Manga Subject: _Koutarou Magaritooru!_ Character Guide, Part 1 A Glimpse into the World of Tatsuya Hirota's _Koutarou Magaritooru!_ (Koutarou, Break Through!) Before Akira Toriyama began his blockbusting series, _Dragon Ball_, in November 1984, there was another manga already running in Shonen Magazine -- _Koutarou Magaritooru_, over one year earlier. They both featured strong boys in combat, in gag situations. However, where Toriyama put a little boy in a retelling of the Monkey King stories, Tatsuya Hirota had placed a long-haired martial artist in high school. _Koutarou_ shares the fighting elements with _Dragon Ball_, but the slapstick has more in common with _Ranma 1/2_, and _Urusai Yatsura_. There are now 56+ collected volumes of this manga (compared to only 38+ of _Dragon Ball_.) Of course, the artwork has changed over the years, becoming more refined, including more detail, and modifying the overall character designs. On the other hand, just like _Dragon Ball_, the stories have veered away from the comedy, to concentrate on the fighting action. There still are certain comic overtones, but the pacing and set ups have become more serious. People die occasionally, and there are moments of actual pathos. If you like Jackie Chan movies, but not the Dragon Ball series, I recommend investigating _Koutarou_. The fighting action is good, with a bit of toilet humor; the characters have well-developed personalities; and the action is fast-paced. There are also a few "reader services", and appearances by Tatsuya Hirota as himself. However, there is no way I'm going to try to summarize all 56+ books. Instead, I am going to concentrate on compiling a guide to the major characters as they each appear, and to provide a brief description of each volume as I read it. =================================== Volumes 1 through 16 =================================== Character Guide Notes NOTE: Most of the characters introduced at the beginning are still around in the more recent episodes. NOTE: [fa:v??] == First Appearance in Volume ??. [la:v??] == If the character warrants it, Last Appearance in Volume ??. [ls:v??] == Sometimes, a character will disappear for a while, only to surface again a long time later. Last Seen in Volume ??. Tsurugamine Gakuen -- The high school that everyone attends, and that the early combats occur in. Is huge, and has everything one would expect of a school in a gag manga. Fuuki-iinkai -- Morality committee, or decency league. This group includes Tenkouji and Mayumi, and a large cast of nameless minions (this is used in one gag, when two of the minions -- who commonly appear along with Tenkouji -- are referred to by facial features, because they've never been given names.) They usually keep the peace on the school grounds, but spend most of their time chasing Koutarou. Jakotsukai The Snake Bones: Beni Bari's original gang. Controls about 1/3 of the school grounds, but few people are aware of its existence. The main HQ is located in the big school clock tower. Hage -- Baldie. The one word that Tenkouji absolutely despises, and the one that Koutarou loves to use. Tonfa -- A martial arts weapon, similar to a police night stick, with a handle along the side. Nunchukus -- Shindou's favorite weapon, and one used extensively in Bruce Lee's movies: two pieces of hardwood connected together by a piece of rope. =================================== The Main Characters =================================== Koutarou Shindou -- Long-haired karate expert. Uses everything from kung-fu to ninja techniques. High school age, but never really attends classes. As much of a crime fighter as Son Gokuu is. His father is finally revealed in volume 8 as the master of a karate school in America (but we don't get to see his face.) Shindou runs a dojo on the school grounds, but rarely has any students. He is an incredible hentai, and spends most of his time raiding the girls' locker rooms, stealing panties, and running around with them on his head. [fa:v1] Mayumi Watase -- Attractive, dark-haired class leader. In charge of the school's morality committee (Fuuki-iinkai) she starts out spending most of her time trying to cut Koutarou's hair, and to punish him for being the school's biggest pervert. They are not exactly lovers, but their relationship is close to that of Ranma and Akane. They have known each other since childhood, and Koutarou will sacrifice his life to protect Mayumi. In the meantime, he concentrates on increasing his collection of Mayumi's panties. In the earlier volumes, Mayumi demonstrated a certain amount of martial arts skill, but this disappears later on. [fa:v1] Principle Saito -- Runs Tsurugamine H.S. Big lips. Hates Koutarou, and will do anything to see Shindou die. [fa:v1] Teruhiko Tenkouji - The priest who tries to suppress crime in the school. Spends most of his time cleaning up the bodies that Koutarou leaves behind, and in trying to stop Shindou's "pervert behavior." Tenkouji is bald, but hates being called that -- he claims that he shaves his head because he's a priest. Excellent katana master, and a good bodyguard. Enjoys relaxing with a "lemon pack" on his face, which helps improve his skin color. [fa:v1] Beni Bara -- "Rogue Rose." Kind of a ninja-style joker. Works with the bad guys just to see what Koutarou can do. Has a strange relationship with Tenkouji. Usually fights while wearing a mask. Very beautiful, and deadly with throwing knives. Is later revealed to be the primary moving force behind a mysterious gang residing on campus. Also has a secret that Shindou discovers, to his own shock. HINT: Her name is a reference to the Rose of Versailles. [fa:v1] Superintendent Watase -- In charge of the Tokyo Police Department, and is Mayumi's father. His wife is dead. Gruff, good-natured. Lots of scars on his face. [fa:v3] Tatsuya Yoshiokata -- A VERY handsome boy, who almost looks female. Has an IQ of 200, and always carries a fan. Is a lethal martial artist, and becomes the new leader of the school's decency league. [fa:v10] [la:v59] =================================== Story Arcs =================================== Each major plot line covers several volumes, and usually begins with the introduction of a few new characters before the action kicks in. Gags and start up Book 1 Snake Bones and the Clock Tower Secret Book 2 -- 5 Princess Kurara Book 3 -- 9 War in Block D Book 10 -- 16 =================================== Volume Outlines, and New Characters =================================== Volume 1: Masahiko Kimura -- Leader of a martial arts school/gang. Big, mean, and likes to fight while drunk. Beni Bara gives him the task of beating up/killing Koutarou. The first volume starts out introducing various characters, with Mayumi chasing after Koutarou to try to cut his hair. The resulting damage to the rental boats on the lake prompts the principle to offer a 100,000 yen ($300-$800 depending on the time frame) reward to the person or people that succeed in cutting Koutarou's hair. Eventually, everyone else comes in, and beats up on various Yakuza, and each other. At the end, Beni steps in, hits Koutarou with a rock and knocks him out. We last see Koutarou bound up, and lying helpless in front of Masahiko. Volume 2: Shunbei Sadoya -- The school's number one fighter (so he likes to believe.) Likes wearing a paramilitary uniform, and fighting people with his whip. Under the eye patch worn over his left eye, Sadoya keeps his secret weapon -- a gag spring-loaded eyeball. Koutarou gets to defend himself against Masahiko's toughest students. Beni stops Tenkouji from interfering, and Koutarou finally gets to beat Masahiko to a pulp. In the hospital, Koutarou (heavily bandaged, and being comforted by Mayumi,) is attacked by Beni's two ninja assistants. They then discover that Koutarou is actually in another room, and they've been tricked into facing Tenkouji. Then, the principle challenges Tenkouji and Sadoya to compete for a cash prize -- paid to whoever eliminates Koutarou. Volume 3: Mayumi's father -- Name not yet given. A big, gruff man, with scars all over his face. Likes drinking, and does not help Mayumi in her quest to remain morally pure. His wife is dead, and he looks forward to the day that Mayumi and Shindou sleep together (as a prelude to getting married.) [fa:v3] The fight between Shindou, Tenkouji, and Sadoya begins. Both attackers are intent on trying to kill our hero. But, he keeps escaping, even though he's still bandaged up from the fight with Kimura. Tenkouji also becomes obsessed with discovering Beni Bara's identity. First appearance of Mayumi's dad, and proof that he is not your "typical, concerned father." Mayumi's first bottle of sake. Beni Bara approaches Sadoya, and states that the fighter will become her leader-in-command, if he defeats Shindou in a fair contest. Sadoya and Beni kidnap Mayumi, and take her to the top of the school's main clock tower. Shindou and Tenkouji are fighting it out, but Shindou's only concern is to rescue Mayumi. Beni attacks some of Sadoya's underlings, when they try to molest the unconscious prisoner. Volume 4: Continuation of the quest to get into the clock tower. Beni's masked men attack Tenkouji, to keep the priest occupied while Shindou proceeds unassisted. However, Tenkouji is not so easily distracted, and the two boys team up in the tower to fight the masked hordes. We get a little more description of Beni Bara's gang, and the fact that Beni is just using the combat as a test to see if Shindou is worthy of becoming her chief. Sadoya and Koutarou have it out in the clockworks room, and Sadoya reveals a dagger hidden in the grip of his whip. Koutarou gets trashed, but the drive to rescue Mayumi propels him past the normal breaking point, and he kicks Sadoya into the churning gears of the clock. But, he rescues Sadoya at the last moment. Then, when Sadoya is going to stab Koutarou in the back, Beni stops him and declares Shindou to be the winner. Sadoya is pissed, but can't win in a fair fight with Beni. Instead, he sets fire to the clock tower. We now learn that the school had been using the tower mainly as storage for dangerous, explosive chemicals. Tenkouji defeats the big swordfighter that Beni had waiting for him, and takes on Sadoya amid the flames. Sadoya is knocked unconsious and is captured. Beni reveals the nature of her gang to Shindou, but the boy turns down her offer of chiefhood. He also discovers that Beni is actually a very pretty man in drag. (Shindou reacts violently to being kissed by a man.) The knockout gas in Beni's false breasts does the trick, and Shindou is left chained up to the wall as Beni leaves. Mayumi slices up her hands trying to free Shindou, and Tenkouji challenges Beni to a battle to the death in the middle of the growing flames (she trades facial care tips with Tenkouji (after using the lemon pack on his face, he puts the slices in his tea.)) Volume 5: The Rijichou -- The school system director. A more elegant version of Mayumi's father. Beefy man with a white beard, heavy eyebrows, and a constant 'fu-fu-fu' laugh. Is at the school to escort Princess Kurara on the first day, and to pick suitable classmates to be her on-campus bodyguards. [fa:v5] [ls:v9] Princess Kurara -- Daughter of the king of oil-rich "Muua." A harmless airhead that is starting classes at the high school. [fa:v5] [la:v9] Andre -- Kurara's gigantic, dumb, devoted bodyguard. [fa:v5] [la:v9] Chris -- Kurara's smaller, professional guard. Probably from India, he starts out seemingly devoted to his charge, but has greater plans. Also comes into conflict with Tenkouji. [fa:v5] [la:v9] Tamuraa -- Kurara's personal butler. About age 45, bald, and apparently very submissive. [fa:v5] [la:v9] Kyoushirou Inamori Shindou's only student, and fellow pervert. Wears his long hair in a ponytail tied with a ribbon. Has good ninja technique, but is not subtle enough. [fa:v5] [ls:v9] The flames reach the explosives, and the building starts rocking. Tenkouji saves Beni from the rubble, and she knocks him out when he tries to reach Shindou. Tenkouji's men arrive on the scene, and Beni disappears. Shindou breaks free of his chains to save Mayumi from a plummet to her death. Beni is surprised to discover that Shindou is still alive, and had somehow broken her strongest chains. Shindou climbs to the top of the tower, and jumps off (much to the glee of the principle.) Everyone has safely left the tower before it blows up. Later, Tenkouji is told that Beni kissed him, and Koutarou starts throwing up again. The Rijichou appears on campus to warn the principle that Princess Kurara is transferring in to study. As she comes from a rich country, it is important to find suitable guards for her on campus. Tenkouji is chosen. At the same time, Shindou issues an open statement claiming that he will try to go after the Princess' panties. The Princess arrives, with Andre and Chris. A very obnoxious reporter asks stupid questions, and the principle is humiliated as he tries to suck up to royalty. Then, a killer tries to shoot the girl, but his hand is skewered by a short dagger, a throwing dart, and a throwing spike. Tenkouji threw the dagger, and he notices that Chris shot out the dart. But the spike came from... the reporter. Who is of course Koutarou in disguise. The would-be killer is disposed of (he tries to use Koutarou as a hostage to get an escape plane, and Koutarou tries to reverse the situation to demand that the police bring in a busload of pretty women.) We now learn that the Rijichou had made the challenge to Kurara's panties, to bring Koutarou out in the open, and gives the boy the job as co-bodyguard. Shindou flips the girl's skirt up, to show that Kurara wears an official government seal on her panties. This is a first for her, and she develops a crush on Shindou. First indication that Shindou has been collecting Mayumi's panties, including her first diaper. Kurara starts classes, but has to be taught how to take her clothes off without the help of her maids. Shindou watches in the locker room. Shindou needs money for his dojo, and asks Kurara to sign up. However, the other martial arts clubs are competing for her attention, and there is a big demo. Shindou challenges everyone to fight him at once, and uses guerrilla tactics to win out. But, he is badly injured, and Kurara runs to him, calling the boy her "knight." Mayumi is distressed. Shindou asks the principle for money to fix his dojo, but the man won't give it until the boy gets more students. Kurara signs up, and when she does, Mayumi, Tenkouji, and all of the Fuuki-iinkai sign up as well. The principle goes into a spasm. Volume 6: The group trains in the dojo, until the older brother of one of the high school club captains arrives to get revenge for Shindou's beating up his little brother. His henchmen get defeated, so he takes the girls hostage. Andre breaks through the wall to rescue the girls, and Chris mocks Tenkouji as an amateur bodyguard. Tenkouji goes into a slump, until Shindou suggests that the two of them infiltrate Kurara's hotel, and sneak into her room. They disguise themselves as two old business men, and put on a gay-love scene in their room, to sicken the guards outside listening in. Shindou wote the script, and he gets a bit too intense in playing out his role (very funny.) They manage to get into Kurara's room, and Shindou gives her flowers. Tenkouji is happier at embarrassing the professionals. The principle is enraged, and creates a campus-wide fighting competition (Tenkouji is not allowed to enter.) The fighting is very silly (Hirota appears in the ring to compete against his editor. Hirota loses.) The principle faces off against Shindou, and gets a faceful of fart. But, before Shindou can claim the prize, "Crazy Mask" leaps into the ring to kill him. Shindou has met his match, but quickly recognizes the "Mask's" technique. He uses his patented "strip the pants off to grab the panties" kick against the Mask. Inamori takes the mask off and surrenders. During the fight, Mayumi left the building after seeing Kurara's crush on Shindou. Shindou was distracted at not seeing Mayumi, and almost loses until she returns. However, this is misunderstood, and only increases Kurara's crush on the boy. At the end, Inamori wants to throw a party, but no one wants to come. So, he starts crying to manipulate everyone. The party takes place, they all get drunk, Kurara kisses Shindou good night, and Mayumi sleepily tells Shindou that she likes/loves him. Volume 7: Keishisoukan Watase -- Mayumi's father (Police Superintendent Watase.) The book starts out with a torture in a dungeon in Muua, then switches to Kurara, who is wondering if she really loves Shindou. Mayumi can't remember anything of the party, the next morning. The police arrive to arrest Shindou for the theft of all of Kurara's panties, but Mayumi's father acts as an alibi. The detective thinks that the guy with the carved up face must be a wanted criminal, until a cop reports that Mayumi's father is actually the Superintendent of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department (which is news to everyone but Mayumi and Shindou.) Shindou vows to steal the last pair of Kurara's panties, and the battle between he and Tenkouji takes place at the bottom of the school pond. However, a group of armed frogmen interfere, and Tenkouji takes an airgun spear to the chest. Chris recovers Kurara's panty, and Shindou gets Tenkouji to a hospital. He puts up a strong front, but is devastated at the idea that Tenkouji may die. Which does happen. However, the liberal use of 'hage' brings the priest back from the brink (he roars, "who is a 'hage'?" before blacking out.) With Tenkouji in the hospital, a band of hooded figures make a raid on Shindou's dojo. There's a bit of damage to property, before the leader challenges the boy to a one-on-one. The leader uses tonfa, and Shindou employs his favored nunchukus. Shindou loses, and lies helpless on the ground when the leader pulls his mask off. Chris gloats over the fact that amatuers are no match for a professional. Volume 8: The Regent -- Kurara's grandfather. He's running the country until the Princess is old enough. A harmless old man. Hidora -- A Duke in Muua. Hopes to become the next king. A greasy braggart who killed Kurara's father, and who quickly hates Shindou. He's also got a thing for high school girls. (ie -- Loli-con: Lolita Complex.) Mayumi dreams of Koutarou, but can't find him anywhere after she wakes up. Her father, the Superintendent, tells her that Shindou has apparently run off with Kurara (the two of them have completely disappeared.) Chris states that Shindou attacked their car, and used a gasbomb to kidnap the girl. He suppliments the story with photos of Kurara hugging Shindou (taken by a reporter during the fighting competition in volume 6, when Kurara told Shindou that she thinks she loves him.) In a room somewhere, Shindou sits next to the sleeping Kurara, and tells her that he loves her. Chris gives the Super one week to find the missing kids, before diplomatic problems arise. Shindou tries to seduce the Princess, but memories of Mayumi surface, and he breaks free of the hypnotic trance Tamuraa induced in him. Chris steps into the room, revealing the grand plan -- he needs to get the pair of Kurara's panties that have the royal seal. He and Tamuraa are in league with an upstart pretender to the Muua throne, and the panties are the key to preventing Kurara from becoming queen in ceremonies scheduled one week away. Kurara's father had died mysteriously one year ago, and her grandfather had been running the kingdom until she comes of age. But, there is revolution brewing, and indications that the grandfather may an evil tyrant. Of course, this is really the product of the Duke's manipulations. The plans brew. Inamori sneaks into the dojo, and discovers: Mayumi changing clothes; and the fact that parts of the dojo are brand new. Suspecting that a fight had taken place, and that lots of money was spent in fixing the damage overnight, Inamori dives into the indoor outhouse to surface with a book of matches that had come from Kurara's hotel. Tenkouji keeps trying to escape from the hospital to search for his rival, and keeps suffering from his recent wound. The Regent and Hidora arrive in Japan, and demand that the Princess be found. The Superintendent and the Rijichou are desperate for a solution, until the Regent realizes that Mayumi, in a wig and with some makeup, could easily double for the Princess. Unfortunately, Kurara can speak flawless English, and Mayumi can't. The Rijichou vows to give Mayumi a rigorous one-week crash course. Hidora confronts the Princess and Shindou, and the situation develops into a brawl. Hidora loses part of his moustache, and gets some bruises before Kurara orders Andre to beat up Shindou. Of course, the problem is that Tamuraa has hypnotised Kurara, and ordered her to betray Shindou. Koutarou surrenders, and Hidora wants to find a way to kill the troublemaker that won't end too quickly. Chris suggests "combat in the Roman Collosium." Volume 9: Andre and Shindou are dressed up as gladiators, and the others are a part of Nero's entourage. Chris orders the fight to begin, and the giant takes a little damage before killing Shindou. The boy's ghost floats around in the hospital, looking into the nurses' locker room, and up women's skirts. He decides that he likes being dead, until finding Mayumi in the bathtub -- she's in tears, hoping for Koutarou's return. Shindou vows to meet with her again, and returns to his body. He then attacks Andre's fingers, before knocking the giant unconscious. Chris keeps his part of the bargain, and doesn't kill the boy. And, we learn that the collosium is really a hologram, and they are still in a different part of Kurara's hotel building. Tamuraa resumes his guise as the Princess' submissive, worried butler, and is shocked at seeing that Kurara has been found. However, this is Mayumi in disguise. Mayumi, after lots of study, has become the perfect double -- news of which is quickly relayed to Chris and Hidora. The traitors plot to allow the coronation to proceed, and to reveal the impostor on international TV. This happens, but Inamori rescues the real Princess, Shindou goes berzerk at learning of the danger awaiting Mayumi, and Tenkouji is allowed out of the hospital in time to save Shindou in the hotel. (The hero and the priest are nearly killed in Inamori's grenade attack, though.) All hell breaks loose, and the police raid the Muua Embassy to save Mayumi. Hidora's plan is in shambles, so he tries to stab the real Princess to death. (Kurara defends herself with the one attack that Shindou taught her -- a kick to the balls.) Tamuraa is arrested, and Shindou locates Chris to finally determine who is a better fighter: the pro, or the amatuer. Shindou gets trashed, fighting without an audience, so he takes the battle into the main ceremonies room. Chris uses the same attack as before with his tonfa, against Shindou's nunchukus. This time, though, the boy turns the tables, and smashes the weapons into Chris's groin. The amatuer wins. Mayumi rushes to be reunited with Koutarou, and trips and smashes her face into the floor on global TV. Kurara realizes that she can not win Shindou's heart, so she returns to her country, and lets the boy keep one pair of her panties. In a letter to Mayumi, she asks a favor of the girl -- that the Princess be invited to their marriage. Volume 10: Megumi Yoshiokata -- Tatsuya's younger sister, and a mean professional wrestler. Her long black hair is held in a pony tail, and she's the epitany of tom boys. Is first seen running out of Block D, being chased by the Black Teeth gang. Kenji Kisaragi -- A long-haired kung fu master, who uses a long staff that breaks down into sections connected by a chain. Is easily Tenkouji's equal, and may be able to compete with Shindou. Goes to Block D to meet his older brother. Shindou always calls him "Hiromi". Hiromi Kisaragi -- Leader of the China Rose gang of transvestites, and Kenji's older brother. Hiromi asked Kenji to drop in to help in the fight against Cyclops. Rather pretty, with straight, shoulder-length blond hair. All of the China Rose gang wear Chinese restaurant-style dresses and flat shoes. Nisemono -- "Imitation". Nisemono is a high school tough that wants to bring his gang to Block D, and make his reputation as "Shindou Koutarou." While he has the long, flowing black hair and t-shirt, he is actually shaved bald, too tall, and has a very square jaw. He's also a lousy fighter and a braggart. Shindou doesn't care what the guy's real name is, and keeps calling him Nisemono. Black Teeth Gang -- One of the many gangs in Block D, who take turns "greeting" "visitor's" to the Block. Characterized by vests, no shirt, weird haircuts, and black teeth. Block D -- A section of the school grounds that was closed off by the authorities for being too dangerous. Is now the stomping grounds for over 500 violent delinquents. The normal method to get there is to take the school monorail to the Block D station, where you will be greeted by several gangs. If you manage to defeat the "gang of the day," you will be allowed to join up with one of them. Each gang has a uniform that all of its members wear. A very brutal place, and there are NO women there. As the Decency League president is walking to his room on the school grounds, he is attacked by a gang wearing the masks of the Jakotsukai, and badly injured. His replacement arrives soon after -- Tatsyu Yashiokata -- to take over. About this time, Tenkouji and Shindou rescue Megumi as she escapes from Block D with some of the Black Teeth right behind her. Tatsuya invites Mayumi and Shindou to a fan dance presentation, where he attacks Shindou with throwing fans before running away. Later, he wants to meet with Shindou to explain, but the hero isn't interested until he discovers that Megumi is Tatsuya's little sister. Shindou is then sent on a mission to Block D. On the monorail, the "Shindou Koutarou gang", and Kenji Kisaragi board at the Block C station. The train is "greeted" by the Black Teeth, as they throw rotten eggs at it. The SK gang get hit, but not Shindou and Kenji. Since Shindou returned some of the eggs to the BT leader, the leader wants revenge. Shindou is questioned, and replies that "Shindou Koutarou" did it. Shindou's name had become famous due to the last few battles, so the BT leader attacks Nisemono to make his reputation as the one to defeat Shindou. The real Shindou defeats the BT gang, and arranges to have the SK gang sent back home, but without any of their clothing. About this time, Mayumi learns about the history of Block D, and decides to go on her own to rescue Shindou (a VERY stupid move.) Megumi with instructions to act as Mayumi's bodyguard, intercepts Mayumi, and forces the girl to jump from the monorail before it reaches the station. The two change into the uniforms of The Punks gang, and try to sneak into the Block through the forest. The surviving gangs all want Shindou to join them, but get furious at being turned down. So, Kenji and Koutarou temporarily team up, and escape the station. Shindou's "smoke bomb" turns out to be a real grenade, which blows a hole in the station and the two escape to the ruins of what used to be part of the school grounds. Volume 11 Harry Nezumi -- Ex-leader of the Punks. Thin, tall, with very unruly black hair. Is first found hanging from a building, dying from whip wounds. Cyclops -- A new gang that intends to take over Block D. Is led by what looks like Shunbei Sadoya, wearing a hood with one eye painted on it. The two main cohorts are unnamed: the short fat one is a drunk that fires beans from his hands with the force of bullets, and who is a patron of the Bombers gang; The other is a tall, elegant swordsman with a short black moustach, and a weakness for anyone that looks pretty. Baa-chan -- A guy that looks and dresses like an ugly old woman. Acts as the sole cook of Block D's eating pit. Ooyamaneko -- "Big mountain cat." Leader of the Bombers gang. A military strategist in the British drill sargeant sense. Shaggy black hair, bushy eye brows, moustache, scar over one eye, monocle, glasses, and walking stick. Kenji is suspicious of Shindou's motives, and attacks him. Nisemono had recovered from his beating, and minus his wig, tries to save his hero. So, Kenji just leaves, and Koutarou is stuck with an admirer who just won't go away. Nisemono and Shindou discover a naked man who'd been very badly whipped, and tied up to die hanging from a building. While trying to rescue the guy, Shindou is attacked by the victim's old gang. Afterwards, the two learn that the guy is Harry Nezumi, leader of the strongest gang in the Block. The Cyclops leader had attacked him, leaving him to die and breaking up the gang. Harry decides to join Shindou as well, and the hero is stuck with both hangers-on because: Harry is the only one that knows where to get supper, and Nisemono is the only one willing to carry the injured Nezumi to the eating hall. Meanwhile, Megumi and Mayumi are located by a different gang, and Mayumi gives away the fact thay they are both women. Megumi reveals her skills as a pro wrestler, beating up three men. A fourth had escaped, and in the ensuing chase, Mayumi falls down a hole and into an underground river. The river surfaces into a drinking pool, and Mayumi's unconscious body drops into the pool at Kenji's feet. Megumi defeats her pursuers, but is now on her own. Shindou is weak from hunger, and wants Nisemono to pay for his food. However, a bowl of ramen costs 5000 yen ($50), and none of them have that much money. Two rival gang members challenge Shindou to a "game" (run a gauntlet of people throwing knives at the target): if he succeeds, they'll pay for the food. Shindou succeeds, but the punks only have enough money for one bowl of ramen. So, Koutarou bargains with Baa-chan to hock one punk's leathers for another bowl. As the punk tries to sneak out, the Cyclops leader (who has been watching all of this) uses his whip to punish the sneak (while also destroying the jacket.) The leader then attacks the subcommander of the Bombers and trashes him. Shindou recognizes the leader as Sadoya. In a flashback, Shindou recalls Tatsuya's briefing. In the wreckage of the old clock tower, Beni Bari had a hidden safe, with a note that described the existence of 10 million yen hidden somewhere in Block D. This is what Sadoya and Shindou are both after. Shindou challenges Sadoya, but discovers that the Cyclops leader is not the Shunbei Sadoya that he last fought (the whip is longer than before, and the man is much more skilled with it.) They fight until the survivors of the monorail station fight storm the eating pit and attack Shindou. Sadoya escapes in the turmoil. Megumi discovers the eating pit, and tries to trail Sadoya, but quickly loses him. Baa-chan takes pity on Nezumi, and shows him and Nisemono where the service exit is. Shindou and the group escape, and Shindou eats the rice cakes that Baa-chan gave them as a gift. Hiromi surprises Kenji in a tickling attack (showing that Hiromi may be Kenji's equal in stealth ability), and they go visit the girl that Kenji brought with him. Hiromi declares that Mayumi is not one of "hers", as Megumi really is a girl. Mayumi wakes up, and the sheet over her falls down to reveal her breasts. Kenji is the only one to suffer a nose bleed. Megumi announces that she is also joining up with Shindou, and berates Nezumi for allowing the Punks to be defeated, which had blown her disguise plans. Finally, Shindou goes to the Bombers to talk to the leader, Ooyamaneko, to warn him of the threat from Cyclops. Ooyamaneko has heard of Shindou's exploits, and wants to befriend the boy, but when one of the China Rose gang is captured and beaten up in the Bomber's building, Shindou reacts and ends up having to fight them all. Volume 12 Kenji is being sent out to recover the captured transvestite, but Mayumi wants them to talk the dispute over peacefully. Which marks her as a traitor. However, Kenji falls for Mayumi and protects her before leaving. In the Bomber's building, Shindou fights the Bombers' main ninja and defeats him. Megumi has downed all of Ooyamaneko's prized whiskey in 10 seconds, and the leader becomes furious. Shindou then has to face the trained soldiers and Ooyamaneko's use of formations, while the drunk Megumi gets in the way. When the transvestite gets to hold the sleeping Megumi, the boy throws the girl away in horror. Megumi recovers, with a huge bump on her head, next to the Bombers' cache of molotov cocktails. Eventually, the Bombers' building is reduced to smoking ash, while the three main Cyclops look on. Unfortunately, Nisemono had been knocked unconscious in the fighting, and has to be rescued from the flames by Shindou. The CR member and Nezumi are captured, but Kenji arrives in time to help all them out. People keep saying that Shindou was responsible for all of the carnage, and he wants them to stop it, as his reputation is starting to get out of control. He reverses himself, though, when confronted by the beautiful members of the China Rose gang. The letdown is humonguous, when he learns that he risked his neck is save a transvestite, and he won't let the CR gang get close to him anymore. While Kenji and the captive are reunited with CR, Mayumi (who had been left under guard at the hideout) escapes to find Shindou. She is very quickly discovered by another gang that tries to rape her. Kenji runs off to find Mayumi, and is surprised to learn how much Shindou wants to recover her as well. Kenji rescues Mayumi, but suffers from the loss of a lot of blood from his nose, when he sees her in just her underwear. Shindou discovers a classroom where Sadoya had impaled an effigy of him, and covered it with red paint. Kenji is out of the fight, and Mayumi screams in fear. Causing Shindou to drop several stories from the window to save her. He got to see her breasts, and he makes sure that the last punk didn't touch them (the punk would have died, otherwise.) Back at the CR hideout, Shindou and Mayumi are planning on leaving, when they learn that Cyclops has blown up the monorail. Now, there's no way to escape, and Shindou decides to concentrate on finding Beni Bara's hidden stash. Megumi and Mayumi reunite happily, and there is a party that night (all of the pretty "girls" compete to fill Shindou's glass with alcohol.) The next morning, Mayumi talks a bit with Kenji (Kenji used his concentration and force to jam his hands into a boulder. Mayumi broke his concentration, and he then can't get his hands back out.) China Rose collects money from the other gangs, but that has become difficult lately. So, Shindou is put into a China Rose dress, and he beats up other gang members to collect the cash (along with Nisemono and Nezumi.) The fighting makes him hungry, and they break to go to the eating pit. Where the fat Cyclops is drunkenly awaiting them (to avenge the defeat of his prized Bombers.) Volume 13 Tenkouji is finally fully healed, and he's learned that Shindou has gotten into Block D without him. In anger, he puts together an attack squad from the decency league, but is summoned to Tatsuya's office first. After trading lemon pack tips, the Priest is briefed on the situation, and Shindou's current location (Tatsuya somehow knows that Shindou is with China Rose now.) At the burnt-out remains of the Bombers' building, Sadoya and the Fencer fail to find a clue to Beni Bara's stash. They discuss the hazard posed by Shindou's presence, but Sadoya looks forward to having more fun. The fat Cyclops is very drunk when Shindou arrives in the eating pit, and is tricked into fighting the boy outside. With the door firmly locked, Shindou has time to eat. The Fat One comes in through the skylight, and nails Shindou in the chest with a bean. However, our hero was wearing a bra under the dress, and was saved from death. When he tries to escape through the service entrance again, he's stopped by Nisemono (who can't bear the thought of his hero running away from danger.) But, in return, Nisemono protects Shindou from the Fat One, and takes several beans in the back and dies. Our hero is pissed, and runs outside, where he takes advantage of the long grass to surprise, and finally defeat, the Fat One (by dislocating his thumb.) In the eating pit, Baa-chan takes Nisemono, and prepares to chop him up for the meat for tonight's ramen. At the eating pit door, Kenji and Hiromi encounter Sadoya and the Fencer. This is currently a time of truce, and all that happens is that the Fencer makes advances on Hiromi. Sadoya discovers that the Fat One had disobeyed his orders and assaulted Shindou, and he runs to find the site of the fighting. Shindou is torn up over the loss of Nisemono, and a brawl involving him, Kenji, Sadoya, and the Fencer is about to break out when Nezumi arrives to say that Nisemono is still alive. Turns out that Baa-chan used to be a nurse, and had actually used his knives to perform surgery. In his sleep, though, Nisemono mentioned the 10 million yen, so Baa-chan now hands Shindou a bill for all of the furniture and dishes that had been damaged in the fighting (the surgery, however, was a free service.) Then, Shindou realizes that Cyclops is missing, and runs out to the fight site. There, the Fat One has been nailed to a tree, and badly whipped as punishment for overstepping his bounds. In a discussion with Hirmomi, Shindou realizes that since Sadoya is still visiting the various buildings of the gangs being defeated, that Cyclops still hasn't found the 10 million yen, either. The next target is the hideout of the X gang (which the Fat One trashed in the eating pit before meeting Shindou.) Shindou leaves on his own to sneak into the building, leaving Mayumi in tears, and eating 20 bean sandwiches (an-pan) to relieve her frustration. Kenji resolutely leaves to follow the boy. Finally, Sadoya discovers a secret door leading into a cave system, and he and the Fencer go exploring. The Cyclops guards outside are defeated by gang members seeking revenge, and Koutarou follows Sadoya. There's a brief fight using the stalagtites in the cavern, until the angry gang members run down the stairs and attack. Shindou uses a large stalagtite to punch through the final steel door protecting the next cavern level below them. Sadoya goes down the shaft, and the Fencer demonstrates his skill, holding off the mob -- who have all been organized into a larger group by Ooyamaneko. Tenkouji and the decency league have penetrated Block D, and are advancing, when the Priest encounters Kenji. Unfortunately, Tenkouji, while asking where Shindou is, implies that there is bad blood between them, and Kenji fights the Priest to protect Mayumi's boyfriend. Mayumi is grateful for Hiromi's understanding, and hugs the transvestite, and throws up 20 an-pan on "her". Hiromi has taken a fancy to Mayumi, and wants to have a shower with the girl as "she" cleans up and Mayumi washes the dirtied dress. Leaving them vulnerable to kidnapping by Ooyamaneko's gang members. All of the fighting continues, as Sadoya gets the drop on Shindo, and Tenkouji gets the drop on Kenji. But, the rest of the DL show up and explain the misunderstanding concerning their leader. Kenji escapes to help Shindou, and tells the DL that Mayumi is currently hiding in the China Rose building. Tenkouji follows Kenji. The Fencer follows Sadoya into the cave shaft, down to where Shindou is lying unconscious, leaving a stick of dynamite behind them as a present for the other gang members. Volume 14 The DL reaches China Rose's building, but only find hostile gang members, and Megumi tied up in a closet. Tenkouji and Kenji switch clothes, and enter the cave with everyone else. Sadoya wants to keep Shindou close by, so the Fencer carries the boy until Sadoya finds a small jewel case holding a ruby worth 10 million yen. Shindou was playing possum, and in the ensuing struggle, accidently swallows the ruby. And, between Sadoya's whip and the Fencer's foil, he is tripped and smashes his head against a rock. Tenkouji and Kenji show up to rescue the hero, so Sadoya and the Fencer retreat. Shindou wakes up, but now has amnesia, and can't remember ANYTHING. His