Blade of the Immortal

Blade of the Immortal, or 無限の住人 (Mugen no Jūnin, literally "Inhabitant of Infinity"), is a Japanese manga series by Hiroaki Samura. The series won the Excellence Prize in the 1998 Japan Media Arts Festival and the Will Eisner Comic Industry Award. The series is set in the middle of the Tokugawa Shogunate period in Japan; beginning in the 2nd year of the Tenmei era or 1782.

Blade of the Immortal is being released in the United States by Dark Horse Comics and is up to 15 volumes. It is serialized in comic-book sized installments monthly.

Template:Spoiler Blade of the Immortal follows the deeds of Manji, a skilled warrior who has a decisive advantage: no wound can kill him. In the past his criminal actions led to the death of 100 other samurai (including his sister's husband). He becomes immortal at the hand of a seemingly ageless nun named Yaobikuni, and is compelled by the death of his sister to accept the quest that will end his agelessness. He has vowed to make amends by killing 1000 evil men, and until he does Manji will be kept alive by Kessen-chu ('sacred bloodworms'), remarkable creatures that allow him to survive nearly any injury and reattach severed limbs even after hours of separation.

Manji crossed paths with a young girl named Asano Rin and has promised to help her avenge her parents, who were killed by a cadre of master swordsmen led by Anotsu Kagehisa. Anotsu killed Rin's father and his entire dojo, making them a family of outcasts. Anotsu's quest is to gather other outcasts and form an extremely powerful new dojo, the Itto-ryu (a school teaching any technique that wins, no matter how exotic or underhanded), and has started taking over and destroying other dojos.

In addition, another group called itself the Mugai-ryu; has materialized, in opposition to the Itto-ryu. Its true leadership and motives are a mystery, but its methods (any tactics that leads to victory) resemble those of the Itto-ryu.

Characters of Blade of the Immortal

Main characters

• Manji: The immortal referred to in the title. The fallen samurai Manji served the Hatamoto Horii Shigenobu, a local daimyo, enforcing his brutal rule (unknowingly) on the local populace until he found out his lord was corrupt and killed him. For that he was considered an outlaw and hunted down by the same daimyo clan, achieving the nickname "Killer of 100" after the bodycount. He planned to flee to his sister's house even though she marrried an officer of the law, Saitō Tatsumasa. Manji ended up killing his sister's husband out of self-defense when he attacked Manji. His sister witnessed her husband's death at the hands of her brother Manji and went insane. Manji settled down to take care of her. At some point during this time, he met Yaobikuni (her name literally means "nun of eight hundred years"), a mysterious nun, who offered him the kessen-chu, or sacred bloodworms. After having his sister killed (due to a revenge for his actions) he met Rin, whom he accepted to help since he felt she was very much alike to his deceased sister.
• Asano Rin: The sole survivor of an Itto-ryu massacre at Anotsu's hand and heir to her father's sword school, the "Mutenichi-Ryu". She has mediocre swordsmanship skills but an intense desire to avenge the brutal death of her family. She hires Manji as her bodyguard in this quest. However, it's not as simple as that - Rin is constantly torn by doubt over the righteousness and validity of her mission. She comes into contact with Anotsu at one point, but his claim that she is becoming more and more like the Itto-ryu as she progresses down the path of revenge causes her even more doubt.

