It’s not often that a particular manga series garners fandom’s attention unless they establish the ground by releasing at least a considerable sum of quality chapters or if it involves stories like My Hero Academia, Berserk, or One Piece.
Recently, Kagurabachi has become the talk of the town, thanks to the Shonen Jump’s NEXT WAVE initiative. The manga, written and illustrated by Hokazano Takeru, has been nominated for the prestigious Tezuka Award. Shonen Jump basically announced Kagurabachi will be the next big thing in the medium alongside two other nominees: Yoshihiko Hayashi’s MamaYuyu and Elck Itsumo’s Two On Ice.
So, what is all the fuss about Kagurabachi manga? Here’s everything you need to know about it and why it could become the next big thing.
Kagurabachi Manga Plot
Kagurabachi is an action fantasy manga that debuted on September 18, 2023. The manga follows the story of young Chihiro, who undergoes the rigorous training of forging Katanas under his swordsmith father, Kunishige.
Kunishige was once the key player in the country’s war, forging swords that saved many lives and protected the nation from hostile enemies. While the father and son spend their days honing their skills, with the latter dreaming of becoming a great sword-maker like his father, tragedy strikes their happiness down.
With the last blade that his father has forged, Chihiro embarks on a journey to seek revenge against a mysterious organization that has been slowly consuming the nation using Sorcerers. Will he be able to oppress the organization with his strength alone?
Kagurabachi: What To Expect From the Manga?
Since only one chapter is released in the manga, it is too soon to judge the story. However, the first chapter isn’t half-bad, giving the vibes of a blend of Demon Slayer and Chainsaw Man.
It also looks more violent from the first chapter’s manga panels, where Chichiro destroys the entire Yakuza establishment in one fell swoop, leaving headless bodies drowning in their own blood.
It started as a light-hearted story with a father and son bond but took an unexpected turn halfway, turning a few heads from the readers and making them more anticipated for the upcoming chapters.
While there isn’t much we can discern about the setting with just the first chapter, it looks like a fantasy story set in the 19th century. So, there is a possibility of references to many Japanese wars as well as some incredible sword-fighting scenes.
Kaguarabachi: What Is So Special About the Manga?
While nothing is outstanding about the manga, and it seems overhyped given the impact it caused with the first chapter, the protagonist is quite interesting, who highly resembles the dark version of Bleach’s Ichigo and One Piece’s Zoro.
That being said, many believe the first chapter is really well designed with fantastic artwork, which gave panels a distinct aesthetic, and the gory element certainly played a massive part in its success.
So, the question is, will it become as successful as other manga series like One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach?
From a reader’s perspective, we believe it has the potential to emerge as one of the few sensational manga like Jujutsu Kaisen, Chainsaw Man, and Fire Force.
However, if it takes time to establish a massive world-building like One Piece and My Hero Academia, it is possible, after all, that Shonen Jump’s initiative seems really solemn, given many of the current successful manga authors are winding up their series.
The first chapter received a lot of praise from many readers, with the main character being the strongest suit of the series. Furthermore, given the new anime and manga fans are leaning towards dark storylines, it may be the perfect time for Kagurabachi to shine and become successful like Black Clover.
So, have you read the first chapter of Kagurabachi manga? What do you think about the main character and the series’ setting?
Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
