is a Japanese

light novel A is a type of Genre fiction, popular literature novel from Japan usually classified as young adult fiction, generally targeting Adolescence, teens to Young adult, twenties or older. The definition is very vague, and wide-ranging. The abbr ...

series written by Reiji Saiga and illustrated by Sora Inoue. It was serialized in '' Dragon Magazine'' from 1997 to 2010. A

manga are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long history in earlier Japanese art. The term is used in Japan to refer to both comics ...

adaptation by the same authors was serialized in '' Monthly Comic Dragon'' from 1998 to 2001. A 13-episode

anime is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...

television series was produced by

Gonzo Gonzo may refer to: People * Gonzo (nickname), a list of people with the nickname * Radislav Jovanov Gonzo (born 1964), Croatian music video director Radislav Jovanov, also known as Gonzo * Matthias Röhr (born 1962), German musician whose stage ...

in 2001. It is set in a school called Daimon High, where disagreements among the student body are settled by

martial arts Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defence; military and law enforcement applications; combat sport, competition; physical, mental, and spiritual development; entertainment; ...

matches called K-Fights. (The "K" stands for ''kenka'', meaning "street fight".)

Media

Light novels

The series in which both the manga, and the anime is based upon is the light novel series, written by Reiji Saiga. Original name is Shoukan Kyoushi Real bout High School (召喚教師リアルバウトハイスクール), and unlike the manga and anime, it centres around a teacher who works in Daimon high school. The main story line has 19 volumes, the EX line has 5 volumes, and the ED line has 3 volumes. However, the characters that appear in the novel are more or less identical to the manga and anime (with a few minor adjustments).

Manga

The story revolves around a school that doesn't break up fights, but rather, they grade them. The story introduces Ryoko Mitsurugi, Daimon High's Current reigning K-Fight Champion and self described Samurai Girl. It also introduces Shizuma Kusunagi, a traveling Street Fighter with mysterious powers. The manga, while comedic in the beginning, becomes more serious as Ryoko and Shizuma find themselves caught up in the machinations of several student councils and a criminal organization with Ryoko teaming up with a band of female fighters named after the historical

Shinsengumi The was a small secret police organization, elite group of swordsmen that was organized by commoners and low rank samurai, commissioned by the (military government) during Japan's Bakumatsu period (late Tokugawa shogunate) in 1863. It was ac ...

Anime

Ryoko Mitsurugi is the current K-Fight champion, whose skill at

Kendo is a modern Japanese martial art, descended from kenjutsu (one of the old Japanese martial arts, swordsmanship), that uses bamboo swords ( shinai) as well as protective armor ( bōgu). It began as samurai warriors' customary swordsmanship ex ...

and her love for

samurai The samurai () were members of the warrior class in Japan. They were originally provincial warriors who came from wealthy landowning families who could afford to train their men to be mounted archers. In the 8th century AD, the imperial court d ...

dramas has led her to be known as the "Samurai Girl". One day, Ryoko finds a strange pendant which transports her to another dimension called Solvania, where she is expected to fight monsters. This is part of a bigger plot to revive Solvania the strong.

Characters

:: :A martial arts expert and Daimon High's current K-Fight champion. In Episode 1, it is revealed that Ryoko has an aunt named Madoka Mitsurugi. She seeks to learn the way of the sword, but is slightly self-conscious due to her height (she's 5'9" in the manga) and her samurai obsession. She is highly skilled in Kendo; only Tatsuya Shishikura, the captain of the kendo team, is able to beat her in formal kendo. Her rival is Azumi Kiribayashi, as she is a highly skilled fighter and is also in love with Tatsuya Shishikura. She also helps out the drama club with the school plays. In the manga her goals are different; she seeks to become a great woman by using the way of the sword and acts as a vigilante in the name of justice. Later on she becomes the leader of an all-female fighting group. :: : A year ago, this young, tough ruffian was the K-Fight champion until Ryoko beat him. He has now returned for a rematch. He is a street fighter who practices ''kamui'': a method that gives him fire- ki abilities. Besides his strength and use of flames, he had no martial arts training but uses self styled methods from years of street fighting with this combination of his own personal style and kamui no ken makes him one of the strongest martial artist in the school. Unlike Ryoko, he is not a member of any school club. So, in the manga, he created his own fan club. Although very cruel at times, he shows a soft spot towards Miyuki (the Hiten Shrine girl and Tessai's granddaughter), Sara (his personal fan), and sometimes even towards Ryoko, whom he admitted having romantic feelings for during their battle in volume 6 of the manga. Due to his family musical background, he is skilled with the guitar and piano he also rides a Motorcycle. In his childhood, he was taught kamui no ken by an old homeless-looking man named Ryugan Higishikata for everyday use. Shizuma turned it into a fighting technique. He was obviously modelled after

Kyo Kusanagi is a character in SNK's ''The King of Fighters'' series of fighting games. The character was first introduced in the 1994 video game ''The King of Fighters '94'' as the leader of the Japan team from the series' title tournament. Kyo, head to th ...

and has his last name. In the manga, he is modeled after

Donnie Yen Donnie Yen Chi-tan ( zh, c=甄子丹, p=Zhēn Zǐdān, j=, first=j; born 27 July 1963) is a Hongkongers, Hong Kong actor, filmmaker, martial artist, and action director. He is the recipient of various accolades, including three Golden Horse Fi ...

