Isuca

Isuca (イスカ, Isuka) is a Japanese action manga series by Osamu Takahashi. It has been serialized in Kadokawa Shoten's seinen manga magazine Young Ace since 2009, and has been collected in six tankōbon volumes as of March 2015. An anime adaptation by Arms started to air in January 2015.^[1]

Plot

The story revolves around Shinichirō, a male student who gets a job as a housekeeper in order to pay his rent. When he unintentionally releases a strange creature into the world he learns that his female employer, named Sakuya Shimizu, is the head of the Shimizu clan that hunts these creatures. Shinichirō cooperates with her to hunt down the monsters that are running loose.^[1]

Characters

Sakuya Shimazu (島津 朔邪, Shimazu Sakuya)

Voiced by: Ibuki Kido

Sakuya is the de facto 37th head of the Shimazu family, but is in a power struggle with her younger cousin for the position. She wishes to become head of the family in order to find out what happened to her parents several years before the present. Her family is tasked with sealing monsters and spirits that cross over into this world but, unlike many in her family, does not believe that the ends justify the means and tries to keep collateral damage to a minimum. She uses a bow and arrow with several spiritual attacks in combat and, when charged-up by Shinichiro, those attacks are amplified ten-fold. At first she is reluctant to do so since it involves kissing him, but over time she comes to have feelings for him. Although she maintains a haughty attitude, her facade hides a young lady who just wants to live like a normal person. When Shinichiro discovers her true name, she becomes unable to disobey any of his orders. In order to save face and avoid losing her position in the family, she forces Shinichirō to become her fiancé, if only in name. This twist is omitted from the anime, but is hinted at by Nami Shimazu, Sakuya's grandmother, when she calls Shinichrō "Mr. Husband". Her true name is Isuca. She chose this name after a plush bird toy given to her by her father. The Isuca is supposed to bring luck and prevent illness.

Shinichirō Asano (浅野 真一郎, Asano Shin'ichirō)

Voiced by: Keisuke Koumoto

Shinichirō appears to be an average high-school student but he has an unusual ability, the Eyes of Truth which allow him to divine the true name of a supernatural being or person with supernatural powers when he kisses them. Since the first person to speak an individual's true name gains the ability to compel said individual to do whatever he wants (within reason), he becomes a powerful ally in Sakuya's work. Unfortunately, he learns and speaks Sakuya's true name, leaving her unable to disobey him.

Nadeshiko Sōma (相馬 撫子, Sōma Nadeshiko)

Voiced by: Saeko Zougou

Shinichirō and Sakuya's homeroom teacher at the high school that they attend. She has a connection with the Shimazu family and helps to clean up the messes left behind Sakuya's work. She is also responsible for getting Shinichirō his job as Sakuya's housekeeper and later having him move in with her. Although she helps Sakuya, Nadeshiko supports Suseri as the next head of the family.

Tamako (タマ子)

Voiced by: Kaori Sadohara

A two-tailed cat-spirit with red hair and a large bosom. She can change into a giant cat form and is the first spirit whom Shinichiro meets. He learns her true name when she kisses him as thanks for saving her from Sakuya after clearing her from suspicion of a lightning beast attack. Shinichirō gives her the name Tamako in order to disguise her true name. Like most spirits she needs life energy to survive, though she has never attacked anyone. True to her cat-like nature, she licks Shinichirō in affection, likes to curl up in his lap and tends to eat her meals on the floor. She also has a disturbing tendency of catching prey and bringing it to him. Her true name is Tama

Suseri Shimazu (島津 須世璃, Shimazu Suseri)

Voiced by: Mao Ichimichi

Suseri is Sakuya's cousin who is in the running to be the next head of the Shimazu family. She specializes in spirit summoning and wind magic. In the beginning, she seems somewhat emotionless and focused on only becoming the next head. She even tries to increase her chances of becoming the next head by attempting to steal Shinichiro away from Sakuya. She later transfers to the same school as Sakuya not only to steal Shinichiro away but to also investigate the appearance of so many specters at the school. As time passes, she begins to develop feelings for Shinichiro. Because she is envious and secretly admires her older cousin Suseri chooses her true name to be Sakuya.

Isuca (イスカ, Isuka)

Voiced by: Ayumi Fujimura

Isuca is the main antagonist of the anime. She holds a grudge against the Shimazu family but seems to be focusing mainly on Sakuya. However, she doesn't want to kill her immediately: she first wants to torment Sakuya by killing the people closest to her until she has given in to despair and only then kill her. She is revealed to be a homunculus from the Asahina family, a rival family of magic users. It is not revealed why her name is same as Sakuya's true name, but at the end of the anime it shows that Sakuya's father may be involved too.

Kanae Tachibana (奏絵, Kanae)

Voiced by: Sarah Emi Bridcutt

Fumizuki (文月, Fumizuki)

Voiced by: Yumeha Kōda

Mari Sōma (相馬 茉莉, Sōma Mari)

Voiced by: Akane Kohinata

Media

Manga

Anime

The opening song theme for the anime was "Never say Never" by Afilia Saga, while the ending song theme was "Somebody to Love" by TWO-FORMULA, a duo consisted of the singers and voice actresses Saeko Zōgō and Kaori Sadohara.

Episode list

References

External links

• Official anime website(Japanese)