The Beast Player

The Beast Player
Cover art of the first novel
獣の奏者 (Kemono no Sōja)
Genre	Fantasy
Novel series
Written by	Nahoko Uehashi
Illustrated by	Itoe Takemoto
Published by	Kodansha
English publisher	NA: Henry Holt and Co. UK: Pushkin Children's Books
Original run	November 21, 2006 – August 11, 2009
Volumes	4
Manga
Written by	Nahoko Uehashi
Illustrated by	Itoe Takemoto
Published by	Kodansha
Magazine	Monthly Shōnen Sirius
Demographic	Shōnen
Original run	October 25, 2008 – April 8, 2016
Volumes	11
Anime television series
Erin
Directed by	Takayuki Hamana
Produced by	George Wada
Written by	Junichi Fujisaku
Music by	Masayuki Sakamoto
Studio	Production I.G Trans Arts
Original network	NHK
Original run	January 10, 2009 – December 26, 2009
Episodes	50

The Beast Player (獣の奏者, Kemono no Sōja) is a Japanese novel series written by Nahoko Uehashi and published by Kodansha between 2006 and 2009. It focuses on a girl who can control the greatest of beasts as she gets involved in a war between two territories of one kingdom.

The series has been adapted as a manga serialized in Kodansha's Monthly Shōnen Sirius since October 25, 2008, and as an anime television series, called Erin (獣の奏者エリン, Kemono no Sōja Elin) produced by Production I.G and Trans Arts that aired in Japan on NHK from January 10 to December 26, 2009.

Book title

In the original Japanese title the word translated "player" in the English edition (in Japanese title 奏者 sōja) is a term used historically for a mōshitsugi (申次) the liaison between the Japanese court and the bakufu, but the word sōja also used today for a musician, someone playing a musical instrument, not a player of games.

Plot

10-year-old Elin is a young girl who lives with her mother in Aluhan territory in the small village of Ake. She has a big love for animals, especially the Toda, dragon-like creatures used in the war. Her mother Sohyon was originally of the Ahlyo, an ancient clan who have members with green eyes, and is rumored to follow in the ancient ways, practice magic, and hide in the mist. But despite her genealogy, they stay in the village because Elin's late father was the son of the village chief and Sohyon is the head Toda doctor. But one night, the Kiba, the Aluhan's strongest Toda, mysteriously dies. According to law, since Sohyon was the person who was charged with caring for them, she is responsible for their condition and was sentenced to death. Elin learns of this and tries to save her mother, but Sohyon refuses rescue, and Elin is swayed along the river as her mother is eaten by the wild Toda. Elin is taken into Yojeh territory and is found and adopted by a beekeeper. There, she learns of the species called Royal Beasts. Elin's spark for learning takes her to Kazalumu and leads her to the baby Royal Beast Leelan. As Elin stays at Kazalumu and spends more time with Leelan, she creates a miraculous bond with her that is said to be impossible and ends up getting involved in a civil war between Aluhan and Yojeh territories.

Royal Beasts

Royal Beasts (王獣, Ōju) are the author's visual invention, not a beast from Japanese mythology. They have large white or white-grey feathered bird or griffin like creatures with a wolf's head instead of the typical dragon or griffin head.

Characters

Main characters

Elin (エリン, Elin)

Voiced by: Nanase Hoshii

The female protagonist of the series. She is described as kind, collected, earnest, and very observant. She is 10 at the beginning, then she becomes 14 in the first time-skip and 18 in the second. Due to the influences of her mother Sohyon and foster father, Joeun, Elin carries a unique perspective on caring for beasts. Many people think that she is too curious, which simply gets her in trouble. Elin is truly caring towards people and animals, even to the point of worrying more about others than herself. She is strongly against using the Toda and Royal Beasts for war and even refuses to give Leelan special water (tokujisui), which strengthens her, and use the Silent Whistle on her, which paralyzes a Royal Beast. She dreams that one day humans and beasts may understand each other and that beasts (mainly Toda and Royal Beast) would not be bound by human codes. Because Elin's mother was of the Ahlyo, she inherited her green hair and eyes. Some people first believed that she was able to be close to Leelan and Eku because she learned magic tricks of the Ahlyo from her mother, but they later see her as someone who just wants to truly understand animals. Her classmates know her as the Royal Beast fanatic. Elin's name translates to "wild apple". Both Joeun and Kirik comment that they are free-thinking and unique; similar to Elin's personality. As the series progresses, she becomes a Master at Kazalumu to stay by Leelan. At the end of the anime series, it is hinted that Elin ends up with Ialu, and has a son named Jesh.

Leelan (リラン, Riran)

A female Royal Beast that Elin takes care of in Kazalumu. She is "raised" by Elin, and later sees her as her mother and the only human Leelan is accustomed to. Later in the story, she regains the ability to fly and mates with a wild Royal Beast named Eku. They have a baby named Aru. Her name literally translates to "light."

Eku (エク, Eku)

A male Royal Beast in Elin's care in Kazalumu. Eku was originally a wild Royal Beast but was injured from a Silent Whistle. Eku, being from the wild, had no trust towards humans, however, after spending a night at his shed, Elin becomes the only human he trusts. He lives in Kazalumu to stay by Leelan's side. Esal reveals that his name derives from an ancient language.

Yojeh territory

Halumiya (ハルミヤ, Harumiya)

Voiced by: Ikuko Tani

The Yojeh of Lyoza. She is a gentle woman who cares for her country and her people very much. Her childlike demeanor suggests that she is not familiar with society outside the walls of her home. She detests war and her nephew Damiya since she knows that Damiya has an agenda of his own. Her fear came true as Damiya commanded a Toda squadron (Sai Gamulu (firstly mistaken as the Aluhan's army because of the similarity)) to assassinate her, which caused her death.

Seimiya (セィミヤ, Seimiya)

Voiced by: Takahashi Mikako

The granddaughter of Halumiya, a beautiful young woman who is next in line to become the Yojeh. She is a kind and gentle person who, like her grandmother, detests war but likes her first cousin once removed, Damiya. Seimiya has deep feelings for Shunan, the Aluhan's eldest son. However, such feelings were weakened due to the manipulation of Damiya, who attempted to weaken their bonds so that he could take the throne easily. Fortunately, the plan failed after she and Shunan understood each other and strengthened their feelings to each other. In the end, she married Shunan to unite the two territories together.

Damiya (ダミヤ, Damiya)

Voiced by: Akira Ishida

The nephew of Halumiya. He is very secretive and cunning. Damiya tends to make passes on women who he is interested in but manages to be swayed by Elin. However, he is not just a mere playboy, but also a very cunning manipulator who has his own army (the Sai Gamulu) at his disposal. He weakens the bond between the Aluhan and the Yojeh by framing the Aluhan for trying to rebel against the Yojeh so that he can take the rule of the country easily. However, the plan is noticed by Halumiya, which caused Damiya to eliminate her with his own Psi-Gamul while pushing the blame to Shunan, which further weakens the bond between Shunan and Seimiya. However, his plan was thwarted when Elin appeared and saved Shunan and Seimiya while Damiya attempted to kill them all for the final phase of his plan. With the two reunited, he attempted to kill them with a knife but is killed by Ialu instead.

Ialu (イアル, Iaru)

Voiced by: Kenichi Suzumura

One of the Yojeh's personal bodyguards, the Se Zan. He is known throughout the nation as "Godspeed Ialu" for his ability to run at an inhuman pace. He is one of the few Se Zan the Royal Family trusts personally. Ialu acts cold and unsociable around others, even to his comrades and his mentor. He takes his job, protecting the Yojeh and the Princess, very seriously. However, he has a soft spot for Elin, who is the only person he smiles much at and the only person who knows of his past. For her safety, he tries to keep his distance from her. He later becomes one of the few people who know Elin's dark past and promises that he'll keep quiet about it until the time is ready. There are hints showing that he may be in love with Elin. At the end of the series, it is hinted that he is married to Elin and has a son named Jeshi.

Aluhan territory

Shunan (シュナン, Shunan)

Voiced by: Eiji Hanawa

The Aluhan's older son and one of the head captains of the Aluhan's Toda Army. He reports to the royal palace about his father's condition. Shunan wants to change the country into a reformed society wherein which the future Aluhan and Yojeh are united and make decisions together for the two territories without force before the country ends. He expresses this to Seimiya, the next in line to be Yojeh. There are moments showing that he is in love with Seimiya. However, their bond is weakened by the manipulation of Damiya. Eventually, his perseverance to his own feelings pays off when he wins back the heart of Seimiya. At the end of the series, he married Seimiya and joined the two territories together.

