Kanokon

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kanokon
Kanokon logo.
かのこん
Genre	Fantasy, Romantic comedy
Light novel
Author	Katsumi Nishino
Illustrator	Koin
Publisher	Media Factory
English publisher	Seven Seas Entertainment
Other publishers: Luckpim publishing
Demographic	Male
Original run	October 31, 2005 – ongoing
Volumes	12
Manga
Author	Katsumi Nishino (story) Rin Yamaki (art)
Publisher	Media Factory
Other publishers: Sharp Point Press Luckpim publishing
Demographic	Seinen
Magazine	Monthly Comic Alive
Original run	June 27, 2006 – ongoing
Volumes	6
TV anime
Director	Atsushi Ōtsuki
Studio	Xebec
Network	AT-X
Original run	April 5, 2008 – June 21, 2008
Episodes	12 (List of episodes)
Game
Kanokon Esuii
Developer	5pb.
Publisher	5pb.
Genre	Visual novel
Platform	PlayStation 2
Released	July 31, 2008
Anime and Manga Portal

Kanokon (かのこん^?) is a Japanese light novel series by Katsumi Nishino, with illustrations by Koin. The first novel was released on October 31, 2005, and as of February 25, 2008, nine volumes have been published by Media Factory under their MF Bunko J label. A manga adaptation by Rin Yamaki started serialization in the seinen manga magazine Monthly Comic Alive on June 27, 2006, also published by Media Factory. A drama CD was produced by Media Factory that was released on March 28, 2007. A twelve-episode anime aired in Japan between April and June 2008 produced by Xebec.^[1] A second anime season has been announced. A visual novel named Kanokon Esuii developed by 5pb. was released for the PlayStation 2 on July 31, 2008.

Contents 1 Plot 2 Characters 2.1 Main characters 2.2 Secondary characters 3 Media 3.1 Light novels 3.2 Manga 3.3 Drama CDs 3.4 Internet radio show 3.5 Anime 3.5.1 Episodes 3.6 Visual novel 4 References 5 External links

[edit] Plot

Kanokon's story revolves around Kouta Oyamada, a young first-year high school student who moves from the country to the city and thus transfers to Kunpō High School. On his first day at his new school, he meets a beautiful second-year female student named Chizuru Minamoto. Chizuru asks him to meet her alone in the music room. When he arrives, she tells him that she is in love with him and accidentally reveals to him that she is in fact a fox spirit. Chizuru constantly flirts with Kouta which embarrasses him greatly due to others watching. Soon after the story begins, a wolf spirit named Nozomu Ezomori transfers into Kouta's school and class. From day one, she is all over Kouta which serves to embarrass him more and cause Chizuru to become annoyed at her new competition for Kouta's affection.

[edit] Characters

[edit] Main characters

Kouta Oyamada (小山田 耕太, Oyamada Kōta^?)

Voiced by: Mamiko Noto

Kouta is the protagonist of the story. He moves from the country to the city in his first year of high school, and on his first day of school, he discovers that the second year girl Chizuru Minamoto is actually a kitsune. He used to live with his grandfather before moving. Kouta generally has a mild personality and is indecisive. When he was younger, he almost drowned in a river and now has a fear of swimming. At his school, everyone either calls him the "Great Erotic King" or a "beast" because of the disgraceful acts Chizuru commits with him in public. Despite his reluctance to engage in the 'intimate' acts that Chizuru desires, his feelings for her are genuine. One demonstration of this is that they are able to fuse together into a powerful being, which can only occur between a human and a kitsune when they share a deep emotional link. In this form, Kouta tranforms into a black-furred five-tailed fox spirit.

Chizuru Minamoto (源 千鶴, Minamoto Chizuru^?)

Voiced by: Ayako Kawasumi

Chizuru is a carefree second year female student at Kouta's school. She appears to be a normal, albeit big-breasted, teenage girl, but she is in fact a 400-year-old powerful kitsune. When she changes form, her hair goes from black to blond and she gains fox ears and a tail. She is constantly hanging around and on Kouta; he is the only male she acts genuinely towards. She loves Kouta very much and wants to enter a "relationship of sin" with him. She is a very forward person and makes almost constant sexual suggestions and actions toward Kouta. She is also a terrible cook, though she improves later on, and shows some interest in masochism.