Itto-Ryu

• Anotsu Kagehisa: Leader of the Itto-ryu. This emotionally cold young man has prodigious skill with the sword, and leads the Itto-ryu in order to form a dojo dedicated not to form and rules, but to the simple test of superior lethality. Brought up by an abusive grandfather (a swordsman disgraced by the Asano dojo), Anotsu is as pragmatic and shrewd as he is deadly.
• Magatsu Taito: Among the Itto-ryu's finest swordsmen. Of peasant origin, he became a swordsman to avenge his sister, killed as a child by a samurai. Has fought Manji and survived, as well as fought by Manji's side. He can be considered a kenshi, a swordsman who is not from the samurai class.
• Makie Otono-Tachibana: Master swordswoman and in love with Anotsu. Said to be Anotsu's match. Defeats but does not kill Manji, apparently turning her back on Anotsu. Later found living alone, having bound her hand in an attempt to destroy her own skill in combat. As said by Anotsu, she is the only one that can beat him.
• Abayama Sosuke: Second-in-command of the Itto-ryu. An aged swordsman who nevertheless remains one of the Itto-ryu's most skilled fighters. A skilled political operative, well suited to handling the dojo's administrative tasks.
• Kawakami Araya: An Itto-ryu swordsman living as a mask-maker. Determined to conceal his past from his son, Renzo, he is also the man who led the rape of Rin's mother. Killed by Manji.
• Higa: Itto-ryu fighter fascinated by Manji's immortality and determined to somehow steal it from him. Killed by Shinriji.
• Hanada: Cocky Itto-ryu swordsman who detests the sun. Killed by Manji.
• Uruma: Composed Itto-ryu swordsman whose trademark is a chain ending in a barded spike, used for immobilizing his enemy. Killed by Manji.
• Eiku Shizuma: Immortal swordsman. Gifted with the same blood-worms as Manji, he seeks to gain Manji as an ally to overthrow Anotsu. He said in "Cry of the Worm" that the kessen-chu were given to him by Yaobikuni during the Muromachi period, which means he is two hundred years old. Killed by Manji.
• Kuroi Sabato: Skilled pupil of Anotsu Saburõ (Anotsu Kagehisa's grandfather) and master Itto-ryu swordsman. Along with his skills with a sword, Kuroi has several quirks. The name Kuroi Sabato is inspired by the band Black Sabbath. For this reason, Kuroi's poetry appears whenever he does. In addition, Kuroi is so obsessed with ageless beauty that he used taxidermy to preserve the heads of his former wife and Rin's mother, and mounted them on his shoulders. Along with his sword skills, Kuroi uses two shuriken referred to as Karasu, or "The Crow." He is killed by Manji in Conquest.
  • Special Note: Kuroi Sabato roughtly translates into Black Sabbath from Japanese. Kuroi is a direct translation to the color black. Sabato when romanized, can be taken as "Sabbath." Black Sabbath is one of Hiroaki Samura's favorite bands.
• Kinuka: Honor-driven Itto-ryu swordsman. Killed by Giichi.
• Tamasaki: Enraged Itto-ryu swordsman under Kinuka. Suffers from muscle deterioration brought about by one of Hyakurin's poisons, and thinks of nothing but his revenge on her. Killed by Hyakurin.
• Saikaya: Itto-ryu swordsman living as a doctor, charged with killing Shira and Manji. Mercilessly killed by Shira.
• Iwami Ginzan: Itto-ryu swordsman living as a herbalist. Charged with the duty of killing Shira and Manji. Suffered the same fate as Saikaya.
• Doa: Itto-ryu swordswoman who is quite small. Apears in the newest chapters. Always traveling with her friend Isaku. Her primary weapon is an odd shaped knife which is actually a spearhead. She often bring herself and Isaku in danger because she often attacks without questions. Her fighting style is based on being fast and agile. She later befriends Asano Rin.
• Isaku: Itto-ryu member but not a swordsman who is over 1.90 meters (6'2") tall. Isaku is Doa's best friend and always travel with her. He often brings both of them out danger by preventing Doa from killing people (by picking her up and running away). In combat he acts defensively wearing heavy metal armguards and a skirt with metal plates on them. He also acts as a shield for Doa stopping enemy attacks with his armor or grapping the enemy's weapons. Also befriends Asano Rin.

Mugai-Ryu

• Hyakurin: Female assassin and lieutenant of the Mugai-ryu. Unremarkable with a sword, she specializes in the use of poisons and of a collapsable wrist-based crossbow. She uses a strong chemical bleach to stain her hair blonde, as a compulsive desire to remove bloodstains from it. She was sentenced to death by beheading for killing her abusive husband, a samurai, but she received the opportunity to serve in the Mugai-ryu.
• Shira: Cold-blooded killer of the Mugai-ryu. Responsible for the death of Magatsu Taito's lover. After losing his hand to Manji, he develops an obsession with revenge that leads him to sell out his former comrades. After losing his remaining hand and an eye to Magatsu, has re-appeared in the same prison Manji is currently being held at.
• Giichi: Highly skilled Mugai-ryu killer. Uses a hinged thresher adapted from a farming implement, attached to a length of chain, as his only weapon, allowing him to sever wrists and strike around blocks at a distance.
• Shinriji: Bumbling Mugai-ryu swordsman. Infatuated with Hyakurin. Though not highly skilled, he had the potential to become a master. Killed by Kinuka.
• Makoto: former male prostitute and inside man in the Itto Ryu. Killed by Abayama.
• Habaki Kagimura: Leader of the Shogun's Banshu samurai, the Bangashira, and secret leader of the Mugai-ryu. Simultaneously invites the Itto-ryu to become an official sword school while directing the Mugai-ryu against it.

