: Re-examine how an adult should conduct themselves by looking at the cautionary example of Gael, a man too eager for glory.
An emotional overhaul: Just as spring arrives in Sapporo, let this article apply the oil of “pride” to your worn-out spirit.
To put it simply: the prerequisite for a leader is not “ability,” but the “resolve to take the hit” (to shoulder the burden). I invite you to superimpose your own life onto the remaining 263 days of Yamato‘s voyage.
This article is a review by a Sapporo-based former field engineer, now over the age of sixty, who watched Episode 17 of the 1974 anime Space Battleship Yamato and analyzed its psychological dynamics and interpersonal relationships.
The organizational self-destruction caused by Deputy Commander Gael’s impatience for glory
Insights from 32 years of field experience on the absurdity born of self-preservation and the quest for credit.
The story unfolds against a desperate deadline: only one year remains until Earth’s destruction. In this episode, Yamato is running 33 days behind schedule…a figure that carries the crushing weight of despair, as it could determine the fate of humanity.
The person cornering Yamato in this dire situation is the renowned Gamilas commander Domel. Yet, what is truly depicted here is not merely the enemy’s strength; it is the ugliness of Gael, Domel’s own deputy, who schemes to outmaneuver his commander and claim the glory for himself. Gael, who disregards protocol and launches a reckless, unilateral suicide attack using the Balanodon just to protect his own standing within the organization, embodies the very type of “troublesome character” we see in today’s society, or perhaps among the people we once knew.
At my age, I find myself strangely accepting of this “pettiness,” a trait that an AI would instantly dismiss as inefficient, as a fundamental truth of human nature.
“I’ll take responsibility”: Susumu Kodai’s resolve
The moment an immature youth transforms into a leader, seen in the gamble of firing the Wave-Motion Gun.
Captain Juzo Okita falls ill and must undergo surgery. In this worst-case scenario, a crisis with no leader at the helm, command is entrusted to Susumu Kodai.
Facing an enigmatic enemy that repeatedly splits apart and merges, Kodai is forced to make a gamble bordering on madness: firing the Wave-Motion Gun while the ship is still unstable immediately after a warp. Brushing aside the objections of those around him, he declares: “I’ll take responsibility. Let me do it.”
Anyone who has ever held operational responsibility knows all too well the immense weight those words carry. It is easy enough to say them. But failure could mean the end of his comrades’ lives and Yamato‘s entire journey. Young Kodai chose to shoulder that burden. Watching him, I am reminded of the faces of young colleagues from my past — clumsy perhaps, but earnest — with whom I once worked side-by-side in the trenches. It teaches me that while their immaturity brings risks, the passion at their core is precisely the force that moves the world.
Captain Okita’s magnanimity: praising “growth” rather than blaming failure
A paternal power that transforms subordinates into lions, seen in contrast to the ruthless Domel.
There is a scene where Captain Okita, having survived surgery, gently yet powerfully encourages Kodai, who is apologizing for damage to the ship’s engines.
“You held the ship together and overcame a great crisis. They say a lion casts its cub into a deep ravine to test it. You, Kodai, have just climbed your way up from the bottom of that ravine.”
Aren’t these the words of a true “father figure”? Instead of tallying up failures, he believes in and praises the growth gained from the decisions made. While Domel ruthlessly discards subordinates who fail, Okita chooses to nurture his subordinates’ lives and souls. It is precisely this contrast that makes Episode 17 a timeless masterpiece.
Conclusion: The true richness of life cannot be measured by efficiency
What the figure of “263 days remaining” reveals; Sapporo’s spring and the Yamato‘s resurgence.
As the story draws to a close, there are 263 days left until the extinction of humanity. When I gaze at that number, my mother sleeping quietly nearby and the cityscape of Sapporo bathed in spring sunlight feel incredibly precious.
My body, worn out from 32 years of hands-on labor, is gradually regenerating alongside the arrival of spring in Sapporo. Perhaps this bears a resemblance to Yamato, battered and scarred, yet pressing onward toward Iscandar. The true richness of life simply cannot be explained by dry terms like efficiency, “correct answers,” or “cost-performance.”
Which words from this article resonated with you?
Spring in Sapporo is muddy and unrefined. Yet, the flowers that powerfully sprout from beneath that mud are the most beautiful of all. If you are currently feeling crushed under the weight of pressure, please remember this. Think of Kodai’s courage that clawed its way up from the bottomless abyss, and the gaze of Okita who believed in it. From beneath the northern sky, I hope your day shines just a little brighter.
Episode Recap & Review
The following is a detailed look back at the story of Episode 17.
One year remains until Earth’s destruction
A trap awaits at the halfway point, “Planet Balan,” home to Gamilas’s largest supply base.
The year is 2199 A.D. Earth is on the verge of bringing its long history to a close. Indiscriminate attacks using Planet Bombs launched by the mysterious planet Gamilas have scorched the surface red, dried up the oceans, and blanketed the world in lethal levels of radiation. While the surviving remnants of humanity have fled to underground cities, the shadow of death is steadily creeping in upon them there as well.
Only one year remains until the extinction of the human race. The sole hope for reversing this desperate situation lies in the Cosmo Cleaner D, a radiation removal system said to exist on the planet Iscandar. Space Battleship Yamato, the first Earth vessel to successfully achieve faster-than-light travel, has embarked on a journey across a sea of death, aiming for the Large Magellanic Cloud 148,000 light-years away.
