Ah My Buddha

Ah My Buddha, known in Japan as Amaenaide yo!! (あまえないでよっ!!), is a mature rated manga by Toshinori Sogabe that was serialised in Comic Gum magazine. An anime adaptation runs on TV Tokyo's anime satellite channel, AT-X. A second "season" of the manga, named: ''Amaenaideyo!! MS!'' was released 3 years later.

The second season of the anime, Amaenaide yo!! Katsu!! (あまえないでよっ!! 喝!!), was shortly released and introduces a new antagonist character, the fifteen year old girl, Kazusano Kazuki who is actually very affectionate to Ikkou, unlike the other girls. The second season is also more serious and dramatic than the last one, and focuses more on Hinata's unstable powers, Haruka's childhood years and Kazuki's tricks to get her hand on Ikkou's powers.

Media Blasters has announced that they will release this series as a "6 volume release", starting in January, 2009. It will also be called: Ah My Buddha!. The show was shown with a R-15 rating on TV in Japan, which is the Japanese 'Restricted' rating.

Plot
The protagonist of the series is the monk-in-training Ikkou Satonaka, who transforms into a super-monk (being able to perform mass exorcisms) by his lust for the girls he lives with (Note: In the anime, he transforms from seeing a naked girl). He lives in the Saienji Temple as a Buddhist priest in training with six other nuns: Haruka Amanogawa, Sumi Ikuina, Hinata and Sakura Sugai, Chitose Nanbu and Yuuko Atouda, each of whom represents one of the bosatsu of the six lower realms of the traditional Buddhist cosmology. Chitose is the main love interest and has a love-hate relationship with Ikkou which is somewhat typical in many other anime, involving numerous misunderstandings, beatings, and angry tirades where the male is clearly at a disadvantage to the female. A side effect of Ikkou using his ultimate power is that immediately afterwards he turns into an even bigger pervert than he normally is. The subject matter of the series is Ikkou's self-destructive power and the powers of the other nuns and their training to control these powers, as well as their (mostly non-romantic) relationships.

Characters

 * Ikko Satonaka (里中逸剛)
 * The main character of the series, Ikko is able to release a powerful but uncontrollable power when confronted with intense lust. Each time, in the aftermath of his "awakening," he will bear a face of lust, and will "attack" Chitose or the other nuns, who respond by running from him and attacking him. In some episodes he is struck by the other characters more than a half dozen times before the midway point of an episode (for instance, in episode one he was hit 21 times in the first 5 minutes.) Sometimes he brings it on himself, and sometimes he's the victim of misunderstanding. His character is, essentially, the center of slapstick. Ikkou seems not to enjoy his life at the temple (at least at the beginning of the series) and often complains that he is missing out on his youth. He seems not to have chosen the monastic life and resents the work given to him. He is also the least educated on Buddhist doctrine of all the characters in the show, excluding (possibly) those who are part of the laity. Indeed, he does not seem to have good grades in school nor does he seem to participate in any particular club at school, claiming that his duties at the temple prevent him from having enough time. However, while his fellow novices also have chores, they do not seem prevented from taking on school and hobbies. The head nun of Saienji (Jotoku) believes this is because he is lazy. In his defense, he does seem to be hired out for more temple errands than the other nuns, possibly because he is male and therefore stereotypically better suited to manual labor.
 * The main character of the series, Ikko is able to release a powerful but uncontrollable power when confronted with intense lust. Each time, in the aftermath of his "awakening," he will bear a face of lust, and will "attack" Chitose or the other nuns, who respond by running from him and attacking him. In some episodes he is struck by the other characters more than a half dozen times before the midway point of an episode (for instance, in episode one he was hit 21 times in the first 5 minutes.) Sometimes he brings it on himself, and sometimes he's the victim of misunderstanding. His character is, essentially, the center of slapstick. Ikkou seems not to enjoy his life at the temple (at least at the beginning of the series) and often complains that he is missing out on his youth. He seems not to have chosen the monastic life and resents the work given to him. He is also the least educated on Buddhist doctrine of all the characters in the show, excluding (possibly) those who are part of the laity. Indeed, he does not seem to have good grades in school nor does he seem to participate in any particular club at school, claiming that his duties at the temple prevent him from having enough time. However, while his fellow novices also have chores, they do not seem prevented from taking on school and hobbies. The head nun of Saienji (Jotoku) believes this is because he is lazy. In his defense, he does seem to be hired out for more temple errands than the other nuns, possibly because he is male and therefore stereotypically better suited to manual labor.


