Kagurabachi

Kagurabachi
First tankōbon volume cover, featuring Chihiro Rokuhira (center)
カグラバチ
Genre	Action[1] Dark fantasy[2]
Manga
Written by	Takeru Hokazono
Published by	Shueisha
English publisher	NA: Viz Media
Imprint	Jump Comics
Magazine	Weekly Shōnen Jump
Original run	September 19, 2023 – present
Volumes	8

Kagurabachi (カグラバチ) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Takeru Hokazono. It has been serialized in Shueisha's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump since September 2023, with its chapters collected in eight tankōbon volumes as of July 2025.

The series follows Chihiro Rokuhira, a wielder of a unique and powerful katana called "Enten", one of the seven Enchanted Blades created by his father, Kunishige Rokuhira. Driven by vengeance, he embarks on a quest to avenge his father's murder and reclaim six other stolen Enchanted Blades, which were taken by a sinister group of sorcerers.

By May 2025, the manga had over 2.2 million copies in circulation. In 2024, the series won the 10th Next Manga Award in the print category.

Chihiro Rokuhira is the son of Kunishige Rokuhira, a renowned blacksmith who crafted six extraordinary katana—known as the "Enchanted Blades"—forged from the rare ore Datenseki (雫天石). These blades played a pivotal role in ending the Seitei War. After years of living in secrecy, the Rokuhira family is hunted down by the Hishaku, a ruthless syndicate of sorcerers who murdered Kunishige and stole the Enchanted Blades. Wielding Enten, a seventh and hidden Enchanted Blade, Chihiro sets out on a brutal quest for vengeance—to annihilate the Hishaku and reclaim his father's stolen legacy.

Chihiro Rokuhira (六平 千鉱, Rokuhira Chihiro)

Chihiro, the 18-year-old son of the late master swordsmith Kunishige Rokuhira, trained under his father in childhood with hopes of continuing his legacy. After Kunishige's murder and the theft of his forged Enchanted Blades (妖刀, Yōtō), Chihiro vows revenge against the culprits, the Hishaku, wielding his father's last remaining blade, Enten (淵天). Though driven by vengeance, he avoids harming innocents during his pursuit. While typically stoic, he demonstrates compassion and loyalty to allies. Enten grants him enhanced physical abilities, energy absorption, and the power to unleash magical slashes. A keen observer, Chihiro masters the Iai White Purity Style through imitation alone, studying practitioners like Yoji Uruha, Seiichi Samura and his daughter Iori. Upon uncovering the truth of the Seitei War and his father's remorse over the Enchanted Blades' destructive nature, Chihiro realizes Enten's true purpose: to destroy the remaining Enchanted Blades.

Togo Shiba (柴 登吾, Shiba Tōgo)

A highly skilled, very powerful sorcerer who specializes in teleportation. Shiba is a family friend of Kunishige and Chihiro and one of the few people who regularly visited the two, often taking Chihiro into town when Kunishige could not. Like Chihiro, he also seeks to avenge Kunishige. He was a member of the Kamunabi, but left them sometime after Kunishige went into hiding. Though loud and somewhat childish despite his age, Shiba does his utmost to aid and protect Chihiro.

Hakuri Sazanami (漣 伯理, Sazanami Hakuri)

A disowned former member of the Sazanami Clan, cast out for his perceived lack of ability. He allies with Chihiro to dismantle the Rakuzaichi black market operated by his family. Hakuri's initial inability to use the clan's signature Isou (威葬, Isō) technique stems from self-doubt caused by familial abuse, which unconsciously dispersed his spiritual energy. Upon mastering control of this energy, he gains the rare ability to wield both Isou and the Storehouse technique—a subspace for storing objects and people. Only one other clan member in history achieved this dual mastery. Hakuri can register individuals and their spiritually-charged possessions into his Storehouse.

Iori Samura (座村 イヲリ, Samura Iori)

Iori Samura is the daughter of Seiichi Samura. As a child following her mother's death, she started living with her father and began training in swordsmanship. She endured constant bullying at school due to her father's involvement in the Seitei War. Following a brief reconciliation, her father sends her away before entering Kamunabi protection, having the Masumi clan erase her memories of him to ensure she lived a normal life. The spell weakens due to her lingering attachment to her father and Tobimune's influence, finally breaking when she instinctively protects a classmate—unleashing her latent Iai White Purity Style swordsmanship. To be fully effective with her swordsmanship, Iori closes her eyes when she is in combat.

