Hoshin Engi

Template:Nihongo is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Ryu Fujisaki, inspired by the Chinese literary classic Investiture of the Gods, a Template:Transliteration novel. The manga was serialized in Shueisha's [[Shōnen manga|Template:Transliteration manga]] magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump from June 1996 to November 2000, with its chapters collected in 23 Template:Transliteration volumes. The story involves Chinese mythology and history of China, in particular the last members of the Yin dynasty, and the plot to overthrow them. In North America, the manga was licensed for English release by Viz Media. Fujisaki also wrote a short Template:Transliteration manga, titled Hoshin Engi Gaiden: Senkai Dōsho, serialized in Weekly Young Jump from April to June 2018.

A 26-episode anime television series, released in English under the title Soul Hunter, was broadcast on TV Tokyo from July to December 1999. A second 23-episode anime television series adaptation, titled Hakyu Hoshin Engi, was broadcast from January to June 2018. The first anime series was first licensed in North America by ADV Films in 2001; it was later acquired by Discotek Media in 2016.

The Hoshin Engi manga has had over 22 million copies in circulation.

Synopsis

Setting

Set in a fictional ancient China, during the Yin dynasty, the fantastic world of Hoshin Engi encompass both the pre-historical world—in which primitive human society coexist with the revered divine gods and goddesses—and the futuristic world—in which highly technological weaponry, combat strategy, as well as futuristic visions, are employed. The Template:NihongoTemplate:Efn are a group of powerful immortals or hermits with extraordinary abilities and knowledge, who have gained immortality through various means. They possess great wisdom, longevity, and often exhibit exceptional magical or supernatural powers. Each Sennin has their unique skills and abilities, which they use to navigate the world and influence events. The humans who undergo training to become Sennin are known as Template:Nihongo. Both Sennin and Doshi use the sacred weapons Template:Nihongo, versatile instruments that absorb the spiritual energy of their beholders and from their surroundings to amplify their power.

Plot

Template:Main article A female fox spirit named Dakki exerts control over King Chu and the Yin dynasty, manipulating him to spread corruption and suffering throughout the land. A Doshi named Taikobo is tasked by his mentor, Genshi Tenson, leader of the Template:Nihongo, with executing the Template:Nihongo. This mission involves sealing Dakki and her followers in the Template:Nihongo, a liminal space between the Sennin World and the Human World. To achieve this, Taikobo must locate and defeat 365 individuals whose names appear on the Hoshin List, with their souls subsequently imprisoned on the Template:Nihongo, a floating island designed to contain them until the ritual is complete. Accompanied by his loyal Template:Nihongo, Supushan, Taikobo navigates a world of shifting alliances and conflicts among immortals, uncovering the extent of Dakki's influence over both King Chu and the Human World.

As Taikobo delves deeper into his mission, he uncovers the celestial struggle between gods and immortals, realizing its profound impact on mortal affairs. Caught between his duty as an immortal and his empathy for humanity, he becomes entangled in the conflict. The war culminates in the devastation of both the Sennin and Human Worlds, with countless souls confined to the Hoshindai. Following King Chu's defeat and the fall of the Yin dynasty, Taikobo prepares to return to the remnants of the Sennin World, only to discover the existence of a third realm—Dakki's hidden domain, where she and her remaining followers have retreated.

The true purpose of the Hoshin Project is ultimately revealed to extend beyond Dakki, targeting the primordial entity Joka, one of the Template:Nihongo—ancient extraterrestrial beings who arrived on Earth eons ago. Joka, seeking to reshape the world in the image of her lost home, repeatedly annihilates civilizations that deviate from her vision. After forming an alliance with Dakki, she orchestrates history's course until the Sennin intervene. When thwarted, Joka resolves to destroy Earth entirely. In the ensuing battle, Taikobo, recently deceased, reappears, disclosed as one of the First Persons. Drawing upon the energies of his allies and the souls within the Hoshindai, he reawakens as Fukki and defeats Joka, ending her tyranny.

Prior to this, Dakki briefly usurps Joka's form, merging with Earth's life force to become a primordial mother figure. In Joka's final moments, she implores Taikobo to accompany her into oblivion, fearing solitude. Though he initially consents, Dakki intervenes to preserve his existence. In the aftermath, Supushan ventures into the Human World to recount these events, only to find Taikobo alive yet elusive, deliberately avoiding contact while discreetly observing his companions. After a period of wandering, Taikobo embarks on a new journey, his destination unknown.

Media

Manga

Template:See also Written and illustrated by Ryu Fujisaki, Hoshin Engi is inspired by the novel of the same title by Template:Ill, which is a Japanese translation of the Chinese literary classic Investiture of the Gods,<ref name="JT"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> published by Kodansha between 1988 and 1989.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The manga was serialized in Shueisha's [[Shōnen manga|Template:Transliteration manga]] magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump from June 24, 1996, to November 6, 2000.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Shueisha collected its 204 individual chapters in 23 Template:Transliteration volumes, released from November 1, 1996,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> to December 22, 2000.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The manga was re-released in a 18-volume Template:Transliteration edition from July 4, 2005,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> to April 4, 2006.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In North America, Viz Media announced at the New York Comic Con 2007 that they had licensed the manga.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The 23 volumes were published from June 5, 2007,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> to June 7, 2011.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Fujisaki wrote a short Template:Transliteration manga, titled Template:Nihongo, serialized Shueisha [[Seinen manga|Template:Transliteration manga]] magazine Weekly Young Jump from April 26 to June 14, 2018.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A Template:Transliteration volume was released on July 19, 2018.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Anime

Soul Hunter

Hoshin Engi was adapted into an anime television series, titled Template:Nihongo, produced by Studio Deen and directed by Junji Nishimura.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The 26-episodes series was broadcast on TV Tokyo between July 3 and December 25, 1999.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In North America, the series was first licensed by ADV Films in 2001 under the name Soul Hunter.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the United States, the series was broadcast on International Channel.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2016, Discotek Media re-licensed the series for a single DVD collection release on June 28.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Hakyu Hoshin Engi

A 23-episode anime television series adaptation titled Template:Nihongo, produced by C-Station and featuring a new cast aired from January 12 to June 29, 2018.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The series was directed by Masahiro Aizawa, with Natsuko Takahashi in charge of the series scripts, characters design by Yoshimitsu Yamashita and music composed by Maiko Iuchi.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Crunchyroll streamed the series, while Funimation produced a simuldub.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Video games

Four video games published by Bandai have been released: two for the WonderSwan on February 24<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and December 21, 2000,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> respectively; and two for the PlayStation on June 29, 2000,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and March 29, 2001.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> respectively. A video game published by Banpresto was released for the Game Boy Color on November 24, 2000.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Characters from the series were also featured in the Weekly Shōnen Jump crossover game Jump Ultimate Stars, released for the Nintendo DS on November 23, 2006.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Stage play

A stage play musical adaptation titled Template:Nihongo was performed in EX Theater Roppongi in Tokyo and ran from January 13–20, 2019. The play, directed by Kōtarō Yoshitani, included casts such as Shōhei Hashimoto playing as Taikobo, Yuya Asato as Yozen, and Ryū Kiyama as Nataku.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Reception

By May 2018, the manga had over 22 million copies in circulation.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> On TV Asahi's Manga Sōsenkyo 2021 poll, in which 150.000 people voted for their top 100 manga series, Hoshin Engi ranked 68th.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Further reading

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External links

• Template:Webarchive Template:In lang
• Template:Official website Template:In lang
• Template:Anime News Network