. In volume 6 of the manga, he had nunchakus in his final fight with Ryoko. Sara Himekawa :: : Shizuma's friend with the blonde hair. :: : Ryoko's best friend who wears glasses. She supports Ryoko in times of need. Although she attends a school that has K-Fights, she does not have any martial arts abilities. She is against fighting and wishes to discourage Ryoko from getting involved in school brawls. Hitomi is willing to endure a significant amount of physical discomfort in order to spend time with Ryoko. Including food poisoning, being kicked off her bed, and participating in exercise routines too intense for her. :: : Ryoko's number one fan. He is a

stalker Stalking is unwanted and/or repeated surveillance or contact by an individual or group toward another person. Stalking behaviors are interrelated to harassment and intimidation and may include following the victim in person or monitoring t ...

who follows Ryoko around with either a camera or a camcorder. He uses it to collect secret photos of Ryoko. Daisaku is also a close friend and supporter of Shizuma, and spends most of the series around him. :: : Azumi is a senior at Daimon High School and the head of the Flower Arrangement Club. Azumi likes to annoy Ryoko by being a rival for Tatsuya's affections. She uses a

naginata The ''naginata'' (, , ) is a polearm and one of several varieties of traditionally made Japanese blades ('' nihontō''). ''Naginata'' were originally used by the samurai class of feudal Japan, as well as by ashigaru (foot soldiers) and sōhei ( ...

as her primary weapon. :: : Captain of the

team. Ryoko and Azumi are fighting for his affections. He moves away in the middle of the manga (something that has not happened in the anime). :: : Daimon High's principal, an avid supporter of the K-Fight system and in the anime, former teacher to Nagumo. :: : Daimon High School's fast talking K-fight announcer. Shinsengumi In the manga, Ryoko teams up with a group of girls for some group fights. * Megumi Momoi: Highly skilled Mixed martial artist and Grappler. * Xiaoxing Huang: Chinese martial artist. Specializes in Binding. (Must Bind 300 opponents before she can return to her master) * Asuka Kuronari: Specializes in Ninja Arts and Explosives. (While skilled in various ninja arts, she is only average in Martial arts skills) * Aoi Asahina: Highly skilled martial artist and swordswoman. (Sword Skill could match or even exceed Ryoko) * Midori Misato: Team Logistics and Communications Officer (Not a Fighter)

Introduced in the anime

:: : A girl who resides at the Hiten Shrine. She has a small appearance in the manga. :: : Miyuki's grandfather and head of the Hiten Shrine. He teaches Ryoko the way of the sword, to be specific, the Hiten Style. He suggests Ryoko to keep using the

bokken A ''bokken'' (, , 'wood', and ''ken'', '(double-edged) sword') or ''bokutō'' (, , 'wood', and ''tō'', '(single-edged) sword') is a Japanese wooden sword used for training in kenjutsu. It is usually the size and shape of a ''katana'', but is so ...

as it is two weapons in one. :: : (Anime Only) A mysterious fighter who created and championed the K-Fight system. Due to his travels overseas, he has fought against many martial artists. Like Shizuma, He possesses the fists of ''kamui''. Only his technique, Shinken, uses energy based techniques. He is looking for the man who taught Shizuma. Later in the series, it is revealed that he and Willard Gates have had a long standing feud. :: : (Anime Only) She is a war priestess that appears to Ryoko and the gang. She is from an alternate dimension called Solvania. :: : She works for Willard Gates and has an interest in Ryoko's fighting. :: : The antagonist in the series. He and Nagumo have been long-time rivals.

Movie adaptation attempt

In the early 2000s,

Tokyopop Tokyopop (styled TOKYOPOP; formerly known as Mixx Entertainment) is an American distributor, licensor and publisher of anime, manga, manhwa and Western manga-style works. The German publishing division produces German translations of licens ...

had plans for a live-action version of ''Real Bout High School'' with

Melissa Joan Hart Melissa Joan Hart (born April 18, 1976) is an American actress. She had starring roles as the title characters in the sitcoms ''Clarissa Explains It All'' (1991–1994), ''Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996 TV series), Sabrina the Teenage Witch'' (1 ...

Reception

References

External links

TOKYOPOP (Archived)
English language manga publisher
TOKYOPOP (Archived)
English language anime publisher * {{Gonzo 1997 Japanese novels 1998 manga 2001 anime television series debuts Fantasy anime and manga Fujimi Fantasia Bunko Fujimi Shobo manga Kadokawa Corporation franchises Gonzo (company) Japanese television series with live action and animation Light novels Martial arts anime and manga Samurai in anime and manga Anime and manga set in schools Shōnen manga Tokyopop titles Novels set in high schools and secondary schools