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Anime Spotlight - Hakkenden: Eight Dogs of the East

by Justin Sevakis,

Hakkenden: Eight Dogs of the East

Visit the Official Site ›
January 5, 2013 (Japanese Premiere)

Key Staff

Director - Mitsue Yamasaki
    (Episode director for Bleach, Durarara!!)
Character Design - Hiromi Kato
    (Kobato., Guilty Crown)
Animation Production
Studio DEEN Co., Ltd.






Introduction

To make a wish come true…

A story of the destiny that eight special beads lead begins.

Story

They would have lost their lives if they did not make the choice back then.
The legendary eight beads and their owners…
One is for someone important, and one is for his life as a human.

The story of a destiny to encounter and fights lead by the beads, have just begun.

Characters

Shino Inuzuka
VA: Tetsuya Kakihara
Holder of the DEVOTION bead. Shino is one of three teens who survived the destruction of Otsuka Village. Five years ago, he found himself near dying as his village burned, but chose life over death and now harbors the living spirit sword Murasame on his arm. He has a birthmark in the shape of a peony flower on his right arm. When young, he was weak and was dressed up like a girl. He feels special attachment to Sosuke and Hamaji, who grew up with him.
Sosuke Inukawa
VA: Satoshi Hino
Holder of the DUTY bead. Sosuke also survived the fiery destruction of Otsuka Village. He did not have relatives and was raised with Shino and Hamaji as if they were siblings. For Shino, Sosuke is like his supervisor. He has a peony-shaped birthmark on the back of his neck. Ever since the accident that happened 5 years ago, he has an ability to transform into the dog Yoshiro.
Hamaji
VA: Ayahi Takagaki
Hamaji is like a sister to Shino and Sosuke, having been raised with them since childhood. Along with them, she survived the destruction of Otsuka Village. She is something of a health nut, and obsessed with making sure everyone around her maintains a proper diet, but her cooking skills leave a lot to be desired. Unlike her pretty appearance, she often manipulates Shino and Sosuke, but in heart, she cares about them.
Murasame
VA: Nobuhiko Okamoto
Murasame is a living spirit sword rumored to hold sway over all things without shape or form, but it is said that whomever the sword possesses will meet a violent and tragic end. The blade ordinarily takes the form of a crow and speaks in human language, concealing itself on Shino's right arm when resting. Murasame sometimes picks and eats food that somebody dropped, and Shino scolds Murasame for the behavior.
Genpachi Inukai
VA: Tomoaki Maeno
Holder of the INTEGRITY bead. Genpachi is a captain of the imperial military police. Like his foster brother Kobungo, Genpachi was sent on assignment in the north three years ago and returned a changed man. Now he transforms into a demon who preys on supernatural beings. He and Kobungo's sister Nui had become lovers before his assignment, but by the time he returned she had committed suicide. His peony-flower birthmark is on his right cheek.
Kobungo Inuta
VA: Takuma Terashima
Holder of the FRATERNITY bead. Kobungo's family runs the Konaya bed-and-breakfast inn, and Kobungo himself is excellent at caring for people's needs. Three years ago, he volunteered as a foot soldier and accompanied his foster brother Genpachi in an army deployment sent to contain an incident taking place in a remote northern village, where the two of them were brutally attacked by man-eating demons. But the brothers came back to life with changed bodies, now able to transform into demons themselves. Kobungo's peony-flower birthmark is on his lower back.

Cast

Shino Inuzuka
Tetsuya Kakihara
Sosuke Inukawa
Satoshi Hino
Hamaji
Ayahi Takagaki
Murasame
Nobuhiko Okamoto
Genpachi Inukai
Tomoaki Maeno
Kobungo Inuta
Takuma Terashima

Staff

Author
Miyuki Abe
(Serialized in Asuka Ciel
Kadokawa Shoten)
General Director
Osamu Yamasaki
Director
Mitsue Yamasaki
Character Designer
Hiromi Kato
Story Editors
Osamu Yamasaki
Mitsue Yamazaki
Sound Director
Hozumi Goda
Music
Hitomi Kuroishi
Animation Studio
Studio DEEN Co., Ltd.

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