The Way of the Househusband
The Way of the Househusband | |
![]() Japanese volume 1 cover, featuring Tatsu | |
極主夫道 (Gokushufudō) | |
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Genre | |
Manga | |
Written by | Kousuke Oono |
Published by | Shinchosha |
English publisher | |
Imprint | Bunch Comics |
Magazine | Kurage Bunch |
Demographic | Seinen |
Original run | February 23, 2018 – present |
Volumes | 7 |
Television drama | |
Directed by | Toichiro Ruto |
Written by | Manabu Uda |
Music by | Eishi Segawa |
Studio | FINE Entertainment |
Original network | Nippon TV |
Original run | October 11, 2020 – December 13, 2020 |
Episodes | 10 |
Original net animation | |
Directed by | Chiaki Kon |
Written by | Susumu Yamakawa |
Music by | Gin |
Studio | J.C.Staff |
Licensed by | Netflix |
Released | April 8, 2021 – present |
Runtime | 16–19 minutes |
Episodes | 5 |
The Way of the Househusband (Japanese: 極主夫道, Hepburn: Gokushufudō) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kousuke Oono. Published in the online manga magazine Kurage Bunch since 2018, The Way of the Househusband follows an ex-yakuza boss who retires from crime to become a househusband. The series was adapted into a live-action television drama by Nippon TV in 2020. A Netflix original net animation (ONA) anime series produced by J.C.Staff was released in April 2021. A second part of the anime has been announced.
Synopsis[]
Tatsu, an infamous and feared yakuza boss nicknamed "the Immortal Dragon", retires from crime to become a househusband so that he can support Miku, his kyariaūman wife. The episodic series depicts a variety of comedic scenarios, typically wherein Tatsu's banal domestic work as a househusband is juxtaposed against his intimidating personality and appearance, and his frequent run-ins with former yakuza associates and rivals.
Characters[]
- Tatsu (龍)
- Portrayed by: Kenjiro Tsuda (promotional video and anime) (Japanese);[4][5] Jonah Scott (English), Hiroshi Tamaki (drama)[6]
- A former yakuza boss who applies the skill and intensity he possessed as a crime lord to housework and domestic tasks as a househusband.
- Miku (美久)
- Portrayed by: Maaya Sakamoto (promotional video),[4] Shizuka Itō (anime) (Japanese);[7] Laura Post (English), Haruna Kawaguchi (drama)[8]
- A career-focused designer with a strong work ethic, and Tatsu's wife. She is secretly an otaku. In the TV drama, Miku has a daughter named Himawari (ひまわり).
- Masa (雅)
- Portrayed by: Kenichi Suzumura (promotional video),[9] Kazuyuki Okitsu (anime) (Japanese);[7] Andres Paul Ramacho (English), Jun Shison (drama)[10]
- An underling in Tatsu's former gang. He often unwittingly comes to assist Tatsu in his chores and errands.
- Torajirō (虎二郎)
- Portrayed by: Yoshimasa Hosoya (promotional video and anime) (Japanese);[11][12] Ben Pronsky (English), Kenichi Takitō (drama)[10]
- A former yakuza boss. Tatsu dismantled his gang while he was in prison, and he now owns a food truck that sells crêpes.
- Hibari Torii (酉井雲雀)
- Portrayed by: Atsuko Tanaka (anime) (Japanese);[12] Melissa Greenspan (English); Izumi Inamori (drama)[10]
- Gin (銀)
- Portrayed by: Yuki Kaji (drama spinoff),[13] M.A.O (anime) (Japanese);[12] Laura Stahl (English)
- Young Yakuza Lieutenant (むヤクザの若頭)
- Portrayed by: Jun Fukushima (anime);[12] Billy Kametz (English)
- Chairperson (の会長)
- Portrayed by: Kimiko Saitō (anime);[12] Barbara Goodson (English)
- Policemen (をする警官)
- Portrayed by: Masashi Nogawa and Junichi Yanagita (anime) (Japanese);[12] Keith Silverstein (English), Junpei Yasui and Yūta Furukawa (drama)[14][10]
- Former Yakuza Boss (組長のおやじ)
- Portrayed by: Hōchū Ōtsuka (anime) (Japanese);[12] Jason Marnocha (English), Naoto Takenaka (drama)[10]
Media[]
Manga[]
The Way of the Househusband, written and illustrated by Kousuke Oono, was initially published on the Shinchosha's online manga magazine Kurage Bunch as a five chapter limited series from February 23 to March 23, 2018,[15][16] but became popular enough to be serialized as an ongoing series, starting on May 18 of the same year.[17][3] It has been collected into seven tankōbon volumes by Shinchosha.
