The Beast Player is a Japanese novel series written by Nahoko Uehashi and published by Kodansha between 2006 and 2009. It focuses on a girl who can control the greatest of beasts as she gets involved in a war between two territories of one kingdom. The series has been adapted as a manga serialized in Kodansha's Monthly Shōnen Sirius since October 25, 2008, and as an animetelevision series, called Erin produced by Production I.G and Trans Arts that aired in Japan on NHK from January 10 to December 26, 2009.
Book title
In the original Japanese title the word translated "player" in the English edition is a term used historically for a mōshitsugi the liaison between the Japanese court and the bakufu, but the word sōja also used today for a musician, someone playing a musical instrument, not a player of games.
Plot
10-year-old Elin is a young girl who lives with her mother in Aluhan territory in the small village of Ake. She has a big love for animals, especially the Toda, dragon-like creatures used in the war. Her mother Sohyon was originally of the Ahlyo, an ancient clan who have members with green eyes, and is rumored to follow in the ancient ways, practice magic, and hide in the mist. But despite her genealogy, they stay in the village because Elin's late father was the son of the village chief and Sohyon is the head Toda doctor. But one night, the Kiba, the Aluhan's strongest Toda, mysteriously dies. According to law, since Sohyon was the person who was charged with caring for them, she is responsible for their condition and was sentenced to death. Elin learns of this and tries to save her mother, but Sohyon refuses rescue, and Elin is swayed along the river as her mother is eaten by the wild Toda. Elin is taken into Yojeh territory and is found and adopted by a beekeeper. There, she learns of the species called Royal Beasts. Elin's spark for learning takes her to Kazalumu and leads her to the baby Royal Beast Leelan. As Elin stays at Kazalumu and spends more time with Leelan, she creates a miraculous bond with her that is said to be impossible and ends up getting involved in a civil war between Aluhan and Yojeh territories.
Royal Beasts
Royal Beasts are the author's visual invention, not a beast from Japanese mythology. They have large white or white-grey feathered bird or griffin like creatures with a wolf's head instead of the typical dragon or griffin head.
Characters
Main characters
;Elin ; Leelan ; Eku
Yojeh territory
; Halumiya ; Seimiya ; Damiya ;Ialu
Aluhan territory
; Shunan ; Nugan ; Sohyon
Supporting characters
; Joeun Tohsana ; Nuk and Mok ; Esalu ; Tomura ; Kirik ; Nahson
Groups
; Wajyak ; Sai Gamulu ; Se Zan ; Holon ; Ahlyo
Media
Novel
The first two novels were published by Kodansha on November 21, 2006. They have since been reprinted in bunkoban format. The final two volumes were published on August 10, 2009.
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Release date
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Manga
Written and drawn by Itoe Takemoto, a manga adaptation of the novel series was serialized in Kodansha's manga magazineMonthly Shōnen Sirius. On September 12, 2014, Kodansha started republishing the series in bunkoban format.
