IDATEN JUMP

Idaten Jump is a manga series created by Toshihiro Fujiwara serialized in Comic BonBon. The manga tells the story about a boy named Sho Yamato who loves mountain biking. It was adapted into a 52-episode anime by Aniplex, whose original name is. A toyline was also made by Tomy. The manga was released in America by Tokyopop, with all the sound effects in Japanese only.

Sho Yamato enjoys MTB (short for "mountain biking") a whole lot, he's always practiced at the "X-Zone" with his friends, Kakeru and Makoto, on a bike his dad has built called "Flame Kaiser". One day, he was challenged to a race by a MTB team called Shark Tooth and whoever won the race got the X-Zone. For Sho, the X-Zone had always been a place of happy memories. He had spent many days there with his father who had disappeared, so he could not lose the game. During the race with Team Shark Tooth's leader Gabu Samejima, black smoke suddenly covered the ground around them, and they were sent to another world that's also called the X-Zone. When Sho woke up, he found Kakeru, Makoto, and his MTB Flame Kaiser were also there. Of course, they did not know where they were. While they were wondering what had happened, MTB riders came. They challenged Sho to a Idaten battle, a form of MTB race in the X-Zone. They said the only way for Sho to return is by collecting 10 gold emblems by winning Idaten battles. This is how Sho came down to compete in Idaten Battles at various courses, such as ghost towns, volcanoes, ancient ruins, deserts, and snow-topped mountains. Now Sho must Idaten Battle for the sake of returning home.

After returning home, Sho returned to X-Zone to find his lost father Takeshi while taking on the mysterious Team X.

The main character

• Sho Yamato 

The main protagonist of the story. He is an excellent MTB rider and can do amazing tricks. He later defeats Gabu for the control of X City with the assistance of Koei, Kyoichi and Makoto, then Arthur. After defeating his father (who was under the control of an ancient evil), Sho chose to leave behind his friends to stay in X-Zone. But with the help of Hosuke, Sho was able to travel freely between Earth and X-Zone and reunite with his friends in the X-Zone MTB course. His MTB is Flame Kaiser.

• Hosuke

A talking owl that accompanies Sho on his journeys. Hosuke followed Sho during a prison break attempt to rescue Sho, Makoto, and Kakeru. After Sho had defeated his father, it was revealed that Hosuke is Yuki's grandfather disguised as an owl. After his brother Takeshi had been transported to Earth, Hosuke became the King of the X-Zone. However, time moves much faster in X-Zone than it is on Earth, so Hosuke became an old man when Takeshi finally returned to X-Zone. Plotting to stop the ancient evil, Hosuke secretly became the talking owl, but without the memory of his former identity until he returned to his human form. In the end, Hosuke managed to help Sho get to Earth.

• Makoto Shido

She is a girl MTB rider and is Sho's childhood friend. She later realizes that her MTB is a legendary Idaten Bike called Neptune Emperor.

• Kakeru Sakamaki

Kakeru is a very skilled mechanic and helps Sho fix his bike a lot. He is also one of Sho's best friends.

Supporting characters

Kyoichi Shido

Makoto's older brother, and a trial bike champion. He appeared in masked form in early episodes up to episode 5 when his identity was revealed. He was captured by Mr. Teacher when trying to find out more about Team ST. He later helps Sho fight Gabu. When it came to Team X, he ended up under the control of them and is trying to fight the Dark Emblem's control. Sho managed to defeat him. His MTB is Thunder Emperor (Thunder King in the English anime), but rode Imperial Tiger when under the control of Team X.

• Yuki

An expert mechanic. She helps Sho and Co. on different occasions. After Gabu's defeat, it was revealed that Yuki is a princess of a royal family with Hosuke being her grandfather. Also, Yuki is part of a group who protects the X-Zone and the secrets of the X-Zone.

• Koei

A ninja biker hired by Gabu. He first appeared to take on Sho and Kyoichi. He injured Kyoichi and broke his MTB Thunder King, and took out the Four Kings that were battling Makoto. When he battled Sho, it ended up a draw when the Four Kings interfered. He thwarted another plot by the Four Kings when they tried to "assist" him when he thought of it as dishonorable. In his battle against Arthur, the Four Kings successfully interfered causing Arthur to lose. It is later revealed that Koei works for Gabu because he couldn't afford a doctor for his sister Kiku. Once she was rescued from Gabu's clutches, Sho and Koei battled again and he lost. Afterwards, he stopped serving Gabu and aided Sho in defeating him as he took out the adult members of Team ST. Later, he ends up under the control of Team X and was freed by Sho. He has Taiga watch over X-City while he is away. His Idaten Bike is called Aero Scissors.

• Arthur 

Nicknamed "The Painter," Arthur is a knight biker. He first appeared in Gabu's tournament where he beats Taiga. Prior to his battle against Koei, he stumbled onto a plot by the Four Kings only for them to be thwarted by Koei. In Gabu's tournament, he lost to Koei due to interference by the Four Kings. It is later revealed that he worked alongside Yuki to help protect the secrets of the X-Tower and heal the X-Zone. His Idaten Bike is called Hammer Head (Iron Hammer in the English anime).

• Ayumu Yamato

Sho's younger brother. He later joins Sho in his search for their father. Ayumu was forbidden to ride on bike because he became maniacal whenever riding one. His bike is Imperial Dragon 

• Takeshi Yamato

Sho Yamato's father. When he was falling during a bike accident, he was brought into the X-Zone to repair Imperial X during a power crisis. When he tried to return to the his home world, he disappeared alongside Yuki's father and was never seen again. During his disappearance, he had also built Thunder Emperor, Neptune Emperor, Imperial Tiger, and Imperial Dragon while struggling against the power of Dark Emblem, and also seen by Kyoichi in hooded form. He was later revealed to be on Imperial Island as Team X leader where he was possessed by the Ancient Evil of the X-Zone. He ended up challenging Sho for the fate of both worlds. After Sho had defeated his father expelling the Ancient Evil out of him, it was revealed Takeshi was an X-Zone native that had been transported from Imperial Island to Earth. Then he subsequently started a family, built Flame Kaiser, and constructed the X-Zone MTB course before the accident. At the end of the series, he chose to stay in X-Zone to train Sho as the new guardian.