A thorough review of History's Strongest Disciple Kenichi OVA! What is the appeal of the 53rd volume?

A detailed review and recommendation of History's Strongest Disciple Kenichi OVA (volume 53)

"Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple" is a popular manga by Shun Matsuena, and its OVA series is also loved by many fans. In particular, the OVA included in the 53rd volume released on September 18, 2013, is a special one for fans. In this article, we will provide detailed information about the OVA, as well as provide reviews and recommendations.

Overview

"Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple OVA (Volume 53)" is an OVA format work consisting of one 30-minute episode. The original story was written by Matsuena Shun, the director was Ishiodori Hiroshi, the script was written by Kobayashi Eizo, the character design and animation director was Motohashi Hideyuki, the sound director was Tanaka Akiyoshi, the music was Iuchi Keiji, and the animation was done by Brain's Base. This OVA was published by Shogakukan, and the copyright belongs to Matsuena Shun and Shogakukan.

cast

Many fascinating characters appear in this OVA. The main character, Kenichi Shirahama, is played by Tomokazu Seki, the heroine, Miu Furinji, is played by Rie Kugimiya, Hayato Furinji is played by Joe Fujimoto, Itao Sakaki is played by Unsho Ishizuka, Akisame Misaki is played by Jurota Kosugi, Kensei Makata is played by Kazunari Futamata, Apachai Hopachai is played by Hiroya Ishimaru, Shigure Kosaka and Tochumaru are played by Mamiko Noto, Honoka Shirahama is played by Ayumi Sena, Haruo Niijima is played by Takumi Yamazaki, Kazuki Yao is played by Kazuki Takeda, and Kozo Ukita is played by Hiroshi Okawa. The cast includes Tohru and Kugen'in Hibiki as played by Madono Mitsuaki, Tanimoto Natsu as played by Horikawa Ryo, Nanjo Kisara as played by Takayama Minami, Barenka as played by Kanai Mika, Kana Sho as played by Namikawa Daisuke, Yachibe Kurodo as played by Midorikawa Hikaru, Tsukasa as played by Koshimizu Ami, Li Tianmen as played by Ginga Banjo, Li Lei Nai as played by Nomizu Iori, Win Gauche as played by Sato Shoji, Christopher Eclair as played by Morikawa Toshiyuki, Ogata Isshinsai as played by Otsuka Akio, and Hongo Akira as played by Yokoshima Wataru. These actors bring out the individuality of the characters and enhance the appeal of the work.

Main Staff

Matsuena Shun, the author of the original work, is skilled at depicting the depth of the story and the growth of the characters, and his talents are reflected in the OVA. Director Ishiodori Hiroshi faithfully recreates the worldview of the original work while providing a new perspective that only an OVA can offer. Screenwriter Kobayashi Eizo carefully depicts the characters' feelings and relationships, successfully making the audience empathize with the story. Character designer and animation director Motohashi Hideyuki draws the characters' movements and expressions in great detail, enhancing the visual appeal. Sound director Tanaka Akiyoshi uses sound effects and background music to enhance the atmosphere of the work, and music composer Iuchi Keiji provides music that enhances the battle scenes and emotional scenes. Brain's Base, the animation production company, is satisfying fans with their high-quality animation.

Main Characters

Kenichi Shirahama is the protagonist and driving force behind the story. He is a 16-year-old boy who has studied a wide variety of martial arts, including jujitsu, karate, Chinese boxing, and Muay Thai, and has a static fighting style. Impressed by Miu's courage and strength, he enrolls at the Ryozanpaku dojo and trains with the belief that he will become a hero who will defeat the bad guys that everyone turns a blind eye to. His trademark is the bandage on his left cheek, and his fighting attire is also distinctive.

Miu Furinji is a heroine who supports Kenichi. She is a 15-year-old girl with a dynamic fighting style. She has a very kind and natural personality, and there are rumors that she can be scary when she loses her temper. She is the daughter of Hayato Furinji, Saiga Furinji, and Shizuha, and has a teardrop mole under her left eye.

