is a Japanese light novel

Light novel

A is a style of Japanese novel primarily targeting junior high and high school students . The term "light novel" is a wasei-eigo, or a Japanese term formed from words in the English language. Light novels are often called or for short...

 series by Gakuto Mikumo

Gakuto Mikumo

' is a light novelist from the Oita Prefecture in Japan. He studied the English language at Sophia University, where he graduated. In 1998 Mikumo won silver in the fifth Dengeki Novel Prize with his debut novel, Called Gehenna. He went on to win the Japan SF Rookie of the Year Award in 1999 with...

, with illustrations by Nao Watanuki. The novel series began on July 10, 2005, with fourteen volumes currently published by ASCII Media Works

ASCII Media Works

is a Japanese publishing company in the Kadokawa Group which formed on April 1, 2008 as a result of a merger between ASCII and MediaWorks where MediaWorks legally absorbed ASCII. Despite this, the former president of ASCII, Kiyoshi Takano, became the president of ASCII Media Works. The company...

 under their Dengeki Bunko

Dengeki Bunko

is a publishing imprint affiliated with the Japanese publishing company ASCII Media Works . It was established in June 1993 with the publication of Hyōryū Densetsu Crystania volume one, and is a light novel imprint aimed at a male audience...

 imprint

Imprint

In the publishing industry, an imprint can mean several different things:* As a piece of bibliographic information about a book, it refers to the name and address of the book's publisher and its date of publication as given at the foot or on the verso of its title page.* It can mean a trade name...

. A manga

Manga

Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...

 adaptation by Ryō Akizuki premiered in ASCII Media Works' shōnen manga magazine Dengeki Daioh

Dengeki Daioh

is a Japanese shōnen manga magazine published by ASCII Media Works under the Dengeki brand. Many manga serialized in Dengeki Daioh were later published in tankōbon volumes under ASCII Media Works' Dengeki Comics imprint. The magazine is sold every month on the 27th...

 on September 27, 2008, and an anime

Anime

is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....

 adaptation began airing in Japan in April 2009.

Plot

The story is a semi-serious school action story revolving around the main protagonist, Tomoharu Natsume. He is haunted by his childhood friend, Misao Minakami, who became a ghost after an airplane accident three years earlier, which Tomoharu barely survived. He takes the opportunity to live on his own when he enters high school in his new place of residence, Meiou-tei, and starts enjoying a carefree high school life. His life changes when a beautiful girl named Kurosaki Shuri appears with a trunk which she claims Tomoharu's brother, Naotaka Natsume, asked her to deliver to him. The presence of the trunk causes the appearance of Takatsuki Kanade, a girl dressed like a shrine maiden, who is after the trunk. Tomoharu is in possession of the trunk, which reveals secrets about the world they live in.

Science Club / Third Student Council President / Royal Dark Society

, voiced by Miyu Irino

Miyu Irino

is a Japanese voice actor born in Tokyo.He is a good friend of voice actor Mamoru Miyano. He is nicknamed "Miyu-Miyu" by CLAMP members....

, is the main protagonist of the series, often called "Tomo" by his closest friends.He controls Kurogane and became an Asura Cryin after he made a contract with Kanade Takatsuki which gave birth to Persephone., voiced by Haruka Tomatsu

Haruka Tomatsu

is a Japanese voice actress and singer, employed by Music Ray'n .-Summary:Haruka debuted as voice actress in 2007, starring in Shinkyoku Sōkai Polyphonica as Corticarte Apa Lagranges...

, is Tomoharu's childhood friend, and the primary female heroine of the series. She appears with Tomoharu as a projection/ghost-like image, and is later discovered to be the "Burial Doll" of Tomoharu's Asura Machina: Kurogane, voiced by Ai Nonaka

Ai Nonaka

is a Japanese voice actress. She currently works for Aoni Production and was formerly a member of the voice actor unit DROPS, which included fellow voice actor Akemi Kanda, Tomoko Kaneda, Mariko Kōda, and Ryōko Shiraishi...

, is the second female heroine of the series.She is a demon which becomes a friend of Tomoharu Natsume. Later on in the series she and Tomoharu make a contract making Tomoharu an Asura Cryin and giving birth to Persephone., voiced by Sayuri Yahagi

Sayuri Yahagi

is a Japanese voice actress from Tokyo, Japan. She has also been the narrator of Animax since October 2007.-Anime:*Asu no Yoichi! - Sakon Saginomiya*Asura Cryin - Ania Fortuna*Bakugan Battle Brawlers - Ai...

, is a young, genius blonde-haired demon who recently transferred to Tomoharu's school and was placed into his care to protect her from a demon hunter. She is also known as a Luck Demon, due to her ability to give or take other people's luck., voiced by Rie Tanaka

Rie Tanaka

is a singer and voice actress . Notable among her numerous roles are Lacus Clyne in Gundam Seed and Gundam Seed Destiny, Chii and Freya in Chobits, Minna-Dietlinde Wilcke in Strike Witches and Suigintou in the anime adaptation of Rozen Maiden.-Personal life:As a child, Tanaka took singing classes...

, is Tomo, Misao, and Kanade's senpai

Senpai

and are an essential element of Japanese seniority-based status relationships, similar to the way that family and other relationships are decided based on age, with even twins being divided into elder and younger sibling...

. She was also involved in the plane crash, and nearly died., voiced by Hiro Shimono

Hiro Shimono

is a Japanese voice actor employed by I'm Enterprise.-TV anime:*30-sai no Hoken Taiiku *Asura Cryin *Baka to Test to Shōkanjū *Baka to Test to Shōkanjū: Ni!...

, is a good friend of Tomoharu's., voiced by Shinji Kawada

Shinji Kawada

is a Japanese voice actor. He also has also done voice work, especially in eroge, under the name .-Anime:*.hack//Legend of the Twilight Bracelet *Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo *Buso Renkin...

, is Aki and Toru's childhood friend and the main antagonist of season 2., Yuko Kaida

Yuko Kaida

is a Japanese voice actress and theater actress from Kanagawa. She works at Ken Production. Kaida's most known roles include Neela Rasgotra in the Japanese dub of ER, Shimei Ryomo in Ikkitousen, Kyō Takamimori in Potemayo, Amane Ootori in Strawberry Panic!, Minako Tsukiyama in Maria-sama ga Miteru...

, is the president of the Third Student Council, which is founded by members of the "Royal Dark Society".

First Student Council / Holy Guards

, voiced by Showtaro Morikubo

Showtaro Morikubo

is a Japanese voice actor, and singer who has voiced characters in anime, drama CDs and video games. According to the Anime News Network and as of July 8, 2006, Morikubo has about 55 voice role credits under his name. He was formerly affiliated with I'm Enterprise.He was born in Hachiōji, Tokyo....

, is the head of the First Student Council on campus., voiced by Satomi Satō

Satomi Sato

is a voice actress from Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan affiliated with Aoni Production's Junior Talent. She is a graduate of Tokyo Announce Gakuin Performing Arts College. She is also known as , as means "sugar" in Japanese...

, is Reiko and Reishirou's cousin. She is shown to have once been a living girl like Misao., voiced by Kimiko Koyama

Kimiko Koyama

is a female seiyū. She was born in Tokushima, Japan.-Notable voice roles:*Ai Yori Aoshi ~Enishi~ - Natsuki Komiya*Asura Cryin' - Reiko Saeki*Asura Cryin' 2 - Reiko Saeki*Doujin Work - Sōra Kitano*Gokujou Seitokai - Maachi Hisakawa...

, is the younger sister of Reishirou, and class president of Tomoharu's class.

Second Student Council / Pilgrim Union

, voiced by Eri Kitamura

Eri Kitamura

is a Japanese voice actress and singer, who was born on August 16, 1987 in Tokyo, Japan. She is primarily known for her role in Blood+ as Saya Otonashi and singing the third ending for the anime series Konjiki No Gash Bell . She is also known to be an amateur manga artist in Japan in her spare time...

, is the president of the Second Student Council, which supervises committees in the school., voiced by Junji Majima

Junji Majima

is a Japanese voice actor who is contracted to I'm Enterprise. He was born in Nagoya, Aichi. His favorite hobby is singing karaoke.-Anime:2002*Midnight Horror School - Borocca2003*Scrapped Princess - Prince Forsythe...

, is the treasurer of the Second Student Council, and also the manservant of Rikka.

Kantou Student Union

, voiced by Sayori Ishizuka

Sayori Ishizuka

is a Japanese voice actress. She has voiced in many popular anime series, such as MÄR and To Heart 2.-Roles:*Asobi ni iku yo! as Maya*Bleach: Mila Rose, Haida Kyōko*D.C...

, is the handler of Shirogane. You is called "GD's Destra"., voiced by Hiromi Hirata, is Toru's sister and the former burial doll of Kurogane., voiced by Reiko Takagi

Reiko Takagi

is a Japanese voice actress from Osaka, Japan. She is currently represented by Sigma Seven.- TV animation :* El Hazard: The Wanderers * Brave Command Dagwon , child * Bamboo Bears , Karasu* Slayers Try , Palu...

, is the handler of Aenka and the members of GD. She uses the old style of the Japanese language., voiced by Yoshinori Fujita

Yoshinori Fujita

is a Japanese voice actor whose notable roles include series like Ouran High School Host Club and Trinity Blood. Yoshinori's hobbies include painting and singing.-Notable Roles:*Ghost Hound as Atsushi Hirata*Bokurano as Isao Kako*Duel Masters as Jamira...

, is the handler of Bismuth.

Tomoharu's relatives

, voiced by Miyu Irino

Miyu Irino

is a Japanese voice actor born in Tokyo.He is a good friend of voice actor Mamoru Miyano. He is nicknamed "Miyu-Miyu" by CLAMP members....

, is Tomoharu's older brother, who died while studying oversea. is Tomoharu's stepsister. Kazuha is also haunted by a ghost named . Although Tomoharu thinks she does not like him, and thus lives alone in Meiou-tei, she does like him, but cannot speak well when she meets him due to shyness.

Kanade's relatives

, voiced by Eizou Tsuda, is Kanade's father, and the president of a large area designated as the Demon Association., voiced by Akihiko Ishizumi

Akihiko Ishizumi

is a Japanese stage actor and voice actor from Ehime Prefecture. He is currently attached to Engekishūdan En.He is best known for his roles in The Powerpuff Girls and Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi...

, is Kanade's grandfather and a lover of scrollwork. He is also the owner of the Meiou-tei., voiced by Yōko Hikasa

Yōko Hikasa

is a Japanese voice actress from Kanagawa who is affiliated with I'm Enterprise. Hikasa aspired to become a voice actress after watching Sailor Moon, and later attended Nihon Narration Engi Kenkyūjo, a voice actor training school. She is a member of the five-girl pop music group Ro-Kyu-Bu!, along...

, is Kanade's cousin and a college student.

Others

, voiced by Aki Toyosaki

Aki Toyosaki

is a Japanese voice actress and singer from Tokushima Prefecture, Japan. She had her first major voice acting roles in 2007, voicing Amuro Ninagawa in Kenkō Zenrakei Suieibu Umishō and Su in Shugo Chara!...

, is one of a few close friends of Tomoharu, who calls Tomoharu by the nickname Tomo., voiced by Rie Tanaka

Rie Tanaka

is a singer and voice actress . Notable among her numerous roles are Lacus Clyne in Gundam Seed and Gundam Seed Destiny, Chii and Freya in Chobits, Minna-Dietlinde Wilcke in Strike Witches and Suigintou in the anime adaptation of Rozen Maiden.-Personal life:As a child, Tanaka took singing classes...

, is the younger sister of the twins., voiced by Ao Takahashi, is Tokiya's contracting demon, nicknamed "Kori Hime (Ice Princess)" from her looks and character. Hiwako uses an ice naginata

Naginata

The naginata is one of several varieties of traditionally made Japanese blades in the form of a pole weapon. Naginata were originally used by the samurai class in feudal Japan, and naginata were also used by ashigaru and sōhei .-Description:A naginata consists of a wooden shaft with a curved...

 named "Hyou-ou" when she fights., voiced by Kazuya Nakai

Kazuya Nakai

is a Japanese voice actor who was born in Hyōgo-ku, Kobe. He is currently attached to Aoni Production.-Overview:Kazuya Nakai debuted in After War Gundam X as Witz Sou....

, is the main antagonist of season 1. He is a famous guitarist, a demon hunter, and a lingerie thief, and is called "".

General

• First World: One of the alternate worlds in the series, which the main characters used to live in. It is destroyed after the failure of the Black Hole accident, which spurs the reiteration of the second world. The main characters from the second world have frequent flashbacks, using the first world as a basis.
• Second World: The setting where the story takes place, and the second iteration of the world, created to replace the first world that was destroyed. After Tomoharu from the second world saves the first world from its inevitable destruction, he returns to save the second world from destruction as well.
• Third World: The world Tokiya wants to create by destroying the second world. Using Hagane, Hisui, Bismuth, Rhodonite, and Asura Cryin's power, he successively makes the Central Vortex go out of control to create the third world.
• : The Science Club is set up by Natsume Naotaka. It is under the management of the Third Student Council. The current members are Tomoharu, Kanade, Takuma, Shuri, and Tokiya.
• : The strongest front-line commanders of the Kantou Student Union. Only the strongest handlers are given the title. You Susugihara is the leader, called the Destra.
• : Relics of the first world. The history of the first world is usually rewritten by the second world's history, but some traces remain.
• : A mechanical doll used by the Second Student Council. It has enormous power despite its size.
• : A quasi-sensory input/output device in the shape of an ugly koala. It is remote controlled by Tokiya, using his brain waves.
• : It is officially the power plant which uses energy obtained from the manmade micro black hole, but it is actually the gate to the other worlds.
• : A superstring gravity reactor that makes travel between worlds possible. Naotaka (Tomoharu from the first world), makes preparations to destroy it, to stop the destruction of the first world, although the plan fails when Naotaka is killed by Tokiya. Tomoharu from the second world eventually stops the destruction of the first world by using his new Asura Machina, Kurogane Kai.

Demons

• : Humans from another world and their descendants, or those who acquired distorted supernatural powers after the distortion of the world.
• The Four Demon Families: , , , and are the strongest demon families. They are also called , from their surnames.
• : Demons which are essentially unnatural beings in the world. Therefore they grow weaker every time they use demonic power, due to an immunological reaction from the world, and eventually cease to exist.
• : A person who sets a contract with a demon.
• : The familiar of a contractor and a demon. It materializes from the feelings the demon had for the contractor, and it changes shape from the feelings of the contractor to the daughter.
• : A daughter larva which is deserted by its contractor.
• : A form of demon that balances luck around the world. They take luck by biting the person and gives luck by kissing the person (they can practically take luck or give luck by kissing/biting any part of the body). They also can change the possibility of an event to occur.

Asura Machina

• : A machine that has a human sacrifice, referred to as a burial doll. The human that controls the machine is known as a handler, and is often closely related to the burial doll. They were created by humans making a contract with demons to allow travel between worlds possible and therefore protect their world the Gods abandoned.
• : Burial Dolls (fukusō shōjo, lit. "burial maidens") are the human sacrifices required to operate the Asura Machina, and placed in its core. The Asura Machina will draw from this person's essence as it continues to fulfill the will of its handler. As more of her soul is carved out this way, she will gradually lose and eventually be devoid of emotion, at which point she will be obliterated.
• : The term used for the astral projection that the burial dolls use to enter in contact with their handlers. It is usually visible only to handlers and individuals with supernatural abilities such as demons, but if the Asura Machina is installed with a stabilizer the projection body will be seen even by normal humans.
• : The human user of an Asura Machina. When summoned, the Asura Machina usually appears from the handler's shadow. Every handler is required to say a special chant when summoning their Asura Machina. In the novels it is still unknown at this point if the handler will die if their Asura Machina's burial doll expires or is destroyed, but in the anime, once a burial doll is either killed or consumed, the handler becomes an ex-handler.
• : Handlers that have ended a contract with an Asura Machina by depleting the life energy of a burial doll completely. They then receive a stigma (commonly known as "The cursed sinner's stigma") somewhere on their body to signify that they had a contract with Asura Machina.
• : A person who has both a daughter, contracting demon and an Asura Machina in his or her possession. They are considered very dangerous, due to their power. In the anime there are only three named Asura Cryin'; Kagakagari, Tokiya, and Tomoharu, although it is implied that there have been others before the events of the anime.
• Energy circulation: The power exchange between an Asura Machina and a daughter. The energy being circulated between the two can significantly power up either the Asura Machina or the daughter, and strengthen the Asura Machina's innate magical abilities and increase the size and regenerative abilities of the daughter.
• Combination: The combination was revealed in the final battle. Instead of exchanging power between the Asura Machina and daughter, the Asura Cyrin' calls on the full power of their contracted demon and daughter. The daughter will then physically merge with the Asura Machina, changing its appearance and increasing its power several times over. Like energy circulation, combination appears to draw the additional power directly from the demon who made the contract.
• : An autonomous machine used for guarding the ruins. It is seen guarding the Ruins of la Croix, but does not attack unless provoked. Ritsu Shioizumi was seen sending one for patrol after the destruction of the first world.
• : A stabilizer reinforces the connection between the burial doll and her handler. It enables the burial doll's projection body to be seen by anyone.
• : A power booster which can only be used by an Asura Cryin'. It allows for control of a casualty, meaning that a person using it can choose how any action or event will play out.
• : It is used to separate the burial doll from the Asura Machina. Kurogane is able to separate a burial doll from her Asura Machina, though it is dangerous unless it is the same kind of asura machina.
• Extractor: An extractor is a large, silver case with a single handle, one of which is given to Tomoharu by Shuri. Each case is in fact the "avatar" of a certain Asura Machina in that particular world, and in order to make a complete contract with an Asura Machina, a person needs to open the extractor of that machine.

Anime

The anime first premiered on April 2, 2009. The opening theme used for the first season is "Spiral" by Angela

Angela (band)

Angela is a Japanese pop band that's best known for theme songs of anime television shows. The main members are atsuko and KATSU. Their signature upbeat tunes and rich arrangements is a dazzling mix of electronica, dance, rock, swing jazz and ska...

, and the ending theme is "Link", also by Angela. The single

Single (music)

In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...

 for the two songs was released on May 13, 2009. A second season aired on October 1, 2009, again using opening and ending themes by Angela. The opening theme of the second season is "Alternative", and the ending theme is "Kanata no delight".

External links

• Asura Cryin at ASCII Media Works
  ASCII Media Works
  is a Japanese publishing company in the Kadokawa Group which formed on April 1, 2008 as a result of a merger between ASCII and MediaWorks where MediaWorks legally absorbed ASCII. Despite this, the former president of ASCII, Kiyoshi Takano, became the president of ASCII Media Works. The company...
  
  
• Anime official website