Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches

Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches

Cover of the first volume of Yamada-kun to 7-nin no Majo as published by Kodansha
山田くんと7人の魔女
(Yamada-kun to 7-nin no majo)
Genre Romantic comedy, Supernatural
Manga
Written by Miki Yoshikawa
Published by Kodansha
English publisher
Demographic Shōnen
Magazine Weekly Shōnen Magazine
Original run February 22, 2012 – ongoing
Volumes 17
Television drama
Directed by Mamoru Hoshi, Masataka Takamaru
Produced by Yukiko Yanagawa
Written by Shin Ogawa
Music by Toshihiko Sahashi
Network Fuji Television
Original run August 10, 2013 September 28, 2013
Episodes 8
Original animation DVD
Directed by Tomoki Takuno
Written by Michiko Yokote
Music by Masaru Yokoyama
Studio Liden Films
Released December 17, 2014 – ongoing
Runtime 30 minutes
Episodes 2
Anime television series
Directed by Tomoki Takuno
Written by Michiko Yokote
Music by Masaru Yokoyama
Studio Liden Films
Network Tokyo MX, ytv, TVA, TVQ, TVh, RNC, BS11
English network
Original run April 12, 2015 – ongoing
Episodes 12

Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches (Japanese: 山田くんと7人の魔女 Hepburn: Yamada-kun to 7-nin no Majo) is an ongoing manga series written and illustrated by Miki Yoshikawa.[1] The series has been published by Kodansha in their Weekly Shonen Magazine since February 22, 2012. The series has been licensed in Chinese by the Taiwanese publishing company Tong Li.[2] It was adapted into a live-action television drama which aired on FujiTV from August–September 2013.[3] On October 26, 2013, Crunchyroll announced a partnership with Kodansha where it would distribute chapters digitally to 170 countries.[4] The series has been licensed for North American release by Kodansha Comics USA, who will begin releasing the series in 2015.[5]

Conception and development

Manga author Miki Yoshikawa's previous work, Flunk Punk Rumble ran in Kodansha's Weekly Shōnen Magazine from 2006-2011, with a total of 211 chapters.[6] Her editor suggested for her next project that she write a one-shot for Bessatsu Shōnen Magazine. She developed two stories: a prototype story for Yamada-kun and The Demon's Classroom. The second story was initially chosen, but became difficult to run because the main character was a grade school girl. The prototype Yamada story eventually became the first chapter for Yamada-kun.[7]

In the Natalie interview, Yoshikawa said that she had thought of the body swapping idea in the Yankee-kun days, and had researched some medical books on the differences between men and women, both physically and emotionally, but generally went with it because she liked the idea. "It just kind of came to me, but I was wondering how a guy finding himself in a girl’s body would react, and the reverse".[7] She treats a body-swapped character as an entirely different character.[8]

When it was noted that the main characters for both of her works were delinquents, Yoshikawa replied that those types of characters came easily for her, as she grew up in the lower end of Tokyo. The characters and their names are not based on her friends so that they can act crazy. She tries to vary each kiss, but mostly uses the side angle to make sure it comes through. With regards to kisses between members of the same gender, she replied that wasn't intended to target any specific demographic but just "an inevitable outcome."[7]

Plot

Ryū Yamada is known as a delinquent in his high school; he has been bored of classes after one year of attending school. One day, he accidentally falls from a flight of stairs onto Urara Shiraishi, the ace student of the school. Yamada wakes up to find that he has swapped bodies with her. The two try to reverse the change and discover that kissing triggers the body swap. On the suggestion of student council vice-president Toranosuke Miyamura, they revive the Supernatural Studies Club. The supernatural phenomenon-obsessed Miyabi Itō soon joins the club. The club encounters other "witches" with different powers that are activated with a kiss. A transfer student, Kentarō Tsubaki, becomes a part of the club after nearly causing a fire to the old schoolhouse. Upon discovering the identity of the seventh witch, Yamada supposedly has his memories of the witches erased, but it instead affects the witches and the students involved. While the student council tries to impede his progress, Yamada restores the memories of the witches with a kiss, and gathers the seven witches for a ceremony where he wishes for the powers to go away. He confesses his love to Urara and they become a couple. He is recruited to the new student council where he learns that he still has his witch copying power, that the witch powers have been allocated to other girls in the school, and there are multiple groups of witches. Although the student council tries to shield each other from the powers, they find themselves facing opposition from students controlled by the Japanese Chess Club, which has male students with new types of witch powers.

