The Gymnastics Samurai
{{short description|Japanese anime series}}
{{Infobox animanga/Header
| name = The Gymnastics Samurai
| image = Taiso-Samurai.jpg
| caption = Cover of the Blu-ray box
| ja_kanji = 体操ザムライ
| ja_romaji = Taisō Zamurai
| genre = Sports (gymnastics)
| creator = Snack Marie
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Video
| type = tv series
| director = Hisatoshi Shimizu
| producer = {{ubl|Kozue Kaneniwa|Ruriko Kikuchi|Makoto Kimura|Narumi Odagiri|Hiroshi Yanai|Chihiro Inoue}}
| writer = Shigeru Murakoshi
| music = Masaru Yokoyama
| studio = MAPPA
| licensee = Crunchyroll {{English anime licensee|SA/SEA|Medialink}}
| first = October 11, 2020
| last = December 20, 2020
| episodes = 11
| episode_list =
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Footer}}
{{Nihongo|The Gymnastics Samurai|体操ザムライ|Taisō Zamurai|lead=yes}} is a Japanese anime television series about gymnastics. The series was produced by MAPPA, written by Shigeru Murakoshi and directed by Hisatoshi Shimizu. Character designs were created by Kasumi Fukagawa, and the music its composed by Masaru Yokoyama. The series aired from October to December 2020 on TV Asahi's {{ill|NUMAnimation|ja|NUMAnimation}} block.{{cite web|first=Egan|last=Loo|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-08-13/mappa-zombie-land-saga-team-makes-original-gymnastics-tv-anime-taiso-samurai-in-october/.162904|title=MAPPA's Zombie Land Saga Team Makes Original Gymnastics TV Anime Taiso Samurai in October|website=Anime News Network|date=August 13, 2020|access-date=August 13, 2020|archive-date=March 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210314072250/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-08-13/mappa-zombie-land-saga-team-makes-original-gymnastics-tv-anime-taiso-samurai-in-october/.162904|url-status=live}}
The series was licensed by Funimation.{{Cite web|url = https://otakuusamagazine.com/olympic-gymnast-kohei-uchimura-plugs-gymnastics-samurai-anime/|title = Olympic Gymnast Kohei Uchimura Plugs Gymnastics Samurai Anime|date = 7 October 2020|access-date = 29 November 2020|archive-date = 29 November 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201129135249/https://otakuusamagazine.com/olympic-gymnast-kohei-uchimura-plugs-gymnastics-samurai-anime/|url-status = live}} Medialink licensed the anime in South and Southeast Asia.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyptVWBRp-s|title=《體操武士》 精彩PV，正式加入Ani-One!|website=YouTube|date=15 October 2020|access-date=October 15, 2020|archive-date=20 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210720061740/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyptVWBRp-s|url-status=live}}
Plot
In 2002, the Japanese men's gymnastics team is not doing well. Jotaro Aragaki is a professional gymnast and former Olympian. However, despite being good in the past, he was never able to get a gold medal. As he suffered a shoulder injury and is an older athlete at 29 years old, his coach, Noriyuki Amakusa, suggests he retires. While considering retirement, Jotaro takes his daughter Rei to Edo Wonderland. While there, they encounter a foreigner dressed up as a ninja, who after following them home, introduces himself as Leo. Later, while announcing his retirement at a press conference, Jotaro changes his mind half way through and decides to continue to pursue a career in gymnastics.{{Cite web|first=Anthony|last=Gramuglia|title=Taiso Samurai: Trailer, Plot, Release Date & News to Know|url=https://www.cbr.com/taiso-samurai-trailer-plot-release-date-news/|website=CBR.com|date=August 17, 2020|access-date=November 15, 2020|archive-date=August 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819203008/https://www.cbr.com/taiso-samurai-trailer-plot-release-date-news/|url-status=live}}
Characters
;{{nihongo|Jōtarō Aragaki|荒垣城太郎|Aragaki Jōtarō}}
:{{voiced by|Daisuke Namikawa|Christopher Wehkamp{{cite tweet|number=1332828577386143746|user=ChrisWehkamp|title=I'm the English voice of Jotaro Aragaki in #GymnasticsSamurai on @Funimation and I'm happy to finally have the dad bod I always wanted 💪|first=Christopher|last=Wehkamp|date=November 28, 2020|accessdate=December 5, 2020}}}}
:Jotaro is a gymnast nicknamed "The Samurai" who belongs to Yotsuba Sports. Due to being in a slump, he had been considering retiring from gymnastics until he changes his mind during an interview.{{Cite web|script-title=ja:MAPPA新作オリジナルアニメは浪川大輔主演の「体操ザムライ」、内村航平も応援（コメントあり / 動画あり）|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/391932|date=2020-08-13|access-date=2020-11-15|website=Comic Natalie|language=ja|archive-date=2020-09-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928121016/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/391932|url-status=live}}
;{{nihongo|Leonardo Sturges|レオナルド スタージス|Reonarudo Sutājisu}}
:{{voiced by|Kensho Ono|Brandon McInnis{{cite tweet|number=1332830860974854144|user=BranMci|title=Happy to be bringing that wholesome, cinnamon roll, soft-boy ninja energy to @FUNimation's dub of #GymnasticsSamurai as Leo!|first=Brandon|last=McInnis|date=November 28, 2020|accessdate=December 5, 2020}}}}
:Leonardo is a former ballet dancer nicknamed "The Ninja" who after encountering Jotaro and his daughter Rei at Edo Wonderland follows them home and befriends them. He is being pursued by people in black suits for reasons relating to his ballet career. He is known as "Leo".
