Otaku at 42
Worthwhile Anime for Adults
Otogi Zoshi Characters
In Order of Appearance, Vol. 1
Tsuna; Watanabe no Tsuna
Tsuna is Lord Raikou’s loyal servant and protector who appears by Raikou's side from the start. Tsuna dedicates his life to the protection of Raikou wherever she may go, even after being blinded in his right eye. Tsuna wields his long sword when in battle, especially when protecting Raikou.
It is later revealed within the story that Tsuna had been going blind in his left eye as well, in which he occasionally has blurred vision, resulting in him randomly seeing objects come closer or farther away. Fortunately, this seems to occur only at certain times.
Throughout the quest Tsuna effectively fights by Hikaru’s side, such as in the attainment of the Magatama of Fire. Tsuna primarily reflects his great skills during the destruction of the Capital Arc, where he personally dueled with great resolve against the demented tyrant Shutendouji. After Shutendouji is defeated, Tsuna assists Hikaru against Seimei after learning of his intentions. Such information had been attained by Urabe, who had died in his own hands.
Apart from Raikou’s protection, Tsuna and Urabe seem to share a closer personal relationship together. This fact had also been partially strengthened when Tsuna and Urabe are washed up together after failing to find everyone else after the sudden tsunami event. This was also the first time that Tsuna’s distorted sight is revealed.
[ More Tsuna! ]
Minamoto no Hikaru
Minamoto no Hikaru is a young girl that has been secretly assigned by her father to pose as her brother, Minamoto no Raikou due to Raikou being severely sick. In her sick brother's stead, she embarks on an incredible quest to retrieve the Magatamas of Fire, Water, Wind, and Earth through the orders of Seimei.
Hikaru learns of her brother’s death just before she returns with the first Magatama. She is greatly saddened by this, but is still determined to find the other Magatamas as to save the Capital.
Hikaru’s initial goal was to retrieve the Magatama of Earth in order to heal her weak, near-death brother. Hikaru begins the story with her trusted retainer Tsuna (Watanabe no Tsuna) in hopes of retrieving the Magatama. She later finds out that the Tsuchigumo clan is the holder of the Magatama.
Hikaru is quite the archer, and effectively wields her bow and arrow as her primary weapon when not using her katana (at which she also shows considerable skill!).
[ More Hikaru! ]
Minamoto no Raikou
Minamoto no Raikou (also known as Minamoto no Yorimitsu) is Minamoto no Hikaru’s older brother and heir of the Minamoto clan. He is well known in the Capital as an expert archer and a legendary warrior; however, his body is delicate as a result of the sickness he has had since birth.
As he was severely sick, he was replaced by his sister on the chronicled quest of retrieving the Magatama. In episode 3, Tsuchigumo, Raikou passes away after writing a poem for his sister Hikaru.
Sadamitsu ; Usui no Sadamitsu
Hikaru and Tsuna’s first encounter of with this bad-ass fellow episode 2 is a dangerous one. Sadamitsu is met by Watanabe no Tsuna and Raikou while passing through a small village. Sadamitsu has a chip on his shoulder and is out to impress the two women in his arms at the time. Due in large part to Tsuna’s restraint, the fight ends without anyone getting hurt.
Sadamitsu likes the girls -- that’s for sure. He is not shy about his motive for battle: basically, Sadamitsu is in it for the women, which are the primary reason for his will to fight. Sadamitsu also generally wields his two long swords which he uses with great skill.
Sadamitsu, who claimed that he was a retired warrior, later becomes a welcome addition to Raikou and Tsuna's quest. Sadamitsu often called Raikou "Taisho" rather than Raikou-sama.
[ More Sadamitsu! ]
Ubrabe no Suetake
Urabe is a mysterious woman that joined the group on their adventure almost from the start. Urabe first appears in episode five, in which she assists Raikou and Tsuna in the attainment of the Magatama of Water.
Mansairaku
Mansairaku is a man with exquisite dancing skills and a deep love and appreciation for Hikaru's flute playing. An introvert, he generally prefers to be alone; however, he quickly becomes accustomed to Hikaru's company.
In the present day, Mansairaku appears to be mysterious and tries to explain matters to Hikaru; however, Tsuna always gets in the way. He still longs for her.
Heian Chapter (Volumes 1-3)
The story is divided in two story arcs. The "Heian Chapter" takes place in Kyoto during the Heian period and follows Minamoto no Hikaru, the younger sister of Minamoto no Raiko, on a quest to save Japan; the Tokyo Chapter follows the reincarnations of Hikaru and her comrades as the ancient evils of days past manifest themselves in present-day Tokyo.
Tokyo Chapter (Volumes 4-6)
Alphabetical Order
Seimei; Lord Seimei; Abe no Seimei
Seimei usually wears a mask around his face (due to injury or not being able to see?), which explains why he always has a certain girl with him to act as his eyes. Seimei generally has a rather calm demeanor and is reform-minded. Abe no Seimei possesses the ability to heal people, along with other skills; even the Ministers of the Right and Left follow his direction.
