Tokyo Revengers

Tokyo Revengers (東京卍リベンジャーズ) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Ken Wakui. It was serialized in Kodansha's manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Magazine from March 2017 to November 2022, with its chapters collected in 31  volumes. The story follows Takemichi Hanagaki, a 26-year-old part-timer with a gloomy life, who learns that his ex-girlfriend, Hinata Tachibana, has died in a dispute involving the Tokyo Manji Gang. The next day, while returning from his part-time job, Takemichi gets pushed off the subway platform by someone. As he is about to be hit, he jumps twelve years back in time, to the year he was dating Hinata. Discovering this, he makes the decision to do everything to prevent her death.

An anime television series adaptation produced by Liden Films, aired from April to September 2021. A second season aired from January to April 2023. A third season premiered in October 2023. A live-action film adaptation was released in Japan in July 2021, with its two-part sequel released in April and June 2023.

By December 2022, the manga had over 70 million copies in circulation, making it one of the best-selling manga series of all time. In 2020, Tokyo Revengers won the 44th Kodansha Manga Award for the category.

Plot
Takemichi Hanagaki, a 26-year-old freeter, learns one day that his middle school ex-girlfriend, Hinata Tachibana, as well as her younger brother Naoto, have been killed by the Tokyo Manji Gang. Naoto deduces that every time they hold hands, Takemichi is transported 12 years into the past. In the past, Takemichi's friends are forced into underground matches led by Kiyomasa, a member of the Tokyo Manji Gang. Takemichi discovers that his new friendship with Mikey prevented one of his friends, Akkun, from going to jail in the present. However, after Akkun commits suicide out of fear, Takemichi realizes the Tokyo Manji Gang presents a stronger threat to his friends than he initially thought. After traveling back to the past, Takemichi finds that the Tokyo Manji Gang is declaring war on Moebius, a rival gang, to avenge Pah-chin's friend. Takemichi learns that Mikey's second-in-command, Draken, will eventually be killed and lead to Mikey becoming violent. Takemichi resolves Mikey and Draken's dispute; however, on August 3, 2005, the Tokyo Manji Gang is attacked by a group of Moebius members, who are led by Valhalla member Shūji Hanma. Takemichi learns that Peh-yan colluded with them out of anger for Mikey and Draken letting Pah-chin be arrested, while Kiyomasa had stabbed Draken for humiliating him and causing him to be exiled from the Tokyo Manji Gang. The Tokyo Manji Gang wins the fight, Takemichi defeats Kiyomasa and Draken recovers from his injuries.

Takemichi returns to the present, only to find out that Hinata and his friends still die in the current timeline. With only the clue that Tetta Kisaki transformed the Tokyo Manji Gang into a violent organization, Takemichi returns to the past to find that Kisaki has recently joined the gang, using Pah-chin's absence to become his division's new captain. Mikey promises Takemichi that he will remove Kisaki from the gang if he is able to bring Baji back. With that, Takemichi is officially made a member of the Tokyo Manji Gang under Takashi Mitsuya's division. Takemichi discovers that Mikey holds a grudge against Kazutora for killing his older brother, Shinichiro, two years ago. In addition, Takemichi learns through Chifuyu Matsuno that Baji pretended to defect from the gang to investigate Kisaki. Furthermore, he learns that Kisaki had created Valhalla for Mikey to be its leader, and the Tokyo Manji Gang will eventually be absorbed into Valhalla after a rumble on October 31, 2005 known as "Bloody Halloween"; their loss had been caused by Mikey killing Kazutora out of rage over killing Baji. Though the Tokyo Manji Gang wins, Takemichi is unable to prevent Baji's death. However, Takemichi is able to prevent Mikey from killing Kazutora, and Kazutora decides to turn himself into the police.