Characters

Ryū Yamada

Ryū Yamada (山田 竜 Yamada Ryū) is an apathetic delinquent who finds high school boring and is failing in his school's academics. That is until he meets Shiraishi, the student ace of the school, who is able to swap bodies with the person she kisses. Yamada has the power to copy the powers of people that he has kissed, but up to one power. He is portrayed by Yusuke Yamamoto in the live-action adaptation,[9] and by Ryōta Ōsaka in the anime.[10]

Urara Shiraishi

Urara Shiraishi (白石 うらら Shiraishi Urara) is introduced as the student ace; she holds the highest grades in her class, but is bullied by other students who are envious of her academic success. Her decision not to go to college worries the teachers and the student council. When she discovers her body-swapping powers with Yamada, the two resolve each other's problems in school; she begins to make friends and have a social life, eventually also becoming Yamada's girlfriend. Toranosuke Miyamura appoints her the president of the Supernatural Studies Club. She is portrayed by Mariya Nishiuchi in the drama series,[9] and is voiced by Saori Hayami in the anime.[10]

Supernatural Studies Club

Miyamura revives the Supernatural Studies Club when he learns of Yamada and Shiraishi's body swapping ability. He appoints Urara to be the president. Miyabi joins the club and Tsubaki later joins after some events. Following the encounter with the seventh witch, Yamada leaves the club.

The members of the Supernatural Studies Club include:

Witches

The witches are girls at Yamada's high school that have acquired special powers that are reflective of their desires. This power is applied when they kiss someone, with exceptions of other witches, the boys with special powers such as Yamada (who copies the ability) and Tamaki (who can cut and paste the ability), and people who are already under the influence of another witch. Some powers such as body swapping and charming are cancelled out with another kiss. The seventh witch's powers operate differently from the others.[ch. 73,74] Witch powers can be taken by Tamaki or allocated to a new witch if he takes a second witch's power while holding the first, as demonstrated with a senior girl and Noa Takigawa.[ch. 77] It is rumored that when all seven witches are gathered, they can fulfill someone's wish.[ch. 75] The witches seem to be chosen among the smartest girls in the school.[ch. 77]

Besides Urara Shiraishi, there are the following witches:

New Witches

Yamada learns that the witch powers have been given to a new set of girls,[ch. 95] and they are slightly different from the previous powers.[ch. 98] Miyamura later learns that these witches actually preceded the seven that Yamada gathered,[ch. 110] and that there are other clusters of witches with such powers.[ch. 110,111] Some of the recurring witches include:

Supporting characters

Yoshikawa has mentioned that many of the characters in the storyline are school peers, and hardly any adults:[7]

Media

Manga

The manga is written and illustrated by Miki Yoshikawa and serialized in Kodansha's Weekly Shōnen Magazine. The first chapter was published in 2012's 12th issue, released on February 22, 2012.[11] The series is also released in tankōbon volumes, the first of which was published on June 15, 2012,[12] and the latest, volume 14, on September 17, 2014.[13] On October 26, 2013, Crunchyroll announced a partnership with Kodansha where it would distribute chapters digitally to 170 countries using a new service called Crunchyroll Manga. This includes an English translated version.[4] The series is licensed for a North American release by Kodansha Comics USA who will begin releasing the series in 2015.[5]

Television drama

A live-action drama began airing on August 10, 2013 on Saturdays on FujiTV at 11:10pm.[14] It stars Yusuke Yamamoto as the title character Ryū Yamada, and Mariya Nishiuchi as Urara Shiraishi.[3] Its theme song is "Time Machine Nante Iranai" by former AKB48 headliner Atsuko Maeda. She described the song as "cheerful and fun" and hopes it will liven up the show.[15] Sponsors include Samsung, which included the show's characters in their related commercials broadcast at the time.

Episode list

The average rating for the series was 6.3%.[16]

