Review of "Tetsuya: The Legend of the Gambler": A masterpiece anime depicting the world of gambling

Gambler Legend Tetsuya

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

comics

■ Broadcast period

October 7, 2000 - March 24, 2001

■Broadcasting station

ANB

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 20

■Original Story

Saifuumei, Yasumi Hoshino (serialized in Kodansha's "Weekly Shonen Magazine") (References: "Mahjong Wanderings", "Mahjong Demon's 50-game Match", "The Magician of the Tile", "Gambling Party Wolf Faction", etc.)

■ Production

Produced by: "Tetsuya" Production Committee, Toei Video, Toei Animation, Toei Agency, TV Asahi. Cooperation: Athena, Matsuoka Mechatronics.

■Works

©Saifumei, Yasumi Hoshino/Kodansha/"Tetsuya" Production Committee

■ Story

The story is set in Shinjuku, just after the end of the war, where ruins and ruins remain. Despite being poor and without much, people live tough lives day by day to survive. Among them, there is one young man who decides to make a living by playing mahjong. His name is Tetsuya. This is the story of the legendary mahjong expert who would later be known as "Boy Tetsu."

■Explanation

The legend of the gambler modelled on the mahjong master Asada Tetsuya is now revived in anime form!

■Cast

・Tetsuya/Ryutaro Okiayu ・Boshu/Norio Otsuka ・Danchi/Wataru Takagi ・Narration/Takeshi Aono

■ Main staff

Planning: Takehiko Shimazu, Gen Sato, Keisuke Higuchi (TV Asahi)
・Chief Producer: Kenji Ota (TV Asahi)
・Producers: Ken Fukuyoshi (TV Asahi), Iriya Azuma ・Original story: Saifuumei, Yasumi Hoshino (serialized in Kodansha's Weekly Shonen Magazine ・Production: Takeshi Torimoto, Yukio Noda ・Music: Kuniaki Hijima ・Character design, animation director: Hidemi Kubo ・Art design: Mitsuki Nakamura ・Color design: Yoshiko Sakuma ・Series composition, scriptwriter: Yoshiyuki Suga ・Chief director: Nobutaka Nishizawa

■ Main Characters

・Tetsuya (voiced by Ryutaro Okiayu)
A martial artist who would later be known as "Boy Tetsu." Because of his youthful appearance, he was called "Boy," and the nickname became his nickname. Eventually, he had a fateful encounter with Boshu, who took him on as his disciple, and he fought many deadly battles with martial artists.

・Boshu (voice actor: Norio Otsuka)
Age and name unknown. Tetsuya's master, his skills as a gambler always overwhelmed Tetsuya, and his professional techniques were close to divine. He is a seasoned expert who makes full use of his special moves, such as Tsubame Gaeshi and 2-2 Tenhou.

・Danchi (voiced by Wataru Takagi)
He is Tetsuya's underling and forms a team with him. He is a bit of a scatterbrain, and although he is a lovable character, his teamwork with Tetsuya is sharp. He respects Tetsuya and always acts together with him.

・Inami (voice actor: Koji Toya)
He is a master of the gan-pai style of playing. He uses a fearsome technique that allows him to see through all the tiles.

■ Theme songs and music

・Op
・REACH OUT
・Singer: Akiko Wada (Warner Music Japan)
・ED
・Fruit・Vocals/Teruo Isono (Nippon Crown)

Gambler Legend Tetsuya - Review of Gambler Legend Tetsuya

"Tetsuya: The Gambler Legend" is a TV anime series that aired from 2000 to 2001 and is based on a manga by Saifuumei and Hoshino Yasumi that was serialized in Kodansha's "Weekly Shonen Magazine". Set in Shinjuku just after the end of the war, the series tells the story of Tetsuya, a young man who survives through mahjong. Tetsuya later becomes a legendary mahjong expert known as "Boy Tetsu", and is shown taking on numerous challenges.

This anime is an animated version of the legendary mahjong master Tetsuya Asada, and draws viewers in with its realistic portrayal of the mahjong world. Asada Tetsuya's works "Mahjong Wanderings," "The Mahjong Master's 50-game Match," "The Magician of the Pile," and "Gambling Party Wolf Group" are cited as references, and the deep insight and realism of the original work are reflected in the anime.

The series aired on TV Asahi (ANB) from October 7, 2000 to March 24, 2001, with a total of 20 episodes. Each episode was only 30 minutes long, but it managed to portray Tetsuya's growth and the tension of the matches.

The film is produced by the "Tetsuya" Production Committee, Toei Video, Toei Animation, Toei Agency, and TV Asahi, with support from Athena and Matsuoka Mechatronics. The copyright belongs to Saifuumei, Yasumi Hoshino, Kodansha, and the "Tetsuya" Production Committee.

Story and Characters

The story is set in Shinjuku just after the end of the war and depicts people surviving in the face of nothing. In particular, it focuses on the growth and struggles of Tetsuya, a young man who decides to make a living through mahjong. Due to his youth, Tetsuya is called "Boy", and the nickname soon sticks. The story follows Tetsuya as he meets his master, Boshu, and grows as his apprentice. Boshu is an expert with skills that overwhelm Tetsuya, and Tetsuya learns a great deal from him.

The character of Tetsuya is young and passionate, yet also possesses the calmness and calculation of a gambler. Tetsuya's voice, played by voice actor Okiayu Ryutaro, exudes a sense of youth and strength, leaving a strong impression on viewers. Boshu, played by Otsuka Norio with his deep voice, exudes the dignity of Tetsuya's master and the skill of an expert. Danchi, played by Takagi Wataru with his bright voice, is an important character who portrays the friendship and teamwork between Tetsuya. Innami, played by Toya Koji with his calm voice, is portrayed as an expert with a special technique called Ganpai.

Production and staff

Many staff members were involved in the production of this anime. The project was planned by Takehiko Shimazu, Gen Sato, and Keisuke Higuchi (TV Asahi), the chief producer was Kenji Ota (TV Asahi), and the producers were Ken Fukuyoshi (TV Asahi) and Riya Higashi. The original story was written by Saifuumei and Yasumi Hoshino, the production was handled by Takeshi Torimoto and Yukio Noda, the music was by Kuniaki Hiijima, the character design and animation director was Hidemi Kubo, the art design was Mitsuki Nakamura, the color design was Yoshiko Sakuma, the series composition and script were by Yoshiyuki Suga, and the chief director was Nobutaka Nishizawa. These staff members worked together to recreate the worldview of the original work in the anime.

Theme songs and music

The opening theme, "REACH OUT," is sung by Akiko Wada. This powerful song symbolizes Tetsuya's passion and fighting spirit, and captures the hearts of viewers. The ending theme, "Fruit," is sung by Teruo Isono. This gentle song evokes Tetsuya's growth and the tranquility after the battle, adding depth to the story.

Recommendations and ratings

"Tetsuya: The Legend of the Gambler" is a deeply moving human drama set in the unique world of mahjong. It depicts Tetsuya's growth and struggles, his bond with his master, his friendship, and his pride as a gambler, giving the viewer a lot to think about. This work is recommended not only for those who are interested in mahjong, but also for those who like human dramas and stories of growth.

The anime has been highly praised for its ability to recreate the realism and depth of the original work. In particular, the character of Tetsuya, the voice actor's performance, and the tension of the mahjong scene leave a strong impression on viewers. The opening and ending songs also add to the atmosphere of the work, making it a highly polished work overall.

This work is a great way to learn about the world of mahjong, and can also be enjoyed as a human drama. Please give it a watch.