Hayato Furinji is Miu's grandfather and a character known as the Invincible Superman. His strength is superhuman and he is said to be the strongest on earth. He has a carefree personality and his hobbies are walking, reforming society, challenging dojos, and collecting copies of the Choju Jinbutsu Giga paintings.

Sakaki Shio is a character who has a 100-degree karate degree. He has studied karate and has a dynamic fighting style. At 29 years old, he was expelled from the Japanese karate world as a dangerous person and has traveled alone to fight around the world. His hobbies are drinking and gambling, and he loves alcohol and hates cowards.

Misaki Koshiji Akisame is a character known as a philosophical judoka with a static fighting style. At 38 years old, he has a calm and intelligent personality and has found his own enlightenment. He is the leader of the heroes of Liangshanbo and is also a licensed doctor.

Ma Jianxing is a character known as a master of all Chinese martial arts and has a static fighting style. He is 41 years old and is a perverted old man who loves beautiful women and hates snails, but he is also a man of deep thoughts and is not to be underestimated. He was the former CEO of the Phoenix Martial Arts Federation and has now handed over all power to his wife.

Apachai Hopachai is a character known as the Grim Reaper of the underground Muay Thai world, and has a dynamic fighting style. The 28-year-old was born as an orphan in a poor village in Thailand, and is a kind-hearted person. His hobby is feeding pigeons in the park, and he likes hamburgers, curry, and spaghetti, and hates ghosts.

Shigure Kosaka is a character known for her sword and weapon skills, and has a static fighting style. She is silent and is friends with the rat Tochumaru. She likes Chinese burdock and hates set squares. She occasionally wanders off to retrieve the "Hitogiri Knife" made by her late father.

Tochumaru is a mouse who is Shigure's friend, and uses the deadly Nezumiken technique. He loves to play and has many hobbies. He is friends with Shigure, and is a heroic mouse who has a VIP room in the attic. He likes Apachai's cheese, Kenichi's chikama, and fried chicken for dinner, and hates having his favorite things taken away.

Honoka Shirahama is Kenichi's younger sister and a 12-year-old junior high school student. She is lively, competitive, and a bit of a brocon. Her hobbies are badminton, karaoke, and Othello. She likes her older brother, cake, and dogs, and dislikes plump girls, mathematics, and centipedes. She is good at Othello, rivaling Akisame's skills, and is attached to Natsu Tanimoto.

Niijima Haruo is a character known as the Governor of the Shinpaku Alliance, and has a fighting style that is described as "non-human." The 16-year-old is flexible and adaptable, but also cunning. He has pointy ears and is responsible for creating a ranking of students at Arasen High School, known as the Gakuran, and collecting data on all students. He is skilled at gathering information, has a variety of special abilities, and is also an expert at running away.

Takeda Kazuki is a character known as the "Tsutsu no Takeda" (thrust takeda), who studied boxing and has a static fighting style. He is 18 years old, has a cheerful and bright personality, and has a slightly different sense of humor than others. He was one of the former "Tri-Ninshuu (three of the techniques)" and his master is James Shiba. He has a crush on Miu and is always adding leaves to her.

Kozo Ukita, known as Ukita the Thrower, is a trained judo practitioner with a dynamic fighting style. He is 18 years old and has a short temper, but a sensitive personality, and is considered to be the most normal-sensing character in the series. He is a former member of the "Tri-Ninshuu" (the Three Great Skill Warriors) and has a crush on Kisara.

Kugen'in Hibiki is a music-loving character with a static fighting style. The 16-year-old is willing to sacrifice his life for the sake of composing, prefers the Grand Overture "1812" (Tchaikovsky), and hates kappa. He was formerly the fifth fighter in Ragnarok, and was inspired by Governor Niijima's melodica, which led him to join the Shinpaku Alliance. He is a student at a music school and is proficient with most instruments, including the violin and piano.