Hinao (ヒナオ)

A friend of Shiba and owner of Cafe Haru Haru (喫茶ハルハル, Kissa Haru Haru) which serves as both a cafe and a way for Hinao to connect sorcerers with the leaders of the yakuza or big corporations who require their services.

Char Kyonagi (鏡凪 シャル, Kyōnagi Sharu)

Char is a young orphan who was a captive of crime boss and weapons dealer Sojo. Char is the last of the Kyonagi Clan, known for their regenerative abilities. She was experimented on by Sojo for her abilities to help stabilize the Datenseki. While she can heal from nearly any wound she receives, Char can also use her ability to heal wounds on other people.

The Kamunabi (神奈備) is a government-backed organization of sorcerers founded during the Seitei War (斉廷戦争, Seitei Sensō) to combat threats endangering Japan as a whole, unlike civilian sorcerers who handle smaller-scale conflicts. It replaced the Counter-Sorcery Army (対魔術軍, Tai Majutsu-Gun), abandoning its military hierarchy to focus on countering sorcerers from a hostile island nation. The Kamunabi's current priority is securing the Enchanted Blades to maintain national stability. For three years, they have been locked in conflict with the Hishaku, who possess the blades but cannot wield them due to preexisting contracts. The Kamunabi safeguards the blades' rightful wielders, preventing the Hishaku from exploiting their power.

Ichiki (壱鬼)

One of the highest-ranking heads of the Kamunabi and an elderly man of smaller stature. He trained Shiba and Azami during the Seitei War and, when it ended, helped Kunishige find a hiding place.

Izaru (亥猿)

One of the heads of the Kamunabi with distinctive mutton chops. He criticized some leaders for being responsible for Kunishige's whereabouts, blaming him for stealing the Enchanted Blades, as well as distrusting Chihiro. His sorcery allows him to create large rosary-like chains of beads and control them to restrict a target.

Soshiro Azami (薊 宗四郎, Azami Sōshirō)

One of the heads of the Kamunabi and an old friend of Kunishige and Shiba. He helped Kunishige find a hidden place to reside following the Seitei War and later serves as a prominent informant to Chihiro. He acts as an executioner for the Kamunabi, decimating opponents with brute force.

Kudo (区堂, Kudō)

One of the heads of the Kamunabi who wears a gas mask-like apparatus on his face and always keeps one eye closed. He, like Azami, was a supporter of Kunishige and assisted in hiding him after the end of the Seitei War. His sorcery, Warrior's Path (士透, Shitō) allows him to send someone in a certain direction, even through walls and floors. He sacrifices himself protecting Hakuri during the Hishaku assault on Kamunabi headquarters.

Hiyuki Kagari (香刈 緋雪, Kagari Hiyuki)

An elite fighter of the Kamunabi stated as its strongest. She is stated to be one of the few individuals capable of opposing an Enchanted Blade by wielding a special sorcery called the Flame Bone of the Starving (餓者の炎骨, Gasha no Enkotsu), which is said to possess strength on par with the Enchanted Blades. She possesses an intense personality and short temper, but has a kind heart beneath her fiery exterior which sometimes runs counter to her orders.

Tafuku Mihara (美原 多福, Mihara Tafuku)

Hiyuki's partner who looks like a sumo wrestler. His sorcery involves creating a separate domain where battles between two combatants take place, with the domain disappearing once the battle is considered over. Tafuku is nonchalant and calm, contrasting Hiyuki's boisterousness. Though they begin as enemies, he quickly comes to respect Chihiro.

Fushimi (伏見)

An elite fighter of the Kamunabi and a member of the Kokugoku Steam Squad stationed at the Kokugoku Hot Spring Sanso fortress assigned to protect Uruha. Fushimi wears a bandana and uses a sorcery ability called Smoke Axe (煙斧, Yān fǔ), which allows him to cut opponents with smoke between his hands. When the Hishaku's hired Datenseki-powered troops attack Kokugoku, Fushimi and the rest of the squad are able to defeat them. However, he and his comrades would later be killed by Hiruhiko.

