# Ninku

Ninku (忍空, Ninkū) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kōji Kiriyama. It was serialized in Shueisha's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump from June 1993 to September 1995, with its chapters collected in nine tankōbon volumes.
A 55-episode anime television series, produced by Fuji Television, Yomiko Advertising and Studio Pierrot, aired on Fuji TV between January 1995 and February 1996. A sequel manga, titled Ninku 2nd Stage: Story of Etonins, was serialized in Shueisha's seinen manga magazine Ultra Jump from September 2005 to September 2011, with its chapters collected in 12 tankōbon volumes.
The Ninku manga has had over 9 million copies in circulation.

## Plot
### Manga

The story follows an odd-looking 12-year-old boy named Fūsuke, a powerful warrior from the Ninku school of martial arts, who command a style that mixes ninjutsu and kung fu. Before the present time in the story, the Ninku were targeted by an evil empire and the Ninku corps were formed to combat the menace. The names of the corps were taken from the twelve Chinese zodiac animals (Eto (干支)) and each captain of the corps was called the zodiac animal Ninku master (Etonin (干支忍)). Their powers are derived from nature and a specific dragon to their own element, with the Sky Dragon (天空龍, Tenkū Ryū) being the almighty master of all the elements. The Ninku were disbanded by their master before the end of the war and as such, the Empire was victorious and the Ninku became vilified by the Empire as the perpetrators of the war and made attempts to eliminate any surviving members. Three years later, Fūsuke, the young former captain of the 1st Ninku corps and controller of the wind and Hiroyuki, his flatulent penguin, start a journey, searching for the other Ninku captains. However, a new group of Ninku users has arisen and are trying to take over the world. Fūsuke and his penguin must defeat the new Ninku empire with the help of his old comrades.

### Anime

Fūsuke, the former captain of the first division Ninku corps journeys across the land with his pet hiroyuki and the hot headed Rihoko to find his Mother who was taken from him at a very young age by the Imperial Army leader Kochin. On his travels, he reunites with fellow captains Toji and Aicho who begin to travel with him in hopes to not only stop the rise of the Imperial Army, but to restore respect to the Ninku students. Along the journey, Fūsuke and the others are tasked with finding and controlling the mystical sky dragons in order to become stronger.

## Characters
### Main characters
#### Fūsuke (風助)

    Voiced by: Rica Matsumoto (Japanese); Mona Marshall (film) (English)
    Fūsuke the Wind (風の風助, Kaze no Fūsuke) is the former captain of the 1st Ninku corps, the rat (Ne-nin (子忍)) Ninku. With the ability to control wind, Fūsuke searches for other former Ninku after a war with an evil empire.

#### Aichō (藍朓)

    Voiced by: Mitsuaki Madono (Japanese); Stephen Apostolina (film) (English)
    Aichō the Sky (空の藍朓, Sora no Aichō) is the former captain of the 10th Ninku corps, the rooster (Tori-nin (酉忍)) Ninku, and has extremely strong legs with an attitude to match, enabling him to cover large distances in a single bound and cause big damage on enemy machinery through his techniques. He also hates women, as this can be seen in his attitude towards Tōji's sister, who has a crush on him. He also considers Tōji an idiot.

#### Tōji (橙次)

    Voiced by: Jūrōta Kosugi (Japanese); Daran Norris (film) (English)
    Tōji the Ground (大地の橙次, Daichi no Tōji) is the former captain of the 6th Ninku corps, the snake (Mi-nin (巳忍)) Ninku, specializing in land (ground) attacks and techniques. He owns his own personal plane which he initially dubbed the Hindenburg but he sometimes changes the name to other transport disasters. The Hindenburg usually crash-lands in the beginning of the show as a recurring gag. His technique is the FuShabakut or "Air Dessert", which turns the ground into a tsunami-like state, a high-level Ninku move.

#### Hiroyuki (ヒロユキ)

    Voiced by: Katsumi Suzuki
    Hiroyuki is Fūsuke's pet penguin. He possesses the ability to release explosive farts powerful enough to propel Fūsuke and itself. The stench is described as terrible and can knock others unconscious. Fūsuke considers him a friend and not a pet. He is supernaturally powerful.

#### Rihoko (里穂子)

    Voiced by: Megumi Hayashibara (Japanese); Wendee Lee (film) (English)
    Tōji's sister. She was unintentionally rescued by Fūsuke from fake Ninku and, at the time, he was unaware that she is Tōji's sister. She desperately wants to meet handsome men and immediately becomes infatuated with Aichō, but has little luck with him.

### Enemies
#### Kōchin (コウチン)

    Voiced by: Takashi Taniguchi
    The high priest of the Empire and a master of feng shui. He is the spokesperson of the Emperor and it was he who defeated the Ninku master in a direct duel, forcing the Ninku to disband. His ultimate goal is to control the power of the Sky Dragon and for that purpose he has captured Fūsuke's mother in order to draw the dragon out.

#### Kisumi (黄純)

    Voiced by: Yasunori Matsumoto
    A Former Ninku captain who could command ice. After his fiancé was killed during the war he headed out to attack the Empire singlehandedly but was captured and convinced to join the Empire to prevent another war. Later reforms and helps Fūsuke and the others in their final confrontation.

#### Mekira (メキラ)

    Voiced by: Akiko Hiramatsu
    A genjutsu expert. She was taken by Kōchin at a very young age and her family was slaughtered by him. Only later does she learn this and turn against him.

#### Ajirada (アジラダ)

    Voiced by: Tomomichi Nishimura
    The sole heir of a martial arts that uses electricity channeled from arm guards into his fists and feet. Later defects after being beaten by Fūsuke.

## Media
### Manga

Ninku, written and illustrated by Kōji Kiriyama, started in Shueisha's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump on June 14, 1993. The series was suspended on July 11, 1994, with 53 chapters published. The manga resumed publication as Ninku 2nd Stage on December 5, 1994, and finished after 27 chapters on September 4, 1995. Shueisha collected the chapters in nine tankōbon volume, published from January 11, 1994, to November 2, 1995. Shueisha republished the manga in six bunkoban volumes from November 17, 2006, to February 16, 2007.
Ninku was published in France by Glénat between 1997 and 1998.
A sequel, titled Ninku 2nd Stage: Story of Etonins (忍空−SECOND STAGE 干支忍編−, Ninku: Second Stage - Etonin-hen), was serialized in Shueisha's seinen manga magazine Ultra Jump from September 17, 2005, to September 17, 2011. Shueisha collected its chapters into twelve tankōbon volumes, published between March 3, 2006, and November 4, 2011.

#### Ninku

| No. | Release date | ISBN |
| 1 | January 11, 1994 | 4-08-871106-8 |
| Chapters 1–8 |||
| 2 | March 4, 1994 | 4-08-871108-4 |
| Chapters 9–18 |||
| 3 | May 2, 1994 | 4-08-871109-2 |
| Chapters 19–27 |||
| 4 | August 4, 1994 | 4-08-871110-6 |
| Chapters 28–37 |||
| 5 | August 4, 1994 | 4-08-871885-2 |
| Chapters 38–46 |||
| 6 | February 3, 1995 | 4-08-871886-0 |
| Chapters 47–53 2 extra chapters |||
| 7 | April 4, 1995 | 4-08-871887-9 |
| 2nd Stage: Chapters 1–8 |||
| 8 | August 4, 1995 | 4-08-871888-7 |
| 2nd Stage: Chapters 9–17 |||
| 9 | November 2, 1995 | 4-08-871889-5 |
| 2nd Stage: Chapters 18–27 |||

