King of Shion: Exploring the Depths of Hardblood's Power

"The King of Shion: The Powers of Hard Blood" - The profound world of shogi and the growth of a young girl

■Overview of the work

"Shion no Ou The Powers of Hard Blood" is a TV anime series based on the original manga by Katori Masaru. It aired from October 14, 2007 to March 23, 2008, and captivated many viewers as a full-scale suspense drama with a shogi theme. The story of the main character, Yasuoka Shion, who loses her voice after her parents are murdered and grows through shogi, depicts deep human drama and tense battles on the board.

■Broadcast information

This work was broadcast on the following stations:

• Fuji TV: October 13, 2007 to March 22, 2008 (every Saturday 26:15-26:45)
• Kansai TV: October 23, 2007 to April 1, 2008 (every Tuesday 26:15 to 26:45)
• Tokai Television: October 26, 2007 to April 4, 2008 (Every Friday 27:35 to 28:05)
• BS Fuji: November 19, 2007 to April 21, 2008 (Every Monday 24:30-24:55)

It consists of 22 episodes, each 30 minutes long.

■ Story

A tragic incident strikes a family. A husband and wife are brutally murdered, and only a young girl, Shion, survives. Having lost her voice due to the shock of the incident, Shion is taken in by a professional shogi player's family who live next door, and finds her way in life through shogi. As Shion's talent for shogi blossoms, she encounters rivals and friends. As she battles on the board, Shion comes to terms with her destiny in the world of shogi and closes in on the truth behind the incident that took her parents. Will she find a ray of hope or the darkness of the abyss? This is a story about Shion's growth and struggles, and the unraveling of the mystery.

■Explanation

Shion no Ou, a full-scale shogi comic currently being serialized in Monthly Afternoon, is a full-scale shogi suspense story that revolves around the battles between three female shogi players who meet by fate, centering around the protagonist Shion, and the incident involving Shion's parents. This TV anime series depicts the powerful battles on the board, the strange events surrounding a mysterious incident, and Shion's growth, with rich characters and an exquisite setting. The story unfolds in a way that can be enjoyed even by those who don't know the rules or tactics of shogi, and is combined with mystery elements.

■Cast

The voice actors who play the main characters in this work are as follows:

• Shion Yasuoka: Ayako Kawasumi
• Ayumi Saito: Romi Park
• Saori Nikaido: Risa Mizuno
• Makoto Hani: Hozumi Goda
• Satoru Hani: Masaya Matsukaze
• Shinji Yasuoka: Yasunori Matsumoto
• Sachiko Yasuoka: Mariko Kokuda
• Toru Kutani: Takahiro Matsukawa
• Osamu Kamizono: Ryusei Nakao
• Detective Yokoyama: Akihiko Ishizumi

■ Main staff

The staff who supported the production of this work are as follows:

• Original author: Masaru Katori
• Director: Toshifumi Kawase
• Series composition and script: Yamada Takashi
• Character design and chief animation director: Seiya Numata
• Prop design: Goichi Iwahata, Kumi Horii
• Art director: Yutaka Mukumoto
• Color design: Takeshi Mochida
• Director of photography: Kondo Masayoshi
• Edited by: Masahiro Matsumura
• Music: Kosuke Yamashita
• Sound Director: Hozumi Goda
• Producers: Yuichiro Takabatake, Koji Yamamoto, Shinichi Ikeda
• Animation producer: Keiichi Matsuda
• Animation Production: Studio Deen
• Production: "King of Shion" Production Committee (Pony Canyon, Fuji Television Network, Yomiuri Advertising Agency)

■ Main Characters

We will introduce the main characters of this work in detail.

