* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Kagurabachi
カグラバチ
A shōnen manga serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump since 2023. The protagonist is the son of a sword smith. It is a revenge story in which he fights to reclaim the enchanted blades his father forged, which were stolen, and it places sword forging, spiritual power, and aesthetics at the core of the story. As of June 2026, cumulative circulation exceeds 4 million copies, and an anime adaptation is scheduled to begin airing in April 2027 (studio: Cypic).
Description
The manga 'Kagurabachi' by Takeru Hokazono began serialization in Weekly Shōnen Jump in September 2023, and as of June 2026, more than 11 volumes of tankōbon have been published. The protagonist, Chihiro Rokuhira, is the son of Kunishige Rokuhira, who was hailed as the finest sword smith in Japan, and he was aspiring to become a sword smith alongside his father. One day, Hishaku, a group of sorcerers, killed Kunishige and carried off the six enchanted blades 'Yōtō Rokkō' that had been used in the Seitei War. Chihiro took up the seventh enchanted blade, Enten, which had been left behind, and vowed to avenge his father and reclaim the enchanted blades. Together with Tōgo Shiba, an old friend of Kunishige, he pursues Hishaku.
A philosophy of sword forging is deeply woven into the core of the work. Datenseki ore, the material of the enchanted blades, is a mysterious mineral discovered on Iri Island before the Seitei War, and Kunishige is said to be the only one who succeeded in stabilizing its power. This setting resonates with the concepts of tamahagane, satetsu, and tatara smelting in real Japanese swords. The setting in which each enchanted blade amplifies and materializes its wielder's spiritual power also resonates with the long tradition of regarding Japanese swords as spiritual beings that embody the soul of the samurai. The individuality of each of the seven blades recalls real-world sword appraisal, in which individual blades are identified by their school, shape, and hamon.
The series won first place in the comics category of the Next Manga Award 2024, and it was also selected as a finalist for the 70th Shogakukan Manga Award. Editions in English, French, and other languages have been released overseas. In April 2026, a TV anime adaptation was announced. It is being produced by Cypic under director Tetsuya Takeuchi, with broadcast scheduled to begin in April 2027. A world tour is also planned from summer 2026, screening the first 20 minutes of episode 1 at anime events around the world. The protagonist is voiced by Kimura (木村太飛), who received the New Voice Actor Award at the 2025 Seiyu Awards.
Real Swords Featured
Enten
The seventh enchanted blade, which Kunishige forged after the Seitei War and which Chihiro inherited from his father. Its genriki reaction is goldfish, and it has three sorceries: Kuro, which sends slashing strikes; Aka, which absorbs and releases sorcery; and Nishiki, which enhances the body.
Seven Enchanted Blades (Yōtō)
Blades forged by Kunishige from Datenseki ore, with sorcery engraved into them. The six made during the Seitei War are called 'Yōtō Rokkō', and Chihiro's Enten is the seventh, made after the war. Each blade has a different sorcery. Each blade is also given a concept corresponding to the individuality of famous real-world swords, namely school, shape, and hamon.
See authentic Japanese swords
See authentic Japanese swordsThis page is intended to introduce Japanese sword culture and is not affiliated with any of the works mentioned.