Kanpai!
| Company type | Manga series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Manga publishing |
| Founded | March 2001 |
| Founder | Maki Murakami |
| Products | Manga volumes |
Kanpai! (also known as ) is a Japanese manga created by Maki Murakami. The first volume was initially released by Sony Magazines in March 2001 under the Birz Comics label. Later, Gentosha republished this volume and published a second one on December 24, 2001. The English-language versions were made available by Tokyopop on September 13 and December 13, 2005. On December 24, 2011, the series was reissued as a "special ban" edition, followed by a sequel titled Kimi no Unaji ni Kanpai! R, which came out on June 23, 2012.
Characters
- Shintarō is an apprentice monster guardian who carries a squared timber and was brought up by Ponta-san. He enrolls at Taino Municipal Middle School, claiming Brazilian heritage, but soon becomes implicated in a recent homicide—he killed an exorcist protecting a werewolf. His affection is directed toward Nao's nape rather than Nao herself. It is later revealed that he is half vampire and temporarily resides in Tokyo's mountainous area with his father.
- Ponta
- A talking rabbit assigned by Shintarō’s father to raise him and assist in obtaining a provisional guardian license by eliminating 300 exorcists.
- Nao Arisaka
- A self-centered, pampered beauty admired by many male students. After Shintarō bites her to restore his vitality, she becomes his lifelong "meal."
- Akiko Nakamura
- Nao's closest friend endowed with strong psychic abilities that detect supernatural phenomena. She suffers from anemia causing fainting spells when excited but develops a close connection with Miko’s ceremonial spirit, enabling its summoning.
- Kenken
- The werewolf whom Shintarō rescues; after dying, Kenken’s soul inhabits an exorcist’s body. Known affectionately as "Kenken-kun," he attends middle school alongside Shintarō and Nao.
- Yabe
- A ghost initially antagonistic due to unreciprocated feelings for Nao. Once acknowledged by her, he returns to his human form but struggles to maintain it, frequently dying and reviving.
- Papa
- Shintarō’s full vampire father and womanizer who aims to wed Sakurai Miko after defeating her. Despite his rough demeanor, he supports his son when necessary.
- Noriko Kuroma
- The energetic leader of the Occult SF Sorcery Investigation Club who uses magic to release Shintarō’s true vampire nature.
- Mysterious Exorcist
- Bearing resemblance to Yuki from Gravitation, this character targets Yamada’s father but encounters Shintarō instead, choosing to spare his life while opposing Papa Yamada.
Further reading
- Gravitation's Murakami Relaunches Kanpai! Manga Series, Anime News Network, 28 November 2011
- Manga Nominated for ALA Lists, Anime News Network, 10 November 2005
- Johnson, Craig. Kanpai! v1, Manga Life, Silver Bullet Comics (archived)
- Rosato, Julie. Kanpai! (aka: Kimi no Unaji ni Kanpai!) Vol. #01, Mania, Demand Media (archived)
- Kanpai! Volume 1 Review, IGN, Ziff Davis, 18 August 2005