Hokuto no Ken: Difference between revisions

In 2001, Tetsuo Hara began working on a ''Fist of the North Star'' prequel titled {{nihongo|''[[Fist of the Blue Sky]]''|蒼天の拳|Sōten no Ken}}, which is currently serialized in ''[[Weekly Comic Bunch]]''. Set during the [[Second Sino-Japanese War]] in 1935, the story stars [[Hokuto Shinken]] predecessor and Kenshiro's namesake, Kenshiro Kasumi.

The prologue of ''Fist of the North Star'' informs us that the world was engaged in a global [[Nuclear warfare|nuclear war]] in the year [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19XX 199X]. After the war, the earth's surface became devoid of vegetation, the seas evaporated and civilization was thrown into chaos, turning everyday life into a battle for supplies of uncontaminated food and water, where the strong survive by preying on the weak. However, one man vows to make a difference. [[Kenshiro]] is the successor of the art of [[Hokuto Shinken]], a deadly 1,800 year-old [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ansatsuken assassination style] that is only passed down from one master to a chosen son. Kenshiro uses his skills and knowledge to protect the innocent from the bloodthirsty gangs that threaten their survival. Throughout the course of the series, Kenshiro meets several allies and rivals, most of whom are also trained in various martial arts styles

The first chapter serves to introduce Kenshiro and depicts his initial meeting with his two young sidekicks, [[Bat ]]and [[Lin]]. The initial story arc then centers Kenshiro's quest to reclaim his fiancéé, Yuria, who was taken from him by old acquaintance called Shin, a master of the rival {{nihongo|''Nanto Seiken''|南斗聖拳||"Sacred Fist of the South Star"}} style.<ref name=Nanto>Like Hokuto, the term Nanto is usually localized in English translations as "South Star" (or "Southern Cross" in the Viz edition, the name of Shin's city). Nanto actually refers to the [[Dipper (Chinese constellation)|South Dipper]], a Chinese asterism that forms part of [[Sagittarius (constellation)|Sagittarius]]. The ''Fighting Mania'' arcade game actually alternates between "South Star" and the literal "South Dipper" in translations. The asterism has no relation to the [[Southern Cross]].</ref> After the Shin arc, the manga began focusing around one-off arc-based villains such as the [[Golan]], [[Jackal ]]and the [[Fang Clan]], although the story gradually shifts to Ken's search for his three adoptive brothers, who were trained in the Hokuto Shinken style under the same master but were not chosen to be successors. The eldest of the brothers, [[Raoh]], becomes the primary antagonist and Ken's primary nemesis at this point, a conqueror who uses Hokuto Shinken to rule with tyranny. A major sub-plot is also introduced in the form of an internal conflict within the Nanto school between its six grand masters, the {{nihongo|''Nanto Roku Seiken''|南斗六聖拳||"Six Sacred Fists of the South Star"}}, and the Hokuto brothers' involvement in it.

Although protagonist [[Kenshiro]] is the only truly permanent character from the series' inception up until the final chapter, his two sidekicks, Bat and Lin, have served as series' mainstays as well, introduced as a pair of orphaned children whom Kenshiro meets during the first chapter of the series and then growing up into rebel leaders and heroes in their own right.

Kenshiro encounters several rivals and allies throughout the course of the series, many of whom are affiliated with the martial arts schools featured in the series (see fighting styles section). The series initially focuses on two rival factions, the [[Hokuto Shinken]] school and the [[Nanto Seiken]] school. Shin, a representative of Nanto Seiken, serves as Kenshiro's first major nemesis, being the man responsible for engraving the seven stab wounds on Kenshiro's chest and kidnapping his fiancee Yuria. After Shin's death, the authors would expand the storyline by introducing other Hokuto and Nanto disciples, namely the Nanto Roku Seiken and the four Hokuto brothers. A major recurring antagonist is introduced in the form of [[Raoh]], the eldest of the four Hokuto brothers, who would become the series' most prominent villain.

After Raoh's death, the [[Gento Kō Ken |Gento Kōken ]]fighters and their leader [[Falco ]]would serve as reluctant adversaries of Kenshiro. Another group of antagonists are introduced with the fighters from the Land of Asura. Their ruler of Asura, [[Kaioh]] of the Hokuto Ryuken school, is the last major nemesis Kenshiro confronts in the series, although other villains appear after him in the manga.

The primary fighting style depicted in ''Fist of the North Star'' is ''[[Hokuto Shinken]]'', the style used by Kenshiro and his three adopted brothers. ''Hokuto Shinken'' relies primarily on 708 secret [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pressure_point vital points  ]on the human body that forms part of a fictional system known as the {{nihongo|''keiraku hikō''|経絡秘孔||"secret [[Channel (Chinese medicine)|channeling]] points"}}. By pushing into one of the ''hikō'' points, one can cause destruction into the enemy's body from within or even control their body against their own will. There are also beneficial ''hikō'' points that can be used to cure sickness or heal wounds, including restore a mute person's voice or a blind person's sight. In addition, the masters of ''Hokuto Shinken'' can tap into their body's full potential strength, whereas an average person only uses 30% of their strength.

