Tokko (manga)
Tokko is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Tooru Fujisawa, better known as the author of Great Teacher Onizuka. It was serialized in Kodansha's manga magazine Monthly Afternoon from 2003 to 2004, with its chapters collected in three volumes. The manga was licensed in North America by Tokyopop, who released all three volumes from July 2008 to February 2009.
An anime television series adaptation produced by Group TAC and AIC Spirits aired on Wowow from April to July 2006. The anime was licensed in the United States and United Kingdom by Manga Entertainment, with its first DVD released on March 20, 2007, and in Australasia by Madman Entertainment. In the United States, Sci Fi aired the series from June to September 2007 and later re-aired it from November to December 2010 when it was renamed to Syfy. Its sister network Chiller would also air the series from July to October 2009.
Plot
In 2011, Tokyo is plagued by supernatural threats stemming from the Machida massacre, a gruesome incident secretly orchestrated by demons known as Phantoms. These creatures originate from the netherworld, having crossed into reality after the "Box of Dirge" was shattered into 108 fragments, each possessed by a powerful Phantom. To combat this menace, the Public Security Intelligence Agency establishes the Special Public Safety Task Force, or Tokko, under Superintendent Ryoko Ibuki. Composed primarily of survivors from the Machida incident, Tokko's members harbor dormant Phantoms within them, granting superhuman abilities when awakened, including enhanced speed and the power to materialize swords. These weapons are essential, as conventional firearms prove ineffective against the Phantoms and their lesser human-faced larval parasites, which emerge through massive holes caused by unnatural earthquakes in the Kanto region.Tokko operates covertly, drawing criticism from other law enforcement agencies for their secretive methods and cover-ups of civilian and police casualties, which are publicly attributed to armed criminals or mental instability. Each member bears a symbiont tattoo, marking them as hosts to one of the 108 Phantoms. The alignment of these spirits remains unknown until awakened, though they provide passive protection—such as shielding Sakura Rokujo from a fatal car accident in her youth. Tokko's mission is to hunt down rogue Phantoms, reclaim the Box of Dirge fragments, and seal the expanding Machida hole before it consumes the world.
Ranmaru Shindo, a young investigator, joins the Special Mobile Investigation Forces to uncover the truth behind his parents' deaths in the Machida massacre. Haunted by recurring dreams of a bloodied, tattooed girl wielding a massive sword, he encounters her in reality—Sakura Rokujo, a Tokko operative. Alongside her are the prodigious Kureha Suzuka, the taciturn Takeru Inukai, and their leader, Ryoko Ibuki. Rumors swirl around Tokko, alleging they execute criminals with swords, leave dismembered bodies at crime scenes, and may not even be human.
While investigating a brutal murder, Ranmaru's team witnesses a demonic attack by larval parasites, which identify him as a Machida survivor. Sakura intervenes, revealing that the massacre was perpetrated by Phantoms who crossed into the world after the Box of Dirge was opened. The stronger Phantoms consume humans to grow more powerful, and Tokko's symbionts are the only ones capable of stopping them.
Determined to fight, Ranmaru and his partner Hanazono infiltrate the quarantined Machida site, inadvertently provoking a Phantom attack. Tokko rescues them and explains that symbionts—awakened through near-death trauma—are the sole means of defeating the creatures. To activate his latent Phantom, Kureha mortally wounds Ranmaru and hurls him into the Machida hole. He emerges transformed, wielding dual swords and swiftly annihilating the 12th Phantom. After recovering, he joins Tokko as the countdown to Tokyo's destruction continues.
Meanwhile, siblings Itsuto and Mayu Araragi, unaffiliated symbiont hunters, consume Phantoms to absorb their powers. They rescue Yukino Shiraishi, a suicide attempt survivor controlled by a larval parasite. Investigating disappearances at her university, they uncover a conspiracy led by Yukino's father, who experiments on students by turning them into Phantom hybrids. After a fierce battle, Yukino kills her father by burning their home, then joins the siblings to prevent further atrocities.
The epilogue hints that Tokyo is ultimately consumed by the Machida hole, underscoring the relentless struggle between humanity and the encroaching netherworld.
Characters
;Ranmaru Shindo;Sakura Rokujo
;Kureha Suzuka
;Ryoko Ibuki
;Takeru Inukai
;Saya Shindo
;Ichiro Hanazono
;Kaoru Kunikida
;Shogo Muramasa
;Itsuto Araragi
;Mayu Araragi
;Yukino Shiraishi
;Hiroki Rokujo
Media
Manga
Written and illustrated by Tooru Fujisawa, Tokko was serialized in Kodansha's manga magazine Monthly Afternoon from 2003 to 2004, with its chapters collected in three volumes, released from February 6 to June 23, 2004. The third volume, titled Phantom Hunter, is a side story detailing two siblings, who happen to be survivors of the Machida massacre.In North America, the manga was licensed by Tokyopop. The three volumes were released from July 1, 2008, to February 1, 2009.
Anime
A 13-episode anime television series adaptation was broadcast on Wowow from April 15 to July 29, 2006. Three DVD volumes were released August 24 to November 23, 2006. The opening theme is "Nothing" and the ending theme is "Sherry", both performed by dB. The Tokko Original Soundtrack was released on June 28, 2006. It includes eleven tracks without the opening and closing themes from the anime.The anime was licensed in the United States and United Kingdom by Manga Entertainment, and in Australasia by Madman Entertainment. It was broadcast in the United States on Sci Fi as part of its Ani-Monday anime programming block from June 18 to September 24, 2007. Chiller, a sister network of Sci Fi also owned by NBCUniversal, also aired the series from July to October 2009.