Skyhigh (Japanese: スカイハイ, Hepburn: Sukai Hai) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Tsutomu Takahashi. It was serialized in Shueisha's seinen manga magazine Weekly Young Jump from 2001 to 2002. It was followed by two sequels; Skyhigh: Karma (2003) and Skyhigh: Shinshō (2003–2004). A fourth series, Tenmasō no Sanshimai – Sky High, was serialized in Grand Jump from 2013 to 2014.

Skyhigh
Cover of the first manga volume
スカイハイ
(Sukai Hai)
Genre
Manga
Written byTsutomu Takahashi
Published byShueisha
MagazineWeekly Young Jump
DemographicSeinen
Original runMarch 22, 2001April 11, 2002
Volumes2
Manga
Skyhigh: Karma
Written byTsutomu Takahashi
Published byShueisha
MagazineWeekly Young Jump
DemographicSeinen
Original runJanuary 23, 2003June 26, 2003
Volumes2
Manga
Skyhigh: Shinshō
Written byTsutomu Takahashi
Published byShueisha
MagazineWeekly Young Jump
DemographicSeinen
Original runAugust 7, 2003November 11, 2004
Volumes4
Manga
Tenmasō no Sanshimai – Sky High
Written byTsutomu Takahashi
Published byShueisha
MagazineGrand Jump
DemographicSeinen
Original runAugust 21, 2013September 3, 2014
Volumes4
Live-action film
Tenmasō no Sanshimai – Sky High
Directed byRyuhei Kitamura
Written byUreha Shimada
Music byAkihiko Matsumoto
StudioToei Company
ReleasedOctober 28, 2022 (2022-10-28)
Live-action

Skyghigh follows the story of Izuko, a mysterious "Guardian of the Gate" to the Afterlife. Izuku guides troubled souls who pass through, presenting them with three choices: to ascend to Heaven to await reincarnation; to deny their death and wander the earth as a ghost, or to seek vengeance upon the person who caused their death or suffering—but the consequences of that, no matter how justified, is to be condemned to Hell.

The series spawned a television drama adaptation which was broadcast on TV Asahi from 2003 to 2004 and a live-action film released in 2003. A live-action film adaptation of Tenmasō no Sanshimai – Sky High premiered in Japanese theaters in 2022.

Plot

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Izuko is a mysterious gatekeeper to the afterlife. Known as the "Guardian of the Gate", Izuko guides spirits of the recently departed on their journey, sometimes to Heaven, other times to Hell. The decision is theirs and it is not always an easy one. Often the spirit is the victim of a murder or other untimely death. In such case, a soul is offered three options: accept their death as it is and proceed into Heaven to await reincarnation; wander the Earth as a ghost; take justice into their own hands and face the gates of Hell. Most stories involve characters seeking to discover what happened to them and why—with Izuko attempting to guide them on the correct path.

Media

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Manga

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Written and illustrated by Tsutomu Takahashi, Skyhigh was serialized in Shueisha's seinen manga magazine Weekly Young Jump from March 22, 2001,[a] to April 11, 2002.[5][6] Shueisha collected its chapters in two tankōbon volumes, released on December 10, 2001, and May 17, 2002.[7] A second series, Skyhigh: Karma (スカイハイ カルマ), was serialized in Weekly Young Jump from January 23 to June 26, 2003.[8][9] Its chapters were collected in two tankōbon volumes, released on May 19 and August 19, 2003.[10] A third series, Skyhigh: Shinshō (スカイハイ 新章), was serialized in Weekly Young Jump from August 7, 2003,[8] to November 11, 2004.[11] Its chapters were collected in four tankōbon volumes, released from December 18, 2003, to January 19, 2005.[12] Both sequels were published while the series was in production and at the height of its popularity.[1]

Another series, Tenmasō no Sanshimai – Sky High (天間荘の三姉妹 スカイハイ) was serialized in Shueisha's Grand Jump magazine from August 21, 2013,[13][14] to September 3, 2014.[15] Its chapters were collected in four tankōbon volumes, released from February 19 to October 17, 2014.[16][17]

Drama

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A television drama adaptation was broadcast on TV Asahi from 2003 to 2004.[13]

Live-action films

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A live-action film premiered on November 8, 2003.[18]

A live-action film adaptation of Tenmasō no Sanshimai – Sky High premiered in Japanese theaters on October 28, 2022. The film was directed by Ryuhei Kitamura, with scripts by Ureha Shimada and music composition by Akihiko Matsumoto.[1]

Notes

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  1. ^ It started in the 16th issue of 2001,[3] released on March 22 of the same year.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Pineda, Rafael Antonio (May 17, 2022). "Tsutomu Takahashi's Tenmasō no Sanshimai Manga Gets Live-Action Film". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  2. ^ 高橋ツトム「スカイハイ」スージャンに移籍。次号読切で登場. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. January 13, 2010. Archived from the original on October 27, 2021. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  3. ^ カバー コンテンツ - 2001年14号~27号. Web YoungJump (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on April 17, 2001. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  4. ^ WEEKLYヤングジャンプ2001年16号詳細情報. manganetto.com (in Japanese). Archived from the original on March 13, 2023. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  5. ^ バックナンバー 2002年. Web YoungJump (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on December 27, 2021. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  6. ^ WEEKLYヤングジャンプ2002年19号詳細情報. manganetto.com (in Japanese). Archived from the original on March 13, 2023. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  7. ^ スカイハイ 2件中1~2件. s-book.com (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on April 2, 2003. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  8. ^ a b バックナンバー 2003年. Web YoungJump (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on December 27, 2021. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  9. ^ WEEKLYヤングジャンプ2003年30号詳細情報. manganetto.com (in Japanese). Archived from the original on March 13, 2023. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  10. ^ スカイハイ・カルマ 2件中1~2件. s-book.com (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on December 29, 2006. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  11. ^ バックナンバー 2004年. Web YoungJump (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on December 27, 2021. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  12. ^ スカイハイ 新章 4件中1~4件. s-book.com (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on August 27, 2007. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  13. ^ a b Loo, Egan (August 5, 2013). "Ice Blade's Takahashi Starts Tenmasō no Sanshimai - Sky High Manga". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  14. ^ 高橋ツトム「スカイハイ」新章がグランドジャンプで始動. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. August 21, 2013. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  15. ^ 村上たかし「ぽいぽいさま」新章、GJで開幕. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. September 3, 2014. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  16. ^ 天空と地上の間にある旅館描く「スカイハイ」新シリーズ1巻. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. February 19, 2014. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  17. ^ 【10月17日付】本日発売の単行本リスト. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. October 17, 2014. Archived from the original on November 15, 2021. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  18. ^ スカイハイ [劇場版] (in Japanese). Toei Company. Archived from the original on December 5, 2003. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
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