| Ghost Slayers Ayashi | |
 Key visual for the series | |
| 天保異聞 妖奇士 (Tenpō Ibun Ayakashi Ayashi) | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Historical fantasy[1][2] |
| Created by | |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Yaeko Ninagawa [ja] |
| Published by | Square Enix |
| English publisher |
|
| Magazine | Young Gangan |
| Original run | September 15, 2006 –July 20, 2007 |
| Volumes | 2 |
| Anime television series | |
| Directed by | Hiroshi Nishikiori |
| Produced by |
|
| Written by | Shō Aikawa |
| Music by | Kow Otani |
| Studio | Bones |
| Licensed by |
|
| Original network | JNN (MBS,TBS) |
| English network | |
| Original run | October 7, 2006 – March 31, 2007 |
| Episodes | 25 + 5 OVAs |
 Anime and manga portal | |
Ghost Slayers Ayashi (Japanese:天保異聞 妖奇士,Hepburn:Tenpō Ibun Ayakashi Ayashi) is a Japaneseanime television series. The series was created and written byShō Aikawa, produced byBones, directed byHiroshi Nishikiori, and featured character designs byToshihiro Kawamoto. It was broadcast for twenty-five episodes onMBS andTBS from October 2006 to March 2007. A two-volumemanga adaptation byYaeko Ninagawa [ja] was published inSquare Enix'sseinen manga magazineYoung Gangan from September 2006 to July 2007. Both the anime series and the manga adaptation were licensed for English release in North America byBandai Entertainment.
In 1843, the fourteenth year of the Tenpō Era, a decade before the arrival of CommodoreMatthew Perry and theBlack Ships, the city of Edo faces an unprecedented threat from monstrous entities known as Youi (妖夷,Yōi), which emerge from the underworld. To combat these supernatural incursions, a specialized group within the Bansha Aratamesho, called the Ayashi (奇士), is tasked with confronting and repelling the Youi. Despite the growing frequency of attacks, the Ayashi persist in their mission, standing as the last line of defense against the encroaching darkness.
Ghost Slayers Ayashi was produced byBones and created and written byShō Aikawa. It was directed byHiroshi Nishikiori, featuring character designs byToshihiro Kawamoto, and music composed byKow Otani. The series was broadcast for twenty-five episodes onMBS andTBS from October 7, 2006, to March 31, 2007.[3][4] The first opening song is "Ryūsei Miracle [ja]" (流星ミラクル), performed byIkimono-gakari, while the first ending song is "Winding Road [ja]", performed byPorno Graffitti. The second opening song is "Lone Star [ja]", performed byCaptain Straydum [ja], and the second ending song is "Ai Toiu Kotoba" (愛という言葉), performed bySaki [ja].[5]Aniplex collected its episodes in eight DVDs released from February 28 to October 24, 2007;[6][7] a five-episodeoriginal video animation (OVA), tiledGhost Slayers Ayashi: Inferno (天保異聞 妖奇士 奇士神曲,Tenpō Ibun Ayakashi Ayashi Shinkyoku), was released with the sixth (episode I), seventh (episodes II and III), and eighth volumes (episodes IV and V).[8][9][7]
In North America, the series was licensed for English release byBandai Entertainment.[1] The series was released on three DVDs from February 3 to September 15, 2009.[10][11] A complete DVD set was released on July 6, 2010.[12] In Southeast Asia, the series was broadcast onAnimax Asia.[13]
| No. | Title | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Youi Cometh" Transliteration: "Yōi, Kitaru" (Japanese:妖夷、来たる) | October 7, 2006 (2006-10-07) | |
Torii Yōzō, the South Edo Magistrate, promises to recognize the legitimacy of the Bansha Aratamesho if Ogasawara and the others can recruit a man called Ryūdō Yukiatsu into the organization. | |||
| 2 | "After the Fall of the Mountain God" Transliteration: "Yama no Kami Ochite" (Japanese:山の神堕ちて) | October 14, 2006 (2006-10-14) | |
Yukiatsu helps the other Ayashi to protect Ōta from the Youi. | |||
| 3 | "The Undercurrents of Beautiful Edo" Transliteration: "Hana Edo Anryū" (Japanese:華江戸暗流) | October 21, 2006 (2006-10-21) | |
The samurai residential quarters of Edo are under attack by the second Youi. Meanwhile, Yuki must choose between a life with Ōta and Tae-san or a life as an ayashi. | |||
| 4 | "Life-Size Dolls" Transliteration: "Iki Ningyo" (Japanese:生き人形) | October 28, 2006 (2006-10-28) | |
The Office of Barbarian Knowledge Enforcement is investigating a series of missing persons around the circus area in Yotsuya. The South Edo Magistrate are also pursuing the same case. | |||
| 5 | "The Tale of a Murderer" Transliteration: "Hitogoroshi no Hanashi" (Japanese:ひとごろしのはなし) | November 4, 2006 (2006-11-04) | |
Tamahei, the Okappiki, suspects that Yukiatsu might have murdered someone in Edo 15 years ago. | |||
| 6 | "Racing Dragon Aura" Transliteration: "Ryūki Hashiru" (Japanese:竜気奔る) | November 11, 2006 (2006-11-11) | |
The serpent Youi runs wild in Edo. Torii plans to use Atl as human sacrifice to appease the Youi. | |||
| 7 | "The Dragon is Within the Cloud" Transliteration: "Ryū wa Kumo ni" (Japanese:竜は雲に) | November 18, 2006 (2006-11-18) | |
Yukiatsu tries to draw out the Ayagami from the serpent Youi, but finds he is unable to do it. The only thing to do is to try to take the Ayagami from Shichi in order to subdue the Youi. To change the serpent Youi into a good spirit, Kumoshichi fuses himself with it. | |||
| 8 | "Fox Theatre" Transliteration: "Kitsune Shibai" (Japanese:狐芝居) | November 25, 2006 (2006-11-25) | |
The Office of Barbarian Knowledge Enforcement is given jurisdiction to investigate the case of missing people around the Kabuki playhouses. Saizō is adamant to investigate the case without Yukiatsu's help. | |||
| 9 | "Front and Back" Transliteration: "Omote to Ura" (Japanese:面と怨) | December 2, 2006 (2006-12-02) | |
Saizō is possessed by the Mask Youi and her dance is drawing all Youi into Edo. Ogasawara orders his Ayashi to terminate Saizō. | |||
| 10 | "A Maiden's Dance Like Spring Flowers" Transliteration: "Yayoi Hana Niō Musume no Kagura" (Japanese:弥生花匂女神楽) | December 9, 2006 (2006-12-09) | |
After Ryūdō confronts Saizō and saves her from the Mask Youi, Saizō manages to destroy the Youi herself. | |||
| 11 | "Nikkō Fey Road" Transliteration: "Nikkō Kaidō" (Japanese:日光怪道) | December 16, 2006 (2006-12-16) | |
Ryūdō and Ogasawara travel along a highway outside Edo, slaying Youi to make a safe path for an important official to travel through the area. | |||
| 12 | "Hakuryu Howls to the Moon" Transliteration: "Hakuryū, Tsuki ni Hoeru" (Japanese:駁竜、月に吠える) | December 23, 2006 (2006-12-23) | |
The Western Ones use the Killing Stone to summon a vast number of Youi in the Nikkō region. Meanwhile, Ogasawara is told he must kill his old friend Kanō to prove his innocence. | |||
| 13 | "Heaven, Hell and a Book of Rumors" Transliteration: "Jigoku Gokuraku Fūbungaki" (Japanese:地獄極楽風聞書) | December 30, 2006 (2006-12-30) | |
Tamahei, the policeman, explains to Kai Shūzaburō, a young painter, about the Bansha Aratemesho. His story recaps all the previous episodes. | |||
| 14 | "Butterfly Dance" Transliteration: "Kochō Umai" (Japanese:胡蝶舞) | January 13, 2007 (2007-01-13) | |
After a woman is murdered in the brothel district, Shūzaburō and Atl come under suspicion from a special branch of the police called the Arson/Thievery Investigations. | |||
| 15 | "Woman of Rashōmon Alley" Transliteration: "Rashōmon Gashi no Onna" (Japanese:羅生門河岸の女) | January 20, 2007 (2007-01-20) | |
The Arson/Thievery Investigations continue to investigate the murders. Eventually the Office of Barbarian Knowledge Enforcement discover that the killer is a Youi which uses human bodies as a chrysalis. | |||
| 16 | "People of Craft" Transliteration: "Ki no Tami" (Japanese:機の民) | January 27, 2007 (2007-01-27) | |
The government officials supporting the Office of Barbarian Knowledge Enforcement come under attack by an elusive gunman, and the ayashi investigate. Meanwhile, Abi meets a tribesman from his past. | |||
| 17 | "The Shrouded World" Transliteration: "Kakuriyo" (Japanese:幽世) | February 3, 2007 (2007-02-03) | |
Saizō and Edo Gen are help captive by the mountain tribesmen, who reveal that their true target is Torii Yozo. Meanwhile, the other ayashi investigate the tribesmen and Abi searches for his sister. | |||
| 18 | "Wanderer's Paradise" Transliteration: "Hyōhakusha no Rakuen" (Japanese:漂泊者の楽園) | February 10, 2007 (2007-02-10) | |
The attack on Torii fails. Abi continues to seek his sister, but eventually learns that she resides in the Other World and has become a demon. | |||