Nozomu Ezomori (犹守 望, Ezomori Nozomu^?)

Voiced by: Miyū Takeuchi

Nozomu is a first year female student at Kouta's school who first appears in the third volume of the novels. She has short silver hair, and is in fact a 200-year-old wolf spirit. She has an older brother named Saku. Despite her seemingly detached and emotionless manner, she is in love with Kouta and thus a rival of Chizuru's for Kouta's affections. She sometimes insults Chizuru by calling her a "Horny Beast," saying that Chizuru "smells obscene" and that her breasts are flabby. While she has small breasts and a much more childlike appearance than Chizuru, Nozomu also frequently tries to initiate sexual acts with Kouta. She lives by herself in an expensive penthouse apartment. Though he truly cares for Chizuru, sometimes Kouta prefers Nozomu's company because she is not as perverted as Chizuru. She is a serious glutton, especially for meat.

[edit] Secondary characters

Tayura Minamoto (源 たゆら, Minamoto Tayura^?)

Voiced by: Toshiyuki Toyonaga

Tayura is the younger brother of Chizuru and Kouta's classmate. When they first meet, Tayura is jealous of the relationship between his sister and Kouta. Chizuru says that he is suffering from a sister complex. Tayura looks much older than many boys his age. He enjoys teasing his older sister and Kouta by calling them "love birds". Like his sister, he too is a fox spirit, much younger, and is not really related to Chizuru, but rather adopted. He generally has a calm and cool personality. Whenever he tries to get closer to Akane, he is given the cold shoulder, though he himself has stated that it is okay with her being cold.

Akane Asahina (朝比奈 あかね, Asahina Akane^?)

Voiced by: Chiwa Saitō

Akane is the class representative of Kouta's class, and wears glasses. Due to this, she has a high sense of regulations, and therefore disagrees with Kouta's and Chizuru's close high school relationship. She is on good terms with Kouta, and worries about his relationship with Chizuru. She warns Kouta to watch out for Chizuru, though she might be jealous of Chizuru's body. Also, she is known to be intolerant of alcohol, as seen in episode six in the anime where Kouta gives her and Chizuru sweet wine. At first very cold to Tayura, she warms up to him after he riskes his life to save her in the ocean, though she still slugs him when he tries to be more intimate with her.

Ren Nanao (七々尾 蓮, Nanao Ren^?), Ai Nanao (七々尾 藍, Nanao Ai^?)

Voiced by: Mai Kadowaki (Ren) and Tamaki Nakanishi (Ai)

Ren and Ai are twin first-year sisters at Kouta's school, and first appeared in the fifth volume of the novels. They are spirit hunters who live at a very poor temple, and are frequently seen doing things that homeless people would do, for example, making stew out of trash and roadside weeds, or eating thrown away bread crusts. Originally, they were given the task to assassinate Chizuru, but did not go through with it since she was still "only a kid," and the fact that she treated them to a free meal, which is considered as heaven to the twins. They are nearly identical except for their slightly different hair styles. They use chains when attacking, and are also seen in the anime ineffectively using explosives.

Omi Kiriyama (桐山 臣, Kiriyama Omi^?)

Voiced by: Takashi Kondō

Omi is a second year student at Kouta's school who is in fact a sickle weasel with the power to control the wind. Omi was once the bitter enemy of the Minamoto siblings. In the fourth volume of the novels, he succeeds as the gang leader of the delinquents at his school. He hates the friendship between Kouta and his friends, and does not speak much. In the anime, he accidentally hurts Kouta who took a blow for Chizuru. Since he is not permitted to harm humans, such an act has serious consequences for him. He thinks Mio is pretty.

Mio Osakabe (長ヶ部 澪, Osakabe Mio^?)

