Igano Kabamaru

Igano Kabamaru (伊賀野カバ丸) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yū Azuki. The eponymous protagonist is a naive young ninja from the Iga province called Kagemaru (absolute shadow), nicknamed Kabamaru (hippo's mouth) for his insatiable appetite. Following the death of his strict grandfather and ninja sensei, Kabamaru moves to Tokyo with one of his grandfather's acquaintances. The plot primarily revolves around Kabamaru's adjustment to urban life after growing up in the mountains, his burgeoning feelings for his guardian's granddaughter, and his involvement in the rivalry between two private schools.

Igano Kabamaru has been adapted into both an anime series and a live-action film.

Plot

Kabamaru was raised by his strict grandfather Saizō Igano (伊賀野才蔵), who trained him and another young orphan, Hayate Kirino (霧野疾風) in the ninja arts. When Saizō dies, Kabamaru meets Saizō's old friend Ran Ookubo (大久保蘭). Following Saizō's request, Ran takes Kabamaru to Tokyo, where he is to stay in her house and attend her private school, Kin'gyoku. Kabamaru takes a liking to Ran's granddaughter Mai Ookubo (大久保麻衣), Ran's granddaughter, but she finds his coarse manners and endless appetite embarrassing and repulsive.

Kin'gyoku School has been engaged in a bitter rivalry with Ōgyoku School for half a century. Ran and Ōgyoku headmistress Suu Matsuno were romantic rivals for Saizō's love, while Shuu Maejima (前島秀), head of the Ōgyoku student council, and Shizune Mejiro (目白沈寝), a student council member at Kin'gyoku, are scions of feuding wealthy families. Kabamaru becomes an unwitting pawn of the student council members in their various machinations. Complicating matters is Hayate, who has been forced into Suu's employ after running away from Saizō's harsh training.

The rivalry escalates until Hayate kidnaps Mai, triggering an all-out confrontation between the students and staff of both schools and a duel between Hayate and a reluctant Kabamaru. Kabamaru prevails, seemingly causing Hayate to drown. However, Hayate is saved by Saizō, who had faked his death to introduce Kabamaru to the next stage of ninja training and the responsibilities of adulthood. Hayate and Kabamaru, now reconciled, decide to return with Saizō to the mountains to continue their training, but not before Mai reveals her newfound feelings for Kabamaru and they promise to meet again.

Characters

• Kabamaru Igano: Ryūsei Nakao
• Young Kabamaru: Masako Nozawa
• Mai Ookubo: Mai Tachihara
• Hayate Kirino: Hideyuki Tanaka
• Young Hayate: Eiko Yamada
• Shizune Mejiro: Akira Kamiya
• Saizō Igano: Kenichi Ogata
• Young Saizō: Ryūsei Nakao
• Ran Ookubo: Eiko Yamada
• Suu Matsuno: Masako Nozawa
• Vice Principal: Yūsaku Yara
• Kaoru Nonogusa: Youko Asagami
• Shirakawa: Daisuke Gōri
• Shū Maejima: Akio Nojima
• Futaba Mejiro: Kenjirō Ishimaru
• Kaname Mejiro: Shigeru Chiba

Media

External links