#### Ninku 2nd Stage: Story of Etonins

| No. | Release date | ISBN |
| 1 | March 3, 2006 | 978-4-08-874118-5 |
| Chapters 1–5 |||
| 2 | October 4, 2006 | 978-4-08-874259-5 |
| Chapters 6–11 |||
| 3 | April 4, 2007 | 978-4-08-874350-9 |
| Chapters 12–17 |||
| 4 | November 2, 2007 | 978-4-08-874439-1 |
| Chapters 18–23 |||
| 5 | May 2, 2008 | 978-4-08-874529-9 |
| Chapters 24–29 |||
| 6 | November 4, 2008 | 978-4-08-874556-5 |
| Chapters 30–35 |||
| 7 | May 1, 2009 | 978-4-08-874673-9 |
| Chapters 36–41 |||
| 8 | November 4, 2009 | 978-4-08-874759-0 |
| Chapters 42–47 |||
| 9 | April 30, 2010 | 978-4-08-870061-8 |
| Chapters 48–53 |||
| 10 | November 4, 2010 | 978-4-08-870140-0 |
| Chapters 54–59 |||
| 11 | May 2, 2011 | 978-4-08-870231-5 |
| Chapters 60–65 |||
| 12 | November 4, 2011 | 978-4-08-870309-1 |
| Chapters 66–70 Extra chapter |||

### Films

Prior to the anime television series, a film titled Ninku: Tomb of Knives (NINKU ナイフの墓標, Ninkū: Naifu no Bohyō) was screened at Jump Super Anime Tour in November 1994. A 26-minute film titled Ninku: The Movie (劇場版 NINKU -忍空-) was screened at the Toei Anime Fair on July 15, 1995.
Media Blasters's Anime Works brand released Ninku: The Movie with an English dub on VHS in 1998. It was later released on DVD, along with Yu Yu Hakusho: The Movie, on January 30, 2001, as a result of a poll conducted by Media Blasters.

### Anime

Ninku was adapted into a 55-episode anime television series, produced by Fuji TV, Yomiko Advertising and Studio Pierrot, and directed by Noriyuki Abe. It was broadcast on Fuji TV from January 14, 1995, to February 24, 1996. Reruns of the series have been broadcast on Kids Station. The anime series includes an original story and characters not presented in the manga series. The opening and ending themes are performed by Yume Suzuki [ja]. The opening theme is "Kagayaki wa Kimi no Nakani" (輝きは君の中に, lit. "Radiance is inside of You"). The first ending theme for episodes 1 to 28 is "Soredemo Ashita wa Yatte Kuru" (それでも明日はやってくる, lit. "Yet Tomorrow Will Come"). The second ending theme for episodes 29 to 50 is "Sora no Namae" (空の名前, lit. "Empty Name"). The third ending theme for episodes 51 to 55 is "Sorezoreno Ashita e" (それぞれの明日へ, lit. "Towards Everyone's Tomorrow"). Geneon Entertainment has released the series in two DVD boxsets in Japan. The first set containing the initial 28 episodes was released on February 25, 2005 and the second set containing the remaining 27 episodes was released on March 21, 2005. In 2015, Bandai Visual re-released the series on two Blu-ray box sets, the first one on May 21 and the second on July 15.
Ninku was also broadcast in other parts of Asia on Animax Asia.

