Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo

Infobox animanga/Header
name = Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo


caption = "Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo" title
ja_kanji = 薬師寺涼子の怪奇事件簿
ja_romaji =
genre = Action, Horror, MysteryInfobox animanga/Novel
light = yes
title =
author = Yoshiki Tanaka
illustrator = Narumi Kakinouchi
publisher = flagicon|Japan Kodansha
publisher_en =
publisher_other =
published =
magazine =
first =
last = Ongoing
volumes = 8Infobox animanga/Manga
title =
author = Yoshiki Tanaka
illustrator = Narumi Kakinouchi
publisher = flagicon|Japan Kodansha
publisher_en =
publisher_other = flagicon|Taiwan Sharp Point Press
magazine = flagicon|Japan Magazine Z [ [http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-09-03/magazine-z-comi-di-gi+manga-mags-ending-in-japan Magazine Z, Comi Di Gi+ Manga Mags Ending in Japan.] Retrieved on October 6, 2008.]
first = July 23, 2004 [ [http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/manga.php?id=9086&page=28 Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo manga releases.] Retrieved on July 14, 2008.]
last =
volumes = 10
chapter_list =
demographic = Seinen
OEM = Infobox animanga/Anime
title =
director = Tarō Iwasaki
writer =
studio = Dogakobo
licensor =
network = Chiba TV, TV Saitama, TV Aichi, TVK, Tokyo MX TV, Sun TV, KIDS STATION, KBS Kyoto, Chiba TV, BS11 Digital
network_en =
network_other =
first = July 5, 2008
last = September 27, 2008
episodes = 13
episode_list = List of Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo episodes

nihongo|Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo|薬師寺涼子の怪奇事件簿|extra=, lit. "Ryōko Yakushiji's Strange Case Files" is a series that consist of TV anime, mangas and light novels created by Yoshiki Tanaka and illustrated by Narumi Kakinouchi. Two Drama CDs had also been released prior to the anime adaptation with different seiyus from the CD and the TV version.

The series centers around Ryōko Yakushiji, an elite police officer with the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department who had graduated from Tokyo University under its Law Faculty. She is involved with her subordinate Junichirō Izumida as they investigate cases that pertain to the paranormal and supernatural when and if they cannot be investigated with modern science.

As the light novels, manga, drama CDs and anime adaptation have different plots and paranormal events/creatures, their central plots are most of the time different from each other.

Plot

Ryōko Yakushiji, a Superintendent in the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department and a graduate of Tokyo University's Law Faculty and a multilingual person, works with Junichirō Izumida to investigate seemingly paranormal, supernatural or bizarre events that get involved in criminal cases. Ryōko works with her colleagues and subordinates, including her rival Yukiko Muromachi, alongside JACES security forces personnel and her personal maids Lucienne and Marianne to resolve the cases before they go out of hand.

Characters

Main

:anime voices|Hitomi Nabatame (TV):anime voices|Tomoko Kawakami (Drama CD)

:An officer in the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department who had graduated from Tokyo University's Law Faculty, she can speak in several languages including French. Her father, Hiroko Yakushiji, is the head of the multinational security company JACES. Her rank is Superintendent and the supervisor of Junichirō Izumida. She is quite an adept fighter, be it with firearms or bare handed. Ryōko doesn't hesistate to use JACES assets if necessary to help her in her work. She is called "Oryo" by Yukiko. She's 27 years old [http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/yakushijiryouko/characters.html Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo's Characters Page, Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo's Starchild Page.] Retrieved on October 5, 2008.] .

:Her grandfather, Masamoto Yakushiji, was the founder of the Japanese Empire Security Service. She has an older sister named Kimeko Yakushiji.

:anime voices|Hidenobu Kiuchi (TV):anime voices|Kazuhiko Inoue (Drama CD)

:A non-career police officer with the rank of Assistant Inspector, he is assigned under Ryōko Yakushiji. Unbeknownst to him, Ryōko is infatuated with him and has tried to get his attention. Like his superior, Izumida can fight with either firearms or with bare hands and feet. He's 33 years old [http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/yakushijiryouko/characters.html Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo's Characters Page, Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo's Starchild Page.] Retrieved on October 5, 2008.] .

:anime voices|Hōko Kuwashima (TV):anime voices|Yuriko Fujisaki (Drama CD)

:A rival of Ryōko since their college days, she is also a Superintendent in the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department based at the Public Security Bureau. Her subordinate is Akira Kishimoto. Being the daughter of a former career police officer, she refuses to use her family ties to help her in her Superintendent duties. Ryōko calls her "Oyuki".

:She is also 27 years old like Ryōko [http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/yakushijiryouko/characters.html Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo's Characters Page, Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo's Starchild Page.] Retrieved on October 5, 2008.] .

:anime voices|Kenji Nojima (TV):anime voices|Yūji Ueda (Drama CD)

:He is also an officer like Izumida with the rank of Assistant Inspector, but he also happens to be an anime/manga otaku and looks up to Ryōko. He's 23 years old [http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/yakushijiryouko/characters.html Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo's Characters Page, Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo's Starchild Page.] Retrieved on October 5, 2008.] .

Allies

:anime voices|Misato Fukuen

:A uniformed officer in the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, she is responsible for mostly handling clerical work under Ryōko.

:anime voices|Otoya Kawano

:A colleague of Ryōko and Izumida's.

:anime voices|Minoru Inaba (TV):anime voices|Takkō Ishimori (Drama CD)

:An old man who is a detective under Ryoko.

:anime voices|Christelle Ciari

: One of Ryōko's maids from France. A blonde-haired girl, she is an expert in hacking though she can handle firearms.

:anime voices|Satomi Sato

: Another of Ryōko's maids from France with Lucienne. A short black-haired girl, she is an expert in handling all kinds of small arms.

Yakushiji Family

:anime voices|Mie Sonozaki

: Older sister of Ryoko.

:anime voices|Atsushi Ono

: The main founder of the Japanese Empire Security Service and grandfather of Kanami and Ryoko Yakushiji.

Antagonists

:anime voices|Sumi Shimamoto

: A woman who has influence within Shiba. She appears to know Ryoko on a personal basis. She is also the true head of the Japan Private Police. Ruriko is seemingly ageless, having been alive after through World War II and was a co-founder of the Japanese Empire Security Service with Ryoko's grandfather Masamoto Yakushiji before she diverged and created JPP originally with the intent of reestablish a true Japanese military using a security company as a cover.

: She was revealed to be a clone at the end of the TV series, leaving the status of the original Ruriko unknown.

:anime voices|Daisuke Hirakawa

: An aide to Ryoko in JACES, he is also a double agent working on behalf of JPP. An attack on him and Ruriko using an acidic-like perfume formula revealed that he was also cloned from the original Kazuma.

Others

:anime voices|Hitomi Nabatame

:Merely a perfect copy of the original Ryōko Yakushiji after failing Hangon and modern cloning procedures twice, she was being used by Ruriko as a means of taking control of JACES from the entire Yakushiji family. Over time, Monami decides to join with Ryōko due to her feelings for Junichiro.

:At the end of the series, she was seen placed under Ryōko's custody and even has Marianne and Lucienne keep an eye on her.

Rogues

The following are rogues monsters/creatures that have appeared in the anime [ [http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/yakushijiryouko/monster.html Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo's Monster Page, Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo's Starchild Page.] Retrieved on August 26, 2008.]

Giant Snake

Making its appearance in the Babylon building in Ginza, it was created as a result of ingesting various growth hormones. It died when the building was destroyed in an explosion.

Wisps

It's not known how they appeared, but they had apparently showed up in the digital copies of the journalists' cameras.

