A thorough review of Kengan Ashura Season 1, Part 1: Enjoy the thrill of fighting

Kengan Ashura Season 1/Part 1 Review and Details

Overview

"Kengan Ashura" is an anime based on the popular fighting manga written by Sandrovich Yabako and illustrated by Daromeon. It was exclusively distributed worldwide on Netflix from July 31, 2019. Part 1 was serialized from April 18, 2012 to June 25, 2015, Part 2 from October 15, 2015 to August 9, 2018, and a new chapter "Kengan Omega" has been serialized since January 17, 2019. This anime depicts the fights and growth of fighters in the "Kengan Matches," a proxy war between companies with huge profits at stake.

■ Story

"Kengan matches" are proxy wars between companies that make huge profits and decide business based on the results of matches between their hired fighters. Yamashita Kazuo, a 56-year-old humble office worker, meets the mysterious fighter Tokita Ohma and ends up participating in a Kengan match! The two overcome various ties such as money, life, and family, and deepen their bond through victories. The two end up participating in the "Kengan Death Tournament" to decide the best company and fighter in Japan!?

■Explanation

While "Kengan Ashura" is a work themed around martial arts, it also contains a wealth of depictions of business and the underworld. The original manga has gained many fans with its detailed drawings and storytelling, and its anime adaptation was highly anticipated. The anime version is characterized by powerful fighting scenes expressed through visual expression while bringing out the best in the original work. The director is Seiji Kishi, the series composition is Makoto Uezu, the character design is Kazuaki Morita, the music is by Koji Takanashi (Team-MAX), and the animation is produced by LARX ENTERTAINMENT.

■Cast

・Ouma Tokita/Tatsuhisa Suzuki ・Kazuo Yamashita/Cho ・Hideki Nogi/Jouji Nakata ・Kaede Akiyama/Yumi Uchiyama

■ Main staff

・Director: Seiji Kishi ・Series Composition: Makoto Uezu ・Character Design: Kazuaki Morita ・Music: Koji Takanashi (Team-MAX)
・Animation Production: LARX ENTERTAINMENT

■ Main Characters

・Ouma Tokita:
A fighter in the Nogi Group. A mysterious fighter who uses the techniques of the Nitori style, which was thought to have been lost. His sharp eyesight and aura overwhelm others, telling us that he has lived an extraordinary life. He has no interest in money or power, and fights only to prove that he is the strongest.

・Kazuo Yamashita:
A humble middle-aged office worker who has worked for Nogi Publishing, a subsidiary of the Nogi Group, for many years. He leads a dull life, but after meeting Tokita Ohma and learning about Kengan matches, his life changes completely. He is overwhelmed by the common sense of the underworld and is manipulated by Tokita Ohma, but he throws himself into the world of fighting with him.

・Hideki Nogi:
Chairman of the Nogi Group. He is a skilled businessman and also has a keen eye for aesthetics, having discovered excellent fighters such as Tokita Ohma. He has a certain ambition and is secretly active in the Kengan Association, but his true motives are unknown.

・Akiyama Kaede:
Secretary of the Nogi Group. A cool, intelligent beauty who looks good in glasses. As a secretary, she is deeply involved in the Kengan matches and is an excellent career woman who supports Hideki Nogi and Kazuo Yamashita behind the scenes.

■ Related works

Kengan Ashura

■ Theme songs and music

Theme song: Omedetai Atama de Nani yori / "Aishiden Issen"

Ending song: TAEYO/"ASHURA"

■Review

"Kengan Ashura" is known for its particularly realistic and powerful fighting scenes, even among martial arts-themed anime. The intricate drawings of the original manga are faithfully reproduced in the anime, maximizing the visual impact. In particular, the beauty and fearsomeness of Tokita Ohma's Nikoryu techniques are highlighted by the visual expression. The story also goes beyond simple martial arts victories, containing plenty of depictions of business and the underworld, giving it depth that draws viewers in.

The appeal of the characters is also a major point. Each character is unique and attractive: Tokita Ohma's cold-heartedness and strength, Yamashita Kazuo's growth and struggle, Nogi Hideki's mysterious ambition, Akiyama Kaede's intelligence and beauty. In particular, the relationship between Tokita Ohma and Yamashita Kazuo leaves a strong impression on viewers as it is at the heart of the story. The process of their deepening bond and their growth in the world of fighting inspires and moves viewers.

Music is also an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the work. The theme song "Aishiden Issen" and the ending song "ASHURA" effectively express the tension of the fighting scenes and the emotions of the characters. In particular, the powerful melody of the theme song has the power to inspire the viewers and draw them into the world of the work.

The technical capabilities of LARX ENTERTAINMENT, the animation production company, are also highly praised. The visual expression, such as the movements in the fighting scenes, the camera work, and the use of color, are very sophisticated. Director Seiji Kishi's direction is also superb, bringing out the best in the original work while adding a new appeal that can only be achieved through animation.

■ Recommendation points

Kengan Ashura is recommended not only for fans of fighting sports, but also for viewers who want a deeper story and characters. It has the following points in particular that make it so appealing:

• Realistic and powerful fighting scenes : The unique visual expression of anime further enhances the original battle scenes.
• Deep storyline : With a wealth of depictions of business and the underworld, you can enjoy not just the outcome of martial arts matches, but also the human drama.
• Charming Characters : Unique characters such as Tokita Ohma and Yamashita Kazuo add excitement to the story.
• Powerful music : The theme song and ending song set the mood of the work and inspire the viewers.
• High-quality animation : LARX ENTERTAINMENT's technical expertise and Seiji Kishi's direction bring out the charm of the original work to the fullest.

"Kengan Ashura" is a work that depicts an epic story set in the world of fighting sports and the growth of unique characters. It is exclusively distributed worldwide on Netflix, so please watch it. It is recommended not only for fighting fans, but also for viewers who want depth in the story and characters.