JoJo's Bizarre Hyakunin Isshu (ジョジョの奇妙な百人一首, JoJo no Kimyō na Hyakunin Isshu) is a card game that uses lines from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure as Hyakunin Isshu-style poems, released by Bandai on February 29, 2008.
A second set, JoJo's Bizarre Hyakunin Isshu Due (ジョジョの奇妙な百人一首 ドゥーエ, JoJo no Kimyō na Hyakunin Isshu Dūe), released on December 15, 2008. A compilation of the first two sets, JoJo's Bizarre Hyakunin Isshu: The World ~Parts 1-7 Compilation~ (ジョジョの奇妙な百人一首
Summary
In Hyakunin Isshu, each poem has an upper verse and a lower verse. The reader reads aloud the upper verse from a reading card. The players then try to quickly identify and grab the corresponding lower verse card, or grabbing card, from a spread of 100 cards laid out in front of them. The grabbing cards feature the matching second half of the JoJo quote, turning it into a competitive memory and reflex game.
The first two JoJo's Bizarre Hyakunin Isshu sets each include 200 cards in total: 100 reading cards and 100 grabbing cards. There are 100 different poems, all selected from actual lines in the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure manga, featuring 100 iconic scenes and quotes. The upper-verse cards are printed in color with illustrations from the manga, and the included booklet, "Hyakunin Isshu Guidebook" (百人一首のしおり, Hyakunin Isshu no Shiori), provides detailed explanations for each poem. Both sets also come with a "Recreational-use" CD of the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure fan Kendo Kobayashi reading the poems aloud. In addition, a "Competition-use CD" where only the upper verses were read by Kobayashi was offered with preorders as a limited bonus.
The project was developed by Mayuko Kondo. When asked about the origin of the project, she said it began after she witnessed participants at a JoJo's Bizarre Adventure trading card tournament shouting out Kars quotes as they played. That inspired the idea that "there must be a lot of fans who want to say the quotes themselves." She explained that this led to the concept of making a product focused on the lines, eventually choosing the more complex Hyakunin Isshu format over traditional karuta. As for why Kendo Kobayashi was chosen to read the lines on the CDs, Kondo explained she saw him on the TV show Ametalk! appearing as a "JoJo comedian." Through comedian Hiroshi Tamura of the comedy duo Kirin, who attended the card game tournament as a fan, they were able to get in touch with Kobayashi and make it happen. They had 470 quote candidates but had to narrow them down to 100. After the first set released, many JoJo fans asked for a sequel.[7]
First Set
This edition is composed of lines from Phantom Blood, Battle Tendency, and Stardust Crusaders. It was sold exclusively through Bandai's official online shop, B★SHOP, as a made-to-order item. Preorders were accepted from November 18, 2007, to January 15, 2008. The price was 6,300 yen. The CDs featured art of Jotaro Kujo from Chapter 205's cover and DIO from the cover of Volume 27.
On the official website, a mini-game became playable starting January 12, 2008. The lines used in this mini-game were famous quotes that didn't make the final cut for the main selection.
Second Set (Due)
This set features lines from Diamond is Unbreakable, Vento Aureo, and Stone Ocean. Preorders were taken via the Carddass Shop from August 11 to October 7, 2008. Like the first set, the price was 6,300 yen. The CDs were based on Whitesnake's DISCs, featuring art of Jotaro and Star Platinum. The box is covered in black washi paper as the base and designed with illustrations by Hirohiko Araki stamped in gold foil.
Compilation Set (The World)
As a compilation edition, this set includes lines from Parts 1 through 7, adding Steel Ball Run lines which the previous sets didn't have. Pre-orders were accepted from June 1 to August 2, 2010, as a made-to-order limited production. The price was 7,777 yen. This release also included a PC-exclusive "Hyakunin Isshu Battle Game CD" containing all 200 poems from the first and second sets, and a wrist-training item modeled after the Steel Ball that appears in Steel Ball Run. The CDs have designs based on the Steel Ball as well, whereas the PC game's CD has art of the Stone Mask and Arrow.
JoJo's Bizarre Hyakunin Isshu Tournament
On September 13, 2008, a "JoJo's Bizarre Hyakunin Isshu Tournament" was held at Bandai's headquarters in Taito Ward, Tokyo. For this event, they invited about 130 people who pre-ordered JoJo's Bizarre Hyakunin Isshu Due online. Kendo Kobayashi appeared as a guest and enjoyed the event with the participants.
