The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.

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The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. (???????, Saiki Kusuo no Sai-nan) is a Japanese gag manga series written and illustrated by Sh?ichi As?. The series began serialization in Shueisha's Weekly Sh?nen Jump from June 2012. An anime television adaptation by J.C.Staff and Egg Firm began airing on July 4, 2016. A live-action film directed by Yuichi Fukuda and starring Kento Yamazaki at Columbia Pictures (Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan) and Asmik Ace was released on October 21, 2017.

Video The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.

Plot

Kusuo Saiki is a high school student who was born with all manner of psychic abilities, including telepathy, psychokinesis, teleportation, and more. Despite having all these powers, Saiki faces all kinds of hardships and tries to avoid attention as much as possible. The story follows Saiki as he attempts to secretly use his powers to live a normal high school life while dealing with his less than ordinary classmates at P.K. Academy.

Maps The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.

Characters

Saiki family

Kusuo Saiki (?? ??, Saiki Kusuo)

Voiced by: Shintar? Asanuma (vomic, flash anime), Hiroshi Kamiya (TV anime), (Japanese); Jerry Jewell (English)

The viewpoint character and narrator of the series, Kusuo Saiki is a high school student who was born with all manner of psychic abilities despite being having very ordinary biological parents. Because of the misery that comes from the attention he receives as a psychic, Kusuo desires a normal, plain life, keeping average grades and performance in sports activities. He uses telepathy to read people's minds, but he can also share telepathy with others. His other abilities include telekinesis, levitation, x-ray vision,^{Ch. P1} clairvoyance,^{Ch. P6} astral projection,^{Ch. P7} pyrokinesis,^{Ch. 2} mind control (convincing someone that certain things in the world are normal, or that they are seeing someone else's image),^{Ch. 10} psychometrics,^{Ch. 17} and invisibility.^{Ch. 20} He can teleport things, but has to replace the item with something of equal value.^{Ch. P5} He can sometimes pick up other psychic abilities like seeing ghosts.^{Ch. 18} He has dark pink hair,^{Ch. 10} with two antennae on his head that people think are hair ornaments, but they actually regulate his constantly growing powers that would otherwise go out of control and destroy things as well as cause global catastrophes.^{Ch. 23, 59} He can transform into animals or into a girl that he names Kusuko.^{Ch. 37, 79} Kusuo wears glasses so that his gaze doesn't turn someone to stone.^{Ch. 71-72} His favorite snack is coffee jelly.^{Ch. 27} He is vulnerable to bugs, especially cockroaches, because he cannot read their minds and predict their actions.^{Ch. 15}

Kuniharu Saiki (?? ??, Saiki Kuniharu)

Voiced by: Mitsuo Iwata (Japanese); Chuck Huber (English)

Kusuo's father, who has to suck up to his employers so much that he has gained a taste for licking shoes.^{Ch. 1} He works as an editor for a manga publishing company that appears to be a knock-off of Shueisha.^{Ch. 62}

Kurumi Saiki (?? ???, Saiki Kurumi)

Voiced by: Rikako Aikawa (Japanese); Morgan Garrett (English)

Kusuo's mother whom he states is "the one who keep him from turning into dark side" because of her kindness, but can be scary when needed that Kusuo won't be able to defy her.^{Ch. 1} She is allergic to cats.^{Ch. 36} Her maiden name is also Saiki.^{Ch. 92} She can be rather naive and air-headed at times.^{Ch. 133}

Kusuo's grandparents

Voiced by: Koichi Yamadera (Kumagoro) and Rie Tanaka (Kumi)

Kumagoro Saiki and Kumi Saiki are Kusuo's maternal grandparents. Kumagoro has a classic tsundere personality, that is, he is hard on the outside, but soft on the inside. He is very fond of his daughter, but dislikes his son-in-law, often beating him up or sending him away to run errands. He wants to get to know his grandson better. Kumi acts fairly young for her age, with her choice of fashionable clothes and her gyaru (gal) speech.^{Ch. 92-94, 116} In the anime they were voiced by Koichi Yamadera and Rie Tanaka who happen to be a real-life married couple.

