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 written by Reiji Saiga and illustrated by Sora Inoue. It was serialized in Dragon Magazine from 1997 to 2010. 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 the same authors was serialized in Montly Comic Dragon

Monthly Dragon Age

is a Japanese manga magazine published by Fujimi Shobo. The magazine began as a combination between Monthly Comic Dragon and Monthly Dragon Junior, two former magazines published by Fujimi Shobo. The first issue was published in April 2003, and the magazine is sold on the ninth of each month. The...

from 1998 to 2001. A 13-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 was produced by Gonzo in 2001. It is set in a school called Daimon High, where disagreements among the student body are settled by martial arts

Martial arts

Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....

 matches called K-Fights. (The "K" stands for kenka, meaning "street fight".)

Light novels

The series in which both the manga, and the anime is based upon is the light novel series, written by Reiji Saika. Original name is Shoukan Kyoushi Real bout High School (召喚教師リアルバウトハイスクール), and unlike the manga and anime, it centres around a teacher who works in Daimon high school. The main story line has 19 volumes, the EX line has 5 volumes, and the ED line has 3 volumes. However, the characters that appear in the novel more or less is identical to the manga and anime (with a few minor adjustments).

Manga

The story revolves around a school that doesn't break up fights, but rather, they grade them. The story introduces Ryoko Mitsurugi, Daimon High's Current reigning K-Fight Champion and self described Samurai Girl. It also introduces Shizuma Kusunagi, a traveling Street Fighter with mysterious powers.
The manga, while comedic in the beginning, becomes more serious as Ryoko and Shizuma find themselves caught up in the machinations of several student councils and a criminal organization with Ryoko teaming up with a band of female fighters named after the historical
Shinsengumi

Shinsengumi

The were a special police force of the late shogunate period.-Historical background:After Japan opened up to the West following U.S. Commodore Matthew Perry's visits in 1853, its political situation gradually became more and more chaotic...

.

Anime

The events in the anime series take place after those in the manga (with several events moved). Ryoko Mitsurugi is the current K-Fight champion, whose skill at Kendo

Kendo

, meaning "Way of The Sword", is a modern Japanese martial art of sword-fighting based on traditional Japanese swordsmanship, or kenjutsu.Kendo is a physically and mentally challenging activity that combines strong martial arts values with sport-like physical elements.-Practitioners:Practitioners...

 and her love for samurai

Samurai

is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...

 dramas has led her to be known as the "Samurai Girl". One day, Ryoko finds a strange pendant which transports her to another dimension called Solvania, where she is expected to fight monsters. This is part of a bigger plot to revive Solvania the strong.

• Ryoko Mitsurugi: A martial arts expert and Daimon High's current K-Fight champion. She seeks to learn the way of the sword, but is slightly self-conscious due to her height (she's 5'9" in the manga) and her samurai obsession. She is highly skilled in Kendo; only Tatsuya Shishikura, the captain of the kendo team, is able to beat her in formal kendo. Her rival is Azumi Kiribayashi, as she is a highly skilled fighter and is also in love with Tatsuya Shishikura. She also helps out the drama club with the school plays. In the manga her goals are different; she seeks to become a great woman by using the way of the sword and acts as a vigilante in the name of justice. Later on she becomes the leader of an all female fighting group.

• Shizuma Kusanagi: A year ago, this young, tough ruffian was the K-Fight champion until Ryoko beat him. He has now returned for a rematch. he is a street fighter who practices kamui: a method that gives him fire-ki
  Qi
  In traditional Chinese culture, qì is an active principle forming part of any living thing. Qi is frequently translated as life energy, lifeforce, or energy flow. Qi is the central underlying principle in traditional Chinese medicine and martial arts...
  
   abilities. Besides his strength and use of flames, he had no martial arts training but uses self styled methods from years of street fighting with this combination of his own personal style and kamui no ken makes him one of the strongest martial artist in the school. Unlike Ryoko, he is not a member of any school club. So, in the manga, he created his own fan club. Although very cruel at times, he shows a soft spot towards Miyuki (the Hiten Shrine girl and Tessai's granddaughter), Sara (his personal fan), and sometimes even towards Ryoko, whom he admitted having romantic feelings for during their battle in volume 6 of the manga. Due to his family musical background, he is skilled with the guitar and piano he also rides a Motorcycle. In his childhood, he was taught kamui no ken by an old homeless-looking man named Ryugan Higishikata for everyday use. Shizuma turned it into a fighting technique. He was obviously modelled after Kyo Kusanagi
  Kyo Kusanagi
  is one of the main characters in SNK Playmore's The King of Fighters video game series; he was first introduced in The King of Fighters '94 as the leader of the Japan team. He is one of the iconic characters of the series and regularly appears on publicity material and merchandise. His name and...
  
   and has his last name. In the manga, he is modeled after Donnie Yen
  Donnie Yen
  Donnie Yen is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist, film director and producer, action choreographer, and world wushu tournament medalist...
  
  . As you can see in volume 6 of the manga, he had Nunchakus in his final fight with Ryoko.

• Hitomi Yuki: Ryoko's best friend. She supports Ryoko in times of need.

• Daisaku Kamiya: Ryoko's number one fan. He is a bit of a stalker
  Stalking
  Stalking is a term commonly used to refer to unwanted and obsessive attention by an individual or group to another person. Stalking behaviors are related to harassment and intimidation and may include following the victim in person and/or monitoring them via the internet...
  
   but helps her.

• Azumi Kiribayashi: Head of the Flower Arrangement Club, Azumi is Ryoko's rival for Tatsuya's affections. She is skilled with the 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...
  
  . It appears she's slightly older than Ryoko as she is referred as Senpai.

• Tatsuya Shishikura: Captain of the Kendo
  Kendo
  , meaning "Way of The Sword", is a modern Japanese martial art of sword-fighting based on traditional Japanese swordsmanship, or kenjutsu.Kendo is a physically and mentally challenging activity that combines strong martial arts values with sport-like physical elements.-Practitioners:Practitioners...
  
   team. Ryoko and Azumi are fighting for his affections. He moves away in the middle of the manga (something that has not happened in the anime).

• Miyuki Onizuka: A girl who resides at the Hiten Shrine. She has a small appearance in the manga.

• Tessai Onizuka (Anime only) Miyuki's grandfather and head of the Hiten Shrine. He teaches Ryoko the way of the sword, to be specific, the Hiten Style. He suggests Ryoko to keep using the bokken
  Bokken
  A bokken , "wood", and ken, "sword") , is a Japanese wooden sword used for training. It is usually the size and shape of a katana, but is sometimes shaped like other swords, such as the wakizashi and tantō...
  
  as it is two weapons in one.

• Keichiro Nagumo: (Anime Only) A mysterious fighter locked in combat against a man known as Willard Gates. Due to his travels overseas, he has fought against many martial artists. He is the strongest man on Earth and the creator and champion of the K-Fight tournament. Like Shizuma, He possesses the fists of kamui. Only his technique, Shinken, uses energy based techniques. He is looking for the man who taught Shizuma.

• Reiha: (Anime Only) War priestess of Solvania.

• Takao Todo: Daimon High's principal, an avid supporter of the K-Fight system and in the anime, former teacher to Nagumo.

• Magical Waitress Oyster Lulu: (Anime Only) During the anime (in episodes 5 and 9), Ryoko finds herself cosplaying as Magical Waitress Oyster Lulu. She is pushed into it by her friends.

Shinsengumi

These characters appear only in the manga, and were not included in the anime adaptation.

• Ryoko Mitsurugi: Captain appointed leader of the Shinsengumi, Daimon High K-Fight Champion. Highly skilled Kendo artist and is the champion of the k-fights.

• Megumi Momoi: Highly skilled Mixed martial artist and Grappler.

• Xiaoxing Huang: Chinese martial artist. Specializes in Binding. (Must Bind 300 opponents before she can return to her master)

• Asuka Kuronari: Specializes in Ninja Arts and Explosives. (While skilled in various ninja arts, she is only average in Martial arts skills)

• Aoi Asahina: Highly skilled martial artist and swordswoman. (Sword Skill could match or even exceed Ryoko)

• Midori Misato: Team Logistics and Communications Officer (Not a Fighter)

External links

• TOKYOPOP English language manga publisher
• TOKYOPOP English language anime publisher
• JBC Editora Brazilian manga publisher
• Samurai Girl: Real Bout High School manga review at Mangareviewer.com
• Manga Case Study: RBHS at Animefringe.com, a four-part in-depth essay (part two, part three, part four)