Talk Show and Videos
Before the tournament, they held a development talk show with Kendo Kobayashi and Mayuko Kondo at the stage. The event's MC was named "D'Arby the Hyakunin Isshu Player". Afterward, they showed a video message from Hiroshi Tamura, who brought Kondo and Kobayashi together. In addition, a clip was shown of comedian Motohiro Takewaka from Buffalo Goro, also known for appearing as a "JoJo comedian" on the same TV show as Kobayashi, playing Hyakunin Isshu while intensely reciting quotes.[7]
Next, photos were shown of Kendo Kobayashi during the recording of JoJo's Bizarre Hyakunin Isshu Due. Hirohiko Araki himself visited the studio during the session. A video message recorded during that visit was then played for the audience. It was also announced that the winner of the tournament would receive a copy of JoJo's Bizarre Hyakunin Isshu featuring an original hand-drawn illustration of Giorno Giovanna and autograph by Araki. The runner-up received a signed copy from Kendo Kobayashi, while the third and fourth place winners were awarded autographed boards with messages from Kobayashi.[7]
Commentary from Hirohiko Araki
Hirohiko Araki's Comment
The first set, JoJo's Bizarre Hyakunin Isshu, ended up being well-received for some reason (laughs), and I'm honestly really grateful for that. Now that the second set, JoJo's Bizarre Hyakunin Isshu Due, is being released, I'm truly happy. Even people who haven't read the original manga can enjoy it just by reading the upper and lower verses. It's funny, and it feels really well made (laughs). I felt like it stands on its own as a complete work.
The quotes really are iconic. And I'm not trying to praise myself here, because honestly, I've forgotten what I even drew (laughs). So when I look at it now, it feels like someone else's work, but I think it's a Hyakunin Isshu full of masterpieces. Kendo Kobayashi's readings are also really great.第1弾の「ジョジョの奇妙な百人一首」がなんか知らないけど、好評だったということで(笑)、本当感謝ですね。さらに第2弾「ジョジョの奇妙な百人一首ドゥーエ」を発売するということで、本当にうれしいです。原作を読んでいない方でも、上の句と下の句を読んでいるだけでおもしろくて、できがいいなって感じです(笑)。1つの作品として完成されていると、思いました。
ホントに名ゼリフなんですよ。別に、自画自賛じゃないんですよ。何故なら、僕は描いたことをもう忘れているんで(笑)。だから、他人の作品のように見ているんですが、傑作ぞろいの百人一首だと思います。ケンドーコバヤシさんの詠みもすごくいいですTournament Rules and Results
The tournament was held using a custom ruleset called the "Windknight's Lot Tournament Rules," based on the "scattered" (お散らし, ochirashi) style of traditional Hyakunin Isshu, where all the cards are scattered randomly. From the first to the third rounds, the first to claim three cards advanced to the next round, while in the final, victory went to the first player to claim five cards.
Kendo Kobayashi also joined the first round. Before the match began, he said, "I'm planning to make it a quick match and go for an instant win." However, he struggled to grab any cards and repeatedly shouted he was too slow to find them, only managing to claim one card. Thus, he retired in the first round. He mentioned afterward that he had played privately about 50 times and only lost once, but must have lost in the tournament out of nerves.
The JoJo's Bizarre Hyakunin Isshu Tournament began with D'Arby calling "Are you ready?" and the players responding with "Bene!" As a joke rule, players were warned: "The use of Stands is prohibited. If a judge catches you using one, consequences may include breaking your fingers."
All four finalists were women, much to D'Arby's astonishment. Among them was a woman wearing a familiar purple school uniform. When D'Arby asked her name and where she was from, she replied, "I'm Yukako Yamagishi from Morioh," drawing the loudest cheer of the day from the audience. The match was intense, with the players taking and retaking cards in rapid succession. In the end, the winner was a participant from Tokyo, who commented, "Everyone was so strong. It was tough just to stay in the game. But I'm glad I won."[7]
Gallery
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JoJo's Bizarre Hyakunin Isshu Box Cover -
JoJo's Bizarre Hyakunin Isshu Due Box Cover -
JoJo's Bizarre Hyakunin Isshu: The World Box Cover -
JoJo's Bizarre Hyakunin Isshu: The World Box -
JoJo's Bizarre Hyakunin Isshu: The World Cards -
JoJo's Bizarre Hyakunin Isshu: The World Guidebook -
JoJo's Bizarre Hyakunin Isshu: The World CDs -
Steel Ball
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Kendo Kobayashi (JoJo's Bizarre Hyakunin Isshu) -
Kendo Kobayashi (JoJo's Bizarre Hyakunin Isshu Due)
Trivia
- The manga artist of Fullmetal Alchemist, Hiromu Arakawa, claimed that she played the CD of JoJo's Bizarre Hyakunin Isshu at her workplace and that her assistants could recite it by heart without even having read JoJo.[8]
References
- ↑ 「ジョジョの奇妙な百人一首」発売
- ↑ ジョジョの奇妙な百人一首
- ↑ 「ジョジョの奇妙な百人一首 ドゥーエ」発売
- ↑ 百人一首大会ドゥーエ | mixi
- ↑ 「ジョジョの奇妙な百人一首 世界（ザ・ワールド）～第 1～7 部総集編～」発売
- ↑ ジョジョの奇妙な百人一首 世界（ザ・ワールド）第１-７部総集編
- ↑ Jump up to: 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 "魂をかけよう！ ケンコバさんも参加した「ジョジョの奇妙な百人一首大会」", Dengeki Online, September 16, 2008.
- ↑ Hirohiko Araki x Hiromu Arakawa (July 2011)
