Plot
Main article: List of Kekkaishi characters
Five hundred years ago, a feudal lord was attacked by demons wanting to retrieve his mysterious inner power to take over the human world. The famous mage, Tokimori Hazama, was called upon, and with his 2 students, managed to save the whole land. But they fell ill, the feudal lord was killed, his power was also buried with him at a site called Karasumori.
In the present day, Yoshimori Sumimura and Tokine Yukimura, heirs of the Hazama clan, became the kekkaishi protecting the land and the power. They use a technique called Kekkai, a form of magical barrier, used to capture and destroy Ayakashi (monsters/demons) that are drawn to this land. Any demons that come near the power will become stronger and therefore Yoshimori and Tokine are to guard the land from intrusion of the Ayakashi. Some of the demons form a powerful organization to take over that mysterious power.
After years of combating Ayakashi and protecting the land of Karasumori, Yoshimori's mother returns and with the help of Yoshimori and Tokine, release Karasumori from land and essentially completing their duties to protect the land.
Hazama-ryu kekkai technique
The Sumimura and Yukimura families use the Hazama-ryu Kekkai Technique (間流結界術, Hazama-Ryū Kekkai Jutsu?) when they are faced with ayakashi (demons). It is said by Shigemori Sumimura that this technique integrates utility and effectiveness of kekkai abilities. Elements of this technique include:
* Hoi (方囲, Hōi?, "Engulf"): Designates a target.
* Joso (定礎, Jōso?, "Cornerstone"): Determines where to create the kekkai.
* Ketsu (結?, "Bind"): Creates and activates the kekkai.
* Kai (解?, "Release"): Dispels the kekkai without injuring the target trapped inside.
* Metsu (滅?, "Destroy"): Collapses a kekkai, destroying what is trapped inside.
* Tenketsu (天穴?, "Heavenly hole"): Opens a door to another world and sends the shards of the enemy through to prevent regeneration. This technique requires using a shakujo, a Buddhist ringed staff, to perform it.
* Zekkai (絶界?, "Absolute boundary"): A technique that allows the user to either repel an attack or harm an enemy. Depending on the strength of the user, it appears as a black aura that varies in form. Because it is created by the domination of negative feelings, it is recommended that it not be used excessively.
* Shinkai: "True boundary". It is a technique to create a new world and consumes much more power than Zekkai. Tokimori Hazama stated that it's a technique close to the power of a god.
* Nenshi (念糸?, "Thread"): A technique that creates an energy thread. It is used for binding, capturing, and torture by squeezing. The nenshi comes out from the palm of the user. The seal around the neck of Madaro, Yoshimori's spirit familiar, is made of beads strung on a circle of nenshi.
* Sekkai: A technique used to destroy foreign kekkai. Tokine attempts to use this to dispel Yoshimori's kekkai in Kokuborou but could not because his kekkai was too strong.
* Shuufuku: Restoration art, repairs an object.
* Shikigami: Paper dolls that obey the commands of a kekkai user.
* Musou: A state of mind where the user is not influenced by any force, it increases speed, power, and effectiveness of kekkai.
Media
Manga
Main article: List of Kekkaishi chapters
Kekkaishi is written and drawn by Yellow Tanabe. It has been serialized in Japan by Shogakukan in the shōnen (aimed at teenaged boys) manga magazine Shōnen Sunday since 2003 issue 47, with publication on-going. Serial chapters have been collected in 28 tankōbon volumes as of February 2010[update]. The series is licensed in English in North America by Viz Media.[2] It is also licensed in France by Pika Édition,[3] in Germany by Carlsen Comics,[4] in Hong Kong by Rightman Publishing Limited,[5] in Indonesia by Elex Media Komputindo which serializes it in Shōnen Star,[6] in Italy by Planet Manga,[7] in Malaysia by PCM Comics, in South Korea by Bookbox,[8] in Spain by Editorial Ivrea,[9] in Taiwan by Tong Li Comics,[10] and in Vietnam by Kim Dong.[11]
A guidebook to the series called a "teacher's guide" (結界師 指南之書?) was published as a Shōnen Sunday special on 16 December 2006 (ISBN 4-09-120710-3).
Anime
Main article: List of Kekkaishi episodes
Kekkaishi was adapted by Sunrise as a anime television series directed by Kenji Kodama with character designs by Hirotoshi Takaya and music by Taku Iwasaki. The opening theme for all episodes is "Sha La La: Ayakashi Night" by Saeka Uura. There are four different ending themes: "Akai Ito" by Koshi Inaba (episodes 1–15, 38, 40), "Sekaijyuu Doko wo Sagashitemo" (世界中どこを探しても?) by Aiko Kitahara (episodes 16–23, 39, 44), "Mai Mirai" (マイミライ, My Future?) by Saeka Uura (episodes 24–30, 41), and "Kyuukei Jikan Juppun" (休憩時間10分, 10 Minute Break?) by Saeka Uura (episodes 31–37, 42–43, 45). The series was broadcast for 52 episodes in Japan between 16 October 2006 and 12 February 2008 on Nippon Television, Yomiuri TV, and Nippon Television Network System,[13] in the "golden" timeslot of 7 p.m. Monday.[14]
The anime has been licensed in North America by Viz Media,[15] which began broadcasting episodes online through Hulu.com in January 2010.[16] According to Anime News Network, the series will premiere on TV,May 22, 2010 on Adult Swim.[17] (Adult Swim is now advertising it will premiere Saturday, May 29th at 12:30) It has also been broadcast in Taiwan on TTV and Videoland Television Network, in Malaysia on 8TV (Cantonese dubbing with Malay subtitles) and NTV7 (Malay dubbing), in Hong Kong on Cable TV, in the Philippines on HERO and GMA-7, and in Indonesia on antv.
References
# ^ a b "Shogakukan Awards Page" (in Japanese). Shogakukan. http://www.shogakukan.co.jp/mangasho/. Retrieved 27 February 2007.
# ^ "Kekkaishi (manga)". Anime News Network. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/manga.php?id=5008. Retrieved 2008-08-26.
# ^ "Kekkaishi - PIKA Édition" (in French). Pika Édition. http://www.pika.fr/new/node/1188. Retrieved 1 May 2009.
# ^ "Kekkaishi - CARLSEN Verlag" (in German). Carlsen Verlag GmbH. http://www.carlsen.de/web/manga/serie?id=156939. Retrieved 1 May 2009.
# ^ "正文社出版有限公司" (in Chinese). Rightman Publishing Ltd.. http://www.rightman.net/comics_a1_japan_5.html. Retrieved 1 May 2009.
# ^ "SHONEN STAR" (in Indonesian). Elex Media Komputindo. http://elexmedia.multiply.com/reviews/item/134. Retrieved 1 May 2009.
# ^ "KEKKAISHI 1" (in Italian). Panini Comics. http://www.paninicomics.it/web/guest/productDetail?viewItem=29614. Retrieved 1 May 2009.
# ^ "결계사 1 By TANABE YELLOW". Google Books. http://books.google.com/books?id=WJ9vMgAACAAJ. Retrieved 1 May 2009.
# ^ "KEKKAISHI" (in Spanish). Editorial Ivrea. http://www.editorialivrea.com/ESP/manga_kekkaishi.htm. Retrieved 4 May 2009.
# ^ "東立漫遊網 書籍查詢-書資料清單" (in Chinese). Tong Li Comics. http://www.tongli.com.tw/BooksList.aspx?B=SC132. Retrieved 1 May 2009.
# ^ "Kết giới sư (Kekkaishi)" (in Vietnamese). Kim Dong Publishing House. http://www.nxbkimdong.com.vn/default.asp?page=viewitem&bookid=1057. Retrieved 1 May 2009.
# ^ "小学館: コミック 「結界師 指南之書" (in Japanese). Shogakukan. http://skygarden.shogakukan.co.jp/skygarden/owa/solc_dtl?isbn=4091207103. Retrieved 25 February 2009.
# ^ "Kekkaishi (TV)". Anime News Network. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=6806. Retrieved 2008-08-27.
# ^ "Yatterman Remake to Take Kekkaishi's 'Golden' Timeslot (Updated)". Anime News Network. 9 October 2007. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-10-09/yatterman-remake-to-take-kekkaishi's-golden-timeslot. Retrieved 28 August 2008.
# ^ "Viz Adds Inuyasha the Final Act, Kekkaishi Anime (Updated)". Anime News Network. 24 July 2009. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-07-24/viz-adds-inuyasha-final-act-kekkaishi-anime. Retrieved 25 July 2009.
# ^ "Viz Media to Debut Kekkaishi Anime Series on Hulu". Anime News Network. 19 January 2010. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2010-01-19/viz-media-to-debut-kekkaishi-anime-series-on-hulu. Retrieved 19 January 2010.
# ^ "Adult Swim Lists Kekkaishi U.S. TV Premiere". Anime News Network. 2010-03-29. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-03-29/adult-swim-lists-kekkaishi-u.s-tv-premiere-in-may.
# ^ "Wiiリモコンで”妖”を倒せ! 「結界師 黒芒楼の影」 / ファミ通.com" (in Japanese). http://www.famitsu.com/game/coming/2007/07/07/104,1183734703,74741,0,0.html.
# ^ "Japanese Comic Ranking, January 15–21". Anime News Network. 2008-01-24. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-01-24/japanese-comic-ranking-january-15-21. Retrieved 2008-08-27.
# ^ "Japanese Comic Ranking, April 22–28 (Updated)". Anime News Network. 2008-04-30. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-04-30/japanese-comic-ranking-april-22-28. Retrieved 2008-08-27.
# ^ "Japanese Comic Ranking, July 8–14". Anime News Network. 2008-07-18. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-07-18/japanese-comic-ranking-july-8-14. Retrieved 2008-08-27.
# ^ "Manga Named to Librarians' Great Graphic Novels List". Anime News Network. 2008-01-16. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-01-16/manga-named-to-librarians-great-graphic-novels-list. Retrieved 2008-08-26.
# ^ "Japanese Anime TV Ranking, April 16-22". Anime News Network. 2007-04-27. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-04-27/japanese-anime-tv-ranking-april-16-22. Retrieved 2008-08-28. "Kekkaishi continues to shine as the only (relatively) new, non-sequel series on the list."
# ^ "Japanese Anime TV Ranking: April 30-May 20". Anime News Network. 2007-05-24. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-05-24/japanese-anime-tv-ranking-april-30-may-20. Retrieved 2008-08-28.
# ^ "Japanese Anime TV Ranking: May 21-May 27". Anime News Network. 2007-06-01. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-06-01/japanese-anime-tv-ranking-may-21-may-27. Retrieved 2008-08-28. "[T]he only "new" series is Fall 2006's Kekkaishi from the pages of Weekly Shōnen Sunday."
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