The Gymnastics Samurai

The Gymnastics Samurai (体操ザムライ) is a Japanese anime television series about gymnastics. The series was produced by MAPPA, written by Shigeru Murakoshi and directed by Hisatoshi Shimizu. Character designs were created by Kasumi Fukagawa, and the music its composed by Masaru Yokoyama. The series aired from October to December 2020 on TV Asahi's NUMAnimation block.[1]

The series was licensed by Funimation.[2] Medialink licensed the anime in South and Southeast Asia.[3]

Plot

In 2002, the Japanese men's gymnastics team is not doing well. Jotaro Aragaki is a professional gymnast and former Olympian. However, despite being good in the past, he was never able to get a gold medal. As he suffered a shoulder injury and is an older athlete at 29 years old, his coach, Noriyuki Amakusa, suggests he retires. While considering retirement, Jotaro takes his daughter Rei to Edo Wonderland. While there, they encounter a foreigner dressed up as a ninja, who after following them home, introduces himself as Leo. Later, while announcing his retirement at a press conference, Jotaro changes his mind halfway through and decides to continue to pursue a career in gymnastics.[4]

Characters

• Jōtarō Aragaki (荒垣城太郎)
• Jotaro is a gymnast nicknamed "The Samurai" who belongs to Yotsuba Sports. Due to being in a slump, he had been considering retiring from gymnastics until he changes his mind during an interview.[6]
• Leonardo Sturges (レオナルド スタージス)
• Leonardo is a former ballet dancer nicknamed "The Ninja" who after encountering Jotaro and his daughter Rei at Edo Wonderland follows them home and befriends them. He is being pursued by people in black suits for reasons relating to his ballet career. He is known as "Leo".[6]
• Tetsuo Minamino (南野鉄男)
• Tetsuo is a 17-year-old gymnast nicknamed "The Bandana Prince" who is considered to be the up and coming star. After Jotaro's press conference where he changes his mind about retiring, Tetsuo confronts and calls him "a disappointment".[6]
• Noriyuki Amakusa (天草紀之)
• Noriyuki is Jotaro's long time gymnastics coach and friend.
• Rei Aragaki (荒垣玲)
• Rei is Jotaro's daughter. Despite being in the 4th grade, she is very mature and manages the house while Jotaro is away.[6]
• Mari Aragaki (荒垣マリ)
• Mari is Jotaro's mother and Rei's grandmother. She lives with both Jotaro and Rei.[6]
• Tomoyo Aragaki (荒垣知世)
• Tomoyo was Jotaro's wife and Rei's mother as well as a former Actor. She died prior to the start the series.[6]
• Bigbird Aragaki (荒垣BB)
• Bigbird is a South American bird and the pet of the Aragakis. Bigbird can speak and seems to have a basic comprehension of Japanese. Bigbird was initially a gift from Mari to Rei.[6]
• Tomoki Takizawa (滝沢友樹)
• Tomoki is a gymnast and Jotaro's junior at Yotsuba Sports.[6]
• Ayu (あゆ)
• Ayu is a girl who works as a bartender for Mari and dresses in a ganguro style.[6]
• Naohiko Nakanomori (中ノ森真彦)
• Naohiko is Tetsuo's coach and is often referred to as "Tecchan".[6]
• Atsushi Dōjima (堂島潤)
• Atsushi is a young gymnast who has a reputation for being good at the pommel horse.[6]
• Shige Nishikiori (錦織茂)
• Shige is a young gymnast who has a reputation for having good upper body strength.[6]
• Hiro Okamachi (岡町博)
• Hiro is a young gymnast who goes to Shirando University. He is known for his meticulous technique and in previous years won both the All Japan Championships and the NHK Cup.[6]
• Ryū Ryūshō (リュウ・リュウショウ)
• Ryū is a Chinese gymnast who has represented China in the Olympic Games. His gymnastics skills surpass those of Tetsuo.[6]
• Kitty Zhang (キティ・チャン)
• Kitty is a Chinese gymnast who is a fan of the actress Tomoyo Aragaki, who was Jotaro's wife and Rei's mother until her death.[6]
• Britney (ブリトニー)
• Britney is an acupuncturist who treated Jotaro and helped his shoulder injury.[6]

Episodes

External links

• Anime official website