;{{nihongo|Tetsuo Minamino|南野鉄男|Minamino Tetsuo}}
:{{voiced by|Yūki Kaji|Austin Tindle{{cite web|first=Nicholas|last=Friedman|title=Stick the Landing as The Gymnastics Samurai English Dub Arrives on Funimation 🤸🏼♂️|url=https://www.funimation.com/blog/2020/12/19/the-gymnastics-samurai-english-dub-arrives-on-funimation|website=Funimation|date=December 19, 2020|access-date=December 23, 2020|archive-date=January 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126001402/https://www.funimation.com/blog/2020/12/19/the-gymnastics-samurai-english-dub-arrives-on-funimation/|url-status=live}}}}
:Tetsuo is a 17-year-old gymnast nicknamed "The Bandana Prince" who is considered to be the up and coming star. After Jotaro's press conference where he changes his mind about retiring, Tetsuo confronts and calls him "a disappointment".
;{{nihongo|Noriyuki Amakusa|天草紀之|Amakusa Noriyuki}}
:{{voiced by|Kenyu Horiuchi|Jim Johnson{{cite AV media|date=September 21, 2021|title=The Gymnastics Samurai Blu-ray |type=Blu-ray|language=English|publisher=Funimation}}}}
:Noriyuki is Jotaro's long time gymnastics coach and friend.
;{{nihongo|Rei Aragaki|荒垣玲|Aragaki Rei}}
:{{voiced by|Rina Honnizumi|Jill Harris{{cite tweet|number=1333102292183248896|user=jillybeannomnom|title="Single father doing his best" is one of my favorite genres, so I'm extra stoked to be joining the cast of #GymnasticsSamurai as Rei! Episode 1 is streaming dubbed on @FUNimation now!|first=Jill|last=Harris|date=November 29, 2020|accessdate=December 5, 2020}}}}
:Rei is Jotaro's daughter. Despite being in the 4th grade, she is very mature and manages the house while Jotaro is away.
;{{nihongo|Mari Aragaki|荒垣マリ|Aragaki Mari}}
:{{voiced by|Atsuko Tanaka{{cite web|first=Jennifer|last=Sherman|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-09-22/mappa-taiso-samurai-tv-anime-reveals-more-cast-video-visual/.164327|title=MAPPA's Taiso Samurai TV Anime Reveals More Cast, Video, Visual|website=Anime News Network|date=September 22, 2020|access-date=September 22, 2020|archive-date=April 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210401165438/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-09-22/mappa-taiso-samurai-gymnastics-tv-anime-reveals-more-cast-video-visual/.164327|url-status=live}}|Wendy Powell}}
:Mari is Jotaro's mother and Rei's grandmother. She lives with both Jotaro and Rei.
;{{nihongo|Tomoyo Aragaki|荒垣知世|Aragaki Tomoyo}}
:{{voiced by|Kotono Mitsuishi|Kara Edwards}}
:Tomoyo was Jotaro's wife and Rei's mother as well as a former actress. She died prior to the start the series.
;{{nihongo|Bigbird Aragaki|荒垣BB|Aragaki BB}}
:{{voiced by|Kappei Yamaguchi|Justin Briner{{cite tweet|number=1340358586220818432|user=ChrisWehkamp|title=Go stream ep 2 and 3 of #TheGymnasticSamurai, English dubs are up now! 🤸♂️ 🙏 And don't miss @justinbriner in the role of our sassy pet bird and @childishgamzeno as Takizawa, stealing every scene they're in 👀 |first=Christopher|last=Wehkamp|date=December 19, 2020|accessdate=July 31, 2021}}}}
:Bigbird is a South American bird and the pet of the Aragakis. Bigbird can speak and seems to have a basic comprehension of Japanese. Bigbird was initially a gift from Mari to Rei.
