Garōden
is a Japanese martial arts novel series written by Baku Yumemakura. The series' first part consists of 13 novels, released from July 1985 to March 2003. The second part, Shin Garōden, started in December 2006, with five volumes released by October 2020.
A manga series adaptation by Jirō Taniguchi was published from 1989 to 1990. A second manga series adaptation by Keisuke Itagaki was published from 1996 to 2010, before entering on indefinite hiatus. A prequel manga series by Itagaki, titled Garōden Boy, was published in 2004. A manga adaptation of Shin Garōden, by Masami Nobe, was published from 2013 to 2014.
A feature film was released in January 1995. Two video games based on Itagaki's manga adaptation were released for the PlayStation 2; Garōden Breakblow in 2005, and Garōden Breakblow Fist or Twist in 2007. An original net animation adaptation, titled Garouden: The Way of the Lone Wolf, premiered worldwide on Netflix in May 2024.
Plot
Bunshichi Tanba, a skilled fighter, takes pleasure in defeating televised combat champions and celebrities in unsanctioned street fights. His path crosses with the underground wrestling organization FAW, where he suffers an unexpected defeat against an unheralded wrestler. This loss drives him to undergo years of intensive training before returning for vengeance.Upon his comeback, Tanba's refined abilities capture the interest of two legendary martial figures: Makoto Tatsumi, the formidable FAW owner known as "the Great" for his unparalleled ring dominance and charisma, and Shozan Matsuo, dubbed "the Demon of Karate" for his supernatural speed and power as head of Japan's premier karate school. Both seek to recruit Tanba for their respective factions, exposing him to a brutal hierarchy of elite fighters. As Tanba navigates this dangerous world, he faces escalating challenges against both allies and adversaries that test his limits.
Characters
;Bunshichi Tanba;Jūzō Fujimaki
;Shozan Matsuo
;Jyohei Tsutsumi
;Hiroshi Nagata
;Teruo Kataoka
;Makoto Tatsumi Great Tatsumi
;Crybaby Sakura
;Ryuji Kubo
;Toshio Kajiwara
;Tsutomu Himekawa
;Hikoichi Kurama
Media
Novel
Written by Baku Yumemakura, the first volume of Garōden was released on July 20, 1985. The first part finished with the 13th volume, released on March 4, 2003. The first novel of the second part, titled, was released on December 12, 2006. As of October 16, 2020, five volumes have been released.Manga
A manga series adaptation by Jiro Taniguchi was published in Asahi Sonorama's Shishiō magazine from 1989 to 1990, and collected in a single volume released on June 30, 1990.Another manga series adaptation by Keisuke Itagaki started in the August 1996 issue of 's manga magazine Monthly Comic Birz. Schola collected its chapters in five volumes, released from December 1996 to February 1999. Monthly Comic Birz ceased publication after the May 1999 issue, and the series was transferred to Kodansha's Young Magazine Uppers in 1999. the magazine ceased publication in 2004, and the manga was transferred to Kodansha's Evening on February 8, 2004. Its last chapter in the magazine was published on October 12, 2010, and the series was put on indefinite hiatus. Kodansha released 25 volumes from August 6, 1999, to December 12, 2010. Akita Shoten started republishing the series on April 7, 2011; for this event, the first two chapters were published in Weekly Shōnen Champion on March 31 and April 7 of the same year. 26 volumes were released until August 8, 2012.
Related manga
A prequel manga series by Itakagi, titled Garōden Boy, was serialized in Kodansha's manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Magazine from January 14 to July 7, 2004; two volumes were released by Kodansha on July 15 and August 26 of the same year. Akita Shoten re-released both volumes on September 17, 2012.A manga adaptation of Shin Garōden by Masami Nobe, was serialized in Weekly Shōnen Champion from February 14, 2013, to May 29, 2014. Akita Shoten released six volumes from June 7, 2013, to July 8, 2014.