ISML 2013: Mashiro, Kanade win Nova and Stella

 

ISML 2013: Mashiro, Kanade win Nova and Stella
Shiina takes Sapphire Circlet, Tachibana earns Diamond Circlet

By JR Salazar
The Bedlam on Baltic Avenue
September 16, 2013

Nothing should have surprised the voters who took part in Match Day 4 of the 2013 International Saimoe League postseason. Mashiro Shiina, long regarded as the class of the Nova Division, took home the Sapphire Circlet, while defending ISML Champion Kanade Tachibana earned the Diamond Circlet as the champion of the Stella Division.

Shiina handlily won every region with the exception of Russia to slam Rikka Takanashi, 4886-3379. It was a much closer race in the Stella Division, with Tachibana edging Gokou in a 4268-4252 thriller. Tachibana won Canada, Western Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Taiwan, all of Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Gokou's strongest efforts came in Russia, China, Korea and Japan.

"It just keeps getting better and better, doesn't it?" Shiina told her supporters earlier today at Suimei Academy of the Arts. "My goal now is to make it to the Tiara final and win it all. I want to clip Tenshi's wings. That is my burning desire, and I want to share it all with you. Tenshi...you are MINE!"

"I can sense that there might be a changing of the guard," Tachibana said at her rally at Tokyo Big Sight. "However, I will not go down without a fight. If Mashiro wants to face me, so be it. But I will defend my Tiara with my life. I will even die defending it, if I have to.

"Come after me, Mashiro Shiina. I dare you to."

While the action is heating up ahead of the league finals, there were some other exhibitions going on in the meantime, and some of the big winners may be on their way to building steam in the Nova Division next season. Kotori Itsuka won her group exhibition, pounding Ayuko Uehara 5613-1188. Leviathan was last with 958 votes. Chiwa Harusaki was also a big winner, defeated Miyuki Koshiki 3700-1955. Kona Furugoori was third with 1765 votes.

Tamako Kitashirawa, the pride of Usagiyama, rolled to a 4681-1779 drilling of Reinforce Zweit. Makoto Kenzaki was third with 768 votes. The face of Shingeki no Kyojin, Mikasa Ackerman, shot down Airi Ban, 5378-1683 in her exhibition. Nanako Saeki was third with 651 votes. The Black Rabbit also was a big winner, hopping to a 4803-1561 whipping of Haruka Minami. Charles Yoshino was third with 1326 votes.

In the sixth group exhibition, Yoshino cruised past Sasha Blouse, 5224-2223, with Muromi-san coming in third with 734 votes. Masuzu Natsukawa crushed Rei Kuroki in her group exhibition, 3865-1962, with Aoi Yukimura earning 1358 votes. Finally, Azusa Azuki leveled Manami Tamura 5512-1570, with Yukari Yukino holding up the rear with 1004 votes.

Match Day 5 of the 2013 International Saimoe League postseason is scheduled for September 22, 2013. Vote for your favorite candidates at InternationalSaimoe.com and join the ongoing debate. Keep it right here on the Bedlam on Baltic Avenue for continuing coverage of the world's premier anime character tournement, the International Saimoe League!