Seimei is the one who initially sent Minamoto no Hikaru on the rather difficult quest to regain the Magatamas of Fire, Water, and Earth.the blind Onmyo-ji; came to treat Matsumishi, put drops of 'medicine' in his bowl. He is said to be over 100 years old and to have served the emperors for ten generations
Ayatake
drowned by going outside during a full moon, body found next day; after coaxed by Torakuma ChinzeiFumie Mizusawa
Hikaru Minamoto
the main protagonist of the story, Lord Raikou
Hoshikuma
Hoshikuma is first featured within Episode 3 (Act 3: Tsuchigumo) as the new leader of the Tsuchigumo “ground spider” clan. Hoshikuma wields a long yari (Japanese spear) as his primary weapon, and he is skilled at catching his opponents with a net.
Hoshikuma had originally remained within the Western region of Japan as an ally of Shuten Doji. He is later ordered by Shuten Doji to take over the Tsuchigumo clan and make them conform to new, strict policies. One of these policies is that young women should be regularly captured from neighboring villages and submitted to the Tsuchigumos, and locked up in cells for further use - a policy that Sadamitsu despises and fights to change.
Hoshikuma is of interest because he possesses the Magatama of Earth, and seems to be protecting at all times (for obvious reasons).
Ibaraki, Ibaragi
Ibaragi is a rather young woman that acts as the right-hand mistress of her master, Shutendouji.Jiromarou
poisoned by UrabeKajikamaru
poisoned by UrabeKintaro, Kintarou of Ashigarayama
Kintaro is a seven year-old boy from Ashigarayama Mountain with amazing strength and fighting abilities; Kintaro is greatly renowned for his strength, in which he claims that his dream is to become the strongest person within the whole of Japan.
Kintaro made his first appearance in Act 7 (Mansairaku), in which he elaborated on his natural obnoxious qualities. Kintaro did so by continuously asking Sadamitsu for food due to being rather hungry, or else he would yell and alert the guards that Sadamitsu had been analyzing. After Sadamitsu had more than enough annoyance out of Kintaro's behavior, they both end up being seen by Shutendouji's guards; they take off running. According to the guards, Kintaro is also a noted thief.
Kintaro later joins up with Raikou and the others, and assists them within the attack of Shutendouji's main castle. Later within the series, it seems that Kintaro and Sadamitsu seem to get along together, in which they have a personal friendship towards each other to some extent. When with Sadamitsu, he is always to be sure that everyone receives the fullest amount of food, because he himself can eat just about anything and (according to rumor) when his stomach full of food, he then will help and make him to get ample strong and full of energy.
Kintaro literally may refer to Sakata no Kintoki, or Kaidoumaru, which are each entities of the same person.
Kumaso
Kumaso warriorsLord Raiko
sister beautiful with long dark hair, blue eyesLord Seimei
See Seimei, Abe noLord Shuten
Mansairaku
a professional feudal Japanese dancer, possibly of the style known as Noh sometimes wears a white mask; red streaks in his hair on either sideMatsumushi
mute apprentice of Seimei beautiful young girl with big green eyes
Minamoto no Raikou
brother of Hikaru Minamoto, ill; emperor; see also Taisho Minamoto
Minister of the Left
English translation of sadaijin, a government position in Japan in the late Nara and Heian periods; the sadaijin was the Senior Minister of State, overseeing all branches of the Department of State (Daijo-kan) with the Udaijin (the Minister of the Right) as his deputyMinister of the Right
English translation of Udaijin, serves the Minister of the Left
Sadamitsu; Usui no Sadamitsu
hotshot warrior Tsuna and Hikaru met in Hitachi, joins the quest
Seimei, Abe no; Lord Seimei
the blind Onmyo-ji; came to treat Matsumishi, put drops of 'medicine' in his bowl. He is said to be over 100 years old and to have served the emperors for ten generations
Shuten Doji
Shutendouji is a major enemy within the Otogi Zoshi series, in which he was the leader over the revenge coalition from his village that had been previously destroyed by the Capital. Shutendouji has a very cruel personality, in which he will always seem to employ the most barbaric style tactics and will even kill his own allies without a second thought. It also seems that he has a taste for swamp-water style sake that has been boiled. Shuten seemed to have owned his own castle, where he had been holding the famed Magatama of Fire, along with many of his soldiers.
Taisho Minamoto
Minamoto no Raikou; brother, ill
Taraumaru
Ayatake's fiancee
Torakuma
has the Magatama of Water, leader of the pirates who rule the Setouchi Sea
Tsuchigumos
vicious, tribal opponents of Lord Raiko and Tsuna; live in Tsuchigumo cave; they possess the Magatama of Water
Tsuna
kick-ass friend and servant of Hikaru Tsuna, Watanabe No Tsuna bodyguard and loyal retainer of Lord Raiko; blind right eye
Uminohiko
poisoned by Urabe
Urabe
new member of the group - potions, chemist