Voiced by: Miyu Matsuki

Mio is a second year student with a shy nature who hangs around with Omi. Due to her short stature, she is often mistaken for a grade school student and has even received multiple confessions from grade school students. She is in fact half frog spirit and can heal quickly. While she did not have a name originally, Omi named her from a combination of his own given name and his home town's name. She is on good terms with Omi.

Ryūsei Kumada (熊田 流星, Kumada Ryūsei^?)

Voiced by: Kenta Miyake

Ryūsei is a third year student who has a distinct cross-wound over his left eye and was a gang leader of the delinquents at school before Omi took over in his place. He is in fact a bear spirit. In the fourth volume, he graduated from high school, but soon changes his name to Suisei Kumada (熊田 彗星, Kumada Suisei^?) restarts high school as a first year student.

Iku Sahara (砂原 幾, Sahara Iku^?)

Voiced by: Noriko Shitaya

Iku is a social studies teacher and is Kouta's homeroom teacher. She is prone to making silly mistakes and is very childish. She is in fact possessed by a yōkai and thus has dissociative identity disorder as an effect. She has to conceal her true identity to Chizuru, and oversees the spirits at school.

Takao Yatsuka (八束 たかお, Yatsuka Takao^?)

Voiced by: Takashi Matsuyama

Takao is the gym teacher at Kouta's school, and has a scary face. Like Iku, he too is overseeing the spirits at school. He is very wise, and gets along with Yukihana.

Saku Ezomori (犹守 朔, Ezomori Saku^?)

Voiced by: Yūto Kazama

Saku is the older brother of Nozomu who makes his first appearance in the second volume of the novels; and like his sister, he is a wolf spirit. He usually drives a motorcycle around town, and he later reveals that he is in love with Chizuru, resulting in him putting a bracelet on Kouta to stop him from doing anything perverted with Chizuru. The bracelet is taken off a few days later when Kouta and Chizuru defeats him in their fused form.

Minori Mitama (三珠 美乃里, Mitama Minori^?)

Minori makes her first appearance in volume three of the novels, and refers to herself as Kouta's younger sister.

Nue (鵺^?)

Nue makes her first appearance in volume three of the novels, serving as Minori's servant. As her name indicated, she is a nue, but also have a pair of raven wings for flight.

Tamamo (玉藻^?)

Voiced by: Naomi Shindō

Tamamo makes her first appearance in volume three of the novels. She is the manager of a hot-spring hotel deep in the snowy mountains and Chizuru's mother, though not related by blood. She is a very powerful, golden-furred nine-tailed kitsune. Occasionally, when business is slow, she manages a beach-side restaurant. She gets along with Kouta, though does sometimes meddle in his relationship with Chizuru.

Yukihana (雪花^?)

Voiced by: Risa Hayamizu

Yukihana, a yuki-onna, makes her first appearance in volume three of the novels. She is a ninja who works under Tamamo at her hot-spring hotel. She has an honest personality. In volume seven of the novels, she becomes a teacher for the handicapped at Kouta's school. When working as a teacher, she goes by the name Hanadai Yukino (雪野花代, Yukino Hanadai^?), and if someone calls out to her using the name Yukihana, she will say she is not that person. She can manipulate snow storms and uses a gleaming sword in battle, and is physically very strong.

Okata (御方^?)

Okata is a yōkai who is the head of the Sahara family; her true form is that of an old woman. She has survived for thousands of years.

[edit] Media

[edit] Light novels

Kanokon began as a series of light novels written by Katsumi Nishino, and drawn by Koin. The series started under the title Kanojo wa Kon, to Kawaiku Seki o Shite (彼女はこん、とかわいく咳をして^?) when the first novel was submitted to Media Factory's annual literary contest MF Bunko J Light Novel Rookie of the Year Award held in 2005. The novel placed as a "good piece of work" with two other titles which was more or less third place.^[2] The first novel was released on October 31, 2005, and as of February 25, 2008, nine volumes have been published.^[3] The novels are published by Media Factory under their MF Bunko J publishing label. The novels were licensed by Los Angeles-based company Seven Seas Entertainment for distribution in the English language, but was later removed from the Seven Seas website.

