Kekkaishi

: The main character. Yoshimori is a 14-year old middle school boy who is the 22nd kekkaishi of the Sumimura family. He is a lazy, stubborn headstrong person who strives his best to protect his friends and his family. When he was younger, he immensely disliked executing his duties as a kekkaishi and would cry a lot. This changed after Tokine was forced to save him from an ayakashi that became stronger and escaped from a kekkai because Yoshimori chose not to dispatch out of kindness. After the incident, Yoshimori has changed drastically his attitude towards being a Kekkaishi. He possesses great potential and strength as a kekkaishi, but his unrefined techniques result in Tokine being a more effective kekkaishi. anime voices|Hiroyuki Yoshino|

;nihongo|Tokine Yukimura|雪村時音|Yukimura Tokine: Yoshimori's friend. Tokine is 16 years old and she is the 22nd Kekkaishi of the Yukimura family. She has a scar on her right hand, which resulted from protecting Yoshimori in their childhood. Her kekkai are actually very weak compared to Yoshimori's and lack the brute strength found in her counterpart's, but she is notably the most ruthless kekkaishi. However, Tokine is possesses great accuracy and precision and is able to manipulate her barriers into spears to pierce enemies. While she is impressed with Yoshimori's power and potential, Tokine is constantly frustrated by his poor control and lazy attitude. She enjoys teasing Yoshimori as a gesture of affection and shows some degree of interest towards him, but is unaware of his feelings for her. anime voices|Rie Saitou|

Hazama-ryu kekkai technique

Both Sumimura and Yukimura families use the nihongo|Hazama-ryu Kekkai Technique|間流結界術|Hazama-Ryū Kekkai Jutsu when they are faced with Ayakashi. It is said by Shigemori Sumimura that this technique integrates utility and effectiveness of kakkai abilities. Elements of this technique include:

*: Designates a target.

*: Determines where to create the kekkai.

*: Creates and activates the kekkai.

*: Dispells the kekkai without injuring the target trapped inside.

*: Collapses a kekkai, destroying what is trapped inside.

*: Opens a door to another world and sends the shards of the enemy through to prevent regeneration. This technique requires using a shakujo, a Buddhist ringed staff, to perform it.

*: A technique that allows the user to either dispel another's kekkai or repel the attack of an enemy. Depending on the strength of the user, it varies in appearance (e.g. "black aura"). It is recommended that it not be used excessively.It is created by the domination of negative feelings

*: A technique that creates an energy thread. It is used for binding, capturing, and torture by squeezing. The "nenshi" comes out from the palm of the user. The seal around the neck of Madaro, Yoshimori's spirit familiar, is made of beads strung on a circle of "nenshi".

* Sekkai: A technique to used to destroy foreign kekkai. Tokine attempts to use this to dispel Yoshimori's kekkai in Kokuborou but could not because his kekkai was too strong.

* Shuufuku: Restoration art, repairs an object.

* Shikigami: Paper dolls that obey the commands of kekkashi.

Reception

In 2007, "Kekkaishi" received the Shogakukan Manga Award for best shōnen manga.cite web | url = http://www.shogakukan.co.jp/mangasho/ | title = Shogakukan Awards Page | publisher = Shogakukan | language=Japanese | accessdate =2007-02-27] The series is among the best-selling manga in Japan; for example, volumes 19, 20, and 21 all reached number 3 or 4 on the Tohan best-seller list.cite web | url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-01-24/japanese-comic-ranking-january-15-21 | title=Japanese Comic Ranking, January 15–21 | publisher=Anime News Network | date=2008-01-24 | accessdate=2008-08-27] cite web | url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-04-30/japanese-comic-ranking-april-22-28 | title=Japanese Comic Ranking, April 22–28 (Updated) | publisher=Anime News Network | date=2008-04-30 | accessdate=2008-08-27] cite web | url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-07-18/japanese-comic-ranking-july-8-14 | title=Japanese Comic Ranking, July 8–14 | publisher=Anime News Network | date=2008-07-18 | accessdate=2008-08-27]

The English edition of "Kekkaishi" was named by the Young Adult Library Services Association as among the best graphic novels for teens for 2007.cite web | url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-01-16/manga-named-to-librarians-great-graphic-novels-list | title=Manga Named to Librarians' Great Graphic Novels List | publisher=Anime News Network | date=2008-01-16 | accessdate=2008-08-26]

During its initial broadcast, episodes of the anime series were frequently among the top ten rated anime television shows, sometimes as the only original (non-sequel) show to do so.cite web | url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-04-27/japanese-anime-tv-ranking-april-16-22 | title=Japanese Anime TV Ranking, April 16-22 | publisher=Anime News Network | date=2007-04-27 | accessdate=2008-08-28 | quote="Kekkaishi" continues to shine as the only (relatively) new, non-sequel series on the list.] cite web | url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-05-24/japanese-anime-tv-ranking-april-30-may-20 | title=Japanese Anime TV Ranking: April 30-May 20 | publisher=Anime News Network | date=2007-05-24 | accessdate=2008-08-28] cite web | url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-06-01/japanese-anime-tv-ranking-may-21-may-27 | title=Japanese Anime TV Ranking: May 21-May 27 | publisher=Anime News Network | date=2007-06-01 | accessdate=2008-08-28 | quote= [T] he only "new" series is Fall 2006's "Kekkaishi" from the pages of Weekly Shonen Sunday.]

Media

Manga

"Kekkaishi" has been published in Japan by Shogakukan in "Shōnen Sunday" since 18 February 2004 and collected in 21 bound volumes as of July 2008. It is licensed in North America by Viz Media.cite web | url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/manga.php?id=5008 | title=Kekkaishi (manga) | publisher=Anime News Network | accessdate=2008-08-26]

Graphic novel list/header
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Anime

"Kekkaishi" was adapted by Sunrise as a anime television series directed by Kenji Kodama with character designs by Hirotoshi Takaya and music by Taku Iwasaki. The opening theme for all episodes is "Sha La La: Ayakashi Night" by Saeka Uura. There are four different ending themes: "Akai Ito" by Koshi Inaba (episodes 1–15, 38, 40), nihongo|"Sekaijyuu Doko wo Sagashitemo"|世界中どこを探しても by Aiko Kitahara (episodes 16–23, 39, 44), nihongo|"Mai Mirai"|マイミライ|My Future by Saeka Uura (episodes 24–30, 41), and nihongo|"Kyuukei Jikan Juppun"|休憩時間10分|10 Minute Break by Saeka Uura (episodes 31–37, 42–43, 45). The series was broadcast for 52 episodes in Japan between 16 October 2006 and 12 February 2008 on Nippon Television, Yomiuri TV, and Nippon News Network,cite web | url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=6806 | title=Kekkaishi (TV) | publisher=Anime News Network | accessdate=2008-08-27] in the "golden" timeslot of 7 p.m. Monday.cite web | url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-10-09/yatterman-remake-to-take-kekkaishi's-golden-timeslot | title=Yatterman Remake to Take Kekkaishi's 'Golden' Timeslot (Updated) | publisher=Anime News Network | date=2007-10-09 | accessdate=2008-08-28]

Games

Namco Bandai released an "action based" game for the Nintendo DS, on May 24 2007. A Wii game "Kekkaishi: Kokubourou no Kage" was released in December 2007 in Japan. [ [http://www.famitsu.com/game/coming/2007/07/07/104,1183734703,74741,0,0.html Wiiリモコンで”妖”を倒せ！ 『結界師 黒芒楼の影』 / ファミ通.com ] ] Currently, there are no plans to release the game for Wii systems outside of Japan.

References

External links

* [http://websunday.net/kekkaishi/index.html Shōnen Sunday official manga website] jp icon
* [http://www.sunrise-inc.co.jp/kekkaishi/ Sunrise official anime website] jp icon
* [http://www.ytv.co.jp/kekkaishi/index.html Yomiuri TV official anime site] jp icon
* [http://www.bandaigames.channel.or.jp/list/ds_kekkaishi2/ Namco Bandai official DS game site] jp icon
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