Unknown Alpha Human

Created as a result of combining human sperm/egg cells with DNA from an unknown prehistoric human, it resulted in the creation of a monstrous alpha human that killed several yakuza assassins before it would die of rapid cell degeneration.

Centipede Robot

A counter-terrorist robot created by the JPP, it went rogue after a traffic accident result in an altercation of its defense systems that recognizes anyone with a dangerous object as an enemy. Ryoko defeats it by shooting its main sensor. It was later used by the JPP as a means of eliminating Ryoko and Junichiro.

Mutant Mangrove Seeds

Said to be caused by secret experiments of JPP scientists, they were able to possess Ryojin Tadomura and a faction of the JPP before Marianne destroys the mutant mangrove tree with napalm grenades.

Unknown Cricket

Discovered by an unknown person, this species has the ability to resonate soundwaves that are equal or greater than the soundwaves on cellphones. This results in making people commit suicide when they use their cellphones at the same time the crickets resonate the said soundwaves at the same time.

Organizations

JACES

Owned by the Yakushiji family, it's a security company that ex-police officers both enlisted and high-ranking are employed into after their retirement. JACES is well-known as one of Asia's best security companies.Its personnel use gray for their uniform color.

In combat operations, they use PASGT ballistic helmets, gray BDUs, tactical vests and light to medium body armor. JACES personnel are armed with expandable baton sticks when they encounter unarmed people.

Its origins are traced back to the end of World War II when the Japanese Empire Security Service was established before it became JACES.

Japan Private Police

Known as the nihongo|Nippon Private Police|日本の私用警察|nihonnoshiyokeisatsu, it was founded by ex-Diet member Ryojin Tadomura and heavily funded by the Government of Japan to counter the influence of JACES in the domestic and international security market. They are known to be hired in war-torn countries after military forces are pulled back, conducting police duties in their place. JPP personnel are also hired as private security guards. JPP uses green as its color as evident in their uniforms.

Tadomura was, however, killed when mutant mangrove vivipary seeds were embedded in his body. The will of the genetically enhanced plants had destroyed his living will as they had spread throughout his entire body. It's unknown who the CEO is after Marianne fired napalm grenades at his Okinawa villa to prevent the rogue seeds from spreading on the entire Okinawan island and to kill him to prevent him from infecting others.

During combat operations, JPP personnel are identified with green heavy body armor, helmets with faceshields and are armed with mostly Howa Type 89 assault rifles, Heckler & Koch MP5 and Minebea PM-9 submachine guns with expandable baton sticks. In normal operations, JPP personnel operate as private guards and sometimes, deploy robot droids to help them conduct searches and patrols with/for them.

hiba

Located in the Greater Tokyo Area, it is said to house several departments of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department that operate under secret circumstances for covert missions.

Media

Light Novel

The light novel series had first started in 1996 [ [http://www.iwanihana.info/2008/07/post.html Episode 01: Yakushiji Ryouko no Kaiki Jikenbo (薬師寺涼子の怪奇事件簿).] Retrieved on July 14, 2008.] with 8 volumes in circulation. Kodansha has the publication rights on the series and published all bunko editions, but other publishers also published some volumes borrowing the rights by Kodansha.

Drama CD

Two drama CDs were put on the market by Avex in 1999 (Tokyo Nightmare) [http://www.amazon.co.jp/%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E3%83%8A%E3%82%A4%E3%83%88%E3%83%A1%E3%82%A2%EF%BD%9E%E8%96%AC%E5%B8%AB%E5%AF%BA%E6%B6%BC%E5%AD%90%E3%81%AE%E6%80%AA%E5%A5%87%E4%BA%8B%E4%BB%B6%E7%B0%BF-%E3%83%89%E3%83%A9%E3%83%9ECD/dp/B00005FAU2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1223348985&sr=8-1 Amazon Japan's Tokyo Nightmare Drama CD.] Retrieved on October 6, 2008.] and 2001 (Matenrō) [http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=AVCA-14230 Matenrou - Ryoko's Case File (Yakushiji Ryoko no Kaiki Jikenbo) Drama CD.] Retrieved on Ocotber 6, 2008.] . The cast was different from the later anime version.