[edit] Manga

A manga adaptation started serialization in the Japanese seinen manga magazine Monthly Comic Alive on June 27, 2006, published by Media Factory. The manga takes its story from the light novels that preceded it, and is illustrated by Rin Yamaki. The first bound volume was released on January 31, 2007, and as of March 23, 2009, six volumes have been released by Media Factory under their MF Comics label.^[4]

[edit] Drama CDs

A drama CD based on the series was released on March 28, 2007 by Media Factory. The drama's theme song was "Otokonoko Desho" (オトコのコでしょ^?) sung by Marina Kuroki. Another drama CD will be sold on June 25, 2008.^[5]

[edit] Internet radio show

An Internet radio show produced by Media Factory called Kanokon Radio: Kouta's and Chizuru's Bouncing Growth Diary (かのこんラジオ 〜耕太とちずるのゆやよん成長日記〜, Kanokon Rajio ~Kōta to Chizuru no Yuya Yon Seichō Nikki~^?) began airing on March 21, 2007.^[6] One episode is broadcast every other week on Friday. The show is hosted by Mamiko Noto (the voice of Kouta in the anime), and Ayako Kawasumi (the voice of Chizuru in the anime).^[7] There are four corners, or parts, to each episode. The shows starts with a short radio drama, which moves on to general news about the Kanokon anime and series in general. Listeners can send in comments about the show up on the air. The show's opening theme is "Strategy" by Ui Miyazaki, and the ending theme is "Sweet Time" by Yui Sakakibara.

[edit] Anime

A twelve-episode anime adaptation produced by the animation studio Xebec aired in Japan between April 5 and June 21, 2008 on the AT-X television network. The anime's opening theme is "Phosphor" sung by Ui Miyazaki, and the ending theme is "Koi no Honō" (恋の炎^?) sung by Yui Sakakibara. A second anime season has been announced.^[8]