Natsu Tanimoto is a character who has studied Pi-kake-shang and Bajiquan and has a dynamic fighting style. He is 16 years old, a hard worker, a sister complex, and hates Cosmos and doctors. He was formerly the sixth fighter of Ragnarok and is currently a member of YOMI. His master is Ma-yangetsu, and he is a beautiful boy with top grades. He grew up in an orphanage until he was 6 years old, and was taken in by his adoptive father along with his sickly sister on the condition that he would be the heir. However, his adoptive mother, who was a doctor, killed his sister and adoptive father, and he inherited the Tanimoto Concern along with a huge inheritance. With his sister's will in mind, he is obsessed with winning in everything he does and spares no effort. He is a member of the drama club and plays the role of a refreshing, smiling young man at school, but is unfriendly in front of the Shinpaku Alliance and Kenichi. Honoka is fond of him, and whenever he loses at Othello, he listens to what she says. Kana Sho was a close friend of his even before he met Kenichi.

Nanjo Kisara is a character who has studied Taekwondo and has a dynamic fighting style. She is 17 years old and usually has a cold personality, but in front of cats she becomes a lovey-dovey character, likes cats, and hates men. She is the former 8th fighter of Ragnarok and the daughter of a wealthy man. The abandoned building that currently houses the Shinpaku Alliance headquarters was provided by Kisara, and although she has feelings for Ukita, she has trouble expressing them.

Ma Lianhua is the daughter of Master Ma, and is a character who mainly studied Baguazhang and has a dynamic fighting style. She is 16 years old and is a tomboyish and aggressive girl who cannot rest without taking action as soon as she gets an idea. She likes mooncakes and came to Japan to bring her father, Ma Jianxing, back to China. She lives by helping out at her uncle Hakubi's store, Gyakurin Hanten, in Yokohama Chinatown, and has romantic feelings for Kenichi. She has a weakness in that she loses strength when her hair tail is grabbed.

Kanae is a student of Akira Hongo and the former leader of YOMI. He calls his master Sensei and was chosen as the "One Successor" in an experiment to teach the techniques of Ikagekuken to one student. Therefore, although his base martial art is karate, he uses a wider variety of martial arts than Kenichi, including jujitsu, Chinese martial arts, Muay Thai, commando sambo, pencak silat, lucha libre, kalaripayattu, and his own style of Saiga Furinji. He is characterized by his asymmetrical hairstyle and winged face paint.

Yachibe Kurando is an original character from the OVA. He has studied Zanshintai Shuryuryuujutsu and has a static fighting style. He is a member of the dark disciple group YOMI, and calls himself a "piece" and has even abandoned his name.

Tsukasa is also an original character for the OVA. He has studied Zanshintai-Shuryuujutsu and has a dynamic fighting style. He is one of the YOMI, a group of dark disciples, and only his first name, "Tsukasa," is known in the story.

Li Tianmen is a master of the Chinese martial art "Ji-Tei-Quan" (a general term for Monkey Fist, Drunken Eight Immortals Fist, etc.), who preaches "the earth is power" and dislikes the fact that Ji-Tei-Quan has become a martial art for performances due to the recent spread of asphalt. He is one of the "Yami-udo" (dark people), and his "Ji-Tei-Ren-Kan-Shou-Ken-Kyappo", in which he rolls around on the ground and attacks in all directions, is said to have the power of a missile.

Li Lei-nai is the daughter of Li Tianmen and a practitioner of the Chinese martial art of "Drunken Eight Immortals Fist", a style of "Ji-Tai-Quan". She wears protective gear to roll around on asphalt ground, and the bolts of the gear create sparks, so she is called "Spark". She is a kind girl who loves the earth, but for the sake of her family in the countryside of China, she sets aside her feelings and becomes one of the YOMI to attack Kenichi.

Win Gauche is a self-proclaimed "great arms dealer" and is someone the Japanese government is wary of. He is a cowardly and selfish man who always has a large group of bodyguards around him, but he is touched by Kenichi's beliefs...

Gauche's subordinate is a beautiful and stylish secretary who is always by his side.

Christopher Eclair is a bare-handed assassin who has mastered the French martial art of Savate, earning him the nickname "Killer Savate." He wears his hair in braids and is often mistaken for a woman due to his beautiful appearance, but he is actually a man. He is French, one of the world's leading assassins, and once worked with Sakaki. He has a tendency to truly enjoy killing, and later parted ways with Sakaki. His Savate technique, which is mainly made up of footwork, is powerful enough to easily destroy a car, and even Sakaki recognizes his abilities.

