Sumomomo Momomo

is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Shinobu Ohtaka. It was serialized in Square Enix's ''seinen'' manga magazine ''Young Gangan'' (first named ''Gangan YG'') from January 2004 to February 2009, with its chapters collected in twelve ''tankōbon'' volumes. The story centers on a young girl, a strong martial artist, who wants to marry and bear a child with a boy that she believes to be a strong fighter. A twenty-two episode anime television series adaptation by Studio Hibari was broadcast on TV Asahi from October 2006 to March 2007, with two additional original video animation (OVA) episodes released in August 2007. The manga was licensed for English release in North America by Yen Press.

Plot

Kōshi Inuzuka is a normal high school student aspiring to become a prosecutor after graduating. One day, a strange girl named Momoko Kuzuryū approaches him, revealing that they are betrothed and expected to produce a strong child together, although Kōshi does not accept this odd notion. Apparently the betrothal resulted from Kōshi's and Momoko's fathers having arranged the marriage. After Kōshi and Momoko's initial meeting, Kōshi realizes that Momoko is not just a normal — albeit strange — girl, as she has been trained by her father in a special form of martial arts known only to twelve families in all of Japan. Each of these twelve families correlates with one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. Momoko's family is associated with the Dragon, while Kōshi's family is associated with the Dog. The Dragon family is the head of the six families of the west, whereas the Dog family is the head of the six families of the east.

Before long, it is revealed to Kōshi and Momoko that five of the six western families are out on a plot to assassinate Kōshi to prevent him from marrying Momoko, which would cement the twelve families together by bonds of blood. This assassination would be the start of a martial artist war, which would be the seventh such war of the twelve zodiac Masters of Japan. Kōshi must now fight for his life as Momoko protects him, hoping he will return her affection.

Characters

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:Kōshi is an intelligent, yet physically weak seventeen-year-old high school student who is the son of Unken Inuzuka, a martial arts master and member of one of the twelve zodiac Master families of Japan. His family is associated with the Dog of the Chinese zodiac. However, against his father's wishes, he wants nothing to do with martial arts. He has avoided training ever since being terrorized by bullies at a young age, which initially caused him to freeze every time that he sees violence. Due to this, he wants to someday become a prosecutor so that he will be able to punish crimes effectively. As such, he is constantly seen reading books on laws and codes that govern Japan. Whenever he finds himself about to get into a fight, he recites several laws that his attacker is about to break as well as the consequences, in an attempt to dissuade the attacker, which is not always effective. He seems to believe that martial arts do not have any realistically applicable power and the rule of law can be used as a weapon against enemies.
:Kōshi initially wants nothing to do with Momoko, or the martial arts war that he has been thrown right in the middle of. He instead focuses even more on his studies so as to keep his mind off of being targeted for assassination. Gradually, he seems to develop a greater appreciation and caring for Momoko and manages to overcome his tendency to freeze up in the face of violence.
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:Momoko is a strange andDragon_of_the_Chinese_zodiac._She_wants_to_become_Kōshi's_bride_in_order_to_produce_a_strong_son_with_him,_as_her_father_told_her_that_since_she_is_a_female,_she_is_currently_unable_to_master_her_family's_martial_arts_techniques_effectively._Momoko_shares_a_strange_relationship_with_Kōshi—its_early_stages_have_been_compared_to_that_of_a_dog_and_its_master_in_the_series_itself._Momoko_is_very_adamant_about_marrying_Kōshi,_and_often_tries_to_do_the_best_she_can_to_please_him_in_any_way._Her_martial_arts_skill_is_very_incredible_for_a_girl_at_her_age_which_is_very_useful_to_protect_Kōshi_from_the_assassins._Despite_the_fact_that_Momoko_is_always_barefoot,_she_does_start_to_wear_shoes_to_school_after_Kōshi_buys_her_a_pair_which_she_only_wears_when_she_is_not_fighting._She_has_a_very_strong_heart_and_sense_of_determination._For_Kōshi's_sake,_Momoko_will_do_anything_even_sacrifice_herself_for_him_because_she_loves_him_too_much_and_always_believes_in_Kōshi.

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:Iroha_is_a_young_girl_of_fifteen_and_a_member_of_the_family_of_zodiac_Masters_associated_with_the_Dragon_of_the_Chinese_zodiac._She_wants_to_become_Kōshi's_bride_in_order_to_produce_a_strong_son_with_him,_as_her_father_told_her_that_since_she_is_a_female,_she_is_currently_unable_to_master_her_family's_martial_arts_techniques_effectively._Momoko_shares_a_strange_relationship_with_Kōshi—its_early_stages_have_been_compared_to_that_of_a_dog_and_its_master_in_the_series_itself._Momoko_is_very_adamant_about_marrying_Kōshi,_and_often_tries_to_do_the_best_she_can_to_please_him_in_any_way._Her_martial_arts_skill_is_very_incredible_for_a_girl_at_her_age_which_is_very_useful_to_protect_Kōshi_from_the_assassins._Despite_the_fact_that_Momoko_is_always_barefoot,_she_does_start_to_wear_shoes_to_school_after_Kōshi_buys_her_a_pair_which_she_only_wears_when_she_is_not_fighting._She_has_a_very_strong_heart_and_sense_of_determination._For_Kōshi's_sake,_Momoko_will_do_anything_even_sacrifice_herself_for_him_because_she_loves_him_too_much_and_always_believes_in_Kōshi.

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:Iroha_is_a_young_girl_of_fifteen_and_a_member_of_the_family_of_zodiac_Masters_associated_with_the_Snake_(zodiac)">Snake_

Snakes_are_elongated,__limbless,__carnivorous__reptiles_of_the__suborder_Serpentes_._Like_all_other_squamates,_snakes_are_ectothermic,__amniote_vertebrates_covered_in_overlapping__scales._Many_species_of_snakes_have__skulls_with_several_more_j_...
._The_Miyamoto_group_was_once_a_feared_yakuza_gang,_but_its_power,_repute_and_membership_dwindled_under_Iroha's_father;_his_kind_nature_did_not_inspire_hardened_criminals_to_remain_loyal._Iroha,_along_with_her_subordinate_Hanzō_with_whom_she_travels,_are_the_first_to_attempt_the_assassination_of_Kōshi._Iroha_wants_to_restore_the_reputation_her_family_used_to_have_as_the_most_fearful_of_the_twelve_zodiac_Masters_by_killing_Kōshi,_but_is_hindered_by_Momoko._Eventually,_Iroha_develops_a_crush_on_Kōshi_and_resolves_to_find_a_new_path_for_the_Miyamoto_family,_after_Momoko_praises_her_for_her_fortitude_in_battle_and_laments_that_Iroha_should_follow_the_path_of_an_assassin._Iroha_eventually_develops_a_close_friendship_with_Momoko_and_supports_her_to_get_closer_to_Kōshi.
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:Sanae_is_a_female_high_school_student_who_is_also_one_of_Kōshi's_friends._She_is_also_his_class'_representative._Unknown_to_everyone,_however,_she_changes_into_a_heroine_known_as_''Tenchū_Senshi_Uma_Kamen'',_literally_meaning_"Divine_Punishment_Warrior_ Dragon_of_the_Chinese_zodiac._She_wants_to_become_Kōshi's_bride_in_order_to_produce_a_strong_son_with_him,_as_her_father_told_her_that_since_she_is_a_female,_she_is_currently_unable_to_master_her_family's_martial_arts_techniques_effectively._Momoko_shares_a_strange_relationship_with_Kōshi—its_early_stages_have_been_compared_to_that_of_a_dog_and_its_master_in_the_series_itself._Momoko_is_very_adamant_about_marrying_Kōshi,_and_often_tries_to_do_the_best_she_can_to_please_him_in_any_way._Her_martial_arts_skill_is_very_incredible_for_a_girl_at_her_age_which_is_very_useful_to_protect_Kōshi_from_the_assassins._Despite_the_fact_that_Momoko_is_always_barefoot,_she_does_start_to_wear_shoes_to_school_after_Kōshi_buys_her_a_pair_which_she_only_wears_when_she_is_not_fighting._She_has_a_very_strong_heart_and_sense_of_determination._For_Kōshi's_sake,_Momoko_will_do_anything_even_sacrifice_herself_for_him_because_she_loves_him_too_much_and_always_believes_in_Kōshi.

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:Iroha_is_a_young_girl_of_fifteen_and_a_member_of_the_family_of_zodiac_Masters_associated_with_the_Snake_(zodiac)">Snake_

Snakes_are_elongated,__limbless,__carnivorous__reptiles_of_the__suborder_Serpentes_._Like_all_other_squamates,_snakes_are_ectothermic,__amniote_vertebrates_covered_in_overlapping__scales._Many_species_of_snakes_have__skulls_with_several_more_j_...
._The_Miyamoto_group_was_once_a_feared_yakuza_gang,_but_its_power,_repute_and_membership_dwindled_under_Iroha's_father;_his_kind_nature_did_not_inspire_hardened_criminals_to_remain_loyal._Iroha,_along_with_her_subordinate_Hanzō_with_whom_she_travels,_are_the_first_to_attempt_the_assassination_of_Kōshi._Iroha_wants_to_restore_the_reputation_her_family_used_to_have_as_the_most_fearful_of_the_twelve_zodiac_Masters_by_killing_Kōshi,_but_is_hindered_by_Momoko._Eventually,_Iroha_develops_a_crush_on_Kōshi_and_resolves_to_find_a_new_path_for_the_Miyamoto_family,_after_Momoko_praises_her_for_her_fortitude_in_battle_and_laments_that_Iroha_should_follow_the_path_of_an_assassin._Iroha_eventually_develops_a_close_friendship_with_Momoko_and_supports_her_to_get_closer_to_Kōshi.
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:Sanae_is_a_female_high_school_student_who_is_also_one_of_Kōshi's_friends._She_is_also_his_class'_representative._Unknown_to_everyone,_however,_she_changes_into_a_heroine_known_as_''Tenchū_Senshi_Uma_Kamen'',_literally_meaning_"Divine_Punishment_Warrior_Horse_(zodiac)">Horse_

The_horse_(''Equus_ferus_caballus'')_is_a_domesticated,__one-toed,__hoofed_mammal._It_belongs_to_the_taxonomic_family_Equidae_and_is_one_of_two_extant_subspecies_of__''Equus_ferus''._The_horse_has_evolved_over_the_past_45_to_55 million_yea_...