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The Hero Yoshihiko

Original title: Yûsha Yoshihiko
  • TV Series
  • 2011– 2011–
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
418
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
30,005
8,056
The Hero Yoshihiko (2011)
AdventureComedyFantasy
A pure young man named Yoshihiko becomes chosen as a hero, and he sets out on a journey in order to save a village from a mysterious plague.A pure young man named Yoshihiko becomes chosen as a hero, and he sets out on a journey in order to save a village from a mysterious plague.A pure young man named Yoshihiko becomes chosen as a hero, and he sets out on a journey in order to save a village from a mysterious plague.
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
418
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
30,005
8,056
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Stars
      • Takayuki Yamada
      • Haruka Kinami
      • Tsuyoshi Muro
    Top credits
    • Stars
      • Takayuki Yamada
      • Haruka Kinami
      • Tsuyoshi Muro
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 2User reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • Episodes12

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated
    1 Season
    2011

    Photos14

    Shin Takuma and Haruka Kinami in The Hero Yoshihiko (2011)
    Takayuki Yamada and Tsuyoshi Muro in The Hero Yoshihiko (2011)
    Jirô Satô in The Hero Yoshihiko (2011)
    The Hero Yoshihiko (2011)
    Takayuki Yamada in The Hero Yoshihiko (2011)
    Azusa Okamoto in The Hero Yoshihiko (2011)
    Hana Inoue and Narushi Fukuda in The Hero Yoshihiko (2011)
    Takuji Kawakubo in The Hero Yoshihiko (2011)
    Haruka Kinami in The Hero Yoshihiko (2011)
    Hidekazu Nagae and Haruka Kinami in The Hero Yoshihiko (2011)
    Takafumi Ozeki in The Hero Yoshihiko (2011)
    Naomi Watanabe and Takayuki Yamada in The Hero Yoshihiko (2011)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Takayuki Yamada
    Takayuki Yamada
    • Yoshihiko
    12 episodes12 eps • 2011
    Haruka Kinami
    Haruka Kinami
    • Murasaki
    12 episodes12 eps • 2011
    Tsuyoshi Muro
    Tsuyoshi Muro
    • Merebu
    12 episodes12 eps • 2011
    Azusa Okamoto
    • Hisa
    12 episodes12 eps • 2011
    Jirô Satô
    Jirô Satô
    • Hotoke
    12 episodes12 eps • 2011
    Shin Takuma
    Shin Takuma
    • Danjo
    12 episodes12 eps • 2011
    Ryûsei Nakao
    Ryûsei Nakao
    • Demon King…
    12 episodes12 eps • 2011
    Shin'ya Kaneko
    • Akimo's Minion…
    3 episodes3 eps • 2011
    Yûichi Fukuda
    Yûichi Fukuda
    • Director…
    2 episodes2 eps • 2011
    Arata Furuta
    Arata Furuta
    • Thief E
    2 episodes2 eps • 2011
    Kôtarô Shiga
    • Ozaru
    2 episodes2 eps • 2011
    Keisuke Nomura
    • Raccoon Man's Minion…
    2 episodes2 eps • 2011
    Kitarô
    • Rotosuke…
    2 episodes2 eps • 2011
    Tarô Kamakura
    • High Priest…
    2 episodes2 eps • 2011
    Haruna Uechi
    Haruna Uechi
    • Thief E's Wife
    2 episodes2 eps • 2011
    Hiroshi Ohkôchi
    • Butler
    2 episodes2 eps • 2011
    Shun Oguri
    Shun Oguri
    • Bakkasu
    1 episode1 ep • 2011
    Gô Ayano
    Gô Ayano
    • Centaur
    1 episode1 ep • 2011
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The show is heavily influenced and spoofs the Enix (now Square-Enix) role playing series Dragon Quest. Many monsters and series tropes appear in the series. The Hero Yoshihiko appearance resembles that of the hero from Dragon Quest V.
    • Connections
      Followed by The Hero Yoshihiko and the Key of the Evil Spirit (2012)
    • Soundtracks
      Ebo - Reboryushon
      (opening theme)

      Performed by mihimaru GT

    User reviews2

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    A Janapense Monthy Python of RPGs.
    I think a good way to describe this series is "Japanese Monty Python of RPGs", the satire being about RPG and hero stories clichés. It does it very well with its random takes.

    In this series, there is the Buddha. Now, how one imagines him? Calm, composed, enlightened; his devotees, respectful ad dutiful. No.

    The Buddha talks angrily after appearing in the sky and Yoshihiko can only see him with 3D glasses; the "instructions" and "directions" given to the heroes are vague and, of course, called out and questioned; the bandits that appear to fight the heroes are normal people with jobs or thugs with delusions of grandeur; conversations derail and get weird meanings thanks to bad delivery from the characters; people follow each other and contribute to "causes" based on petty desires.

    However, all of this is satirized: the clueless of the hero who can only see "duty" until it blinds him to every other aspect of life and eventually gets constrained in it -- all a façade since neither he or anyone else actually knows his quest, and he succumbs too easily to carnal desires; the brawniness of the sidekick who can't solve anything that doesn't involve a fight; revengeful desires that only lead to thoughtlessness; the inefficiency of a mage without intelligence. All we would see "played straight" in a series is subverted.

    The scenes also are not drawn out, meaning you never get tired of the segments since they all mean something different.

    This is all done without much CG -- cheap practical effects all the way -- but when it's used, it's absolutely essential, such as when the Buddha appears or a little sparkle... sparkles.

    Although an extensive knowledge of RPGs isn't necessary to appreciate this masterpiece, it can only be fully savoured with at least one hands-on experience with these games. In this case, a good 'subtitler' should put translator notes to help others navigate the series (I needed this a lot, thankfully I had the notes).

    This is not a lengthy and well-thought review, it's more of an encouragement to appreciate this work.
    helpful•3
    0
    • kayaksan
    • Feb 1, 2020

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 8, 2011 (Japan)
    • Country of origin
      • Japan
    • Language
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • The Hero Yoshihiko and the Demon King's Castle
    • Filming locations
      • Shonai, Yamagata, Japan
    • Production companies
      • Dentsu
      • East Entertainment
      • TV Tokyo
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1

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