No. Title Director Original airdate[16] Rating[16]
1 "Turnover"
"Irekawari" (イレカワリ) 
Mamoru HoshiAugust 10, 20136.9%
Ryū Yamada has a hard time at school, with lousy grades and being bored. He notices model student Urara Shiraishi as she climbs the stairs. He walks past her, but then slips and crashes into her. When he wakes up, he finds himself in her body! Yamada goes through the rest of the day as a girl, and discovers that Urara has been a victim of bullying, which he remedies. The two try to change back and discover that it was not the collision that causes the body swap but a kiss. Later on, Yamada has to pass a midterm, so he swaps with Shiraishi again, just in time for the girls' P.E. class. As Yamada (as Shiraishi) undresses, a stalker takes a picture, so he follows him and beats down the stalkers. Toranosuke Miyamura, the student council vice president, discovers the two's secret and revives the Supernatural Studies Club. 
2 "Tricot"
"Toriko" (トリコ) 
Mamoru HoshiAugust 17, 20137.3%
When he receives a kiss from vice-president Nene Odagiri, Yamada discovers that he has not swapped bodies. He and Miyamura try to confirm this by kissing when Miyabi Itō arrives, much to their embarrassment. The guys explain that it is an initiation for the club, so Ito surprisingly kisses Yamada. Later Miyamura and Ito find themselves idolizing and fawning over Yamada. Ito takes Yamada to a closed-off room, but they learn from Odagiri who is with Ushio Igarashi that there is a captivation power that is the cause of this. Back at their club room they experiment and learn that Yamada has the ability to copy the power. Igarashi arrives and asks for Yamada's help to kiss Odagiri as she has fallen in love with Yamada. 
3 "Telepathy"
"Terepashī" (テレパシー) 
Masataka TakamaruAugust 24, 20135.2%
At supplementary class, Yamada meets Meiko Ōtsuka, a bespectacled girl who draws manga, and determines that she is a witch when she kisses him and does not swap bodies. Yamada shares the power with Miyamura and Ito, and discovers it is telepathy. They can hear Otsuka's thoughts as well as that of her dog, who is a pomeranian that's been styled to look like a shiba inu. Otsuka tells the gang she wants to pass the math exam so she can follow her father's footsteps in becoming a doctor, but Yamada learns she really wants to become a manga artist. The club agrees to help, but during the test, Yamada gets really sick from some cookies Otsuka baked and ruins their chances. Yamada interrupts Otsuka's meeting with her mother at an academic counseling session so that Otsuka can reveal her true aspirations. 
4 "Trauma"
"Torauma" (トラウマ) 
Mamoru HoshiAugust 31, 20135.7%
Yamada tries to kiss Noa Takigawa but is rejected. They learn that she is a former child actor. They tail her and her associates, but are unable to discover anything. When the council receives reports involving students being pelted with paint balloons, Yamada tries to tail Noa as she may be the next victim. After he kicks off a balloon, he and the club capture Noa's three associates. Noa kisses Yamada, who learns that her power is to discover someone's past trauma. While resolving Noa's issues with her past, Yamada realizes he should reconcile with Ushio regarding their broken friendship. 
5 "Miraitoushi" (ミライトウシ) Masataka TakamaruSeptember 7, 20136.9%
Yamada quickly learns that Maria Takayama is a witch whose power is to see a glimpse someone's future when she kisses someone. He and the club go on a summer beach trip, but Yamada has beach cleaning duties there. Maria explains her situation to Yamada and friends but when she accidentally kisses him, she and Yamada get a vision of Shiraishi lying prone on the floor at the bottom of some stairs with a pool of blood, so Yamada rushes everyone home. They try to prevent the accident from happening, but the vision does not change, and more things begin to fall into place. 
6 "Invisible Man"
"Tōmei ningen" (トウメイ人間) 
Mamoru HoshiSeptember 14, 20136.3%
Yamada learns of a "witch killer", that is, someone who can take away a witch's power. He tries to get further information from the student council president Haruma Yamazaki, but his secretary, Mikoto Asuka captures and ties Yamada up. He learns that Asuka is a witch who becomes invisible to whomever she kisses. Shiraishi and Itō talk wih Asuka and learn about her background: that she does not like being stared at by guys, so she learns martial arts. Meanwhile, Miyamura distracts Yamazaki so that Yamada can check the office for the notebook. When student council exec Isobe arrives, Yamada swaps places with him. They learn that Yamazaki likes Asuka because she is willing to do anything for him. When told this, Asuka sneaks a kiss on Yamazaki but they discover she does not turn invisible to him, which makes him the witch killer. After an inadvertent kiss by Sarushima, Yamada gets a vision where Shiraishi sadly follows Isobe; he freaks out when he realizes he is in love with her. 
7 "Memory Operation"
"Kiokusousa" (キオクソウサ) 
Masataka TakamaruSeptember 21, 20136.6%
Ito and Shiraishi come across an embarrassing picture on Miyamura's phone. Ito suspects that he is a double agent. Yamazaki reveals that he will select his successor by whoever can bring him the seventh witch. Yamada and Shiraishi try a body swap to get information from Miyamura but it does not work as he can easily see through it. Miyamura later reveals the truth behind his participation in the club: his sister Leona had her memories erased by the seventh witch, who happens to be a girl that Shiriashi encounters Rika Saionji. Rika explains that she and Leona used to be friends and discovered the notebooks concerning the witches, but when she kisses Leona, she makes her forget. She agrees to help the club, and reveals the ripped page from the volume. Yamada and the gang learn that there is a ritual when all seven witches are gathered, but the data is in the final volume, which is mysteriously delivered to their club, swiped from the president's desk. 
8 "Witch sealed"
"Majo fūin" (魔女封印) 
Mamoru HoshiSeptember 28, 20135.5%
Yamada and the club try to gather the seven witch girls in order to conduct the ritual that will grant them a wish. At first, only half of the girls agree to do it, but the others eventually join. During the actual ritual, Saionji feels chilly and wishes for panties, but that becomes the final wish, and that they won't have another chance until the next year. They come up with an idea: Yamada can get the witch killing power by kissing the president, and cancel all the powers. However when he kisses Saionji, he will forget everything concerning the witches. He decides to do it anyway. Shiraishi feels sad that he does not remember but realizes she loves him so she confesses to him. He ignores her but she follows him and they fall down the stairs. Yamada begins to remember and finds Shiraishi and they kiss. 