In North America, Viz Media announced it had acquired the rights to publish an English-language translation of the series in February 2019, the first volume of which was published in September of that year.[18]
No. | Original release date | Original ISBN | English release date | English ISBN |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | August 8, 2018[19] | 978-4-10-772104-4 | September 17, 2019[20] | 978-1-9747-1389-9 |
2 | December 7, 2018[21] | 978-4-10-772137-2 | January 21, 2020[22] | 978-1-9747-1044-7 |
3 | June 8, 2019[23] | 978-4-10-772191-4 | May 19, 2020[24] | 978-1-9747-1346-2 |
4 | December 9, 2019[25] | 978-4-10-772238-6 | September 15, 2020[26] | 978-1-9747-1767-5 |
5 | June 9, 2020[27] | 978-4-10-772291-1 | May 18, 2021[28] | 978-1-9747-2177-1 |
6 | November 9, 2020[29] | 978-4-10-772338-3 | September 21, 2021[30] | 978-1-9747-2461-1 |
7 | March 9, 2021[31] | 978-4-10-772368-0 | — | — |
8 | September 9, 2021[32] | 978-4-10-772419-9 | — | — |
Promotional videos[]
External video | |
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Multiple motion comic videos have been produced to promote the release of the series' tankōbon volumes. The videos feature Kenjiro Tsuda as the voice of Tatsu, Kenichi Suzumura as the voice of Masa, Yoshimasa Hosoya as the voice of Torajiro, and Subaru Kimura as the voice of G-Goda.[33][9][11][34]
In December 2019, a live-action promotional video adapting scenes from The Way of the Househusband was produced to commemorate the series reaching 1.2 million copies in print.[4] The video stars Tsuda reprising his role as Tatsu and Maaya Sakamoto as Miku, and is co-directed by Tsuda and Hayato Yazaki.[35]
Television drama[]
On July 8, 2020, Nippon TV announced that it would adapt The Way of the Househusband into a live-action television drama, which premiered in October 2020. The series stars Hiroshi Tamaki as Tatsu,[6] is produced by , and features as director and as screenplay writer.[36]
On July 29, 2021, Netflix announced that another live-action adaptation, The Ingenuity of the Househusband, would release on August 29, 2021, starring Kenjiro Tsuda as Tatsu, who previously voiced the character in the anime adaptation and the manga's promotional videos.[37]
Anime[]
At the Netflix Anime Festival on October 26, 2020, an original net animation (ONA) anime series adaptation of The Way of the Househusband was announced. The series is produced by J.C.Staff and directed by Chiaki Kon, with Susumu Yamakawa handling the series' scripts. Kenjiro Tsuda reprised his role as Tatsu from the manga promotional videos.[5] The series was released on April 8, 2021.[38] A second part of the series has been announced.[39]
Episode list[]
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Original release date | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part 1 | ||||||||||||
1 | 1 | "Episode 1" | April 8, 2021 | |||||||||
Miku rushes off to work but forgets her bento. Tatsu tracks down a Policure Blu-ray for Miku’s birthday. Gin takes a walk around the neighborhood. | ||||||||||||
2 | 2 | "Episode 2" | April 8, 2021 | |||||||||
Masa realizes that housewives — and househusbands — have a lot in common with the yakuza. Tatsu takes a yoga class and thoroughly enjoys himself. | ||||||||||||
3 | 3 | "Episode 3" | April 8, 2021 | |||||||||
Tatsu and Masa bump into Torajiro, a fellow ex-gangster now running a crepe truck. The cops grow suspicious of Tatsu’s balcony herb garden. | ||||||||||||
4 | 4 | "Episode 4" | April 8, 2021 | |||||||||
Miku’s dad tries to bond with Tatsu over a game of catch. A cockroach infiltrates the apartment. The Immortal Claus stops by a kids’ Christmas party. | ||||||||||||
5 | 5 | "Episode 5" | April 8, 2021 | |||||||||
Tatsu takes a part-time job at a cafe. Then he bumps into a deceased yakuza boss’s wife, who’s now working at the supermarket. It’s Tatsu’s birthday! |
Reception[]
Critical reception[]
The Way of the Househusband has been positively received by critics. Reviewing the first volume of the series for Polygon, writer Julia Lee called The Way of the Househusband "the perfect blend of comedy and action" and "a nice, silly pick-me-up manga."[40] Anime News Network gave the series 4.5 out of 5 stars, calling it "confident and expertly paced, with gorgeous artwork and perfect comic timing."[41] Conversely, Reuben Baron of Comic Book Resources summarized the series as having a "cute premise, but not one with a ton of variation," though he offered praise for the quality of its art.[3]
The anime series, while originally highly anticipated, was heavily criticized for its limited animation, which resembled a motion comic rather than anime.[42] Meanwhile in the Chinese version which was released on bilibili, the tattoos were completely removed due to television censorship in China.[43]
Sales[]
1.2 million copies of The Way of the Househusband are in print as of December 2019.[4] In Oricon's sales rankings, the first volume of The Way of the Househusband had sold 95,637 copies as of September 2018,[44] while the second volume had sold 143,051 copies as of January 2019.[45] The first volume of the English-language translation of the series placed sixteenth in Nielsen BookScan's best-selling graphic novels for adults in September 2019.[46]
Awards[]
Year | Category | Institution or publication | Result | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | Best Overall Series | Pixiv Comic Ranking | Won | [47] | |
2018 | Best Comedy Series | Pixiv Comic Ranking | Won | [47] | |
2018 | Best Web Manga Series | Next Manga Awards | Runner-up | [48] | |
2018 | Annual Ranking | Web Manga General Election | Ninth Place | [49] | |
2018 | Annual Ranking | Nationwide Bookstore Employees' Recommended Comics of 2018 | Second Place | [50] | |
2019 | Best Series for Male Readers | Kono Manga ga Sugoi! | Eighth Place | [51] | |
2020 | Best Humor Publication | Eisner Awards | Won | English-language translation by Viz Media | [52] |
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Viz Media Announces New Manga Acquisitions Set to Debut This Fall". Viz Media via Anime News Network. February 15, 2019. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
THE WAY OF THE HOUSEHUSBAND is an action-packed comedy about a former yakuza legend trying to lead a law-abiding, domestic life as a househusband.