Kiri Shirakai (白廻 斬, Shirakai Kiri)

An elite swordswoman and Kamunabi squadron leader, granddaughter of Itsuo Shirakai, founder of the Iai White Purity Style. Raised in part by Yoji Uruha and Seiichi Samura, she rejects her grandfather's belief that women cannot master swordsmanship, swearing to decapitate him to prove her skill. She wields an oversized odachi katana—two meters long and five shaku in blade length—compensating for its weight and size through precise balance and fluid, dance-like movements.

Natsuki Misaka (御坂なつき, Misaka Natsuki)

An elite swordsman and squadron leader of the Kamunabi. The younger brother of Ibuki Misaka, wielder of the Enchanted Blade Cloud Gouger, he fought alongside Ibuki, their combined skill rendering them nearly unstoppable in battle. Though once a candidate to inherit the Enchanted Blade Kumeyuri, Yoji Uruha was chosen instead. After the Seitei War, Ibuki retired from swordsmanship, while Natsuki continued training. He now seeks to confront the Hishaku to avenge his brother's death.

The Anti-Cloud Gouger Special Forces (対クラウドガウガー特殊部隊, Tai Kuraudo Gaugā Tokushu Butai) was a squadron of six elite fighters within the Kamunabi who were tasked with opposing Genichi Sojo and the Enchanted Blade Cloud Gouger he wielded. Only two survived the battle against Sojo.

Ikuto Hagiwara (萩原 幾兎, Hagiwara Ikuto)

The commander of the Anti-Cloud Gouger Special Forces whose spell Jikai (磁戒, Jikai), gives him magnetic powers. He is one of only two in the squadron to survive against Sojo. Though he lost both his legs in the battle with Sojo and fell into a coma, he has since recovered.

Kazane Machi (真智 カザネ, Machi Kazane)

The most recent member of the Anti-Cloud Gouger Special Forces. He is only one of two in the squadron to survive against Sojo. His sorcery, Demon Monster (怪魑, Kaichi) was considered the team's secret weapon against Sojo. However, Sojo would incapacitate Kazane before he could activate it by severing his right arm.

Shiyumi Harima (張間 梓弓, Harima Shiyumi)

A member of the Anti-Cloud Gouger Special Forces whose spell Gansui (岩垂) allows her to control and change the shape of stone.

Hajime Kugara (具柄 一, Kugara Hajime)

A member of the Anti-Cloud Gouger Special Forces whose spell allows him to imbue his body with iron-like properties. An entity bearing a resemblance to Kugara, featuring his signature mask, also appears alongside Ikuto following Kugara's death.

Kiyohiko Uzuki (卯月 清彦, Uzuki Kiyohiko)

A member of the Anti-Cloud Gouger Special Forces who can use binding spells to restrict the target's movements.

Makoto Kasahara (笠原 誠, Kasahara Makoto)

A member of the Anti-Cloud Gouger Special Forces who can increase the size of his hands.

The Masumi (巻墨) are a ninja clan loyal to the Kamunabi, known for their willingness to die for their master. Three members—Ro, Moku, and Sumi—guard Seiichi Samura at Senkutsuji Temple after Kunishige Rokuhira's death. When the Hishaku attack, they suppress sound and scent to aid Samura, who fights using his keen sense of hearing. Though prepared to sacrifice themselves for his escape, Samura refuses and later rescues them, releasing them from service. After his betrayal, they join Chihiro to oppose Samura and protect his daughter Iori in "Operation: Easy Does It".

Ro (郎, Rō)

The leader of the Masumi who despite being over 23 years old, has the appearance of a child and is mistaken for one by Chihiro and Iori. Ro dislikes being treated like a kid, but is not opposed to using his appearance to his advantage to try and skip work. Over his time at Senkutsuji, he seems to have taken on a persona similar to Samura, mimicking his signature sunglasses, eating candy cigarettes, using the term "get fired up" as a catchphrase, and having a similarly blunt demeanor. After the attack on Senkutsuji, Ro visits Chihiro in his hospital room and explains that he and the other Masumi will look out for Chihiro, per Hakuri's request.

