Descendants of Darkness

Descendants of Darkness
Cover of the first volume
闇の末裔
(Yami no Matsuei)
Genre
Manga
Written byYoko Matsushita
Published byHakusensha
English publisher
MagazineHana to Yume
DemographicShōjo
Original runJune 20, 1996 – present
Volumes13
Anime television series
Directed byHiroko Tokita
Music byTsuneyoshi Saito
StudioJ.C.Staff
Licensed by
Original networkWowow
English network
Original run October 2, 2000 – December 18, 2000
Episodes13

Descendants of Darkness (Japanese: 闇の末裔, Hepburn: Yami no Matsuei) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yoko Matsushita.[4] The story revolves around shinigami. These Guardians of Death work for Enma Daiō, the king of the dead, sorting out the expected and unexpected arrivals to the Underworld.[5]

An anime television series adaptation by J.C.Staff aired on Wowow from October to December 2000.

Plot

Main article: List of Descendants of Darkness characters

Asato's catchphrase:

"Those who live in darkness, wander aimlessly"

Series introduction:

"In matters related to the world of the dead, there is an institution that judges the sins of the deceased; The Ministry of Hades, the Summon Section of the Judgement Bureau comprises of groups supporting the ministry's operating functions by guiding the lost souls that wander the mortal world. They are also known as the Guardians of Death."

Asato Tsuzuki has been a 'Guardian of Death' for over 70 years. He has the power to call upon twelve shikigami, mythical creatures that aid him in battle. The manga portrays Tsuzuki's relationship with the shinigami in much more detail. Tsuzuki is the senior partner of the Second Division, which watches over the region of Kyūshū.

In the anime, the story begins when Chief Konoe, the boss, and the other main characters discussing recent murders in Nagasaki. The victims all have bite marks and a shortage of blood, which leads to the case being known as "The Vampire Case."

After some food troubles, Tsuzuki travels to Nagasaki with Gushoshin, a flying creature/helper who can speak, and together they do a bit of investigating. The rule is that Guardian of Death are supposed to work in pairs, and until Tsuzuki meets up with his new partner, he needs someone to watch him. However, Gushoshin gets held back by groceries, and Tsuzuki is on his own.

While exploring Nagasaki, Tsuzuki hears a scream and has a run-in with a strange white-haired woman with red eyes, who leaves blood on his collar. Taking this as is a sign that the woman might be the vampire, Tsuzuki tries to follow her. He comes to a church called Oura Cathedral, where he meets the story's primary antagonist, Muraki.

Doctor Kazutaka Muraki is initially portrayed as a pure figure, with much religious and color symbolism. He meets Tsuzuki with tears in his eyes and Tsuzuki, thrown off, asks if Muraki has seen a woman recently. Muraki says no body has been in the church, and Tsuzuki leaves. Tsuzuki later learns that the woman that he encountered is Maria Won, a famous singer from China.

From there Tsuzuki continues through Nagasaki into the area of the city known as Glover Garden, where he is held at gunpoint from behind. His attacker tells him to turn around, and when he does, he discovers a young man glaring at him. He suspects this man is the vampire. Tsuzuki is then saved by Gushoshin.[6] Afterwards Tsuzuki learns that the boy is Hisoka Kurosaki, his new partner, and the rest of the story is heavily based on character development and the relationships between characters.

Later in the Nagasaki Arc (the first fourth of the anime series, and the first collection of the manga), Hisoka is kidnapped by Muraki, and the truth about his death is revealed. Tsuzuki rescues him after his "date" with Muraki,[7] and the series follows the relationship between these three characters, supported and embellished by the rest of the cast.

Media

Manga

The manga was serialized in Hakusensha's semi-monthly shōjo manga magazine, Hana to Yume from the 14th issue of 1996 until the author decided to put the story on hiatus in the 2nd issue of 2003. The published chapters have been collected in 12 volumes with the 12th volume published on January 19, 2010[8] with revisions that differ from the chapters originally serialized in the magazine.[9][10] The series resumed serialization in Hana to Yume magazine in the September 2011 issue.[11] The English-language version is published by Viz Media that originally released the first volume on September 14, 2004,[12] and the eleventh on May 2, 2006.[13] From volume 10 onwards the English edition adjusts the chapter enumeration, giving the Japanese and English editions different chapter numbers.

