Manga Review: Kagurabachi 01 by Hokazono Takeru

English Title: Kagurabachi

Japanese Title: カグラバチ

Writer & Artist: Hokazono Takeru

Released: 2023

Length: ~220 pages

Publisher: Shonen Jump (Japanese), Viz Media (English)

(English cover)

Kagurabachi is an ongoing manga written and illustrated by Hokazono Takeru that began in late 2023. At the time of this review, volume 06 has been released in Japanese and volume 02 in English. Volume 01 contains chapters 1 to 8 plus a bonus segment.

The background is that famous swordsmith Kunishige Rokuhira forged six enchanted katanas during the war, all of which were retrieved after its end. His teenage son Chihiro learned the trade, assisting his father in the workshop. One day, Rokuhira is killed and all enchanted blades stolen, presumably by sorcerers…

In the present, about three years later, Chihiro uses the seventh enchanted blade—apparently kept secret up until now—on his quest to avenge his father and retrieve the enchanted blades. He is assisted by his father’s sorcerer friend Shiba.

To put it differently, it’s The Lord of the Swords but instead of our hero trying to destroy the most special one, he is using it to retrieve the others. It is a simple premise, in many respects derivative, but interesting enough.

The plot begins with some gangsters causing trouble in a city. Of course, these gangsters are sponsored by a more powerful party and sorcerers are suspected. This catches the attention of Chihiro who in turn gets the attention of other parties (of sorcerers). So, there is an obvious influence from the likes of John Wick and Demon Slayer.

It is a simple but effective way to start and the author, so far at least, knows how to pace a story. It hits the ground running, tells the readers what they need to know and promptly moves on.

Whilst Chihiro is modelled on the quiet-but-not-quite-reticent hero, Shiba is the capable but nonchalant adult who is the literal loudmouth used as Mr Exposition. That may be his character but it is somewhat crude even if it has mild comical value.

Also, the way he (and even Chihiro) reveal what they know and don’t know is not quite plausible when they have the upper hand in beating up the bad guys they intend to interrogate. Either way, the calculated pacing saves it and the plot moves on.

The setting is interesting. Whilst it is set in Japan, in part in Tokyo, the timing seems to be deliberately anachronistic in some ways: the city has highrise buildings but the architecture is a blend of modern and traditional; much of the clothing can be anything from the 1920s to 1950s, and Chihiro wears what can pass as a cyberpunk-ish trenchcoat; the cars resemble models from the 1960s; the trains are pulled by steam engines; but flip-phones and desktop computers are the norm.

The worldbuilding is visually done well without the need for narrative commentary or dialogue. Overall, the art is good with clean linework. Where there is action, what is going on is sufficiently clear. Given that blades are involved, wider shots of long slashes are taken advantage of for clarity’s sake and, not surprisingly, there are considerable severed limbs and blood.

Although difficult to do in manga, more hints of actual sword technique would be better. For now, it seems like Chihiro relies on the supernatural powers of the enchanted blade which is understandable. The author does make the point that Chihiro is relatively inexperienced. Hopefully, more sword techniques will come later as Chihiro gets more combat experience.

Whilst there is regular action, it is not constant pointless action either. In one way or another, each of these small set pieces reveals something which is admittedly not hard given that this is the beginning.

In every respect that matters, this is a good start. It is not surprising the sales have been high so far. I hope the author has the plot and the mythology planned out well; this will make a memorable series if he continues like this all the way to the conclusion.

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