Arata Kangatari

Arata: The Legend (アラタカンガタリ 〜革神語〜, Arata Kangatari) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yuu Watase. It has been serialized in Shogakukan's Weekly Shōnen Sunday since October 2008. After a nearly 6-year hiatus that began in August 2015, the series resumed publication, with republished chapters in May 2021 and all-new chapters started publishing in July of the same year; the series finished publication in the magazine in April 2022 and was transferred to Sunday Webry website starting in May of the same year. Its chapters were collected in twenty-four tankōbon volumes. A "remastered edition" started in July 2013, with fifteen volumes published as of April 2022. In May 2021, it was announced that the tankōbon edition would no longer continue its publication. In North America, the manga is licensed for English release by Viz Media. A 12-episode anime television series adaptation by Satelight and Korean studio JM Animation was broadcast on TV Tokyo from April to July 2013.

Overview
This is Watase's first serialization in a boy's manga magazine, which is mainly written in a girl's manga magazine. It depicts the growth of a boy who has lost himself in a different world and has a serious mission. In the two worlds of "Tenwakuni" (Amawakuni) and modern Japan, it revolves around leather and Arata, two boys.

As a noteworthy point at the start of the serialization, the serialization notice on "Sunday", the cover of the 44th issue of 2008, the notice of the next issue, all of which used the quasi-hero Arata to hide the existence of leather as the main hero. The leather is only drawn behind Arata and Kotoha on the cover of the first episode color, and the full-scale appearance will be the second episode. The serialization began using a technique that makes Arata look like the main character.

According to the author, the production of this work had been decided several years before the serialization started, but it was not announced until 2008 due to poor physical condition and serialization of other works. Watase's simultaneous serialization has become three because he started this work, but adjustments have been made due to the suspension of the quarterly work "Fushigi Yugi Genbu Kaiden" (then it was completed in 2013). She knew that the schedule was tight, and she commented that she was drawing "because there is a timing for writing and publishing, and all can only be drawn now."

TV animation was announced in the 2nd and 3rd merger issue of "Weekly Shonen Sunday" released on December 12, 2012. It was broadcast from April to July 2013.

Since July 2013, in addition to the regular book, a remastered version with corrections such as setting changes and supplements has been published. As the reason for the publication, the author's own blog stated excessive interference with this work from the first editor in charge of up to 10 volumes (currently deleted)  . This remark by Watase became a hot topic, but after that, it seems that there was a headline "There was an opinion that was not my intention" and "A feud with the Sunday editorial department", but I personally edited it at all. There are no such thoughts or feelings in the department."

After becoming the second editor in charge, the relationship was restored, and now he is reconciled by saying that he is grateful to the editorial department. Even when it was suspended for about a year from the spring of 2014 to the summer of 2015, various rumors such as "I quarreled with the editorial department" flowed, but due to the doctor stop and the fall of my mother, "I just took a rest". Denying.

In August 2016, the content of the remastered version became "another work that was almost redone", so from the original "Until you catch up with the 24th volume, Before the remastering work", "From the 25th volume sim edition", Expanding from the flow from the remastered version ", and the serialization in" Sunday "will be suspended for a long time. In addition to the book version, the remastered version has been distributed on Shogakukan's manga app" Manga One " since June 2017.

In May 2021, from the 25th issue of "Weekly Shonen Sunday", the serialization resumed from the continuation of the 13th volume of the remastered version (episode 244). From now on, regular comics will not be published after the 25th volume, and the part published in this magazine will be included in the remastered version. Up to issue 31, the content was usually 24 volumes of comics (contents scheduled to be recorded in 14 volumes of the remastered version), but from issue 32 it became a new development. After that, it was announced that it would continue to be serialized until the 21st issue of "Weekly Shonen Sunday" 2022, after which it would be transferred to " Sunday Webry". The author, Watase, commented on the reason for the transfer, "The reason is" physical condition. "On the web, you can rest immediately when it's hard. Magazines have been split up for several months, so if you take a break, it will be a nuisance." He revealed on his own Twitter account.

Synopsis
Arata of another world called Amawakuni (天和国) and Arata Hinohara of modern-day Japan switch places. An illusion hides the switch from people of both worlds, and Hinohara and Arata pass as each other. Kannagi, a wielder of special sword-spirits called Hayagami (劍神), has led eleven other wielders against their ruler Princess Kikuri and framed Arata, the sole witness. The Imperial Court convicts Arata and exiles him to Gatoya Island, but due to the switch, Hinohara goes in Arata's place.

Kotoha, Arata's childhood friend, accompanies Hinohara and gives him Tsukuyo, a Hayagami that Hinohara activated before his trial. e also gives him a charm Michihi no Tama (ミチヒノタマ), through which he and Arata communicate. Barely alive, Kikuri also speaks to Hinohara through the charm and tasks him with restoring order to Amawakuni. Hinohara escapes Gatoya, learns to use Tsukuyo, and gains allies, including Kannagi. As he defeats the other rebels, Hinohara learns Masato Kadowaki, a bully from his past in modern-day Japan, has followed in his footsteps. After switching places with Harunawa, one of the mysterious Six Shinshō, Kadowaki activates a Hayagami of his own, Orochi, and faces Hinohara in multiple fights. Along the way, Hinohara and Kotoha grow close, and their relationship complicated when Kotoha discovers Hinohara's true identity and when he loses control of his growing power and hurts her.

In modern-day Japan, Arata adjusts to high school and befriends Imina Oribe. Imina, a woman from Kikuri's clan who winded up lost on Earth fifteen years prior, is the true heir. Harunawa, who passes as Kadowaki, plots to kill Imina and end Kikuri's line. Arata and Imina search for information in prophecies on how to foil the Six Shinshō's ambition to rule both Amawakuni and Earth. Harunawa attacks the school and infects the city to augment his powers. Imina counters the outbreak with her Amatsuriki abilities, unique to women of her clan, to protect Arata and the Hinohara family.

Character
Arata Hinohara is a shy, quite person who doesn’t like to stand out and tends to not have much self confidence, is athletic, and he also sticks to his morals as to what is right and wrong and he will stand up to someone who is getting hurt because of him. He is also from present day Japan, and ran track in middle school. His name Arata uses the kanji used in revolution.

Arata Hinohara is first introduced in chapter 2 of volume 1 getting ready for school and he is looking forward to the fact that he gets to start fresh in high school due to being bullied in middle school. On his way to school he catches a pervert in the act, and as he flees, Arata chases him down and tackles him until the police arrive. Because of that incident he meets his first friend in high school by the name Suguru Nishijima. He also becomes popular in school until Masato Kadowaki comes to his first day of class due to a broken leg and being hospitalized. He is then made fun of by Masato (who doesn’t like him due to the fact that he slowed down during track training to let Masato win as he might not have been able to compete in the next meet) and the rest of the school. Later his desk gets covered in glue and he finds out that he is betrayed by his best friend Suguru.

After being made fun of and after school is over he wishes to disappear so that everyone can be happy. He loses all trust in people by saying it is pointless to trust people as they only betray you. As he is walking around he hears a voice call for him in an alley, and as he enters the alley everything becomes black. Although he finds that he is no longer in Japan, but rather a new world that is known as Amawakuni (he finds that out a little later).

In Amawakuni he meets Kotoha who was worried about Arata. He is confused at what is going on and when Kannagi searches his “house” he comes across a rusted sword and activates its power and becomes a Sho. The sword is known as a Hayagami, or god, and its name is Goshintai. His Hayagami has the power of the wind.

Kotoha tells him that she will be there for him, and later finds out that he doesn’t have the stone (michihi no tama) that the princess game to him, so she gives him hers. He later gets arrested and as he is in a holding cell he talks to Arata by the power of the stone. He finds out that Kannagi was behind the murder of the princess and that Arata was framed for it. During his trail he is exiled to Gatoya Island (it’s known for being the same as hell). On the trip to the island Kotoha tags along and gives him his Hayagami. Also because of the stones power he is able to talk to the princess (who is just barely alive) and she asks him to govern the world as other wise there will only be war and blood shed.

On the island he meets Kanate and Ginchi who try to steal everything he has as well as kotoha. He trades the people everyday items from Japan (no one has seen anything like that before) for information, and later finds out that Gatoya Island is like a man eating island and that it is controlled by a Sho named Tsutsuga. After facing Tsutsuga in a fight he is given Warden’s power and returns the island back to normal. He later escapes with his new friends Kanate and Ginchi as well as Kotoha on a ship back to the main land to as he starts his journey on restoring order and saving the princess.


 * Personality
 * Hinohara begins as a shy, tortured soul who is continuously bullied throughout his early teenage years by his ex-best friend Masato Kadowaki. Hinohara is easily liked because of his easy-going attitude and a good sense of justice. During the time of his bullying, he isolates himself from his family to not draw attention to the issues circling around him.
 * Finally, the bullying intensifies to the point of him taking a year off from school. When he begins high school, it's a new start and he begins to quickly make new friends until things take a turn for the worst when Kadowaki arrives. The bullying restarts and when Hinohara wishes he had never been born he is pulled into Amawakuni. He is frightened of his new surroundings, and horrified that he is blamed for Himeou's death which he angrily protests against.
 * Hinohara's time in the new world helps him grow as a person as he begins to find himself and put trust in others. He grows stronger and after years of being bullied, strongly refuses to let the Twelve Shinshou treat ordinary citizens in a similar manner. His character change can be credited partly to Kotoha who teaches Hinohara that he should love himself and how his life does have meaning-protecting those who can't protect themselves. Hinohara has a sense of humor that is shown throughout fragments of the story.

Manga:

 * Yuu Watase "Arata: The Legend-Leather Goddess-" Shogakukan  24 volumes already published (as of September 2015)
 * Released January 16, 2009 - ISBN 978-4-09-121579-6
 * Released on March 18, 2009  - ISBN 978-4-09-121629-8
 * Released on June 18, 2009 - ISBN 978-4-09-122020-2
 * Released on September 17, 2009 - ISBN 978-4-09-121749-3
 * Released on December 18, 2009 - ISBN 978-4-09-122044-8
 * Released on March 18, 2010 - ISBN 978-4-09-122192-6
 * Released on June 18, 2010 - ISBN 978-4-09-122332-6
 * Released on September 17, 2010 - ISBN 978-4-09-122523-8
 * Released on December 17, 2010 - ISBN 978-4-09-122696-9
 * Released on March 18, 2011 - ISBN 978-4-09-122795-9
 * Released on June 17, 2011 - ISBN 978-4-09-122899-4
 * Released on August 18, 2011 - ISBN 978-4-09-123219-9
 * Released on November 18, 2011 - ISBN 978-4-09-123386-8
 * Released on February 17, 2012 - ISBN 978-4-09-123547-3
 * Released on May 18, 2012 - ISBN 978-4-09-123660-9
 * Released on August 17, 2012 - ISBN 978-4-09-123796-5
 * Released on December 18, 2012 - ISBN 978-4-09-124036-1
 * Released on March 18, 2013 - ISBN 978-4-09-124197-9
 * Released on May 17, 2013 - ISBN 978-4-09-124300-3
 * Released on July 18, 2013 - ISBN 978-4-09-124347-8
 * Released on October 18, 2013 - ISBN 978-4-09-124458-1
 * Released on December 18, 2013 - ISBN 978-4-09-124515-1
 * Released on April 18, 2014 - ISBN 978-4-09-124581-6
 * Released on September 18, 2015 - ISBN 978-4-09-126287-5


