Sukeban Deka
Encyclopedia
is a Japan
ese detective action shōjo manga
series written and illustrated by Shinji Wada
and serialized on Hana to Yume
. Sukeban Deka has been adapted into three live-action television series, an original video animation
series and three feature films, the latest of which was released in 2006 as Yo-Yo Girl Cop
.
who is taken in by the government and forced to fight crime to redeem herself. She is given the codename "Saki Asamiya" and a metal yo-yo
that doubled as a badge
and made to infiltrate high schools around Japan to investigate and stop criminal activities.
The bitter heroine of the story. Saki is a natural born fighter who enjoys getting into scuffles with various people. She never backs down and is very stubborn.
Agura
Saki's rival in prison. Agura is a tough, masculine looking woman who dislikes Saki at first but then begins to respect her. She only appeared in the manga.
Chie
Saki's kind friend in prison. She only appeared in the manga.
Kaoru
Saki's hyper friend whom is also very vulnerable and ends up being attacked a lot by the other girls in the prison. To help Saki escape from prison, she ends up seducing the prison warden who is a lesbian. She only appeared in the manga.
Mio
Jin's partner. She only appeared in the manga.
Hikuidori
A scheming, sly cell mate of Saki's. She has a mole under one eye. Hikuidori becomes friends with Saki at first but then betrays her and turns out to be an informant of Remi's. She only appeared in the manga.
Junko
Saki's best friend. A shy, quiet girl, Junko is a talented artist and she is seen as a threat by Emi Mizuchi who vows to sabotage her. In the OVA after Emi finds her beautiful painting, she has it stolen. Juno kidnapped, addicted to drugs and then left dead on train tracks. Her death makes Saki's mission personal.
Gozo Mizuchi
The patriarch of the antagonist Mizuchi crime family.
Remi Mizuchi
The eldest daughter, a beautiful blonde who is completely ruthless and sociopathic. When Remi first arrives at the high school, many of the students admire her because of her striking beauty.
However, throughout the entire Sukeban Deka manga series, Remi serves as a deadly antagonist to Saki. She seems to be the least dangerous of the three but in fact is the most. She is responsible for Junko's death, setting up Ayumi's death with a malfunctioning shotgun to fight Saki, and a brainwashed assassin to kill her father Gozo and sister Emi.
Ayumi Mizuchi
The dark haired middle child of the Mizuchi family. She has four hulking bodyguards who follow her around for protection. Ayumi is a drug addict and dealer, and is extremely greedy. However, she is the least evil out of the Mizuchi sisters. Despite her cold demeanor, she is loyal to her father and sisters. In the OVA she is betrayed and killed by Remi, who gives her a malfunctioning shotgun that backfires, and steals all her money.
Emi Mizuchi
The youngest sister who is an artist. Emi is an egomaniac who sees herself as a great artist when at best her talent is borderline, which leads her to use her father's influence to bribe judges and copy the works of other artists. Emi steals Junko's work and copies from it to win an art contest. In the OVA she is killed by a brainwashed assassin along with her father sent by Remi.
Four Devas
Ayumi's four bodyguards. Only one does all the talking. He is the tallest and his weapon is a wooden sword.
Another bodyguard uses brass knuckles. The third uses a bike chain. And the fourth bodyguard uses a pair of nunchucks.
Sampei
Saki's ardent admirer who follows her all over the school campus.
Jin
Saki's mentor.
and the editors at Hakusensha
. Wada was developing a highschool drama, but the publisher expected detective story starring a high school student. At an impasse, Wada decided to combine the two concepts.
Sukeban Deka was published from January 1976 to December 1982, making Shinji Wada
a popular manga artist during the late 1980s and the early 1990s. The manga had contributed to the creation of the Sukeban Deka series before it faded into obscurity for a short time from the late 1990s to 2006, when Sukeban Deka: Codename = Asamiya Saki
was shown in theaters on September 30, 2006.
As of 2007, the manga has been reprinted by Media Factory
, who acquired the rights from Hakusensha
. Media Factory collected them into 12 volumes; the original edition was 22 volumes.
singers in the main roles, each one replacing the previous as the new Asamiya Saki, taking on her cover identity and yo-yo weapon.