Nugan (ヌガン, Nugan)

Voiced by: Kawamoto Naru

Shunan's brother. He wants to prove his worthiness to his father. Nugan respects Shunan, but later, feels betrayed by him. He believes that the country is as it should be: the Yojeh ruling it and the Aluhan protecting it. Nugan is extremely loyal to the Yojeh and decides to go against Shunan without holding back. However, such rashness and loyalty have been used by Damiya to overthrow the Aluhan and Yojeh royalty. In the end, he was defeated.

Sohyon (ソヨン, Sohyon)

Voiced by: Eriko Hirata

The mother of Elin, a Toda doctor of the Village of Ake. She was originally a woman of the Ahlyo but left her people when she married Asson, the son of the chief of Ake Village. However, Asson died and left his wife and unborn child to live in the village. Despite her Ahlyo heritage, Sohyon was a gifted beast doctor and was given special permission to care for the village's Toda. She decides to train her daughter Elin to be a Toda vet without teaching her the Ahlyo's forbidden techniques. Sohyon is executed when the Kiba Toda dies in the ponds. She appears many times in Elin's memories, especially in memories of her teaching Elin about animal breeding.

Supporting characters

Joeun Tohsana (トーサナ・ジョウン, Tōsana Joun)

Voiced by: Naoya Uchida

Elin's foster father and a beekeeper living in Yojeh territory. Joeun used to be a teacher at a very prestigious school but was kicked out due to defending one of his students. When he meets Elin, he decides to teach her about beekeeping. When Elin becomes infatuated with Royal Beasts, Joeun helps her gain admittance to Kazalumu. He later dies during the course of the series.

Nuk and Mok (ヌック, モック, Nukku, Mokku)

Voiced by: Fujiwara Keiji, Tetsuya Yanagihara

Two former thieves from Aluhan territory. They were asked by an unknown man to steal Toda eggs for a large amount of money but failed in doing so, meeting Elin in the process. Because of her kindness towards them, they vowed to stay by her side to "repay her." They become Joeun's helpers on his ranch and the head handymen of Kazalumu later. They are often seen as the comic relief of the series and call Elin "Little Miss" and "Elin-Chan."

Esalu (エサル, Esaru)

The headteacher at Kazalumu. She is an old friend of Joeun, Elin's foster father, and helped Elin with her times at Kazalumu. She decided to let Elin take care of Leelan because Elin had the experience of witnessing a wild Royal Beast family breed, and was the one who concluded that Leelan saw Elin as her mother. Esal looks out for Elin as a foster mother.

Tomura (トムラ, Tomura)

Elin's 'senpai'. He is respected by his peers and underclassmen. Tomura was originally the person in charge of Leelan. But Elin, a middle schooler, was put in charge of taking care of Leelan and Tomura, a high schooler was dismissed. After seeing Elin's determination, he becomes intrigued by her and develops a crush on her. This shows when he said he would protect her from those who see Elin's bond with Leelan as a potential weapon for war.

Kirik (キリク, Kiriku)

A new Master who transfers from Tamuyuan, a prestigious beastinarian school. He is secretly a member of the Psi-Gamul whose sister was killed by poison from a Wajyaku. Kirik is under orders from Damiya and is assigned undercover as a teacher in Kazalumu. He is very knowledgeable about poison and always has an eerie smile. He first sees Elin as a potential weapon, but later wants to protect her because she resembles his sister.

Nahson (ナソン, Nason)

The explorer from the Ahlyo. He was Sohyon's fiancee before she left the tribe to marry Elin's father. He is there when she faces the judgment of the Toda, as he was put to the task of watching over her, and he vows to look after Elin in her place since he could not keep her from dying. He is the one who tells Elin about the "Great Sin".

Groups

Wajyak (大公領民, Wajaku)

The citizens from Aluhan's territory and servants in the Aluhan's quarters. They fight under the banner of the Aluhan, and it is their role to protect the Yojeh and go to war. Because of this, the Wajyaku were seen as bloodthirsty people who loved going to war. Some important people who work under the Aluhan are his two sons and the Toda doctors.