• Shion Yasuoka : When she was young, her parents were killed and she was so shocked that she was speechless. Influenced by her stepfather, a professional shogi player, she started playing shogi and aims to become a professional shogi player. Her growth and passion for shogi are at the center of the story.
• Saito Ayumi : One of the rivals that Shion meets. She is a disciple of Kamizono and plays shogi due to certain circumstances. Her presence has a big impact on Shion's growth.
• Saori Nikaido : As a shogi player, she is a senior to Shion and Ayumu. She is a young lady who grew up in a wealthy family, and the world of shogi is depicted from her perspective.
• Makoto Hani : A master and Saori's senior apprentice. His presence at the top of the shogi world makes him a big role model for Shion.
• Satoru Hani : The younger brother of a master, and a businessman. Apparently, he often played shogi with his older brother, who is also a master, when he was young. The world of shogi seen from his perspective is also interesting.
• Shinji Yasuoka : One of the couple who took in and raised Shion, whose parents were murdered. He showers love on Shion as if she were his own daughter.
• Sachiko Yasuoka : One of the couple who took in and raised Shion, whose parents were murdered. She showers love on Shion as if she were her own daughter.
• Toru Kutani : Shion's fellow disciple. He is like an older brother to Shion and always watches over her, supporting her.
• Osamu Kamizono : Ayumu's master. As a shogi instructor, he supports Ayumu's growth.
• Detective Yokoyama : A detective investigating the murder of Shion's parents. He keeps a watchful eye over Shion and is determined to catch the culprit before he retires.

■Subtitle

The subtitles and broadcast dates for each episode are as follows:

• Episode 1: Shion's Way (2007/10/13)
• Episode 2: Secret (2007/10/20)
• Episode 3: Komane (2007/10/27)
• Episode 4: Demon Hand (2007/11/03)
• Episode 5: A courageous move (2007/11/10)
• Episode 6: Provocation (2007/11/17)
• Episode 7: Play Pieces (2007/11/24)
• Episode 8: The Door to Dreams (2007/12/01)
• Episode 9: Master and disciple (2007/12/08)
• Episode 10: Spell (2007/12/15)
• Episode 11: Suspicion (2007/12/23)
• Episode 12: The Fox's Reading (2008/01/12)
• Episode 13: Two Sides of the Same Coin (2008/01/19)
• Episode 14: The Challenge (2008/01/26)
• Episode 15: The Answer of Time (2008/02/02)
• Episode 16: Celestial Eye (2008/02/09)
• Episode 17: Mind reading (2008/02/16)
• Episode 18: Time Stops (2008/02/23)
• Episode 19: A Revival Move (2008/03/01)
• Episode 20: Demon Slayer (2008/03/08)
• Episode 21: The Real Culprit (2008/03/15)
• Episode 22: Towards Tomorrow (2008/03/22)

■ Theme songs and music

The opening and ending themes for this work are as follows:

• OP1
  • Song Name: LADY LOVE
  • Lyricist: JESSE
  • Composer: RIZE & Kan Harada
  • Sung by: RIZE
• ED1
  • Song name: My dear friend
  • Composer: Kenn Kato
  • Composer: Hitoshi Harukawa
  • Sung by: Thelma Aoyama

■ Evaluation and recommendation

"Shion no Ou: The Powers of Hard Blood" is a work that exquisitely combines human drama and suspense elements depicted through the sport of shogi. The story revolves around the growth and conflicts of the main character, Shion, and the unraveling of the mystery surrounding her, drawing viewers in. In particular, the story is enjoyable even if you don't know the rules or tactics of shogi, and the character development is rich.

This work has been highly praised, and has been well received not only by shogi fans but also by general viewers. In particular, the portrayal of Shion's growth and the relationships surrounding her will surely touch the hearts of many viewers. In addition, the story unfolds from the perspective of a detective investigating a mysterious case, making it an interesting read, and is recommended for viewers who like mysteries.

Furthermore, the music in this work is also not to be missed. The opening theme "LADY LOVE" is a powerful performance by RIZE that livens up the atmosphere of the work, and the ending theme "My dear friend" features the gentle singing voice of Thelma Aoyama that will soothe the hearts of viewers. These songs will make you feel the development of the story even more deeply.

