Hana no Asuka-gumi! ("The Glorious Asuka Gang!") is a classic delinquent Shōjo manga written by Satosumi Takaguchi.
The story centers around the 14-year old sukeban, the titular Asuka Kuraku, and her various misadventures dealing with rival gangs and rowdy enemies. Armed with her trusty gold coin and chain, she uses her raw strength and quick wits to survive the streets and protect her loved ones.
The original manga ran, fittingly, in Kadokawa's Asuka magazine for an impressive 34-volume run from 1985 to 1995. Its popularity ensured three manga sequels, all of which bumped up to the Josei demographic and collectively moved to Shodensha: Shin Hana no Asuka-gumi! in Feel Young, Hana no Asuka-gumi! BS-hen in Manga Jam, and its current installment Hana no Asuka-gumi! Infinity in the same magazine. It was also adapted into a Live Action drama series, two live action films and two OVAs (the second of which had no archived footage until 2019). Needless to say, it's got some enduring popularity.
For similar sukeban stories, see titles such as Sukeban Deka.
Tropes:
- Academic Alpha Bitch: Hime acts as this. She's just as much of a fighter as the rest of the main girls, but she's also a frighteningly smart young lady and seen as the top of her class.
- Apathetic Citizens
- Blackmail
- Canon Foreigner: The Ichigo Milk hosts, Tsukikage and Honami, were invented for the second OVA.
- Cluster F-Bomb: Could be the translators or just intended by author.
- Defective Detective
- Even Evil Has Loved Ones: The lead.
- Extreme Doormat: Yoko towards her Jerkass "friends", at first.
- Idol Singer
- Illegal Gambling Den: Royal Cats Battle Royale has Ichigo Milk, a high class betting ring hosted by two young girls placing bets on the delinquent community in town.
- Japanese Delinquents: The story centers around the 14-year old sukeban, the titular Asuka Kuraku, and her various misadventures dealing with rival gangs and rowdy enemies.
- Jerkass: The lead from
Chaotic Neutral to Sir Swears-a-Lot etc... - Lack of Empathy
- Lighter and Softer: While the live-action is (excessively) Darker and Edgier, this is perhaps one of the biggest examples in anime. Asuka is changed from Nominal to Pragmatic Hero and may even count as a heroic Knight in Sour Armor in Battle Royale as her gang act as protectors of their district.
- Minor Injury Overreaction: Kurenai, for a one-inch scar, to the point of wearing a mask. Also to show vanity.
- Nominal Hero: On her very best of days.
- Woobie of the Week: of varying degrees.
- Yakuza: Sometimes.
