"Ore wa Chokaku" review: Unique characters and fascinating storytelling

"I am a Right Angle" - A story of youth and bushido in the Edo period

■Overview of the work

"Ore wa Chokaku" is a TV anime series based on the manga of the same name by Koyama Yu, which aired a total of 36 episodes from January 5th to October 12th, 1991. It was broadcast on Fuji TV in a 30-minute slot every Saturday from 18:30 to 19:00. The series is set in the late Edo period and follows the story of a boy named Chokaku, born into a strict samurai family, who enrolls in a prestigious school and grows up alongside the various people he meets there.

■ Story

It's the end of the Edo period. Chokaku is a boy born into a strict, though not wealthy, samurai family. He hates anything crooked and is adamant about his adherence to bushido. Chokaku ends up entering a prestigious school with a long history. However, it was an unprecedented event for a samurai's son, who was not particularly famous, to enter a school of learning where the sons of distinguished families gathered. Chokaku enters the school with great ambition, but the school, which was founded to promote both the arts and sciences and to be an example for people, has now become a tool for success. However, coming into contact with Chokaku's personality, which always maintains a resolute attitude towards anyone, little by little it brings about changes in the hearts of the students and the school.

■Explanation

"Ore wa Chokaku" is an animated work based on the manga of the same name by Yu Koyama. This work, which was made into an anime 15 years after the end of its serialization, is characterized by its passionate depiction of Chokaku, who sticks to his own will and faces any opponent or difficulty head-on, no matter how strong, in a feudal era. The anime adaptation has faithfully retained the essence of the original work while adding new appeal through visual expression.

■Cast

・Chokkaku/Chinatsu Sakamoto・Father/Takeshi Aono・Mother/Kumiko Takizawa・Terumasa/Mayumi Tanaka・Jun/Ai Orikasa・Hosokari/Kenichi Ogata・Go/Takehito Koyasu・Tsukigata/Kazunari Futamata・Ayano/Ikue Otani・Nikopin/Rika Matsumoto・Castle lord/Toru Ohira・Hojo/Ichiro Nagai・Narrator/Tomoaki Nishimura

■ Main staff

・Planning: Kazuo Shimamura (Yomiuri Advertising Agency)
Producers: Kenji Shimizu, Yoshihisa Tachikawa (Fuji Television Network), Kyotaro Kimura (Yomiuri Advertising Agency), Ken Hagino, Kazuhisa Sakaguchi (Studio Pierrot)
・Series composition/Takao Koyama ・Screenplay/Takao Koyama, Hiroyuki Hoshiyama, Sukehiro Tomita, Yoshiyuki Kan, Akinori Endo, Fumio Saikidera, Motonori Tatekawa ・Storyboard/Masami Anno, Susuke Takahashi, Hiroyuki Yokoyama, Akihiro Enomoto, Tomomitsu Mochizuki, Norio Ange, Noriyuki Abe, Kazunori Mizuno, Shinya Sadamitsu, Shigeru Ueda ・Direction/Junya Koshiba, Kazunori Mizuno, Hiroyuki Yokoyama, Satoshi Nishiura, Noriyuki Abe, Masao Ito, Shigeru Ueda, Takahiro Okao ・Character design/Kishi Yoshiyuki; Animation Directors: Hiroshi Kawabata, Susuke Takahashi, Saburo Masutani, Masami Abe, Yoshiyuki Kishi, Masaya Enomoto; Art Director: Setsuko Ishizu; Director of Photography: Hirotaka Takahashi; Sound Director: Kan Mizumoto; Art Setting: Yoshikuni Nishi; Music: Yusuke Homma; Editing: Falcon Co., Ltd.; Backgrounds: Setsu; Art, WON Production; Cinematography: Takahashi Production; Sound Production: Zack Promotion; Sound Effects: Shoji Kato (anime sound)
・Adjustment: Narusei Ryou ・Recording studio, sound editing studio ・Development: Tokyo Development Laboratory ・Production: Fuji Television, Yomiuri Advertising, Studio Pierrot

Music Production: Fuji Pacific Music Publishing, Pony Canyon

◯ Theme song/opening theme "Academic Sparrow"
Lyrics: Yukinojo Mori; Music: Yusuke Homma; Arrangement: Kunio Muramatsu; Singer: Busy Four Special

・Ending theme: "I can't help but hate you"
Lyrics: Yukinojo Mori; Music: Yusuke Homma; Arrangement: Kunio Muramatsu; Singer: Busy Four Special