Sai Gamulu (〈血と穢れ〉, Sai Gamuru)

An underground organization whose goal is to put the Aluhan on the throne. In the past, they attacked the royal palace and murdered Halumiya's mother and grandmother. Damiya used the Sai Gamulu as a cover for his plans to take the throne. They have a very similar appearance to the Aluhan's Toda battalion so that they can put the blame on the Aluhan.

Se Zan (〈堅き楯〉, Se Zan)

The Yojeh's royal bodyguards. The Se Zan are recruited when they are at a young age to be trained to have only one thing in mind: protect the Yojeh and her family at all costs. They are trained to cut all ties with their family and friends so that they only have the thought of protecting the Yojeh in their minds. They are even trained to ban their emotions.

Holon (真王領民, Horon)

The citizens from Yojehterritory and the servants in the Yojeh's quarters. Unlike Wajyaku, Holon are people who hate violence and are against the idea of war. They live in Yojeh territory seeking a peaceful life from the battlefield. Some important people who work under the Yojeh are the Se Zan and the Royal Beast doctors.

Ahlyo (霧の民, Āryo)

An ancient clan known for their green eyes. Legends say that this clan held the secrets to controlling animals, especially Toda and Royal Beasts. But because of an incident many centuries ago involving Jeh and these secrets getting out, they promised to never let these secrets out to outsiders again. They became nomadic and they would hide in the mist. Their true name is Ao-Loh (戒律ノ民, Aō-rō) (People of the Law), but because of their association with the mist, other societies started to call them "Ahlyo"(People of the Mist).

Media

Novel

The first two novels were published by Kodansha on November 21, 2006. They have since been reprinted in bunkoban format. The final two volumes were published on August 10, 2009.

Title	Release date	Length	ISBN
"The Beast Player I: The Toda" "Kemono no Sōja Ichi Tōda hen" (獣の奏者 I 闘蛇編)	November 21, 2006	319 pp	978-4-06-213700-3
"The Beast Player II: The Royal Beasts" "Kemono no Sōja Ni Ōjū hen" (獣の奏者 II 王獣編)	November 21, 2006	415 pp	978-4-06-213701-0
"The Beast Player III: The Quest" "Kemono no Sōja Tankyū hen" (獣の奏者 III 探求編)	August 10, 2009	486 pp	978-4-06-215632-5
"The Beast Player IV: The Final Chapter" "Kemono no Sōja Kanketsu hen" (獣の奏者 IV 完結編)	August 10, 2009	428 pp	978-4-06-215633-2

Manga

Written and drawn by Itoe Takemoto, a manga adaptation of the novel series was serialized in Kodansha's manga magazine Monthly Shōnen Sirius. On September 12, 2014, Kodansha started republishing the series in bunkoban format.

Original release

No.	Original release date	Original ISBN	English release date	English ISBN
1	May 22, 2009	978-4-06-373176-7
2	December 22, 2009	978-4-06-373199-6
3	September 9, 2010	978-4-06-376236-5
4	April 8, 2011	978-4-06-376261-7
5	November 9, 2011	978-4-06-376307-2
6	June 8, 2012	978-4-06-376340-9
7	May 9, 2013	978-4-06-376399-7
8	December 9, 2013	978-4-06-376435-2
9	September 9, 2014	978-4-06-376490-1
10	October 9, 2015	978-4-06-376574-8
11	April 8, 2016	978-4-06-390617-2

Bunkoban

No.	Original release date	Original ISBN	English release date	English ISBN
1	September 12, 2014	978-4-06-277910-4
2	October 15, 2014	978-4-06-277911-1
3	November 13, 2014	978-4-06-277975-3
4	December 11, 2014	978-4-06277993-7

Anime

Main article: List of Erin episodes

Directed by Takayuki Hamana, the series aired on NHK from January 10 to December 26, 2009. The opening theme is "Shizuku" (雫) by Sukima Switch, and the ending theme is "After the Rain" by cossami. Under the title of Erin, the series became available on Crunchyroll with English subtitles on September 4, 2009.

Reception and awards

The US edition of The Beast Player was the a 2020 Michael L. Printz Award honor book for best young adult novel.

External links

• Kemono no Sōja on the Kodansha website (in Japanese)
• Kemono no Sōja Elin on the NHK website (in Japanese)
• The Beast Player (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
• The Beast Player Elin (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
• ANN anime review