Story
As a tradition that has existed in Japan since ancient times and continues to this day, competition among wealthy businesspeople and corporations is settled through fighters. These fights take place entirely legally, and both the prestige and profits of the companies are shaped according to the results. Within this competitive landscape, a fighter named Tokita Ohma began to dominate the stages with such skill that he earned himself the nickname “Ashura.”
Tokita's fighting style is so impressive and destructive that the entire industry quickly begins to watch him closely. In particular, Hideki Nogi, the head of the major conglomerate known as the Nogi Group, recognizes Tokita's talent and wants to bring him onto his team. However, he goes about this in an unconventional way. He has Yamashita Kazuo, an ordinary man working at one of his companies, establish a new company, and then makes Tokita Ohma the fighter for this new entity. Tokita must prove that he is the strongest in Kengan fights, while Yamashita Kazuo must survive in this ruthless corporate world and support Tokita Ohma.
Production
Kengan Ashura is an anime adaptation of the manga series of the same name by mangaka Yabako Sandrovich, produced by Larx Entertainment. Tatsuhisa Suzuki voices Tokita Ohma; he also voiced Ban in the Nanatsu no Taizai series and the character Shiva in the Shuumatsu no Valkyrie anime. Meanwhile, Cho voices the character Yamashita Kazuo, having also brought the character Brook to life in the One Piece series.
Review
Kengan Ashura holds a rather special place among anime centered on martial arts and competition. Its structure highlights not just physical strength, but also mental and strategic depth. From this perspective, it successfully distinguishes itself from classic fighting anime, offering viewers a different experience. For instance, when compared to action-focused series like One Punch Man, we can say that Kengan Ashura's fight scenes stand out for their greater realism and technical focus. Additionally, much like in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, the characters' internal conflicts and goals are handled with considerable strength in this anime.
One of the most striking aspects of the anime is its visuals. While being produced entirely with CGI technology might seem unusual to some viewers at first, the details in the fight scenes and the fluidity of the movements are truly impressive. The use of this technology gives the anime a modern feel and forces the viewer to encounter a new perspective each time. However, it is worth noting that the CGI can sometimes appear a bit stiff or artificial in certain scenes. This may be uncomfortable for viewers accustomed to the Japanese drawing style.
The music and sound design are also elements that enhance the anime's atmosphere. Dynamic music that heightens the tension in fight scenes draws the viewer deeper into the action, while silences and light melodies that reflect the characters' inner worlds increase the emotional depth. Furthermore, the voice acting quality is quite high, and the characters' personalities are accurately reflected through their vocal tones.
Regarding pacing, we can say that Kengan Ashura is quite balanced. Each episode carries the viewer forward without boredom through a new fight, a new strategy, and the introduction of a new character. However, it is true that the plot can slow down in some episodes and the repetitive fight format can become monotonous. At this point, the fact that the anime has a long-running structure and focuses on character development is of great importance.
In conclusion, Kengan Ashura is an anime that brings together themes such as martial arts, competition, strategy, and character development, proving to be satisfying in terms of both action and drama. By offering a unique experience in both visuals and storytelling, it is definitely a series that must be watched by viewers looking for a different approach in fighting-themed anime. If you are looking for an anime where both physical power and mental struggle are front and center, featuring strong characters and filled with strategic fights, Kengan Ashura is right up your alley!
Characters
· 27 characters
Jun Sekibayashi, whose real name is Junpei Sekibayashi, is a famous pro wrestler and a fighter participating in Kengan matches. He represented Gandai in the Kengan tournament.
Suekichi Kaneda is a fighter participating in Kengan matches. After stealing his fighting rights from Ryo Himuro, he represented Ginokuniya Bookstore during the Kengan Elimination Tournament.
Yoshinari Karo is the fighter for Aijiro Fisheries company.
Raian Kure is an assassin from the notorious Kure Clan. During the Kengan tournament, he served as an affiliated fighter representing Under Mount and is one of the fighters in the tournament.