body, though, does fight as well as before, without his conscious guidance. When shown a photo of Mayumi, Shindou just says that she's cute, and asks for her phone number. Cyclops, and the heroes, both exit the caverns, with Sadoya sadistically looking forward to revenge. The DL radios to Tenkouji that the China Rose gang have all been abducted, and Kenji panicks. The CR have all been taken to a warehouse, where they drive their guards crazy by their fluffy chattering. Shindou discovers Megumi, and tries to seduce her (succeeding only in locating Mayumi's Punks disguise and announcing that it smells good.) Kenji runs off to rescue his brother, Megumi and Shindou sneak off for the same reason, and Tenkouji is left behind at the CR hideout, with the rest of the DL. Kenji gets into the warehouse and rescues Mayumi, but Hiromi and the rest of the CR gang can defend themselves on their own. So, Kenji takes his girl out on the streets, where they are discovered and attacked. Kenji hugs Mayumi in a dark alley, and suffers a huge nosebleed. They are rescued by the disguised members of the DL. Megumi and Shindou miss finding Kenji, and instead get into various fights before entering the warehouse (Shindou has forgotten that the "pretty girls" aren't girls, and tries to seduce them.) Ooyamaneko learns that his warehouse guards have been defeated, so he traps Shindou inside the building and tries unsuccessfully to break in. But, because Hiromi decides to show "her" tactical skills, only 5 to 10 people are allowed to get into the building at a time, where they are easily trashed by Shindou and Megumi. Meanwhile, the Fencer and Sadoya have changed into normal leathers, and are watching on. Sadoya had snuck into the building, and closed the doors behind him. There now follows a major whip and flour contest, and Megumi eventually manages to knock Sadoya's sunglasses off; she screams. Outside, Kenji and Tenkouji are fighting Ooyamaneko's masses, while Mayumi and the DL try to sneak inside the warehouse. Volume 15 Ryuuhei Sadoya -- Leader of the Cyclops gang, and Shunbei Sadoya's brother. They are twins, but where Shunbei's left eye is missing, Ryuuhei's right eye has been cut up. Ryuuhei is much more sadistic, and uses longer whips than his brother. In contrast, while Kenji gets nosebleeds after looking at naked women, Ryuuhei throws up when people talk about their love for one another. Sadoya puts his glasses back on, and Tenkouji is losing energy. However, it's only because the Priest is wearing his normal kendo outfit under his disguise (with the disguise removed, there's no problem.) Sadoya is using two whips now, and he reduces Shindou and Megumi to tattered strips. Meanwhile, the Fencer and his gang get the drop on Ooyamaneko. The Fencer takes control of all of the gangsters, and Sadoya comes outside, holding Shindou's limp body by the hair. The next morning finds Ooyamaneko, Tenkouji, and Kenji tied up in the warehouse, and the big gangster cries over dying at only age 18 (he looks to be closer to 40.) The prisoners are taken outside, where the other gangsters yell insults at them (Tenkouji goes berzerk at being called "hage".) They are taken to where Sadoya is reclining in a chair, in front of three catapults. The catapults are designed so that when they fire, the ropes tied to them yank their victims into the air. But, because the victims' feet are tied to the ground, their heads will be ripped off. The victims are, one of the DL, Hiromi, and the unconscious Shindou. The only person still on the loose is Mayumi, who had been rescued by Baa-chan. Eventually, Baa-chan reveals that he may be more involved in the conspiracy here than he should be. The Priest yells out Shinbei Sadoya's name, and we now learn more about the Sadoya family. Several years before, Ryuuhei, the brother of Shunbei, had been a terrific fighter with a whip -- just like Shunbei. However, in the middle of a big battle, Ryuuhei had his right eye slashed up with a knife. Their father became enraged, and whipped Ryuuhei to a pulp. Sadistically, Shunbei told his brother that by getting damaged like that, he couldn't become heir in the family line anymore. Ryuuhei, being much meaner than Shunbei, ignored his wounds and ripped Shunbei's left eye out, and gave it to their father as a gift. Both brothers became outcasts, and after being defeated by Shindou, Shunbei got locked up in a padded cell, where he happily tortures Hokuto no Ken dolls with a little whip and candle wax. When Shindou gets whipped some more, Tenkouji tries to intervene, but is blocked by Kenji -- if Sadoya is threatened, the Fencer will cut the ropes securing the catapult arms. Sadoya can't understand why Kenji would protect Hiromi like this, and throws up. So, he decides that Kenji and Tenkouji can fight it out. The loser dies, and the winner gets to save the friend that is to be catapulted. Rain begins pouring, and the two fight it out. Baa-chan and Mayumi watch on, and Baa-chan decides that the girl will be taking her part in the play soon. Then, as Kenji is about to smash the Priest's head in, he sees Mayumi at the back of the crowd. He can't kill Tenkouji in front of Mayumi, which gives the Priest time to recover and run his sword through Kenji's stomach. Kenji dies, and the DL member is released from the catapult. And, as a sign of respect, Tenkouji offers to put his neck inside Hiromi's noose -- Sadoya agrees, and Hiromi is also released. The rain wakes Shindou up just as his dream of Mayumi taking a shower is starting to get good. Megumi is brought forward, and while Shindou protects her from assault by her guard, he doesn't stop Sadoya from revealing her panties. Baa-chan has taken this moment to prep Mayumi, and the girl steps forward to protect Megumi (Sadoya still thinks that Megumi is Shindou's girlfriend, and that by assaulting Megumi, he'll jog Shindou's memory, or work up the boy's fighting spirit.) Shindou can only recognize Mayumi from her photo, and still doesn't remember anything from before his concussion. The rain also chooses this time to stop falling, and the sky clears. Baa-chan has taken Kenji's body (for chopping up for supper) and revived him with a bit of meatball surgery (turns out that Tenkouji used a very difficult sword cut that only incapacitates the victim, leaving a chance that the victim can be saved by a doctor.) When Sadoya assaults Mayumi, Shindou unconsciously fires his shoes into the back of Sadoya's head. So, Sadoya decides to put a big frying pan underneath Shindou, to see how strong this "power of love" is. The boy is hung by the neck over the frying pan, and Mayumi runs in to hold him up. But, this causes her boots to start burning. When Kenji (who is now bandaged and