Lament of the Lamb


Lament of the Lamb, alternatively titled The Lament of a Lamb or Sheep's Song, is a Japanese horror manga series written and illustrated by Kei Toume. It follows Kazuna, a boy with a mysterious illness which turns out to be vampirism. It was adapted into a live action film in 2002 directed by Junji Hanado, a three-part Drama CD in 2002–03, and an anime OVA series in 2003–04.
The manga was licensed in North America by Tokyopop, and in Russia by Comics Factory.

Story

The story centers on Kazuna, an "average high school student" who starts to lose control at the sight of blood, or even just a blood red colour. This problem is traced down to him being a vampire, like his lost sister, Chizuna, who he now turns to for help.
Kazuna lives with his "aunt" and "uncle", after his mother died, and his father took Chizuna and left. Kazuna is friends with an aspiring artist named Yaegashi, who later learns about his condition. They both have feelings for each other at the beginning of the story.
Kazuna and Chizuna's father had committed suicide six months before the start of the story and trying to understand his suicide is one of the central plot points of the story.

Main characters

Kazuna TakashiroChizuna TakashiroYou YaegashiShin and Natsuko EdaDoctor MinaseDoctor Shizuna TakashiroMrs. Ishikura
  • '''Shinobu Kazami'''

Published books

Some changes have been made from the serialized version, and some of the frontispieces from the serialized version are not included.
  • The regular version of Hitsuji no Uta is published by Gentosha Comics in 7 volumes. There is an interview in the final volume. Due to the relocation of the magazine's parent company, there is also a Schola edition and a Sony Magazines edition.
  • # ISBN 978-4344800229
  • # ISBN 978-4344800236
  • # ISBN 978-4344800243
  • # ISBN 978-4344800250
  • # ISBN 978-4344800267
  • # ISBN 978-4344800151
  • # Standard edition: ISBN 978-4344801981
Limited edition : ISBN 978-4344801974
  • Hitsuji no Uta Complete Edition, 7 volumes in total. Color pages are reproduced, boxed, no interview in the final volume.
  • # ISBN 978-4344803480
  • # ISBN 978-4344803558
  • # ISBN 978-4344803619
  • # ISBN 978-4344803725
  • # ISBN 978-4344803862
  • # ISBN 978-4344803862
  • # ISBN 978-4344803879
  • Hitsuji no Uta Gentosha Comics Manga Bunko, 4 volumes in total. New cover, no interview in the final volume.
  • # ISBN 978-4344817951
  • # ISBN 978-4344818712
  • # ISBN 978-4344819504
  • # ISBN 978-4344820081
  • Overseas version
  • * Tokyopop has released an English version under the name "Lament of the Lamb" and a German version under the name "Das Lied der Lämmer". Additionally, a French version has been released by Delcourt under the name "Les lamentations de l'agneau", a Taiwan Chinese version has been released by Tongli under the name "The Song of the Sheep", and a Korean version has been released by Haksan Cultural Publishing under the name "양의 노래".

Movie

Film

; Standard edition
; Staff
  • Director: Hanadou Junji
  • Screenplay: Watanabe Mami, Hanadou Junji
  • Music: Takazo Yudai, Hamaguchi Shiro
  • Theme song: airi "Itsuka wa Kimi no..."
  • Cinematography: Fujii Yoshihisa
  • Lighting: Hayashi Kazuyoshi
  • Art: Kanekatsu Koichi
  • Sound: Ie Makio
  • Editing: Ito Nobuyuki
  • Assistant directors: Shiba Yuji, Hamada Kengo, Kusano Masami
  • Music selection and sound effects: Yamamoto Fumitakatsu
  • Audio editing: Sekiya Yukio
  • Line producer: Suzumura Takamasa
  • Development: IMAGICA
  • Location cooperation: Shinshu Ueda Film Commission, Suzaka City, Suzaka City Board of Education, etc.
  • Producers: Akira Narusawa, Masao Tanaka
  • Planning: Takumi Ogawa, Isao Araki
  • Producer: Yuzo Uchibori
  • Planning cooperation: Sony Magazines
  • Production cooperation: Next Produce
  • Production: Groove Corporation, Union Film
  • Distribution: Groove Corporation
; Cast
; Movie-related goods

Cancelled film

On October 14, 2006, Tokyopop announced that it had acquired the live-action film rights. The producer was to be Tokyopop CEO Stier Livi. The director was planned to be Japanese, with the characters replaced with Europeans, and the film to be an international production filmed in Romania.
According to a follow-up report from March 19, 2008, the director was going to be Takahiko Akiyama, with the title "Love Like Blood", and the story by Blake. The story is about a high school boy with anemia named Edwards who meets a beautiful girl named Jira and develops a deep relationship with her. The lead actress was planned to be Japanese, with the background music by several famous gothic bands from the 1980s to the present, and the film to be in 3D with a budget of less than $6 million.
The official website was launched on October 26, 2008, but was closed on May 1, 2012. Tokyopop also withdrew from its manga publishing division on May 31, 2011.