Tactics (manga)

Plot

Set in Japan during the late Meiji period, the story follows Kantarou Ichinomiya, a young man who can see youkai. Ostracized as a child, he was told by youkai friends that finding the oni-eating tengu would make him stronger. He vows to find and name it, as naming a youkai makes a human its master. As an adult folklorist and part-time exorcist, Kantarou discovers a sealed tengu on a mountain shrine. He calls the tengu Haruka, breaking the seal and becoming its master. The three—Kantarou, his youkai friend Youko, and Haruka—form a close friendship, but Haruka's returning memories and desire to know his past threaten their bond.

Characters

Kantarou Ichinomiya is a young folklorist and part-time exorcist who can see youkai. Highly intelligent and manipulative, he tricks others into doing what he wants, earning the nickname 'tactician' from Haruka. Despite this, he has a good heart and reasons with youkai rather than killing them, a trait criticized by Haruka and Sugino as dangerous. Haruka is an oni-eating tengu, the strongest youkai, with the ability to control lightning.

He can transfigure into a true youkai form with sharp nails, fangs, and constricted eyes. Usually appearing as a tall, dark-haired man with black wings, Haruka is troubled by lost memories, inability to eat youkai, and diminished power. His previous name under an onmyōdō practitioner was Rin, and that relationship was poor, with hints of sexual exploitation. Youko is a female kitsune youkai named by Kantarou, living with him from the start.

Loud and impulsive, she often loses her temper at Kantarou, can hide or reveal her fox ears, and turn into a fox. She worries about household expenses and nags Kantarou to finish manuscripts. Before joining him, she deceived travelers into thinking she was family; Kantarou revealed her as a youkai and invited her to stay. Suzu Edogawa is a rich teenage girl who first meets Kantarou in episode 1 and frequently visits his house.

Addressed as Suzu-chan, she is close to Youko, has a crush on Haruka, and treats Kantarou harshly. She was created for the anime but appears in manga omake.

Media

The manga was first released in North America by ADV Manga in 2004, then licensed to Tokyopop, which released eight volumes before closing its American branch. Volumes 1–12 were available on JManga until its closure in May 2013. The anime aired on TV Tokyo from October 5, 2004, to March 29, 2005, consisting of 25 episodes directed by Hiroshi Watanabe and produced by Studio Deen. Manga Entertainment distributed the English dub in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

In the US, it aired on the Ani-Monday program on the Sci Fi Channel from January 7, 2008, to April 21, 2008. The opening theme 'Secret World' and ending theme 'Mienai Chikara' were both performed by Miki Akiyama. A CD for season 1 was released on June 27, 2006. Three official light novels by Nanami Nari, approved by the manga creators, were published by Mag Garden Novels but remain unlocalized without English titles.