No. Original release date Original ISBN English release date English ISBN
1 19 September 1997[14]4592124464September 14, 2004[12]1591165075
  • "Two on the River's Edge" (むこう岸の２人, "Mukō kishi no futari")
  • "Descendants of Darkness" (闇の末裔, "Yami no matsuei")
  • "A Fairy Tale" (フェアリー・テイル, "Fearī teiru")
  • "The Ministry of Hades: Orientation" (十王町基礎講座, "Jūō-chō kiso kōza")
2 12 December 1997[15]459217402XNovember 8, 2004[16]1591165970
  • "The Last Waltz" (ラストワルツ, "Rasuto Warutsu")
  • "The Devil's Trill" (悪魔のトリル, "Akuma no toriru")
3 19 March 1998[17]4592174038January 11, 2005[18]1591164605

"The Sword of K" (スォードのK, "Swōdo no K")

  • Chapter 1 (第1回)
  • Chapter 2 (第2回)
  • Chapter 3 (第3回)
  • Chapter 4 (第4回)
  • Chapter 5 (第5回)
  • Chapter 6 (第6回)
  • "The Ministry of Hades: Orientation II" (十王町基礎講座, "Jūō-chō kiso kōza")
4 17 July 1998[19]4592174046March 15, 2005[20]1591167027

"Descendants of Darkness" (闇の末裔, "Yami no matsuei")

  • Chapter 1 (第1回)
  • Chapter 2 (第2回)
  • Chapter 3 (第3回)
  • Chapter 4 (第4回)
  • Chapter 5 (第5回)
  • Chapter 6 (第6回)
  • "Afterward" (あとがき, "Atogaki")
5 19 October 1998[21]4592174054May 17, 2005[22]1591167787
  • Chapter 7 (第7回)
  • Chapter 8 (第8回)
  • Chapter 9 (第9回)
  • Chapter 10 (第10回)
  • Chapter 11 (第11回)
  • Chapter 12 (第12回)
  • "Atogaki (Afterword)" (あとがき, "Atogaki")
6 19 February 1999[23]4592174062July 12, 2005[24]1591168422
  • Chapter 13 (第13回)
  • Chapter 14 (第14回)
  • Chapter 15 (第15回)
  • Chapter 16 (第16回)
  • Chapter 17 (第17回)
  • "The Kids and I" (お子様と私＜番外編＞, "Okosama to watashi" (Bangai-hen))
  • "Character Profiles" (キャラクタープロフィール集, "Kyarakutā purofīru-shū")
7 19 May 1999[25]4592174070September 8, 2005[26]1591169836
  • Chapter 18 (第18回)
  • Chapter 19 (第19回)
  • Chapter 20 (第20回)
  • Chapter 21 (第21回)
  • Chapter 22 (第22回)
  • Chapter 23 (第23回)
8 14 December 1999[27]4592174089November 8, 2005[28]1421501155
  • Chapter 24 (第24回)
  • Chapter 25 (第25回)
  • Chapter 26 (第26回)
  • Chapter 27 (第27回)
  • Bonus: "Professor Watari's Road to Discovery" (亘理博士の発明王への道＜番外編＞, "Watari-hakase no hatsumei-ō e no michi" (Bangai-hen))
9 19 July 2000[29]4592174097January 10, 2006[30]1421501716
  • Chapter 28 (第28回)
  • Chapter 29 (第29回)
  • Chapter 30 (第30回)
  • Chapter 31 (第31回)
  • Chapter 32 (第32回)
  • Chapter 33 (第33回)
  • Chapter 34 (第34回)
  • Chapter 35 (第35回)
  • Chapter 36 (第36回)
10 14 December 2000[31]4592174100March 14, 2006[32]1421503212
  • Chapter 37 (第37回)
  • Chapter 38 (第39回)
  • Chapter 39 (第40回)
  • Chapter 40 (第41回)
  • Chapter 41 (第42回)
  • Chapter 42 (第43回)
  • Chapter 43 (第44回)
  • Chapter 44 (第45回)
  • Chapter 45 (第46回)
  • "Afterword" (あとがき, "Atogaki")
11 December 14, 2001[33]4592174119May 2, 2006[13]1421505363
  • Chapter 46 (第47回)
  • Chapter 47 (第48回)
  • Chapter 48 (第49回)
  • Chapter 49 (第50回)
  • Chapter 50 (第51回)
  • Chapter 51 (第52回)
  • Chapter 52 (第53回)
  • Chapter 53 (第54回)
12 January 19, 2010[34]9784592174165——
  • 第55回
  • 第56回
  • 第57回
  • 第58回
  • 第59回
  • 第60回
  • 第61回
  • 第62回
  • 第63回
13 July 20, 2017[35]9784592194170——