 * Chitose Nanbu (Red Hair) (南部千歳)
 * Represents the Human Realm, although she has a crush on Ikkou, she constantly denies it. Even though she acts nice much of the time, she fails to admit her crush to herself or Ikkou, often harming him when others flirt with him, overall a stereotypical tsundere. She is usually the first to put Ikkou down as low as possible at times as well as beat him with little provocation. She claims to have no hobbies initially, although she enjoys horror films. She is one of the characters in the series that is harassed by Yuuko for her large cup size, perhaps more frequently than the others. In early episodes there is a running gag to the question of where she used to live, one of the clues being that the entire towns businesses (post office, movie rental, clothing store, etc) is located in one small two story building.
 * Represents the Human Realm, although she has a crush on Ikkou, she constantly denies it. Even though she acts nice much of the time, she fails to admit her crush to herself or Ikkou, often harming him when others flirt with him, overall a stereotypical tsundere. She is usually the first to put Ikkou down as low as possible at times as well as beat him with little provocation. She claims to have no hobbies initially, although she enjoys horror films. She is one of the characters in the series that is harassed by Yuuko for her large cup size, perhaps more frequently than the others. In early episodes there is a running gag to the question of where she used to live, one of the clues being that the entire towns businesses (post office, movie rental, clothing store, etc) is located in one small two story building.


 * Yuuko Atoda (Blue Hair) (阿刀田結子)
 * Represents the Asura Realm, she is a tomboy and doesn't hesitate to join fights in her High School, she is the sole enemy of a High School Gang that has used Ikkou as a hostage. She tends to be jealous of girls that have big breasts compared to her own and angry with guys that prefer such girls, for example, when an underwear thief chose to steal underwear of only C-Cup and above, when she obviously isn't a person with a C-Cup. She has no romantic attachments, and seems to think that she would need to change her personality to something more "girly" in order to have a successful romantic relationship with a male. Like most of the others she likes to physically hurt Ikkou on a daily basis but it is hinted that she still likes him in the second season.
 * Represents the Asura Realm, she is a tomboy and doesn't hesitate to join fights in her High School, she is the sole enemy of a High School Gang that has used Ikkou as a hostage. She tends to be jealous of girls that have big breasts compared to her own and angry with guys that prefer such girls, for example, when an underwear thief chose to steal underwear of only C-Cup and above, when she obviously isn't a person with a C-Cup. She has no romantic attachments, and seems to think that she would need to change her personality to something more "girly" in order to have a successful romantic relationship with a male. Like most of the others she likes to physically hurt Ikkou on a daily basis but it is hinted that she still likes him in the second season.


 * Haruka Amanogawa (Blond Hair (天川春佳)
 * Represents the Devas Realm (Heaven Realm) is the most powerful exorcist of the group. (Excluding times when Ikkou awakened.) She flirts with Ikkou on more than one occasion to get a response only to sit back and watch when he gets beaten by the other girls. She has the biggest cup size of all the novice nuns. She seems to take most everything in good humor, and might even come off as a ditz. However, she might be more intelligent than she looks.
 * Represents the Devas Realm (Heaven Realm) is the most powerful exorcist of the group. (Excluding times when Ikkou awakened.) She flirts with Ikkou on more than one occasion to get a response only to sit back and watch when he gets beaten by the other girls. She has the biggest cup size of all the novice nuns. She seems to take most everything in good humor, and might even come off as a ditz. However, she might be more intelligent than she looks.


 * Sumi Ikuina (Brown Hair (生稲雛美)
 * Represents the Animal Realm. She is a kind girl who doesn't mind Ikkou and some times tries to defend him verbally only to fail and let him get beaten up. Her kindness extends even to animals, and this seems to be where her spiritual talents lie. In one second season episode, she is chased by dogs and treated by them with excessive affection, apparently a side effect resulting from her lack of training. She is also sometimes harassed by Yuuko due to her breast size. Also due to her being of the Animal Realm, during a certain time each year she releases a pheromone that draws countless animals to her, though is later able to control this.
 * Represents the Animal Realm. She is a kind girl who doesn't mind Ikkou and some times tries to defend him verbally only to fail and let him get beaten up. Her kindness extends even to animals, and this seems to be where her spiritual talents lie. In one second season episode, she is chased by dogs and treated by them with excessive affection, apparently a side effect resulting from her lack of training. She is also sometimes harassed by Yuuko due to her breast size. Also due to her being of the Animal Realm, during a certain time each year she releases a pheromone that draws countless animals to her, though is later able to control this.


 * Hinata Sugai (Long Purple Hair) (為我井陽)
 * Represents the Naraka Realm (Hell Realm), has a little fire-spitting-demon pet by her side at all times that converts to a full sized demon when Hinata can't suppress her Naraka bosatsu. Later in the series, when Ikkou is on the verge of awakening she often commands her demon to burn him, often successfully preventing him from awakening while others times it seems for the hell of it. She is Sakura's younger adopted sister. She appears very calm and rarely speaks. Her hobby is collecting and studying haniwa, and there is an episode in the second season devoted to the Haniwa Research Club which she joins - the school's smallest club. It is also hinted she has feelings for Ikkou, though unknown if it is like a brother or something more.
 * Represents the Naraka Realm (Hell Realm), has a little fire-spitting-demon pet by her side at all times that converts to a full sized demon when Hinata can't suppress her Naraka bosatsu. Later in the series, when Ikkou is on the verge of awakening she often commands her demon to burn him, often successfully preventing him from awakening while others times it seems for the hell of it. She is Sakura's younger adopted sister. She appears very calm and rarely speaks. Her hobby is collecting and studying haniwa, and there is an episode in the second season devoted to the Haniwa Research Club which she joins - the school's smallest club. It is also hinted she has feelings for Ikkou, though unknown if it is like a brother or something more.


 * Sakura Sugai (Short Purple Hair) (為我井さくら)
 * Represents the Hungry Ghosts Realm, is the sister of Hinata, and has the incredible ability to eat anything without ever feeling satisfied and without changing her appearance. Also has some political skills, as she is the president of the student council of the High School the group attends. Her love of politics seems based in a joy of enforcing the rules. She also has her own internet site, "Dr. Sakura," where she berates she calls "hopeless" in what some might consider an attempt to help them - though she obviously gets a good deal of sadistic enjoyment out of ridiculing their complaints. (The anime suggests that she herself might qualify as a "hopeless" person). She seems to pull Ikkou into doing extra work for her own (or her sister's) convenience, or for the temple. All in all, she is a sadistic character, but she is not without concern for other people, and is especially attached to her younger sister, Hinata.
 * Represents the Hungry Ghosts Realm, is the sister of Hinata, and has the incredible ability to eat anything without ever feeling satisfied and without changing her appearance. Also has some political skills, as she is the president of the student council of the High School the group attends. Her love of politics seems based in a joy of enforcing the rules. She also has her own internet site, "Dr. Sakura," where she berates she calls "hopeless" in what some might consider an attempt to help them - though she obviously gets a good deal of sadistic enjoyment out of ridiculing their complaints. (The anime suggests that she herself might qualify as a "hopeless" person). She seems to pull Ikkou into doing extra work for her own (or her sister's) convenience, or for the temple. All in all, she is a sadistic character, but she is not without concern for other people, and is especially attached to her younger sister, Hinata.