■ Main Characters

・Right-angled stone wall
A boy who lives his youth to the fullest, with bushido, justice, kindness and honesty, and who always has an upright heart. A refreshing young samurai from the end of the Edo period who faces off against any strong opponent head-on and never loses with his deadly "Chokkaku Slash."
・Hojo Terumasa
Born to be the castle lord and raised with a twisted love from his grandfather, he was only able to keep his distance from everyone, but as he got to know Naokaku...
Jun Takasugi is supposed to be the fiancée of Terumasa Hojo, but gradually begins to take an interest in Naoki. Although she appears gentle at first glance, she is a wild girl who is skilled in martial arts.
・Ayano
The girl who lives next door to Naoki. Although she is younger than Naoki, she acts like an older sister. Her parents raised her by saying things like "If only it was a boy...", so she grew up exactly like a boy. Although only superficially.
・Ishigaki Kotayu, father of Naokaku. A poor samurai who was a horse guard and received a stipend of 30 bales for two people. He learned firsthand what happens when a kite gives birth to a hawk, but he is always being manipulated by Naokaku.
Kanae Ishigaki, Naokaku's mother. She always watches over Naokaku with kind and generous eyes. She is not swayed like Kodayu.

■Subtitle

・Episode 1: Naoki Ishigaki has arrived!?
Episode 2: I saw it! The weak point of the right-angle slash!?
Episode 3: Endure, Chokaku! A promise with his father Episode 4: Explosion! An angry Chokaku slash!!
・Episode 5/A mysterious transfer student appears!
Episode 6: The Pitiless Village! The Duel at Shizukigahara Episode 7: Hitomi's Secret Revealed Episode 8: The Rigged Martial Arts Tournament Episode 9: The Great Attack! The Right-Angle Slash!!
・Episode 10: The Hagi Meirinkan Kendo Club is Formed! ・Episode 11: Terumasa Returns to Nagasaki!!
Episode 12: Chokaku struggles! Enemy on horseback!
・Episode 13/Chokkaku in Danger! Duel with Terumasa ・Episode 14/Father is shocked! Jun-sama is at home?
Episode 15: Terumasa is shocked! Intensive training at schoolEpisode 16: Naoki's worries that he can't tell his fatherEpisode 17: Don't give up! Sumo tournamentEpisode 18: Terumasa is a nuisance! Pushing friendshipEpisode 19: Terumasa is shocked by his mother's warmth!!
Episode 20: What?! Terumasa's schoolmate?
・Episode 21: Big commotion! The Hojo family at night ・Episode 22: Terumasa learns about friendship ・Episode 23: Is this a Western New Year?
・Episode 24 / Professor Hosogari in big trouble ・Episode 25 / Right angle, shaky exam study!!
・Episode 26/Failure, suspension and expulsion?
Episode 27: Father is furious! What is the samurai spirit?
・Episode 28: Terumasa learns his grandfather's true feelings!!
Episode 29: What?! Terumasa becomes the castle lord?
Episode 30: Naoki climbs the castle! Save Terumasa-kun!!
Episode 31: The castle town is in turmoil! Terumasa goes on a rampage!!
・Episode 32: Terumasa's tearful childhood ・Episode 33: Why?! Is Chokaku being punished?
・Episode 34: Take the first step! Towards becoming a castle governor・Episode 35: Terumasa-kun's manju commotion・Episode 36: Right angle! Defeating the bandits!!

■ Appeal and evaluation of the work

"I Am Chokaku" is set against the historical backdrop of the late Edo period and depicts the growth, friendship, and samurai spirit of a boy named Chokaku. Chokaku's character is appealing because, while he has a strong sense of justice and will, he also grows through deep interactions with the people around him. Furthermore, the story of how Chokaku overcomes the various difficulties he faces through his interactions with unique characters such as Terumasa, Jun, and Ayano is sure to inspire and encourage viewers.

The anime adaptation has faithfully retained the essence of the original work while adding new appeal through visual expression. In particular, the depiction of Chokkaku's special move, the Chokkaku Slash, can be enjoyed visually with the dynamic expression that is unique to anime. In addition, the character designs and background art also faithfully reproduce the atmosphere of the Edo period, and the visual beauty is also one of the charms of the work.

In terms of music, the soundtrack by Yusuke Homma and the theme songs by Busy Four Special add to the worldview of the work. The opening theme "Gakumon no Suzume" and the ending theme "Hikiri ni Nare Ni Irarenai" have lyrics and melodies that symbolize Chokaku's youth and growth, and will resonate with viewers.

■ Recommendation points

"Ore wa Chokaku" is an anime that can be recommended to a wide range of generations as a work that depicts youth, friendship, and the samurai spirit. It is especially recommended for the following viewers:

• People who like historical and period dramas
• People who like stories about youth and friendship
• People who like characters who value bushido and a sense of justice
• People who want to enjoy dynamic action scenes
• People who want to enjoy the beauty of character designs and background art
• People who want to enjoy moving stories and music

This work will surely give courage and inspiration to viewers through the growth of a boy named Naokaku. Furthermore, viewers will be drawn into the world of the work through the visual expression that faithfully recreates the atmosphere of the Edo period and the interactions with the unique characters. Please watch "I Am Naokaku" and enjoy the story of Naokaku's youth and growth.