- ^ "The Way of the Househusband". Viz Media. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Baron, Reuben (14 September 2019). "REVIEW: The Way of the Househusband Vol. 1 is Cute, But One-Note". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d "「極主夫道」実写PV公開、津田健次郎主演&監督で坂本真綾が妻の声を担当". Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Retrieved 17 January 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Morrissy, Kim (October 26, 2020). "Way of the Househusband Manga Gets 2021 Anime Series Starring Kenjiro Tsuda". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "玉木宏が「極主夫道」に主演、"元極道の専業主夫"に". Cinema Cafe (in Japanese). 8 July 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Way of the Househusband Anime's Trailer Reveals 2 Cast Members, April 8 Netflix Global Debut". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
- ^ <川口春奈>「極主夫道」で玉木宏の妻に 「お出掛けしたり、お家シーン楽しみ」. Yahoo! Japan (in Japanese). 30 July 2020. Archived from the original on 18 September 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "「極主夫道」2巻PVで元舎弟役に鈴村健一!津田健次郎演じる龍の洗濯技に感動". Comic Natalie. 30 November 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e "Live-Action Way of the Househusband Show Casts Naoto Takenaka, Izumi Inamori". animenewsnetwork.com. 21 September 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "「極主夫道」新作PV公開、細谷佳正が元武闘派ヤクザのクレープ屋に". Comic Natalie. 6 December 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g "Way of the Househusband Anime Adds 8 Cast Members". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
- ^ "Yuuki Kaji, Hiro Shimono Star in Live-Action Way of the Househusband Spinoff About Family Cat". Anime News Network. 2020-11-23. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
- ^ "Live-Action Way of the Househusband Show Reveals More Cast, Theme Song Artist". Anime News Network. 2020-09-28. Retrieved 2021-04-08.
- ^ 第1回. Kurage Bunch (in Japanese). Shinchosha. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
- ^ 第5回. Kurage Bunch (in Japanese). Shinchosha. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
- ^ 元・最凶ヤクザ、主夫の道を極めるコメディ「極主夫道」が本連載化. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. May 18, 2018. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
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- ^ "The Way of the Househusband, Vol. 1". Viz Media. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
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- ^ "The Way of the Househusband, Vol. 2". Viz Media. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
- ^ 極主夫道 3巻. Shinchosha (in Japanese). Retrieved 6 January 2020.
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- ^ 極主夫道 8巻. Shinchosha (in Japanese).
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- ^ Dupree, Nicholas; Jones, Steve (April 15, 2021). "This Week in Anime - Househusbandly Duties". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
- ^ "The Way of the Househusband: Censorship Is the Latest of the Netflix Anime's Troubles". CBR. 2021-04-17. Retrieved 2021-05-29.
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- ^ Ressler, Karen (February 4, 2019). "Japan's Bookstore Employees Rank Top Manga of 2018". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
- ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (December 8, 2017). "Kono Manga ga Sugoi! Reveals 2018's Series Ranking for Male Readers". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
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External links[]
- Official website (in Japanese)
- The Way of the Househusband on Netflix
- The Way of the Househusband (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
- Manga series
- Japanese television dramas based on manga
- 2018 manga
- 2020 Japanese television series debuts
- 2020 Japanese television series endings
- 2021 anime ONAs
- Action anime and manga
- Anime series based on manga
- Comedy anime and manga
- Cooking in anime and manga
- Japanese-language Netflix original programming
- J.C.Staff
- Netflix original anime
- Nippon TV dramas
- Seinen manga
- Shinchosha manga
- Slice of life anime and manga
- Viz Media manga
- Works about the Yakuza
- Yakuza in anime and manga