Shigurui

シグルイ

84 chapters

15 volumes

2003 – 2010

In Shigurui, the tyrannical daimyo Tadanaga Tokugawa mandates Japan's first real-sword martial arts tournament, shocking even his staunchest supporters. As the contest begins, the spectators witness the initial duel between one-armed Gennosuke Fujiki and the blind, lame Seigen Irako, leading many to mock the match and view the fighters' conditions as an affront to their dignity. Few in the audience are aware of the deep-seated animosity between Gennosuke and Seigen, stemming from their conflict over inheriting the notorious Kogan-ryuu dojo and its enigmatic leader, the deranged samurai Kogan Iwamoto, as well as his daughter Mie. Their rivalry escalates into violence after one of them incites Kogan, resulting in grave injuries for both participants. Shigurui delves into the events that led Gennosuke and Seigen to this perilous confrontation and explores the numerous lives torn apart by the unforgiving nature of samurai society.