Onmyou Taisenki
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| Onmyou Taisenki | |
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| 陰陽大戦記 (Onmyou Taisenki) |
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| Genre | |
| TV anime | |
| Directed by | Masakazu Hishida |
| Studio | Sunrise |
| Network | TV Tokyo |
| Original run | September 30, 2004 – September 29, 2005 |
| No. of episodes | 52 |
Onmyou Taisenki (陰陽大戦記 Onmyō Taisenki) is an anime series, produced by Sunrise, and monthly manga series. The series has two authors: Hiroyuki Kaidou (海童博行) and Yoshihiko Tomisawa (富沢義彦).
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[edit] General information
Onmyou Taisenki literally means 'The Chronicles of the Great Yin-Yang War'. The series makes clear references to I Ching and to the Daoist theory of the five elements: Wood (ki, 木), Gold (kin, 金), Earth (chi, 土), Fire (hi, 火) and Water (mizu, 水). Various Daoist elements are incorporated within the story: the existence of the four Kimon (鬼門, literally 'Demoniac Portals'), the use of cards that act as the Onmyoudou's amulets (toujinfu, 闘神封), the use of trigrams to represent direction when the Drive is swung (north-south-east-west is represented as 坎-離-震-兌 instead of 北-南-東-西, respectively), the emphasis on the balance of the sekki (the 24 seasons), and the character Nazuna, who is a Taoist maiden. Also, the show itself can be split into four seasons (13 episodes each), each with its distinct story, purpose, and goals.
[edit] Anime
The Onmyou Taisenki anime was produced by Sunrise. It has a total of 52 episodes, and was aired weekly in TV Tokyo (from PM 6:00 to PM 6:30) from September 30, 2004 to September 29, 2005. It replaces the series Aqua Kids and then was replaced by series Kotencotenco.
[edit] Story of Anime
Riku Tachibana (太刀花リク Tachibana Riku) is a 12-year old Japanese boy who lives near Tokyo. Never having met his parents, he lives an ordinary life with his adoptive grandfather. His grandfather had taught him a series of strange hand movements, which Riku did not know the purpose of until the day his grandfather is attacked near his shrine. But it is not an ordinary attacker. The attacker is a Shikigami (式神, literally 'Ritual Gods'), strange monsters with human owners. Riku comes to the scene and that's where he first gets in contact with his Drive (神操機), the device he uses to call and make a 'contract' (契約, keiyaku) with Byakko no Kogenta (白虎のコゲンタ), his Shikigami and, from that day on, best friend. The Shikigami needs, for special attacks, a special series of Seal (印, In), one of which happens to be the strange hand movements Riku's grandfather always taught him. As Riku's grandfather decides to leave the house for a journey, the 10-year old boy Souma Asuka (飛鳥 ソーマ Asuka Sōma) and the 10-year old girl Nazuna (ナズナ) rent rooms in Riku's house. The 17-year old man, Masaomi, who teaches Riku the secrets of Onmyoudou (such as the use of Toujinfu, for example), drops by eventually. The three of them have 'contracts' with Shikigami. The main events of Onmyou Taisenki anime are related to the menace of the Chi-ryū (地流), a powerful Japanese financial group related to the Onmyoudou; attempting to open the four Taiten (Shitaiten, 四大天, literally the 'Four Great Heavens'); and freeing Utsuho (ウツホ), a boy who was born with the power to control yōkai (妖怪, demons/ghosts), and had been imprisoned for thousands of years.
[edit] The Shikigami
Onmyou Taisenki shows monsters called Shikigami. There are 24 families of Shikigami (three per family for a total of 72) to represent each Solar term. These monsters are extremely powerful, and their special abilities (hissatsu waza, 必殺術, literally 'certain-kill techniques') are activated when their owners use certain sequences of In. Every Shikigami has its own In sequences and some have special weapons, which are also activated by the In. Every Shikigami has its own name and a class/family. For example, Byakko no Kogenta's name means Kogenta of the Byakko (白虎 White Tiger, one of the four Japanese great Gods; the other three are Seiryuu (青龍 blue dragon), Genbu (玄武, representing the family of turtle-type shikigami), and Suzaku (朱雀, phoenix)) family. Class names are usually named after gods and flowers.