Moku (杢)

A tall ninja who meets Hakuri and Uruha at the train station alongside Sumi and helps rally Senkutsuji's troops when the Hishaku attack. He, like the other Masumi, is deeply empathetic, and takes care of Chihiro when he begins to doubt or be overly critical of himself, be it through reminding him of their mission or by forcibly shutting him up with some food.

Sumi (炭)

A kunoichi with a cross-shaped tattoo on the right side of her face. Sumi meets with Hakuri and Uruha at the train station in order to transport them to Senkutsuji Temple via the use of a transportation mandala, which she can create using a marker. Upon arriving there, Sumi tends to Hakuri's treatment to hasten the safe usage of the Storehouse before joining Samura and the other clan members in battle against the Hishaku. During Operation: Easy Does It, Sumi makes off with Iori on a motorcycle as Kuguri gives chase.

The Enchanted Blade Wielders are elite swordsmen selected by Kunishige Rokuhira to wield his blades during the Seitei War. Their prowess secured Japan's victory against an island nation skilled in wielding the Datenseki, earning them public acclaim as war heroes. After the conflict, they concealed themselves for safety. When Kunishige and one wielder are killed by the Hishaku, the Kamunabi places the survivors under heavy guard. Among them, Seiichi Samura seeks to eliminate the remaining wielders—and himself—to atone for their concealed wartime deeds, which remain unknown to the public.

Yoji Uruha (潤羽 洋児, Uruha Yōji)

The original wielder of the blade Kumeyuri (酌揺) during the Seitei War. Uruha greatly admired Kunishige and was honored to be chosen as a blade wielder. Uruha initially refused to believe Kunishige had a son, and seemingly lost his will to live after the swordsmith was killed. However, upon meeting Chihiro, he reaffirmed his loyalty to the Rokuhira family. Uruha uses the Iai White Purity Style, having been trained under one of the other Blade Wielders, Seiichi Samura. Uruha is apparently killed by Samura after the latter revealed his betrayal. However, during the Hishaku assault on Kamunabi headquarters, Uruha is revealed to be alive when he protected Hakuri from Hishaku-affiliated assassins. Thanks to his Enternal Contract being severed by Samura, Uruha regains access to his original sorcery.

Seiichi Samura (座村 清市, Samura Seiichi)

A devout Buddhist and wielder of Tobimune (飛宗), Seiichi Samura blinded himself to sharpen his senses, mastering the Iai White Purity Style and fighting through echolocation with his sheathed blade. Plagued by remorse for his role in the Seitei War and the Sword Master's Malediction, he allies with the Hishaku to eliminate fellow wielders, extracting their secrets in return. Though appearing to kill his student Yoji Uruha, his true intent is to break Uruha's curse by reviving him with Tobimune's power. Determined to end the Malediction, he erases memories of himself from his daughter Iori for her safety. After regaining his sight in battle with Chihiro, he joins forces with them and the Masumi.

Ibuki Misaka (巳坂 伊武基, Misaka Ibuki)

The original wielder of the blade Cloud Gouger (刳雲, Kuregumo), Ibuki was a peerless swordsman regarded as equal in skill to Seiichi Samura. Alongside his younger brother Natsuki, the pair proved nearly invincible in battle. Following the Seitei War, Ibuki abandoned swordsmanship, but his life ended when Hokuto of the Hishaku assassinated him shortly after Kunishige Rokuhira's death. Cloud Gouger subsequently passed to Genichi Sojo.

The Sword Master (剣聖, Kensei)

One of the last blade wielders, eternally bound to Magatsumi (勾罪)—also called the Shinuchi (真打), the strongest of the blades. At the end of the Seitei War, he used its "Malediction" to slaughter 200,000 civilians after the peace treaty had already been signed. He was subdued by the other blade wielders, and incarcerated by the Kamunabi who covered up the atrocity. He shares a telepathic link with Shinuchi, nearly controlling Kyora Sazanami when he wielded it against Chihiro. A cursed contract ties the other wielders' lives to his—if he dies, they perish as well. Now, Yura seeks to kill him and claim the Shinuchi.