Kazuo Yamashita is initially a shy, ordinary person who works as a manager at "Nogi Publishing" and is generally bullied by other people. However, after meeting Ouma and being exposed to the bloodlust in the world of Kengan and the other fighters, he begins to lose his fear of ordinary people like his boss and even the bandits who threaten to kill him.
Gensai Kuroki, also known as the Devil's Spear, is a renowned fighter in the criminal underworld and the affiliated fighter for Motorhead Motors in the Kengan Tournament.
Kaolan Wongsawat, also known as the Thai War God, is a famous boxer and the current heavyweight champion, as well as the personal bodyguard of the King of Thailand. He is one of the fighters in the Kengan tournament.
Cosmo is a young genius working under Nishihonji Security Services. He has a very relaxed personality and gets along well with everyone, even the people he fights. Thanks to his small build, he is extremely agile. Additionally, he is capable of defeating opponents who are significantly larger than himself. He is one of the fighters participating in the Kengan tournament.
Agito Kanou is the affiliated fighter for Dainippon Bank and represented this company in the Kengan Tournament; he is considered the strongest fighter in the tournament. During his active period, he ranked number one in the ranking of Kengan's affiliated fighters. He holds the title of "Metsudo's Fang".
Hajime Hanafusa is a special agent of the Japanese government. During the Kengan Tournament, he operated as the affiliated fighter for Teito University to complete a mission assigned to him by the Japanese government.
Seishu Akoya, also known as the Executioner, is a police inspector who ruthlessly applies his own sense of justice. He participated in the Kengan tournament as the fighter for Wakasa Life Insurance.
Bando, the fighter for Juoh Communications, is himself a death row inmate. Bando's joint flexibility is abnormal. He escaped execution 45 times, but his joint flexibility saved him. He is now one of the 13 fighters competing in the Kengan tournament.
He is the fighter for Yoshitake Real Estate. He is one of the 13 fighters in the Kengan tournament.
He is an American street fighter representing Boss Burger in the Kengan Tournament.
Muteba Gizenga is a mercenary of Congolese origin. Muteba lost his sight during a fight but continued to fight, and now he can see more than an average human. He is considered the world's strongest mercenary. Muteba is quite knowledgeable in both weapons usage and unarmed combat. He participated in the Kengan Tournament representing Iwami Heavy Industries and advanced to the quarterfinals, where he lost to Takeshi Wakatsuki.
He is the fighter for the Nogi Group. He is quite lazy and a womanizer. He is one of the 13 fighters in Kengan Ashura.
He is the fighter for Penasonic. He is one of the fighters in the Kengan tournament.
Metsudo Katahara is the owner and CEO of Dainippon Bank.
He is one of the Kengan fighters.
He is a mysterious figure with a close past with Tokita Ouma. He is one of the fighters in the Kengan Tournament.
Lihito, whose real name is Ichiro Nakata, is the president of Super Frozen Cold Storage and a fighter participating in Kengan matches. As of the Kengan Tournament, he has become the first fighter-president in the history of the Kengan Association.
Julius Reinhold, also known as the Monster, is a fighter participating in Kengan matches. During the Kengan Tournament, he represented Toyo Electric Power Company.
He is a fighter affiliated with Kengan; he is a fighter in the Kengan Tournament.
Takeshi Wakatsuki, also known as the Wild Tiger, is the affiliated fighter for Furumi Pharmaceutical Company; Wakatsuki is the longest-serving active affiliated Kengan fighter and holds the highest win record among all affiliated fighters.
Niko Tokita was the master and adoptive father of Tokita Ouma and the founder of the Niko Style.
Saw Paing is fiery, reckless, and easily excited. At the age of 16, he participated in the annual cross-border competition between Myanmar and Thailand. There, he faced Gaolang for the first time and lost by referee decision. He is a fighter competing in the Kengan tournament.
Ohma Tokita, also known as Ashura, is a man who loves fighting. He joined the Kengan Association by fighting for the Nogi Group. During the Kengan Elimination Tournament, Ohma fought for Yamashita Trading Company, whose president was Kazuo Yamashita. Throughout the Kengan Tournament, he became more rational and less arrogant. He is one of the 13 fighters chosen by the Kengan side for the tournament between Kengan and Araf.
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