Summary
Saru Lock (Japanese: 猿ロック, Hepburn: Saru Rokku, trans. Monkey Lock) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Naoki Serizawa. It was adapted into a television drama in 2009 and a live action film in 2010.[1]
| Saru Lock | |
 Cover of the first manga volume | |
| 猿ロック (Saru Rokku) | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Action, Comedy |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Naoki Serizawa |
| Published by | Kodansha |
| Magazine | Weekly Young Magazine |
| Demographic | Seinen |
| Original run | 2003 – 2009 |
| Volumes | 22 |
| Television drama | |
| Directed by | Maeda Tetsu, Tsukamoto Renpei |
| Produced by | Amago Daisuke |
| Written by | Fukuda Yuichi |
| Music by | Yoshioka Shoji |
| Original network | Yomiuri TV |
| Original run | July 23, 2009 – October 15, 2009 |
| Episodes | 13 |
| Live-action film | |
| Directed by | Tetsu Maeda |
| Released | February 27, 2010 |
| Manga | |
| Saru Lock Reboot | |
| Written by | Naoki Serizawa |
| Published by | Shōnen Gahōsha |
| Magazine | Young King Bull |
| Demographic | Seinen |
| Original run | October 4, 2018 – present |
| Manga | |
| Saitō - Heaven's Crow Fūun Risshi | |
| Written by | Naoki Serizawa |
| Published by | Shōnen Gahōsha |
| Magazine | Young King Bull |
| Demographic | Seinen |
| Original run | November 4, 2020 – June 4, 2021 |
A reboot series titled Saru Lock Reboot began serialization in Shonen Gahosha's Young King Bull magazine in October 2018. A spin-off manga series titled Saitō - Heaven's Crow Fūun Risshi was serialized in the same magazine from November 2020 to June 2021.[2][3][4]
Plot edit
Yataro Sarumaru, nicknamed "Saru", is an average high school boy who daydreams about idols but otherwise has no luck with girls. While working with his father, a locksmith in Asakusa, Tokyo, he has gained exceptional skills to pick just about any lock. Using his exceptional skills, Yataro then finds himself solving various mysterious cases, while also trying his luck with the girls.
Adaptations edit
Television drama edit
Cast edit
- Hayato Ichihara - Yataro Sarumaru (Saru)
- Sousuke Takaoka - Yamada Jiro
- Sei Ashina - Mizuhara Ritsuko
- Watabe Gota - Yamamoto Kenji
Live-action film edit
Plot edit
Mayumi (Manami Higa) enlists the help of Yataro Sarumaru (Hayato Ichihara) to open a bank safe deposit box. This results in Yataro fleeing from the police who are in hot pursuit.
Cast edit
- Hayato Ichihara - Yataro Sarumaru (Saru) - is a “genius” locksmith who may have cool hands, but is in a perpetual lather, particularly about the opposite sex.[5]
- Manami Higa - Mayumi Shinozaki
- Sousuke Takaoka - Yamada Jiro
- Sei Ashina - Mizuhara Ritsuko
- Watabe Gota - Yamamoto Kenji
- Manami Konishi - Eiko Mizuki
Reception edit
By March 14, 2010, the film had made US$3,101,844 at the box office.[6]
References edit
- ^ "Saru Lock Action Comedy Manga to Get TV Drama, Film". Anime News Network. June 3, 2009. Retrieved September 23, 2011.
- ^ "Naoki Serizawa Launches New Saru Lock Reboot Spinoff Manga". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2021-06-08.
- ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (May 8, 2021). "Naoki Serizawa's Saru Lock Spinoff Manga Saitō Chroncle Approaches Climax". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
- ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (September 6, 2018). "Resident Evil: The Marhawa Desire's Serizawa Launches Saru Lock Reboot Manga". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
- ^ "'Ningen Shikkaku'/'Saru Lock the Movie'". 26 February 2010.
- ^ "Japanese Box Office, March 13–14". Anime News Network. March 21, 2010. Retrieved September 23, 2011.
External links edit
- Saru Lock (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
- Saru Lock at IMDb
