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Major (manga)
Encyclopedia
Major is a sports manga
series by Takuya Mitsuda
. It has been serialized in Shōnen Sunday
and has been collected in 78 tankōbon
volumes. In 1996, it received the Shogakukan Manga Award
for shōnen
.
The manga series concluded in the 32nd issue of Shōnen Sunday for 2010, while the 78th and final volume of the manga series was released in the middle of December 2010 together with a special original video animation
(OVA).
The series has been adapted as an anime series produced by NHK
and Studio Hibari
titled (using katakana
instead of the manga's English characters). The first episode was broadcast on November 13, 2004 and has completed six seasons. The final episode originally aired on September 25, 2010. An animated film telling the story between the first and second seasons of the anime was released on December 13, 2008. .
Note: The following sections follows the original manga story. There are several plot differences between the manga and later anime adaptation.
Subsections are divided according to how the official website split the story.
Gorō's father, Shigeharu Honda, was a pitcher struggling between the major and minor teams of the NPB. Nonetheless, Gorō looked up to his father and wished to be a professional baseball player just like his father. Aside from his father, Gorō was very close to two other people—Momoko Hoshino and Toshiya Sato. Momoko was Gorō's kindergarten teacher and especially watched out for Gorō because there are no other kids of Gorō's age at the kindergarten. Toshiya was another kid in the neighborhood, the only one Gorō could find of his own age and to whom Gorō taught baseball.
The father and son were struck a cruel blow when Honda's arm injury prevents him from continuing his baseball career as a pitcher. Gorō was especially shaken by the fact that his father would not be able to continue as a baseball player anymore. To Honda, his son and baseball are all he has left in his life; his wife had died 2 years ago. For his son's sake, Honda took up his best friend's advice, revived his batting instincts, and successfully transformed into a slugger. Amidst all this turmoil, Momoko was drawn deeper and deeper into the family's life. Eventually, Honda proposed to Momoko.
Right when Honda established himself in the major team Yokohama Marine Stars, the Tokyo Giants signed a contract with the American MLB
player Joe Gibson, famous for his huge physical build and fast balls. When the Marine Stars with Honda and the Giants with Gibson finally met on the field, Gibson struck out every single Marine Stars batter, except for Honda. Honda managed to touch the ball on his first at-bat, and at his second at-bat hit a home run off Gibson's 100 miles (160.9 km) best pitch. After Honda's home run, the Marine Stars coach launched a series of bunt attacks, scoring additional runs, and psychologically shaking up Gibson who considers the tactic unsportsmanlike. When it was Honda's third at-bat, Gibson has completely lost mental focus, and accidentally pitched a 99 miles (159.3 km) dead ball hitting Honda's head. The umpire immediately called Gibson off the mound, though Honda quickly got back onto his feet and continued with the game. Honda's excellent play made him the headline of major newspapers. The next morning Honda died due to internal bleeding in his skull, leaving his heartbroken son and fiancé behind.
Three years have passed since Momoko Hoshino, unmarried, adopted Gorō as her own son upon Honda's death. When Gorō reached fourth grade he was finally old enough to join the local little league team, the Mifune Dolphins. However, the local kids were mostly interested in soccer, and Gorō had to get new friends he made at school to join in order to have enough members to keep the team from being dismantled.
Gorō showed himself to be an extremely gifted baseball player. So much in fact that the Dolphins coach hated to see Gorō waste away his potential with the other less-talented Dolphins players. The coach recommended Gorō to join the nearby Yokohama Little team instead, which has better players, coaching, and resources. When Gorō visited, he discovered that not only was his old childhood friend Toshiya at Yokohama Little, but his own father, Shigeharu Honda, had been a member of the Yokohama Little with the current coach when they were younger. Gorō was torn, because if he were to follow his father's footsteps, that meant he would be abandoning the friends he asked to join the Mifune Dolphins. Gorō had a big fight with Momoko over the issue, and Momoko sought advice from Hideki Shigeno, Honda's old friend and teammate. While meeting with Shigeno, Momoko coughed up blood and was hospitalized. While it turned out it was just a gastric ulcer, it made Gorō realize the living people are much more important than the dead.
At that time, Joe Gibson had just returned to the MLB after pitching in Japan for three years. He sent an all-expenses paid invitation for Gorō to travel to America and watch the MLB All-Star game
, where Gibson was going to be the starting pitcher for the National League
. At the game, Gibson declared to the American League
's player that he would only pitch fast balls. Gibson threw 18 strikes, not a single slugger of the AL's top rotation could touch Gibson's pitch despite knowing what was coming, and Gibson earned a standing ovation from the audience. This was Gibson's own way to show Gorō how great a slugger Honda had been, since Honda had hit a home run off Gibson's best pitch in a duel of only fast balls. After the game, Gibson allowed Gorō to throw a hardball at him, where ever Gorō wanted to, if it would make Gorō feel any better. Gorō responded that he would postpone this "punishment" until the day he could pitch as well as Gibson, which was Gorō's own way of acknowledging Gibson's greatness.
Back in Japan, with renewed determination, Gorō led the Mifune Dolphins through various trials and practice matches, intending to defeat Yokohama Little, the best team in the region. In the end the Mifune Dolphins do defeat Yokohama Little but Gorō gets injured for a few months. At the end of the season, Gorō's adoptive mother marries Shigeno Hideki and the new family moves to Fukuoka when Shigeno is traded from the Marine Stars.
Gorō moves back to Mifune when his stepfather is traded back to the Blue Oceans and finds his little league friends grown up and attending Mifune East Junior High School. He surprises his friends when he tells them that he has been playing soccer and doesn't plan on playing for the junior high baseball team, revealing that he had destroyed his right shoulder out in Fukuoka. Gorō in the end reveals to his friends he had switched to being a southpaw pitcher. This influenced Yamane, who was third baseman before he destroyed his elbow, to also switch arms. At first, Gorō was not interested in playing baseball because he wanted to play with a hardball not rubber. During a match where Mifune East Junior High faced Mifune West Junior High, Gorō took to the mound once again seeing how insulting Mifune West was being to his friends. In the end, they created a comeback win. Together, Gorō and his friend Komori Daisuke rebuilt the junior high baseball team. The team becomes strong enough to enter the regional junior high tournament and once again he found himself playing against his friend and rival Toshiya Sato, who plays on the Tomonoura Junior High School team. Mifune eventually beats Tomonoura in a tight game and Gorō and Toshiya vow to play on the same high school team together to defeat Kaido. However, when Mifune East played Kaido Affiliate, they lost 19-0 in the 4th inning and the game was defaulted. A reason why their friendship went a bit downhill in the middle of the series was because Gorō decided that he would go to Kaido but Toshiya didn't want to go to Kaido at all. However Toshiya was soon convinced by his grandfather to go to Kaido. It was also Toshiya who told Gorō his pitching had a fatal flaw and made Gorō understand he could pitch even better.
Gorō and Toshiya make the junior varsity team and spend a year and half together as teammates. However, in their second year, Gorō reveals that his true desire is to challenge the excellent players of Kaido instead of playing on the same team as them. His friend Toshiya is hurt by Gorō's decision, but respects him for it. The season ends with Gorō leading the junior varsity team to victory over a scrimmage against the varsity team, and with Gorō quitting Kaido High School to play for another team.
Gorō has returned home after quitting Kaido. On arrival, his mother voices her dissatisfaction with the fact that he did not consult with her about his departure. She insists Gorō to be accountable for his actions and accept the responsibility to pay the application fee at any school that chooses to enroll in. Gorō's enrollment had been rejected by several schools due to the Kaido assistant coach (Egashira) threatening to sue other schools. Gorō was finally able to avoid Egashira's interference by enrolling at Seishu High School. Having been a girls school until just two years ago, Seishu does not have a baseball team. Gorō enrolls, determined to create a baseball team from scratch. After he has enough players, Gorō and the team enter the summer tournament. After finally reaching the quarterfinals against Kaido Seishu and despite extending the game into extra innings and striking out Mayumura, Gorō finally collapses after exhaustion. Kaido wins and moves on to Koshien.
Despite losing the match against Kaido, Seishū Highschool was the only team that actually put up a fight against the Koshien champion. As a result, Gorō attracted the eyes of many scouts, including the Yokohama Blue Ocean and the Tokyo Warriors. However, upon learning that Joe Gibson is still pitching in MLB, and dedicated his 300-win achievement to his "young friend in Japan", Gorō lost any interest in Japanese professional baseball, and went to America to try out for the Major League. Meanwhile, Sato is recruited by the Tokyo Warriors, while Mayumura is recruited by the Yokohama Blue Ocean.
Gorō's 95 mi/h fastball (99 mph in anime), while ineffective against Major League sluggers, allowed Gorō to start in Triple A
instead of the rookie league. At first he joined the Cougars, but was soon released after a fight with Joe Gibson Jr. from the Oklahoma Falcons. Eventually, Gorō joined the Memphis Bats, an aggressive but defensively weak baseball team. It was during this time that Gorō begin seriously training to fully control his fastball.
In Triple A Gorō found a new rival—Joe Gibson Jr, son of Joe Gibson and an outstanding slugger. Junior blamed the death of Gorō's birth father as the cause of the tragedy that befell on his own family, and he challenged Gorō to a bet: If Junior hit a home run off Gorō, Gorō is to return to Japan and never set foot on American soil again; On the other hand, if Gorō can strike out Junior, then Junior will visit Gorō's father's grave and apologize for his insults. Gorō managed to strike out Junior with his fast ball, now at 100 mile/h (102 mph in the anime). In the last game, Gibson Jr was determined to hit a home run of Gorō. When the Bats were leading in the final inning, The Falcons had 2 outs but they had runners on 2nd and 3rd base with Gibson Jr batting. On Gorō's last pitch, Gibson Jr hit it in the centre of the bat but Gorō's pitch had so much power that he destroyed Gibson Jr's bat and the ball just flew up high. The catcher of the Bat's caught it and the Bats won the Triple A playoff.
After the baseball season was over, Gorō returned to Japan. Shimizu finally told Gorō her feelings for him, and they became a couple. On the other hand, Gorō learned from Toshi that there is going to be a Baseball World Cup the following year hosted in America, and for the first time, Major League players will be allowed to compete in it. Due to Gorō's impressive performances in the practice match between Rookies and the All-Star Japan team, he was selected as a replacement pitcher starting the second round of preliminaries. Gorō pitched as the closer against Venezuela
and South Korea
, earning a win and a save respectively. Then Mayumura earned a win, pitching as closer against the Dominican Republic, advancing Japan to the semi-finals.
Shimizu came to America to cheer Gorō on, and encountered Toshiya's younger sister, Miho Sato. The day before the semi-finals match against Cuba, Toshiya accidentally ran into his sister, and the traumatic memories of being abandoned by his parents 7 years ago were reawakened. Toshiya's body went into involuntary shock, and was temporarily hospitalized. Miho felt guilty about the incident, but Toshiya called her on the phone, and asked her to come watch the next game. By knowing his sister is somewhere in the audience, Toshiya felt he would be able to do his best. Toshiya made several excellent plays against Cuba's aggressive offensive in the semi-finals, and Gorō got the win as the closer.
After the Cuba game, Gibson Jr. revealed to the Team USA's manager as well as Gorō that his father, Joe Gibson, had angina pectoris. Junior hoped that the manager and Gorō might be able to dissuade Gibson from getting on the mound and potentially kill himself. However, with players mostly in a "exhibition game" mentality, Gibson got on the mound in the 8th inning in the USA vs Venezuela semi-finals, risking his heart to awaken the baseball spirit of his teammates.
The following day, Gibson collapsed during practice session, and Gorō rushed to the hospital to see Gibson. Gibson revealed to Gorō that in a chance meeting with Momoko 10 years ago, he asked her why she had not accepted any monetary compensation from him. Momoko smiled gently, and asked Gibson to remain a top-class baseball player until Gorō grows up, so that Gorō could be proud of having a father who hit a home run from such a great pitcher, and that would be enough for her and for Gorō. Momoko's kind words had been the pillar that supported and drove Gibson all these years, but he felt if he could not complete this Baseball World Cup, and play against Gorō on the mound, he would have failed Gorō and Momoko. Gorō comforted Gibson, telling him that he had done enough, and to just watch Gorō and Junior's showdown on TV.
The Japan vs USA finals game began with Japan taking a five run lead, prompting Gibson to leave the hospital and went to the stadium to cheer his teammates on by their side. Japan had to send out Gorō in the 8th inning to protect their remaining 1 run lead, but Junior scored a home run off Gorō's 100 miles (160.9 km) fast ball. The game went into extra innings, and Gibson walked onto the mound again, determined to lead USA to victory. But Gorō was very determined to strike out Gibson Jr.. And Gorō pitched his fastest pitch in his life at 103 mi/h. But Gibson Jr scored a home run from that pitch which made USA the champions of the Baseball World Cup.
As the new MLB season began, Gorō performed extremely well for the Hornets in the exhibition matches. On his first official MLB match, he pitched a no-hit no-run game up until the 8th inning, when he suddenly lost control. On his second game, his pitches started to go wild by the 5th inning. Suspecting yips
, his catcher Keene stopped Gorō from voluntarily stepping off the mound, gambling on the chance that Gorō can overcome his fears with a new success. Unfortunately, Gorō ended up throwing at the batter in the head, and was ejected by the umpire. In his third game Gorō was unable to retire a single batter. He was removed from the game in the first inning and sent back to AAA Bats until his situation improves.