Shingenyoto-Ryu

• Ibane Kenshu: Sensei of the Shingenyoto-ryu dojo in Kaga. A man with a philosophy similar to the Itto-ryu, he offers Anotsu the dojo in exchange for marrying his daughter, Hisoka. Forced by the Bakufu to betray Anotsu. Dead by his own hand.
• Ibane Hisoka: Daughter of Ibane Kenshu. Afflicted with a sickly body and near blindness as a side-effect of the medication she needs to stay alive, she is physically weak but a sensitive and perceptive individual. Aids Anotsu in his escape from Kaga. Dead by her own hand.
• Iriya: Student of Ibane Kenshu and unrequited lover of Ibane Hisoka. Humiliated by Anotsu during a duel of his own design, and seeks vengeance for the deaths of Kenshu and Hisoka. Killed by the wounded Anotsu in "Last Blood"
• Kozue: Senior student of Ibane Kenshu. Killed presumably by Magatsu.

Other characters

• Master Sõri: A high-ranking spy and ninja obsessed with art, driven into political intrigue in order to gain access to European art, which is contraband in that period. Master Sõri has a daughter named Tatsu and is a childhood friend of the Asano clan. Rin goes to him hoping he will be another sword against the Itto-ryu. He refuses to offer any help at first but is soon able to provide Rin with thirty ryõ. He first appears in Genius.
• Yaobikuni: As her name implies, she is an eight-hundred-year-old nun. She herself has the Kessen-chu and has imparted these blood-worms to both Manji and Shizuma. Yaobikuni finds Rin Asano at the graveyard where Rin's father is buried. After hearing her story Yaobikuni, urges Rin to find the toughest, strongest yojimbo of all: Manji. Yaobikuni is short in stature and has spiral tattoos on her face.
• Shido "Johnny" Goybutsu: Assassin fascinated by western apparel and practices. He poses as a Christian priest, collecting bounties on criminals who confess their sins with a flintlock pistol, marked with the word Divina on the barrel. Has the dubious honor of being Manji's first victim to appear in the graphic novel.
• Shido Hishiyasu: Leader of the world's baddest ronin gang, the Shinsengumi. After Manji killed his brother "Johnny," Hishiyasu sought revenge by kidnapping Manji's sister, Machi, to use as bait. When Manji would not submit to a duel, and offered only to fight barehanded, Hishiyasu lets Machi go only to kill her and Manji in the process. He has two pronged swords that have the word "ACID" on the tsuba. After the death of his sister Manji is able to accept his fate and proceeds to kill the entire ronin gang, starting with Shido Hishiyasu.

Story Arcs

These refer to the English editions published by Dark Horse Comics. Blade of the Immortal can be (so far) roughly divided into four main storyarcs:

1) Introduction: Volume 1 (Blood of a Thousand) ~ Volume 5 (On Silent Wings, part 2)

In this story arc, the reader is introduced to the main characters, plot, central conflict and overall theme of the series ("documenting the human struggle"). The plot is superficially simple: Manji and Rin wander around Edo, occasionally meeting members of the Itto-Ryu on their quest to find Anotsu. However, the bulk of Samura's philosophical ruminations can be found in this introductory story arc, from obsession (Conquest, Genius) duty (Dreamsong) the burden of time (Cry of the Worm) and revenge / redemption (On Silent Wings). Part of Samura's appeal is in not painting his "villians" with black-and-white strokes; even the supposed antagonist Anotsu, who espouses an "end justifies the means" philosophy, elects sympathy from the reader via his ultimate goal - in that, fighting the widespread corruption of his era and therein fashioning a stronger Japanese society.