 * Jotoku Kawahara (河原浄徳)
 * Head Monk of the Temple that the group resides in, grandmother to Ikkou, and Assistant Principal to the High School that the group attends. She is extremely strict to Ikkou more than anyone, though this is primarily because she believes him to be spoiled and lazy and does not train hard enough to keep himself from awakening. There have been occasions in the early part of the series where she has let an awakening or another infringement of temple policy go by unpunished, but by the end of the second season she seems to think she might have been too lax with him. She is generally firm with the nuns as well as Ikkou, though Ikkou seems to be the one most frequently in a position to be punished. She, like the other characters, strikes Ikkou repeatedly without remorse but she uses her staff. There seems to be some indication that in her youth Jotoku was a beauty (not only she claims this, but all the older monks around her still seem to think of her as attractive). In the brief points where she is portrayed young, we do not see her face, but she has long hair and even seems to be taller (Humans do actually shrink as they get older, the main cause of this is Osteoporosis. Animators often use this to the extreme for comical effect, making characters appear almost Chibi (term) in appearance. It's not unusual to see older characters in flash backs appearing much taller).
 * Head Monk of the Temple that the group resides in, grandmother to Ikkou, and Assistant Principal to the High School that the group attends. She is extremely strict to Ikkou more than anyone, though this is primarily because she believes him to be spoiled and lazy and does not train hard enough to keep himself from awakening. There have been occasions in the early part of the series where she has let an awakening or another infringement of temple policy go by unpunished, but by the end of the second season she seems to think she might have been too lax with him. She is generally firm with the nuns as well as Ikkou, though Ikkou seems to be the one most frequently in a position to be punished. She, like the other characters, strikes Ikkou repeatedly without remorse but she uses her staff. There seems to be some indication that in her youth Jotoku was a beauty (not only she claims this, but all the older monks around her still seem to think of her as attractive). In the brief points where she is portrayed young, we do not see her face, but she has long hair and even seems to be taller (Humans do actually shrink as they get older, the main cause of this is Osteoporosis. Animators often use this to the extreme for comical effect, making characters appear almost Chibi (term) in appearance. It's not unusual to see older characters in flash backs appearing much taller).


 * Kazuki Kazusano (上野一希)
 * The main antagonist of the second season, her purpose is to awaken Ikko so that she can release her innate and uncontrollable spiritual powers. Even though she has an antagonistic role in the series, in another sense she seems to be on Ikko's side - that is, she seems to want to enjoy her youth as much as Ikko does, and in much the same way - with a member of the opposite sex, and is also considered in a love triangle like situation with Ikko and Chitose's relationship even though her feelings are known while Chitose hides them from even herself. She states that she wants to help him in developing his spiritual powers since they are both 14, although what she seems to consider "helping" is different from what the protagonists would consider helping. Since Ikko's powers are dangerous, the nuns of Saienji hope for Ikko to restrain himself from using his power too much, while Kazuki seems to believe that the very nature of his powers are essentially good and therefore incapable of doing harm. (The last episode of the series confirms that a strong, uncontrolled awakening can be warped into a force for evil, causing riots and the like.) Nonetheless, she does not seem to want to hurt Ikkou, and while her infatuation with him makes her forceful and competitive (even to the point of violence against Chitose), she is very determined and puts in strong effort to realize a goal that ought to be easier than it apparently is which is to be happy with Ikkou. Her catchphrase in Japanese is "mata joudo" (またじょうど).
 * The main antagonist of the second season, her purpose is to awaken Ikko so that she can release her innate and uncontrollable spiritual powers. Even though she has an antagonistic role in the series, in another sense she seems to be on Ikko's side - that is, she seems to want to enjoy her youth as much as Ikko does, and in much the same way - with a member of the opposite sex, and is also considered in a love triangle like situation with Ikko and Chitose's relationship even though her feelings are known while Chitose hides them from even herself. She states that she wants to help him in developing his spiritual powers since they are both 14, although what she seems to consider "helping" is different from what the protagonists would consider helping. Since Ikko's powers are dangerous, the nuns of Saienji hope for Ikko to restrain himself from using his power too much, while Kazuki seems to believe that the very nature of his powers are essentially good and therefore incapable of doing harm. (The last episode of the series confirms that a strong, uncontrolled awakening can be warped into a force for evil, causing riots and the like.) Nonetheless, she does not seem to want to hurt Ikkou, and while her infatuation with him makes her forceful and competitive (even to the point of violence against Chitose), she is very determined and puts in strong effort to realize a goal that ought to be easier than it apparently is which is to be happy with Ikkou. Her catchphrase in Japanese is "mata joudo" (またじょうど).


 * Miyako Amanogawa (天川京)
 * The chief priestess of Saichouji and older sister to Haruka. She has long black hair and is very beautiful and busty. She seems very understanding of Ikko; her main role in the series is to help train Hinata and, perhaps, help Ikko to train his spiritual powers. One might also say she uses him to help Hinata, though it does not seem to be without some benefit (or at least not detrimental) to his own spiritual journey. At one point she even indicated that she wouldn't mind if Ikkou left his present temple to work at hers. Like her younger sister she is flirtatious and doesn't mind if Ikko thinks anything perverted about her. She is shown in only a few episodes and is a relatively minor character.
 * The chief priestess of Saichouji and older sister to Haruka. She has long black hair and is very beautiful and busty. She seems very understanding of Ikko; her main role in the series is to help train Hinata and, perhaps, help Ikko to train his spiritual powers. One might also say she uses him to help Hinata, though it does not seem to be without some benefit (or at least not detrimental) to his own spiritual journey. At one point she even indicated that she wouldn't mind if Ikkou left his present temple to work at hers. Like her younger sister she is flirtatious and doesn't mind if Ikko thinks anything perverted about her. She is shown in only a few episodes and is a relatively minor character.

Media
The opening song to "Ah My Buddha" in the first series is "Afurete Yuku no wa Kono Kimochi" by Amae-Tai!!. The ending song is "Happy Days" by Mai Nakahara. In the second series the opening song is "Amaenaideyo" by Amae-Tai!!. The ending song is "Lonesome Traveler" by Mai Nakahara.

Manga
Ah My Buddha / Amaenaideyo!! is written and illustrated by Sogabe Toshinori. It was serialized in Comic Gum magazine. Wani Books released the seven tankōbon of Amaenaideyo! between March 25, 2004 and February 24, 2007. Sharp Point Press released the seven tankōbon of Amaenaideyo! between January 7, 2005 and February 24, 2009. Soleil Productions released the first tankōbon of Amaenaideyo! on February 21, 2007. As of 22 August, the last Amaenaideyo MS chapter with a grand finale was released.

Wani Books released the first volume of ''Amaenaideyo! MS'' on July 25, 2007. Sharp Point Press released the first volume of ''Amaenaideyo! MS'' on March 3, 2009.

Anime
In the anime most of the girls don't give the male lead any encouragement at all. Besides the antagonist in the second season, none of the girls give Ikkou any sign that they might be romantically interested in him (although this does not necessarily mean that all of them actually lack interest). They liked him at first (revealed in the audio drama) and accepted him even if he was a boy in a nun temple. But it soon ended when Ikkou brushed his teeth in the morning and Sumi came in naked and began to scream. Nonetheless, the show thrives on female flesh, and the girls expose themselves frequently to release Ikkou's powers whenever they are in a tight situation.

Ah My Buddha!/Amaenaideyo!!
Amaenaideyo!! was broadcast on AT-X between July 1, 2005 and September 16, 2005. It is licensed by in North America by Media Blasters as Ah My Buddha. It is also licensed in Taiwan by Top-Insight International. Ah My Buddha uses two pieces of theme music. "Afurete yuku no wa kono kimochi" (あふれてゆくのはこの気持ち) by Amae-tai! is the series' opening theme, while "Happy Days" by Mai Nakahara is the series' ending theme.

The first DVD, containing the first two episodes of Amaenaideyo!!, was released by VAP on August 24, 2005. The second DVD, containing the third, fourth and fifth episodes of Amaenaideyo!!, was released by VAP on September 22, 2005. The third DVD, containing the sixth, seventh and eighth episodes of Amaenaideyo!!, was released by VAP on October 21, 2005. The fourth DVD, containing the ninth, tenth and eleventh episodes of Amaenaideyo!!, was released by VAP on November 23, 2005. The fifth DVD, containing the twelfth and the original video animation episodes of Amaenaideyo!!, was released by VAP on December 21, 2005.

On January 29, 2009, Media Blasters released the first DVD, called ''Amaenaideyo!! - The Aroused One'', which contained the first four episodes of the anime. On March 17, 2009, Media Blasters released the second DVD, called ''Amaenaideyo!! - The Two Uncovered Paths'', which contained the fifth to eighth episodes of the anime.

Amaenaideyo!! Katsu!!
''Amaenaideyo!! Katsu!!'' was broadcast on AT-X between January 4, 2006 and March 22, 2006. It is also licensed in Taiwan by Top-Insight International. ''Amaenaideyo!! Katsu!!'' uses two pieces of theme music. "Amaenaideyotsu!!" (あまえないでよっ!!) by Amae-tai! is the series' opening theme, while "Lonesome Traveler" by Mai Nakahara is the series' ending theme.

The first DVD, containing the first two episodes of ''Amaenaideyo!! Katsu'', was released on February 22, 2006. The second DVD, containing the third, fourth and fifth episodes of ''Amaenaideyo!! Katsu'', was released on March 24, 2006. The third DVD, containing the sixth, seventh and eighth episodes of ''Amaenaideyo!! Katsu'', was released on April 26, 2006. The fourth DVD, containing the ninth, tenth and eleventh episodes of ''Amaenaideyo!! Katsu'', was released on May 24, 2006. The fifth DVD, containing the twelfth and the original video animation episodes of ''Amaenaideyo!! Katsu'', was released on June 21, 2006.

Animation Soundtrack CDs
On July 21, 2005, VAP released an animation soundtrack CD for Amaenaideyo!! using the lyrics of Toshiaki Yamada. It was sung by Mai Nakahara. On November 2, 2005, wint released a Christmas animation soundtrack CD for Amaenaideyo!!. It was sung by Akeno Watanabe, Mai Nakahara, Chieko Higuchi, Tomoko Kawakami, Ryoko Shintani and Haruhi Terada. On January 25, 2006, wint released an animation soundtrack CD for Amaenaideyo!! using the lyrics of Toshiaki Yamada. On March 15, 2006, wint released an animation soundtrack CD for Amaenaideyo!!. The songs were composed by Toshiaki Yamada and were sung by Ryoko Shintani, Chieko Higuchi, Tomoko Kawakami, Asami Sanada, Akeno Watanabe, Haruhi Terada and Mai Nakahara.

Drama Audio
Two Amaenaideyo Drama episodes (Episodes made just by sound effects and voices, usually put on CD's) were released on the Japanese DVD release at Volume 1 of both seasons. They were made to make the story more easy to understand, by adding stories about Ikkou's life.

The first audio drama, also named "Episode 00" starts as Ikkou is on a train. He's on his way to his grandmother, as it is his first time travelling to the Saienji temple. The girls welcomes him, and is very excited to have a boy at the temple for the first time. Well, everyone except Yuko. But the next day at the morning, Ikkou goes inside the bathroom when Sumi already is inside... And that makes them think twice about him.

The second audio drama is just added as a "bonus chapter" of Kazuki.

Reception
THEM Anime Reviews's Carlos Ross commends Ah My Buddha girls as being "very cute" but justifies his comment by criticising the premise of the anime for being "barely more clever than anything else in this genre, and in the end, it's simply another lame excuse for a "harem" to exist". Anime News Network's Theorin Martin commends Ah My Buddha for "Generally sharp coloring, occasional funny moment". But he criticises the anime for its "weak English dub, flat writing, insufficient fan service given its focus". Mania.com's Chris Beveridge commends the anime by saying, "It’s a good sexy light hearted comedy with lots of good character designs, a solid sense of pacing and execution and a healthy dose of fun".