| 19 | "The Three Yukiatsus" Transliteration: "Sannin Yukiatsu" (Japanese:三人往壓) | February 17, 2007 (2007-02-17) | |
Two people, a boy and an aging man, appear in Edo, both claiming to be called Ryūdo Yukiatsu. The ayashi investigate this and in doing so discover more about Ryūdo's past. | |||
| 20 | "Shinobazu Pond Lullaby" Transliteration: "Shinobazunoike Komoriuta" (Japanese:不忍池子守唄) | February 24, 2007 (2007-02-24) | |
Yukiatsu must decide whether he wants to return to his family permanently. The Ryūdo family sword transforms into a giant Youi and Ryūdo fuses with Kumoshichi to defeat it. | |||
| 21 | "To Perish in the Starlit Night" Transliteration: "Seiya ni Hatsu" (Japanese:星夜に果つ) | March 3, 2007 (2007-03-03) | |
The Western Ones create a new Youi which travels to Edo and attacks a series of young girls, transforming them into heartless killers. Atl and Saizō act as bait for the Youi but in the end it chases Edo Gen instead, and is later killed by Ryūdo. | |||
| 22 | "The Drunk Who Does Not Come Home" Transliteration: "Kaette Konai Yopparai" (Japanese:帰ってこないヨッパライ) | March 10, 2007 (2007-03-10) | |
The ayashi hunt down a sake-based Youi which dwells in the water systems. Meanwhile, Atl meets a samurai who will soon be forced to commitseppuku so she tries to open a gate to the Other World which will lead him to safety. | |||
| 23 | "Inba Swamp Construction Along the Old Canal" Transliteration: "Inbanuma Furuhori Sujigofushin" (Japanese:印旛沼古堀筋御普請) | March 17, 2007 (2007-03-17) | |
The Ayashi receive a plea for help at the Inba Marsh construction site, but Atobe orders Ogasawara to not take action because Torii is supervising the construction and his failure could provoke his downfall. However, Ogasawara does not stop the other Ayashi from going there instead. | |||
| 24 | "Fantasy of the Latter Southern Court" Transliteration: "Gonanchō Gensō" (Japanese:後南朝幻想) | March 24, 2007 (2007-03-24) | |
Atl's dissatisfaction with the Human world reaches its peak, and she summons a massive Youi which falls under the Western Ones' control. To complicate matters, Yuki discovers that Genbatsu has joined the Western Ones. | |||
| 25 | "Interlude - People are Ayashi" Transliteration: "Hito wa Ayashi" (Japanese:ヒトハアヤシ) | March 31, 2007 (2007-03-31) | |
To complete their master plan, the Western Ones use Atl's power to summon another gigantic Youi deep into the Ayashi's lair, but Yuki and his companions bring forth the full power of their ayagami to stand against them. | |||
| No. | Title | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inferno–I | "The River of Wailing" Transliteration: "Nageki no Kawa" (Japanese:嘆きの河) | August 22, 2007 (2007-08-22) | |
Finance Magistrate Atobe Yoshisuke dispatched Ogasawara Hozaburo, now a ronin and other Ayashi to investigate the case of missing Hatamoto samurai near Tsukudashima Island. | |||
| Inferno–II | "The City of Dis" Transliteration: "Dīte no Ichi" (Japanese:ディーテの市) | September 26, 2007 (2007-09-26) | |
Ogasawara Hozaburo is thrown into jail at Kodenma-cho Prison for murder. There he met his former tutor Takano Choei again. Saizo is determined to infiltrate the prison to free Ogasawara. | |||
| Inferno–III | "Mount Purgatory" Transliteration: "Rengokuzan" (Japanese:煉獄山) | September 26, 2007 (2007-09-26) | |
Takano and Ogasawara escaped from prison after fire broke out at Kodenma-cho. | |||
| Inferno–IV | "Earthly Paradise" Transliteration: "Chijō Rakuen" (Japanese:地上楽園) | October 24, 2007 (2007-10-24) | |
The Ayashi traveled to Ezo (Hokkaido). | |||
| Inferno–V | "Myth" Transliteration: "Shinwa" (Japanese:神話) | October 24, 2007 (2007-10-24) | |
A manga adaptation byYaeko Ninagawa [ja] was serialized inSquare Enix'sseinen manga magazineYoung Gangan from September 15, 2006,[14][15] to July 20, 2007.[16] Square Enix collected its chapters in twotankōbon volumes, released on February 24 and October 25, 2007.[17][18]
In North America, the manga was licensed for English release byBandai Entertainment. The volumes were released on September 16 and December 16, 2008.[19][20]
巻頭カラー 天保異聞 妖奇士(新連載) 原作:會川昇・BONES 漫画:蜷川ヤエコ
ついに完結!! 天保四妖奇士 原作:會川昇・BONES 漫画:川ヤエコ