Believing that Gorō's defeat at the hands of Gibson Jr. was the cause of his yips, the Hornets sent Gorō to Billy Oliver, a sports psychologist, for treatment. After Gorō recovers from his yips, he can't pitch like he used to. His teammate Watts said that he would only be effective against really weak teams. Later on, Gibson retires after getting defeated by Gorō's home run and the Hornet's. In Gibson's contract, his departure was treated as voluntary retirement, but in reality he wanted to start from scratch and made a minor contract with AA Bulls. Gibson fights his way back up to the majors and is waiting for Gorō to challenge him again.
The anime had its last episode come out this week. It shows the Hornets losing to the Salmons and not making it to the World Series. Gorō heads back to Japan to take a rest and solidifies his relationship with Shimizu. By the end of the episode, it flashes forwards 8 years later where Gorō is brought out to close out the last game of the World Series where the Hornets face off against the Raiders. During the game it shows Shimizu giving birth to their child. It also shows Toshi Sato as the catcher for the Hornets along with Keane on the Raiders team, Watts as the new Hornets manager and Mayamura as the Raider closing pitcher. The end shows Gibson Jr. against Gorō in one final face off with the ending credits showing a table with Gorō and Shimizu's wedding photo, a World Series Ring and a family picture with Gorō and Shimizu having two children.
/
Mayumura Ken
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
series by Takuya Mitsuda
Takuya Mitsuda
is a Japanese manga artist from Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture. He has published his works primarily in Shogakukan's manga magazine, Shōnen Sunday....
. It has been serialized in Shōnen Sunday
Shonen Sunday
, first published on March 17, 1959, is a weekly shōnen manga magazine published in Japan by Shogakukan. Contrary to its title, Weekly Shōnen Sunday issues are released on Wednesdays.- History :...
and has been collected in 78 tankōbon
Tankobon
, with a literal meaning close to "independently appearing book", is the Japanese term for a book that is complete in itself and is not part of a series , though the manga industry uses it for volumes which may be in a series...
volumes. In 1996, it received the Shogakukan Manga Award
Shogakukan Manga Award
The is one of Japan's major manga awards, sponsored by Shogakukan Publishing. It has been awarded annually for serialized manga since 1955 and features candidates from a number of publishers.The current award categories are:...
for shōnen
Shonen
The term refers to manga marketed to a male audience aged roughly 10 and up. The Kanji characters literally mean "few" and "year", respectively, where the characters generally mean "comic"...
.
The manga series concluded in the 32nd issue of Shōnen Sunday for 2010, while the 78th and final volume of the manga series was released in the middle of December 2010 together with a special original video animation
Original video animation
, abbreviated as media , are animated films and series made specially for release in home-video formats. The term originated in relation to Japanese animation...
(OVA).
The series has been adapted as an anime series produced by NHK
NHK
NHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
and Studio Hibari
Studio Hibari
' is a Japanese animation company founded in July 1979.-Co-Produced:*Ojamanga Yamada-kun *Captain Tsubasa...
titled (using katakana
Katakana
is a Japanese syllabary, one component of the Japanese writing system along with hiragana, kanji, and in some cases the Latin alphabet . The word katakana means "fragmentary kana", as the katakana scripts are derived from components of more complex kanji. Each kana represents one mora...
instead of the manga's English characters). The first episode was broadcast on November 13, 2004 and has completed six seasons. The final episode originally aired on September 25, 2010. An animated film telling the story between the first and second seasons of the anime was released on December 13, 2008. .
Story
The story of Major follows the life of Gorō Honda, from kindergarten to being a professional baseball player, seeking and overcoming tremendous challenges.Note: The following sections follows the original manga story. There are several plot differences between the manga and later anime adaptation.
Subsections are divided according to how the official website split the story.
Kindergarten ~ First grade
- Contains: volume 01 chapter 01 - volume 03 chapter 06
Gorō's father, Shigeharu Honda, was a pitcher struggling between the major and minor teams of the NPB. Nonetheless, Gorō looked up to his father and wished to be a professional baseball player just like his father. Aside from his father, Gorō was very close to two other people—Momoko Hoshino and Toshiya Sato. Momoko was Gorō's kindergarten teacher and especially watched out for Gorō because there are no other kids of Gorō's age at the kindergarten. Toshiya was another kid in the neighborhood, the only one Gorō could find of his own age and to whom Gorō taught baseball.
The father and son were struck a cruel blow when Honda's arm injury prevents him from continuing his baseball career as a pitcher. Gorō was especially shaken by the fact that his father would not be able to continue as a baseball player anymore. To Honda, his son and baseball are all he has left in his life; his wife had died 2 years ago. For his son's sake, Honda took up his best friend's advice, revived his batting instincts, and successfully transformed into a slugger. Amidst all this turmoil, Momoko was drawn deeper and deeper into the family's life. Eventually, Honda proposed to Momoko.
Right when Honda established himself in the major team Yokohama Marine Stars, the Tokyo Giants signed a contract with the American MLB
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player Joe Gibson, famous for his huge physical build and fast balls. When the Marine Stars with Honda and the Giants with Gibson finally met on the field, Gibson struck out every single Marine Stars batter, except for Honda. Honda managed to touch the ball on his first at-bat, and at his second at-bat hit a home run off Gibson's 100 miles (160.9 km) best pitch. After Honda's home run, the Marine Stars coach launched a series of bunt attacks, scoring additional runs, and psychologically shaking up Gibson who considers the tactic unsportsmanlike. When it was Honda's third at-bat, Gibson has completely lost mental focus, and accidentally pitched a 99 miles (159.3 km) dead ball hitting Honda's head. The umpire immediately called Gibson off the mound, though Honda quickly got back onto his feet and continued with the game. Honda's excellent play made him the headline of major newspapers. The next morning Honda died due to internal bleeding in his skull, leaving his heartbroken son and fiancé behind.
Little League
- Contains: volume 03 chapter 07 - volume 14 chapter 05
Three years have passed since Momoko Hoshino, unmarried, adopted Gorō as her own son upon Honda's death. When Gorō reached fourth grade he was finally old enough to join the local little league team, the Mifune Dolphins. However, the local kids were mostly interested in soccer, and Gorō had to get new friends he made at school to join in order to have enough members to keep the team from being dismantled.
Gorō showed himself to be an extremely gifted baseball player. So much in fact that the Dolphins coach hated to see Gorō waste away his potential with the other less-talented Dolphins players. The coach recommended Gorō to join the nearby Yokohama Little team instead, which has better players, coaching, and resources. When Gorō visited, he discovered that not only was his old childhood friend Toshiya at Yokohama Little, but his own father, Shigeharu Honda, had been a member of the Yokohama Little with the current coach when they were younger. Gorō was torn, because if he were to follow his father's footsteps, that meant he would be abandoning the friends he asked to join the Mifune Dolphins. Gorō had a big fight with Momoko over the issue, and Momoko sought advice from Hideki Shigeno, Honda's old friend and teammate. While meeting with Shigeno, Momoko coughed up blood and was hospitalized. While it turned out it was just a gastric ulcer, it made Gorō realize the living people are much more important than the dead.
