Ayaka: A Story of Bonds and Wounds

Ayaka: A Story of Bonds and Wounds (あやか) is an original Japanese anime television series created and written by GoRA, animated by Studio Blanc and produced by King Records. It is directed by Nobuyoshi Nagayama, with Kana Shibue composing the music and Ryō Tanaka directing the sound at Bit Grooove Promotion. Original character designs are provided by Redjuice, while Misaki Kaneko adapt those designs for animation. It aired from July 2 to September 17, 2023, on Tokyo MX and BS11. The opening theme song, "AYAKASHI", is performed by Angela, while the ending theme song, "Flashback", is performed by saji. Crunchyroll has licensed the series. Medialink licensed the series in Asia-Pacific. A spin-off manga written by GoRA and illustrated by Ryo Kuroda, titled Ayaka: Muzzle Flash Back, began serialization in Ichijinsha's Monthly Comic Zero Sum magazine on July 28, 2023.

Summary
Yukito Yanagi is an orphan from Ayakajima, which is a region made up of seven islands where mysterious beings called "Mitama" and dragons are rumored to reside. Upon his father's death when he was five years old, he was sent to be raised in Tokyo. Now, upon graduating from middle school, Yukito encounters an eccentric disciple of his father who turns out to be his childhood friend, Jingi Sagawa, who brings him back to Ayakajima. There, Yukito meets his father's two other disciples, who protect the harmony of Ayakajima which is threatened by rogue mitama and spirits.

Characters

 * Yukito Yanagi (八凪幸人)
 * Yukito is the orphan son of Ley Master Makoto Yanagi. His mother is unknown. He was born in Ayaka and moved to mainland Japan after his father's death when he was about 5 years old. Ten years later, he is brought back to Ayaka by Jingi.
 * Yukito is the orphan son of Ley Master Makoto Yanagi. His mother is unknown. He was born in Ayaka and moved to mainland Japan after his father's death when he was about 5 years old. Ten years later, he is brought back to Ayaka by Jingi.


 * Jingi Sagawa (沙川尽義)
 * Jingi is a Ley Master who studied under Makoto Yanagi. He serves as a mentor and older brother to Yukito, teaching him to become a Ley Master. Yukito has mixed feeling towards him given Jingi's immaturity and propensity to drink alcohol excessively.
 * Jingi is a Ley Master who studied under Makoto Yanagi. He serves as a mentor and older brother to Yukito, teaching him to become a Ley Master. Yukito has mixed feeling towards him given Jingi's immaturity and propensity to drink alcohol excessively.


 * Haruaki Kurama (鞍馬春秋)
 * Haruaki Kurama was previously the senior disciple to Makoto Yanagi and currently serves as the head priest of the Kasen Shrine. He serves as a mentor to Yako Amano and Chatarō Fukawake. Previously a good friend of his fellow disciple Aka Ibuki during their time in training, Kurama does not like to interact with Ibuki because he considers his former peer's methods of quelling Ara-mitama to be heretical.
 * Haruaki Kurama was previously the senior disciple to Makoto Yanagi and currently serves as the head priest of the Kasen Shrine. He serves as a mentor to Yako Amano and Chatarō Fukawake. Previously a good friend of his fellow disciple Aka Ibuki during their time in training, Kurama does not like to interact with Ibuki because he considers his former peer's methods of quelling Ara-mitama to be heretical.


 * Aka Ibuki (伊吹朱)
 * Aka Ibuki is a Ley Master and the director of Ayaka Security, an organization entrusted to keep Ayaka safe from Ara-mitama. He was once a disciple under Makoto Yanagi and good friends with Haruaki Kurama. After Makoto Yanagi's death, the two parted ways because of their differing philosophies about spirits.
 * Aka Ibuki is a Ley Master and the director of Ayaka Security, an organization entrusted to keep Ayaka safe from Ara-mitama. He was once a disciple under Makoto Yanagi and good friends with Haruaki Kurama. After Makoto Yanagi's death, the two parted ways because of their differing philosophies about spirits.


 * Chatarō Fukuwake (福分茶太郎)
 * Chatarō is a disciple under Haruaki Kurama. He is around the same age as Yukito. While friends with Yako, the two rival about who is Kurama's top disciple.
 * Chatarō is a disciple under Haruaki Kurama. He is around the same age as Yukito. While friends with Yako, the two rival about who is Kurama's top disciple.


 * Yako Amano (天乃夜胡)
 * Yako is a disciple under Haruaki Kurama. He is around the same age as Yukito. He is friends with fellow disciple Chatarou, though there is also a rivalry between the two.
 * Yako is a disciple under Haruaki Kurama. He is around the same age as Yukito. He is friends with fellow disciple Chatarou, though there is also a rivalry between the two.


 * Ibara Ichijō (一条いばら)
 * Ibara is a member of Ayaka Security working under Aka Ibuki. Her parents are deceased and she looks to Ibuki as an older brother, calling him "boss". She is around the same age as Yukito.
 * Ibara is a member of Ayaka Security working under Aka Ibuki. Her parents are deceased and she looks to Ibuki as an older brother, calling him "boss". She is around the same age as Yukito.


 * Makoto Yanagi (八凪真人)
 * Ten years prior to the start of the main storyline, Makoto Yanagi, often known as Sensei Yanagi, was the premier Ley Master helping to protect Ayaka. He was the father of Yukito. He is believed to have died fighting the dragon spirit that provoked a volcanic eruption on one of the islands. Many people in Ayaka consider him a savior.
 * Ten years prior to the start of the main storyline, Makoto Yanagi, often known as Sensei Yanagi, was the premier Ley Master helping to protect Ayaka. He was the father of Yukito. He is believed to have died fighting the dragon spirit that provoked a volcanic eruption on one of the islands. Many people in Ayaka consider him a savior.


 * Taihei Makita (薪田太平)
 * Taihei Makita is a member of Ayaka Security, working under Aka Ibuki. He is also the manager of the diner that is located in the same building as Ayaka Security.
 * Taihei Makita is a member of Ayaka Security, working under Aka Ibuki. He is also the manager of the diner that is located in the same building as Ayaka Security.


 * Momoko Amamiya (尼宮百々子)
 * Momoko Amamiya is the landlady of Yukito's childhood home. She acts as a mother figure to Yukito, including cooking his favorite dish, curry.
 * Momoko Amamiya is the landlady of Yukito's childhood home. She acts as a mother figure to Yukito, including cooking his favorite dish, curry.


 * Sanji Inо̄ (稲生三次)
 * Sanji Inо̄ is Yukito's guardian and mayor of Ayakashima city. He is the person who carried out Yanagi's will by sending Yukito to the mainland to grow up and returning him to Ayaka after graduating from middle school.
 * Sanji Inо̄ is Yukito's guardian and mayor of Ayakashima city. He is the person who carried out Yanagi's will by sending Yukito to the mainland to grow up and returning him to Ayaka after graduating from middle school.


 * Mitama (ミタマ)