is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by . It was serialized in Hakusensha's manga magazine Young Animal from 1996 to 2006, with its chapters collected in 28 volumes. The story focuses on Maki Aikawa, an ex-gymnast turned street fighter.
A 27-episode anime television series adaptation animated by Toei Animation was broadcast on Nippon Television from April to October 2003. Originally licensed in North America by Geneon USA (in partnership with Toei), the series saw only partial DVD releases before poor sales canceled the deal. It later became available for streaming on Crunchyroll.
Plot
Beneath Tokyo's everyday rhythms lies a hidden world of street fighters pushing their limits through brutal combat. Among them is Maki Aikawa, a 16-year-old former gymnast who channels her acrobatic prowess into underground fighting. For Maki, only the adrenaline of battle makes her feel truly alive. Her extraordinary athleticism and power earn her the moniker "Air Master" as she dominates opponent after opponent. Her skills eventually draw her into the Fukamichi Rankings—an elite league featuring 44 of the world's most dangerous fighters.
The Rankings serve dual purposes: a proving ground for warriors seeking to test their limits, and a global spectacle with corporate backing, where victors earn prize money. For Maki, it represents the ultimate challenge—a chance to chase the exhilaration of combat while facing the world's most formidable fighters.
Characters
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: Maki, a former gymnast trained by her late mother, combines acrobatics with powerful strikes in combat. She adapts quickly to opponents' techniques and fights with relentless determination. Preferring street fights for thrill over glory, she lives apart from her estranged father. Though physically imposing, she remains reserved among friends while displaying occasional naivety toward admirers. Romantic advances—especially from Julietta Sakamoto—briefly unsettle her. Her signature moves include the "Air Spin Driver", "Air Cutter", and later "Air Flow". Maki also appears in Tojima Wants to Be a Kamen Rider, where she is a martial arts teacher.
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