Bloody Monday (manga)

is a Japanese manga series written by Ryumon Ryo and illustrated by Megumi Koji. The series had been serialized in ''Weekly Shōnen Magazine'' by ''Kodansha'' from March 2007 to April 2009, with individual chapters collected into eleven ''tankōbon'' volumes as of May 15, 2009, ending with a total of 96 chapters. The manga was turned into a drama series, which premiered on October 11, 2008, and starred Haruma Miura. On October 14, 2009, the manga's second season was released. and the second season of the drama adaptation began airing on January 23, 2010. Kodansha's USA division released the first volume in June 2011.

Plot

A Russian spy is discovered dead in Japan, with the only evidence to his death being a memory chip he managed to conceal from his killer. The Public Security Intelligence Agency Agency's Third-I section hires Fujimaru Takagi, a skilled hacker known as "Falcon," to decipher the chip, which includes a video file depicting a viral epidemic in Russia that kills thousands, known as the Christmas Massacre.

Things become even more complicated when Fujimaru's father, a high-ranking officer inside Third-I, is wrongfully suspected of murdering his supervisor after learning more about the Christmas Massacre, later receiving the code name "Bloody Monday."

Maya Orihara, the terrorist responsible for the incident in Russia, is currently in Tokyo in order to recover the memory stick and prevent Third-I from learning the truth about the terrorist plan in Japan. She disguises herself as a teacher at Fujimaru Takagi's High School. From there, Fujimaru struggles to know who he can trust as he utilises his high-level hacking abilities to try to save the country and solve the mystery of Bloody Monday and the cult behind it.

Characters

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: A 2nd year high school student and a member of the Newspaper Club. Unbeknownst to everyone (except his father, the PSIA, and the Newspaper Club), he is also ''Falcon'', the hacker a genius who hacks into corrupt people's computers and exposes their crimes h is exceptional computer abilities are a bequest from his late mother, who taught Fujimaru how to operate a computer before her death. Fujimaru is depicted in the second season living a somewhat regular life, working at a café and preparing to pass the college entrance tests, which he had failed once - on purpose, as Otoya put it. Because of the events of Bloody Monday, he appeared to have put his hacking days behind him. It was later revealed that he was still working as a hacker for Third-I, and that his café manager was also a member of Third-I. In Season 2, however, he prevents a plane from flying into the National Diet building, a nuclear catastrophe, and a terrorist organisation from taking the Pandora Box. It is revealed in the second season that he was introduced to hacking through Peter Pan (who is one of the terrorists). He later develops feelings for Hibiki at the end of Season 2. ''Portrayed by:'' Haruma Miura (TV drama)

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: One of eight identical humans created from genetic material taken from male and female agents with the top results over three generations of agents who had gone through the facility. She later develops romantic feelings for Fujimaru when he tells her she is more than just a clone.

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: The person responsible for the Christmas Massacre and the procurement of the "Bloody-X" virus in Russia. When she returned to Japan, she disguised herself as a biology teacher at Mishiro Academy High School to monitor Fujimaru Takagi. Considering she is a cold and calculated murderer who doesn't care who dies to attain her goal. Eventually revealed to be a paid mercenary for the main terrorist group, with just the money given to her form the mission in mind. She survived the experience as a whole, but she does not acquire the money she was anticipating, much to her dismay. She subsequently reappears in the second season, working for an as-yet unidentified organisation opposed to the major antagonists, prompting her to throw her support to a sceptical Fujimaru. ''Portrayed by:'' Michiko Kichise (TV drama)

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: A third-year student, President of the Newspaper Club, and an accomplished archer who has ranked second at the national level. He is Fujimaru Takagi's childhood friend and "back up" - having been informed of every exploit Fujimaru Takagi undertakes as Falcon. He was the only person outside of Third-I who knew of Fujimaru's extraordinary hacking abilities at the start of the series, and he was the one who alerted the Newspaper Club about Takagi's work (with Fujimaru's agreement). Throughout the first season, it became clear that he had feelings for Fujimaru's younger sister, Haruka. Masamune Kuj, the Minister of Justice, is his grandfather. It is eventually discovered that "J" is his half-brother, and he finally gets to meet his parents, whom he was taken away from by his grandpa. In the second season, Otoya returns as a college student. ''Portrayed by:'' Takeru Sato (TV drama)

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: Fujimaru's father works for the Public Security Intelligence Agency under its secret Third Division, aka Third-I, as its Vice Director. He was framed for the murder of Director Okita and spent some time on the run while he attempted to solve the mysteries of "Bloody Monday." He is finally proved innocent, despite suffering multiple injuries throughout the series. In the second season, Rynosuke goes undercover in a cult he entered eight years ago to avert a terrorist assault that might eclipse the "Bloody Monday" danger. In Season 2, he is killed while attempting to slow down the terrorists. He was a double agent known among the terrorists commanded by Alexei as 'Beast' (the shooter of the magic bullet) ''Portrayed by:'' Tetsushi Tanaka (TV drama)

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: A second year student and Vice President of the Newspaper Club. She is Fujimaru's father's karate apprentice and a competent combatant. She appears to have a crush on Fujimaru and frequently flirts with him. Asada also returns in the second season, having been accepted into a karate college, despite the fact that of the gunshot wound she received from Orihara during the "Bloody Monday" event that left a significant scar on her leg. It has also been established that she is being kept in the dark about "Falcon's" ongoing actions. ''Portrayed by:'' Fujii Mina (TV drama)

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: AA first-year student who is a member of the Newspaper Club. She admires the hacker "Falcon." After discovering that Fujimaru was him, she gained a slight crush, more of an obsession, with him. She is eventually revealed to be "K," the mastermind behind the terrorist cult responsible for the "Bloody Monday" catastrophe. When the cult's leader is killed shortly after escaping from jail, she seizes control of the organisation and sets the ultimate events in action. However, when the final hour approaches, she is betrayed and slain by her helper Judas. Despite being "K" and having plans to destroy Tokyo, her death was very difficult for Fujimaru, who still has regrets about it in the second season. ''Portrayed by:'' Eri Tokunaga (TV drama)

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: A second-year student and member of the Newspaper Club. He appears to be the most ignorant and inept member of the group, yet he attempts to assist Fujimaru in any way he can. He shares his home with his father, stepmother, and stepbrother. His stepmother and her brother are both members of the terrorist cult. He dies after discovering his stepfamilies hidden associations, as a result of his stepmother infecting him with the "Bloody-X" virus. It is assumed that his father was shot by his stepmother in order to tie up loose ends. ''Portrayed by:'' Masahiro Hisano (TV drama)

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: Fujimaru's younger sister by two years. She suffers from kidney failure, requiring dialysis about every three days. Haruka appears to have a crush on Otoya. In the second season, she is seen to be considerably healthier as a result of receiving a home dialysis equipment from Otoya and his grandfather, which allows her to get treatment while sleeping. For fear of affecting her health, she is frequently kept in the dark regarding events involving Fujimaru and her father. ''Portrayed by:'' Umika Kawashima (TV drama)

Media

Manga

Television drama

A live-action television drama adaptation was broadcast on TBS in 2008, starring Haruma Miura. In January 2010, a second season was broadcast, with the actors repeating their roles. The second season ranked #2 in a survey regarding the "most anticipated winter dramas" posted by ''Oricon''.

References

External links

Official manga website

Official manga website (Season 2)

Official drama website

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bloody Monday (Manga)
2008 Japanese television series debuts
2008 Japanese television series endings
2010 Japanese television series debuts
2010 Japanese television series endings
Japanese drama television series
Japanese television dramas based on manga
Kodansha manga
Shin Kibayashi
Shōnen manga
Suspense anime and manga
Terrorism in fiction
TBS Television (Japan) dramas