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Japanese mangaseries and its adaptations From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Boys (stylized in all caps) is a Japanese sports manga series written and illustrated by Hiroki Yagami. It was serialized in Kodansha's shōnen manga magazine Monthly Shōnen Magazine from June 1989 to January 1997, with its chapters collected in 23 tankōbon volumes. The story concerns the progress of the Mizuho High School basketball team as it attempts to win the prefectural championship. It also deals with the relationship between the players on the team, especially the two main characters Kazuhiko Aikawa and Takumi Fujiwara.
| Dear Boys | |
First tankōbon volume cover | |
| Genre | Sports[1] |
|---|---|
| Manga | |
| Written by | Hiroki Yagami |
| Published by | Kodansha |
| Magazine | Monthly Shōnen Magazine |
| Demographic | Shōnen |
| Original run | June 1989 – present |
| Volumes | 95 |
| Series titles | |
| |
| Video game | |
| Publisher | Yutaka |
| Genre | Sports |
| Platform | Super Famicom |
| Released | 20 October 1994 |
| Anime television series | |
| Hoop Days | |
| Directed by | Susumu Kudo |
| Studio | A.C.G.T |
| Licensed by | |
| Original network | TV Tokyo |
| English network | |
| Original run | 8 April 2003 – 29 September 2003 |
| Episodes | 26 |
| Video game | |
| Dear Boys: Fast Break! | |
| Developer | Konami |
| Genre | Sports |
| Platform | PlayStation 2 |
| Released | 18 September 2003 |
Dear Boys has spawned other manga series, also published in Monthly Shōnen Magazine: Dear Boys The Early Days (1997); Dear Boys Act II (1997–2008); Dear Boys Act 3 (2008–2015); Dear Boys Over Time (2016–2017); and Dear Boys Act 4 (2018–present).
A 26-episode anime television series adaptation of the original series, produced by OB Planning and animated by A.C.G.T, was broadcast on TV Tokyo from April to September 2003. In North America, the series was licensed by Bandai Entertainment and released under the title Hoop Days.
By March 2019, the overall Dear Boys manga series has sold over 45 million copies, making it one of the best-selling manga series of all time. In 2007, Dear Boys Act II won the 31st Kodansha Manga Award in the shōnen category.
At the outset of the manga, the Mizuho High School basketball team is in trouble, as there are not enough players to play a game. Additionally, the coach has left after a conflict with Fujiwara. However, Aikawa transfers to Mizuho and through his enthusiasm and sheer love of the game, infuses the few remaining members with a sense of purpose.
Despite the fact that there are only five of them (i.e., they have no substitutes), they manage to get the coach of the girls' team to coach them as well. At first, she seems very strict, but later reveals her attachment to her "Dear Boys". Together, they do their best to make their dreams come true and take their team to the top of the prefecture.
Written and illustrated by Hiroki Yagami, Dear Boys was serialized in Kodansha's shōnen manga magazine Monthly Shōnen Magazine from June 1989 to January 1997.[1] Kodansha collected its chapters in 23 tankōbon volumes, released from 16 December 1989 to 17 March 1997.[3][4] Other related series and sequels, published in the same magazine, have been released:
A video game, published by Yutaka for the Super Famicom, was released on 20 October 1994.[21] Another video game, titled Dear Boys: Fast Break!, published by Konami for the PlayStation 2, was released on 18 September 2003.[22]
A 26-episode anime television series adaptation, produced by OB Planning and animated by A.C.G.T, aired on TV Tokyo from 8 April to 30 September 2003. Da Pump performed the opening theme "Sound of Bounce", while Chris Sasaki (credited as Chris) performed the ending theme "Baller no Shōgō" (Ballerの章号, "Baller's Number").[2]
In North America, the series was licensed by Bandai Entertainment in 2004.[23] They released it under the title Hoop Days; episodes were partially released on two DVD sets on 28 June and 23 August 2005[24][25] and a "Complete Collection" was later released on 5 June 2006.[26] The series was licensed in Australia and New Zealand by Madman Entertainment, who released a Complete Collection set on 6 September 2006.[27] Medialink licensed the series in Southeast Asia and was broadcast on Animax Asia.[28]
| No. | Title | Original air date [2] | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "An Interesting Transfer Student" Transliteration: "Ki ni Naru Tenkousei" (Japanese: 気になる転校生) | 8 April 2003 | |
|
Kazuhiko Aikawa has recently transferred to Mizuho High School. When asking a teacher why there was no boys' basketball team he was told that they were not a functioning team and that they were about to be disbanded. Aikawa then declared that he was to be the fifth member of the team so that they could attempt the championship. | |||
| 2 | "The Resurrection of the Boys' Basketball Team?" Transliteration: "Danshi Baskebu Fukkatsusu?" (Japanese: 男子バスケ部復活す?) | 15 April 2003 | |
| 3 | "Who Is the Opponent for the Practice Team?" Transliteration: "Renshū Shiai no Aite wa?" (Japanese: 練習試合の相手は?) | 22 April 2003 | |
|
The episode starts with a flashback showing how the star ace from Tendōji High's basketball team wound up at Mizuho. Basketball practice starts and once again the boys, barring Aikawa, do not show up. However the episode shows them all gathering things for basketball or practicing. The final day for the ban has come and Aikawa shows up to the gym to practice a little only to find Miura, Ishii, and Dobashi already there. When Aikawa comments on Fujiwara not being there, he is told that it is not a problem, that he will show up. The next day all five members of the boys' basketball team show up at practice. They play a brief game against the girls only to fail horribly showing that they don't play well together. In order to give them a little initiative coach Akiyoshi pits them against Narita high school in a practice match. The very same team whose coach is Shimojou, the previous captain of the boys' team. | |||
| 4 | "Determination to Win" Transliteration: "Makerarenai Iji" (Japanese: 負けられない意地) | 29 April 2003 | |
| 5 | "Counterattack Full of Wounds" Transliteration: "Kizu Darake no Hangeki" (Japanese: 傷だらけの反撃) | 6 May 2003 | |
| 6 | "To Each His Own Emotion…" Transliteration: "Sorezore no Omoi…" (Japanese: それぞれの思い…) | 13 May 2003 | |
| 7 | "A Disquieting Air" Transliteration: "Fuon na Kūki" (Japanese: 不穏な空気) | 20 May 2003 | |
| 8 | "Cold Rain" Transliteration: "Tsumetai Ame" (Japanese: 冷たい雨) | 27 May 2003 | |
| 9 | "Because You Are Here…" Transliteration: "Anata ga Iru kara…" (Japanese: あなたがいるから…) | 3 June 2003 | |
| 10 | "Confined Passion" Transliteration: "Tozasareta Jōnetsu" (Japanese: 閉ざされた情熱) | 10 June 2003 | |
| 11 | "People Following Their Dreams" Transliteration: "Yume o Tsugu Monotachi" (Japanese: 夢を継ぐ者たち) | 17 June 2003 | |
| 12 | "Meetings Are Sudden" Transliteration: "Deai wa Totsuzen ni" (Japanese: 出会いは突然に) | 24 June 2003 | |
| 13 | "Unengaged Gears" Transliteration: "Kami Awanai Haguruma" (Japanese: 噛みあわない歯車) | 1 July 2003 | |
| 14 | "Anxiety and Burden" Transliteration: "Fuan to Futan" (Japanese: 不安と負担) | 8 July 2003 | |
| 15 | "The Rivals" Transliteration: "Raibarutachi" (Japanese: ライバルたち) | 15 July 2003 | |
| 16 | "Dead Heat" Transliteration: "Deddo Hīto" (Japanese: デッドヒート) | 22 July 2003 | |
| 17 | "Never Give Up" Transliteration: "Nebaa Gibu Appu" (Japanese: ネバー・ギブアップ) | 29 July 2003 | |
| 18 | "Game Set!" Transliteration: "Geemu Setto" (Japanese: ゲームセット) | 5 August 2003 | |
| 19 | "The Finals Opponent Is?" Transliteration: "Kesshou no Aite wa?" (Japanese: 決勝の相手は?) | 12 August 2003 | |
| 20 | "Trembling Hearts" Transliteration: "Yureru Kokoro" (Japanese: 揺れる心) | 19 August 2003 | |
| 21 | "Supporting Family" Transliteration: "Sasaeau Nakamatachi" (Japanese: 支えあう仲間たち) | 26 August 2003 | |
| 22 | "The Sixth Man" Transliteration: "Rokunin me no Otoko" (Japanese: 六人目の男) | 2 September 2003 | |
| 23 | "The Finals!" Transliteration: "Kesshou!" (Japanese: 決勝!) | 9 September 2003 | |
| 24 | "Back and Forth" Transliteration: "Isshin-ittai!" (Japanese: 一進一退) | 16 September 2003 | |
| 25 | "It's Settled, and Then…" Transliteration: "Kecchaku, Soshite" (Japanese: 決着、そして…) | 23 September 2003 | |
| 26 | "Look Towards Tomorrow" Transliteration: "Ashita ni Mukatte" (Japanese: 明日に向かって) | 30 September 2003 | |
By March 2019, the overall Dear Boys manga series had sold over 45 million copies.[29]
In 2007, Dear Boys Act II received 31st Kodansha Manga Award in the shōnen category.[30][31]
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