K?suke Saiki (?? ??, Saiki K?suke)

Voiced by: Kenji Nojima (Japanese); Chris Patton (English)

Kusuke is Kusuo's older brother by two years. He is a super genius who invents devices and machines, but lacks psychic abilities and thus always loses in any sort of competition with his brother. When he was 14, he moved to England where he has been a doctoral candidate at Cambridge University. He invents a "telepath canceler" so that Kusuo cannot read his thoughts.^{Ch. 103-107} After graduating from university, he moves in with his grandparents.^{Ch. 160}

PK Academy

Riki Nendo (?? ?, Nend? Riki)

Voiced by: Kenta Miyake (vomic, flash anime), Daisuke Ono (Japanese); David Wald (English)

A large, muscular student with a Mohawk hairstyle, a scar over his left eye and a cleft chin. Nendo is the only student at PK Academy whose mind Saiki cannot read, simply because he is too much of an idiot. As such, Saiki often fears his overly friendly and carefree nature as he cannot predict his actions.^{Ch. 2} However, Nendo is fond of Saiki and considers him his best buddy. His family members have the same faces as him, with his deceased father with a scar over his right eye instead of Riki's left, and his mother Midori with scars over both eyes.^{Ch. P4, 16, 46} He has a horrible singing voice.^{Ch. 90}

Shun Kaido (?? ?, Kaid? Shun)

Voiced by: Takuya Eguchi (vomic, flash anime), Nobunaga Shimazaki (Japanese); Micah Solusod (English)

A classmate who calls himself "The Jet-Black Wings" (????, Shikkoku no Tsubasa), thinking he is secretly living as a rebel in a fantasy world ruled by an evil conspiracy organization called Dark Reunion. Although, while still so much attached to his delusional mind, he slowly builds a normal human relationship with his schoolmates despite his ch?niby? antics popping up.^{Ch. P6, 3} His mother is very strict on his school work.^{Ch. 51, 105} Kaido has low physical stamina and strength as shown in several stories.^{Ch. 48, 86, 106, 112} He also has no sense of direction.^{Ch. 74}

Matsuzaki (??)

Voiced by: Taro Yamaguchi

A gym teacher and school guidance counselor. A strict but kind teacher that everyone fears, but is liked by Saiki because he frequently keeps Saiki's school life at peace as he keeps people from troubling Saiki.^{Ch. 2, 37}

Kokomi Teruhashi (?? ??, Teruhashi Kokomi)

Voiced by: Ai Kayano (Japanese); Tia Ballard (English)

A self-proclaimed beautiful girl who is adored by everyone except Saiki.^{Ch. 5, 13} As such, she becomes obsessed with making Saiki react or show admiration, like saying "Oh wow" (???, Offu) at her.^{Ch. 13, 29, 54} She has a fan club called the Kokomins.^{Ch. 101} However, her charisma does not affect guys who strongly love someone else (Saiki's father), those with pure eyes that view everyone equally (Hairo), or those who can see her true nature (Saiki). Her one weakness is with little kids such as Yuuta who exhibit all three of those characteristics.^{Ch. 87} In one of the chapters, it is shown she harbors a list of things that people should never say to her.^{Ch. 87} Despite being wooed by guys like Metori Saiko that fit her ideal financial expectations, she develops feelings of love for Saiki.^{Ch. 114-115} In the anime, she is typically bathed in a bright yellow glow.

Chiyo Yumehara (?? ??, Yumehara Chiyo)

Voiced by: Yukari Tamura (Japanese); Jill Harris (English)

Saiki's classmate who has a romanticized perspective on relationships despite having a history of poor choices of boyfriends.^{Ch. 109, 140, 162} She has short brown hair and wears a hairband. After failing to attract Saiki with her romantic comedy manga-like encounters, she dates the sweet-talking Takeru, but breaks up with him after she realizes he uses the same pick-up lines and other annoying habits.^{Ch. 5, 21} Chiyo becomes friends with Kokomi, but suspects they both have crushes on Saiki.^{Ch. 54} Her attention is diverted to Shun Kaido, who saves her from being further belittled by some guys at the beach during the school trip, but who is oblivious that he is even in a relationship with her.^{Ch. 54, 60, 96} Chiyo is the subject of some side stories involving weight loss and obesity,^{Ch. 82, 123} As? has mentioned he has been working hard to draw the girls to appeal to the seinen demographic.^{Ch. 56 notes}

Kineshi Hairo (?? ??, Hairo Kineshi)