Anime

An anime adaptation of the manga aired on WOWOW beginning on October 10, 2000, to June 24, 2001. The anime was directed by Hiroko Tokita and was animated by J.C. Staff. The series was divided by four story arcs. Central Park Media had licensed the series and released them on DVD in 2003.[36] The series initially aired on AZN Television in 2004.[37] In 2008, the series, along with a few other CPM titles, was aired on Sci-Fi Channel's Ani-Monday block in 2008 and then on their sister network Chiller in 2009.[38] In Canada, the anime series was shown on Super Channel 2 beginning on December 8, 2008.[39] Discotek Media has since licensed the anime and will re-release the series in 2015.[4] The series opening theme is "Eden" by To Destination, while the closing theme is "Love Me" by The Hong Kong Knife.

No. Title Original air date[40] English air date
1"The Nagasaki File (Part 1)"
Transliteration: "Nagasaki Hen 1" (Japanese: 長崎編①)		October 2, 2000 (2000-10-02)November 4, 2008
2"The Nagasaki File (Part 2)"
Transliteration: "Nagasaki Hen 2" (Japanese: 長崎編②)		October 9, 2000 (2000-10-09)November 4, 2008
3"The Nagasaki File (Part 3)"
Transliteration: "Nagasaki Hen 3" (Japanese: 長崎編③)		October 16, 2000 (2000-10-16)November 11, 2008
4"The Devil's Trill (Part 1)"
Transliteration: "Akuma no Trill Hen 1" (Japanese: 悪魔のトリル編①)		October 23, 2000 (2000-10-23)November 25, 2008
5"The Devil's Trill (Part 2)"
Transliteration: "Akuma no Trill Hen 2" (Japanese: 悪魔のトリル編②)		October 30, 2000 (2000-10-30)November 25, 2008
6"The Devil's Trill (Part 3)"
Transliteration: "Akuma no Trill Hen 3" (Japanese: 悪魔のトリル編③)		November 6, 2000 (2000-11-06)December 1, 2008
7"The King of Swords (Part 1)"
Transliteration: "Sword no K Hen 1" (Japanese: スォードのK編①)		November 13, 2000 (2000-11-13)December 1, 2008
8"The King of Swords (Part 2)"
Transliteration: "Sword no K Hen 2" (Japanese: スォードのK編②)		November 20, 2000 (2000-11-20)December 8, 2008
9"The King of Swords (Part 3)"
Transliteration: "Sword no K Hen 3" (Japanese: スォードのK編③)		November 27, 2000 (2000-11-27)December 8, 2008
10"The Kyōto File (Part 1)"
Transliteration: "Kyouto Hen 1" (Japanese: 京都編①)		December 4, 2000 (2000-12-04)December 15, 2008
11"The Kyōto File (Part 2)"
Transliteration: "Kyouto Hen 2" (Japanese: 京都編②)		December 11, 2000 (2000-12-11)December 15, 2008
12"The Kyōto File (Part 3)"
Transliteration: "Kyouto Hen 3" (Japanese: 京都編③)		December 18, 2000 (2000-12-18)December 22, 2008
13"The Kyōto File (Part 4)"
Transliteration: "Kyouto Hen 4" (Japanese: 京都編④)		December 18, 2000 (2000-12-18)December 22, 2008

Reception

Descendants of Darkness has been called "a gateway drug into shōnen-ai and yaoi" despite it not really being as such.[2] Anime News Network praised the TV series' humor.[41] Descendants of Darkness sold 10,000 copies in its first few months on the English-language market.[42] Volume 5 of the series ranked 6th in the week ending of May 22, 2005, according to BookScan's Graphic Novel List.[43]

References

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