Ushio and Tora

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Ushio and Tora
Image:Tora cover.gif
うしおととら
Genre Horror, Action
Manga
Author Kazuhiro Fujita
Publisher Flag of Japan 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. It received the Shogakukan Manga Award for shōnen in 1992.[1] It was adapted into a 10-episode anime OVA series released in 1992.[2] The anime was released in the United States by ADV Films.

Contents

[edit] 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).

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. 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. But at thirty-three volumes, the story continues far past the events of the anime, and leads to an epic conclusion.

[edit] 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.

[edit] References

  1. ^ 小学館漫画賞：歴代受賞者 (Japanese). Shogakukan. Retrieved on 2007-08-19.
  2. ^ ANN page. ANN. Retrieved on 2007-04-05.

[edit] External links