The main rival style of ''Hokuto Shinken'' in the beginning of the series is ''[[Nanto Seiken]]'', a style which is described as the polar opposite of ''Hokuto Shinken''. In contrast to the ''Hokuto'' style, which uses the ''hikō'' points to cause destruction from within, the ''Nanto'' style specializes in stabbing and slicing techniques that penetrate the body from the outside and destroy everything in its path. Originally the style is used by Shin, the first major antagonist, but throughout the course of the series the existence of other branches of the ''Nanto Seiken'' are revealed, the six top branches being the ''Nanto Roku Seiken''.

Two other major styles are introduced during the latter half of the series; ''Gento Kōken'', a style which specializes in [[qi|ki]]-based projectile attacks that destroy the enemy on a cellular level; and ''Hokuto Ryūken'', a brother style of ''Hokuto Shinken'' which causes destruction through an opponent's {{nihongo|''keiraku hakō''|経絡破孔||"destructive [[Channel (Chinese medicine)|channeling]] points"}} and teaches its users to summon their {{nihongo|"demonic aura"|魔闘気|matōki}}.

|+ align="center" colspan="1" |Original '''Jump Comics''' volumes

|01 || {{nihongo|"A Cry from the Heart"|心の叫びの巻|Kokoro no Sakebi no Maki}} || March 1984 || [[ISBN 4088516613]]

|02 || {{nihongo|"Execution of Demons"|悪魔の処刑！の巻|Akuma no Shokei no Maki}} || June 1984 || [[ISBN 4088516621]]

|03 || {{nihongo|"Wrath! To the Edge of Hell!!"|怒り！地獄の果てまで!!の巻|Ikari! Jigoku no Hate made!! no Maki}} || December 1984 || [[ISBN 408851663X]]

|04 || {{nihongo|"The Two Stars of Omen!"|ふたつの凶星！の巻|Futatsu no Kyōsei! no Maki}} || January 1985 || [[ISBN 4088516648]]

|05 || {{nihongo|"Departing to a Death Match!"|死闘への旅だち！の巻|Shitō e no Tabidachi! no Maki}} || March 1985 || [[ISBN 4088516656]]

|06 || {{nihongo|"A Tragic Reunion!"|悲劇の再会!!の巻|Higeki no Saikai! no Maki}} || June 1985 || [[ISBN 4088516664]]

|07 || {{nihongo|"Sleeping in an Unmarked Grave"|眠れ　墓標なき墓に！の巻|Nemure Bohyōnaki Haka ni! no Maki}} || September 1985 || [[ISBN 4088516672]]

|08 || {{nihongo|"A Moment of Life!"|今一瞬の命を！の巻|Ima Isshun no Inochi wo! no Maki}} || November 1985 || [[ISBN 4088516680]]

|09 || {{nihongo|"The Red Fangs of the Enchantment Star!"|妖星の赤き牙！の巻|Yōsei no Akaki Kiba! no Maki}} || January 1986 || [[ISBN 4088516699]]

|10 || {{nihongo|"The Monarch of Nanto!"|南斗の帝王！の巻|Nanto no Teiō! no Maki}} || April 1986 || [[ISBN 4088516702]]

|11 || {{nihongo|"The Fist that Smashed the Heavens!"|天砕く拳!!の巻|Ten Kudaku Ken! no Maki}} || July 1986 || [[ISBN 4088516710]]

|12 || {{nihongo|"The Distant Promise!"|遠い誓い！の巻|Tōi Chikai! no Maki}} || September 1986 || [[ISBN 4088516729]]

|13 || {{nihongo|"The Rise of Nanto!!"|南斗ついに起つ!!の巻|Nanto Tsui ni Tatsu!! no Maki}} || November 1986 || [[ISBN 4088516737]]

|14 || {{nihongo|"The Time Has Come!"|その時はきた！の巻|Sono Toki wa Kita! no Maki}} || January 1987 || [[ISBN 4088516745]]

|15 || {{nihongo|"The Graceful Loser"|栄光ある敗者！の巻|Eikōaru Haisha! no Maki}} || March 1987 || [[ISBN 4088516753]]

|16 || {{nihongo|"Roar of the Young Wolves!"|若き狼の叫び！の巻|Wakaki Ōkami no Sakebi! no Maki}} || May 1987 || [[ISBN 4088516761]]

|17 || {{nihongo|"The Golden Assassin!"|黄金の刺客！の巻|Ōgon no Shikaku! no Maki}} || July 1987 || [[ISBN 408851677X]]