#### Episodes

| No. | Title | Original release date |
| 1 | "Fūsuke the Rat!" Transliteration: "Ne-nin no Fūsuke!" (Japanese: 子忍の風助！) | January 14, 1995 (1995-01-14) |
| 2 | "Enter the Rooster Captain" Transliteration: "Tori-nin Taichō Tōjō" (Japanese: 酉忍隊長登場) | January 21, 1995 (1995-01-21) |
| 3 | "Tōji of the Land!" Transliteration: "Daichi no Tōji!" (Japanese: 大地の橙次！) | January 28, 1995 (1995-01-28) |
| 4 | "The Attackers" Transliteration: "Shūgekisha-tachi" (Japanese: 襲撃者たち) | February 4, 1995 (1995-02-04) |
| 5 | "The Victor's Smoke!" Transliteration: "Kachimi-kemuri Tatsu!" (Japanese: 勝身煙たつ！) | February 11, 1995 (1995-02-11) |
| 6 | "The Terrifying Castle Fortress" Transliteration: "Kyōfu no Yōsaijō" (Japanese: 恐怖の要塞城) | February 18, 1995 (1995-02-18) |
| 7 | "Kisumi of the Ice!" Transliteration: "Kōri no Kisumi!" (Japanese: 氷の黄純！) | February 25, 1995 (1995-02-25) |
| 8 | "The Sealed Heart" Transliteration: "Tozasareta Kokoro" (Japanese: 閉ざされた心) | March 4, 1995 (1995-03-04) |
| 9 | "Mother's Lullaby" Transliteration: "Haha no Komoriuta" (Japanese: 母の子守唄) | March 11, 1995 (1995-03-11) |
| 10 | "Sad Parting" Transliteration: "Kanashī Wakare" (Japanese: 悲しい別れ) | March 18, 1995 (1995-03-18) |
| 11 | "The Trial" Transliteration: "Kuōkamimon no Shiren" (Japanese: 苦狼門の試練) | March 25, 1995 (1995-03-25) |
| 12 | "The Way to Become Strong" Transliteration: "Tsuyoku Naru Hōhō" (Japanese: 強くなる方法) | April 1, 1995 (1995-04-01) |
| 13 | "A Distant Promise!" Transliteration: "Tōi Yakusoku!" (Japanese: 遠い約束！) | April 8, 1995 (1995-04-08) |
| 14 | "Overcoming the Pain" Transliteration: "Itami o Koete" (Japanese: 痛みを越えて) | April 15, 1995 (1995-04-15) |
| 15 | "True Courage" Transliteration: "Hontō no Yūki!" (Japanese: 本当の勇気！) | April 22, 1995 (1995-04-22) |
| 16 | "The Legendary Forest" Transliteration: "Densetsu no Mori!" (Japanese: 伝説の森！) | April 29, 1995 (1995-04-29) |
| 17 | "The Ninku Wolves Trap!" Transliteration: "Ninkūrō no Wana!" (Japanese: 忍空狼の罠！) | May 6, 1995 (1995-05-06) |
| 18 | "Desperation!!" Transliteration: "Zettaizetsumei!!" (Japanese: 絶体絶命!!) | May 13, 1995 (1995-05-13) |
| 19 | "The End of a Fierce Battle" Transliteration: "Gekitō no Hate ni" (Japanese: 激闘の果てに) | May 20, 1995 (1995-05-20) |
| 20 | "A Dolphin and a Boy" Transliteration: "Iruka to Shōnen" (Japanese: イルカと少年) | May 27, 1995 (1995-05-27) |
| 21 | "Hellish Cave" Transliteration: "Jigoku no Dōkutsu" (Japanese: 地獄の洞くつ) | June 3, 1995 (1995-06-03) |
| 22 | "The Terrifying Thunder Fist" Transliteration: "Raimei Ken no Kyōfu" (Japanese: 雷鳴拳の恐怖) | June 10, 1995 (1995-06-10) |
| 23 | "Sekirai of the Flame!" Transliteration: "Honō no Sekirai!" (Japanese: 炎の赤雷！) | June 17, 1995 (1995-06-17) |
| 24 | "Rebellion for Freedom" Transliteration: "Jiyū e no Hanran" (Japanese: 自由への反乱) | June 24, 1995 (1995-06-24) |
| 25 | "Father and Son!" Transliteration: "Chichi to Ko!" (Japanese: 父と子！) | July 1, 1995 (1995-07-01) |
| 26 | "Farewell Hiroyuki" Transliteration: "Saraba Hiroyuki" (Japanese: さらばヒロユキ) | July 8, 1995 (1995-07-08) |
| 27 | "The Feng Shui Valley!" Transliteration: "Fūsui no Tani!" (Japanese: 風水の谷！) | July 15, 1995 (1995-07-15) |
| 28 | "The Demonic Trio!" Transliteration: "Ma no Sanjūshi!" (Japanese: 魔の三獣士！) | July 22, 1995 (1995-07-22) |
| 29 | "The Sky Dragon Appears!" Transliteration: "Tenkū Ryū Genru!" (Japanese: 天空龍現る！) | July 29, 1995 (1995-07-29) |
| 30 | "The Shapeless Sniper" Transliteration: "Sugata Naki Sogekisha" (Japanese: 姿なき狙撃者) | August 5, 1995 (1995-08-05) |
| 31 | "Break Through the Barrier" Transliteration: "Hōimō o Yabure" (Japanese: 包囲網を破れ) | August 12, 1995 (1995-08-12) |
