The appeal and reputation of Noragami: A moving story of gods and humans

Noragami - A story of struggle and friendship of a poverty god

■Overview of the work

Noragami is a TV anime series based on the manga of the same name by Adachitoka. It aired from January 5 to March 23, 2014, and consists of 12 episodes. Animation was handled by Bones and the director was Tamura Kotaro. The story follows Yato, a self-proclaimed "god" with no fixed address and no job, as he struggles to build his own shrine. He works as a "Delivery God," solving people's problems for a 5 yen offering, and faces various challenges along the way.

■ Story

Yato is a self-proclaimed "Delivery God" who writes his mobile number on walls in the city and in toilets, and solves people's problems for 5 yen offerings. He dreams of having his own shrine and being worshiped by many followers. Then, a middle school girl named Iki Hiyori, a daughter of a good family who loves martial arts, appears before him. When Yato almost gets into a traffic accident, Hiyori tries to save him, but ends up getting into the accident instead. As a result, Hiyori becomes a "half demon (a constitution in which the soul easily leaves the body)" and chases after Yato to try to cure her condition. In addition, a boy named Yukine, who was picked up by Yato and became a sacred treasure, joins the group, and the three of them fight against the "demons" that harm humans and unravel Yato's hidden past.

■ Characters

Night

A minor, poor god with no fixed address and no job. He dreams of having his own shrine and being worshiped by many followers, and solves people's problems with five yen offerings. He has a unique style of black jersey and scarf, and always acts positively. He is voiced by Kamiya Hiroshi.

Iki Hiyori

A middle school girl from a wealthy family who loves martial arts. After helping Yato, her body becomes prone to losing its soul. She chases after Yato in an attempt to get him to cure her condition. Her voice actor is Uchida Maaya.

Yukine

A boy who was picked up by Yato and became a "Sacred Weapon". When his name is called and he becomes "Sekki", he transforms into a sword. He is voiced by Kaji Yuki.

Small fortune

A god who calls himself Ebisu. He has a cute appearance, but in fact...!? His voice actor is Aki Toyosaki.

Daikoku

The sacred treasure of Kofuku. His name is Kuro. He has a tough appearance, but he actually loves children and is very family-oriented. His voice actor is Daisuke Ono.

Bishamon

One of the Seven Lucky Gods. The strongest war god armed with many sacred treasures. He targets Yato as his sworn enemy. His voice actor is Sawashiro Miyuki.

Zouma

The sacred treasure that guides Bishamon. It controls all of Bishamon's sacred treasures. It is voiced by Jun Fukuyama.

Tenjin

The god of learning, Sugawara no Michizane, is known to everyone. He has a gentle personality and is the leader of the Tenma Group, which has many sacred treasures and affiliated shrines. His voice actor is Toru Okawa.

Stray

A sacred artifact that serves an unspecified number of gods. It has a mysterious past with Yato. The voice actor is Rie Kugimiya.

Evil God

An original character for the TV anime, based on the original idea of ​​Adachitoka-sensei. A blood-soaked, magatsukami that blooms wildly in the equinox. It seems that something happened between Yato and him in the past!? His voice actor is Sakurai Takahiro.

■ Production staff

・Original story: Toka Adachi (serialized in Monthly Shonen Magazine/Kodansha)
Director: Tamura Kotaro Series Composition: Akao Deko Character Design: Kawamoto Toshihiro Chief Animation Director: Kawamoto Toshihiro, Yamazaki Hideki Yokai and Sacred Art Design: Sato Masahiro Art Director: Nagai Kazuo Color Design: Umezaki Hiroko Director of Photography: Furumoto Mayuko Editing: Sakamoto Kumiko Sound Direction: Yamada Minoru Music: Iwasaki Taku Sound Production: AiAddiction
Music Production: Avex Entertainment Animation Production: Bones Production: Noragami Production Committee

■Broadcast information

"Noragami" was broadcast on the following stations:
・TOKYO MX: January 5, 2014 - March 23, 2014, Sundays 23:30 - 24:00 ・MBS: January 6, 2014 - March 24, 2014, Mondays 26:25 - 26:55 ・BS11: January 7, 2014 - March 25, 2014, Tuesdays 27:00 - 27:30 ・TV Aichi: January 8, 2014 - March 26, 2014, Wednesdays 27:05 - 27:35

■ Episode

・#01 House cat, stray god and tail (2014/01/05)
・#02 Like Snow (2014/01/12)
・#03 Invited Disaster (2014/01/19)
・#04 Where Happiness Lies (2014/01/26)
・#05 Boundary (2014/02/02)
・#06 Scary People (2014/02/09)
・#07 Doubts and Destinies (2014/02/16)
・#08 Crossing the Line (2014/02/23)
・#09 Name (2014/03/02)
・#10 The Abominable (2014/03/09)
・#11 Abandoned God (2014/03/16)
・#12 A Piece of Memory (2014/03/23)

■ Theme songs and music

Opening theme "Goya no Machiawase"
・Lyrics: Shuntaro ・Composition: Shuntaro ・Arrangement: Hello Sleepwalkers
・Song: Hello Sleepwalkers

Ending theme "Heart Realize"
・Lyrics: ryo (supercell)
・Composer: ryo (supercell)
・Arrangement: ryo (supercell)
・Singer: Tia

■ Appeal and evaluation of the work

"Noragami" is set in a world where gods and monsters exist, and depicts the struggles of Yato, a poverty god, as he tries to build his own shrine. The story is appealing due to Yato's humorous character and the relationships with the unique characters that surround him. In particular, episodes depicting the friendship and growth of Yato, Hiyori, and Yukine are deeply moving to viewers. Also, don't miss the gradual unfolding of the story as the secrets of Yato's past and the world of the gods are revealed.

Bones, the animation production company, is known for its beautiful visuals and detailed drawings, and they have fully demonstrated their technical skills in "Noragami". In particular, the scenes in which Yato fights using the sacred treasures and the battle scenes with the monsters are worth watching. In addition, the character designs and background art are also meticulously detailed, making this a visually appealing work.

The voice actors are also impressive, with Hiroshi Kamiya, Maaya Uchida, Yuki Kaji and others providing outstanding performances that bring out the individuality of each character. In particular, Hiroshi Kamiya, who plays Yato, skillfully portrays both his humorous and serious sides, leaving a strong impression on viewers.

Music is also an important element in enhancing the appeal of the work, and the opening theme "Goya no Machiawase" and the ending theme "Heart Realize" have beautiful melodies and lyrics that match the atmosphere of the story and capture the hearts of viewers. In particular, the ending theme "Heart Realize" is loved by many fans for its impressive lyrics that symbolize the relationship between Yato and Hiyori.

■ Recommendation points

Although "Noragami" is a fantasy work set in a world where gods and monsters exist, it depicts universal themes such as friendship, growth, and overcoming the past, making it enjoyable for a wide range of viewers. In particular, Yato's humorous character and the relationships with the unique characters surrounding him are appealing, and the series is full of episodes that move viewers. In addition, the beautiful visuals, detailed drawings, stellar voice actors, and memorable music also enhance the appeal of the work.

If you haven't seen "Noragami" yet, I highly recommend watching it at least once. The story of Yato's struggle and friendship will surely warm your heart. Also, if you have already seen it, I recommend watching it again to discover new things. "Noragami" is a work that can be enjoyed no matter how many times you watch it.

■ Related works

The original manga of "Noragami" is currently being serialized in "Monthly Shonen Magazine", and its sequel "Noragami ARAGOTO" was broadcast in 2015. There is also a spin-off work of the original manga, "Noragami Volume 11", which is a work that fans cannot miss. By enjoying these related works together, you can gain a deeper understanding of the world of "Noragami".

■ Summary

"Noragami" is a humorous yet moving story about the poverty god Yato's struggle to build his own shrine. The beautiful visuals, detailed drawings, stellar voice cast, and impressive music enhance the appeal of the work, making it enjoyable for a wide range of viewers. Please give it a watch and enjoy the story of Yato's struggle and friendship.