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Kage Kara Mamoru!
Cover of Kage Kara Mamoru! volume 1 as published by Media Factory
陰からマモル (Mamoru the Shadow)
Genre	Comedy, Harem
Light novel
Author	Achi Taro
Illustrator	Sai Madara
Publisher	Media Factory
Demographic	Male
Imprint	MF Bunko J
Original run	July 2003 – March 2008
Volumes	12
Manga
Author	Achi Taro
Illustrator	Sai Madara
Publisher	Media Factory
English publisher	Dr. Master Productions Inc.
Demographic	Seinen
Magazine	Comic Flapper (former) Monthly Comic Alive
Volumes	5
TV anime
Director	Yoshitaka Fujimoto
Studio	Group TAC, Aniplex
Network	TV Tokyo
Original run	January 7, 2006 – March 25, 2006
Episodes	12
Anime and Manga Portal

Kage Kara Mamoru! (陰からマモル, lit. Mamoru the Shadow ^?) is a series of light novels written by Achi Taro. The light novels had ended in March 2008 with the release of Volume 12, but as of July 2009, a new series entitled Motto! Kage Kara Mamoru! (もっと!陰からマモル!, lit. More! Mamoru the Shadow ^?) has started serialization. It features manga and anime adaptations. The main character is Mamoru Kagemori, a ninja who is sworn to protect his neighbor Yūna Konnyaku.

Story

The Kagemori family has secretly protected its neighbor, the Konnyaku family, for 400 years. Mamoru has been the protector of the daughter, Yūna Konnyaku, since they were in kindergarten. When Yūna is in trouble, Mamoru quickly puts on his ninja suit and transforms into a competent ninja; able to protect her from harm. Unfortunately, this poses quite a challenge as Yūna, being both clumsy and absent-minded, often stumbles into situations where Mamoru must once again come to her rescue.

On the first day of their new school term, a model airplane accidentally makes a dive towards Yuna, but it is quickly stopped by a thrown kunai. At school, Airi Sawagashi invites Yūna to go bowling, but is unhappy when Mamoru also comes.

At the bowling alley, Yūna wanders into the men's restroom and interrupts a yakuza deal involving fake dolls. As a result, they kidnap her and take her to their boss. Mamoru follows them, takes out the gang, and rescues Yūna.

The story continues as new characters enter Yūna and Mamoru's lives with both good and evil intentions, wacky adventures, hints of romance, and confrontations with the strangest of adversaries.

Characters

Mamoru Kagemori (陰守 マモル, Kagemori Mamoru ^?)

Mamoru Kagemori is a dowdy boy whose hair is disheveled and wears thick glasses, which are actually a form of concealment/camouflage, and is very lazy except when he's saving Yūna. He is actually the son of a ninja family, which has been protecting the Konnyaku family for 400 years. He reveals his true self (without glasses) when he transforms into a ninja to protect Yūna from harm. He has been friends with Yūna since they were children, and has also been in the same class as her since kindergarten. He also has a fear of bears, which developed because of him trying to protect Yamame from a bear in his childhood.

Voiced by: Atsushi Kisaichi (Japanese)

Yūna Konnyaku (紺若 ゆうな, Konnyaku Yūna ^?)

Yūna is Mamoru's childhood friend and neighbor. She is a quite clumsy and often ditzy girl. These qualities cause her to get into many troublesome situations. Since she has known Mamoru since kindergarten, Mamoru knows everything about her, except the thing that Yūna looks at every night before bed. The thing Yūna looks at before she goes to sleep is a photo of her and Mamoru which she cherishes. It is hinted that she is in love with Mamoru, but is afraid to admit her love to him.

Voiced by: Mai Nakahara (Japanese)

Airi Sawagashi (沢菓 愛里, Sawagashi Airi ^?)

Airi, a wealthy girl, is a classmate and friend of Mamoru and Yūna. She discourages any relationship between Yūna and Mamoru, because childhood friends who become lovers are generally unsuccessful. However, she also has feelings for Kagemori. She conceals her feelings by always beating up Mamoru but occasionally gives hints that she likes him but unfortunately Mamoru doesn't understand it.

Voiced by: Ryōko Shintani (Japanese)

Tsubaki Mapputatsu (真双津 椿, Mapputatsu Tsubaki ^?)

Tsubaki is a miko swordswoman. Her sword can cut anything but nata de coco. She was first hired by the yakuza boss in order avenge his earlier defeat at Mamoru's hands. She is pursuing them for the sake of justice. After finding out the truth about the yakuza boss, she takes revenge on that boss. She also decides to enter Mamoru's school. After Mamoru cheers her up while she was depressed about being old-fashioned, she begins to develop feelings for him.

Voiced by: Sachiko Kojima (Japanese)

Yamame Hattori (服部 山芽, Hattori Yamame ^?)

Yamame is a ninja and a relative of Mamoru. She remembers when Mamoru comforted her when she was little; however, she is quite disappointed after seeing the glasses-wearing person he is now. After Mamoru saves her from an animal man Chin Panji, and starts to like him, she apologizes to Mamoru. The next day, Yamame decided to enter his school. She is also responsible for Mamoru's fear of bears, caused by him having to save her from one in the past.

Voiced by: Ai Shimizu (Japanese)

Hotaru Kumogakure (雲隠 ホタル, Kumogakure Hotaru ^?)

Hotaru is a ninja. She confesses her love to Mamoru when they first meet. She lost to Yamame in a ninja athletic meet after being distracted by Yamame pretending to see a UFO. She and her brother attack Mamoru in order to avenge their disgrace. Her feelings for Mamoru prevent her from defeating him. She saves Mamoru by giving him (via mouth-to-mouth) some of her family's secret medicine thus allowing him to defeat her brother. Afterwards, she moves into the neighborhood and starts attending the same school.

Voiced by: Erina Furukawa (Japanese)

Bullmaru (ぶる丸, Burumaru ^?)

Kagemori family's bull terrier ninja dog. Despite its cute appearance, Bullmaru is actually a very skilled canine and is able to use various ninja weapons in its mouth.

Sakurako Kagemori (陰守 桜子, Kagemori Sakurako ^?)

Sakurako is Mamoru's mother. She is a ninja and is in charge of protecting Yūna's mother.

Kengo Kagemori (陰守 堅護, Kagemori Kengo ^?)

Kengo is Mamoru's father. He is a ninja and is in charge of protecting Yūna's father.

Miminosuke (耳の介, Miminosuke ^?)

Yamame's ninja rabbit companion.

Theme music

Opening

1. "Million Love (「ミリオン・ラブ」)" by Mai Nakahara

Ending

1. "Rainy Beat" by Ryōko Shintani, Sachiko Kojima, Ai Shimizu, and Erina Furukawa

Episode titles

Light Novels

First Series

1. Mamoru the Shadow! ISBN 4840108382
2. Mamoru the Shadow!（2） 椿の初でいとの道 ISBN 4840110123
3. Mamoru the Shadow!（3） 忍の里から来た少女 ISBN 4840111243
4. Mamoru the Shadow!（4） 来襲!甲賀最強の忍 ISBN 4840111987
5. Mamoru the Shadow!（5） 小鐘井黄金伝説 ISBN 4840111987
6. Mamoru the Shadow!（6） ゆーなとユーナ王女様 ISBN 4840114501
7. Mamoru the Shadow!（7） ホタルの居候日記! ISBN 484011515X
8. Mamoru the Shadow!（8） ウエディング時代劇娘 ISBN 4840115923
9. Mamoru the Shadow!（9） 伊賀娘たちが来た! ISBN 9784840117760
10. Mamoru the Shadow!（10）プリンセスアイリーン ISBN 9784840118903
11. Mamoru the Shadow!（11）うらしまゆーな ISBN 9784840120876
12. Mamoru the Shadow!（12）最後にマモル ISBN 9784840121941

Second Series

1. More! Mamoru the Shadow! (July, 2009)

Manga

The 5 volumes of the manga adaption were released by the publisher Media Factory. The manga adaption was between 11/2005 to 04/2006 first serialized in Monthly Comic Flapper and since 08/2006 in Monthly Comic Alive.

Dr. Master Productions Inc. published between July 16, 2008 and January 21, 2009 the english translation of the first three volumes of this series under the name of Mamoru The Shadow Protector.

External links

• Official Kage Kara Mamoru Website (Japanese)
• Anime News Network entry