Saki Asamiya is given a chance to delay her mother's execution by working as an undercover cop and infiltrating Takanoah High School to investigate some mysterious deaths among the student body. Once there, she comes face-to-face with the powerful Mizuchi sisters, who moved in and have taken control after her previous expulsion.
The OVA pertains animation bearing similarities to the style of the 70's manga, particularly in the character designs. One such example is the style of the Mizuchi sisters eyes, an example being Reimi Mizuchi, whose eyes would often shift to show off a more villainous appearance, or would narrow like a snake's.
was released in 1987, and closely follows the TV series. The movie also includes the same actresses, Yoko Minamino
and Yui Asaka
. However, for the second movie, Sukeban Deka the Movie 2: Counter-Attack from the Kazama Sisters
(1988), Minamino didn't return.
The third movie Sukeban Deka III: Asamiya Saki
, was released in 2006. It was directed by Kenta Fukasaku
and stars Aya Matsuura
as the new Saki. Her fellow Hello! Project
members Rika Ishikawa
, Erika Miyoshi
and Yui Okada
from Biyuden, and Masae Ootani from Melon Kinenbi
also star in the movie. Yuki Saito from the original Sukeban Deka TV series makes a cameo appearance
in the film. Out of all three movies, this title is most known and is more accessible, due to it being released on DVD in the U.S. by Magnolia, and in the UK by 4Digital Asia. For its American and UK distribution, the movie was retitled, Yo-Yo Girl Cop.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese detective action shōjo 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...
series written and illustrated by Shinji Wada
Shinji Wada
was a Japanese manga artist in Kure, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, and best known for the creation of the Sukeban Deka franchise. He has been the cover artist for and had stories published in the bishōjo lolicon manga anthology series Petit Apple Pie....
and serialized on Hana to Yume
Hana to Yume
is a semi-monthly Japanese shōjo manga magazine published by Hakusensha.The magazine is published on the 4th and 22nd of every month. It is often nicknamed as among the readers...
. Sukeban Deka has been adapted into three live-action television series, an original video animation
Original video animation
, abbreviated as media , are animated films and series made specially for release in home-video formats. The term originated in relation to Japanese animation...
series and three feature films, the latest of which was released in 2006 as Yo-Yo Girl Cop
Yo-Yo Girl Cop
is a 2006 Japanese live-action feature film, the third to be based on the manga Sukeban Deka, directed by Kenta Fukasaku.The film stars Aya Matsuura in the lead role of Saki Asamiya and Rika Ishikawa as her rival, Reika Akiyama. Yuki Saito, who played the role of Saki in the first live-action...
.
Plot
The series follows a delinquent schoolgirlSukeban
means delinquent girl or boss girl in Japanese, equivalent to the male banchō. A dictionary of says that sukeban only refers to the leader of a girl gang, not any member of the girl gang.-Characteristics:...
who is taken in by the government and forced to fight crime to redeem herself. She is given the codename "Saki Asamiya" and a metal yo-yo
Yo-yo
The yo-yo in its simplest form is an object consisting of an axle connected to two disks, and a length of twine looped around the axle, similar to a slender spool...
that doubled as a badge
Badge
A badge is a device or fashion accessory, often containing the insignia of an organization, which is presented or displayed to indicate some feat of service, a special accomplishment, a symbol of authority granted by taking an oath , a sign of legitimate employment or student status, or as a simple...
and made to infiltrate high schools around Japan to investigate and stop criminal activities.
Characters
Saki AsamiyaThe bitter heroine of the story. Saki is a natural born fighter who enjoys getting into scuffles with various people. She never backs down and is very stubborn.
Agura
Saki's rival in prison. Agura is a tough, masculine looking woman who dislikes Saki at first but then begins to respect her. She only appeared in the manga.
Chie
Saki's kind friend in prison. She only appeared in the manga.
Kaoru
Saki's hyper friend whom is also very vulnerable and ends up being attacked a lot by the other girls in the prison. To help Saki escape from prison, she ends up seducing the prison warden who is a lesbian. She only appeared in the manga.
Mio
Jin's partner. She only appeared in the manga.
Hikuidori
A scheming, sly cell mate of Saki's. She has a mole under one eye. Hikuidori becomes friends with Saki at first but then betrays her and turns out to be an informant of Remi's. She only appeared in the manga.
Junko
Saki's best friend. A shy, quiet girl, Junko is a talented artist and she is seen as a threat by Emi Mizuchi who vows to sabotage her. In the OVA after Emi finds her beautiful painting, she has it stolen. Juno kidnapped, addicted to drugs and then left dead on train tracks. Her death makes Saki's mission personal.
Gozo Mizuchi
The patriarch of the antagonist Mizuchi crime family.
Remi Mizuchi
The eldest daughter, a beautiful blonde who is completely ruthless and sociopathic. When Remi first arrives at the high school, many of the students admire her because of her striking beauty.
However, throughout the entire Sukeban Deka manga series, Remi serves as a deadly antagonist to Saki. She seems to be the least dangerous of the three but in fact is the most. She is responsible for Junko's death, setting up Ayumi's death with a malfunctioning shotgun to fight Saki, and a brainwashed assassin to kill her father Gozo and sister Emi.
Ayumi Mizuchi
The dark haired middle child of the Mizuchi family. She has four hulking bodyguards who follow her around for protection. Ayumi is a drug addict and dealer, and is extremely greedy. However, she is the least evil out of the Mizuchi sisters. Despite her cold demeanor, she is loyal to her father and sisters. In the OVA she is betrayed and killed by Remi, who gives her a malfunctioning shotgun that backfires, and steals all her money.
Emi Mizuchi
The youngest sister who is an artist. Emi is an egomaniac who sees herself as a great artist when at best her talent is borderline, which leads her to use her father's influence to bribe judges and copy the works of other artists. Emi steals Junko's work and copies from it to win an art contest. In the OVA she is killed by a brainwashed assassin along with her father sent by Remi.
Four Devas
Ayumi's four bodyguards. Only one does all the talking. He is the tallest and his weapon is a wooden sword.
Another bodyguard uses brass knuckles. The third uses a bike chain. And the fourth bodyguard uses a pair of nunchucks.
Sampei
Saki's ardent admirer who follows her all over the school campus.
Jin
Saki's mentor.
Publication
The creation of Sukeban Deka was the result of a misunderstanding between the author Shinji WadaShinji Wada
was a Japanese manga artist in Kure, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, and best known for the creation of the Sukeban Deka franchise. He has been the cover artist for and had stories published in the bishōjo lolicon manga anthology series Petit Apple Pie....
and the editors at Hakusensha
Hakusensha
is a Japanese publishing company. It is headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo.The company mainly publishes manga magazines of various genres and is involved in certain series' productions in their games, original video animation, musical and their animated TV series....
. Wada was developing a highschool drama, but the publisher expected detective story starring a high school student. At an impasse, Wada decided to combine the two concepts.
Sukeban Deka was published from January 1976 to December 1982, making Shinji Wada
Shinji Wada
was a Japanese manga artist in Kure, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, and best known for the creation of the Sukeban Deka franchise. He has been the cover artist for and had stories published in the bishōjo lolicon manga anthology series Petit Apple Pie....
a popular manga artist during the late 1980s and the early 1990s. The manga had contributed to the creation of the Sukeban Deka series before it faded into obscurity for a short time from the late 1990s to 2006, when Sukeban Deka: Codename = Asamiya Saki
Yo-Yo Girl Cop
is a 2006 Japanese live-action feature film, the third to be based on the manga Sukeban Deka, directed by Kenta Fukasaku.The film stars Aya Matsuura in the lead role of Saki Asamiya and Rika Ishikawa as her rival, Reika Akiyama. Yuki Saito, who played the role of Saki in the first live-action...
was shown in theaters on September 30, 2006.
As of 2007, the manga has been reprinted by Media Factory
Media Factory
is a Japanese publisher. It was founded on December 1, 1986, and its headquarters are situated in Shibuya, Tokyo. It is a subsidiary of Recruit Co., Ltd...
, who acquired the rights from Hakusensha
Hakusensha
is a Japanese publishing company. It is headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo.The company mainly publishes manga magazines of various genres and is involved in certain series' productions in their games, original video animation, musical and their animated TV series....
. Media Factory collected them into 12 volumes; the original edition was 22 volumes.