At that time, Joe Gibson had just returned to the MLB after pitching in Japan for three years. He sent an all-expenses paid invitation for Gorō to travel to America and watch the MLB All-Star game
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
, where Gibson was going to be the starting pitcher for the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
. At the game, Gibson declared to the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
's player that he would only pitch fast balls. Gibson threw 18 strikes, not a single slugger of the AL's top rotation could touch Gibson's pitch despite knowing what was coming, and Gibson earned a standing ovation from the audience. This was Gibson's own way to show Gorō how great a slugger Honda had been, since Honda had hit a home run off Gibson's best pitch in a duel of only fast balls. After the game, Gibson allowed Gorō to throw a hardball at him, where ever Gorō wanted to, if it would make Gorō feel any better. Gorō responded that he would postpone this "punishment" until the day he could pitch as well as Gibson, which was Gorō's own way of acknowledging Gibson's greatness.
Back in Japan, with renewed determination, Gorō led the Mifune Dolphins through various trials and practice matches, intending to defeat Yokohama Little, the best team in the region. In the end the Mifune Dolphins do defeat Yokohama Little but Gorō gets injured for a few months. At the end of the season, Gorō's adoptive mother marries Shigeno Hideki and the new family moves to Fukuoka when Shigeno is traded from the Marine Stars.
Junior High
- Contains: volume 14 chapter 06 - volume 24 chapter 02
Gorō moves back to Mifune when his stepfather is traded back to the Blue Oceans and finds his little league friends grown up and attending Mifune East Junior High School. He surprises his friends when he tells them that he has been playing soccer and doesn't plan on playing for the junior high baseball team, revealing that he had destroyed his right shoulder out in Fukuoka. Gorō in the end reveals to his friends he had switched to being a southpaw pitcher. This influenced Yamane, who was third baseman before he destroyed his elbow, to also switch arms. At first, Gorō was not interested in playing baseball because he wanted to play with a hardball not rubber. During a match where Mifune East Junior High faced Mifune West Junior High, Gorō took to the mound once again seeing how insulting Mifune West was being to his friends. In the end, they created a comeback win. Together, Gorō and his friend Komori Daisuke rebuilt the junior high baseball team. The team becomes strong enough to enter the regional junior high tournament and once again he found himself playing against his friend and rival Toshiya Sato, who plays on the Tomonoura Junior High School team. Mifune eventually beats Tomonoura in a tight game and Gorō and Toshiya vow to play on the same high school team together to defeat Kaido. However, when Mifune East played Kaido Affiliate, they lost 19-0 in the 4th inning and the game was defaulted. A reason why their friendship went a bit downhill in the middle of the series was because Gorō decided that he would go to Kaido but Toshiya didn't want to go to Kaido at all. However Toshiya was soon convinced by his grandfather to go to Kaido. It was also Toshiya who told Gorō his pitching had a fatal flaw and made Gorō understand he could pitch even better.
Kaido High School selection
After the tournament defeat against Kaido Junior High, Gorō decided to go to Kadio High in order to improve his pitching to the level of Mayumura. Gorō, his friend Komori, and Toshiya decide to try out for the baseball team of the prestigious private high school, Kaido. Komori is disqualified in the Kaido baseball club test and is forced to go to Mifune High. Gorō and Toshiya get through the first round of the test. After the test there is an academic examination which Gorō also "succeeds in" as it is a test of determination. Immediately after they graduate middle school they are sent to Dream Island where they undergo 6 months of hard training. He meets new friends there and even helps them through their tough times. He then proceeds to the Atsugi campus where he defeats the scholarship team despite the anger of the 2nd team director.Kaido High School
- Contains: volume 24 chapter 03 - volume 33 chapter 02
Gorō and Toshiya make the junior varsity team and spend a year and half together as teammates. However, in their second year, Gorō reveals that his true desire is to challenge the excellent players of Kaido instead of playing on the same team as them. His friend Toshiya is hurt by Gorō's decision, but respects him for it. The season ends with Gorō leading the junior varsity team to victory over a scrimmage against the varsity team, and with Gorō quitting Kaido High School to play for another team.
Seishu High School
- Contains: volume 33 Chapter 03 - volume 46 Chapter 10
Gorō has returned home after quitting Kaido. On arrival, his mother voices her dissatisfaction with the fact that he did not consult with her about his departure. She insists Gorō to be accountable for his actions and accept the responsibility to pay the application fee at any school that chooses to enroll in. Gorō's enrollment had been rejected by several schools due to the Kaido assistant coach (Egashira) threatening to sue other schools. Gorō was finally able to avoid Egashira's interference by enrolling at Seishu High School. Having been a girls school until just two years ago, Seishu does not have a baseball team. Gorō enrolls, determined to create a baseball team from scratch. After he has enough players, Gorō and the team enter the summer tournament. After finally reaching the quarterfinals against Kaido Seishu and despite extending the game into extra innings and striking out Mayumura, Gorō finally collapses after exhaustion. Kaido wins and moves on to Koshien.
Minor league baseball
- Contains: volume 47 chapter 01 - volume 54 chapter 02
Despite losing the match against Kaido, Seishū Highschool was the only team that actually put up a fight against the Koshien champion. As a result, Gorō attracted the eyes of many scouts, including the Yokohama Blue Ocean and the Tokyo Warriors. However, upon learning that Joe Gibson is still pitching in MLB, and dedicated his 300-win achievement to his "young friend in Japan", Gorō lost any interest in Japanese professional baseball, and went to America to try out for the Major League. Meanwhile, Sato is recruited by the Tokyo Warriors, while Mayumura is recruited by the Yokohama Blue Ocean.
Gorō's 95 mi/h fastball (99 mph in anime), while ineffective against Major League sluggers, allowed Gorō to start in Triple A
AAA (baseball)
Triple-A refers to the highest level of play in minor league baseball in the United States and Mexico.-Purpose:Triple-A teams' main purpose is to prepare players for the Major Leagues:...
instead of the rookie league. At first he joined the Cougars, but was soon released after a fight with Joe Gibson Jr. from the Oklahoma Falcons. Eventually, Gorō joined the Memphis Bats, an aggressive but defensively weak baseball team. It was during this time that Gorō begin seriously training to fully control his fastball.
