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Japanese manga series From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rookies (stylized as ROOKIES) is a Japanese shōnen manga series written and illustrated by Masanori Morita. It was serialized in Shueisha's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump from February 1998 to August 2003, with the chapters collected in 24 tankōbon volumes. The manga has been adapted into a television series which was broadcast on Tokyo Broadcasting System between April 19, 2008 and July 26, 2008. The series was later released on DVD by TC Entertainment, and the soundtrack released on June 28, 2008. The finale of the TV series was in the form of a film, called Rookies: Graduation (Rookies－卒業－, Rookies -Sotsugyō) which premiered on Japanese cinemas on May 31, 2009. Rookies is one of the best-selling manga series, with over 21 million copies in circulation.
| Rookies | |
.jpg) Cover of the first tankōbon volume, featuring Koichi Kawato (front) and the students of the Futagotamaga High School | |
| Genre | Sports[1] |
|---|---|
| Manga | |
| Written by | Masanori Morita |
| Published by | Shueisha |
| Imprint | Jump Comics |
| Magazine | Weekly Shōnen Jump |
| Demographic | Shōnen |
| Original run | February 16, 1998 – August 25, 2003 |
| Volumes | 24 |
| Television drama | |
| Directed by | Yuichiro Hirakawa |
| Written by | Yoshihiro Izumi |
| Music by |
|
| Original network | TBS |
| Original run | April 19, 2008 – July 26, 2008 |
| Episodes | 11 + Special |
| Live-action film | |
| Rookies: Graduation | |
| Directed by | Yūichirō Hirakawa |
| Studio | Toho |
| Released | May 31, 2009 |
Rookies is the story of an amateur teacher, Koichi Kawato, who is faced with the challenge of guiding a high school baseball club composed of delinquents. The students are wary of him and often threaten Kawato, but he refuses to abandon them and continuously speaks highly of recognizing their dreams. Eventually, the team is assembled and they dedicate their time to achieve their dream of going to the Koshien Spring baseball tournament.
Koichi Kawato is the new Japanese teacher at the ill-famed Futakotamagawa High School, whose baseball club is composed of thugs and bullies who have been suspended for a year from all school competitions, for causing a brawl during an official match. The newly appointed teacher finds that the club members left are only interested in women, smoking and doing nothing good until, under Kawato's guidance, they recognize that baseball is what they truly love doing. Kawato also teaches them that they should follow their dreams, and for them, being able to reach the national high school tournament finals in Koshien (Hyogo prefecture) is what they have always wished for. However, reaching Koshien is far from easy as many obstacles await them.
The names of all the characters are inspired by famous players from the Hanshin Tigers.[2]
Rookies is written and illustrated by Masanori Morita. It was serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump from its 10th issue, published on February 16, 1998 to the 30th issue, published on August 25, 2003.[3][4] Shueisha released the manga in 24 tankōbon volumes between June 4, 1998 and November 4, 2003.[5][6] It was licensed in France by Editions Tonkam,[7] and in Taiwan by Da Ran Culture before it went bankrupt. The Taiwan license was transferred to Tong Li Publishing.[8] In Italy, Rookies was licensed by Star Comics and serialized in the magazine Express.[9]
The manga was adapted into a live-action Japanese television drama.[10] The series' script was written by Yoshihiro Izumi and was directed by Yuichiro Hirakawa.[11] It was produced by Tsuru Masaaki.[11] Its 11 episodes were broadcast on Tokyo Broadcasting System between April 19, 2008 and July 26, 2008.[12][13] The series' theme song was "Kiseki" by Greeeen.[14] The first three episodes of the drama were released as a Rookies Omote Box by TC Entertainment on July 18, 2008.[15] Episodes four to eleven were released in a Rookies Ura Box on October 8, 2008.[16] The soundtrack to the drama was released on a CD on June 28, 2008.[17]
A live-action film, Rookies: Graduation (Rookies－卒業－, Rookies -Sotsugyō-), was adapted from the manga. Created by Toho and directed by Yūichirō Hirakawa, the film premiered on May 31, 2009.[19]
Rookies was ranked the ninth top-selling manga in Japan in 2008 with 2,765,163 copies sold.[20]
The last episode of Rookies live-action television adaptation, broadcast on July 26, 2008, was rated 19.5 in the average household ratings.[21] The television special episode of Rookies garnered a 10.0 rating.[22] The Rookies Ura Box set sold 5,595 copies during the October 15–21, 2008 weekend.[23] Rookies TV drama DVDs were ranked the top having the most copies sold in 2008.[24] The first episode of Rookies was rated a 9.5 when it re-ran on December 31, 2008.[25] The Rookies Omote Box was ranked 30th on the Oricon charts with 1,891 copies sold between June 8–14, 2009,[26] and the Rookies Ura Box set was ranked 24th on the Oricon charts with 1,997 copies sold between June 1–7, 2009.[27]
The Rookies drama series was awarded five of the possible nine awards at the 58th Television Drama Academy Awards in 2008. Rookies was awarded best drama; Ryuta Sato was awarded best actor; Hayato Ichihara was awarded best supporting actor; "Kiseki" by Greeeen was awarded best theme song and Nikogaku Nine was awarded the special award.[14] Rookies was highly commended as one of the best drama series at the 2008 Asian Television Awards.[28]
Document of Rookies ~Sotsugyō debut at 15th on the Oricon charts between April 21–28, 2009 with 9,141 copies sold.[29] It sold 3,092 copies during June 1–7, 2009 to be ranked tenth.[27] It sold 2,648 copies the following week and dropped to rank 20.[26]
Rookies: Graduation topped the Japanese box office chart when it premiered on May 30, 2009, earning the equivalent of US$12,703,775 over the May 30–31 weekend.[19] It continued to top the Japanese box office chart the following weekend, earning US$12,703,775 that weekend.[30] It was ranked second on the box office chart to Terminator Salvation, earning US$8,278,440 that weekend.[31] It rose back to top the box office charts on the June 20–21 weekend, earning US$6,404,066 that weekend.[32] On the fifth weekend, the movie dropped to second place behind Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance, earning US$4,290,266 that weekend.[33] On its sixth weekend on the box office charts, it stayed at second place, earning US$2,933,634 that weekend.[34] In its seventh weekend, Rookies: Graduation fell to fourth place and earned US$1,894,007, and has grossed US$82 million as of July 15.[35] In its eighth weekend, Rookies: Graduation, fell to 8th place and earned US$1,129,349.[36] In its ninth weekend, Rookies: Graduation rose to sixth place and earned US$748,804.[37]
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