After returning to the present, Takemichi once again discovers that the Tokyo Manji Gang has grown into a large-scale crime organization after absorbing the Black Dragons, and his friends still die. When he travels back to the past, he learns that Hakkai Shiba is forced to leave the Tokyo Manji Gang and join the Black Dragons under the orders of his abusive older brother and the Black Dragons' current leader, Taiju, an event that affects the Tokyo Manji Gang's merger with the Black Dragons. After Takemichi reveals to Chifuyu he is traveling through time, Mitsuya makes a deal with Taiju that he will allow Hakkai to join on the condition that Yuzuha, the Shiba brothers' sister, no longer works for the Black Dragons, nor will Taiju be allowed to assault her. After inadvertently preventing Taiju's death, Takemichi realizes that in the original timeline, Yuzuha had killed him after being coerced by Kisaki, which then led to Hakkai taking the blame for her and being forced to follow his orders. Takemichi convinces Hakkai to stand up to Taiju in order to save Yuzuha, and with Mikey and Draken's timely arrival, the Black Dragons are defeated. After their disbandment, Koko and Inupi carry the titles of co-leaders of the Black Dragons' 11th generation and join the Tokyo Manji Gang as Takemichi's subordinates.

By the time Takemichi returns to the present, Tenjiku absorbed the Tokyo Manji Gang after an event known as the "Kanto incident" and left Mikey demoralized to the point of killing all his friends. When Takemichi returns to the past, he finds that Tenjiku, a Yokohama gang led by a group of violent delinquents known as the S-62 generation, has declared war on the Tokyo Manji Gang. While Takemichi and Naoto investigate Tenjiku, both of them learn that Kisaki is a member and that Shinichiro is the founder of the Black Dragons. When they are ambushed by Tenjiku members, they become fatally wounded, and Takemichi travels to the past before they both die. Takemichi learns that Tenjiku's leader, Izana Kurokawa, is a close relative of the Sanos, and he holds a grudge against Mikey out of jealousy, especially when Shinichiro intended for Mikey to become the leader of the Black Dragons. Near the end of the fight, Mikey and Draken arrive after learning from Hinata that Takemichi had been time-traveling to save them. When Takemichi confronts him, Kisaki confesses that his reason for taking over the Tokyo Manji Gang was to boost his social status and woo Hinata.

Takemichi returns to the present to find out that his friends are alive and successful, but Mikey, who has not been in contact with any of his friends for the past 12 years, has established a new gang called Bonten. Takemichi is no longer able to travel to the past through Naoto, but when he saves Mikey from jumping from a building, he suddenly travels 10 years into the past to 2008. Takemichi is now in high school and learns that since the Tokyo Manji Gang has been disbanded, there is currently a power struggle between Rokuhara Tandai, Brahman, and Mikey's new gang, the Kanto Manji Gang. Takemichi prevents Senju's death, but Draken is killed while protecting them. The Kanto Manji Gang wins and absorbs Rokuhara Tandai; meanwhile, Senju disbands Brahman in order to stop Mikey from killing Takemichi. When Takemichi confronts Mikey, Mikey reveals that he died in the original timeline and Shinichiro had traveled back in time to save him by stealing the ability from a homeless man who he murdered. In the present, Takemichi allows Mikey to succumb to his violent nature to fight him. Despite persevering against Mikey's kicks, Takemichi ultimately gets mortally wounded by Sanzu's katana. As he seemingly dies, he screams out Mikey's name, making Mikey snap back to his senses. As he sobs and cradles Takemichi's corpse, they both time-leap further back in time, in 1998. As Takemichi and Mikey reunite in celebration (in front of a confused Shinichiro, Emma, Baji and Sanzu), they swear to change the timeline to prevent the "bad ending". To that end, they establish Toman together, prevent Baji and Kazutora from accidentally killing Shinichiro, successfully prevent the deaths of Baji, Draken, Emma, and Kisaki (whom Takemichi befriends), while also preventing the Shiba siblings' dispute, and saving Izana. At Musashi shrine, Mikey welcomes Black Dragon and Tenjiku into Toman. In 2008, Mikey announces Toman's disbandment, much to the joy of their members. Eleven years later, Takemichi and Hinata get married in front of their friends and family, bringing the story to a close.

Manga
Written and illustrated by Ken Wakui, Tokyo Revengers was serialized in Kodansha's manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Magazine from March 1, 2017,  to November 16, 2022. Kodansha collected its 278 individual chapters in 31 volumes, released from May 17, 2017, to January 17, 2023.