In Triple A Gorō found a new rival—Joe Gibson Jr, son of Joe Gibson and an outstanding slugger. Junior blamed the death of Gorō's birth father as the cause of the tragedy that befell on his own family, and he challenged Gorō to a bet: If Junior hit a home run off Gorō, Gorō is to return to Japan and never set foot on American soil again; On the other hand, if Gorō can strike out Junior, then Junior will visit Gorō's father's grave and apologize for his insults. Gorō managed to strike out Junior with his fast ball, now at 100 mile/h (102 mph in the anime). In the last game, Gibson Jr was determined to hit a home run of Gorō. When the Bats were leading in the final inning, The Falcons had 2 outs but they had runners on 2nd and 3rd base with Gibson Jr batting. On Gorō's last pitch, Gibson Jr hit it in the centre of the bat but Gorō's pitch had so much power that he destroyed Gibson Jr's bat and the ball just flew up high. The catcher of the Bat's caught it and the Bats won the Triple A playoff.
Baseball World Cup
- Contains: volume 54 chapter 03 - volume 65 chapter 10
After the baseball season was over, Gorō returned to Japan. Shimizu finally told Gorō her feelings for him, and they became a couple. On the other hand, Gorō learned from Toshi that there is going to be a Baseball World Cup the following year hosted in America, and for the first time, Major League players will be allowed to compete in it. Due to Gorō's impressive performances in the practice match between Rookies and the All-Star Japan team, he was selected as a replacement pitcher starting the second round of preliminaries. Gorō pitched as the closer against Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
and South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, earning a win and a save respectively. Then Mayumura earned a win, pitching as closer against the Dominican Republic, advancing Japan to the semi-finals.
Shimizu came to America to cheer Gorō on, and encountered Toshiya's younger sister, Miho Sato. The day before the semi-finals match against Cuba, Toshiya accidentally ran into his sister, and the traumatic memories of being abandoned by his parents 7 years ago were reawakened. Toshiya's body went into involuntary shock, and was temporarily hospitalized. Miho felt guilty about the incident, but Toshiya called her on the phone, and asked her to come watch the next game. By knowing his sister is somewhere in the audience, Toshiya felt he would be able to do his best. Toshiya made several excellent plays against Cuba's aggressive offensive in the semi-finals, and Gorō got the win as the closer.
After the Cuba game, Gibson Jr. revealed to the Team USA's manager as well as Gorō that his father, Joe Gibson, had angina pectoris. Junior hoped that the manager and Gorō might be able to dissuade Gibson from getting on the mound and potentially kill himself. However, with players mostly in a "exhibition game" mentality, Gibson got on the mound in the 8th inning in the USA vs Venezuela semi-finals, risking his heart to awaken the baseball spirit of his teammates.
The following day, Gibson collapsed during practice session, and Gorō rushed to the hospital to see Gibson. Gibson revealed to Gorō that in a chance meeting with Momoko 10 years ago, he asked her why she had not accepted any monetary compensation from him. Momoko smiled gently, and asked Gibson to remain a top-class baseball player until Gorō grows up, so that Gorō could be proud of having a father who hit a home run from such a great pitcher, and that would be enough for her and for Gorō. Momoko's kind words had been the pillar that supported and drove Gibson all these years, but he felt if he could not complete this Baseball World Cup, and play against Gorō on the mound, he would have failed Gorō and Momoko. Gorō comforted Gibson, telling him that he had done enough, and to just watch Gorō and Junior's showdown on TV.
The Japan vs USA finals game began with Japan taking a five run lead, prompting Gibson to leave the hospital and went to the stadium to cheer his teammates on by their side. Japan had to send out Gorō in the 8th inning to protect their remaining 1 run lead, but Junior scored a home run off Gorō's 100 miles (160.9 km) fast ball. The game went into extra innings, and Gibson walked onto the mound again, determined to lead USA to victory. But Gorō was very determined to strike out Gibson Jr.. And Gorō pitched his fastest pitch in his life at 103 mi/h. But Gibson Jr scored a home run from that pitch which made USA the champions of the Baseball World Cup.
Major League Baseball
- Contains: volume 66 chapter 01 - volume 77
As the new MLB season began, Gorō performed extremely well for the Hornets in the exhibition matches. On his first official MLB match, he pitched a no-hit no-run game up until the 8th inning, when he suddenly lost control. On his second game, his pitches started to go wild by the 5th inning. Suspecting yips
Yips
Yips or the yips is an expression used to describe the apparent loss of certain fine motor skills seemingly without explanation in one of a number of different sports....
, his catcher Keene stopped Gorō from voluntarily stepping off the mound, gambling on the chance that Gorō can overcome his fears with a new success. Unfortunately, Gorō ended up throwing at the batter in the head, and was ejected by the umpire. In his third game Gorō was unable to retire a single batter. He was removed from the game in the first inning and sent back to AAA Bats until his situation improves.
Believing that Gorō's defeat at the hands of Gibson Jr. was the cause of his yips, the Hornets sent Gorō to Billy Oliver, a sports psychologist, for treatment. After Gorō recovers from his yips, he can't pitch like he used to. His teammate Watts said that he would only be effective against really weak teams. Later on, Gibson retires after getting defeated by Gorō's home run and the Hornet's. In Gibson's contract, his departure was treated as voluntary retirement, but in reality he wanted to start from scratch and made a minor contract with AA Bulls. Gibson fights his way back up to the majors and is waiting for Gorō to challenge him again.
The anime had its last episode come out this week. It shows the Hornets losing to the Salmons and not making it to the World Series. Gorō heads back to Japan to take a rest and solidifies his relationship with Shimizu. By the end of the episode, it flashes forwards 8 years later where Gorō is brought out to close out the last game of the World Series where the Hornets face off against the Raiders. During the game it shows Shimizu giving birth to their child. It also shows Toshi Sato as the catcher for the Hornets along with Keane on the Raiders team, Watts as the new Hornets manager and Mayamura as the Raider closing pitcher. The end shows Gibson Jr. against Gorō in one final face off with the ending credits showing a table with Gorō and Shimizu's wedding photo, a World Series Ring and a family picture with Gorō and Shimizu having two children.