| 32 | "The Awakened Sekirai!!" Transliteration: "Mezamero Sekirai!!" (Japanese: 目覚めろ赤雷!!) | August 19, 1995 (1995-08-19) |
| 33 | "Prologue to Crisis" Transliteration: "Kiki e no Joshō" (Japanese: 危機への序章) | August 26, 1995 (1995-08-26) |
| 34 | "The Magic that Summons Death" Transliteration: "Shi o Yobu Maboroshi!" (Japanese: 死を呼ぶ幻！) | September 2, 1995 (1995-09-02) |
| 35 | "The Heroe of the Sky!" Transliteration: "Ōzora no Yūsha!" (Japanese: 大空の勇者！) | September 9, 1995 (1995-09-09) |
| 36 | "The Mysterious Boy" Transliteration: "Nazo no Shōnen!!" (Japanese: 謎の少年!!) | September 16, 1995 (1995-09-16) |
| 37 | "A Departing Promise" Transliteration: "Wakare no Yakusoku" (Japanese: 別れの約束) | September 23, 1995 (1995-09-23) |
| 38 | "The Cape of feng shui!" Transliteration: "Fūsui no Misaki!" (Japanese: 風水の岬！) | October 7, 1995 (1995-10-07) |
| 39 | "The Crushed Ice!? The Sky Dragon Reappears" Transliteration: "Kudaketa Kōri!? Tenkū Ryū Futatabi!!" (Japanese: 砕けた氷!?天空龍再び!!) | October 14, 1995 (1995-10-14) |
| 40 | "Clash of Techniques! Fog vs Wind" Transliteration: "Waza Gekitotsu Kiri Tsukai Tai Fū Tsukai" (Japanese: 技激突！霧使いVS風使い) | October 28, 1995 (1995-10-28) |
| 41 | "Rihoko's Tears, Father's Hometown" Transliteration: "Rihoko no Namida, Chichi no Omokage" (Japanese: 里穂子の涙・父のおもかげ) | November 4, 1995 (1995-11-04) |
| 42 | "The Fist of Wrath! The Man who Slashes Ninku" Transliteration: "Ikari no Ken! Ninkū Kiri no Otoko" (Japanese: 怒りの拳！忍空斬りの男) | November 11, 1995 (1995-11-11) |
| 43 | "The Horror Building! The Mysterious Haunted House" Transliteration: "Kyōfu no Yakata! Nazo no Yūrei Yashiki" (Japanese: 恐怖の館！謎の幽霊屋敷) | November 18, 1995 (1995-11-18) |
| 44 | "A Clash!? Friendship with a Shuriken User" Transliteration: "Taiketsu!? Shuriken Tsukai no Yūjō" (Japanese: 対決!?手裏剣使いの友情) | November 25, 1995 (1995-11-25) |
| 45 | "Miss Ninku! Operation Breakthrough!" Transliteration: "Misu Ninkū! Kenmon Toppa Sakusen!!" (Japanese: ミス忍空！検問突破作戦!!) | December 2, 1995 (1995-12-02) |
| 46 | "Assassin of the Night! The Sealed Technique" Transliteration: "Tsukiyo no Shikaku! Fūji Rareta Waza" (Japanese: 月夜の刺客！封じられた技) | December 9, 1995 (1995-12-09) |
| 47 | "To the Capital! The Rebels of Justice" Transliteration: "Shuto e! Seigi no Hanran-sha-tachi" (Japanese: 首都へ！正義の反乱者たち) | December 16, 1995 (1995-12-16) |
| 48 | "Revived Memories! The Man who Kidnapped Mother" Transliteration: "Yomigaeru Kioku! Haha o Saratta Otoko" (Japanese: 蘇る記憶！母をさらった男) | December 23, 1995 (1995-12-23) |
| 49 | "The Unleashed Power! Time of the Decisive Battle" Transliteration: "Tokihanata Reta Chikara! Kessen no Toki" (Japanese: 解き放たれた力！決戦の時) | January 13, 1996 (1996-01-13) |
| 50 | "Transcend the Powers, Fūsuke! Maximum Air Power!!" Transliteration: "Chikara o Koero Fūsuke! Saidai Kūryoku!!" (Japanese: 力を越えろ風助！最大空力!!) | January 20, 1996 (1996-01-20) |
| 51 | "The Employed Bodyguard! Duel in the Evening" Transliteration: "Yatoware Yōjinbō! Yūhi no Kettō" (Japanese: 雇われ用心棒！夕日の決闘) | January 27, 1996 (1996-01-27) |
| 52 | "Defeating Fūsuke's Robbery! The Mystery of the Masked Man" Transliteration: "Fūsuke no Gōtō Taiji! Kamen Otoko no Nazo" (Japanese: 風助の強盗退治！仮面男の謎) | February 3, 1996 (1996-02-03) |
| 53 | "Stage of Friendship! Hiroyuki's Secret" Transliteration: "Yūjō no Butai! Hiroyuki no Himitsu" (Japanese: 友情の舞台！ヒロユキの秘密) | February 10, 1996 (1996-02-10) |
| 54 | "The Missing Wad of Bills!! Who is the Culprit?!" Transliteration: "Kieta Satsutaba!! Warumono wa Dareda?!" (Japanese: 消えた札束!!悪者は誰だ?!) | February 17, 1996 (1996-02-17) |
| 55 | "Fūsuke Becomes a Movie Star?!" Transliteration: "Fūsuke, Eiga Sutā ni Naru?!" (Japanese: 風助、映画スターになる?!) | February 24, 1996 (1996-02-24) |