However, the voyage is far from smooth. The ship is currently heading toward a halfway point, Planet Balan. Located approximately 77,000 light-years from Earth, it is an eerie, dark world floating in the pitch-black void of space. Yet, the crew of Yamato remains unaware that this planet, sometimes called the “Lighthouse of the Cosmos,” is actually the largest supply base for the Gamilas invasion of Earth.
A significant delay: 33 days behind schedule
A surprise attack exploiting a lapse in vigilance, orchestrated by the brilliant strategist Domel
General Domel, renowned as one of Gamilas’s finest commanders, arrived to serve as the commander of Planet Balan. Feared as the “Space Wolf,” he commands operations in the Solar System sector and devises a plan to destroy Yamato using cold, bold, and brilliant strategy.
At his disposal is the “Balanodon Suicide Force,” created by modifying the space creatures native to Planet Balan. In stark contrast to Deputy Commander Gael, who is impatient for glory, Domel waits calmly for the perfect moment to corner Yamato. His aim is a decisive surprise attack that exploits their psychological guard being down.
“Yamato likely never dreamed we had a base on Planet Balan. I will strike at that lapse in their vigilance.”
Meanwhile, a serious crisis unfolds aboard Yamato. The voyage to Planet Balan, originally scheduled to take 65 days after escaping the Solar System, has consumed 98 days. This represents a massive delay of 33 days. There is not a moment to spare for the round trip to Iscandar. Yamato has repeatedly engaged in warp travel, desperately trying to make up for lost time. However, this grueling operational pace takes a toll on the ship itself and on the physical health of its commander, Captain Okita.
Captain Okita faces surgery due to illness
Gael’s “Balanodon Suicide Force” Attacks the Captain-less Yamato
Immediately after the shock of a warp subsides, a shudder runs through the bridge: “The Captain…has collapsed!” Juzo Okita, the man who has led the Yamato with an iron will, is struck down by illness. Dr. Sado’s diagnosis is grim: “Without surgery, he will die before long. But even with surgery, there is no guarantee of survival.”
It is a truly desperate situation. Yet, Okita replies quietly but firmly: “If there is even a one percent chance, I want the surgery. I want a body that allows me to keep working for as long as possible.” Accepting this man’s resolve, Dr. Sado begins the high-stakes operation.
With the Captain incapacitated, command of Yamato falls to Susumu Kodai, the Tactical Officer. However, as if sensing this vulnerability, the sinister hand of Gamilas closes in. Deputy Commander Gael, ignoring Domel’s orders and eager for glory, sorties with the Balanodon Suicide Force.
A massive signature appears on the radar: an enemy of bizarre form, unlike any Gamilas ship encountered before. “Space creatures…!” Faced with this unknown foe, Yamato‘s defenses are thrown into disarray. When struck directly by the main guns, the Balanodons disintegrate like mist, only to reassemble and attack again. It is a situation where physical attacks prove useless.
Some crew members waver. “We can’t take reckless risks while the Captain is down!” But Kodai shouts, “Precisely because of this situation, we must eliminate the danger as quickly as possible!” In that moment, Kodai transforms from a mere young officer into a commander capable of protecting Yamato.
A Reckless Firing Immediately After Warp!
Susumu Kodai’s unauthorized Wave-Motion Gun Shot, Risking Hull Damage
The massive Balanodon closes in; there is nowhere left to run.
“Fire the Wave-Motion Gun!”
Kodai’s decision shakes the crew. The ship accumulated unseen damage immediately after the warp, and there is no guarantee it can withstand the immense recoil of the Wave-Motion Gun.
“Even if the ship suffers damage, getting through this crisis comes first. I’ll take full responsibility!”
Energy charging is initiated. Safety locks are disengaged. Target scope locks dead ahead. “FIRE!”
A blinding flash tears through space. The torrent of energy instantly reduces the Balanodon, which had repeatedly regenerated in a grotesque fashion, to stardust. Yet, the price of victory is steep. That reckless shot, fired right after the warp, causes countless cracks to spiderweb across Yamato’s propulsion systems and bulkheads. Still, the ship survives. Kodai’s “unilateral decision” has held the team together when they were on the verge of collapse.
Surviving Surgery and Praise for Kodai
Captain Okita’s Deep Trust Helps the Lion Claw Its Way Out of the Abyss
Captain Okita quietly opens his eyes after his surgery. Beside him stands Kodai, filled with remorse.
“I am deeply sorry…I damaged the ship by acting on my own initiative.”
Okita responds to Kodai with words that are calm yet filled with profound affection. “Kodai, you did a fine job holding the ship together and overcoming that crisis. They say a lion casts its cub into a deep ravine to test it. You clawed your way back up from the bottom of that ravine on your own.”
A damaged hull can be repaired, but the courage and decisiveness that blossomed in this extreme situation are irreplaceable.
Yamato is now united as one. Yet, the battle is far from over. On the planet Balan, General Domel lies in wait, concealing his fearsome fangs. To save Earth and humanity, Yamato, its battered hull trembling, plunges once more into the dark void of space.
263 days remain until the day of Earth’s destruction. Humanity’s future remains unseen.
An infographic illustrating the reckless actions of Deputy Commander Gael: a tragedy born of organizational self-preservation and the scramble for credit, and an analysis of Deputy Commander Gael’s pettiness.
An infographic illustrating Domel’s cool-headed psychological warfare versus Deputy Commander Gael’s reckless impulsiveness, a structural analysis of the “absurdity” underlying the battle for Planet Balan.
Thank you for reading to the end.