Return to Japan
Following Season 6, the Major OVA shows that Gorō, after 14 years of a splendid career, is forced to retire from the Hornets. He can no longer pitch due to an injured shoulder despite surgery and rehabilitation. He rejects some offers to be the baseball coach and decides to return to Japan and keep playing baseball as a player specialized in hitting (hitter), running and guarding bases (fielder). Before leaving, Gorō promise Toshi he will meet him again on the field as batting opponents in Major League, and Sato promises to wait for Shigeno no matter how long it takes. Shigeno takes two years to train himself as a fielder and a hitter. Afterwards, he joins the Blue Oceans, and returns to being a professional player and becomes a hitter, inspiring his daughter and his son much like his dad did. In the end of the OVA, the dreams of the Shigeno family are seen hanging on the tree of wishes. Izumi, the daughter, dreams of hitting homeruns like her father. Daigo, the son, dreams of becoming a pro player. Shimizu dreams that everyone in the family is happy and healthy, and Gorō dreams to be #4 batter in Major League, making it his new goal so he can become a player who can do anything.Main characters
/- (Season 1) - Shotaro Morikubo (Rest of the anime)
- The story's main character, Honda Gorō a young talented baseball player at the age of 5. His love of the game stems from his father who played for the Yokohama Marine Stars. At the age of 3 his mother had died and from then on, he only had baseball and his father left. Wanting nothing more than to follow in his father's footsteps, he strives to become a professional ball player. Thriving on the challenge of the mound, he puts everything into the competition. He makes friends easily, as people are drawn to his personality and his excitement of the game. Though when the story first started, the only friend he had was Toshi due to the lack of interest for baseball around his town. Gorō believes the only way to make his father happy and forget baseball was to become a pro baseball player himself. Though tragedy struck Gorō at the age of 5, he had lost his mother and now his father after a horrible accident in a game against Major League pitcher Joe Gibson. Though he never really had a grudge against Gibson for the accident, Gorō decided he would join the Major Leagues someday and challenge Gibson. He was taken care of by Momoko, who was Gorō's teacher and his father's new lover. After Momoko and Hideki married, Gorō's name was changed to Shigeno Gorō. He initially pitched right-handed, but blew out his shoulder in senior Little League. Through the influence of Shigeno Hideki he switched to left-hand pitching (Southpaw). In junior high school he played at Mifune East. There he met old childhood friends Komori, Shimizu, and Sawamura. Initially when Gorō joined the baseball club of Mifune East, it was known to be one of the worst teams in the area. After Gorō came and solved some problems with the team, the team's reputation grew. He later went to Kaido High School with Toshiya, in order to improve his skills and gain the confidence to defeat the main team of Kaido. In the end, he left Kaido and went to Seishu High School and formed a baseball club to challenge Kaido high. While he never made it to Koshien, his excellent match against the Kaido High School earned him the attention of many professional baseball team's scouts. During his time at Seishu, Gorō was pitching with a ligament injury that which caused the balk in the defeat against Kaido. Later, he decided to go to America to challenge Gibson. Though at first he had some detours in America, having lost his bag, he was helped by Ginumachi. He was released by his first club due to a fight with Gibson Jr. during a minor league match. Though later he joined a Triple AAAA (baseball)Triple-A refers to the highest level of play in minor league baseball in the United States and Mexico.-Purpose:Triple-A teams' main purpose is to prepare players for the Major Leagues:...
team, the Memphis Bats. Leading them to their first championship win in 15 years. Striking out Gibson Jr. When he returned to Japan after the end of the minor league season he confessed his love for Shimizu. During the Baseball World Cup, he replaced the injured pitcher Noro, and played as an excellent closer. Even changing the it back to Japan's favor. Though in the finals, Gorō was hit for a walk-off home run by Joe Gibson Jr. and soon after he decided he may as well quit baseball. Though regathered his thoughts, and decides to keep playing, he states at the end of season 5 "Baseball is the only thing I have in the end." He has a strong start in the Majors, though was in form when he got the yips. In one game the yips made him throw a dead-ball at the batters head. To overcome his yips he was demoted back to the bats and went to Billy Oliver, a sports psychologist, for treatment. He used to only use the pitch gyroballGyroballA gyroball is a type of baseball pitch used primarily by players in Japan.-Overview:The gyroball pitch was first identified by the Japanese scientist Ryutaro Himeno , and later developed into a specific throwing technique by baseball instructor Gitau Kimani , who used computer simulations to create...
s ("rising fastball"), though beginning with the Baseball World Cup, he has successfully added gyrofork ("forkball") to his repertoire.
- Shigeharu is an up and coming baseball pitcher for the Marine Stars. He is a widower and lives with his son Gorō. An elbow injury threatens to end his baseball career early on until his friend and teammate, Shigeno, suggests that he try hitting. He was an exceptional pinch hitter before he turned pro, and is a natural in the batter's box. He works his way up from a pinch hitter to play first base for the Marine Stars. He later developed feelings for Gorō's teacher and were close to marriage. However, he tragically dies after being struck in the head by a pitch from Joe Gibson, an American pitcher that had come to Japan from the Major Leagues. It was said that Honda was part of a winning Koshien high school along with Shigeno. During his childhood days, he played for the Yokohama little league.
/
- Momoko was Gorō's nursery school teacher when he was younger. After Gorō left nursery school she dated his dad Shigeharu and was engaged to him at the time of his death. She adopted Gorō and raises him as a single parent until she marries Hideki Shigeno several years later. Her name changes to Momoko Shigeno. She later has children of her own, a boy named Shingo and a girl named Chiharu.
- (Season 1) - Masakazu MoritaMasakazu Moritais a seiyū and actor born in Tokyo, Japan. He currently works for Aoni Production. He is also the host of the radio show, Bleach B-Station. Morita is perhaps best known for his roles as Ichigo Kurosaki , Tidus , Auel Neider , Pegasus Seiya , Troy Bolton is a seiyū and actor born in Tokyo, Japan....
(Rest of the anime)
- Initially Sato was a boy who was forced by his mother to focus on his studies to become a responsible adult. While Gorō was playing catch by himself one time, he saw Toshi staring from his window. At first Toshi did not want to play catch with Gorō, but Gorō went to Toshi's house and convinced Toshi to play with him. He develops a love of the game equal to Gorō and becomes a talented catcher. Told by his mother that if he wanted to play baseball he had to play for the best team, Toshiya went to to play as a catcher for Yokohama Little League, which is the area's best team. Gorō runs into him again (Gorō moved away after he was adopted by his father's fiance) and the two begin a rivalry as strong as their friendship. He plays against Gorō on Yokohama Little and again as the catcher of Tomonoura Junior High School's team. In between the time, Toshiya's family abandoned him due to debt problems, and he began living with his grandparents. Swearing to go pro so he could one day repay the debt he has from his grandparents. At the Junior years Toshi wanted to get into Kaido High because he believed that was the best path to turn pro. He was later told by the Kaido scouts to give up so Gorō would join. Though Toshi had misunderstood Gorō's idea, and thought Gorō did not want to play baseball with him. After the defeat to Mifune East, Toshi regained his confidence in Gorō and wish that they would go to the same high school together and defeat Kaido. Later Gorō told Toshi to go to Kaido with him to improve their skills. They try out for Kaido High School's baseball team together with Komori and become team mates on Kaido's Junior Varsity team for a year and half. During his years in Kaido, Toshi had lost contact with Gorō after his departure from Kaido. And when Gorō finally meet Toshi again, Toshi had completely forgot of Gorō's team thinking they were only just surviving in the tournament. During the match against Seishu Toshi was confidence in defeating Gorō's team, though was amazed by Gorō pitching seemingly he was injured. Toshiya went on an amazing winning in the Koshien Tournament. Forming a battery with Mayumura and was Kaido's fourth batter. After high schoolhe had been scouted by the Tokyo Warriors team , and won the Best New Player award. During the Baseball World Cup, he first joined Team Japan as DH, but later took on the catcher mask. At first he had some trouble during the first match, though with Gorō's help Toshi's confidence slowly increased.