Notes:

• Doseimotsuko, Rengyo: These plants (Dutchman’s Pipe and Forsythia) can alleviate some types of poisoning when boiled and consumed.
• Ezo: Hokkaido and the other islands north of Japan. At the time, they were still contolled by the indigenous Ainu peoples and were a perilous back door into closed Japan for foreign goods and people.
• Itto-ryu: The radical sword school of Kagehisa Anotsu.
• Kenshi: A swordsman, not necessarily born into the samurai caste.
• Kessen-chu:: The “sacred bloodworms.” A person infected by them cannot die but feels pain like a mortal.
• Kessen-satsu: “Bloodworm killer.”
• Magatsu: A ronin with Rin’s enemy, Anotsu.
• Muromachi: The reign of the Ashikaga shogunate in Kyoto, A.D. 1338-1573. The last period of social stability in Japan before two centuries of civil war and the rise of the Tokugawa Shogunate.
• Mutenichi-ryu: The sword tradition taught by Rin’s father.
• Ryo: A high-valued coin.
• Sangin: An official trip to the capital. Daimyo of outlying fiefdoms were required to spend one year in three in Edo, allowing the Shogun to keep them under tight control.
• Sakura-mochi: A delicacy made from pounded sweet rice paste and cherry-tree leaves.
• Sanzu no Kawa: River of the Dead. Analogous to the River Styx in Greek mythology. Crossed by the dead on their way to the underworld.
• Satori: The state of intuitive illumination sought by followers of Zen Buddhism; the movement of such enlightenment.
• Uji: An area near Kyoto.
• Warabi: An edible plant (bracken or fernbrake).
• Bekko-ame: A traditional sweet candy.
• Daimon: "Great Gate" - the great gate to the Asakusa Shrine, a famous landmark in old Edo still in existence today.
• Hamayumi: A bow accompanying the better-known hakyuyumi good-luck arrows still given out at shrine festivals today.
• Honjo: A place in central Edo.
• Kirisute: The right of a samurai to kill a lower-caste person who has offended him.
• Mon: (1) Literally, "a gate," used to designate all the members that pass the front gate to a dojo; (2) a small unit of money.
• Yojimbo: A bodyguard.

2) Mugai-Ryu: Volume 6 (Dark Shadows) ~ Volume 9 (The Gathering, part 2)

This story arc introduces the Mugai-Ryu, a mysterious sword school intent on hunting down Anotsu Kagehisa. After killing several minor members of the Itto-Ryu, the Mugai-Ryu enlist Manji and Rin to help them track down the elusive Anotsu. The evolution of Samura's style can be seen particularly in this story arc: gone are the elaborate "death murals" and the stronger focus on inking denotes a preference for 'hard' technique in contrast to 'soft' depiction (very little penciling). The first truly despicable villain is also introduced in this story arc, the psychopathic mercenary Shira who delights in blood and torture. The climax of this storyarc involves the separation of Manji and Rin, as Rin decides it would be better for her to hunt Anotsu alone; Manji attempts to track her across province borders and ends up in a vicious fight with three Itto Ryu members.

3) Aftermath / Last Blood: Volume 10 (Secrets) ~ Volume 14 (Last Blood)

The third story arc follows the separate characters as they pursue their various goals: Anotsu to unify his sword school with a remote Kaga dojo; Rin on her quest to locate Anotsu; Manji's recovery from his wounds taken in the previous story arc and, eventually, his search for Rin; Magatsu's hunt for the murderous Shira; the consequences dealt upon the Mugai Ryu by the vengeful Itto-Ryu. By Volume 13, Mirror of the Soul, the divergent threads begin to come together and the series (as a whole) reaches a climax with Volume 14, Last Blood, wherein most of the principle characters meet and engage in some form of battle. Last Blood also includes the beginning sections of the next and current story arc.

4) Prison: Volume 14 (Last Blood) ~ present

Ongoing in Japan as of December 11th, 2005; currently at least four trade paperback volumes have been published chronicling the latest adventures for Manji and company. Volume 15, Trickster, was released by Dark Horse as of February, 2006. This fourth story arc concerns the events after Last Blood, beginning with a few apparently-random fights that, in consequence, lead Manji to join up with the Shogunate in fighting the Itto-Ryu. However, the government has a more devious plot, and imprisions Manji for issue after issue of experimentation, hoping to reproduce the effects of the kessen-chu. This story arc has currently reached a climax in the Afternoon manga.

The Kessen-Chu

In Blade of the Immortal, a bloodworm (kessen-chu) is an unexplained little worm-like creature, which lives in the bloodstream in a non-parasitic way. It heals all wounds acquired by its host, replacing the missing tissue and organs with their own bodies as well as reattaching limbs. The only way to kill a bearer of the bloodworms is to use a bloodworm poison, although it has been implied that cutting off their head may suffice. During his battle with Maki, Manji said the only way to stop him would be to cut off his head. But whether this would kill him of just leave him unable to function is debatable because in his battle with Eiku Shizuma, Manji cuts off his head after poisoning him with his own sword and he does not die until after the Kessen-chu satsu (blood worm killer) takes effect. Further adding to the debate was statements in Wizard magazine that Manji could survive a severd head but it would take at least a year for the Holy Blood worms to regenerate that much tissue. Apparently, the Kessen-chu gives immortality to its host and everlasting youth (the host retaining the age he/she had at the time he/she was fed the kessen-chu). It’s unknown how to infect a person with the Kessen-Chu.

SPOILER: In later chapters the question how to transfer them becomes a major part of the story.

Weapons of Blade of the Immortal

The weapons found in Blade of the Immortal are largely fictional, most created by Samura, who confesses he has no idea what some of them are supposed to do. Usually, major characters have unique and specialized weapons - hidden crossbows, throwing knives, poisoned blades, and even weapons meant to inflict maximum pain.

Manji himself carries a number of blades - Sukehiro Amatsubaki ("Rain Camellia"), Kotengu ("Little Devil"), Okorobi ("Man Toppler"), Merabi ("Lady Gadfly"), Karasu ("The Crow"), Shido ("The Four Paths"), Imo-No-Kami Tatsumasa ("Sister Defender Tatsumasa"), a spear-like weapon called Aun, and an unnamed hooked weapon.

Some of Samura's other creations include Giichi's thresher-like throwing blade, known as Kanetsura's Mito-No-Kami ("Guardian of the Three Paths"), which he uses to sever the heads of his enemies, and Anotsu's large Kabutsuchi battle-axe, which was based on an example from Nepal.

Art of Hiroaki Samura

One of the most striking features of "Blade of the Immortal" is its beautiful, realistic artwork. Although Samura stylizes and elongates his human figures to some extent, especially early in the run of the manga, he has a thorough knowledge of anatomy that allows him to create uniquely expressive poses and angles. His unusual use of accurately detailed shots of hands and feet makes them almost as reflective of character and mood as his faces. Atmospheric backgrounds and landscapes round out the look of the manga, which incorporates many panels done in a finished, shaded pencil style rather than in inked line art. His superb drawing skills are shown to their best advantage in these penciled panels.

Samura (b. 1970) says that he always wanted to be a manga artist. However, unlike most mangaka, he attended art school for a time and has a classical art education. He disliked oil painting and prefers to work in black and white.

Publication

The original Japanese manga has thus far been collected into 18 volumes (tankōbon) by Kōdansha's Afternoon KC division. The series is still ongoing, and volumes are usually published at the rate of 1 to 2 per year. The English version of the manga is published by Dark Horse Comics.

• Mugen no Jūnin 1 (1994/09) ISBN 4063140903
• Mugen no Jūnin 2 (1994/12) ISBN 4063141012
• Mugen no Jūnin 3 (1995/04) ISBN 4063141098
• Mugen no Jūnin 4 (1995/10) ISBN 4063141195
• Mugen no Jūnin 5 (1996/08) ISBN 4063141373
• Mugen no Jūnin 6 (1997/06) ISBN 4063141519
• Mugen no Jūnin 7 (1997/10) ISBN 4063141659
• Mugen no Jūnin 8 (1998/07) ISBN 4063141837
• Mugen no Jūnin 9 (1999/06) ISBN 4063142108
• Mugen no Jūnin 10 (2000/04) ISBN 4063142388
• Mugen no Jūnin 11 (2001/01) ISBN 4063142590
• Mugen no Jūnin 12 (2002/02) ISBN 406314268X
• Mugen no Jūnin 13 (2002/11) ISBN 4063143066
• Mugen no Jūnin 14 (2003/07) ISBN 4063143260
• Mugen no Jūnin 15 (2004/01) ISBN 4063143376
• Mugen no Jūnin 16 (2004/05) ISBN 4063143481
• Mugen no Jūnin 17 (2004/11) ISBN 4063143635
• Mugen no Jūnin 18 (2005/06) ISBN 4063143805