 * Yuu Watase "Arata Kangatari-Leather Goddess-Remastered Edition" Shogakukan  Volume 15 already published (as of April 18, 2022)
 * Released on July 18, 2013 - ISBN 978-4-09-124399-7
 * Released on September 18, 2013 - ISBN 978-4-09-124411-6
 * Released on April 18, 2014 - ISBN 978-4-09-124688-2
 * Released on October 17, 2014 , ISBN 978-4-09-125480-1
 * Released on January 16, 2015 , ISBN 978-4-09-125717-8
 * Released on September 18, 2015 , ISBN 978-4-09-126409-1
 * Released on June 17, 2016 - ISBN 978-4-09-127269-0
 * Released on June 16, 2017  - ISBN 978-4-09-127646-9
 * Released on April 18, 2018 - ISBN 978-4-09-128199-9
 * Released on November 16, 2018 - ISBN 978-4-09-128717-5
 * Released on May 17, 2019 - ISBN 978-4-09-129226-1
 * Released on November 18, 2019 - ISBN 978-4-09-129499-9
 * Released on May 18, 2021 - ISBN 978-4-09-850606-4
 * Released on October 18, 2021 - ISBN 978-4-09-850748-1
 * Released on April 18, 2022 - ISBN 978-4-09-851142-6

Animation:

 * "Arata Kangatari-Leather Book-Official Fan Book" Mediapal Co., Ltd., released on July 10, 2013 - ISBN 978-4-89610-684-8

TV Anime
In December 2012, Weekly Shōnen Sunday announced that the manga would receive an anime television series adaptation. The 12-episode series is produced by Satelight and Korean studio JM Animation, and was broadcast on TV Tokyo from April 8 to July 1, 2013. The opening theme is "Genesis Aria", performed by Sphere, and the ending theme is "The Misfit Go", performed by Oldcodex. The series was streamed by Crunchyroll in the United States and Canada.


 * Staff:
 * Original- Yu Watase ( serialized in Shogakukan " Weekly Shonen Sunday ")
 * Director-Kenji Yasuda
 * Chief Director-Park Woo Hyun
 * Series composition- Mayori Sekijima
 * Character Design- Kazuki Aizawa, Kim Do Yeon
 * Design Works- Yasuhiro Moriki, Satoru Kuwahara
 * Art Director / Background Design-Lee Seo Gu
 * Color design-Masato Takagi
 * CGI Producer-Tomisaburo Hashimoto
 * Cinematographer-Maki Ueda, Lee Soo Yeon
 * Video Editing-Lim Hyun Hee
 * Sound Director- Tsuyoshi Takahashi
 * Music- Kow Otani
 * Music production- Lantis
 * Producers- Kenjiro Kawahito, Jun Takei, Yuka Sakurai, Kim Young Ho, Takema Okamura, Ryosuke Ohno, Mika Shimizu, Masuhiro Kinoshita
 * Animation Producer-Shunichi Yamamoto, Choi Jae Hyuk
 * Animation production- Satellite, JM ANIMATION
 * Production --Arata: The Legend Production Committee

Radio
"Radio Arata Kangatari ~ Rajikan ~" is a radio program broadcast every Friday from 24:30 on Radio Osaka from March 1st to September 27th, 2013. The personalities are Nobuhiko Okamoto (role of Hinohara Leather) and Yuki Ono (role of Kannagi).

It was also distributed on Animate TV and Lantis Web Radio.


 * The guests
 * 7/8 times- Ryohei Kimura (role of Masato Kadowaki)
 * 9/10 times- Tatsuhisa Suzuki (role of Akachi)
 * 11/12 times- Junko Minagawa (role of Kanate)
 * 13.14 times- Yoshitsugu Matsuoka (role of Arata)
 * 15/16 times- Ayahi Takagaki (role of Kotoha)

Social games
The social game was provided by Sora Yume on Mobage from May 29, 2013, and on SP version mixi from July 8, 2013, but ended on January 28, 2014.

External Link

 * WEB Sunday | Arata: The Legend
 * TV Anime "Arata: The Legend-Leather Goddess-" Special Site
 * TV TOKYO Adere Arata: The Legend -Leather Goddess-
 * Arata: The Legend at Viz Media
 * Arata: The Legend at Viz Media's Shonen Sunday site
 * Arata: The Legend ~ Leather Goddess ~ (@arata_anime) --Twitter
 * Arata: The Legend - Wikipedia (EN)
 * Arata: The Legend - Wikipedia (JP)

Trivia

 * When translated from kanji, Emperor of Hinowa (日ノ輪の大王) means "" Great King of the Sun Ring.
 * Hinohara's favorite foods are curry, hamburger and cafe au lait.

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