- Kaoru is in Gorō's class in elementary school and eventually begins to play little league baseball on the Mifune Dolphins Little League after an argument with Gorō where she sees his passion for the game. She was also the first person Gorō recuited to the Mifune Dolphins. In the finals against Yokahama, she was the catcher to replace the injured komori. Already in elementary school she began to have feelings for Gorō. In Junior High School she switches to softball and becomes captain of the Mifune East Junior High team. Seeming she still had a grugde against baseball because Gorō introduced it to her. Initially she plans to follow Gorō, whom she has a crush on, to Kaido High School. However, she changes her mind after she discovers Kaido does not have a softball team and after Gorō tells her to follow her love of softball. She attended Seishu High School, the one Gorō later attends. She told her litte brother Taiga to join Seishu's baseball club seeming the great "baseball fanatic" was there. After high school, she attended Kyowa University. During the winter break of her freshman year, Gorō confesses to Kaoru and they are going out. If Gorō was suggested as a baseball fanatic, Shimizu was said to be a softball fanatic. And now she is shown that she is married to Gorō and have two children.
- Joe Gibson is the man responsible for the death of Gorō's birth father. The incident remained a heavy cross weighed upon him, driving him to remain one of the top pitchers in the MLB so that Honda, by comparison, would be seen as an even greater player. Due to this incident, he began to have family probelms as his family was not fitting in Japan. His son Joe Gibson Jr. started to have a grudge against him as his son believed the reason for the family breakdown was created by Gibson and Honda Shigeharu. He later returned to America after the death of his wife and daughter. He continued pitching after the age of 40, and earning over 300 wins. He stated he was waiting for a Japanese boy to join the Major League to challenge him. For the Baseball World Cup, he was Team USA's ace pitcher, although at that time he was diagnosed with angina pectoris, and the doctor warned he might die if he continue pitching. However, Gibson may feel that dying on the mound pitching his best would be the only way to truly make up to Gorō, Momoko, and the deceased Honda. His surgery was successful. Gibson also stated "I too once had a great rival, though he is now dead because of me."
Supporting characters
- Komori was Honda's catcher since his earlier days as a little leaguer back when they were in Mifune Dolphins along with Sawamura and Shimizu. At first he was being bullied by Sawamura but was helped by Gorō and solved the problem. He continued to catch for Gorō when he returned from Fukuoka in Mifune East Middle School but ended when Mayumura eliminated them single-handedly in their game with Kaido Affiliate. In season 3 when Gorō left Kaido and entered Seishuu, they become rivals where Gorō eventually won. After High school, Komori went on to play for his Uni as their pinch hitter so far.
- Brother to Kaoru Shimizu. First seen back in Season 1 where he asked his sister if baseball was fun? Returned again in Season 3 as a new member of Seishuu Baseball Team where he played as a shortstop. With his excellent skill and speed, he helped Gorō in challenging Kaido. Besides that, he also helped to take over the mound when Gorō was injured by Egashira during their practice game with Kaido. He was a smartmouth kid who believed in defeat, but later changed his opinion after watching Gorō time and time again pitching with an injured foot. Later on he became the captain of the Seishuu Baseball Team to challenge Kaido once again with his new teammates. Declaring their goal is to win at Koshien. Though at first, he did not have the confidence and decided to learn throwing the gyroball so he could give new members the belief of going to Koshien. Though later Gorō told him that he should make a team that suited him rather than follow in Gorō's footsteps. He is the 1st batter (batting left-handed) and plays shortstop.
- Initially Ryota is a bully in elementary school, pushing Komori. Gorō and Shimizu stand up to him and he eventually backs down after Gorō hits him for trying to throw his baseball glove into the river. He soon realizes that he doesn't have any real friends and asks Gorō if he can play baseball with him, Shimizu and Komori. He started off playing soccer but changes to baseball so he could play in Little League with Gorō and the others. In junior high, he went back to soccer and was the captain of the team. In season 6, we learn that he injured his knee and could not continue playing. He remains friends with Komori, Shimizu, and Gorō.
- Introduced in the Junior High story arc, Yoshitaka Yamane is on the Mifune Junior High School team, but uses it to cut class with some other friends that follow him. He and his friends beat up Komori after he tells them that they have to quit if they aren't going to contribute to the team and frightened the remaining players into quitting, too. When Gorō returns and confronts him, Yamane reveals that he hates baseball because he cannot play it anymore. He was injured the year before and cannot throw the ball with his right arm. Gorō, who suffered a similar injury, teaches Yamane to throw left-handed and he rejoins the team, playing first base. He goes on to Mifune High School with Komori, where he becomes the pitcher.
- The son of Joe Gibson, Junior is of the same age as Gorō. When Junior's parents divorced because his mother could not stand life in Japan, whereas Gibson wanted to remain in Japan pitching until he had found out how to make up for killing Honda, Junior stayed with his father in Japan. When his mother and sister died in a traffic accident in America, Junior became resentful towards his father and the deceased Honda. His motivation to play baseball was fueled by the desire to defeat his father. He is an extremely talented batter, being able to switch hitSwitch hitterIn baseball, a switch-hitter is a player who bats both right-handed and left-handed.-Baseball:Usually, right-handed batters hit better against left-handed pitchers and vice-versa. Most curveballs break away from batters hitting from the same side as the opposing pitcher. Such pitches are often...
. He played for the AAA Oklahoma Falcons, the MLB team Texas Raiders, as well as the USA Team during the Baseball World Cup. He hit the walk-off home run against Gorō 103 mph pitch to lead USA to the world cup victory. He plays third base.
Mayumura Ken
- Introduced in season 2, he has a forward attitude. His personality is very direct and to the point, often coming off as cold. He appears to be in complete control of his emotions at all times, including when facing established and more experienced players. His pre-game ritual of sitting in a bathroom stall while listening to music is seen by others as getting him in the right frame of mind to pitch, but in actuality he does it because he is anxious and helps him focus his anxiety. His goals are to achieve all possible individual achievements in Japanese Baseball before moving onto the Majors. He currently plays for NPB's Yokohama Blue Oceans[Anime]/Orix Blue Wave[Manga] as a starting pitcher.
