The Gymnastics Samurai

Alternate Title

体操ザムライ
Taiso Samurai

Synopsis

The Gymnastics Samurai takes place In 2002 and follows Jotaro Aragaki, a 29-year-old and a former force to be reckoned with in the world of men’s gymnastics in Japan who was on the men’s national team and who now can no longer perform up to his own expectations. Even though he trains relentlessly day after day, even his coach thinks maybe it’s time for him to retire. However, a certain chance encounter radically changes his fate.

Background

The Gymnastics Samurai is an original TV anime being produced by MAPPA. It is directed by Hisatoshi Shimizu and written by Shigeru Murakoshi with Kasumi Fukagawa creating the character designs and Masaru Yokoya composing the music. It premiered in Japan on Oct. 10 on TV Asahi’s NUMAnimation programming block. It is being streamed overseas by Funimation.

Characters

Jotaro Aragaki (Voiced by: Daisuke Namikawa)
Jotaro is a passionate 29-year-old who has devoted his life to gymnastics. He is the former Japanese representative in gymnastics who was called “Samurai.”

Leonardo (Voiced by: Kensho Ono)
Leonardo is a mysterious 16-year-old.

Rei Aragaki (Voiced by: Rina Honnizumi)
Rei is a 9-year-old elementary school student and Jotaro’s only daughter. She is reliable and is good at housework. She likes ninjas and movies.

Tetsuo Minamino (Voiced by: Yuki Kaji)
Tetsuo is a stoic 17-year-old gymnast nicknamed the “Bandana Prince.” He has also been called the savior of the world of Japanese gymnastics.

Mari Aragaki (Voiced by: Atsuko Tanaka)
Mari is Jotaro’s mother. She manages Snack Marry in Ikebukuro.

Tomoyo Aragaki (Voiced by: Kotono Mitsuishi)
Tomoyo is Jotaro’s wife who passed away several years ago. She was a famous actress.

Bigbird Aragaki (Voiced by: Kappei Yamaguchi)
Bigbird is the Aragaki family’s pet from South America.

Noriyuki Amakusa (Voiced by: Kenyu Horiuchi)
Noriyuki is Jotaro’s coach. He has guided Jotaro for many years.

Tomoki Takizawa (Voiced by: Hiroyuki Yoshino)
Tomoki is a gymnast who belongs to the same gymnast club as Jotaro.

Ayu (Voiced by: Nana Mizuki)
Ayu is a ganguro girl who works at Snack Marry.

Britney (Voiced by: Rikiya Koyama)
Britney is a regular customer at Snack Marry. No one knows her true identity.

Music

Opening Theme Song: "Shanghai Honey" by Daisuke Namikawa, Kensho Ono & Yuuki Kaji
Ending Theme: "Yume? (Yume Ja Nai)" by Hatena

International Streaming

Funimation

• Official Site (Japanese)
• Official Twitter (Japanese)

• Director: Hisatoshi Shimizu
• Series Composition: Shigeru Murakoshi
• Character Designer: Kasumi Fukagawa
• Chief Animation Director: Fumihide Sai
• Art Director: Masatoshi Kai, Hiroshi Morikawa
• Color Design: Azusa Sasaki
• Director of Photography: Mitsuhiro Sato
• Editing: Keisuke Yanagi
• Music: Masaru Yokoya
• Animation Production: MAPPA