wide awake) sees this and tries to leap out the window to save them, a mysterious woman wearing a Snake Bones mask sticks a needle in the back of his neck, paralyzing him. The woman doesn't want Kenji to interfere too soon. Mayumi is succumbing to the heat and pain, but refuses to leave Shindou to choke to death, saying that she likes/loves him. Suddenly, the boy has a bunch of flashbacks, and his memory returns just in time for him to catch Mayumi's falling body with his feet. The extra weight chokes him even more, so Tenkouji yells out that if he dies, he can't save Mayumi. This fires up an adrenaline rush so strong that Shindou breaks the ropes holding his hands, and pulls himself and the unconscious Mayumi up to the safety of the catapult arm. Tenkouji is in tears, and demands that Shindou tell him who he is as a memory test -- the answer is "hage, hage." Kenji is also overwhelmed at the display, and discovers that he can move again, and that no one else is in the room with him. Sadoya throws up after ordering the Fencer to shoot Tenkouji's catapult and at least kill SOMEONE. However, Tenkouji survives, when a mysterious figure in the shadows throws a knife that cuts loose his noose. Kenji, Tenkouji, and Megumi all start fighting, and Sadoya threatens Shindou. Volume 16 Sadoya laughs -- up to this point, he's been only using 50% of his power. He destroys his chair with his whips to show what happens when he is serious. Tenkouji thinks that he is the one to take out Sadoya, but Shindou hands the unconscious Mayumi to him ("Don't touch her breasts, those belong to me") and uses his shirt as a headband, to show his own determination. Then, Shindou runs away. In among the crowd of thugs, Sadoya's whips find, and attack, everyone BUT Shindou. Eventually, there's some serious fighting, Sadoya gets thumped good, and the battle moves into one of the empty school buildings. However, as one of the thugs yells out, Sadoya is unkillable. Whenever the villian is smashed down, he just gets back up again (with a few less teeth each time.) Meanwhile, the Fencer challenges Tenkouji to a very one-sided sword fight (the Priest is unarmed, facing a foil.) When Tenkouji yells out a warning that Sadoya is behind Koutarou and about to attack, the Fencer skewers his target through the shoulder -- also from behind; the Fencer then gallantly warns the Priest to watch his own back from now on. As this is going on, Kenji (who is still suffering from his stomach wound,) fights off the lower minions of the Cyclops gang as the mysterious masked woman looks on. When the last minion goes down, Kenji goes to help Shindou. Tenkouji had claimed to be doing fine against the Fencer, but actually he's getting cut up pretty good. Finally, the Fencer repeats his charge attack one too many times, and the Priest stabs him in the stomach with the knife that the masked woman had thrown at the catapult earlier. Right up to the end, the Fencer had tried to keep his cool, but he is dead now. Kenji and Shindou both stand over Sadoya's fallen body, looking across the roofs to stare at the masked woman watching them. But, when she drops the mask, it's only Megumi playing a joke on them. And Sadoya gets up again. At the same time, the remaining gang members all converge on the people still on the ground, and Baa-chan discovers Tatsuya sitting in a chair in the eating pit. Two of the Snake Bones gang drop down behind Baa-chan, so the guy has to talk to Tatsuya. But, after discussing Baa-chan's plans to infiltrate the Block D gangs, and then go on to all of Japan, Tatsuya removes Baa-chan's disguise to reveal Beni Bara, and Beni rips the masks off of Tatsyua's two female minions and tells them not to screw around like that any more. Sadoya takes his whips to Kenji. So, Shindou pulls his headband down over his eyes; no longer distracted, Shindou easily evades the whips, and finally grabs them with his hands. This is like pulling the plug out of the socket, and all of Sadoya's energy leaves him; the villian collapses for the final time. Surrounded by the gangsters, the Priest and the hostages are surprised to hear that the mob wants to surrender, now that Cyclops is defeated and there's no one else to join up with. Koutarou takes Sadoya's limp body to a safe room, and has it bandaged up. Tatsuya meets up with Megumi, and the two of them leave the Block. When Sadoya reawakens, he realizes that Shindou didn't just see through his whip attack, the boy also saw what was really in his heart. He agonizes over what made him the way he is, and speculates on the possibility of rectifying his past wrongs. Mayumi is brooding over having stated that she likes Shindou, and the boy overhears her. But, it's treated as a joke. Her feet are now heavily bandaged, as is the Hage's head, and Shindou's body. People tell each other goodbye, and the entire mob cheers as the conquering heroes leave. The Priest broods over Beni Bara, as she worries about him, and Tatsuya. The Decency League, Tenkouji, Shindou, and Mayumi walk back to Block C along the exit road (Hiromi had lied; there IS an easy way to get into and out of the Block,) and we get to see that poor Nezumi has been forgotten, and is lost in the snake-infested jungle. (Beni has lost the ruby, and Shindou wonders what presents he can afford to buy the rest of the 10,000 members of his school, with the 10 million yen (omiyage == the practice of bringing presents back home to friends and co-workers, when you return from a trip.)) End of the War in Block D story arc. The final chapter describes the first appearance of Tenkouji several years ago, and his encounters with Shindou and Mayumi. (There is a vast difference in the art style, and the Priest as a very spoiled, brash braggart at that time.) ISDN information [Kodansha Comics, ISBN4-06-172874-1 C0279, 370 yen] -- 1 [Kodansha Comics, ISBN4-06-172876-8 C0279, 370 yen] -- 2 [Kodansha Comics, ISBN4-06-172889-X C0279, 370 yen] -- 3 [Kodansha Comics, ISBN4-06-172907-1 C0279, 370 yen] -- 4 [Kodansha Comics, ISBN4-06-172917-9 C0279, 370 yen] -- 5 [Kodansha Comics, ISBN4-06-172929-2 C0279, 370 yen] -- 6 [Kodansha Comics, ISBN4-06-172948-9 C0279, 380 yen] -- 7 [Kodansha Comics, ISBN4-06-172961-6 C0279, 380 yen] -- 8 [Kodansha Comics, ISBN4-06-172979-9 C0279, 380 yen] -- 9 [Kodansha Comics, ISBN4-06-172997-7 C0279, 380 yen] -- 10 [Kodansha Comics, ISBN4-06-173013-4 C0279, 380 yen] -- 11 [Kodansha Comics, ISBN4-06-173028-2 C0279, 380 yen] -- 12 [Kodansha Comics, ISBN4-06-173049-5 C0279, 380 yen] -- 13 [Kodansha Comics, ISBN4-06-173063-0 C0279, 380 yen] -- 14 [Kodansha Comics, ISBN4-06-173089-4 C0279, 380 yen] -- 15 [Kodansha Comics, ISBN4-06-173121-1 C0279, 370 yen] -- 16 -- Curtis H. Hoffmann Nov. 20, 1994