### Video games

A number of video games based on the series have been released. Two video games were launched for the Game Boy, three video games for the Game Gear, a video game for the PlayStation, and a video game for the Sega Saturn. Fūsuke is also featured as a selectable character in the Weekly Shōnen Jump crossover fighting game Jump Ultimate Stars, launched for the Nintendo DS in November 2006. Characters from the series also appeared in another Weekly Shōnen Jump crossover smartphone game Jumputi Heroes, released for iOS and Android in 2018.

## Reception and legacy

The Ninku manga has had over 9 million copies in circulation.
In a fan poll posted by BIGLOBE in 2012 about favorite Weekly Shōnen Jump anime adaptations, Ninku ranked 45th out of 50 anime adaptations, and 40th out of 60 series in a 2019 poll conducted by Goo Ranking of "’90s Anime That Deserve Remakes".
John Oppliger of AnimeNation attributed the low popularity of the Ninku anime series to its lack of compelling narrative development and the sequential lengthy story arc structure that make other shōnen action series like Naruto, One Piece and Bleach popular. He praised the characters and animation of the fight sequences, but considered them repetitive and he stated that the show does not encourage much viewer loyalty.
In a review for the Ninku/YuYu Hakusho Double Feature DVD release, Chris Beveridge from AnimeOnDVD praised Ninku: The Movie for its fight sequences and animation, but recommended this release only to fans of either series. Mike Toole of Anime Jump in his Ninku: The Movie review stated: "Aside from the engaging story and great fight scenes, there are a few other good points about Ninku."
Ninku has inspired artists such as Masashi Kishimoto of Naruto fame, who used to copy Kiriyama's drawings in his studying to become a manga artist.