;{{nihongo|Tomoki Takizawa|滝沢友樹|Takizawa Tomoki}}
:{{voiced by|Hiroyuki Yoshino|Zeno Robinson{{cite tweet|number=1332801071673065472|user=childishgamzeno|title=AYY AY AY AY AY GOD IS GREAT I PLAY THIS COOL GUY IN THIS COOLER ANIME TAKIZAWA GONNA HELP HIS BROTHER BE THE GREATEST SO WATCH GYMNASTICS SAMURAI ON @FUNimation|first=Zeno|last=Robinson|date=November 28, 2020|accessdate=December 5, 2020}}}}
:Tomoki is a gymnast and Jotaro's junior at Yotsuba Sports.
;{{nihongo|Ayu|あゆ|Ayu}}
:{{voiced by|Nana Mizuki|Jamie Marchi}}
:Ayu is a girl who works as a bartender for Mari and dresses in a ganguro style.
;{{nihongo|Naohiko Nakanomori|中ノ森真彦|Nakanomori Naohiko}}
:{{voiced by|Daisuke Hirakawa|Aaron Roberts{{cite tweet|number=1366814209930113027|user=AaronRobertsYes|title=Funimation Casting Announcement: I'm a little late on this, but you can hear me as Coach Nakanomori in #GymnasticsSamurai! Big thanks to @VAJerryJewell for having me on the team!|first=Aaron|last=Roberts|date=March 2, 2021|accessdate=July 31, 2021}}}}
:Naohiko is Tetsuo's coach and is often referred to as "Tecchan".
;{{nihongo|Atsushi Dōjima|堂島潤|Dōjima Atsushi}}
:{{voiced by|Kaito Ishikawa|Caleb Yen{{cite tweet|number=1360680915794493442|user=caleb1yen|title=Woooo, I play Jun Dojima in ep. 7 of #GymnasticsSamurai, out now on #FunimationNow! I love his hair, it is shiny and perfect. Thanks to @VAJerryJewell for having me!|first=Caleb|last=Yen|date=February 13, 2021|accessdate=July 31, 2021}}}}
:Atsushi is a young gymnast who has a reputation for being good at the pommel horse.
;{{nihongo|Shige Nishikiori|錦織茂|Nishikiori Shige}}
:{{voiced by|Daisuke Ono|David Matranga}}
:Shige is a young gymnast who has a reputation for having good upper body strength.
;{{nihongo|Hiro Okamachi|岡町博|Okamachi Hiro}}
:{{voiced by|Kengo Kawanishi|Derick Snow}}
:Hiro is a young gymnast who goes to Shirando University. He is known for his meticulous technique and in previous years won both the All Japan Championships and the NHK Cup.
;{{nihongo|Ryū Ryūshō|リュウ・リュウショウ|Ryūshō Ryū}}
:{{voiced by|Hiroshi Kamiya|Howard Wang{{cite tweet|number=1360772636666703872|user=TheHowardWang|title=Eyyy happy to flip into the dub of The Gymnastics Samurai as Liu! Thanks @VAJerryJewell for having me! Check out this wonderfully animated show on @FUNimation!|first=Howard|last=Wang|date=February 14, 2021|accessdate=July 31, 2021}}}}
:Ryū is a Chinese gymnast who has represented China in the Olympic Games. His gymnastics skills surpass those of Tetsuo.
;{{nihongo|Kitty Zhang|キティ・チャン|Kiti-chan}}
:{{voiced by|Minami Tanaka|Megan Shipman{{cite tweet|number=1360693229398622208|user=18moptop|title=✨HELLO KITTY!✨ I play Kitty Zhang in "The Gymnastics Samurai"! I'm excited for you all to see what a crazy, fashionista she is 💜|first=Megan|last=Shipman|date=February 13, 2021|accessdate=July 31, 2021}}}}
:Kitty is a Chinese gymnast who is a fan of the actress Tomoyo Aragaki, who was Jotaro's wife and Rei's mother until her death.
;{{nihongo|Britney|ブリトニー|Buritonī}}
:{{voiced by|Rikiya Koyama|David Wald}}
:Britney is an acupuncturist who treated Jotaro and helped his shoulder injury.