|18 || {{nihongo|"The Two Empresses!"|ふたりの天帝！の巻|Futari no Tentei! no Maki}} || September 1987 || [[ISBN 4088516788]]

|19 || {{nihongo|"The Mask of Ambition"|野望の仮面！の巻|Yabō no Kamen! no Maki}} || November 1987 || [[ISBN 4088516796]]

|20 || {{nihongo|"The Legend of Raoh Lives!|ラオウ伝説走る！の巻|Raō Densetsu Hashiru! no Maki}} || January 1988 || [[ISBN 408851680X]]

|21 || {{nihongo|"The Demon of Illusions!!"|幻影の魔人!!の巻|Gen'ei no Majin!! no Maki}} || March 1988 || [[ISBN 4088518241]]

|22 || {{nihongo|"The Grave of the Gem Fist!!"|琉拳の墓場!!の巻|Ryūken no Hakaba!! no Maki}} || May 1988 || [[ISBN 408851825X]]

|23 || {{nihongo|"The Conqueror's Will!"|覇王の遺言！の巻|Haō no Yuigon! no Maki}} || July 1988 || [[ISBN 4088518268]]

|24 || {{nihongo|"The Hell Fire of Tenacity!"|執念の業火果つ！の巻|Shūnen no Gōka Hatsu! no Maki}} || September 1988 || [[ISBN 4088518276]]

|25 || {{nihongo|"A Prologue to Death"|滅びの序章の巻き|Horobi no Jōshō no Maki}} || November 1988 || [[ISBN 4088518284]]

|26 || {{nihongo|"The Shadow of the Conqueror!"|覇王の影！の巻|Haō no Kage! no Maki}} || January 1989 || [[ISBN 4088518292]]

|27 || {{nihongo|"Farewell to My Loved Ones..."|さらば愛しき者たちよ…の巻|Saraba Itoshikimono-tachi yo... no Maki}} || March 1989 || [[ISBN 4088518306]]

** [[ISBN 4420131098]] (Volume 2, 1983 ''Jump Super Comics'' edition)

** [[ISBN 4420137673]] (Volume 2, 1996 ''Jump Super Ace'' edition)

** [[ISBN 4087030547]]

** [[ISBN 4834216845]]

** [[ISBN 4834216853]]

** [[ISBN 479663035X]] (2002 edition)

** [[ISBN 4796658580]] (2007 edition)

** [[ISBN 4796640169]] (2004 edition)

** [[ISBN 4796658564]] (2007 edition)

** [[ISBN 4796669476]] (2009 edition)

|01 || ''Fist of the North Star'' || April 1995 || [[ISBN 1569310319]] || Part 1, Issues 1-8 (Chapters 1-16)

|02 || ''Fist of the North Star:<br />Night of the Jackal'' || September 1997 || [[ISBN 1569311862]] || Part 2, Issues 1-7 (Chapters 17-27)

|03 || ''Fist of the North Star: Southern Cross'' || December 1997 || [[ISBN 1569312001]] || Part 2, Issues 7-8<br />Part 3, Issues 1-5 (Chapters 28-35)

|04 || ''Fist of the North Star:<br />Blood Brothers'' || May 1998 || [[ISBN 1569312583]] || Part 4, Issues 1-7 (Chapters 36-44)

|01 || [[2003-01-28]] || [[ISBN 0972503706]] || 1-8

|02 || [[2003-02-25]] || [[ISBN 0972503714]] || 9-17

|03 || [[2003-03-18]] || [[ISBN 0972503722]] || 18-26

|04 || [[2003-05-14]] || [[ISBN 0972503730]] || 27-34

|05 || [[2003-07-26]] || [[ISBN 0972503749]] || 35-42

|06 || [[2003-11-11]] || [[ISBN 0972503757]] || 43-50

|07 || [[2003-11-25]] || [[ISBN 193245411X]] || 51-58

|08 || [[2004-02-18]] || [[ISBN 1932454209]] || 59-66

|09 || [[2004-05-19]] || [[ISBN 1932454276]] || 67-74

|10 || Unpublished || [[ISBN 1932454365]] || N/A

A 13-episode TV anime based on the manga by Youkow Osada. A prequel of sorts, it follows the adventures of Raoh prior to the begining of the original manga/anime.

This anime was produced by [[Nobuhiko Horie]], the Shonen Jump editor who oversaw the publication of the original manga, and founding member of Raijin Comics. The anime mostly mirrors the gaiden manga on which it is based, though it includes an additional female character not in the manga.

This anime was licensed in the US by Sentai Filmworks. It is distributed in a two-disc boxed set which includes all thirteen subtitled episodes, as well as a subtitled Japanese documentary program giving a behind the scenes look at the anime's creation.