Ghost Sweeper Mikami

Ghost Sweeper Mikami
Manga volume 1 cover
GS美神 極楽大作戦!! (Gōsuto Suīpā Mikami Gokuraku Daisakusen!!)
Genre	Action, comedy, supernatural
Manga
Written by	Takashi Shiina
Published by	Shogakukan
Imprint	Shōnen Sunday Comics
Magazine	Weekly Shōnen Sunday
Demographic	Shōnen
Original run	May 8, 1991 – September 22, 1999
Volumes	39
Anime television series
Directed by	Atsutoshi Umezawa
Written by	Aya Matsui
Music by	Toshihiko Sahashi
Studio	Toei Animation
Licensed by	NA: Sentai Filmworks (expired)
Original network	ANN (ABC, TV Asahi)
Original run	April 11, 1993 – March 6, 1994
Episodes	45
Anime film
Directed by	Atsutoshi Umezawa
Studio	Toei Animation
Licensed by	NA: Manga Entertainment
Released	August 24, 1994 (1994-08-24)
Runtime	60 minutes

Ghost Sweeper Mikami: The Great Paradise Battle!! (Japanese: GS美神 極楽大作戦!!, Hepburn: Gōsuto Suīpā Mikami Gokuraku Daisakusen!!) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Takashi Shiina. It was published in Shogakukan's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Sunday from May 1991 to September 1999, with its chapters collected in 39 tankobon volumes. It follows the exploits of a group of exorcists who try to combat supernatural forces in an effort to get paid. The series explores some folk religion themes such as possession, exorcism, shamanism, yūrei, and yōkai.

A 45-episode anime television series adaptation by Toei Animation was broadcast on the Asahi Broadcasting Corporation from April 1993 to March 1994. An anime film premiered in August 1994. The anime series was licensed in North America by Sentai Filmworks. In November 2013, Toei Animation released all of the episodes with English subtitles to YouTube.

In 1993, Ghost Sweeper Mikami won the 38th Shogakukan Manga Award in the shōnen category.

Plot

Main article: List of Ghost Sweeper Mikami characters

Overdevelopment and crowding in Japan has forced many of its indigenous spirits and ghosts to lose their homes. Due to problems caused by the homeless spirits, a new profession was created, the Ghost Sweepers (GS). Private exorcists for hire, they serve only the highest bidder to survive in the cutthroat corporate world. Among this, the Mikami GS Company, led by 31-year-old Reiko Mikami and her two assistants, the 17-year-old boy Tadao Yokoshima and the ghost girl Okinu, is said to be the best.

The manga setup is scenario-to-scenario, with many plots intertwining classic Japanese culture and modern day realities, with occasional references to Western influences. In between these plot points, there are longer story arcs where new characters are introduced and the existing characters are further developed. While the overarching storyline focuses on Reiko's contention with her arch-nemesis, Astaroth, the series is mostly character-driven and serves to gradually develop characters, especially the main protagonists.

Media

Manga

Ghost Sweeper Mikami, written and illustrated by Takashi Shiina, debuted as a one-shot in Shogakukan's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Sunday on May 8, 1991. The manga was then serialized in the same magazine from July 17, 1991, to September 22, 1999. Shogakukan collected its chapters in thirty-nine tankōbon volumes, released from March 18, 1992, to November 18, 1999. Shogakukan re-released the series in a twenty-volume wideban edition, published from December 16, 2002, to July 15, 2004; a twenty-volume shinsōban edition from June 16, 2006, to March 16, 2007; and a twenty-three volume bunkoban edition from August 18, 2016, to June 15, 2018.

Volumes

No.	Japanese release date	Japanese ISBN
1	March 18, 1992	4-09-123031-8
2	May 18, 1992	4-09-123032-6
3	July 17, 1992	4-09-123033-4
4	September 18, 1992	4-09-123034-2
5	December 12, 1992	4-09-123035-0
6	March 18, 1993	4-09-123036-9
7	May 18, 1993	4-09-123037-7
8	July 17, 1993	4-09-123038-5
9	October 18, 1993	4-09-123039-3
10	December 11, 1993	4-09-123040-7
11	March 18, 1994	4-09-123321-X
12	May 18, 1994	4-09-123322-8
13	July 18, 1994	4-09-123323-6
14	November 18, 1994	4-09-123324-4
15	January 18, 1995	4-09-123325-2
16	March 18, 1995	4-09-123326-0
17	May 18, 1995	4-09-123327-9
18	July 18, 1995	4-09-123328-7
19	October 18, 1995	4-09-123329-5
20	January 18, 1996	4-09-123330-9
21	April 18, 1996	4-09-125001-7
22	July 18, 1996	4-09-125002-5
23	September 18, 1996	4-09-125003-3
24	November 18, 1996	4-09-125004-1
25	January 18, 1997	4-09-125005-X
26	April 18, 1997	4-09-125006-8
27	July 18, 1997	4-09-125007-6
28	October 18, 1997	4-09-125008-4
29	January 17, 1998	4-09-125009-2
30	March 18, 1998	4-09-125010-6
31	June 18, 1998	4-09-125431-4
32	August 8, 1998	4-09-125432-2
33	October 17, 1998	4-09-125433-0
34	January 18, 1999	4-09-125434-9
35	March 18, 1999	4-09-125435-7
36	May 18, 1999	4-09-125436-5
37	July 17, 1999	4-09-125437-3
38	September 18, 1999	4-09-125438-1
39	November 18, 1999	4-09-125439-X

Anime

A 45-episode anime television series adaptation, produced by Toei Animation, was broadcast on the Asahi Broadcasting Corporation from April 11, 1993, to March 6, 1994.

Episodes

No.	Title	Written by	Original air date
1	"Here Comes the Super Sexy Exorcist!" Transliteration: "Bodikon Joreishi Tōjō!" (Japanese: ボディコン除霊師登場!)	Aya Matsui	April 11, 1993 (1993-04-11)
Reiko Mikami is hired to rid a mountain hotel of a ghost which is haunting its outdoor baths and she takes along Tadao Yokoshima to carry her baggage. She encounters the ghost, a jibakurei whose body is lost in the mountains which is keeping him tied to the human world. Meanwhile, Yokoshima encounters the ghost of Kinu Himuro who was sacrificed 300 years earlier to calm the volcanic mountain's anger. She has also become a jibakurei and is seeking to kill someone who would take her place. Mikami, with the help of Yokoshima and Kinu, manages to absorb the evil mountain spirit with a talisman which finally brings it peace. Later, she installs the hotel's ghost in its place to guard the mountain.
2	"Armed Robbers Have No Tomorrow!" Transliteration: "Gōtō ni Ashita Hanai!" (Japanese: 強盗に明日はない!)	Aya Matsui	April 18, 1993 (1993-04-18)
Two would-be bank robbers crash their car and die before they can carry out the job. They are now haunting the bank and the bank manager calls in Reiko Mikami to get rid of them but cannot agree on a price. Mikami strikes a bargain where she and the bank robbing ghosts can keep anything they can steal while the bank manager's security force tries to stop them. Mikami and Yokoshima successfully rob the bank with the aid of the ghosts who can then pass on to the afterlife. The bank's security forces catch up with Mikami and retrieve the money, however Okinu has entered the bank during the commotion and transfers a billion Yen to Mikami's account.
3	"The Empire of Haunted Dolls!!" Transliteration: "Noroi no Ningyō Teikoku!!" (Japanese: 呪いの人形帝国!!)	Nobuaki Kishima	April 25, 1993 (1993-04-25)
A little girl called Aya asks Mikami to find her dress-up Moga doll which was stolen by a ghost, and Mikami cannot refuse because of a prediction that she must accept the next job. In Aya's room Mikami finds a portal leading to another dimension, and enters with Yokoshima and Okina, but Aya follows them. They are confronted by a hoard of Moga dolls controlled by an evil spirit, but Aya convinces her own doll to rebel and Mikami neurtalises the spirit with a Talisman, returning the dolls to their owners.
4	"Ghost Sweeper in Space!!" Transliteration: "Uchū Gosuto Taiji!!" (Japanese: 宇宙ゴースト退治!!)	Masashi Noro	May 2, 1993 (1993-05-02)
A Gremlin is causing problems at a TV satellite space station and Reiko Mikami is hired to solve the problem. Mikami sends Tadao Yokoshima's soul into space to take care of the Gremlin accompanied by Okinu. The gremlin attacks Yokoshima, but he is saved by the singing of Okina which chases it away. However, the gremlin leaves an egg and Yokoshima ends up caring for a baby gremlin when it hatches.
5	"The Howling of the Haunted Mansion!" Transliteration: "Yūrei Yashiki no Tooboe e!" (Japanese: 幽霊屋敷の遠吠え!)	Masaharu Amiya	May 9, 1993 (1993-05-09)
A wealthy man is trying to demolish an old house to create a multi-story building in its place, but a ghost dog is causing trouble. He asks Reiko Mikami to take care of it, and also leaves his little dog with her for a while. The dog spirit is very strong and is a challenge to Mikami, however in subduing it, she discovers that it was the man's dog Kojirou which protected the house he lived in as a child, even after its death.
6	"The Princess Exorcist!" Transliteration: "O Jō Sama Joreishi!" (Japanese: お嬢さま除霊師!)	Aya Matsui	May 16, 1993 (1993-05-16)
Reiko Mikami is hired to rid a new housing complex of a horde of ghosts, but she has to work with fellow ghost sweeper, Meiko Rokudou. Mikami tries to seal the building with talismen while Meiko uses her Shikigami to clear the interior of ghosts. However, when a ghost scratches Meiko she become upset, causing her Shikigami to completely destroy the complex.
7	"Dr. Chaos' Challenge!" Transliteration: "Dr. Kaosu no Chōsen!" (Japanese: Dr.カオスの挑戦!)	Nobuaki Kishima	May 23, 1993 (1993-05-23)
Doctor Chaos and Maria capture Tadao Yokoshima and Dr. Chaos switch his body with Yokoshima, taking his place to capture Reiko Mikami and obtain her body as it possess great spiritual powers.
8	"Love Overcomes the Test of Time! (Part 1 of 2)" Transliteration: "Ai ha Jikan wo Koe te!" (Japanese: 愛は時間を越えて!)	Aya Matsui	May 30, 1993 (1993-05-30)
Doctor Chaos creates a time-space potion which will completely erase a person's existence from the world. He adds some to a cake and has Maria deliver it to Reiko Mikami's office. Mikami notices something is suspicious with the cake, but Yokoshima eats some before she can stop him. Mikami works out the potion's purpose, and tells Yokoshima to recall something important from the last 24 hours, and he recalls when she accidentally kissed him while fighting a ghost. Yokoshima slowly disappears and finds himself at the mountain with Mikami when they first met Okinu. He tries to convince Mikami that he is from the future and to kiss him, but instead he is blasted further back into his past to when he was at high school. Outside the house which will eventually become her office, the schoolgirl Mikami passes by a crying Yokoshima and she just thinks he is annoying.
9	"Please Kiss Me!! (Part 2 of 2)" Transliteration: "O Negai Chu Shite!!" (Japanese: お願いチューして!!)	Aya Matsui	June 6, 1993 (1993-06-06)
Schoolboy Yokoshima follows the schoolgirl Mikami to her Ghost Sweeper training with Father Karasu. Yokoshima pretends to be possessed and requests that Mikami kiss him on the cheek, however Mikami suspects that he is faking. Suddenly Mikami's schoolmate, Chicho, arrives at the church. She is possessed by an evil spirit which was trapped in antique earrings she bought recently. Mikami does not know what to do, but Yokoshima hands her an energy sword and she dispels the spirit. Yokoshima requests a kiss in return, but while they argue about it, he disappears again. This time, Yokoshima wakes up as a baby, crying that he will never return. However, a very young Mikami comes up and kisses him on the cheek, returning him to the present.
10	"Find the Shikigami!!" Transliteration: "Shikigami wo Sagase!" (Japanese: 式神を捜せ!)	Masashi Noro	June 13, 1993 (1993-06-13)
Meiko asks Mikami to help find her monkey-like Shikigami called Makola which has gone missing. It has the ability to transform and take the shape of living things, including humans. Mikami and Okinu agree to help in order to prevent Meiko becoming upset and releasing all her Shikigami. Yokoshima also offers to help, hoping to earn Meiko's eternal gratitude. Each of them become entangled in difficult situations during their separate searches, only to find out later that Makola found its own way home.
11	"Let's Take the Ghost Train!!" Transliteration: "Rei Ressha de Iko u!!" (Japanese: 霊列車で行こう!!)	Masaharu Amiya	June 20, 1993 (1993-06-20)
Mikami is hired by JR Tokai to investigate a ghostly Shinkansen which has begun appearing at night. She receives a mysterious ticket for the 2am Shinkansen and when she boards the ghostly train with Yokoshima and Okinu, they find the carriages crammed with the ghosts of people unable to pass into the afterlife. Makami fashions a mystical rope barrier with zigzag-shaped paper streamers and uses her energy sword to force their way through the ghosts towards the front of the train. The rope barrier breaks just as they reach the Green Car which stops the ghosts. They are then confronted by the evil spirit controlling the train, but Mikami manages to defeat it. A uniformed conductress appears who is the "heart of the train" and explains that she sent the ticket to Makimi. With the evil spirit removed, she and all the train's passengers can now be released and go to heaven.
12	"Beware of Yakuchin-do!?" Transliteration: "Yakuchin-dō Nigo Yōjin!?" (Japanese: 厄珍堂にご用心!?)	Nobuaki Kishima	June 27, 1993 (1993-06-27)
Mikami is in bed with a cold, so she sends Okinu and Yokoshima to Yakuchin's store to pick up her order of magical items. Yakuchin convinces Yokoshima to try Catastrph-A, a tablet granting Psychic powers for 300 seconds and it seems to work. Back at Mikami's office, a beautiful woman seeks help to exorcise ghosts wearing samurai armor which have been haunting her store. Yokoshima takes the job and uses the tablets to defeat the samurai, however the real demon resides within the woman and she prepares to devour Yokoshima. Fortunately, Mikami has a vision of the events and arrives at the store in time to destroy the demon, but overusing the tablets causes Yokoshima's head to explode and he blacks out for three days. Yakuchin notes that the tablets appear to have unfortunate side effects.
13	"Rival Emi Ogasawara!" Transliteration: "Shukuteki [Raibaru]! Ogasawara Emi!" (Japanese: 宿敵[ライバル]!小笠原エミ!)	Aya Matsui	July 4, 1993 (1993-07-04)
Mikami's rival, Emi Ogasawara, arrives at her office headhunts Yokoshima to join her military-style team of Arnold, Schwarze and Negger. They must physically protect her while she dances to create her spirit-crushing wave, leaving them battered and bruised. Meanwhile Mikami is hired by the Jigoku Mafia Group to get rid of ghosts which they suspect are the work of the rival Gokuaku Group. Mikami suspects that the real cause is a curse created by Emi in conjunction with the police. Emi places a curse on Yokoshima turning him into a mud monster to defeat Mikami, but Mikami's hold over Yokoshima is too strong and she turns the curse against Emi, forcing her to run away while the monster pursues her.
14	"Summer! Pool! Monsters!" Transliteration: "Natsu da Puru da Yōkai da" (Japanese: 夏だプールだ妖怪だ)	Masashi Noro	July 11, 1993 (1993-07-11)
Mikami's GS Agency is hired to remove spirits from a resort's water park. After three days waiting, a monstrous woman appears wearing a scanty swimsuit scaring away the vacationers. Mikami easily dispatches her and others spirits that appear, grateful that she sends them to the afterlife. An ugly monster emerges from the water, calling itself Complex, born from the grudges and hatred of holiday makers that have over others who they perceive as being better looking or more popular. Complex grows stronger by feeding off the energy of the romantically challenged Yokoshima and Mikami cannot defeat the monster until she knocks her hapless assistant unconscious.
15	"Assemble at the Mediterranean Sea! (Part 1 of 2)" Transliteration: "Chichūkai ni Zen'inshūgō!" (Japanese: 地中海に全員集合!)	Aya Matsui	July 18, 1993 (1993-07-18)
Master Karasu sends his trainee Pietro (Pete) to ask Mikami provide assistance for him on the island of Brando in the Mediterranean and he offers her the golden Condor of Malta statue as an inducement. He also invites Mikami's rivals, Emi Ogasawara, Dr. Chaos and Meiko Rokudou. On their way, their charter plane to the island is attacked by bats and a huge bat-like monster and the plane crashes into the sea. Pete explains that the monster was controlled by Duke Brando, a powerful vampire, who appears to be breaching a barrier set up by Karasu. After they finally arrive on the island, it appears that Pete is a vampire.
16	"Put The Vampire To Sleep! (Part 2 of 2)" Transliteration: "Kyūketsuki wo Nemura Sero!" (Japanese: 吸血鬼を眠らせろ!)	Aya Matsui	July 25, 1993 (1993-07-25)
The vampire Duke Brando bites Emi Ogasawara turning her into a vampire, but he is driven off by Pete who looks identical to him. Later, Emi attacks and bites Yokoshima also turning him into a vampire. Together they attack the others, and then all the villagers who have been turned into vampires attack as well. Mikami and the others take refuge in the basement where Pete leads them to safety and explains that Duke Brando is his father. They are caught by Brando and his vampire followers, but Pete attacks his father and as they bit each other, Brando loses power over those he has bitten. Once he is defeated, they return to normal, or at least they are no longer vampires.
17	"Temptations on the Summer Beach" Transliteration: "Natsu no Umi ha Yūwaku Darake" (Japanese: 夏の海は誘惑だらけ)	Nobuaki Kishima	August 1, 1993 (1993-08-01)
The manager of the Ounabara Marine Hotel asks Mikami to solve the mystery of sightings of a sea monster in and around the hotel. While Okina explores the seaside, Yokoshima makes a nuisance of himself by propositioning all the girls at the beach. Surprisingly a beautiful blond girl called Namiko befriends him and invites him to her hotel room. Namiko has ordered dinner including turban snails, but devours the hard shell as well as the animal. When water spills on Namiko she is revealed to be a mermaid. Her sea monster husband arrives and apologizes for being led astray by an evil ship ghost and pleads for Namiko to forgive him. Mikami arrives and attacks him but realizes that he is not a threat, however a storm-driven tsunami heads towards the beach, created by the abandoned ship ghost. Mikami heads into the water on her surfboard and destroys the ghost with a magic arrow from her crossbow and Namiko returns to the ocean with her husband and many children.
18	"Shrinking Mikami!!" Transliteration: "Chidimi Yuku Bishin!!" (Japanese: 縮みゆく美神!!)	Masaharu Amiya	August 15, 1993 (1993-08-15)
At Takarazuka Animal Land, Mikami fights an evil jungle spirit which is causing the animals to behave violently, but she is struck by a dart from a blowgun. The next morning she awakes to find that she has shrunk to a miniature size, but when she goes with Okina and Yokoshima to find the spirit they find that all the animals have been turned against humans and she is snatched by a bird. After a series of mishaps, she confronts the spirit, riding atop Yokoshima, controlling him with a bridle until she finally sends the spirit to heaven, returning everything to normal.
19	"Chase the Ghost Submarine!" Transliteration: "Yūrei Sensuikan wo Oe!" (Japanese: 幽霊潜水艦を追え!)	Masashi Noro	August 22, 1993 (1993-08-22)
The Marine Ultra Science Security Unit hires Mikami to investigate a ghost ship, but it is actually a submarine which sinks their ship. Mikami and company are rescued by Nagashima who has been chasing the ghost submarine for 50 years. He claims that his fellow naval trainee, Goro Nomura, sank Nagashima's destroyer out of jealousy because he was assigned to captain a lowly submarine. In rough water, Nagashima slips and knocks himself out, so Mikami takes control and creates gets Yokoshima to swim around the area and set up a spiritual barrier which will contain the submarine so it can no longer move.
20	"Heavenly Smash!" Transliteration: "Gokuraku Sumasshu!!" (Japanese: 極楽スマッシュ!!)	Aya Matsui	August 29, 1993 (1993-08-29)
Resort owner, Mr. Karasu, invites Mikami to his property to meet , but he also invited Emi who was expecting to meet Pete whom she was attracted to. Karasu has hired them both to exorcise the ghost of Reiko Ryugaki, the former owner of the mansion he has bought. Reiko's spirit cannot leave because of her obsession with tennis and she challenges Mikami and Emi to a Canadian doubles tennis match. Reiko looks set to win, however the large payment for exorcising the ghost spurs Mikami and Emi on to win, and Reiko's spirit is set free.
21	"Everyone, Turn Into A Kid!! (Part 1 of 2)" Transliteration: "Minna Kodomo Ninare!!" (Japanese: みんな子供になれ!!)	Aya Matsui	September 5, 1993 (1993-09-05)
22	"Devil Piper's Revenge (Part 2 of 2)" Transliteration: "Akuma Paipa no Gyakushū" (Japanese: 悪魔パイパーの逆襲)	Aya Matsui	September 12, 1993 (1993-09-12)
23	"The Path to the Dragon!! (Part 1 of 2)" Transliteration: "Doragon Heno Michi!!" (Japanese: ドラゴンへの道!!)	Aya Matsui	September 19, 1993 (1993-09-19)
24	"Runaway Dragon in a Rage (Part 2 of 2)" Transliteration: "Doragon Ikari no Bōsō" (Japanese: ドラゴン怒りの暴走)	Aya Matsui	September 26, 1993 (1993-09-26)
25	"Himiko of the Yamatai Kingdom" Transliteration: "Yamatai Kuni no Himiko" (Japanese: ヤマタイ国のヒミコ)	Nobuaki Kishima	October 3, 1993 (1993-10-03)
26	"The Adventure of Heroine Mikami" Transliteration: "Yūsha Bishin no Bōken!" (Japanese: 勇者・美神の冒険!)	Aya Matsui	October 10, 1993 (1993-10-10)
27	"Pure-Hearted Maria in Love!" Transliteration: "Maria Junjō Icchokusen!" (Japanese: マリア純情一直線!)	Masashi Noro	October 17, 1993 (1993-10-17)
28	"Dragon Prince!! (Part 1 of 2)" Transliteration: "Doragon no Ōji!!" (Japanese: ドラゴンの王子!!)	Nobuaki Kishima	October 24, 1993 (1993-10-24)
29	"Dragon in Imminent Danger!! (Part 2 of 2)" Transliteration: "Doragon Kikiippatsu!!" (Japanese: ドラゴン危機一髪!!)	Nobuaki Kishima	October 31, 1993 (1993-10-31)
The dragon god, Shoryuki battles Medusa.
30	"Here Comes the Devilish Sword Shimesaba-Maru!" Transliteration: "Yō Katana Shimesaba Marumi-san" (Japanese: 妖刀シメサバ丸見参)	Masaharu Amiya	November 14, 1993 (1993-11-14)
31	"Flying Magic Broom" Transliteration: "Sora Tobu Mahō no Hōki" (Japanese: 空とぶ魔法のホウキ)	Aya Matsui	November 21, 1993 (1993-11-21)
32	"I, Reiko, Will Marry You!?" Transliteration: "Reiko Kekkon Shimasu!?" (Japanese: 令子・結婚します!?)	Masashi Noro	November 28, 1993 (1993-11-28)
33	"Mannequins Are Calling You" Transliteration: "Manekin Ningyō ga Maneku" (Japanese: マネキン人形が招く)	Nobuaki Kishima	December 5, 1993 (1993-12-05)
34	"Ghostly High School" Transliteration: "Yōkai Haisukuru" (Japanese: 妖怪ハイスクール)	Masashi Noro	December 12, 1993 (1993-12-12)
Yokoshima returns to high school to discover that ghosts have taken over.
35	"The Santa Claus's Gift!" Transliteration: "Santa no Okuri Mono!" (Japanese: サンタの贈りもの!)	Nobuaki Kishima	December 19, 1993 (1993-12-19)
36	"Okinu's Christmas" Transliteration: "Okinu no Kurisumasu" (Japanese: おキヌのクリスマス)	Aya Matsui	December 26, 1993 (1993-12-26)
37	"The Battle of the New Year!!" Transliteration: "Batoru Kinga Shinnen!!" (Japanese: バトル謹賀新年!!)	Nobuaki Kishima	January 9, 1994 (1994-01-09)
38	"The College Examinee's Blues" Transliteration: "Jukensei Burusu" (Japanese: 受験生ブルース)	Masaharu Amiya	January 16, 1994 (1994-01-16)
39	"Maria's Sister (Part 1 of 2)" Transliteration: "Maria no Imōto" (Japanese: マリアの妹)	Masashi Noro	January 23, 1994 (1994-01-23)
40	"Maria and Teresa (Part 2 of 2)" Transliteration: "Maria to Teresa" (Japanese: マリアとテレサ)	Masashi Noro	January 30, 1994 (1994-01-30)
41	"The Fierce Battle with The Snow Queen!" Transliteration: "Nettō! Yuki no Joō" (Japanese: 熱闘!雪の女王)	Nobuaki Kishima	February 6, 1994 (1994-02-06)
42	"Here's My Chocolate!!" Transliteration: "Choko Agemasu!!" (Japanese: チョコあげます!!)	Juttoku Yoshida	February 13, 1994 (1994-02-13)
43	"Into The Dream! (Part 1 of 2)" Transliteration: "Yume no Naka he!" (Japanese: 夢の中へ!)	Nobuaki Kishima	February 20, 1994 (1994-02-20)
44	"The Hellish Nightmare (Part 2 of 2)" Transliteration: "Jigoku no Naitomea" (Japanese: 地獄のナイトメア)	Nobuaki Kishima	February 27, 1994 (1994-02-27)
45	"With Love From Ghost Sweepers" Transliteration: "GS [Gōsuto Suīpā] Yori Ai Wokomete" (Japanese: GS[ゴーストスイーパー]より愛をこめて)	Masashi Noro	March 6, 1994 (1994-03-06)

Film

A 1994 anime film was produced by Toei. Its story is original and acts as a sequel to the TV series. Ghost Sweeper, Reiko Mikami, is called on by the ghost of the long dead samurai Mitsuhide Akechi to stop Nobunaga who was killed and had his form taken by a vampire called Nosferatu. Mitsuhide provides Mikami with a spear tipped with a Seirei Seki (精霊石, "Spirit Stone") with which to kill Nosferatu who is protected by his loyal servant Ranmaru Mori — a demon who can take the shape of a white spider. Nosferatu captures Mikami's associates, Emi Ogasawara, Doctor Chaos and Maria and begins to drain their blood. However, Mikami with the assistance of her friend, Yokoshima, manages to defeat Nosferatu with Mitsuhide's spear, Mitsuhide took him away to insure he is not revived again.

Video games

Ghost Sweeper Mikami: Joreishi wa Nice Body
Cover art of Ghost Sweeper Mikami: Joreishi wa Nice Body
Developer(s)	Natsume
Publisher(s)	Banalex
Composer(s)	Kinuyo Yamashita Hiroyuki Iwatsuki
Platform(s)	Super Famicom, PC Engine
Release	JP: September 23, 1993
Genre(s)	Platformer
Mode(s)	Single-player

Image of gameplay

The manga and anime spawned two video games, one for the Super Famicom and another for the PC Engine. Released in 1993 for the Super Famicom, Natsume's Ghost Sweeper Mikami: Joreishi wa Nice Body (ゴーストスイーパー GS美神 〜除霊師はナイスバディ〜, Gōsuto Suīpā GS Mikami 〜Joreishi wa Naisu Badi〜) is a side-scrolling platform game where the player controls Reiko through multiple stages. Reiko is armed with a magic baton that can be used to perform several types of melee attacks. The baton can be powered up to shoot various types of projectiles, though these powerups are lost if Reiko takes any damage. It can also be used as a type of grappling hook to access certain platforms. There are also limited uses of magic attacks that hit all enemies on the screen.

Banpresto released another game based on the franchise in 1994 for the PC Engine Super CD-ROM² simply titled Ghost Sweeper Mikami , an adventure game featuring card battles.

Reception

In 1993, Ghost Sweeper Mikami, along with Yaiba, received the 38th Shogakukan Manga Award for the shōnen category.

Further reading

• Nettles, John G. (July 12, 2002). "Ghost Sweeper Mikami: Sharon Becker, Angora Deb, Wayne Grayson". PopMatters. Archived from the original on December 12, 2006.
• Duffield, P. "Animerica Feature: Ghostsweeper Mikami". Animerica. Archived from the original on April 7, 2004.

External links

• GS Mikami Gokuraku Daisakusen!! (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia