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, full title , is a 2009 Japanese business novel by Natsumi Iwasaki. It follows high school girl Minami Kawashima who manages her school's baseball team using Peter Drucker
's Management: Tasks, Responsibilities, Practices to rally her dispirited teammates. The novel has been adapted into a 10-episode anime television series by the Japanese public broadcaster NHK
and produced by Production I.G. Originally scheduled to air on March 14, 2011, it was postponed due to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
and instead aired between April 25, 2011 and May 6, 2011. A live-action movie was released in Japan on June 4, 2011.
's business management book, Management: Tasks, Responsibilities, Practices, and starts to manage the baseball team like one would manage a business, with the goal of reaching the nationals.
's seinen manga magazine Super Jump
on December 22, 2010.
announced that a 10-episode anime
television series based on the novel would begin airing on its network starting in March 2011. Due to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
, the series was delayed from its original airdate and aired between April 25, 2011 and May 6, 2011 instead. Aimed at men and women in their 30s and 40s, the anime series is produced by Production I.G under the direction of Takayuki Hamana
. The series' screenplay is by Jun'ichi Fujisaku while Jun Sato composes the music. The opening theme is performed by azusa and the closing theme is performed by momo.
on June 1, 2011.
Peter Drucker
Peter Ferdinand Drucker was an influential writer, management consultant, and self-described “social ecologist.”-Introduction:...
's Management: Tasks, Responsibilities, Practices to rally her dispirited teammates. The novel has been adapted into a 10-episode anime television series by the Japanese public broadcaster NHK
NHK
NHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
and produced by Production I.G. Originally scheduled to air on March 14, 2011, it was postponed due to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
The 2011 earthquake off the Pacific coast of Tohoku, also known as the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, or the Great East Japan Earthquake, was a magnitude 9.0 undersea megathrust earthquake off the coast of Japan that occurred at 14:46 JST on Friday, 11 March 2011, with the epicenter approximately east...
and instead aired between April 25, 2011 and May 6, 2011. A live-action movie was released in Japan on June 4, 2011.
Plot
The story follows Minami Kawashima who, as a favor to her childhood friend, Yuki Miyata, takes over as manager for the Hodokubo High School Baseball team when she is hospitalized with an illness. With no previous experience managing a team, Minami ends up picking up a copy of Peter DruckerPeter Drucker
Peter Ferdinand Drucker was an influential writer, management consultant, and self-described “social ecologist.”-Introduction:...
's business management book, Management: Tasks, Responsibilities, Practices, and starts to manage the baseball team like one would manage a business, with the goal of reaching the nationals.
Characters
- The protagonist of this story, Minami is a high school kid who hates baseball, having had her dreams of becoming a professional baseball player shattered at a young age. When her best friend, Yuki, is hospitalized with an illness, Minami takes her place as manager for a high school baseball team, using Peter Drucker's Management as a reference point. She is portrayed by Atsuko Maeda in the film.
- Minami's best friend who has been with her since they were babies. She has had a condition since when she was little and had become hospitalized after becoming the manager of the baseball team. She joined the team having been admired seeing Minami play baseball as a kid, and dreams of taking her team to the nationals. However, just as the team reach the finals of the prefectural tournament, she succumbs to her terminal illness and passes away. She is portrayed by Haruna KawaguchiHaruna Kawaguchiis a Japanese model and actress under the Ken-On agency.-TV serials:* Tokyo Dogs as Karin Takakura* Nakanai to Kimeta Hi as Ai Kakuta* Hatsukoi Chronicle as Misaki Satoura...
in the film.
- The coach of the Hodokubo Baseball Team. While his orders are sometimes harsh, he always has the team's safety in mind. After Minami informs him about innovation, he concocts the 'no-bunt, no-ball' strategy, hoping to revolutionize high school baseball. He is portrayed by Yo OizumiYo Oizumiis a TV personality and a stage actor based in Hokkaidō. He was born in Ebetsu and has been living in Sapporo since 1984.He first made a name in Hokkaidō-based TV variety series called “Suiyō Dōdeshō” and has been actively appearing on various media programs in Hokkaidō since then...
in the film.
- The team's main pitcher. He is often determined to show his worth on the field, though his play tends to weaken after making 100 pitches. He is portrayed by Koji SetoKoji Setois a Japanese actor and singer. His major works include lead roles as Wataru Kurenai in Kamen Rider Kiva and Hiro in Koizora; and supporting roles as Satoru Okura in Atashinchi no Danshi, Ariake Yamato in Otomen, and Eiji Kikumaru in Tenimyu...
in the film.
- The team's catcher, who is also one of Minami's childhood friends. He is portrayed by Sosuke IkematsuSosuke Ikematsuis a Japanese film, television, and theatre actor best known for his role as Higen, the young nephew of samurai leader Katsumoto, in the 2003 film The Last Samurai.- Biography :...
in the film.
- The team's score keeper and part of the management team. She is incredibly shy, usually saying little else besides "Oh, yeah, right," and has a strong admiration for Yuki. She is portrayed by Minami MinegishiMinami Minegishiis a Japanese idol singer and actress, member of the group AKB48.She is one of its original members, debuting with "team A" in 2005, produced by Yasushi Akimoto...
in the film.
- Initially the team's captain, though prior to the prefectural tournament he steps down from this position to focus on his plays.
- One of the team members who joins the management team and is later made the team's captain after Jun steps down.
- The team's pinch runner. He is a fast athlete, often occasionally training with the track club.
- The team's shortstop. He is rather timid and often makes mistakes under pressure.
- An anime original character, Hanae is a friend of Yūnosuke's who tries to support him when he's down. She later joins the management team, wanting to make something of herself.
Novel
The original novel, written by Natsumi Iwasaki with illustrations by Yukiusagi and Bamboo, was published by Diamondosha and released in Japan on December 4, 2009. The novel sold 1.81 million copies during its first year and became the year's bestselling novel in Japan.Manga
A manga adaptation launched in ShueishaShueisha
is a major publisher in Japan. The company was founded in 1925 as the entertainment-related publishing division of Japanese publisher Shogakukan. The following year, Shueisha became a separate, independent company. Magazines published by Shueisha include Weekly Shōnen Jump, Weekly Young Jump,...
's seinen manga magazine Super Jump
Super Jump
, is a biweekly manga anthology published by Shueisha under the Jump line of magazines. Released in Japan on December 20, 1986, the magazine provides serialized chapters of various seinen manga series. The manga series are published under the Jump Comics Deluxe imprint.- History :The magazine...
on December 22, 2010.
Anime
In October 2010, the Japanese public broadcaster NHKNHK
NHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
announced that a 10-episode 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....
television series based on the novel would begin airing on its network starting in March 2011. Due to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
The 2011 earthquake off the Pacific coast of Tohoku, also known as the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, or the Great East Japan Earthquake, was a magnitude 9.0 undersea megathrust earthquake off the coast of Japan that occurred at 14:46 JST on Friday, 11 March 2011, with the epicenter approximately east...
, the series was delayed from its original airdate and aired between April 25, 2011 and May 6, 2011 instead. Aimed at men and women in their 30s and 40s, the anime series is produced by Production I.G under the direction of Takayuki Hamana
Takayuki Hamana
is a Japanese animation director attached to Trans Arts.-Anime involved in:*Chocolate Underground: Director*Hakkenden: Legend of the Dog Warriors': Key Animation *Idaten Jump: Director*Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade: Key Animation...
. The series' screenplay is by Jun'ichi Fujisaku while Jun Sato composes the music. The opening theme is performed by azusa and the closing theme is performed by momo.
Episode list
| # | Title | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|
Live-action film
A film adaption starring actress Atsuko Maeda as the lead role of Minami Kawashima was released in Japanese theatres on June 4, 2011. Over 30 companies bid for the novel's film rights. It debuted on the 4th position in the Japanese box office with a total gross of US$2,232,675 on its debut weekend. The original soundtrack was released by Sony Music EntertainmentSony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment ' is the second-largest global recorded music company of the "big four" record companies and is controlled by Sony Corporation of America, the United States subsidiary of Japan's Sony Corporation....
on June 1, 2011.