Sumomomo, Momomo: The Strongest Bride on Earth (すもももももも〜地上最強のヨメ〜) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Shinobu Ohtaka. It was serialized in Square Enix's manga magazine Young Gangan (first named Gangan YG) from January 2004 to February 2009, with its chapters collected in 12 volumes. The manga was licensed for English release in North America by Yen Press. The story centers on Momoko Kuzuryū, a young and strong martial artist girl who wants to marry and bear a child with a boy that she believes to be a strong fighter. A 22-episode anime television series adaptation by Studio Hibari was broadcast on TV Asahi from October 2006 to March 2007, with two additional original video animation (OVA) episodes released in August 2007.

Plot

Kōshi Inuzuka is a normal high school student aspiring to become a prosecutor after graduating. One day, a strange girl named Momoko Kuzuryū approaches him, revealing that they are betrothed and expected to produce a strong child together, although Kōshi does not accept this odd notion. Apparently the betrothal resulted from Kōshi's and Momoko's fathers having arranged the marriage. After Kōshi and Momoko's initial meeting, Kōshi realizes that Momoko is not just a normal — albeit strange — girl, as she has been trained by her father in a special form of martial arts known only to twelve families in all of Japan. Each of these twelve families correlates with one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. Momoko's family is associated with the Dragon, while Kōshi's family is associated with the Dog. The Dragon family is the head of the six families of the west, whereas the Dog family is the head of the six families of the east. Before long, it is revealed to Kōshi and Momoko that five of the six western families are out on a plot to assassinate Kōshi to prevent him from marrying Momoko, which would cement the twelve families together by bonds of blood. This assassination would be the start of a martial artist war, which would be the seventh such war of the twelve zodiac Masters of Japan. Kōshi must now fight for his life as Momoko protects him, hoping he will return her affection.

Characters

Media

Manga

Written and illustrated by Shinobu Ohtaka, Sumomomo, Momomo started in the inaugural issue of Square Enix's manga magazine Gangan YG on January 30, 2004; the magazine was later rebranded as Young Gangan on December 3 of the same year. The series finished on February 6, 2009. Square Enix collected its chapters in twelve volumes, released from May 5, 2005, to February 25, 2009. The manga has been licensed by Yen Press for distribution in English in North America. The manga was initially serialized in Yen Press' Yen Plus anthology magazine, the first issue of which went on sale on July 29, 2008. The twelve collected volumes were released from May 12, 2009, to May 29, 2012.

Volumes

Anime

A twenty-two episode anime television series adaptation, animated by Studio Hibari and directed by Nobuaki Nakanishi, was broadcast on TV Asahi from October 6, 2006, to March 16, 2007. Two additional original video animation (OVA) episodes were released with the ninth DVD set of the series on August 24, 2007. The two opening theme songs, "Saikyō○×Keikaku" (最強○×計画) (episodes 1–12) and "Setsujō! Hyakka Ryōran" (切情! 佰火繚乱) (episodes 13–24), were performed by Mosaic.wav. The first ending theme song is "No Rock No Life" (episodes 1–12) by Honey Bee (band); the second ending theme song is "Mōsō Break" (妄想ブレイク) (episodes 13–14, 16–22) by Yozora Orihime & AiAi; the ending theme song for episode 15 is "Good Luck" by Mi~ko.

Episodes