[edit] Episodes

#	Title	Original air date
01	"Doing It for the First Time?" "Hajimete Shichau?" (初めてしちゃう?)	April 5, 2008
As Kouta is walking to school, he meets up with Chizuru who hugs him close which embarrasses him due to her breasts pressing against him, and the fact that others can see what is going on. The class representative of Kouta's class, Akane Asahina, attempts to interfere, though cannot fight Chizuru's persistence. At school, Chizuru hands Kouta a love letter, asking him to come to the music room. This reminds him of earlier in the school year where a similar event took place. Back then, Chizuru confessed her love to Kouta and in the process accidentally revealed that she is actually a kitsune. Chizuru's younger brother Tayura soon interferes and tries to tell them that their relationship is dangerous. Chizuru possesses Kouta for a little while and Chizuru conjures up a huge flame which blasts Tayura outside, leaving a gaping hole in the school building.
02	"Are We Becoming One?" "Hitotsu ni Nacchau?" (ひとつになっちゃう?)	April 12, 2008
On his way home from school, Kouta runs into girl his age that he intuitively senses is a spirit like Chizuru. The following day, the same girl appears in Kouta's class and is all over him, much to the annoyance of Chizuru. She is introduced as a transfer student named Nozomu Ezomori from Hokkaido, though it is soon revealed to Chizuru and Kouta that she is from a powerful wolf clan. Nozomu continues to get in the way of Chizuru's plans to get close to Kouta due to her own such desires for Kouta.
03	"Eat Deliciously?" "Oishiku Tabechau?" (美味しく食べちゃう?)	April 19, 2008
Kouta is the prize in a battlefield fought with food between Chizuru and Nozomu, but neither of them can cook well and Kouta is the one suffering as he is forced to eat terrible food experiments concocted by the two girls. Chizuru and Kouta also get attacked, but Kouta takes the hit for Chizuru and is knocked unconscious. Feeling guilty the attackers (which one of them is a frog spirit) tries to help Kouta by making toad oil (even though she is a frog spirit) and Chizuru cannot help but get more intimate with Kouta by rubbing the oil in with her body, but Nozomu joins in and Kouta panics again. Back at school, a fight breaks out between Chizuru and Nozomu that leaves Kouta shouting at Chizuru and then she cries and runs off. Kouta soon follows finding out that Chizuru was faking it and that she just wanted some alone time with Kouta in a very playful way.
04	"Can't Take It Off?" "Nugenaku Nacchatta?" (脱げなくなっちゃった?)	April 26, 2008
In an attempt to win Kouta and defeat her enemy Nozomu, Chizuru breaks into a forbidden supply room and steals a cursed bunny girl suit. Her problems start when she cannot take off the suit and is forced to go to school in it with everyone staring at Chizuru and calling her names behind her back. The suit contains a clothes changing demon that feeds off the life of the wearer. The suit changes all the female students' clothes into cliché cosplay clothes and tries to kill off Chizuru but she and Kouta combine, freeing Chizuru of the evil suit and destroying it once and for all.
05	"It Doesn't Work Anymore?" "Dame ni Nacchau?" (ダメになっちゃう?)	May 3, 2008
Nozomu's brother puts a bracelet on Kouta's wrist that inflicts high amounts of pain if he becomes sexually aroused and Chizuru worries that if she tries her normal flirting behavior she could eventually kill him. Chizuru holds back her feelings for a couple of days but with intense self-restraint (to the point she starts having withdrawal symptoms). Meanwhile Chizuru's brother and Omi Kiriyama, a sickle weasel, try to negotiate with Nozomu's brother to take off the bracelet with violence but all goes wrong when they discover that he is really powerful; Chizuru later joins the fight but is defeated. Nozomu hears her brother's victory howl and tells Kouta that Chizuru is in danger; at the scene of the fight, Kouta and Chizuru combine to make quick work of Nozomu's brother.
06	"Can I Ask This of You?" "Onegai Shichau?" (お願いしちゃう?)	May 10, 2008
Japanese New Year has come, and while Kouta at first is enjoying a quiet stay at home alone, Chizuru soon comes and tries to heat things up by distracting him while he is writing, or taking off her kimono to reveal a school swimsuit. They eventually play a love dice game where the players get to do perverted things to each other. Nozomu shows up at the end and gets in Chizuru's way, and Kouta suggests they go to take part in hatsumōde. At the shrine, they meet up with Chizuru's brother and other friends from school. At the end of the day at the shrine, they all go back to Kouta's house.
07	"Won't You Warm Me Up?" "Atatamete Agechau?" (あたためてあげちゃう?)	May 17, 2008
Yukihana, a yuki-onna from Chizuru's family, tests the bond between Chizuru and Kouta by creating a powerful snow storm only around the school. As the students try to stay warm, Kouta, Chizuru, Nozomu and Tayura try to search for Yukihana. Tayura gets taken away by a band of snowmen, and the others run away into a nearby classroom where Chizuru and Nozomu use their bodies to warm up Kouta. Yukihana finally appears, and as Chizuru and Kouta are trying to run away, Yukihana stops them. Chizuru and Kouta combine, showing how strong their bond is, and thus Yukihana stops the snow storm, and informs them that Chizuru's mother wants her to bring Kouta back to her hometown.
08	"Should We Enter Together?" "Issho ni Haicchau?" (一緒に入っちゃう?)	May 24, 2008
Kouta, Chizuru, Nozomu, Tayura and a few classmates are visiting a spring resort run by Chizuru's mother, who is a fox deity like Chizuru (only with nine tails). She puts the bond between Kouta and Chizuru to the test by means of a special beverage, which makes two people fall in love with each other. Unfortunately, this happens between Kouta and Nozomu while Chizuru is powerless to do anything about it, leaving her devastated. Kouta eventually snaps out of it and manages to make it up to Chizuru. When the bunch is leaving to go back to the city, Chizuru's mother entrusts Chizuru to Kouta.
09	"Can You Feel It?" "Kanjisugichau?" (感じすぎちゃう?)	May 31, 2008
A little girl named Minori Mitama, and her spirit bodyguard Nue hire the twin spirit hunters Ai and Ren to seal Chizuru's powers. They are given a drug to achieve this, only to find out that this makes Chizuru's breasts disappear. In shock about her loss, Chizuru desperately tries to find a cure to undo this and is assisted by Kouta, Nozomu, and Tayura. Meanwhile, Minori is making ominous preparations in order to take Kouta from Chizuru.
10	"Shall I Show Restraint?" "Enryo Shichau?" (遠慮しちゃう?)	June 7, 2008
Chizuru and Kouta treat Ai and Ren to a meal. Seeing as the two are poor, this has magnanimous effects on them and they regret the whole potion situation. In turn, they ask to be taken off of the mission and are electrocuted repeatedly by Nue. Minori Mitama summons demons to attack the school, and during this time a sleeping sand is released on all the humans. Nue enters and takes down Nozomu, and chases Kouta and Chizuru down. When they are cornered, Kouta refuses to leave Chizuru to her death and discovers his fox powers. Kouta possess Chizuru and turns into a black-furred five-tailed fox. He defeats Nue and Minori Mitama, who makes an oath to make Kouta her own one day. Chizuru's breasts, and thus her spiritual powers, are restored.
11	"I`m Getting Wet Already?" "Mō Nurechau?" (もう濡れちゃう?)	June 14, 2008
Chizuru, Kouta, Tayura, Nozomu and their friends go to a beach that is only known to spirits. After some trouble changing (no changing rooms and Nozomu having a rather unusual swimsuit) and an attempt at sunbathing, they discover a beach house nearby which is run by none other than Chizuru's mother Tamamo, and Yukihana. Tamamo once again tries to win Kouta's affections, much to Chizuru's frustration. Back at the beach, the group enjoys themselves with a barbecue and fireworks, but Chizuru is bothered because she cannot be alone with Kouta. Akane gets into trouble when she drifts too far offshore and is rescued by Tayura, making her warm up a little to him. Chizuru asks Kouta to take a walk with her on the beach under the stars, and eventually asks him how he feels about her.
12	"Can We Finally Do It?" "Tsui ni Shichau?" (ついにしちゃう?)	June 21, 2008
Chizuru wants Kouta to say he loves her, but he is very hesitant. Chizuru tries several methods to make him say it, but gets frustrated. Tayura asks Akane out on a date and she accepts, but says she wants to go to an art gallery instead of usual popular date spots like an amusement park. Kouta admits that he loves Chizuru in the end when he spots her crying in the rain on the bridge where they first met. Kouta and Chizuru become lovers, and Nozomu barges in saying that she accepts their relationship, and that she in turn will be Kouta's mistress, a thing which to Kouta's dismay Chizuru accepts.

