RobiHachi

Logo for the first season.

Poster with logo.

RobiHachi (ロビハチ, Robihachi) is a 2019 sci-fi adventure series created by Taiga Umatani and produced by Studio Comet. The series is directed by Shinji Takamatsu. The series premiered on April 8, 2019 and continued for 12 episodes. These were accompanied by six audio drama tracks released with the Blu-rays/DVDs. The series has its official day, RobiHachi Day, on June 8 as announced by the staff. "June 8" would be read as "roku hachi" which sounds similar to RobiHachi.

Synopsis

In Neo-Tokyo in the year G.C.0051, humans have known of aliens for the last 50 years and obtained super light-speed navigation technology and formed a commonwealth of planets. Self-proclaimed freelance reportage writer Robby Yarge fails at work, so his contract is cut. His girlfriend leaves him, he nearly dies in a traffic accident, and debt collectors are after him. One day, a bag snatcher steals Robby's bag, and a young man helps him. Hatchi Kita, an 18-year-old part-time worker, catches the criminal and returns Robby's bag. However, Hatchi turns up again in Robby's life as a debt collector. Hatchi explains that it's his part-time job working for the loan shark Yang. A cat-and-mouse chase begins, and Yang takes his subordinates Allo and Gras along for the ride.

Source: AnimeNewsNetwork

Viewing Order

The accompanying drama tracks are tied in with the main plot of the anime and happen between the episodes. They are not necessary to understand the main story line, however they provide some additional context for some events (the most important one being explaining how Yang, Allo, and Gras ended up on planet Tottuka, when in the anime they were just there for seemingly no reason) and offer supplementary information about the characters and world-building.

The viewing order in chronological order is as follows:

1. 1.01 Traveling Companions; Journey to the Star
2. 1.02 Truth Found From an Octopus
3. Drama CD.01 Everyone Has Different Tastes
4. 1.03 Pique on Planet Pluto
5. 1.04 Merfolk on the End of the Pole
6. Drama CD.02 What is it That You Lost?
7. 1.05 The Don Opens All Doors
8. Drama CD.03 Inscrutable are the Ways People are Brought Together
9. 1.06 Qu-eel-le Surprise
10. 1.07 Land of Dreams Just Ahead
11. 1.08 Heads I'm Tin, Tails You Lose
12. Drama CD.04 Obligations and Clams
13. 1.09 The Family That Stays Together, Hizakuriger
14. Drama CD.05 Promised Dog
15. 1.10 Never Get Involved in a Buddies' Quarrel
16. Drama CD.06 Memories and Feelings are Priceless
17. 1.11 Common Fame is a Common Isekandar
18. 1.12 Dream of the Moon, Dream of the Earth

Source Material

Cover of the English edition of Hizakurige from 2001.

The original "idiot couple" as depicted by Fujikawa Tamenobu. Pictured: Kitahachi (left) and Yajirobei (right).

RobiHachi is based off of Toukaidouchuu Hizakurige (abbreviated to Hizakurige further on this wiki, published in English as Shank's Mare) written by Ikku Jippensha. It's a comic novel about the misadventures of two travelers on the Toukaidou road, traveling from Edo (old name of Tokyo) to the Ise Shrine and then Kyoto. The book was published in twelve parts between 1802 and 1822. The two main characters of the novel are Yajirobei (彌次郎兵) and Kitahachi (喜多八), often called simply Yaji and Kita.
Hizakurige is written as a guidebook to the 53 post stations of the Toukaidou. It details various landmarks of these, and during their travel Yaji and Kita often find themselves in ridiculous situations, frequently caused by their own carelessness or foolishness.
There are multiple nods and references to the original novel to be found in RobiHachi apart from the obviously derived character names (with reversed order: Yajirobei became Robby Yarge, Kitahachi turned into Hatchi Kita). Also in the title, the original pair was often referred to simply as YajiKita, so reversing that results with RobiHachi. Even now, yajikita (弥次喜多) translates in slang to "comical pair, pair of buffoons."
There are some similarities in the general premise, as well. Robby and Yaji, both originally from wealthy families, both run from NeoTokyo/Edo because they are in debt and cannot pay the bills (though Yaji is not chased by any equivalent of Yang), Hatchi and Kita similarly are dependent on their companion during the travel (though for different reasons), and the characters in both duos are noticeably different in age. The currency used in the anime are mons, currency used in the Edo period. The Toukaidou road moved to space and became Galaxy Highway, and its post stations turned into stage station planets. Yaji and Kita travelled to the Ise Shrine, while Robby and Hatchi travel to Isekandar. More detailed references can be found on respective episode pages and in character profiles.

Related Media and Events

Main category: Category:RobiHachi Products

Promotional poster for the ~I went to Isekandar and became happy~ event.

RobiHachi was released on six Blu-rays/DVDs which came with an additional drama CD each. In addition, three CDs were made available for purchase: Tensai no Playlist (album containing the opening song in two variants and the insert song that served as opening for Galaxy Traveler Hizakuriger), Dancing to Night ~Kimi eno Saitan Warp Kouro~ (album containing the ending song and an insert song) and a RobiHachi OFFICIAL SOUNDTRACK album. Funimation, the official licensor of the anime in the West, created an accompanying playlist on Spotify.
Keisuke Koumoto (voicing Hatchi Kita), Subaru Kimura (voicing Allo), and Shinnosuke Tokudome (voicing Gras) hosted a weekly radio show, RobiHachiRadi, broadcast on Radio Osaka, which lasted for 39 weeks.
Pony Canyon, one of the anime producers, hosted five RobiHachiNaMa! live events (their name combines the Japanese word for "live" and the anime title), during which the voice actors of the characters met and discussed various topics. These events in general are organised for various reasons, usually to promote available merch and/or events. Three of them are available on Pony Canyon's RobiHachi playlist on YouTube, with one more available on their channel but not added to the playlist. The fifth one was a special event broadcast only on Abema.
RobiHachiNaMa! volume one streamed on February 7, 2019 at 22:00 (local time) and starred Keisuke Koumoto, Subaru Kimura and Shinnosuke Tokudome. Volume two streamed on March 7, 2019 at 21:00 (local time) and starred the same voice actors as before with the addition of Daisuke Sakaguchi (voicing JPS-19/Ikku). Volume three streamed on April 8, 2019 at 22:30 (local time) and starred Keisuke Koumoto, Kazuya Nakai, Daisuke Sakaguchi and Shinnosuke Tokudome. Volume four streamed on May 24, 2019 and starred Keisuke Koumoto, Kazuya Nakai, Subaru Kimura and Shinnosuke Tokudome. The final fifth volume streamed on June 22, 2019 at 19:00 (local time) just before the release of the final episode and starred Kazuya Nakai, Keisuke Kawamoto, Daisuke Sakaguchi, Subaru Kimura. It was accompanied by retroactive broadcast of all eleven previous episodes.
In addition, there were several events either dedicated to the series or including its participation.

Date	Description
March 23/24, 2019	The Pony Canyon Stage during AnimeJapan2019, with guest appearances of Keisuke Koumoto and Kazuya Nakai (voicing Robby Yarge).
March 29, 2019	An advanced screening of the first two episodes and a talk show, with guest appearances of Keisuke Koumoto, Kazuya Nakai, Daisuke Sakaguchi, and Shinnosuke Tokudome.
April 28, 2019 (for Canime purchasers) May 5, 2019 (for Animate purchasers)	A commemorative event to celebrate the release of OP and ED songs with tickets being available for those who purchased both CDs together either at Canime or Animate, during which it was possible to see live performances of Keisuke Koumoto, Subaru Kimura, and Shinnosuke Tokudome.
August 16, 2019	An all-night screening and staff talk show, with guest appearances of director Shinji Takamatsu, Yoko Kawahara from Pony Canyon, yamazo (OST composer), and Ikku.
August 25, 2019	RobiHachiRadi special stage during C3AFA TOKYO 2019 with guest appearances of Keisuke Kawamoto, Subaru Kimura, and Shinnosuke Tokudome.
October 6, 2019	A staff talk show with Shinji Takamatsu, Yoko Kawahara from Pony Canyon, and yamazo.
October 19, 2019	The RobiHachi Event ~I went to Isekandar and became happy~ with guest appearances of voice characters for all six of the main cast and special appearance of Akira Kushida (who sang the opening to Galaxy Traveller Hizakuriger). During this event it was possible to obtain special merch: Akafucrystals with accompanying pouches and Hatchi's pajama top.
February 9, 2020	The RobiHachiRadi Finale Party event after the end of the radio broadcast with guest appearances of Keisuke Kawamoto, Subaru Kimura, and Shinnosuke Tokudome.