Voiced by: Satoshi Hino (Japanese); Kyle Phillips (English)

An overly hot-blooded, energetic, passionate student who enjoys sports and is constantly trying to get other people motivated.^{Ch. 6} He is also Saiki's class representative. He has bright red hair and wears a nasal strip. Due to his nature, he is well-trusted by his classmates.^{Ch. 19} A running gag is that whenever he trips his shorts drop and his butt is exposed.^{Ch. 6, 24}

Reita Toritsuka (?? ??, Toritsuka Reita)

Voiced by: Natsuki Hanae (Japanese); Joel McDonald (English)

A medium and one of two people outside of Saiki's family to know of Saiki's abilities. He has the ability to see spirits, but is only interested in using his ability to attract girls and to become rich. His guardian ghost is Nendo's late father.^{Ch. 18} He later lets other spirits possess his body.^{Ch. 52, 79} Aiura, Toritsuka, and Saiki constitute the "Psychic Trio" at PK Academy, albeit this is a characterization to which Saiki objects. Toritsuka starts an Occult Club at school.^{Ch. 96}

Chisato Mera (?? ??, Mera Chisato)

Voiced by: Maaya Uchida (Japanese), Megan Shipman (English)

A glasses-wearing classmate of Saiki's who works multiple jobs to make ends meet, include part-time at a cafe that Saiki frequents.^{Ch. 47} A running gag is that she craves free food and samples.^{Ch. 57-58, 97}

Aren Kuboyasu (??? ??, Kuboyasu Aren)

Voiced by: Yoshimasa Hosoya (Japanese)

A transfer student with rectangular-framed glasses and purple hair^{Vol. 9 author's notes} who used to be a delinquent in his former school. He tries to put his past behind him by being calm and collected, yet has a short temper whenever he sees bullying or whenever someone is being rude to him.^{Ch. 65-66}

Metori Saiko (?? ???, Saiko Metori)

Voiced by: Masaya Matsukaze (Japanese); Adam Gibbs (English)

A rich and smug descendant of the top-notch Saiko Conglomerate who later transfers to PK Academy, ends up falling in love with Kokomi, who declines his offer because she still likes Saiki.^{Ch. 114-115} At first, he became to resent Saiki but latter just kind of hangs around and tries to make people jealous of how rich and great he is.^{Ch. 137-138}

Imu Rifuta (??? ??, Rifuta Imu)

Voiced by: M.A.O

A pretty first-year student with light hair and pigtails who has a strong desire for recognition and takes pride in her appearance to charm the boys, however, she realizes she does not match up to Kokomi.^{Ch. 143} She shows interest in Saiki in order to upstage Kokomi, and Saiki had hoped for the same so that the two girls would eventually leave him alone, but it did not work out.^{Ch. 149}

Mikoto Aiura (?? ?, Aiura Mikoto)

Voiced by: Eri Kitamura

A transfer student who appears as a gyaru (gal) with blonde hair, tan skin, and big breasts. She is a fortune teller who can read the future and determine someone's love compatibility, often accompanied with spontaneous gestures and movements that she makes up to get her in the mood. Her goal is to find her true love, and starts becoming interested in Saiki but dislikes Toritsuka. She can read people's auras, although Saiki's is so intense that she can't read his.^{Ch. 162-163} She declares their group the "psychic trio", much to Saiki's dismay. She appears in the second season of the anime series.

Others

Uryoku Ch?no (?? ??, Ch?no Uryoku)

Voiced by: Showtaro Morikubo (Japanese), Austin Tindle (English)

A street magician who performs with his partner Michael. He sometimes relies on Saiki to help him with his magic tricks.^{Ch. P3, 14} His real name is K?ta Nakanishi (?? ??, Nakanishi K?ta)^{Ch. 15} Two years prior, Chono used to work for a publishing company when he met Nendo's mother, but they divorced after he lost his job and didn't pick up any further work prior to becoming a magician.^{Ch. 46}

Nendo's parents

Riki Nendo's deceased father is still hanging around as a ghost. He looks exactly like Riki except that he has his vertical scar over his right eye instead of his left. He is the guardian ghost for Toritsuka. Because he is a ghost, he no longer maintains any memories of what he himself looks like or that he's related to the Nendos.^{Ch. P4, 16, 46} Riki's mother Midori also looks exactly like Riki except she has a vertical scar over each of her eyes, and she has curly hair. She works multiple jobs; and had married Chono briefly.^{Ch. P4, 16, 46}

Amp (???, Anpu)

Voiced by: Yoshitsugu Matsuoka

An arrogant street cat who was saved by Kusuo when he was trapped between two buildings.^{Ch. 36} He then frequents the Saiki House where Kusuo's father feeds him.^{Ch. 49} Saiki finds Amp annoying until he saves Saiki from a cockroach.^{Ch. 89}

Makoto Teruhashi (?? ?, Teruhashi Makoto) / Touru Mugami (?? ?, Mugami T?ru)

Voiced by: Tomoaki Maeno (Japanese), Brandon McInnis (English)

Makoto is Kokomi's older brother and a top teen actor with the stage name Toru Mugami. He has a serious sister complex and hates it when Saiki is near her.^{Ch. 41, 43}

Y?ta Iridatsu (?? ??, Iridatsu Y?ta)

Voiced by: Yumiko Kobayashi

A five-year-old boy who first encounters Saiki Kusuo using his powers to get his balloon back. He is convinced that Saiki is his favorite comic book hero, Cyborg Cider-man Version 2. His family moves next door to the Saikis.^{Ch. 53}

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Media

Manga

The series began serialization in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine on May 14, 2012. The first collected tank?bon volume was published on September 4, 2012, with 24 volumes released as of January 2018. The series ended serialization on February 26, 2018. Shueisha later revealed that a 4-panel sequel would begin serialization on March 5, 2018.

Volumes

Light Novel

On May 4, 2013, a light novel titled, Saiki Kusuo no Psi-nan - Extra Story of Psychics was released, following with Saiki Kusuo no Psi-nan - Extra Story of Psychics 2 in July 2014.

Anime

A flash anime series based on the manga began release on Jump Live from August 4, 2013, featuring the same voice cast as an earlier Comic adaptation.

An anime television adaptation was announced in the Weekly Sh?nen Jump magazine's 23rd issue of 2016. J.C.Staff and Egg Firm are producing the adaptation, with Hiroaki Sakurai directing, Michiko Yokote handling series composition and Masayuki Onji designing the characters. The series began airing on July 4, 2016 on TV Tokyo, with an episode airing every weekday morning followed by a compilation episode at the end of each week, the series will contain one hundred and twenty episodes in total, along with twenty four compilation episodes on Oha Suta. The opening themes are "Seishun wa Zankoku janai" (?????????, Youth Isn't So Cruel) by Natsuki Hanae, "Sai-Sai-Saik?ch?!" (?????!, The Most Favorable!) by Denpagumi.inc from the thirteenth compiled episode onwards and "Saihakkenden!" (????!) by Denpagumi.inc from second season, while the ending theme, also used for the short episodes, is "Psi desu - I Like You" (??? I LIKE YOU) by Denpagumi.inc. From the thirteenth compiled episode onwards, the ending theme is "Kokoro" (???, Heart) by Hanae. From second season, the ending theme is "Saihakkenden!" (????!) by Denpagumi.inc. The series is was simulcast by Funimation, who released an English dub starting from August 7, 2016.

A second season premiered on January 17, 2018.

Video games

A video game titled Saiki Kusuo no Psi Nan: Shij? Psi Dai no Psi Nan!? was announced in the Weekly Sh?nen Jump magazine's 32nd issue of 2016. The game was developed by Bandai Namco Studios and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment for the Nintendo 3DS handheld game console. It was released on November 10, 2016 in Japan.

Another video game adaptation, ??????? ????!???????, is a tower defense game for mobile phones announced at Jump Festa 2018. It was released on April 16, 2018 in Japan.

Kusuo also appears as a playable character in the Jump crossover fighting game J-Stars Victory VS released in 2014. Its European and North American release marks the first release of Saiki Kusuo no Psi-nan material outside Japan.

Live-action film

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Notes

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Works cited

• ^ "Ch." is shortened form for chapter and refers to a chapter number of The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. manga. Chapters preceded with a P refer to the one-shots that were later collected in Volume 0.
• ^ "Ep." is shortened form for episode and refers to an episode number of The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. anime

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References

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External links

• Official website (in Japanese)
• The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia

Source of the article : Wikipedia