YAWARA! The charm and reputation of the stylish judo girl

The appeal and full picture of "YAWARA! A fashionable judo girl!"

Introduction

"YAWARA! A fashionable judo girl!", which aired from 1989 to 1992, is a TV anime series based on the manga of the same name by Naoki Urasawa. This work was an unprecedented big hit as a sports manga themed on judo, and is known for sparking a judo boom. Here, we will take a deeper look at its appeal and details.

Overview

"YAWARA! A fashionable judo girl!" was broadcast on the Yomiuri TV network and became a long-running series with a total of 124 episodes. It aired from October 16, 1989 to September 21, 1992, entertaining viewers with a 30-minute weekly broadcast. The original story was written by Naoki Urasawa, directed by Hiroko Tokita, produced by Yomiuri TV and Kitty Film, and animated by Madhouse.

story

The main character, Inokuma Jyuu, is a girl who spends all her time training under her grandfather, a judoka. However, Jyuu has no interest in judo and would rather quit. Her grandfather's favorite phrases are "gold medal" and "People's Honor Award," and he works hard to help Jyuu win these two awards. Meanwhile, Jyuu meets various people and gradually becomes more serious about judo.

Commentary

"YAWARA! A fashionable judo girl!" is based on the manga by Naoki Urasawa that was serialized in "Big Comic Spirits" from 1986 to 1993. It was an unprecedented big hit for a sports manga with a judo theme, and sparked a judo boom. It was aired on Nippon Television every Monday from 7:30 to 8:00 p.m., and recorded an average audience rating of 14.7%.

cast

Yuko Minaguchi plays the role of Inokuma Yuzuru, Ichiro Nagai plays the role of Inokuma Shigegoro, Yoshiko Fujita plays the role of Inokuma Tamao, Masaaki Okabe plays the role of Inokuma Torajiro, Yuko Minaguchi plays the role of Inokuma Kaneko, Toshihiko Seki plays the role of Matsuda Kosaku, Yoshino Takamori plays the role of Honami Sayaka, Akira Kamiya plays the role of Kazamatsuri Shinnosuke, Chiyoko Kawashima plays the role of Ito Fujiko, and Masashi Sugawara plays the role of Hanazono Kaoru. These voice actors give the work depth and charm.

Main Staff

The original story was written by Urasawa Naoki, produced by Taga Hidenori (episodes 1-102) and Ijichi Kei (episodes 103-124), planned by Ochiai Shigekazu, series composition by Inoue Toshiki, music by Mori Eiji and AXISS, character design by Kanemori Yoshinori, art direction by Ikeda Yuji, sound direction by Urakami Yasuo, cinematography by Fukuda Takeshi instead of Ishikawa Kinichi, producers by Suwa Michihiko, Maruyama Masao, Suzuki Satoshi, Mukai Tatsuya, setting by Urahata Tatsuhiko, director by Tokita Hiroko, produced by Yomiuri TV and Kitty Film. These staff members worked together to complete the work.

Main Characters

The main characters are Inokuma Yuzuru, Inokuma Shigegoro, Inokuma Tamao, Inokuma Torajirou, Inokuma Kaneko, Matsuda Kosaku, Honami Sayaka, Kazamatsuri Shinnosuke, Ito Fujiko, and Hanazono Kaoru. Each character is unique and adds excitement to the story.

Appeal of the work

The appeal of "YAWARA! A fashionable judo girl!" lies above all in the story of the protagonist Inokuma Yawara's growth. Viewers are moved by the way Yawara, who had no interest in judo, becomes serious about it through various encounters and experiences. Also, as the sport of judo is the theme, the intensity of the match scenes and the technical portrayal are also highlights. Furthermore, Yawara's interactions with her family and friends are depicted, making it an enjoyable human drama.

Evaluation and impact

"YAWARA! A fashionable judo girl!" is known as the work that sparked a judo boom. It was the catalyst for making the sport of judo more widely known among the general public, and many people became interested in judo. In addition, the storytelling power of Naoki Urasawa's original work and Hiroko Tokita's skill as a director were highly praised, and the high viewer ratings attest to the high level of perfection of the work.

Recommended points

"YAWARA! A fashionable judo girl!" is not only a sports anime, but can also be enjoyed as a human drama. In particular, the episodes depicting the protagonist's growth story, family ties, and friendship are deeply moving and leave a deep impression on viewers. The judo match scenes are also powerful, so it is recommended for sports fans. Furthermore, it is not to be missed as an animated version of Naoki Urasawa's original work. Please give it a watch.

summary

"YAWARA! A fashionable judo girl!" is an unprecedented hit sports anime themed around judo. It is full of fascinating human drama, including the story of the protagonist Inokuma Yaw's growth, judo match scenes, and more. It also had high viewer ratings and a big impact in sparking a judo boom. Please watch this work and experience its appeal.