In North America, Kodansha USA started the digital release of the manga in 2018. Seven Seas Entertainment started releasing the manga in a print omnibus edition in 2022.

The manga is also licensed in Taiwan by Tong Li Publishing, in South Korea by Haksan Publishing, in France by Glénat Editions, in Germany by Carlsen Manga, in Italy by J-Pop, in Spain by Norma Editorial, in Mexico by Panini Comics, in Brazil by Editora JBC, in Argentina by Editorial Ivrea, in Thailand by Vibulkij Publishing, in Indonesia by Elex Media Komputindo, in Vietnam by IPM, in Poland by Waneko, in Turkey by Gerekli Şeyler, in Russia by XL Media, in Ukraine by Nasha Idea, and in the Czech Republic by Crew.

Spin-offs
On October 28, 2021, a parody spin-off manga written and illustrated by Shinpei Funatsu, titled Tōdai Revengers, was announced. It was serialized in Kodansha's Magazine Pocket website from November 3, 2021, to March 29, 2023. It was collected in six volumes from February 17, 2022, to May 17, 2023. Seven Seas Entertainment has also licensed this spin-off in North America.

On June 20, 2022, a spin-off manga centered around Keisuke Baji and Chifuyu Matsuno written and illustrated by Yukinori Kawaguchi, titled Tokyo Revengers: A Letter from Keisuke Baji, was announced. It began serialization in Magazine Pocket on July 27, 2022. The first volume was released on November 17, 2022. As of June 17, 2024, five volumes have been released. The series is set to end with its sixth volume. Kodansha publishes the spin-off in English on their K Manga service. Seven Seas Entertainment has also licensed the spin-off in North America.

Anime
In June 2020, it was announced that Tokyo Revengers would receive an anime television series adaptation. The series is produced by Liden Films and directed by Koichi Hatsumi. The series features scripts by Yasuyuki Mutō, character designs by Keiko Ōta, sound direction by Satoki Iida and music composed by Hiroaki Tsutsumi. It aired on MBS and other networks from April 11 to September 19, 2021. Official Hige Dandism performed the opening theme song, "Cry Baby", while Eill performed the series' ending theme song "Koko de Iki o Shite" (ここで息をして). The second ending song is "Tokyo Wonder", performed by Nakimushi.

A series of anime shorts produced by Studio Puyukai featuring versions of the characters, titled ChibiReve (ちびりべ), was released on YouTube from April 12 to September 20, 2021.

In December 2021, Tokyo Revengers was renewed for a second season, which adapts the "Christmas Showdown" arc. It aired from January 8 to April 2, 2023. Official Hige Dandism performed the opening theme song "White Noise" (ホワイトノイズ), while Tuyu performed the ending theme song "Kizutsukedo, Aishiteru" (傷つけど、愛してる.).

In April 2023, a third season, which adapts the "Tenjiku" arc, was announced. It aired for 12 episodes from October 4 to December 27, 2023. Hey-Smith performed the ending theme song "Say My Name".

In June 2024, it was announced that the anime series will have a sequel. A mini series, titled Dōwa Revengers (童話リベンジャーズ), was also announced, consisting of a Tokyo Revengers version of various fairy tales, and the first episode is based on Momotarō.

Crunchyroll licensed the first season outside of Asia. Disney Platform Distribution licensed both the second and third season, releasing on Hulu in the United States and on Disney+ worldwide. Muse Communication has licensed the series in Southeast Asia and South Asia and streams it on their Muse Asia YouTube channel and Bilibili. They also licensed the anime to Animax Asia for TV broadcasts.

Live-action films
A live-action film adaptation was announced in February 2020. The film is directed by Tsutomu Hanabusa, with a screenplay by Izumi Takahashi, and music by Yutaka Yamada. The cast includes Takumi Kitamura, Yūki Yamada, Yosuke Sugino, Nobuyuki Suzuki, Hayato Isomura, Shotaro Mamiya, Ryo Yoshizawa, and Mio Imada. The theme song for the film is "Namae wo Yobu yo" (名前を呼ぶよ) by Super Beaver. In April 2020, it was announced that the film's crew has halted filming due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The film was originally set to open in Japan on October 9, 2020, due to the continuing effects of COVID-19, the film was delayed to July 9, 2021. Crunchyroll streamed the film outside of Japan.