The Hishaku (毘灼) are a secretive group of ten elite sorcerers who murder Kunishige and steal his six Enchanted Blades. Recognizable by flame-emblem tattoos, they wield fire-based teleportation sorcery. Two blades are distributed—Cloud Gouger to Genichi Sojo and Shinuchi sold through the Sazanami Clan. Allied with underworld factions like the Korogumi Yakuza and aided by a Kamunabi insider, they spend three years targeting Kamunabi fortresses to sever wielders' contracts. Though forming a truce with Seiichi Samura, the Hishaku anticipate his betrayal, attacking the Kamunabi's Tokyo headquarters while others attempt to kidnap his daughter. They later exploit blackmailed Kamunabi personnel to destabilize the organization.

Yura (幽)

The leader of the Hishaku and the man who orchestrated the group's murder of Kunishige and theft of his Enchanted Blades, doing so as part of an attempt to wield the Shinuchi for himself. Due to his status and actions, he is Chihiro's arch nemesis, and as such, his primary target of revenge. Yura also visited Samura at his house to make a contract with him in exchange of information soon after the Hishaku's raid on the Rokuhiras' residence. He is always calm and possesses a strong degree of confidence in his plans, going as far as to risk his life on a simple coin flip, believing that God is on his side.

Hokuto (北斗)

A cunning swordsman who dresses in samurai clothing. His sorcery involves controlling inanimate corpses like puppets, but he prides himself on his proficiency in using a sword. Through his sorcery, he took part in the murder of Kunishige Rokuhira. He also assassinated Enchanted Blade Wielder Ibuki Misaka, though was left disappointed as Misaka was a shadow of himself compared to during the Seitei War.

Hiruhiko (昼彦)

A battle-driven young man who developed lethal instincts as a child after killing an assailant at age three. He rejects conventional combat methods, relying instead on his raw, instinctive style. Tasked with assassinating Uruha, he crosses paths with Chihiro, recognizing their shared traits—both are 18-year-old prodigies hardened by years of combat. His sorcery, Blood Crane (血鶴, Chizuru), allows him to conjure and control razor-sharp origami capable of impaling foes or lifting massive objects like Datenseki fragments. After Uruha's apparent demise, he wields Kumeyuri, adapting to a unique two-handed sword style despite losing his sorcery. Later, he joins Kuguri and Toto in Kyoto to capture Iori, leading to a rematch with Chihiro.

Kuguri (久々李)

A ruthless swordsman who thrives in battle and scorns those who treat swordsmanship frivolously. He wields an Enchanted Blade, pursuing a deeper connection with it despite lacking a formal contract—a state he describes as "unrequited love". His sorcery, Twilight Wave (破暮, Hagure), absorbs and stores kinetic energy and heat from his movements indefinitely, later releasing it in explosive bursts proportional to the accumulated power. Since the ability requires time to build, he often relies solely on his katana in combat. Tasked with capturing Iori alongside Toto, he tracks her to Kyoto and engages Chihiro. Initially unimpressed, he abandons his mission upon witnessing Chihiro's improvised Iai White Purity Style, consumed by battle frenzy.

Toto (斗斗)

A young woman who can track people by ingesting their or their relatives' blood. Toto accompanies Kuguri in their mission to kidnap Iori, who they locate via a sample of Samura's blood that was drawn during the attack on Senkutsuji. She frequently uses the Hishaku's collective flame teleportation ability to save her comrades from dangerous situations and tends to avoid direct conflict herself.

The Sazanami Clan (漣家, Sazanami-ke) is a powerful criminal clan of sorcerers who are the proprietors of the Rakuzaichi, an annual auction of black market artifacts and weapons, as well as people which serves as a highly popular fixture in the Japanese underworld, and have administered this auction for over 200 years.

Kyora Sazanami (漣 京羅, Sazanami Kyōra)

The eleventh head of the Sazanami Clan, the lead auctioneer of the Rakuzaichi, and Hakuri's strict father. As Clan head, Kyora has control over a subspace called the Storehouse (蔵, Kura). In this subspace, he can store items and even people, as well as control the environment in the subspace. Kyora has completely dedicated himself in ensuring that the Rakuzaichi auction continues on no matter the cost, even willing to sacrifice his own children. After being mortally wounded by Chihiro, Kyora is ultimately killed by the overwhelming power of the Shinuchi. Kyora's death forever ends the Rakuzaichi.

