"Shijo Saikyo no Deshi Kenichi" is a currently running and airing Japanese martial arts oriented martial arts series that currently has up to fifty episodes at the moment. It is adapted from the manga authored by Syun Matsuena and published by "Shogakukan." It was first released around 2002 and is still in circulation. It is defined as "History’s Strongest Disciple Kenichi." Asides from the martial arts action, there is plenty of romance and comedy to the series. The anime series itself is directed by Hajime Kamegaki, produced by "TMS Entertainment". It’s still airing on "TV Tokyo" and had aired ever since October 7, 2006. If you enjoy martial arts inspired Japanese anime series, you may enjoy Shijo Saikyo no Deshi Keinchi.
Shijo Saikyo no Deshi Kenichi can be classified as a character development or hero development story. It revolves around a fifteen year old high school student named Kenichi Shirahama who is classified as a weakling. He is given the nickname of "Weak Legs." Despite being a "weakling", Kenichi’s had a somewhat normal life but takes a turn after meeting the beautiful female protagonist named Miu Furinji who is a very skilled martial artist. Martial arts wise, Kenichi is pretty weak as he gets pummeled at every Karate club meeting. As a result, he becomes a student of the Ryozanpaku Dojo which happens to be the home of Miu. He ends up training under Miu’s family and eventually beats a Karate student in a fight. Afterwards, it revolves around Kenichi going through rigorous training and fighting off all the other students that want to beat him up.
In the beginning, the only thing Kenichi knows about martial arts is from these do-it-yourself manuals that he buys from a typical everyday store. It shows that one really can’t depend on the books all of the time.
In a sense, Kenichi is very much an underdog as he doesn’t start out strong and has to build himself from the ground up. This could be what the creators of Shijo Saikyo no Deshi Kenichi wanted to present. It’s something that any respectable martial arts master will say to a student, s/he must start from the ground up. But the story focuses on Kenichi getting stronger while focusing on the relationship between him and Miu. However, Kenichi has a very interesting diversity of characters. He tends to meet the most interesting characters at the Ryozanpaku Dojo. The dojo itself is known to have fighters using all sorts of various styles.
He meets Hayato Furinji the grandfather of Miu who has been several hundred Shaolin masters. Hayato is the one that trains Kenichi.
There is Shio Sakaki, a person who is supposed to be a 100th level Karate Master. Kenichi also meets characters such as: Apachai Hopachai, Shigure Kosaka, Kensei Ma, and Akisame Koetsuji. Apachai is a highly skilled Muay Thai Kickboxer, Shigure is a kunoichi that can use number weapons, Kensei is a Chinese Kempo user, and Akisame is a Jiu-Jitsu master. These fighters display excellent skills that terrify Kenichi the first time he visits the dojo.
They all each agree to train Kenichi. Each one is equally as terrifying. It would make any martial arts student quiver in fear. Overall, it’s a very humorous anime series with plenty of martial arts action. Currently, as the manga is still in circulation there is a 3D cel-shaded one on one versus fighting game that is currently out for the Playstation 2 as an import called "Kenichi."
It is unknown if or when Shijo Saikyo no Deshi Kenichi will be dubbed into English and released to North America. However, it’s a good anime series that goes in-depth on how one must expand as a martial artist instead of limiting oneself to merely one or two styles.
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