Television series
The television series, though technically one series made up of three seasons, are essentially self-contained and separate, aside from sharing the same basic themes and premise, and starring popular japanese idolJapanese idol
In Japanese culture, are media personalities in their teens and early twenties who are considered particularly attractive or cute and who will, for a period ranging from several months to a few years, regularly appear in the mass media, e.g...
singers in the main roles, each one replacing the previous as the new Asamiya Saki, taking on her cover identity and yo-yo weapon.
- Sukeban Deka, the first series from 1985, starred Yuki Saito as the titular character Asamiya Saki.
- Sukeban Deka II in 1985-1986 starred Yoko MinaminoYoko Minaminois a Japanese idol, singer, and actress born on June 23, 1967 in Itami, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. She graduated from Horikoshi High School in the Chūō district of Nakano, Tokyo. She is well known for her role as Saki Asamiya in the second season of the live action Sukeban Deka TV series, replacing...
as the second "Sukeban Deka", a mysterious girl with an iron mask named Yoko Godai who takes on the identity of Asamiya Saki after being freed from her mask; She will get the help of two other sukeban: Kyoko "Okyo" Nakamura (Haruko SagaraHaruko SagaraHaruko Sagara is a Japanese actress and ex-idol singer in the 1980s, popular for her role as Okyo in the cult TV series Sukeban Deka II...
), and Yukino Yajima (Akie YoshizawaAkie YoshizawaAkie Yoshizawa , true name Akie Hattori , is a former japanese idol, singer and actress in the 1980s...
, from jpop band Onyanko ClubOnyanko Clubwas a large all-girl Japanese pop idol group in the 1980s. The group gave a new approach to the idol formula with its 52 official members and three unofficial members...
which will appear in two episodes).
- Sukeban Deka III in 1986-1987 starred Yui AsakaYui Asakais a Japanese actress, a J-Pop singer, and an idol who came to fame in the 1980s.- Biography :Yui was born in Miyazaki, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan, and later attended Nakano High School. In 1984, she was the Grand Prix Winner for a Young Girls Comics Magazine. Yui was featured as the main character...
as Yui Kazama, young sukeban who takes on the identity of Asamiya Saki, but will mostly act under her true identity with the help of her two sisters, Yuka (Yuka OnishiYuka OnishiYuka Onishi or Ohnishi is a Japanese actress, idol singer in the 1980's, notable in the west for her role in the TV series Sukeban Deka III in 1987 and its following movies, Sukeban Deka: The Movie and Sukeban Deka II.- Albums :* 1986.07.01 : Abunai Tightrope* 1987.08.31 : Take a Chance -...
) and Yuma (Yuma Nakamura), in story arcs inspired from Star WarsStar WarsStar Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
. As such, actor Nagare Hagiwara plays Yui's mentor Yoda, and Onyanko ClubOnyanko Clubwas a large all-girl Japanese pop idol group in the 1980s. The group gave a new approach to the idol formula with its 52 official members and three unofficial members...
member Satomi FukunagaSatomi FukunagaSatomi Fukunaga , is a former japanese idol, singer and actress in the 1980s. She made her debut in 1985 selected as a member of Jpop female band Onyanko Club, which she quits one year later to start a solo career...
plays her bodyguard Leia.
Original video animation
Released in 1991.Saki Asamiya is given a chance to delay her mother's execution by working as an undercover cop and infiltrating Takanoah High School to investigate some mysterious deaths among the student body. Once there, she comes face-to-face with the powerful Mizuchi sisters, who moved in and have taken control after her previous expulsion.
The OVA pertains animation bearing similarities to the style of the 70's manga, particularly in the character designs. One such example is the style of the Mizuchi sisters eyes, an example being Reimi Mizuchi, whose eyes would often shift to show off a more villainous appearance, or would narrow like a snake's.
Feature films
Three feature films have been produced. The first movie, Sukeban Deka The MovieSukeban Deka The Movie
Sukeban Deka The Movie is a live action Japanese film that was released in 1987. The movie closely follows a TV and manga series written and illustrated by Shinji Wada. The movie stars Yoko Minamino and Yui Asaka, who were also in the TV series...
was released in 1987, and closely follows the TV series. The movie also includes the same actresses, Yoko Minamino
Yoko Minamino
is a Japanese idol, singer, and actress born on June 23, 1967 in Itami, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. She graduated from Horikoshi High School in the Chūō district of Nakano, Tokyo. She is well known for her role as Saki Asamiya in the second season of the live action Sukeban Deka TV series, replacing...
and Yui Asaka
Yui Asaka
is a Japanese actress, a J-Pop singer, and an idol who came to fame in the 1980s.- Biography :Yui was born in Miyazaki, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan, and later attended Nakano High School. In 1984, she was the Grand Prix Winner for a Young Girls Comics Magazine. Yui was featured as the main character...