Episodes
{{Episode table
|background=
|overall=
|title=
|titleR={{cite web|title=STORY|url=https://taiso-samurai.com/story/|website=taiso-samurai.com|access-date=October 10, 2020|language=Japanese|archive-date=October 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020121353/https://taiso-samurai.com/story/|url-status=live}}{{efn|All English titles are taken from Funimation.}}
|director=
|directorR=
|writer=
|writerR=
|airdate=
|airdateR={{efn|TV Asahi listed the series premiere at 25:30 on October 10, 2020, which is October 11 at 1:30 a.m.}}
|episodes=
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 1
| Title = Retiring Samurai
| TranslitTitle = Intai Zamurai
| NativeTitle = 引退ザムライ
| NativeTitleLangCode = ja
| WrittenBy = Shigeru Murakoshi
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|10|11}}{{cite web|title=テレビ朝日
| ShortSummary =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 2
| Title = Rock-Bottom Samurai
| TranslitTitle = Donzoko Zamurai
| NativeTitle = どん底ザムライ
| NativeTitleLangCode = ja
| WrittenBy = Shigeru Murakoshi
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|10|18}}{{cite web|title=テレビ朝日
| ShortSummary =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 3
| Title = Dueling Samurai
| TranslitTitle = Kettō Zamurai
| NativeTitle = 決闘ザムライ
| NativeTitleLangCode = ja
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|10|25}}{{cite web|title=テレビ朝日
| ShortSummary =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 4
| Title = Samurai Daughter.
| TranslitTitle = Zamurai Musume.
| NativeTitle = ザムライ娘。
| NativeTitleLangCode = ja
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|11|1}}{{cite web|title=テレビ朝日
| ShortSummary =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 5
| Title = Battling Samurai
| TranslitTitle = Gassen Zamurai
| NativeTitle = 合戦ザムライ
| NativeTitleLangCode = ja
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|11|8}}{{cite web|title=テレビ朝日
| ShortSummary =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 6
| Title = Samurai Father and Daughter
| TranslitTitle = Oyako Zamurai
| NativeTitle = 親子ザムライ
| NativeTitleLangCode = ja
| WrittenBy = Tsunagi Murakoshi
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|11|15}}{{cite web|title=テレビ朝日
| ShortSummary =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 7
| Title = Training Camp Samurai
| TranslitTitle = Gasshuku Zamurai
| NativeTitle = 合宿ザムライ
| NativeTitleLangCode = ja
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|11|22}}{{cite web|title=テレビ朝日
| ShortSummary =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 8
| Title = Intensive Training Samurai
| TranslitTitle = Tokkun Zamurai
| NativeTitle = 特訓ザムライ
| NativeTitleLangCode = ja
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|11|29}}{{cite web|title=テレビ朝日
| ShortSummary =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 9
| Title = Ninja & Samurai
| TranslitTitle = Ninja & Zamurai
| NativeTitle = ニンジャ＆ザムライ
| NativeTitleLangCode = ja
| WrittenBy = Kiyoko Yoshimura
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|12|6}}{{cite web|title=テレビ朝日
| ShortSummary =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 10
| Title = Samurai's Decisive Battle
| TranslitTitle = Kessen Zamurai
| NativeTitle = 決戦ザムライ
| NativeTitleLangCode = ja
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|12|13}}{{cite web|title=テレビ朝日
| ShortSummary =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 11
| Title = Gymnastics Samurai
| TranslitTitle = Taisō Zamurai
| NativeTitle = 体操ザムライ
| NativeTitleLangCode = ja
| DirectedBy = Hisatoshi Shimizu, Kōnosuke Uda, Kazue Ōtsuki, Yūdai Kubota, Yasuhiro Geshi, Ai Yoshimura{{cite web|url=https://taiso-samurai.com/story/?id=11|title=Sutōrī {{!}} Terebi Anime "Taisō Zamurai" Kōshiki Saito|language=ja|script-title=ja:STORY {{!}} TVアニメ「体操ザムライ」公式サイト|trans-title=Story {{!}} TV Anime "The Gymnastics Samurai" Official Website|website=taiso-samurai.com|access-date=December 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201219112430/https://taiso-samurai.com/story/?id=11|archive-date=December 19, 2020|url-status=live}}
| WrittenBy = Shigeru Murakoshi
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|12|20}}{{cite web|title=テレビ朝日
| ShortSummary =
}}
}}
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://taiso-samurai.com/ Anime official website] {{in lang|ja}}
- {{anime News Network|anime|23566}}
{{MAPPA}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gymnastics Samurai, The}}
Category:Anime with original screenplays