First Season
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Second Season
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Third Season
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Fourth Season
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Fifth Season
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Sixth Season
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Movie
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OVA
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Season one
- Opening (episodes 1-26): "Kokoro e (心絵 -- ココロエ)" by Road of Major (ロードオブメジャ)
- Ending (episodes 1-16): "Step" by Beni ArashiroBeni ArashiroBeni Daniels , is a Japanese pop and R&B singer-songwriter, who debuted in 2004 under the Avex Trax label under the name...
- Ending (episodes 17-25): "Faraway" by Paradise GO!! GO!!
- Ending (episode 26): "Kokoro e (心絵 -- ココロエ)" by Road of Major
Season two
- Opening (episodes 27-52): "Saraba Aoki Omokage (さらば碧き面影)" by Road of Major
- Ending (episodes 27-39): "Wonderland" by May
- Ending (episodes 40-51): "Shoboi Kao Sunnayo Baby (しょぼい顔すんなよベイベー)" by The Loose Dogs
- Ending (episode 52): "Saraba Aoki Omakage (さらば碧き面影)" by Road of Major
Season three
- Opening (episodes 53-77): "Play the Game" by Road of Major
- Ending (episodes 53-67): "Strike Party!!!Strike Party!!!"Strike Party!!!" is the second official single by BeForU with Avex Trax. It was released on January 17, 2007. Strike Party!!! is the ending of the 3rd season Anime TV series MAJOR.-CD Side:# Strike Party!!! - 4:00# BALA≠BALA - 3:42...
" by BeForUBeForUBeForU was an all female Japanese teen pop group who performed music primarily for the Bemani series of rhythm games. BeForU debuted in 2000 with their song "Dive", which was notable as being the first Japanese pop song in the Dance Dance Revolution series. BeForU was produced by Naoki Maeda, one... - Ending (episodes 68-77): "Yoru ni Nareba" by The Loose Dogs
- Ending (episode 78): "Play the Game" by Road of Major
Season four
- Opening (episode 80-103): "Rise" by Ootomo Kouhei
- Ending (episode 79-95): "One Day" by The Loose Dogs
- Ending (episode 96-103): "Ame nochi niji iro" by The Loose Dogs feat. Maki Oguro and Showtaro MorikuboShowtaro Morikubois a Japanese voice actor, and singer who has voiced characters in anime, drama CDs and video games. According to the Anime News Network and as of July 8, 2006, Morikubo has about 55 voice role credits under his name. He was formerly affiliated with I'm Enterprise.He was born in Hachiōji, Tokyo....
(Gorō Shigeno) - Ending (episode 104): "Rise" by Ootomo Kouhei
Season five
- Opening (episode 106-128): "Hey! Hey! Alright" by SCHA DARA PARRScha Dara Parr, or SDP for short, is a three-member Japanese hip-hop group that formed in 1988 and debuted in 1990. The group consists of two MCs, Bose and Ani, and one DJ, Shinco. In comparison to American gangsta rap, Scha Dara Parr lacks the hardcore machismo attitude. Scha Dara Parr is often compared to rap...
feat. Kaela KimuraKaela Kimura, born , is a Japanese pop rock singer, songwriter, model, and TV presenter.- Career :Born in Adachi, Tokyo, Japan to a British father and Japanese mother, Kaela started working as a model in 2002 for the Japanese magazine Seventeen... - Ending (episode 105-120): "Stay With Me" by Hitomi ShimataniHitomi Shimatani, is a female pop singer signed to the Avex Trax label.Shimatani started her career as an Enka singer with the release of her debut single in 1999, but later decided to get into the dance/pop style for her music. Shimatani's music has also appeared in video games and also anime series.- Early life...
- Ending (episode 121-128): "Jibun Color" (ジブンカラー) by Yu NakamuraYu Nakamurais a Japanese singer, professional model, and Japanese television personality. In 2005 she won the Japanese Miss Magazine Idol contest and won the "Jury's Special Award", 2005, after which she began appearing as a professional model and on various television shows. For a time she was reporter for...
- Ending (episode 129):"Kokoro e (心絵 -- ココロエ)" by Road of Major
Season six
- Opening (episode 131-): "Kokoro e (心絵 -- ココロエ)" by TRIPLANETriplaneA triplane is a fixed-wing aircraft equipped with three vertically-stacked wing planes. Tailplanes and canard foreplanes are not normally included in this count, although they may occasionally be.-Design principles:...
- Ending (episode 130-142): "Twilight Star" by Twilight Star by MegamassoMegamassois a Japanese visual kei rock band. Their sound is lively and upbeat, with a unique mix of punk, piano ballads, and pop rock.Formerly signed to NXSIE Records, they are now connected to Avex Group's HPQ label.- Biography :...
- Ending (episode 143-): "Zutto Mae Kara (ずっと 前から)" by French Kiss
- Ending (episode 154): "Kokoro e (心絵 -- ココロエ)" by Road of Major
Differences between the manga and anime version
- Team names
- The "Yokohama Marine Stars" in the manga became "Yokohama Blue Oceans" in the anime.
- The "Tokyo Shians" in the manga became "Tokyo Warriors" in the anime.
- Many violent scenes (mostly physical fighting) in the manga were either greatly toned down, or completely removed in the anime.
- The match between the Kaido Junior Varsity and Varsity teams
- In the manga, Toshiya Sato's home run in the 7th inning was worth 2 runs, placing the JV team in the lead. The 8th and 9th innings quickly ended without incident or anyone scoring.
- In the anime, Sato's home run was only a solo home run. Gorō gave up run in the 8th inning, but hit a 2-run home run off the Varsity team's ace pitcher and took back the lead. The 9th inning ended without either team scoring.
- In the manga, Mayumura was never on the field. In the anime, he helped to make a hit in the 8th inning, to see if Shigeno has the ability to follow up with a game-winning home run, instead of having to rely on Sato in the 9th inning.
- The birth of Chiharu and the retirement of Hideki Shigeno
- In the anime, the birth of Chiharu and the retirement of Hideki Shigeno both happened a few years later than the manga timeline.
- Ryoko Kawase
- Kawase's plot elements in Season 2 and 3 of the anime were not present in the original manga. In the manga, there was no mention of her after the little league match. Kaoru Shimizu decided to go to Seishu after Komori's encouragement; Taiga pitched the 300 practice sliders to Gorō with his injured hand.
- Ayane
- When Gorō first moved back to Mifune, and was asking directions to Mifune East, the person who gave the wrong directions in the manga was Yamane (intentionally). In the anime it was Ayane (unintentionally).
- Ayane's plot elements in Season 3 of the anime were not present in the original manga. In the manga, there was no mention of her after Gorō and Toshiya began school in Kaido.
External links
- Major Official website by Shōnen Sunday
- http://www3.nhk.or.jp/anime/majorMajor Official website by NHK
- Dramatic Baseball Movie Official website for the movie
- Major Coverage at SimCentral.NET
- Fansite : Major-France