The Tou (濤, Tō), also known as the Special Defense Corp (特別防衛隊, Tokubetsu Bōei-Tai), is a small group of the four best fighters in the Sazanami Clan. Their duties are to follow the commands of the clan head and protect the Rakuzaichi.

Soya Sazanami (漣 宗也, Sazanami Sōya)

Hakuri's obsessive older brother and heir apparent to the Sazanami clan leadership. Typically composed, he becomes emotionally unstable regarding Hakuri, expressing twisted affection through physical abuse. Initially demanding Hakuri's return to the clan, Soya resolves to kill him after learning of his alliance with Chihiro. Their final confrontation ends with Hakuri mastering Isou and the Storehouse space to defeat Soya. Though once envious of their brother Tenri's superior sorcery, Soya later fixates entirely on Hakuri, whom the clan considers untalented.

Tenri Sazanami (漣 天理, Sazanami Tenri)

Hakuri's younger brother who is highly dedicated in protecting his father and the Rakuzaichi, and was one of the three members of the Tou who confronted Chihiro and Shiba when the later infiltrated the Sazanami estate. Tenri specializes in using short-bladed weapons for combat. During the fight against Chihiro, Tenri uses a Datenseki tool to amplify his sorcery in a desperate play to make his father proud. Due to the Datenseki being unstable, the power overwhelms Tenri and kills him.

Tamaki Sazanami (漣 珠紀, Sazanami Tamaki)

Hakuri's older sister who is one of three members of the Tou that confronted Chihiro and Shiba when the latter two infiltrated the Sazanami estate. When questioned about Soya's whereabouts by Kyora during this event, Tamaki lies and says that he is not feeling well before she is corrected by Tenri that he is looking for Hakuri.

Enji Sazanami (漣 円慈, Sazanami Enji)

One of Hakuri's older brothers who is one of three members of the Tou that confronted Chihiro and Shiba when the latter two infiltrated the Sazanami estate. Despite begging Shiba for death after Tenri's demise, Shiba tells him to live in order to foster the remaining Sazanami Clan members as to prevent another tragedy like Tenri's from happening again.

Genichi Sojo (双城 厳一, Sōjō Gen'ichi)

A criminal arms dealer who wielded the stolen Enchanted Blade Cloud Gouger (刳雲, Kuregumo). Obsessed with replicating Datenseki-based weapons, he kidnaps Char and her mother to stabilize experiments with their regeneration powers. When Cloud Gouger breaks against Chihiro and Enten, Sojo's desperate forced fusion with Datenseki backfires explosively, killing him.

Norisaku Madoka (円 法炸, Madoka Norisaku)

Also known as the Daruma Sorcerer, he is a sorcerer under the employ of Sojo, who wielded the ability to create exploding Daruma using his spirit energy. After his defeat at the hands of Chihiro and Shiba, Norisaku decided to stop being a sorcerer and go straight with his life. While trying to reconcile with his family, Norisaku is killed by Sojo for revealing information to Chihiro and Shiba.

Shigyu Brothers (死柳兄弟, Shigyu Kyōdai)

Two powerful sorcerers hired by the Hishaku to attack the Kamunabi's Tokyo headquarters, though they joined solely to wreak havoc. Despite their ordinary origins, they killed eleven Kamunabi personnel before entering Level 1's underground core with a Hishaku member. There, they clashed with Azami, who swiftly killed them both.

Kunishige Rokuhira (六平 国重, Rokuhira Kunishige)

Chihiro's father and the blacksmith who forged the Enchanted Blades using Datenseki—the volatile material only his unique vision could stabilize. His creations bring an end to the Seitei War, though at the cost of hundreds of thousands of lives. After the war, Kunishige confiscated all six blades and went into hiding, eventually fathering Chihiro. Feeling regret over the death and destruction caused by the blades, Kunishige, with his son Chihiro, crafted a seventh blade, Enten, for one purpose: to destroy the Enchanted Blades. Fifteen years after the war, he was assassinated by the Hishaku and his blades were stolen.

