Amatsuki

Amatsuki
あまつき
Genre	Action, Fantasy, Historical
Manga
Written by	Shinobu Takayama
Published by	Ichijinsha
Magazine	Monthly Comic Zero Sum
Demographic	Shōjo
Original run	2005 – ongoing
Volumes	8
Anime
Directed by	Kazuhiro Furuhashi
Studio	Studio DEEN
Released	April 4 2008 – June 28 2008

Amatsuki (あまつき) is an ongoing manga series by Shinobu Takayama, serialized in Monthly Comic Zero Sum. A 13 episode anime adaption produced by Studio Deen premiered on April 4, 2008.

Plot

Tokidoki is a Japanese high school student who, when he fails his history class, is sent to a high-tech history museum that virtually recreates the Edo period to do make-up work. However, what was supposed to be a simple school project becomes much more complicated when he's attacked by two supernatural beings known as "the nue" and "the yakou" and loses the vision in his left eye. After he's saved from the nue by a girl named Kuchiha, he realizes that he's no longer wearing the simulation goggles, and is trapped in the virtual Edo..

Characters

Tokidoki Rikugō (六合鴇時, Rikugō Tokidoki) Voiced by: Jun Fukuyama

An easygoing high school student who adapts easily to new surroundings. He loses the vision in his left eye to the nue and yakou and finds himself trapped in a simulation of the Edo period. Called the "unwritten page" by some in the virtual Edo, as his fate isn't foretold by Heaven's Net. The demons that want to protect the world want to make him the new "Teiten" or God of Amatsuki, since he is just as powerful as the current one.

Kon Shinonome (篠ノ女紺, Shinonome Kon) Voiced by: Koji Yusa

A member of Tokidoki's high school who is cool-headed and logical, but has a reputation for getting into fights. He was also attacked by the Nue and Yakou, which left him without the sensation in his right arm, and became trapped in Edo as well. He arrived two years before Tokidoki, and acts as Tokidoki's mentor after his arrival. Later on in the story, Kon's memories were altered by Heaven and he no longer remembers the original world he came from, or Tokidoki.

Kuchiha (朽葉) Voiced by: Romi Paku

A swordswoman who has a Dog God (inugami) living inside her, and as a result, is despised by humans. She saved Tokidoki from the nue. At first, she hates optimistic and naive people like Tokidoki, but she warms up to him throughout the course of the series. She usually wears her hair in a long ponytail, and has a big appetite. Her age is unknown.

Shamon (沙門) Voiced by: George Nakata

In public, he's a temple priest, but in private, he's a demon hunter. He is Kuchiha's foster father.

Heihachi (平八) Voiced by: Kenji Nojima

A friend of Tokidoki and Kon. He later becomes friends with Tsuyukusa. He gets teased by Kon for having strange and large eyes. He's severely injured by Imayou, but is healed and brought to health by Tsuyukusa. Later, he helps convince Tsuyukusa to break free from his mad frenzy.

Ginshu (銀朱) Voiced by: Kenichi Suzumura

One of the four Holy Ones and the High Priestess of the Sakigami shrine. Originally believed to have been cursed by the demon Byakuroku, it was later revealed that her spirit was in fact placed within Byakuroku's body, as an attempt by Bonten to preserve them both (after a battle that would have cost both their lives). Ginshu is actually asexual, but is referred to as a Princess anyway. It is revealed that Ginshu is actually not the real High Priestess, but a decoy to protect the real High Priestess, Shinshu. She possesses "poison blood" to demons, so when they try to eat her they die.

Shinshu (真朱) Voiced by: Yuki Matsuoka

Ginshu's younger sister. She can never age and is forever a child, and is actually the real High Priestess and possesses the power of foresight through the use of dreams. She is very innocent and cute, and is very fond of Ginshu. It is hinted that she used to play with Tsuyukusa when he was a child (though, much to his annoyance, as he didn't seem to happy when she appeared from the bushes). Shinshu once had the power to alter Heaven's Net, but this was lost as a bargain to save Ginshu after the incident with Byakuroku.

Tsurūme (鶴梅) Voiced by: Marina Inoue

Ginshu's attendant. She has been loyal to Ginshu since she was a child, and heavily quarreled with Shinshu. It is revealed that she is from a well off family, but has chosen to serve Ginshu.

Tadajirō Sasaki (佐々木只二郎, Sasaki Tadajirō) Voiced by: Tōru Ōkawa

A government official in charge of demon hunting. He and Shamon are old friends.

A strange person on the orders of Sasaki to watch Tokidoki. He have a pet demon, a Fire Rat. He also knows how to handle demons.

Bonten (梵天) Voiced by: Junichi Suwabe

A powerful demon with the ability to read fate. He is one of the four Holy Ones. He has known Ginshu since he was a child. Their first encounter he had tried to kill her, but found out that it was futile (as she had said she was just a decoy for Shinshu). He was very fond of Ginshu (it was mutual) but unlike Ginshu, he did not like to openly admit it and often spoke to her rudely. He spent most of the winter as a child playing with Ginshu in various games. However, their relationship changed drastically after the priestess of the Sakigami shrine severely injured Tsuyukusa. A bloody battle took place, and as Ginshu and Byakuroku killed each other, a deal was made with Heaven, so that Shinshu's power was transferred to Bonten, and he replaced Byakuroku taking his place as Heaven's Seat.

Tsuyukusa (露草) Voiced by: Showtaro Morikubo

A kodama who works with Bonten. He resents humans for the death of Byakuroku, but seems to have little trouble befriending them.

Utsubushi (空五倍子) Voiced by: Jūrōta Kosugi

A tengu who serves Bonten. Utsubushi regards Bonten as his 'father' as he is in fact a collaboration of spirits Bonten had gathered and given form to.

Imayō (今様) Voiced by: Rei Igarashi

A kitsune who resents humans for the death of her master. She's corrupted by the Yakou after killing humans. She is later saved by Tokidoki, and afterwards reverts back to her original form.

Byakuroku (白緑) Voiced by: Ken Narita

An old and powerful snake demon who, at the brink of death after biting into Ginshu's 'poison blood', became the vessel for Ginshu's spirit. He raised Bonten and Tsuyukusa.

Production

See also: List of Amatsuki episodes

The animated television series Amatsuki is directed by Kazuhiro Furuhashi and produced by Studio Deen.

Music

Opening Theme

"Casting Dice" by Yuuki Kanno

Ending Theme

"Namae no Nai Michi (名まえのない道)" by Kaori Hikita

External links

• Amatsuki Offical site Template:Ja
• Amatsuki Studio Deen Official site Template:Ja
• Amatsuki ({{{type}}}) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
• Amatsuki ({{{type}}}) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia