Sexy Voice and Robo
Encyclopedia
is a seinen
manga
by Iou Kuroda
. It was originally serialized in the semi-alternative manga magazine Ikki
between 2000 and 2003, and has also been published worldwide, including in North America
by Viz Media
and Spain
by Ponent Mon. In 2007, it was adapted into a live action Japanese television drama
, which aired every Tuesday on Nippon Television
between April and June 2007, spanning a total of 11 episodes. The manga won an Excellence Prize at the 2002 Japan Media Arts Festival
, and has received critical acclaim around the world.
Sexy Voice and Robo is currently unfinished. On his blog, Kuroda states that he intends to write more some day, but is too busy. http://kurodaiou.blog57.fc2.com/blog-entry-31.html
. Through this she learns a lot about human nature, and gains a keen understanding of people through their voices. An aging gangster notices her talents and decides to hire her to solve various cases. While Nico is on her first case, she meets with a geeky man named , who has an obsession with robot toy models. This obsession that leads Nico to call him "Robo", and the two become an unlikely team. After completing her first case Nico proclaims herself "Sexy Voice" and a variety of short loosely linked character-driven adventures ensue.
.
Seinen
is a subset of manga that is generally targeted at a 20–30 year old male audience, but the audience can be older with some manga aimed at businessmen well into their 40s. In Japanese, the word Seinen means "young man" or "young men" and is not suggestive of sexual matters...
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...
by Iou Kuroda
Iou Kuroda
is the pen name of a Japanese manga artist.-Biography:Born in Sapporo as one of two twins, Kuroda moved many times in his youth. He graduated from Hitotsubashi University. The pen name "Kuroda Iou" is a combination of his family name and the name of a toy robot, Mars King...
. It was originally serialized in the semi-alternative manga magazine Ikki
Ikki (magazine)
is a monthly seinen manga magazine published by Shogakukan. It tends to specialize in underground or alternative manga, but has had its share of major hits as well. Notably, both Bokurano and Ride Back have received anime adaptations....
between 2000 and 2003, and has also been published worldwide, including in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
by Viz Media
VIZ Media
VIZ Media, LLC, headquartered in San Francisco, is an anime, manga, and Japanese entertainment company. It was founded in 1986 as VIZ LLC. In 2005, VIZ LLC and ShoPro Entertainment merged to form the current VIZ Media LLC, which is jointly owned by Japanese publishers Shogakukan and Shueisha, and...
and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
by Ponent Mon. In 2007, it was adapted into a live action Japanese television drama
Japanese television drama
, also called , are a staple of Japanese television and are broadcast daily. All major TV networks in Japan produce a variety of drama series including murder romance, comedy, detective stories, horror, and many others...
, which aired every Tuesday on Nippon Television
Nippon Television
is a television network based in the Shiodome area of Minato, Tokyo, Japan and is controlled by the Yomiuri Shimbun publishing company. Broadcasting terrestrially across Japan, the network is commonly known as , contracted to , and abbreviated as "NTV" or "AX".-Offices:*The Headquarters : 6-1,...
between April and June 2007, spanning a total of 11 episodes. The manga won an Excellence Prize at the 2002 Japan Media Arts Festival
Japan Media Arts Festival
The Japan Media Arts Festival is an annual festival held by Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs since 1997. The festival for a nominal year was usually held during February or March next year, rather than at the end of the nominal year. For instance, the 2010 Japan Media Arts Festival, where...
, and has received critical acclaim around the world.
Sexy Voice and Robo is currently unfinished. On his blog, Kuroda states that he intends to write more some day, but is too busy. http://kurodaiou.blog57.fc2.com/blog-entry-31.html
Story
The story is about the adventures of a 14 year old girl named who uses her talents of changing and altering her voice to manipulate men over the phone who want to participate in Enjo kōsaiEnjo kosai
means "compensated dating" and is a practice which originated in Japan where older men give money and/or luxury gifts to attractive women for their companionship and, possibly, for sexual favors. The female participants range from primarily school-aged girls to housewives. A common misconception is...
. Through this she learns a lot about human nature, and gains a keen understanding of people through their voices. An aging gangster notices her talents and decides to hire her to solve various cases. While Nico is on her first case, she meets with a geeky man named , who has an obsession with robot toy models. This obsession that leads Nico to call him "Robo", and the two become an unlikely team. After completing her first case Nico proclaims herself "Sexy Voice" and a variety of short loosely linked character-driven adventures ensue.
TV drama
On January 24, 2007, it was announced that Sexy Voice and Robo would be turned into a live action TV drama, featuring Kenichi Matsuyama and Suzuka OhgoSuzuka Ohgo
is an award-winning Japanese child actress. Besides acting, she is also attending school and has a variety of hobbies including classical ballet, Japanese tea ceremony, ikebana, rollerblading, snowboarding, playing the piano, and skiing. She is represented by CATAMARAN.-Biography:Ohgo began acting...
.
Cast
- Kenichi Matsuyama as Iichiro Sudo (Robo)
- Suzuka OhgoSuzuka Ohgois an award-winning Japanese child actress. Besides acting, she is also attending school and has a variety of hobbies including classical ballet, Japanese tea ceremony, ikebana, rollerblading, snowboarding, playing the piano, and skiing. She is represented by CATAMARAN.-Biography:Ohgo began acting...
as Niko Hayashi as Kazumi Hayashi as Hideyoshi Nanashi - Ruriko AsaokaRuriko Asaokaborn 2 July 1940 in Xinjing, Manchukuo , is a Japanese actress.- Filmography :* * * Alone on the Pacific aka Alone Across the Pacific...
as Maki Makyouna - Shin'ya Tsukamoto as Takeo Hayashi as Yukie Hayashi
Guests
- Shido NakamuraShido Nakamura, better known by the stage name , is a Japanese kabuki and film actor.- Background:Born in Tokyo, the son of kabuki actor Nakamura Shidō I, young Nakamura made his kabuki debut at the age of eight. He took the name Shidō the following year, following his father's retirement...
as Mikkabōzu (ep1&ep11) - Jun MurakamiJun Murakamiis a Japanese actor. He was given a Best Supporting Actor award at the 2001 Yokohama Film Festival.-Selected filmography: is a Japanese actor. He was given a Best Supporting Actor award at the 2001 Yokohama Film Festival.-Selected filmography:...
as Gotō (ep2) - Yuu KashiiYuu Kashii, known by her stage name , is a Japanese actress and model. She studied at Mejiro University, where she majored in English. She married actor Joe Odagiri, who is exactly 11 years her senior, on February 16, 2008, the birthday the couple shares...
as Tsukiko Yamano (ep3) - Miwako IchikawaMiwako Ichikawais a Japanese actress, sister of actress Mikako Ichikawa . She began in 1991 as a model, and released a single in 1998 and an album the following year. She debuted in acting in 2000 and immediately starred in the movies Another Heaven in 2000 and Konsento in 2001...
as Yoshiko Usami (ep4) - Tomoka KurokawaTomoka Kurokawa, is a Japanese actress. She graduated from Horikoshi High School on February 18, 2008. She has been attending Asia University since April 2008.-Drama:*Bloody Monday 2 as Hibiki*Mirai Koshi Meguru...
(黒川智花) as Rei (ep5) - Noriko IriyamaNoriko Iriyamais a Japanese actress and model. She has starred several TV dramas such as Haken no Hinkaku . She graduated from Kyoritsu Women's University in 2008.- References :...
(入山法子) as Mika (ep5) - Riisa NakaRiisa Nakais a Japanese actress. She was given a Best New Talent award at the 2009 Yokohama Film Festival. Naka became famous by appearing in Hachi One Diver .-Personal life:Naka has a Swedish grandfather, making her one-quarter Swedish and three-quarters Japanese...
(仲里依紗) as Eri (ep5) - Horan Chiaki (ホラン千秋) as Yumiko (ep 5)
- Yukina Takase (高瀬友規奈) as Tomoe (ep5)
- Haruka Kinami (木南晴夏) as Manami (ep5)
- RyōRyo (actress)is a Japanese model, actress and former singer whose birth name is .-Movies:* Goemon *The Witch of the West is Dead * Welcome to the Quiet Room * Canary * CASSHERN...
as ZI (ep6) - Kayoko Shiraishi (白石加代子) as Robo's mother (ep6)
- Shigemitsu Ogi (小木茂光) as Manabu (ep6)
- Moro Morooka (モロ師岡) as Hanbāgu (ep7)
- Satomi KobayashiSatomi Kobayashiis a Japanese actress from Tokyo. She won the award for best newcomer at the 4th Yokohama Film Festival for Exchange Students. She was previously married to screenwriter Kōki Mitani.-Filmography:# Exchange Students...
as Teruko (eps 8-9) - Masako Motai (もたいまさこ) as Megumi (eps 8-9)
- Rie TomosakaRie Tomosakais a Japanese actress and pop star from Mitaka-shi, Tokyo, born on October 12, 1979 in Nagano-shi, Nagano.She works for Itoh Company. From 1996 to 1997, she has also released music under the name .-Profile :She is 168 cm in height....
as Emiri (eps 8-9) - Eisuke Sasai (篠井英介) as Kōn Shinoda (ep10)