TV Anime (39 Eps)

Nippon Herald / Animation 21

NHK

Drama

Comedy

Spring 1992

Oi! Ryoma

On an autumn night in 1835, Otome Sakamoto, the youngest daughter of the Sakamoto family, gazed at the sky as her mother brought new life into the world. Spotting a comet, feared as the fateful Tengu Star, she made a wish for the child to be born a boy, envisioning him as a strong samurai. In response to her wish, the comet glimmered softly, and a boy was born, with a mane of hair cascading down his back. Everyone is surprised by his appearance, but Otome chose to name him "Ryoma," a name combining the characters for dragon and horse.

However, contrary to Otome's hopes, Ryoma was a gentle soul, often labeled a crybaby and a coward. Each day brought the sting of bullying from neighborhood children, including Izou Okada, who mocked his curly hair. Terrible at studying, Ryoma also faced expulsion from his school. Yet, his greatest strength lay in his kind heart. As he forged friendships, he began to find his courage. But at the tender age of 12, tragedy struck when he witnesses the execution of his friend, ordered by the merciless feudal lord, Yodo Yamauchi. Fueled by rage, Ryoma confronts Yodo, only to be defeated. His life is spared thanks to his friends, but during his confinement, his mother mother, Sachi, succumbed to illness. This heartache, born from the divide between high-ranking samurai and local samurai, ignites a fierce determination within Ryoma. He dedicates himself to honing his swordsmanship, vowing to grow stronger and honor the memory of those he had lost.

OP: Damn Tears by Tetsuya Takeda

ED: A Step of the Wind by Tetsuya Takeda

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Oi! Ryoma (1986 Manga)