A sequel titled Tokyo Revengers 2: Bloody Halloween-hen (東京リベンジャーズ2 血のハロウィン編), was announced in July 2022. It adapts the "Bloody Halloween" arc and was released in two parts titled Unmei (運命) and Kessen (決戦). The first film premiered on April 21, 2023, and the second premiered on June 30 of the same year. New cast members include Kento Nagayama, Nijiro Murakami, and Mahiro Takasugi. Super Beaver performed the theme songs for both films titled "Gradation" (グラデーション) and "Hakanakunai" (儚くない), respectively.

Stage plays
A stage play adaptation produced by Office Endless ran from August 6–22, 2021, with shows taking place in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kanagawa. The play is directed by Naohiro Ise. The theme song of the stage play is "Hero" by Sir Vanity, a pop rock band headlined by voice actors Yūichirō Umehara and Yoshiki Nakajima.

A second stage play, titled Tokyo Revengers: Bloody Halloween, ran from March 18–21 in Osaka and March 25–April 5, 2022 in Tokyo.

Video game
A free-to-play action role-playing game, subtitled Last Mission, was announced in June 2023 by Victor Entertainment. It was originally set to be released in 2023 in Japan for iOS, Android, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Windows, but was delayed to February 2024.

Popularity
In 2021, Tokyo Revengers won in the anime category of the Yahoo! Japan Search Awards, based on the number of searches for a particular term compared to the year before. The series topped the list of "Trend Rankings Selected by Teens in 2021" by Mynavi Corporation's Mynavi Teens Lab, which conducts teen marketing and research. The anime series was highlighted by Nikkei Entertainment as one of the 2021's biggest hits, ranked in as the top-watched streaming program for both male and female audiences. The series won the "Anime Award" for its popularity on the 2021 Twitter Japan's Trend Awards. The anime adaptation of Tokyo Revengers became the seventh most discussed TV show of 2021 worldwide on Twitter.

Sales
By February 2020, the manga had over 3 million copies in circulation; it had over 17 million copies in circulation by May 2021; over 20 million copies in circulation by June 2021; over 25 million copies in circulation by July 2021; over 35 million copies in circulation by August 2021; over 40 million copies in circulation by September 2021; over 50 million copies in circulation by January 2022; over 65 million copies in circulation by July 2022, including 7 million copies outside of Japan; and over 70 million copies in circulation by December 2022.

Tokyo Revengers was the third best-selling manga series in the first half of 2021 with over 5 million copies sold. It was the third best-selling manga in 2021, with over 24.9 million copies sold. It was the second best-selling manga series in 2022, with over 11 million copies sold; volumes 25–29 were among the 25 best-selling manga volumes of the year. Volumes 30 and 31 were among the best-selling manga volumes of 2023.

Accolades
Tokyo Revengers won the 44th Kodansha Manga Award in the category in 2020. The series ranked ninth on the 2021 "Book of the Year" list by Da Vinci magazine; it ranked eighteenth on the 2022 list. It ranked twelfth on Takarajimasha's Kono Manga ga Sugoi! 2022 list of best manga for male readers.

Censorship
In 2021, Western localized versions of the anime censored the Buddhist manji swastika (卍) symbol used by the Tokyo Manji Gang, in order to avoid potential controversy that may arise from confusion with the similar but Nazi-misappopriated left-facing (卐) symbol. The removal, carried out by the Japanese licensors and affecting all versions of the anime officially distributed outside Japan, has itself proven controversial, as some fans have criticized the resulting version both on technical and freedom-of-speech grounds. However, the official Southeast Asian and South Asian releases of the series by Muse Communication started releasing the uncensored versions later on, leaving Crunchyroll the only official streaming site outside of Japan to have the anime censored.