[edit] Visual novel

A visual novel playable on the PlayStation 2 entitled Kanokon Esuii (かのこん えすいー^?) was released on July 31, 2008 and developed by 5pb. in limited and regular editions.^[9] The limited edition came bundled with an audio CD containing an image song and an original drama.^[10] The song, "Koi no Miracle Summer Vacation" (恋のミラクル☆サマーバケーション, Koi no Mirakuru☆Samā Bakēshon^?), is sung by Mamiko Noto, Ayako Kawasumi, and Miyū Takeuchi, the voice actresses of Kouta, Chizuru, and Nozomu, respectively. The audio drama is entitled "Natsu no Hi no Hajimari" (夏の日のはじまり^?, lit. "The Beginning of a Summery Day"). The game is described by the development team as a "noisy romantic-comedy ADV (ドタバタラブコメADV, Dotabata Rabucome ADV^?).^[11] The game's opening theme is "Happy Succession" sung by Ui Miyazaki, and the single containing the song will be released on August 27, 2008.^[5] The ending theme is "Eien no Koi" (永遠の恋^?, lit. "Eternal Love") by Yui Sakakibara.^[11]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Seven Seas Entertainment's Kanokon website
• Anime official website (Japanese)
• Xebec's Kanokon website (Japanese)
• Visual novel official website (Japanese)
• Kanokon (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia