Ushio and Tora
Information
Title:
Ushio and Tora
Author:
Kazuhiro Fujita
Original Run:
1990 - 1996
Published by:
Weekly Shonen Sunday
Volumes:
33+1
Genre:
Action /Comedy / Fantasy / Shounen / Supernatural
Ushio and Tora (うしおととら, Ushio to Tora ) is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Kazuhiro Fujita.
Plot [ ] Ushio and Tora centers around the travels and battles of Ushio Aotsuki, who is constantly being stalked and aided by a gigantic, supernatural and sometimes invisible tiger-like monster.
Ushio's family maintains a temple in Japan, where 500 years ago, his samurai ancestor battled that same monster to a standstill, and eventually trapped him against a rock using a cursed spear called the "Beast Spear", which grants strength, speed, and endurance to the wielder in exchange to his soul. Ushio accidentally unsealed the cave Tora was trapped in.
Initially, Ushio refuses to remove the spear pinning Tora (Japanese for tiger) down (as Tora made the strategic blunder of mentioning that the first thing he would do upon being freed would be to devour Ushio), but Tora's unsealed presence attracts various monsters to the temple. Ushio is forced to free Tora, who would like to eat Ushio, but dares not since Ushio keeps the spear close by. The series focuses on their relationship, interspersed with battles against mythological foes, and with Tora's attempts to grapple with modern life. During the regular battles, Ushio slowly begins to notice that as much as Tora claims to be irredeemable, the demon takes to fighting evil and defending the innocent with more enthusasim than he cares to admit.
History [ ] The manga began serialization in issue 1990-06 of Weekly Shonen Sunday . It ended in issue 1996-45 of of same magazine. It spanned 313 chapters, which were combined in 33 volumes. It also got a Gaiden volume containing 6 side stories. In 2013 in Issue 04-05 and 06, Ushio and Tora was adapted in 2 more chapters for support of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake Relief Effort Project and later included along with other previously popular series from Sunday in a book named 3.11 o Wasurenai Tame ni - Heroes Comeback (The Heroes' Comeback - To Make Sure 3/11 is Not Forgotten).
In 2000, the manga was recollected into 18 wideban volumes. And in 2004, the manga was also recollected into 19 bunko volumes. In 2015, the manga was again recollected into kanzeban editions containing the original color pages.
The manga received the 37th Shogakukan Manga Award for best shonen in 1991. It also received the 28th Seiun Award for best comic in 1997. The manga also took 20th place in 2006s Japanese Media Arts Top 100, a campaign to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Japanese Cultural Bureau's Media Art Festival, were anyone could vote on 4 categories: art, entertainment, animation, and manga.
It was adapted into three OVA series: one with six episodes released from September 11, 1992 to February 1, 1993; one with four episodes released from June 11, 1993 to August 1, 1993; and one single episode OVA released on October 1, 1993. The anime was released in the United States by ADV Films.
A new television anime series based on the manga, was co-produced by MAPPA and Studio VOLN and started on July 3, 2015.
Manga Guide [ ] Volumes [ ]
#
Release Date
Volume
1
December 15, 1990
Volume 1
List of Chapters:
Prologue
Story 1: The Stone Eater
Story 2: The Oni in the Painting
#
Release Date
Volume
2
January 15, 1991
Volume 2
List of Chapters:
Story 2: The Oni in the Painting
Story 3: Tora Goes to Town
Story 4: Seal Magician Hyou
#
Release Date
Volume
3
April 15, 1991
Volume 3
List of Chapters:
Story 4: Seal Magician Hyou
Story 5: Ayakashi Sea
#
Release Date
Volume
4
June 15, 1991
Volume 4
List of Chapters:
Story 6: Legend
Story 7: The Guys Are Up in the Sky
#
Release Date
Volume
5
September 15, 1991
Volume 5
List of Chapters:
Story 8: The Houriki Heretic
Story 9: Chaotic Wind
Story 10: The House with a Child
#
Release Date
Volume
6
October 15, 1991
Volume 6
List of Chapters:
Story 10: The House with a Child
2: The Sealed Room 3: The Child Dance
Story 11: The Striking Mirror Story 12: The Toono Youkai on the Warpath
1: Ushio Is Attacked by the Youkai 2: The Youkai Confer Together 3: The Youkai Hate That Woman 4: The Youkai Pursue Ushio 5: The Youkai Have an Audience with Tora 6: The Youkai's Fight Against Hakumen no Mono
#
Release Date
Volume
7
December 15, 1991
Volume 7
List of Chapters:
Story 12: The Toono Youkai on the Warpath
7: The Youkai Watch Tora and Hitotsuki's Decisive Battle
Story 13: You'll Be Dry There
1: Death Carried a Knife 2: Fumiyo and Shiori 3: Under the Demon's Mask 4: To the Pyramid Tower 5: You'll Be Dry There
Story 14: The Channel of Souls in Repose Story 15: You Come Out of the Warped Night
#
Release Date
Volume
8
February 15, 1992
Volume 8
List of Chapters:
Story 15: You Come Out of the Warped Night
3: Crescent Moon 4: Return to the Night
Story 16: The Guardian God of the Lake
1: Kagami, Katayama, and Ayumi Suffer 2: The God of the Land and the Snake God 3: Drink the God Sake 4: The Spear's Seal 5: The Guardian God of the Lake
Story 17: The Mist Comes
1: Misty Road 2: Escape from the Mist 3: In Pursuit of the Mist
#
Release Date
Volume
9
April 15, 1992
Volume 9
List of Chapters:
Story 17: The Mist Comes
4: Meikai Gate 5: The Mist's Sprint 6: Are You Standing Tall?
Story 18: Pursuit of the Hiyou~ The Chosen
Hinowa Sekimori
1: The Hiyou Set Loose 2: The Beast Spear Discovered 3: The Chosen of the Spear Nagare Akiba
1: The Chosen on the Motorcycle 2: Bakemono 3: The Hiyou Bus 4: The End to a Hard Run
#
Release Date
Volume
10
July 15, 1992
Volume 10
List of Chapters:
Story 19: Beastly Karakuri
1: Asako and Mayuko (1) 2: Asako and Mayuko (2) 3: Asako and Mayuko (3)
Story 20: Crossing of Pursuits~ The Chosen
Satoru Moritsuna
1: Battle of the Chosen 2: Repelling Divination 3: Old Wounds 4: Satoru Awakens 5: Ushio Inside the Body 6: The Cry Inside the Body
#
Release Date
Volume
11
August 15, 1992
Volume 11
List of Chapters:
Story 20: Crossing of Pursuits~ The Chosen
Satoru Moritsuna
7: Invasion of the Brain 8: Chibakama's Resounding Laugh 9: The Blow Reflected in the Retina 10: Only as Much as Hoped For
Story 21: Change of Face
1: The Directive 2: Mobilization 3: To Kamuikotan 4: Attack of the Hiyou 5: Encounter
#
Release Date
Volume
12
October 15, 1992
Volume 12
List of Chapters:
Story 21: Change of Face
6: Reiko/Saya 7: Hinowa/Jun/Yuu 8: To the Cave, Mayuko 9: Mayuko/Tora 10: Asako 11: Counterattack~ Asako 12: Resurrection~ And Then, At Last...
Story 22: The Time Reversing Bakemono
1: Bakemono of the Cave 2: Go Back in Time 3: The 2,300-Year-Old Memory
#
Release Date
Volume
13
January 15, 1993
Volume 13
List of Chapters:
Story 22: The Time Reversing Bakemono
4: Creating the Holy Blade 5: The White-Faced Demon 6: Into Utter Darkness 7: The Demon of the Beast Spear 8: Guiding Demon 9: Bakemono, Bring Us Home
Story 23: The Snow Doesn't Vanish at Dawn
1: The City Covered in Snow 2: Snow Daughter 3: Sakuma
#
Release Date
Volume
14
April 15, 1993
Volume 14
List of Chapters:
Story 23: The Snow Doesn't Vanish at Dawn
4: Frozen Tears 5: Tora Returns 6: The Snow Doesn't Vanish at Dawn
Story 24: Ushio Casts Aside the Beast Spear
1: Ushio, This Is a Major Pinch!
Story 25: Countdown Railroad
1: Advancing 2: Rushing 3: 32 Minutes to Go 4: 18 Minutes to Go 5: 13 Minutes to Go 6: 10 Minutes to Go
#
Release Date
Volume
15
June 15, 1993
Volume 15
List of Chapters:
Story 25: Countdown Railroad
7: 6 Minutes to Go 8: Just Before Passing Out 9: Passing Out of the Tunnel 10: Continuing on Track!
Story 26: High Speed Eater
1: The Start~ 2: Biker~ 3: Attack~ 4: Ignition~ 5: Battle~ 6: Overdrive~
#
Release Date
Volume
16
August 15, 1993
Volume 16
List of Chapters:
Story 27: The Fourth One, Kirio
1: Hakumen Quickens 2: Crisis at the Head Temple 3: Oyakume-sama 4: The Battle with "Kuragi" 5: Shodai-sama Comes 6: From Ushio to Kirio
Story 28: Incitement~ Destroy the Beast Spear
1: Nagatobimaru Tora 2: Shikigami Use/Moritsuna Satoru, Shinjutsu/Jun 3: The Empty Corpse's Thread 4: The Red Cloth
#
Release Date
Volume
17
December 15, 1993
Volume 17
List of Chapters:
Story 28: Incitement~ Destroy the Beast Spear
5: Theft of the Beast Spear 6: The House of the Whisperers 7: Nagare and Tora (1) 8: Nagare and Tora (2) 9: Hinowa and Ushio (1) 10: Hinowa and Ushio (2) 11: Inasa's Diary 12: Materia 13: Kuin Versus Tora 14: Destruction of the Beast Spear
#
Release Date
Volume
18
April 15, 1994
Volume 18
List of Chapters:
Story 28: Incitement~ Destroy the Beast Spear
15: The Avatar Towako 16: House of Scorn 17: The Beast Spear Rumbles 18: Violence 19: Demon of Destruction, God of Destruction 20: Eternal Solitude 21: Incitement~ Failure
Story 29: Asako's Sports Day Story 30: Fools Gather at a Party
1: Written Invitation to a Party 2: Metamorphosis
#
Release Date
Volume
19
June 15, 1994
Volume 19
List of Chapters:
Story 30: Fools Gather at a Party
3: Battle Mayuko 4: Tayura/Nadoka 5: A Bit of Play 6: The Mud and the Hat 7: Mayuko Runs 8: Mayuko and Tora
Story 31: The Day I Swung the Swing
1: Minoru 2: Bad Dream 3: Satori 4: The Day Before the Operation~ The Day of
#
Release Date
Volume
20
August 15, 1994
Volume 20
List of Chapters:
Story 31: The Day I Swung the Swing
5: The Day I Swung the Swing
Story 32: Ushio and Tora Start the New Year Story 33: The Seal of the Gedou
1: Coming from Shikoku 2: The Manifestation of Gedou 3: Minoo 4: Possession 5: Confusion 6: The Female Gedou 7: Minoo Dances 8: True Form
#
Release Date
Volume
21
October 15, 1994
Volume 21
List of Chapters:
Story 33: The Seal of the Gedou
9: School House Quake 10: Gedou Possession 11: Gedou Don't Come Home
Story 34: The Western Bakemono War
1: The Osa of the West 2: The Toono Bakemono 3: Bakemonotachi 4: The War Begins 5: Jayou and Hitotsuki 6: Kamaitachi, Raishin, and Kagari 7: Thunder Beast Tora
#
Release Date
Volume
22
January 15, 1995
Volume 22
List of Chapters:
Story 34: The Western Bakemono War
8: Ushio and Ibuki 9: Shinno Vs. Ushio 10: The Gamble 11: Kamaitachi of the East/Kamaitachi of the West 12: The Demon Blade Sparkles 13: Kagari Advances 14: Dancing Slice 15: Sharp Practices 16: Izuna's One Second 17: Escaping the Sky Mansion
#
Release Date
Volume
23
April 15, 1995
Volume 23
List of Chapters:
Story 34: The Western Bakemono War
18: Simultaneous Advance 19: The Western Bakemono Attack 20: Hakumen no Mono's Counterattack 21: Hakumen's Memories 22: Scream of the Beast Spear 23: Two Powers-Mutual Destruction 24: Ending of the War 25: The Other Side of the Storm 26: The End of the War for a Time
Story 35: Full Moon
#
Release Date
Volume
24
June 15, 1995
Volume 24
List of Chapters:
Story 36: Kagari and Tora Run an Errand Story 37: Tatari Breaker
1: Kidnapping 2: The H.A.M.M.R. Organization 3: Thunder Metamorphose 4: Examination 5: Baldanders 6: Emergency 7: Critical Condition 8: Death Floor
#
Release Date
Volume
25
October 15, 1994
Volume 25
List of Chapters:
Story 37: Tatari Breaker
9: The Kirlian Machine Operators 10: Clash and Destroy 11: Tatari Breaker
Story 38: The Sky Reflected in His Eyes
1: White Feather 2: Dog 3: Tarou 4: Shippeitarou
Story 39: Gouki <First Part>
Story 40: Journalist's Soliloquy
#
Release Date
Volume
26
December 15, 1995
Volume 26
List of Chapters:
Story 41: Resurrection of the Beast Horde
1: Resurrection 2: The Gathering Process 3: Arrival 4: Asafuse 5: Guren 6: Grudge 7: The Jet Black Horde
Story 42: Night of the Crescent Moon Story 43: Before the Wind Blows
1: Ordinary Scenery 2: The Wind
#
Release Date
Volume
27
February 15, 1996
Volume 27
List of Chapters:
Story 43: Before the Wind Blows
Story 44: A Season Turning to Stone
1: The Main Temple 2: Head Wind 3: Abduction • Pursuit 4: The Cause 5: Mayuko Discovered 6: To the Divine Forge 7: Things I Couldn't Hold On To 8: Within the Blaze 9: The Kokuen
#
Release Date
Volume
28
April 15, 1996
Volume 28
List of Chapters:
Story 44: A Season Turning to Stone
10: A One Demon Battle 11: The Crushing Demon Pair
Story 45: Emerging from Rain, Disappearing in Rain
1: Passing, Disappearing... 2: Passing, Appearing... 3: Appearing, Passing... 4: Appearing and Appearing Again... 5: Progressing Through Rain... 6: To Have and Lose... 7: Appearing and Destroying...
#
Release Date
Volume
29
June 15, 1996
Volume 29
List of Chapters:
Story 45: Emerging from Rain, Disappearing in Rain
8: Appearing, Disappearing
Story 46: A Journey Not Homeward Story 47: To the Sea of Chaos
1: To Okinawa 2: Nagare, Obstructing 3: The Letter from H.A.M.M.R. 4: Asako, To Okinawa 5: To the Sea 6: Nagare Vs. Tora (1) 7: Nagare Vs. Tora (2) 8: Nagare Vs. Tora (3)
#
Release Date
Volume
30
September 15, 1996
Volume 30
List of Chapters:
Story 47: To the Sea of Chaos
9: The Wind That Blows to the Sea
Story 48: Sea of Thunder
1: To the Abyss 2: Mother 3: The Submerged Stone Pillar 4: The Time of Resurrection 5: The Thundering Roar of Its Rise 6: Fear, On the News 7: Breaking Point 8: Break Out 9: Sea of Hate
#
Release Date
Volume
31
October 15, 1996
Volume 31
List of Chapters:
Story 48: Sea of Thunder
Story 49: The Beast Spear's Destruction Story 50: Tora
1: He Who Returned 2: Perspective I 3: Perspective II 4: Perspective III 5: The Birth of Hakumen 6: Vicissitudes Begin
Story 51: Stopping the Descent, Rising Up
#
Release Date
Volume
32
December 15, 1996
Volume 32
List of Chapters:
Story 51: Stopping the Descent, Rising Up
2: Bakemono of Destruction 3: Hope 4: Memory Recovery 5: Stopping the Descent, Rising Up
Story 52: Rumbling Heavens Opening the Gate
1: The Meikai Gate Again 2: Opening the Gate 3: The Beast Spear Resurrected
Story 53: To the Promised Night
#
Release Date
Volume
33
January 15, 1997
Volume 33
List of Chapters:
Story 54: Till Our Lives Reach the Sun
1: Girl, Not Alighting in Silence 2: The Strongest Curse 3: 400 Meters 4: The Meaning of the Journey 5: The Sun
Final Story: Ushio and Tora
1: The Final Play 2: Hakumen no Mono 3: The Fate of Ushio and Tora
Gaiden [ ]
#
Release Date
Volume
1
June 15, 1997
Gaiden Volume 1
List of Chapters:
Story 1: Bakemono Konjaku Monogatari Story 2: A Tale in the Shadow of Plum Trees~ Seal Magician Hyou Story 3: Rain Falling on a Village Story 4: Thunder Dance Story 5: Present Story 6: Day Breaking on an Endless Night