Christopher's subordinates are his faithful subordinates, and are all beautiful women who are very skilled. They all seem to wear the same perfume as Christopher.

Ogata Ichishinsai is a master of the Ogata-ryu ancient martial arts, and the teacher of Asamiya Ryuto, the strongest leader of the previous series Ragnarok, also known as the Fist Saint. He is also not afraid to use his disciples as guinea pigs for the sake of martial arts. In the past, he tried to become an apprentice at Ryozanpaku, but his violent nature was noticed by the elders and he was not able to do so.

Akira Hongo is a karateka known as the God of Fighting Over People, the master of YOMI's leader Kanoushou, and a master of Shinji Nengen-ryu Karate. He is a member of Ikagekuken and has a taciturn personality. He is skilled in piercing the hand, and his hand chops can pierce anything. It seems that he has some kind of connection with Sakaki...

subtitle

This OVA has the following subtitles:

• OVA Episode 4: Beautiful Wings
• OVA Episode 5: Grim Reaper vs. the Devil

Related Titles

"Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple OVA (Volume 53)" is closely related to the following related works:

• History's Strongest Disciple Kenichi (TV series)
• History's Strongest Disciple Kenichi (OVA series)

Evaluation

"Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple OVA (Volume 53)" maximizes the appeal of the original work while providing a new perspective that only an OVA can offer. In particular, the character growth and deepening of relationships are carefully depicted, successfully drawing viewers' emotions. The battle scenes are also powerful and visually appealing. The sound and music also enhance the atmosphere of the work, enriching the viewing experience.

The story of Kenichi Shirahama's growth gives courage and hope to the viewers. His conviction and efforts resonate with many people and are inspiring. Miu Furinji's kindness and strength also leave a deep impression on the viewers. Her presence is an important factor supporting Kenichi's growth and enriches the entire story.

The original characters of the OVA, Yachibe Kurato and Tsukasa, also bring new tension and excitement to the story. Their presence adds depth to the work through contrast with the existing characters. In addition, the appearance of Li Tianmen and Li Leiyan reaffirms the appeal of Chinese martial arts and provides a new perspective for the viewer.

The characters of Win Gauche and Christopher Eclair also add new elements to the work. Win Gauche's change shows the influence of Kenichi's beliefs, and Christopher Eclair's presence deepens his past connection with Sakaki. These characters have a major impact on the development of the story and provide new excitement for the viewer.

The characters of Ogata Ichishinsai and Hongo Akira are also important elements that add depth to the work. Ogata Ichishinsai's ferocity and Hongo Akira's silence leave a strong impression on the viewer and increase the tension of the story. Their presence contrasts with Kenichi's growth and deeply moves the viewer.

Recommendation

"Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple OVA (Volume 53)" is highly recommended not only for fans of the original work, but also for those who are experiencing this work for the first time. The character growth and deepening relationships, the powerful battle scenes, and the rich sound and music will provide viewers with excitement and emotion. In particular, Kenichi's conviction and hard work, Miu's kindness and strength, and the new perspectives of the original characters will leave a deep impression on viewers.

This OVA faithfully reproduces the worldview of the original work while providing a new perspective, giving viewers new emotions and excitement. Character growth and deepening relationships, powerful battle scenes, and rich sound and music will deeply move viewers. In particular, Kenichi's conviction and hard work, Miu's kindness and strength, and the new perspectives of the original characters will leave a deep impression on viewers.

"Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple OVA (Volume 53)" is highly recommended not only for fans of the original work, but also for those who are experiencing this work for the first time. The character growth and deepening relationships, the powerful battle scenes, and the rich sound and music will move and excite the viewer. In particular, Kenichi's conviction and hard work, Miu's kindness and strength, and the new perspectives of the original characters will leave a deep impression on the viewer. This OVA faithfully reproduces the worldview of the original work while providing a new perspective, giving the viewer new excitement and emotion.