Anime

An animated promotional video (PV) was released by Liden Films on August 26, 2013.[17] The video was directed by Seiki Takuno. Ryu Yamada was voiced by Ryōta Ōsaka, and Urara Shiraishi was voiced by Saori Hayami.[ch. 76] In June 2014, Liden Films launched a website with news that it would be producing an original anime DVD (OAD).[18] The OAD has two installments: the first was released on December 17, 2014 bundled with the manga volume 15, and the second is bundled with volume 17 for May 15, 2015. They were advertised as featuring all seven witches as well as hot springs scenes.[19]

In November 2014, Liden films announced plans to produce a TV series with the voice characters to reprise their roles from the OAD project. The director is Tomoki Takuno, who did IDOLM@STER: XENOGLOSSIA, Love Live! School idol Project, and the assistant director is Fumiaki Usui. The series writer is Michiko Yokote, and the chief animation director and character designer is Eriko Iida. Sound is being directed by Yota Tsuruoka and music composed by Masaru Yokoyama.[19]

OAD (2014-2015)

No. Title Original airdate[19]
OAD 1 "Second Coming of the Suzaku Fest: A Hot Springs Resort! Everyone Gather Up!"
"Mō hitotsu no Suzaku-sai onsen gasshukuda yo! ? Zen'in shūgō!" (もうひとつの朱雀祭 温泉合宿だよ!? 全員集合ッ!) 
December 17, 2014
OAD 2  May 15, 2015

Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches (2015)

No. Title Original airdate
1 "I've Turned Into Her"
"Aitsu ni nattenja nee ka!" (アイツになってんじゃねーかぁぁッ!) 
April 12, 2015
2 "Kiss Me, Okay"
"Ore to kisu-shina" (俺とキスしな) 
April 19, 2015
3 "Will You Accept? Or Won't You?"
"Ukeru? Soretomo Ukenai?" (受ける?それとも受けない?) 
April 26, 2015
4 "It Looks Like I've Fallen For Yamada!"
"Yamada no koto ga suki ni natta mitai!" (山田のことが好きになったみたい!) 

Notes

  1. Delinquent student Nancy is introduced with another delinquent student named Sid, a reference to Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen.

References

Manga references

Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches manga volumes by Miki Yoshikawa. Original Japanese version published by Kodansha. English version published by Crunchyroll Manga.