The Shikigami can transform into a Daikoujin (大降神, Giant Descended God), which is a giant and extremely powerful form where they usually go berserk. Although Nazuna says that a true Daikoujin occurs when Mind-Technique-Body are together, Riku has been able to summon one when he is highly desperate and emotional (usually when Kogenta is about to be killed). Shikigami can also transform into Daikoujin form by forcing a Toujin stone into a Shikigami, as Isou does to his Shikigami Fuji in Episode #20 (or by inserting a special chip made from the Toujin stones into the drive). However, these methods only produce a confused and pained Daikoujin and causes the Drive to sprout coils that will eventually kill the Toujinshi if the Daikoujin is not defeated. In addition, members of the obliterated sect Jin-ryū have been able to change their Shikigami into Daikoujin by using lengthy series of In.
When a Drive is activated for the first time, the Shikigami will appear behind a shoji and asks what the owner desires, and if it is to the Shikigami's liking, it will accept and a contract will be formed. Once the terms of the contract have been fulfilled, the Toujinshi and Shikigami will part. However, when a contract is broken (Shikigami dies or Toujinshi tries to break the contract), the Toujinshi loses all the memories built since when he first contracted with the Shikigami and usually wanders around lost and depressed while the Shikigami is sent to Naraku (underworld, hell). Similar events happen with Riku in Episode 23-24, as he rejects his contract with Kogenta and consequently does not remember people he only met after he formed the contract, but still remembers his childhood friend Momo.
[edit] Episode List
(52 total)
- 降神！ 白虎のコゲンタ (God Descend! Byakko no Kogenta)
- 地流強襲 (Attack of the Chi-ryū)
- 白虎激突 (Clash of the Byakko)
- 剛剣！西海道虎鉄 (Strength of the Sword! Saikaidou Kotetsu)
- 竜虎激闘 (Bight Between Dragons and Tigers)
- 舞え！闘神符 (Dance! Onmyoudou's amulets)
- 発動！怒涛斬魂剣 (Invoke! Wave-Cutting Blade)
- ユーマとソーマ (Yumma and Souma)
- 闘う心 (The Fighting Heart)
- 古都 神秘の戦い (Battle of the Mysterious Ancident Capital)
- 天流遺跡の秘密 (Secret of The Ten-ryū Ruins)
- 天地驚愕 大降神 (Ten-ryū and Chi-ryū shock, Daikoujin)
- 二人の絆 (The Bond Between Two People)
- 伏魔殿侵入 (Demon Invasion)
- 鬼門遁走 (Escape to the Kimon)
- 刺客再来 (Return of the Assassin)
- 白虎水中大決戦 (Byakko's Great Underwater Decisive Battle)
- 城塞の封印 (The Sealed Fortress)
- 秘湯の死闘 (Fight to The Death at The Secret Hot Spring)
- 戦慄の大降神 (The Terrifying Daikoujin)
- その名はヤクモ (That name is Yakumo)
- 心に刻まれた印 (Seal Engraved on the Heart)
- 白虎消失 (White Tiger Disappears)
- 再びの過去 (The Past, Once Again)
- 開放・零神操機 (Open, Zero Drive)
- 大鬼門解放 (Northeast Opens)
- 節季凶乱 (End of the Season Madness)
- 封印の胎動 (Quickenings of the Seal)
- 敵地への招待 (Invitation to Enemy Territory)
- 四鬼門に駆けた漢 (A man Racing to the 4 Kimon)
- 重なる想い (Build Up Emotions)
- 渚のゴールドラッシュ (Gold Rush at the Beach)
- 時を越えた再会 (A reunion the transcends time)
- 龍虎、再び (Dragon and Tiger, Again)
- 力の代償 (The price of power)
- はぐれ式神 コロクの試練 (Stray Shikigami Koroku's Ordeal)
- 砕かれた信頼 (Broken Trust)
- 凶星、流れる (Falling Stars Of Calamity)
- 決戦！天と地と (Climatic Battle! Ten and Chi)
- 極めし力 白虎新生 (Master Drive, Byakko Reborn)
- ウツホ復活 (Utsuho Revives)
- 蒼の覚醒 (Awakening of the Blue)
- 汚された救世主 (Dirtied Savior)
- 紅い罠 (Red Trap)
- 燃えろ！ソ－マ (Burn Up! Souma)
- さらば、ヤクモ (Farewell, Yakumo)
- 四大天の猛攻 (Fierce Attack of the Yondaiten)
- 宗家の資格 (Qualifications to Be the Head)
- 夢の終わり (The End of a Dream)
- 絆をかけて (With Our Bonds At Stake)
- 終焉の太極 (Demise of the Taikyoku)
- 巡る節季の中で (Among The Passing Seasons)
[edit] Characters
[edit] Ten-Ryuu
- Riku Tachibana (太刀花 リク Tachibana Riku)
- The main character of the show, Riku was originally borne in the Heian Era of Japan as Youmei. His mother sent him into the future, where he was takin up by Soutaru Tachibana, to avoid dying in the Chi-Ryuu raid on the Ten-Ryuu shirne. At the start of the series, he's shy, and easily scared. But when he receives the Ten-Ryuu Toujin drive containing Kogenta, Kogenta helps him to become alot braver and stronger. He has no memory of his time in the Heian era until he goes to Naraku to reunite with Kogenta after losing him by Yuuma and Rangetsu. In Naraku, he sees his memory play in front of him, and learns of his past life. He is the head of the Ten-Ryuu.
- Kogenta (白虎のコゲンタ Byakko no Kogenta)
- The shikigami of Riku Tachibana. Kogenta is a member of the Byakko family of shikigami (leading many to the conclusion that Riku is Ten-Ryuu's Head). He is typically cocky, arrogant, and quick to anger. At first he can't believe that he's "Stuck with someone as dimwitted" as Riku, but eventually comes to terms with this and tries to improve Riku's character. He is the first Shikigami to become a Daikoujin, but he considers it an unfair advantage because, in his words, "I can't remember how I beat them and by the time I come to, the fights already over." In the finale, Kogenta willingly let's Riku terminate their contract, but it is speculated that the contract still lingers, as Kogenta's spirit is seen over the shirne.
- Teru Sarigoru (西郷 テル Sarigoru Teru)
The first real member of the Ten-Ryuu that Riku and Kogenta meet. Teru is broke, and nearly always in debt to someplace (A Hot Spring Hotel, a Beach Bar, and others). He is always happy to receive free food (on account of him being unable to buy his own), and always travels as "Training" as he calls it. He even develops a crush on Nazuna, who shows him the literal meaning of "crush". He consides Souma a rival (as both love Nazuna), and only enters the Fukumaden to fight Utsuho.
[edit] Seiyu (Voice Actors)
| CV/Seiyu/Voice Actor | Character |
| Jun Fukuyama (福山潤) | Riku Tachibana (太刀花 リク) |
| Sayaka Aida (相田さやか) | Byakko no Kogenta (白虎のコゲンタ) |
| Yukimasa Kishino (岸野幸正) | Soutarou Tachibana (太刀花 ソウタロウ) |
| Hisafumi Oda (小田久史) | Yuuma Asuka (飛鳥 ユーマ) |
| Kenta Miyake (三宅健太) | Byakko no Rangetsu (白虎のランゲツ) |
| Byakko no Kogenta's Daikoujin | |
| Demon sounds | |
| Takuma Takewaka (竹若拓磨) | Masaomi Oogami (大神 マサオミ) |
| Anri Katsu (勝杏里) | Seiryuu no Kibachiyo (青龍のキバチヨ) |
| Masakazu Morita (森田成一) | Yakumo Yoshikawa (吉川 ヤクモ) |
| Makiko Ohmoto (大本眞基子) | Shousetsu no Tankamui (消雪のタンカムイ) |
| Utsuho (ウツホ) | |
| Tomonori Yoshida (吉田智則) | Kurogane no Rikudou (黒鉄のリクドウ) |
| Tadahisa Saizen (西前忠久) | Seiryuu no Buryune (青龍のブリュネ) |
| Dougen (ドウゲン) [#4] | |
| Otoya Kawano (かわのをとや) | Ikazuchi no Takamaru (雷火のタカマル) |
| Tomohisa Asou (麻生智久) | Enoki no Sanemaro (榎のサネマロ) |
| Giant Kimon Construction Department Chief Nankai (大鬼門建造部長 ナンカイ) | |
| Kaede no Daikaku (楓のダイカク) | |
| Tannin (担任) [Principal of Riku's class] | |
| Villager (村人) [#7] | |
| Risa Hayamizu (早水リサ) | Souma Asuka (飛鳥 ソーマ) |
| Youmei (ヨウメイ) | |
| Tomomi (トモミ) [Momo's friend] | |
| Akeno Watanabe (渡辺明乃) | Ikazuchi no Fusanoshin (雷火のフサノシン) |
| Gasshin [Masaomi as a boy] | |
| Yayoi (ヤヨイ) [Momo's friend] | |
| Toraji (トラジ) [Rina's demon-cat pet] | |
| Akemi Kanda (神田朱未) | Nazuna (ナズナ) |
| Houjou no Nene (豊穣のネネ) | |
| Sakura (サクラ) [#7] | |
| Tomohiro Tsuboi (坪井智浩) | Teru Sarigoru (西郷 テル) |
| Masashi Yabe (矢部雅史) | Akagane no Isoroku (赤銅のイソロク) |
| Raihou (ライホウ) | |
| Aogane no Tsukumo (青錫のツクモ) | |
| Shuusui no Erekiteru (秋水のエレキテル) | |
| Shuusui no Ryuukon (秋水のリュウコン) | |
| Zenjou (ゼンジョウ) [#31] | |
| Shimizu (清水) [Riku's classmate] | |
| Ten-ryuu Toujinshi [#2] | |
| Weatherman (お天気おじさん) | |
| Gonpachi (ゴンパチ) [#6] | |
| Yukana Nogami (野上 ゆかな) | Momo Jouzenji (上善寺 モモ) |
| Hiiragi no Horin (柊のホリン) | |
| Mamiko Noto (能登麻美子) | Rina Asou (麻生 リナ) |
| Shoushi (ショウシ) [Riku's mother] | |
| Hisho (秘書) [Mikazuchi's personal secretary] | |
| Takahiro Mizushima (水島大宙) | Ryuuji Kamiya (香美庢 りゅーじ) |
| Hiiragi no Toubee (柊のトウベエ) | |
| Kanako Tateno (立野香菜子) | Yumi Mamiya (間宮 ユミ) [Riku's teacher] |
| Kanro no Kuradayuu (甘露のクラダユウ) | |
| Banjou Ginga (銀河万丈) | Narrator |
| Mikazuchi (ミカヅチ) | |
| Akagane no Itsumu (赤銅のイツム) | |
| Michiko Neya (根谷美智子) | Mizuki (ミヅキ) |
| Souma's Mother | |
| Tarou Yamaguchi (山口太郎) | Issei (イッセイ) [Riku's father] |
[edit] Manga
The Onmyou Taisenki manga is published by Jump Comics and runs monthly in V-Jump magazine (2005), but has not yet ended. Each volume is nine chapters and three have been published so far: the first one (192 pages) published in October 10, 2004, the second one (200 pages) in August 04, 2005, and the third one (267 pages) in March 03, 2006. The manga has the collaboration of WiZ and Bandai. Each volume costs about 400 Yen (Price inside Japanese territory).
[edit] Story of Manga
The Onmyou Taisenki manga does not tell the same history as the anime. The story happens years before the events in the anime. The main character, Yakumo (who also appears on the anime, as a teenager) is the son of Monju, the chief priest of the Taihaku Temple, in Kyoto. Yakumo also trains the In, with a baseball ball. In this temple, a Toujinshi (闘神士, literally 'god of war'), and Monju's former teacher, Mahoroba, is imprisoned. The problems start when Mahoroba escapes, gains power, and transforms Monju into stone. Yakumo is called by a Zero Drive, which was one of the treasures of the temple. This Zero Drive handles Byakko no Kogenta. The story of the manga is about Yakumo's first steps with a Shikigami, training with Idzuna (Taihaku Temple's shrine maiden) and seeking Mahoroba through various Japanese historical dates. Famous Japanese historical characters such as Oda Nobunaga can be seen on the manga. The story is cited by Kogenta around episode 35 in the anime. However, not many details are given.
[edit] Video games
There are three Onmyou Taisenki games, being two for PlayStation 2, and one for Game Boy Advance. The first PS2 game is called 'Onmyou Taisenki - Byakko Enbu'/'陰陽大戦記 - 白虎演舞' (Onmyou Taisenki - Byakko Dance Performance), and was released in March 31, 2005. The Playstation 2 Eyetoy Camera is required to play this game. The second PS2 game is called 'Onmyou Taisenki - Hasha no In'/'陰陽大戦記 - 覇者の印' (Onmyou Taisenki - The Champion's seal), and was released in June 26, 2005. It is a side-story with the same characters from the anime, where Kogenta and Riku train and become stronger through five Fukumaden (伏魔殿, abode of the demons), which are parallel worlds with lots of Youkai (妖怪, demons/evil gods). The five Fukumaden featured in this game are Fire, Water, Tree, Earth and Disorder (乱, ran). The 'Gold' element from Onmyoudou is also featured in the game, but there is no Fukumaden for it. The only game for GB Advance is called 'Onmyou Taisenki Reishiki'/'陰陽大戦記 零式' (Onmyou Taisenki - Zero Ritual), and was released in December 12, 2004. All the three games were released in Japan only.