Yuu Inazuma (稲妻 裕, Inazuma Yū)

Yuu, or Mr. Inazuma, as he refers to himself, is a child aiming to break into the Rakuzaichi Black Market auction to free his big sister, which leads to his encounter with Chihiro. Yuu reunites with his sister after Chihiro rescued her and the other hostages from the Rakuzaichi.

Ikura (井倉)

Iori's classmate and friend who sits next to her at school. He fancied himself a loner due to his classmates ignoring him for his strange personality, but became friends with Iori after she was kind to him. After the Hishaku's attack on their school, Ikura trails Toto to the Kyoto Bloodshed Hotel in order to try and help Iori. His involvement leads Iori to remember everything and reawaken her swordsmanship.

Itsuo Shirakai (白廻逸夫, Shirakai Itsuo)

The founder of the Iai White Purity Style, a swordsmanship technique developed in pursuit of unmatched speed. His unconventional methodology initially draws ridicule from fellow swordsmen, but he later demonstrates its lethal efficacy by prevailing over his detractors. Among his most prominent disciples are Seiichi Samura and Yoji Uruha, both skilled practitioners of the style. Though still alive, Shirakai's present location is undisclosed.

Yojiro Sengoku (戦国与次郎, Sengoku Yojiro)

The general manager of the Kyoto Bloodshed Hotel who provides Chihiro, Iori, and the Masumi a place of respite following their encounter with Kuguri. Sengoku is a master of the Reigen One–Sword Style, which he taught to all of the hotel's employees. He is killed by Hiruhiko.

Written and illustrated by Takeru Hokazono, Kagurabachi began serialization in Shueisha's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump on September 19, 2023.^[3][1] The first tankōbon volume was released on February 2, 2024.^[4] As of July 4, 2025, eight volumes have been released.^[5]

Viz Media and Shueisha's Manga Plus platform are publishing the series in English.^[6] In March 2024, Viz Media announced the print release of the manga.^[7] The first volume was released on November 5, 2024.^[8]

These chapters have yet to be published in a tankōbon volume.

On December 2, 2024, Toyo Keizai Online reported that Kagurabachi will get an anime adaptation by CygamesPictures, through a joint production by CyberAgent and Shochiku. No further details were provided at the time of the report.^[20]

Upon release, Kagurabachi surpassed series such as Spy × Family, Dragon Ball Super, and Boruto on Manga Plus's popularity ranking. Its sudden popularity amongst global readers was partially the result of numerous Internet memes, with many ironically considering it to be the inheritor of Weekly Shōnen Jump's "Big Three" (One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach).^[21] Its first chapter was the world's most viewed in its first week of publication on Manga Plus, and the series received over 99 million page views on the platform by April 2024.^[22]

Kagurabachi ranked seventh on AnimeJapan's "Most Wanted Anime Adaptation" poll in 2024.^[23][24] It ranked 22nd on the 2024 "Book of the Year" list by Da Vinci magazine.^[25] It ranked sixth on Takarajimasha's Kono Manga ga Sugoi! list of best manga of 2025 for male readers.^[26]

The series has been recommended by manga creators Kōhei Horikoshi and Masashi Kishimoto, and the musician Vaundy.^[27][28][29]

By July 2024, the manga had over 350,000 copies in circulation (including digital copies);^[30] over 600,000 copies in circulation by August 2024;^[31] over 1 million copies in circulation by October 2024;^[32] over 1.3 million copies in circulation by December 2024;^[33] and over 2.2 million copies in circulation by May 2025.^[34]

In North America, the volumes of Kagurabachi were ranked on Circana (formerly NPD) BookScan's monthly top 20 adult graphic novels list since November 2024.^[35] They were also ranked on The New York Times' Graphic Books and Manga bestseller monthly list since December 2024.^[36]

In 2024, the manga won the 10th Next Manga Award in the print category,^[37] and was also nominated for the 70th Shogakukan Manga Award.^[38] In 2025, it was nominated for the 49th Kodansha Manga Award in the shōnen category^[39] and for the Eisner Awards's Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Asia category.^[40]

• Official website at Weekly Shōnen Jump (in Japanese)
• Kagurabachi (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia