| Ushio and Tora | |
|---|---|
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| うしおととら | |
| Genre | Horror, Action |
| Manga | |
| Author | Kazuhiro Fujita |
| Publisher |  Shogakukan |
| Demographic | Shōnen |
| Magazine | Shōnen Sunday |
| Volumes | 33 |
| OVA | |
| Director | Kunihiko Yuyama |
| Studio | TOHO, Shogakukan |
| Episodes | 10 |
| Released | 1992 |
Ushio and Tora (うしおととら?) is a youkai manga by Kazuhiro Fujita. ˈmɑŋgə is the Japanese word for Comics (sometimes called komikku コミック and print Cartoons In their modern form manga date from shortly is a Japanese manga artist. He graduated from Nihon University. is a Japanese publisher of dictionaries, Literature, Manga, Non-fiction, DVDs and other media in Japan. is a Japanese word literally meaning few years which can have the following meanings Shōnen a typical Boy, from elementary school through junior high is a weekly Shōnen Manga Magazine published by Shogakukan. History Shōnen Sunday was first published on Tuesday March is the Japanese term for a book that is complete in itself and is not part of a series though the Manga industry uses it for volumes which may be in a series abbreviated (and sometimes as OAV) is a term originating from Japanese animation ( Anime) for animated films and series which are made specially to be is a Japanese director of Anime films television and video series is a Japanese publisher of dictionaries, Literature, Manga, Non-fiction, DVDs and other media in Japan. are a class of Obake, creatures in Japanese folklore ranging from the evil oni to the mischievous Kitsune or snow ˈmɑŋgə is the Japanese word for Comics (sometimes called komikku コミック and print Cartoons In their modern form manga date from shortly is a Japanese manga artist. He graduated from Nihon University. It received the Shogakukan Manga Award for shōnen in 1992. The Shogakukan Manga Award is one of Japan's major Manga awards sponsored by Shogakukan Publishing. is a Japanese word literally meaning few years which can have the following meanings Shōnen a typical Boy, from elementary school through junior high [1] It was adapted into a 10-episode anime OVA series released in 1992. (anime in Japanese, abbreviated (and sometimes as OAV) is a term originating from Japanese animation ( Anime) for animated films and series which are made specially to be [2] The anime was released in the United States by ADV Films. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the AD Vision (commonly referred to as ADV) is an American international Multimedia entertainment company based in Houston Texas, active
Contents |
Story
It centers around the travails and battles of Ushio Aotsuki (蒼月潮 Aotsuki Ushio?), who is constantly being stalked and aided by a gigantic, supernatural and sometimes invisible tiger-like monster (somewhat like Calvin and Hobbes). The tiger ( Panthera tigris) is a member of the Felidae family the largest and the most powerful of the four " Big cats quot in the Genus Calvin and Hobbes is a Comic strip written and illustrated by Bill Watterson, following the humorous antics of Calvin, an imaginative
Ushio's family maintains a Shinto temple in Japan, where ~500 years ago, his samurai ancestor battled that same tiger to a standstill, and eventually trapped him against a rock using a blessed spear called the "Beast Spear", which in addition to its intrinsic formidability as a weapon, can also endow its wielder with the martial ability of the ancestor who originally wielded it. is the native religion of Japan and was once its State religion. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. is the term for the military nobility of Pre-industrial Japan. This is an article about a particle accelerator For uses of spear, see Spear or Spear (disambiguation. Ushio accidentally unsealed the cave Tora was trapped in.
Initially, Ushio refuses to remove the spear pinning Tora (とら, Japanese for tiger) down (as Tora made the strategic blunder of mentioning that the first thing he would do upon being freed would be to devour Ushio), but Tora's unsealed presence summons various monsters who wish to fight him, and by extension Ushio. Ushio is forced to free Tora, who would like to eat Ushio, but dares not since Ushio keeps the spear close by. The series focuses on their relationship, interspersed with battles against mythological foes, and with Tora's attempts to grapple with modern life.
The story also includes Ushio's relationships with two girls: the tomboyish Asako Nakamura (中村 麻子 Nakamura Asako?) and the feminine Mayuko Inoue (井上 真由子 Inoue Mayuko?).
Episodic in nature, most of the manga is a series of fights with different youkai or other creatures from Japanese legend. are a class of Obake, creatures in Japanese folklore ranging from the evil oni to the mischievous Kitsune or snow But at thirty-three volumes, the story continues far past the events of the anime, and leads to an epic conclusion.
Characters
- Aotsuki Ushio
- The son of a temple priest and a lady shaman, destined to wield the Beast Spear and defeat the super yokai Hakumen no Mono. He is very kind-hearted and greatly values all life and friendships. With his ideals, he manages to unite the forces of mankind and yokai against Hakumen through his example of his fighting partnership with Tora. Ushio loves Masako and cares a lot for Mayuko, and will promptly appear to save them from yokai attacks.
- Tora
- An ancient golden yokai who was released when Ushio pulled off the Beast Spear. Prior to being pin in the basement of Ushio's temple, he was known as Nagatobimaru, famously feared among the yokai community for his sheer strength and powers of lightning. Being trapped in the basement for 500 years, he has great curiosity over modern lifestyle and gadgets. His favourite food is hamburgers, which Mayuko always provides when they meet. In the final battle with Hakumen, he remembers his ancient relationship with the super yokai before he became a yokai.
- Nakamura Asako
- The hot-headed, tomboyish childhood friend of Ushio and Mayuko. She and Ushio loves each other the most, and cares for Mayuko a lot. Her family owns a ramen restaurant.
- Inoue Mayuko
- Ushio and Asako's best friend. She is more sweet and feminine. She cares for Ushio and has feelings for Tora, whom she readily gets hamburgers for. Later, she took in Kirio as her stepbrother. It is also revealed that she belongs to the lineage of powerful lady shamans. Therefore, able to create psychic barriers powerful enough to hold back Hakumen.
- Reiko
- An orphaned girl who goes to the same school as Ushio, Masako and Mayuko. Her father was very overprotective of her, and when he died he became a demon ghost and causes mishaps to any boys who took the slightest fancy of her. This distresses her a lot and tried to commit suicide many times in vain. Ushio finally made her father realized his errors and left for the afterworld. Thereafter, Reiko was able to lead a normal life and became best friends with Ushio, Masako and Mayuko.
- Aotsuki Shigure
- Ushio's father who is the temple keeper. His secret identity is being one of strongest priest of a special buddhist sect dedicated to fighting yokai.
- Hyou
- A powerful exorcist, highly skilled in geomancy, usage of seals and flying spears. He travels around China eventually coming to Japan to seek the yokai who killed his wife and his daughter, and took out his left eye and left three long scars on his face. In his left eye socket now is a magical blue crystal ball used to save his life by his teacher.
- Jie Mei
- The spirit guardian who lives in the darkness of the Beast Spear. She is the sister of Giryou who sacrificed her life to create the blade of the spear. She is the ancestor of the lineage of powerful lady shamans, whom many of them look closely like her. She is able freely materialized anywhere, and first appeared to help prevent Ushio from transforming into a Beast by having his soul totally absorbed by the spear.
- Giryou
- The brother of Jie Mei, a highly skilled blacksmith who eventually becomes mad for being unable to save her sister. Filled with anger, remorse and regret, his body transformed into the body of the spear. His spirit is trapped in the darkness of the spear unlike her sister, and can greatly influence the user of the spear with his fury.
- Hakumen no Mono
- also known as the White Face, is the strongest yokai in history. It is a golden nine-tails fox from ancient times who enjoys destroying a country by manipulating the rulers and creating fear among humans and yokai. Currently, it is trapped in a super psychic barrier maintained by a lineage of lady shamans.
References
- ^ 小学館漫画賞：歴代受賞者 (Japanese). Shogakukan. Retrieved on 2007-08-19. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 43 BC - Octavian, later known as Augustus compels the Roman Senate to elect him Consul.
- ^ ANN page. ANN. Retrieved on 2007-04-05. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 456 - St Patrick returns to Ireland as a missionary bishop
External links
- Article at IMDB
- Ushio and Tora (manga) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
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