The Knight in the Area

The Knight in the Area (エリアの騎士) is a Japanese manga series written by Hiroaki Igano and illustrated by Kaya Tsukiyama. It was serialized in Kodansha's manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Magazine from April 2006 to March 2017, with its chapters collected in 57 volumes. A 37-episode anime television series adaptation produced by Shin-Ei Animation was broadcast on TV Asahi from January to September 2012.

Plot

Kakeru Aizawa is the younger brother to Suguru Aizawa, a soccer prodigy belonging to Japan's under-15 national team. Prior to the series, Kakeru quits his position as a forward after a traumatic experience prevented him from playing with his left leg and settles for a managerial position. After the two are hit by a truck, Suguru dies and has his heart transplanted into Kakeru. With it, Kakeru returns to soccer to achieve his brother's dream of winning the World Cup.

Characters

• Kakeru Aizawa (逢沢 駆)
• Kakeru is Suguru's younger brother and a forward on his soccer team. After accidentally injuring his teammate Hibino with a powerful left-footed shot in sixth grade, he avoids using that foot, severely limiting his scoring ability and confidence. He gradually withdraws from playing, assisting as manager instead, frustrating Suguru. He secretly practices alone at night until his childhood friend, Mishima Nana, returns as team manager. A masked challenger—later revealed to be Nana, urged by Suguru—motivates him to return. After a truck accident kills Suguru, Kakeru receives his brother's heart, inheriting his skills and resolve. Learning of Suguru's dream to win the World Cup together, Kakeru dedicates himself to fulfilling it.
• Suguru Aizawa (逢沢 傑)
• Suguru is Kakeru's older brother, a prodigious midfielder and captain of his school soccer team, having also played for Japan's U-15 squad. Regarded as a future star of Japanese football, he grows frustrated with Kakeru's reluctance to play despite recognizing his talent. Before his death, Suguru experiences recurring nightmares that cease the day he and Kakeru are struck by a truck. Mortally wounded, Suguru's heart is transplanted into Kakeru, fulfilling what he envisions in a dream as his "final pass". Through this act, Suguru passes on his dream of winning the World Cup, which Kakeru vows to achieve.
• Nana Mishima (美島 奈々)
• A childhood friend of Suguru and Kakeru, nicknamed Seven. Since returning from Los Angeles, she has become a manager, like Kakeru. She is skilled in soccer and has a relation to Kakeru. She supports and helps him to improve his skills, and later ends up engaged to him in the epilogue.
• Kota Nakatsuka (中塚 公太)
• Yusuke Saeki (佐伯 祐介)
• [3]
• Mito Aizawa (逢沢 美都)
• [3]
• Aizawa's Father
• [3]
• Aizawa's Mother
• [3]

Media

Reception

By August 2021, the manga had over 13 million copies in circulation.[12]

External links