"Shion no Ou: The Powers of Hard Blood" is a work that exquisitely combines human drama and suspense elements depicted through the sport of shogi. The story revolves around the growth and conflicts of the main character, Shion, and the unraveling of the mystery surrounding her, drawing viewers in. In particular, the story is enjoyable even if you don't know the rules or tactics of shogi, and the character development is rich.

This work has been highly praised, and has been well received not only by shogi fans but also by general viewers. In particular, the portrayal of Shion's growth and the relationships surrounding her will surely touch the hearts of many viewers. In addition, the story unfolds from the perspective of a detective investigating a mysterious case, making it an interesting read, and is recommended for viewers who like mysteries.

Furthermore, the music in this work is also not to be missed. The opening theme "LADY LOVE" is a powerful performance by RIZE that livens up the atmosphere of the work, and the ending theme "My dear friend" features the gentle singing voice of Thelma Aoyama that will soothe the hearts of viewers. These songs will make you feel the development of the story even more deeply.

"Shion no Ou: The Powers of Hard Blood" is a work that exquisitely combines human drama and suspense elements depicted through the sport of shogi. The story revolves around the growth and conflicts of the main character, Shion, and the unraveling of the mystery surrounding her, drawing viewers in. In particular, the story is enjoyable even if you don't know the rules or tactics of shogi, and the character development is rich.

This work has been highly praised, and has been well received not only by shogi fans but also by general viewers. In particular, the portrayal of Shion's growth and the relationships surrounding her will surely touch the hearts of many viewers. In addition, the story unfolds from the perspective of a detective investigating a mysterious case, making it an interesting read, and is recommended for viewers who like mysteries.

Furthermore, the music in this work is also not to be missed. The opening theme "LADY LOVE" is a powerful performance by RIZE that livens up the atmosphere of the work, and the ending theme "My dear friend" features the gentle singing voice of Thelma Aoyama that will soothe the hearts of viewers. These songs will make you feel the development of the story even more deeply.

"Shion no Ou: The Powers of Hard Blood" is a work that exquisitely combines human drama and suspense elements depicted through the sport of shogi. The story revolves around the growth and conflicts of the main character, Shion, and the unraveling of the mystery surrounding her, drawing viewers in. In particular, the story is enjoyable even if you don't know the rules or tactics of shogi, and the character development is rich.

This work has been highly praised, and has been well received not only by shogi fans but also by general viewers. In particular, the portrayal of Shion's growth and the relationships surrounding her will surely touch the hearts of many viewers. In addition, the story unfolds from the perspective of a detective investigating a mysterious case, making it an interesting read, and is recommended for viewers who like mysteries.

Furthermore, the music in this work is also not to be missed. The opening theme "LADY LOVE" is a powerful performance by RIZE that livens up the atmosphere of the work, and the ending theme "My dear friend" features the gentle singing voice of Thelma Aoyama that will soothe the hearts of viewers. These songs will make you feel the development of the story even more deeply.

"Shion no Ou: The Powers of Hard Blood" is a work that exquisitely combines human drama and suspense elements depicted through the sport of shogi. The story revolves around the growth and conflicts of the main character, Shion, and the unraveling of the mystery surrounding her, drawing viewers in. In particular, the story is enjoyable even if you don't know the rules or tactics of shogi, and the character development is rich.

This work has been highly praised, and has been well received not only by shogi fans but also by general viewers. In particular, the portrayal of Shion's growth and the relationships surrounding her will surely touch the hearts of many viewers. In addition, the story unfolds from the perspective of a detective investigating a mysterious case, making it an interesting read, and is recommended for viewers who like mysteries.

Furthermore, the music in this work is also not to be missed. The opening theme "LADY LOVE" is a powerful performance by RIZE that livens up the atmosphere of the work, and the ending theme "My dear friend" features the gentle singing voice of Thelma Aoyama that will soothe the hearts of viewers. These songs will make you feel the development of the story even more deeply.