Kenichi

About Kenichi

"Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple" is a beloved Anime series that first debuted in 2006. The story revolves around Kenichi Shirahama, who seems destined for a life of continuous bullying until he meets Miu Fūrinji, a girl experienced in martial arts. Miu and the six martial arts masters she lives with eventually take Kenichi under their wing to train him and change his life. The series is a whirlwind of excitement, drama, humor, and a generous helping of action - delivered through spectacular, high-octane martial arts bouts. Rated TVPG, drawing a boundary for parental guidance.

Making / Production

Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple was produced by TMS Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sega Sammy Holdings and directed by Hajime Kamegaki. The script was written by Yoshiyuki Suga. The series aired on TV Tokyo in Japan and was later localized in English by Funimation.

Actors

• Tomokazu Seki as Kenichi Shirahama: Seki played the role of a shy and initially weak child who grows into a strong fighter, thanks to his rigorous training and unyielding spirit.
• Tomoko Kawakami as Miu Fūrinji: Kawakami portrayed the character of Miu, a strong and skilled martial artist who becomes Kenichi's main source of strength and training partner.
• Issei Futamata as Kensei Ma: Futamata played the role of Kensei Ma, one of the six martial arts masters in the series, who provides humor and depth to the storyline.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The series is based on a Manga of the same name authored by Syun Matsuena.
• In addition to the 50-episode Anime series, there are also two OVAs that continue the story.
• The series explores various forms of martial arts including Karate, Muay Thai, Ju Jitsu, Chinese Martial Arts, and Weapons.

Quotes

• "The only one who can decide your worth.. is you." – Kenichi Shirahama
• "Effort is the key to unlocking our potential." – Akisame Koetsuji
• "Weaklings die. Big deal." – Shio Sakaki

Music, Soundtrack

• The opening themes "Be Strong" and "Yahhō!" and the ending themes "Kimi ga iru kara" and "Catch Your Dream" beautifully capture the spirit of the series.
• The soundtrack of Kenichi is composed by Joe Rinoie and features an excellent mix of fast-paced tunes and melodious tracks that perfectly complement the unfolding story.