Tactics

Plot

Set in Japan during the late Meiji period, Tactics is the story of Kantarou Ichinomiya, a young man with the ability to see youkai and other mythical beasts. When he was a child, this ability resulted in him being ostracized by humans. His youkai friends told him that in order to be stronger, he must find the oni-eating tengu. The young Kantarou then vows to find it and name it. By naming one, a human becomes master and the name contract is only broken if the master chooses. As Kantarou grows up, he finds a career as a folklorist and a part-time exorcist, alongside his youkai friend Youko. An assignment leads Kantarou to a mountain where a shrine marks the place where the tengu had been sealed away. Calling upon the tengu by the name Haruka, Kantarou breaks the seal and becomes Haruka's master. As time goes on, Kantarou, Youko, and Haruka develop a close friendship. However, this relationship is threatened by Haruka's returning memories and his yearning to know more about his past.

Characters

Kantarou Ichinomiya (一ノ宮勘太郎, Ichinomiya Kantarō)

Voiced by: Kōki Miyata (Japanese); Blake Shepard (English)

Kantarou is a young folklorist and part-time exorcist with an ability to see youkai. Kantarou is highly intelligent and is quite sneaky and manipulative. He is able to trick others into doing what he wants and anticipate their reactions. This trait has resulted in him being called a tactician by Haruka, hence the title of the series. Despite this, Kantarou has a good heart and feels deeply for youkai. Although it is customary for an exorcist to kill youkai, Kantarou chooses to reason with them and sees his line of work as a way to help them. His attitude has been criticized by both Haruka and Sugino, as they feel it may endanger him.

Haruka (春華, Haruka)

Voiced by: Takahiro Sakurai (Japanese); Chris Patton (English)

Haruka is an oni-eating tengu, the strongest of all youkai. Kantarou, having named him, became his master and friend. Haruka has the ability to control lightning. Occasionally, such as when he is attacking oni, Haruka can transfigure into his true youkai form. His nails grow sharper and longer, his fangs grow longer, and his eyes constrict. Usually, he appears as a tall, dark-haired man with black wings that he can either hide or reveal. Haruka is troubled by his lack of memories, inability to eat youkai, and loss of power, which starts to affect his sense of self. Haruka's name under his previous master, an onmyōdō practitioner, was Rin. As Rin, he did not have a good relationship with his master, and it is hinted that she took advantage of his subservient status for sexual purposes.

Youko (ヨーコ, Yōko)

Voiced by: Tomoko Kawakami (Japanese); Luci Christian (English)

Youko is a female kitsune youkai whom Kantarou named. At the beginning of Tactics, Youko had already been living with Kantarou. She is loud and impulsive, and often loses her temper towards Kantaoru. Youko has the ability to make her fox ears appear and disappear at will, and can turn into her fox form if she wishes. Youko is shown to be deeply concerned about the household expenses and pesters Kantarou about finishing his book manuscripts. Before joining Kantarou, Youko was initially a lonely youkai who deceived travellers into thinking she was a member of their family. Youko pretends to be Kantarou's wife, but Kantarou soon reveals her to be a youkai, and invites her to join his household.

Media

Manga

The manga was first released in North America by ADV Manga in 2004. Afterwards, the US license was transferred to Tokyopop, who released 8 volumes before they shut down their American branch. Volumes 1–12 were available on JManga until its closure in May 2013.

Volume list

Anime

Tactics originally aired in Japan on TV Tokyo from October 5, 2004, to March 29, 2005. The series consists of 25 episodes. The series was directed by Hiroshi Watanabe and was produced by Studio Deen. Tactics was licensed for English release and distributed by Manga Entertainment.

In the United States, it was featured on the Ani-Monday program from January 7, 2008, to April 21, 2008, on the Sci Fi Channel. The opening theme for Tactics was Secret World and the ending theme was "Mienai Chikara" (ミエナイチカラ, Invisible Strength). Both were sung by Miki Akiyama.

Anime production staff

Director: Hiroshi Watanabe

Series composition: Kenichi Kanemaki

Dubbing director: Kazuhiko Inoue

Script: Kanemaki Kenichi

Screenplay: Hiroyuki Kawasaki, Katsuhiko Takayama, Masashi Kubota, Masashi Suzuki

Storyboard: Chiaki Ima, Hiroshi Watanabe, Masashi Kojima, Mitsuko Oyake, Shinpei Miyashita

Episode director: Chiaki Ima, Hiroshi Watanabe, Shigeru Ueda

Music: Kei Haneoka

Character design: Mariko Oka

Art director: Michiyo Akutsu

Chief animation director: Mariko Oka

Animation director: Minefumi Harada, Miyako Tsuji, Youichi Ishikawa, Yukiko Ban

Director of Photography: Akio Abe

Music

A CD for season 1 of the Tactics anime was released on June 27, 2006

Opening Theme

"Secret World"

Lyrics by: Yuriko Mori

Composition by: Kazuya Nishioka

Arrangement by: Kazuya Nishioka

Performed by: Miki Akiyama

Ending Theme

"Invisible Strength" (ミエナイチカラ, Mienai Chikara)

Lyrics by: Yuriko Mori

Composition by: Kazuya Nishioka

Arrangement by: Kazuya Nishioka

Performed by: Miki Akiyama

Light Novels

Three official light novels exist, all written by Nanami Nari, with the approval of Sakura Kinoshita and Kazuko Higashiyama. They have remained unlocalized, and do not possess English titles. They are published by Mag Garden Novels, a subsidiary of Mag Garden.

小説 tactics［天狗祭嫁取伝説異聞］（本文：七海鳴）

小説 tactics 第2巻［巷説妖狐残夢奇譚］（本文：七海鳴）

小説 tactics 第3巻［鬼種異界流離咒歌］（本文：七海鳴）