. However, for the second movie, Sukeban Deka the Movie 2: Counter-Attack from the Kazama Sisters
Sukeban Deka the Movie 2: Counter-Attack from the Kazama Sisters
Sukeban Deka the Movie 2: Counter-Attack from the Kazama Sisters is a live action japanese film that was released in 1988. The movie closely follows the manga series which was written and illustrated by Shinji Wada. The movie also stars the only returning actresses, Yui Asaka, who was the same...
(1988), Minamino didn't return.
The third movie Sukeban Deka III: Asamiya Saki
Yo-Yo Girl Cop
is a 2006 Japanese live-action feature film, the third to be based on the manga Sukeban Deka, directed by Kenta Fukasaku.The film stars Aya Matsuura in the lead role of Saki Asamiya and Rika Ishikawa as her rival, Reika Akiyama. Yuki Saito, who played the role of Saki in the first live-action...
, was released in 2006. It was directed by Kenta Fukasaku
Kenta Fukasaku
is a Japanese filmmaker and screenwriter. He is the son of filmmaker Kinji Fukasaku and actress Sanae Nakahara.-Biography:He made his writing debut in the popular Japanese cult film Battle Royale, which his father directed. He wrote the screenplay to the sequel, Battle Royale II: Requiem, and took...
and stars Aya Matsuura
Aya Matsuura
is a Japanese pop singer from Himeji, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan.-2000–2009: Hello! Project:Aya auditioned in 2000 for the fourth Morning Musume & Heike Michiyo Protegee Audition and was selected along with Sheki-Dol to become a part of what was later known as Hello! Project. It is a common...
as the new Saki. Her fellow Hello! Project
Hello! Project
is the umbrella name for all female idol Japanese pop recording artists collective that are under contract with the Up-Front Group. The "mothership" group of Hello! Project is the super-group Morning Musume. Hello! Project's current leader is Risa Niigaki, the leader of Morning Musume...
members Rika Ishikawa
Rika Ishikawa
, is a Japanese pop singer and TV/radio hostess, associated with the Hello! Project banner and best known as a former member of the pop group Morning Musume. She was the leader of the trio v-u-den until June 2008...
, Erika Miyoshi
Erika Miyoshi
is a Japanese pop singer and member of the Hello! Project-associated trio v-u-den.- History :In July 2003, Erika successfully passed the Tsunku♂ Produce Hello! Project Shin Unit Audition...
and Yui Okada
Yui Okada
is a former member of J-pop group v-u-den that was associated with Hello! Project. She remained within the group until its disbandment in 2008, after which point she was contracted with Up-Front Agency...
from Biyuden, and Masae Ootani from Melon Kinenbi
Melon Kinenbi
was an all-girl Japanese pop group within Hello! Project. They were formed after they successfully passed the 2nd Morning Musume & Michiyo Heike Imotobun Audition. Melon Kinenbi is the oldest group in the history of Hello! Project not to have changed any of its members since its formation...
also star in the movie. Yuki Saito from the original Sukeban Deka TV series makes a cameo appearance
Cameo appearance
A cameo role or cameo appearance is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television...
in the film. Out of all three movies, this title is most known and is more accessible, due to it being released on DVD in the U.S. by Magnolia, and in the UK by 4Digital Asia. For its American and UK distribution, the movie was retitled, Yo-Yo Girl Cop.
Reception
Carlos Ross writing for THEM Anime Reviews about the OVA stated that "Sukeban Deka is Asian action drama faithfully translated into the cel medium, and done well, to boot.". Chris Beveridge, writing for Mania Entertainment, felt the OVA was "a middle of the road release".External links
- Okazu reviews - by Erica Friedman of YuriconYuriconYuricon is an anime convention geared toward fans of yuri anime and manga. The first Yuricon event was held in 2003 in Newark, New Jersey with about 200 attending, although Yuricon has existed as an online entity since 2000. The event was organized by Yuricon, LLC., which continues to run...
.