U.A. announces a school festival and hands Class 1-A a deadline to choose an act. Between Mina's dancing and Kyoka's reluctant musicianship, the class lands on a live performance, while a monitor elsewhere queues up a video of a villain nobody has met yet.
Summary
In Class 1-A, Mina Ashido shows off her dancing and impresses several classmates enough that Izuku Midoriya asks her to teach him some steps. Denki Kaminari brings up Kyoka Jiro's music-themed room, and she bashfully asks him to drop the subject.
Shota Aizawa enters with an announcement: U.A. High School is holding a school festival, with backing from the other departments, the General Department among them. Part of it will take place inside U.A. itself, and Class 1-A must settle on a program to perform. Tenya Ida solicits ideas and gets no shortage of them, including Denki's maid cafe and Ochaco Uraraka's mochi shop, until suggestions are piling up. Before the period ends, Shota sets a deadline of the following day, warning that failure to decide means the class delivers a public lecture instead.
Back at Heights Alliance, Tenya argues for something that lets everyone release some pressure. Mina proposes dancing, and Shoto Todoroki unexpectedly backs her, saying that an outlet where everyone enjoys themselves is a fine idea, a lesson he took away from the remedial training. Mina volunteers to teach the class, while Minoru Mineta points out that dancing needs music, and Toru Hagakure nominates Kyoka for the job. Kyoka resists, insisting that heroism and music simply do not intersect and that it amounts to a hobby. Denki counters that playing instruments is great, and Koji Koda observes that music can put smiles on people's faces. The encouragement wins her over, and with the class united behind dance and music, Class 1-A's festival program becomes a live performance with a dance floor.
Elsewhere, the next video queued on a laptop monitor features a villain not yet known to them.
Key Events
Shota announces the U.A. school festival and gives Class 1-A one day to pick a program, with a public lecture as the penalty for indecision.
The class settles on a live musical performance with dancing and party space, after Shoto backs Mina's proposal and the group talks Kyoka into handling the music.
A villain appears on a monitor as the next video to play, marking the first appearance of Gentle Criminal.
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Notes
Installment 169 spans 18 pages, opens the U.A. School Festival arc, and collects into volume 19. Japan saw it on February 5, 2018, in issue 10 of that year.
Ochaco Uraraka takes the cover, and Episode 81 handles the adaptation. Earphone Jack is the only Quirk featured, and Hero Analysis for the Future turns up among the items. Three figures appear in pictures alone, Mei Hatsume, Futo Nagashira, and Hitoshi Shinso, while Gentle Criminal is confined to a screen.
Chapter 168 sits before it, Chapter 170 after.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens in My Hero Academia Chapter 169?
Chapter 169 opens the U.A. School Festival arc as Shota Aizawa announces the festival and gives Class 1-A one day to choose a program. The class settles on a live musical performance with dancing after Shoto Todoroki backs Mina Ashido's proposal and the group talks Kyoka Jiro into handling the music.
What deadline does Shota Aizawa give Class 1-A to pick a festival program?
In Chapter 169, Shota Aizawa gives Class 1-A until the following day to settle on a program, warning that failing to decide means the class will have to deliver a public lecture instead.
Why is Kyoka Jiro reluctant to handle the music for the festival?
Kyoka Jiro initially resists in Chapter 169, insisting that heroism and music do not intersect and that playing an instrument is just a hobby, until Denki Kaminari and Koji Koda convince her that music can genuinely lift people's spirits.
What program does Class 1-A choose for the U.A. School Festival?
Class 1-A settles on a live performance combining dance and music, with Mina Ashido teaching the dancing and Kyoka Jiro handling the sound, after Shoto Todoroki argues the class needs an outlet where everyone can enjoy themselves.
Who is introduced at the end of Chapter 169?
Chapter 169 ends with a laptop monitor queuing up a video of an unfamiliar villain, marking the first appearance of Gentle Criminal in My Hero Academia.
Sources & Information
Looking for more on Chapter 169? The My Hero Academia Wiki on Fandom has a dedicated page with community notes.
View on FandomThis content is original writing by Daddy Jim Headquarters based on the My Hero Academia anime series, manga, and official materials. My Hero Academia was created by Kohei Horikoshi, published by Shueisha, and animated by Bones. All rights to My Hero Academia and its characters belong to their respective owners. Episode and chapter references are cited where applicable.
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