侍ジャイアンツ

Samurai Giants (侍ジャイアンツ) is a Japanese manga series written by Ikki Kajiwara and illustrated by Kou Inoue. It was serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine from 1976 #36 to 1974 #42, and later compiled into 16 tankobon volumes. An anime adaptation by A Productions aired on Nippon TV from October 7, 1973, to September 29, 1974, for 46 episodes. The story is set in Showa Year 45 (1970), and follows Ban Banjou, a wild and insolent boy raised on the rough seas of Tosa in southern Japan. He joins the Tokyo Yomiuri Giants as their ace pitcher, known for his blazing fastball but poor control. He develops incredible pitching techniques through fierce battles with rival batters. Samurai Giants is a passionate sports manga that portrays the protagonist's growth and challenging spirit. A Blu-ray version of the anime has also been released, along with art books and setting collections.