Manga

The manga first started on July 23, 2004 under Kodansha's seinen manga magazine Magazine Z. It had been printed with 10 volumes released.

Anime

An anime version of Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo had aired on July 5, 2008 with 13 episodes planned for broadcast [ [http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=9087&page=25 Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo's Episode Guide, Anime News Network.] Retrieved on July 14, 2008.] after it was announced for a TV adaptation [ [http://www.s-book.com/plsql/com2_detail?isbn=9784396208400&jcode= 祥伝社/祥伝社ノンノベル/ノンノベル（小説）.] Retrieved on August 10, 2008. ja icon] [ [http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-12-13/galactic-heroes-author-does-yakushiji-mystery-tv-anime Galactic Heroes Author Does Yakushiji Mystery TV Anime (Updated).] Retrieved on August 10, 2008.] . A DVD version is scheduled for release on September 26, 2008 with 3 episodes each [http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/yakushijiryouko/release_dvd.html Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo's DVD Page, Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo's Starchild Page.] Retrieved on July 14, 2008. ja icon] . Other releases include October 22, December 25 of 2008 and January 21, 2009 [http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/yakushijiryouko/release_dvd.html Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo's DVD Page, Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo's Starchild Page.] Retrieved on July 14, 2008. ja icon] .

OST

A BGM OST, Volume 1 with music from the show was released on June 4, 2008 with 8 tracks [http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/yakushijiryouko/release.html Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo's CD Page, Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo's Starchild Page.] Retrieved on July 14, 2008. ja icon] . The second volume had been released on August 6, 2008 with 17 tracks [http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/yakushijiryouko/release.html Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo's CD Page, Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo's Starchild Page.] Retrieved on July 14, 2008. ja icon] with a third OST on September 10, 2008 with 13 tracks [http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/yakushijiryouko/release.html Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo's CD Page, Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo's Starchild Page.] Retrieved on July 14, 2008. ja icon] . All three OSTs have the title "Le recueil des faits improbables de Ryōko Yakushiji", which is the show's title in French.

Bibliography

Promotion

To promote the show, the cast and Yoshiki Tanaka went on a tour in Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka [http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/yakushijiryouko/news.html#5 薬師寺イベントオフィシャルレポ.] Retrieved on August 20, 2008. ja icon] [ [http://a-hiro.cocolog-nifty.com/diary/2008/06/post_8d6a.html 「薬師寺涼子の怪奇事件簿」アニメ化記念イベントについて.] Retrieved on August 20, 2008. ja icon] with them telling about their experiences and their thoughts on the show [http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/yakushijiryouko/news.html#5 薬師寺イベントオフィシャルレポ.] Retrieved on August 20, 2008. ja icon] .

Reception

Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo's BGM CD Volume 3 was ranked 52 with Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo's BGM CD Volume 1 ranked 55 in iTunes's Top 100 anime theme songs/music [ [http://www.saisin.biz/music/itunes-Anime.htm Today's トップアルバム１００位.] Retrieved on October 6, 2008. ja] . Previously, the theme song "Theme principal La chanson d'atsuko" was ranked 40 at Today's トップシングル１００位 while Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo's BGM CD Volume 1 was ranked at 52 [ [http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache:5sS60DVLNWUJ:www.saisin.biz/music/itunes-Anime.htm+Theme+principal+La+chanson+d%27atsuko&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=9&gl=ca&client=firefox-a Goggle cache of iTunes Top 100 Anime Page.] Retrieved on October 6, 2008. ja] .

References

External links

* [http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/yakushijiryouko/ Starchild's Official Site] ja icon
* [http://www.mxtv.co.jp/yakushijiryoko/ Tokyo MX's Official Site] ja icon
*
*