Higanjima

Higanjima

Cover of the first volume of Higanjima
彼岸島
Genre Horror
Manga
Written by Kōji Matsumoto
Published by Kodansha
Demographic Seinen
Magazine Young Magazine
Original run 2002 – 2010
Volumes 33
Manga
Higanjima: Saigo no 47 Hiai
Written by Kōji Matsumoto
Published by Kodansha
Demographic Seinen
Magazine Young Magazine
Original run 2010 – 2014
Volumes 16
Manga
Higanjima 48-nichi-go…
Written by Kōji Matsumoto
Published by Kodansha
Demographic Seinen
Magazine Young Magazine
Original run 2014 – ongoing
Volumes 2
Live-action film
Higanjima: Escape from Vampire Island
Directed by Kim Tae-kyun
Licensed by
Released January 9, 2010
Television drama
Higanjima (Island of the Equinox)
Directed by Kenji Yokoi
Written by Masaru Nakamura
Music by Kōji Endō
Network MBS, TBS
Original run October 24, 2013 – December 26, 2013
Episodes 10

Higanjima (Japanese: 彼岸島, lit. "Island of Red Spider Lilies") is a Japanese manga series by Kōji Matsumoto. It was adapted into a live action film in 2010.[1] It also spawned two spin-off series, Higanjima: Saigo no 47 Himei, and Higanjima 48-nichi-go…, both published in Kodansha's Weekly Young Magazine.[2]

Plot

When Akira Miyamoto learns that his older brother, Atsushi, is missing, his family begins to fall apart. The family business fails, and his father becomes an alcoholic. His two parents constantly compare Akira to Atsushi. Worse, Akira has a crush on a girl named Yuki, who already has a boyfriend, his friend Ken.

One day, Akira finds a girl unconscious in front of his house. The girl, Rei Aoyama, shows Akira Atsushi's ID card, claiming that Atsushi is alive. Rei explains that Atsushi is trapped on Higanjima Island, said to be inhabited by vampires. Akira invites his friends to help his brother, under the guise of a vacation to celebrate their graduation.

Upon arrival, vampires attack their boat and capture all of them except Rei. However, Akira escapes with his friends before vampires can drain their blood. On the island, he meets with Atsushi, who explains that the vampires led by named Miyabi, another vampire. Trained by Atsushi, Akira and his friends begin the battle against Miyabi and his vampire army in order to escape the island alive.

Media

Film

Cast

Reception

Mark Schilling of The Japan Times describes the vampires as "not the sensitive heartthrobs of Twilight but vicious, ravenous types who revel in terror and torture."[3] The film grossed $1,247,050 in Japan and $22,142 in Taiwan.[4]

TV series

A live-action television adaptation aired between October 24, and December 26, 2013 on MBS, and TBS.[5] Starring Shunya Shiraishi as Akira, other cast members include Ryohei Suzuki, Rio Yamashita, Megumi Sato, Rui Kurihara, Yuya Endo, Shingo Tsurumi, and Yūga Yamato.[6] The series was released on DVD on March 26, 2014.[7]

Video game

A video game adaptation of Higanjima was released in 2005 by Now Production for the PlayStation Portable.[8][9]

References

  1. ↑ "Live-Action Higanjima Horror Film's English Trailer Posted". Anime News Network. 2011-09-08. Retrieved 2011-09-09.
  2. ↑ "Kōji Matsumoto Starts Next Higanjima Horror Manga Sequel". Anime News Network. August 20, 2014. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
  3. ↑ Schilling, Mark (December 25, 2009). "' Higanjima'". The Japan Times. Retrieved February 25, 2012.
  4. ↑ http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/intl/?page=&wk=2010W24&id=_fHIGANJIMA01
  5. ↑ ニュース (in Japanese). Higanjima TV series official website. Retrieved November 1, 2014.
  6. ↑ キャスト (in Japanese). Higanjima TV series official website. Retrieved November 1, 2014.
  7. ↑ "テレビドラマ「彼岸島」DVD-BOX 【初回限定生産】" (in Japanese). Higanjima TV series official website. Retrieved November 1, 2014.
  8. ↑ Higanjima PSP video game at IGN
  9. ↑ "Update: Higanjima" video game at IGN

External links