Series synopsis
Saiyuki, also known as 最遊記 is a Japanese animation action & adventure drama comedy television series that premiered on TV Tokyo on April 4, 2000. It ended on March 31, 2022. It stars Akira Ishida, Soichiro Hoshi, Hiroaki Hirata and Hochu Otsuka.
Many years ago, humans and demons lived in harmony. But that unity ended when demons started attacking humans and plotted a mission to unleash Gyumao - an evil demon imprisoned for thousands of years. Now, Genjo Sanzo, a rogue priest, must team up with three demons - Sha Gojyo, Son Goku, and Cho Hakkai - and embark on a perilous journey to the west to stop these demons from resurrecting Gyumao and restore the balance between humans and demons on Earth.
Premise
Many years ago, humans and demons lived in harmony. But that unity ended when demons started attacking humans and plotted a mission to unleash Gyumao - an evil demon imprisoned for thousands of years. Now, Genjo Sanzo, a rogue priest, must team up with three demons - Sha Gojyo, Son Goku, and Cho Hakkai - and embark on a perilous journey to the west to stop these demons from resurrecting Gyumao and restore the balance between humans and demons on Earth.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Akira Ishida as Cho Hakkai (voice)
- Soichiro Hoshi as Son Goku (voice)
- Hiroaki Hirata as Sha Gojyo (voice)
- Hochu Otsuka as Ni Jianyi (voice)
- Toshihiko Seki as Genjo Sanzo (voice)
- Takeshi Kusao as Kougaiji (voice)
- Toshiyuki Morikawa as Homura (voice)
- Kaho Kouda as Nataku (voice)
Supporting cast
- Kazuhiro Yamaji as Goujun (voice)
- Keiko Aizawa as Dr. Huang (voice)
- Ken Narita as Koumyou Sanzo (voice)
- Misa Watanabe as Kanzeon Bosatsu (voice)
- Yuko Minaguchi as Yaone (voice)
- Shinobu Satou as Gyokumen Koshu (voice)
Guest cast
- Kaoru Morota as Hakuryu (voice)
- Dai Matsumoto as Dokugakuji (voice)
- Shigeru Ushiyama
- Yuriko Yamaguchi as Sanbutsushin (voice)
- Makoto Tsumura
- Akiko Yajima
- Hidenori Tokuyama
- Kotono Mitsuishi
- Kikuko Inoue
- Mugihito
- Ryusei Nakao
- Hideyuki Umezu
Episodes
This series spans 6 seasons with 136 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 0 | 10 | April 23, 1999 | April 26, 2013 |
| Season 1 | 50 | April 4, 2000 | March 27, 2001 |
| Season 2 | 25 | October 2, 2003 | March 25, 2004 |
| Season 3 | 26 | April 2, 2004 | September 24, 2004 |
| Season 4 | 12 | July 5, 2017 | September 20, 2017 |
| Season 5 | 13 | January 6, 2022 | March 31, 2022 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saiyuki Premium (1) | April 23, 1999 |
| 2 | Saiyuki Premium (2) | August 27, 1999 |
| 3 |
Saiyuki Interactive A mysterious light falls from the Heavens. It's the Pearl Jade. It can grant any wish. Dr. Ni tells Gyokumen Koushu about it. Lirin overhears and tells Kougaiji. Then Kanzeon Bosatsu (The Merciful Goddess) requests "orders" Sanzo and company to go and find and seal it before it falls into the wrong hands. |
September 19, 2002 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Go to the West A long, long time ago, in the Far West, there was a world called Paradise. This was the origin of civilization and faith, where humans and evil spirits coexisted in peaceful harmony. Suddenly, by a negative spiritual wave spreading over this world, the evil spirits and monsters become violent and begin attacking the humans. Ordered by the Celestial Heavens, a priest named Sanzo recruits his old comrades and sets out for the journey toward Indara in the faraway West to find the culprit behind this disaster |
April 4, 2000 |
| 2 |
First Game – A Guide to the Land of the Dead In a small town, our heroes meet a wounded girl called Ho-May whose friend was killed by an evil creature. Goku can not tell her he is a creature in human disguise. Our heroes are ambushed by a spider-women disguised as traveling entertainers. Goku fights with all his strength for the kindness of the girl and her father who prepared a tasty meal. |
April 11, 2000 |
| 3 |
His God, My God – The Divine Platform The quartet visits a huge temple on a rocky mountain. All the priests and apprentices live a strict life of studying the sacred scrolls and purifying their souls under the principles of 'no-drinking', 'no-smoking' and 'all tangible things are vain.' They are surprised to see Sanzo partaking in all of these forbidden things. Then, assassins sent by the evil monster Kogaiji attack the temple. Our heroes have to save the priests from the assassins' ghastly violence as the priests are prohibited from killing |
April 18, 2000 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ~Run~ The Bullet - Reloaded Again | October 2, 2003 |
| 2 | ~Wanted Dead or Alive~ Moving Trap | October 9, 2003 |
| 3 | ~Lethal Weapon~ The Strongest Enemy in History | October 16, 2003 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Temple Where Evil Things Live ~nest~ | April 2, 2004 |
| 2 | The Nightmare Unleashed ~rabbits~ | April 9, 2004 |
| 3 | Swift Current ~against the stream~ | April 16, 2004 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Squall Continuing west, the Sanzo party are climbing a nearly vertical cliff face. During their cruel rock climbing, a band of demons attack. The party fends off the demons and reaches the top, only to be greeted by numerous vultures |
July 5, 2017 |
| 2 |
Cloud Mirror Running out of food and tobacco, Sanzo and his followers come upon a lake with a beautiful, mirror-like surface—a saltwater lake. The local village has prospered as a salt producer and distributor. The numerous villagers are happy and lively. |
July 12, 2017 |
| 3 |
Sky Burial Continuing west, the Sanzo party are climbing a nearly vertical cliff face. During their cruel rock climbing, a band of demons attack. The party fends off the demons and reaches the top, only to be greeted by numerous vultures. |
July 19, 2017 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Blue-Eyed Angel The group begins a new journey, but they soon find themselves under attack. Not by demons, but by humans… |
January 6, 2022 |
| 2 |
The Value of Life Hakkai was attacked by a group of humans with yellow eyes while recuperating. He managed to somehow rejoin Sanzo and the others. However, although it was due to being attacked, their party had pointed their guns at humans. Feeling driven out, they left the city, and once again Hazel appeared before them. |
January 13, 2022 |
| 3 |
Humans and Demons Sanzo and his friends fought with Hazel and others, and released their daughter who was trapped in a youkai. However, in this case, the difference between the two ways of thinking becomes clear. That night, Hazel speaks to Sanzo. I'm asking you to help me to achieve a certain purpose ...? |
January 20, 2022 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | TV Tokyo |
|---|---|
| First aired | April 4, 2000 |
| Last aired | March 31, 2022 |
| Runtime | 25 minutes |
| Status | Ended |