Tribe Nine

Tribe Nine

Company type	Multimedia franchise
Industry	Video games, anime, webtoon, stage production
Founded	2020 (2020)
Founder	Kazutaka Kodaka
Headquarters	Tokyo , Japan
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Kazutaka Kodaka
Products	Video game, anime TV series, webtoon, stage production
Owner	Too Kyo Games

TRIBE NINE (presented in all caps) is a Japanese multimedia franchise developed by Kazutaka Kodaka under the banner of Too Kyo Games. The franchise encompasses an action role-playing game co-developed by Too Kyo Games and Akatsuki, which was released in February 2025, alongside an anime TV series produced by Liden Films that aired from January through March 2022. Further expansions include a webtoon and a stage production.

Plot

Set during a dystopian era known as "The Year 20XX," Tribe Nine explores a world where disenchanted youths form Tribes that engage in violent conflicts throughout Neo-Tokyo. To regulate these hostilities, the government institutes the "XB Law," compelling Tribes to settle disputes via "Extreme Baseball" contests monitored by robotic umpires. These matches resemble traditional baseball but feature relaxed equipment restrictions, can cover entire city wards, and require players to either strike out batters or tag runners holding the ball to record Outs. A match may also conclude if one team becomes unable to continue.

Minato Tribe

This faction serves as the protagonists’ group and is located within the special ward of Minato, Tokyo. Their headquarters is a diner that sees little patronage. The leader, Shun Kamiya, is recognized as one of Neo-Tokyo’s elite XB athletes.

Chiyoda Tribe

Acting as the primary antagonists, this group is based in Chiyoda, Tokyo, home to landmarks such as the Imperial Palace and Diet Building. The Chiyoda Tribe asserts dominance over Neo-Tokyo from their floating palace. Ōjirō Ōtori stands out as their premier XB player, renowned for his ability to single-handedly overcome entire Tribes.

Adachi Tribe

Originating from the Adachi ward, this resilient biker gang operates out of an old enclosed shopping arcade. Their leader, Hyakutarō Senju, is known for wielding fiery bats and balls to subdue adversaries.

Taito Tribe

Situated in Taitō ward, this relaxed Tribe prioritizes artistic expression and romance rather than conflict but employs clever strategies against opponents who underestimate them. Their leadership commands from a sizable pagoda.

Ota Tribe

Hailing from Ōta ward and facing financial difficulties, this Tribe focuses less on extreme baseball skill and more on causing chaos and disruption. They offset their lack of proficiency with aggressive tactics. Their leader, Fucho Sonoda, maintains authority through brutal suppression of internal dissent.

Shinagawa Tribe

Located in the Shinagawa ward, this group specializes in creating XB equipment designed to enhance players’ physical abilities.

Setagaya Tribe

Operating within the Setagaya ward, this Tribe is led by Eiji Todoroki, who firmly believes wealth can secure anything—from victories on the XB field to luxurious lifestyles.

Several popular streamers appear as cameo voices in the English dub version, including CDawgVA, Cr1TiKaL, Disguised Toast, Sykkuno, Technoblade, Valkyrae, and Yong Yea.

Video game

The Tribe Nine game was first announced in February 2020 as a collaboration between Too Kyo Games and Akatsuki. Initial promotional trailers were released soon after. By September 2021, it had been confirmed as a 3D action role-playing game tailored for smartphones. A trailer unveiled in June 2024 confirmed availability on Android, iOS, and Windows. The title officially launched on February 20, 2025, with online services planned to conclude on November 27, 2025.

Doujin continuation

Following the early termination announcement of the game's service on August 1, 2025, Kazutaka Kodaka disclosed that the storyline would proceed as a free, non-commercial Japanese doujin project. This initiative is spearheaded by Kodaka, Shuhei Yamaguchi, and Katsunori Sugninaka within their doujin circle named "Neo Neon Tribe." Their objective is to finalize the plot through a web novel format, create sequels exploring untold narratives, and reimagine existing stories to broaden the Tribe Nine universe via unofficial derivative content, all with the endorsement of Akatsuki Games.

Anime

An anime adaptation of the series was announced in September 2021. The production was handled by Liden Films under the direction of Yū Aoki. The scriptwriting responsibilities were managed by Michiko Yokote, while character designs were crafted by Rui Komatsuzaki and Simadoriru. Animation supervision was led by Yosuke Yabumoto, and the musical score composed by Masafumi Takada. The show aired from January 10 through March 28, 2022, on Tokyo MX alongside other broadcasters. The opening theme "Strike It Out" was performed by Miyavi, whereas the ending theme "Infocus" featured Void_Chords with LIO. Outside Asia, Funimation co-produced and streamed the series, while Medialink secured licensing rights for Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Oceania excluding Australia and New Zealand.

Webtoon

A webtoon adaptation was also announced in September 2021 as part of the franchise's expansion.

Reception

The premiere episode of the anime garnered favorable reviews during Winter 2022 previews from Anime News Network. James Beckett described Tribe Nine as "stupid, fun, colorful," labeling it a "Good Anime That You Should Watch." Nicholas Dupree commended its unusual baseball narrative and eye-catching character designs but remarked on constraints tied to limited production values. Richard Eisenbeis pointed out that some key scenes suffered from subpar animation but appreciated the overall style’s entertainment value, expressing uncertainty about its long-term viability. In contrast, Rebecca Silverman criticized the concept for lacking coherence and highlighted ongoing bullying faced by the protagonist to participate in the game.

Monique Thomas selected Tribe Nine as her Worst Anime of Winter 2022, highlighting "extremely limited" production quality, rigid art direction and baseball sequences, alongside a minimalistic cast and world-building, ultimately deeming it "mid" compared to contemporaneous series. Similarly, Kim Morrissy included it among the Worst Anime of 2022, describing it as a muted and average sports anime that failed to capitalize on its initial promise.