  1. Vol. 1 (ch. 17):  山田くんと7人の魔女(1) [Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches (1)] (in Japanese). June 2012. ISBN 978-4-06-384696-6.
  2. Vol. 2 (ch. 816):  山田くんと7人の魔女(2) [Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches (2)] (in Japanese). August 2012. ISBN 978-4-06-384727-7.
  3. Vol. 3 (ch. 1725):  山田くんと7人の魔女(3) [Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches (3)] (in Japanese). October 2012. ISBN 978-4-06-384754-3.
  4. Vol. 4 (ch. 2634):  山田くんと7人の魔女(4) [Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches (4)] (in Japanese). December 2012. ISBN 978-4-06-384789-5.
  5. Vol. 5 (ch. 3543):  山田くんと7人の魔女(5) [Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches (5)] (in Japanese). February 2013. ISBN 978-4-06-384819-9.
  6. Vol. 6 (ch. 4451):  山田くんと7人の魔女(6) [Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches (6)] (in Japanese). April 2013. ISBN 978-4-06-384857-1.
  7. Vol. 7 (ch. 5260):  山田くんと7人の魔女(7) [Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches (7)] (in Japanese). June 2013. ISBN 978-4-06-384882-3.
  8. Vol. 8 (ch. 6169):  山田くんと7人の魔女(8) [Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches (8)] (in Japanese). August 2013. ISBN 978-4-06-394916-2.
  9. Vol. 9 (ch. 7076):  山田くんと7人の魔女(9) [Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches (9)] (in Japanese). September 2013. ISBN 978-4-06-394928-5.
  10. Vol. 10 (ch. 7785):  山田くんと7人の魔女(10) [Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches (10)] (in Japanese). December 2013. ISBN 978-4-06-394986-5.
  11. Vol. 11 (ch. 8694):  山田くんと7人の魔女(11) [Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches (11)] (in Japanese). March 2014. ISBN 978-4-06-395011-3.
  12. Vol. 12 (ch. 95102):  山田くんと7人の魔女(12) [Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches (12)] (in Japanese). May 2014. ISBN 978-4-06-395080-9.
  13. Vol. 13 (ch. 103110):  山田くんと7人の魔女(13) [Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches (13)] (in Japanese). July 2014. ISBN 978-4-06-395126-4.
  14. Vol. 14 (ch. 111119):  山田くんと7人の魔女(14) [Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches (14)] (in Japanese). September 2014. ISBN 978-4-06-395190-5.
  15. Vol. x (ch. 120129): (future volumes not yet in tankobon format).

Other references

  1. 山田くんと7人の魔女 (in Japanese). Kodansha Web. August 21, 2013. Retrieved August 21, 2013.
  2. "Tong Li's Chinese catalog" (in Chinese). Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Fuji Television Network, Inc". Fujitv.co.jp. Retrieved 2013-10-02.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Macias, Patrick (2013-10-26). "Crunchyroll to Digitally Distribute Kodansha Manga". Crunchyroll. Retrieved 2013-10-27.
  5. 5.0 5.1 "Kodansha Announces "Let's Dance a Waltz" and "Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches"". Crunchyroll. 2014-07-27. Retrieved 2014-08-09.
  6. ヤンキー君とメガネちゃん :マンガ連載が最終回へ 成宮寛貴&仲里依紗でドラマ化 (in Japanese). Mantan Web. May 11, 2011. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 "コミックナタリー - [Power Push] 「山田くんと7人の魔女」吉河美希インタビュー (1/4)" (in Japanese). Natalie.mu. 2013-02-03. Retrieved 2013-10-02. Lay summary Mahouxscans.wordpress.com (2013-02-03).
  8. 8.0 8.1 Yamada-kun to 7-nin no Majo chapter 72 bonus interview
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 9.8 9.9 9.10 9.11 "Fuji TV 「 山田くんと7人の魔女 」" (in Japanese). Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.7 10.8 10.9 10.10 10.11 10.12 10.13 "Yamada-kun & the Seven Witches Anime Casts Jun Fukuyama, Kana Hanazawa - News - Anime News Network". Anime News Network. 2014-12-08.
  11. 「ヤンメガ」吉河の新作は問題児と才女の入れ替わりもの (in Japanese). Natalie.mu. February 22, 2012. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  12. 山田くんと7人の魔女(1) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  13. 山田くんと7人の魔女(14) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
  14. "Fuji TV 「 山田くんと7人の魔女 」" (in Japanese). Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  15. "前田敦子:AKB48卒業後初シングルがドラマ「山田くんと7人の魔女」主題歌に - MANTANWEB(まんたんウェブ)" (in Japanese). Mantan-web.jp. 2013-08-06. Retrieved 2013-09-25. Lay summary Tokyohive (2013-08-06).
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 "山田くんと7人の魔女 ― スポニチ Sponichi Annex 芸能". Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). Sponichi. 2013-09-30. Retrieved 2013-10-02.
  17. "Liden Films Animates Yamada-kun to 7-nin no Majo Anime Promotional Video - News". Anime News Network. 2013-08-26. Retrieved 2013-10-11.
  18. Green, Scott (June 12, 2014). "VIDEO: "Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches" Anime Revealed". Crunchyroll.
  19. 19.0 19.1 19.2 "Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches Manga Gets TV Anime". Anime News Network. 2014-11-29.

External links