Shigurui

Initially I was in a dilemma to whether watch or not this 2007 show, Shigurui. There were many mixed reviews on this period drama. It wasn’t my cup of tea genre but my guts had been ringing for quite a while each time I remember about this series. So yeah, after many years of pondering (yes, this was on the back burner of my mind’s watch list even way before a certain pandemic started), the best answer to solve it all was to watch it. As you would’ve expected, it wasn’t an urgent matter and thus lounging at the bottom of the list, once in a while remembering it and then putting it off due to silly need-to-watch-other-animes-first excuse, fading back into obscurity once more. I guess I finally found that time, huh?

Episode 1
A retainer tries to tell his lord Tadanaga Tokugawa that for the upcoming sword tournament that he is going to hold, please do not let the samurais use real swords. Because it will be a waste for their talents to kill each other. A wooden sword is enough to showcase their skills. To show how serious he is, he rips out his own guts as ‘compensation’ to show its horror and then dies. Unfortunately that advice was ignored as the tournament will proceed as planned. After all, a samurai’s life is not his own and it is a samurai’s honour to die for his lord. Now we see the start of the first round match. The first challenger is Gennosuke Fujiki. He only has one arm. The other challenger is Seigen Irako. He is a crippled and blind. Both men start to do their weird stance that puzzles everyone as the match begins. But now we go back in time to see how they meet. Fujiki was an apprentice instructor of a dojo. He trains others harshly, believing it is their only way to learn .But soon, Irako comes in to challenge the dojo. As per rules, he can only do so after defeating 2 apprentices. First up is Fujiki. As both sides lock swords, we hear the narration of this dojo’s style of martial arts. Although killing is not allowed nor grudges hold despite whoever wins or loses, they can give that person a new look and send them back. Cutting off body parts, if you don’t get it. And that is how they will show this Kogan style is the strongest. Everyone is puzzled when Fujiki seems to be struggling. And then Irako uses some technique that bends and twists his hand out of shape. Gonzaemon Ushimata claims that is enough for Fujiki although the latter believes he still can go on. Too bad he can’t. Not Irako will face Ushimata.

Episode 2
As the fight begins, Irako starts jumping in irregular fashion. Then he claims he has seen through Ushimata’s techniques and calls for him to quit now. Ushimata claims he has not mastered the Kogan style but will show him what he knows. The great slash causes Irako to stop smiling. Then he starts crying. He has found a real swordsmanship and wants to be a disciple of this dojo. However Ushimata continues attacking him. The coward Irako dodges and ends up hiding up in the roof. Game over. Irako is imprisoned but won’t eat what is given to him until his request is met. Irako notes about Mie Iwamoto, the only daughter of Kogan. If he marries into the family, he will become Kogan’s successor. Soon, Ushimata brings Irako to see Kogan. He thought his request is granted but is told that is for Kogan to decide. As Irako is still tied up, he wonders why so because in this state he cannot pay his full respects. He is told to just look straight and steadily into Kogan. Strangely he notices everyone putting a drop of blood on their forehead. Kogan enters the scene. Clearly he is demented like as though he is possessed by a demon. Quickly, a red bean is placed on Irako’s forehead as Kogan swiftly cuts it into perfect quarters. And so this Yodare Azuki Bean ceremony is a ceremony for the commencement of the Kogan style training. Uhm, did Kogan wet himself?

Episode 3
It has been a year and it seems Irako has risen up the ranks and even master special techniques. This has pushed Fujiki into obscurity. Ushimata declines Fujiki’s request to spar with Irako, knowing it won’t be just a practice. Fujiki claims he lacks martial arts etiquette and is setting a bad example for others. But Ushimata calls it absurd and knows something else is weighing on his mind and that is the reason why his skills are dulling. One night, Kogan sneaks into Mie’s room to molest her! Oh sh*t! Incest?! However he soon comes to his senses and leaves. But Kogan notes that Mie as a vessel is now ready to bear a successor. There are times when Kogan regains his sanity and the apprentices will use it to seek his advice. When Ushimata asks who should be the successor of Kogan style, Fujiki or Irako, Kogan slashes his mouth as he laments if only Mie was born a male. He wants to know if Fujiki and Irako, which one is the stronger breed. Ichidensai Funaki of Nissaka has twin sons. Send both Fujiki and Irako there to bring him their heads. Whoever completes this mission will get to carry on his lineage. So both of them head down there to face off with the twins who know they are from Kogan’s dojo. After a short standoff, Fujiki makes the first move. He does a superior secret slash technique on one of the brothers. A gush of blood. The distracted other is then taken down by Irako. Both return with sliced off faces of the twins.

Episode 4
The retainers praise Fujiki for slaying the twins although Fujiki also credits Irako in playing a part in taking them down. We see Irako talking to Iku who is Kogan’s concubine. Iku talking about the 2 men she was engaged to, died. He mentions about Nanacho Nenbutsu. It is some sword given by some lord. The sword has rumours that when was used on a monk, he shed no blood for a while before all came gushing out. Kogan then wanted to try it out on a living and this poor woman got her head split into half. So the rumours were false? But Kogan noted it isn’t that kind of sword he thought it was and it is actually a cursed sword. Keeping it will surely bring misfortune to the family. Shortly after, the guard of that woman has all his guts spilt out! That guard was supposed to be Iku’s betrothed and it is rumoured Kogan killed him. While the truth is unknown, Irako tells Iku that she is an ordinary song and whatever children’s song that is haunting her is ridiculous. Later Ushimata talks to Irako about the succession of Kogan. However he also warns him not to frequent Iku anymore. Although Irako has his reasons, Ushimata warns him if Kogan finds out, he’ll be dead meat. He shows his disfigured mouth as a warning! One day after some ceremony, Kogan throws Mie at Irako. It is his indication that he wants a strong breed and for them to get physical now. Mie will not follow this and leaves. Kogan slashes her butt as warning?! Ushimata and the rest prevent her from leaving and to tell her to return. She then looks at Fujiki and she fears he has those scary eyes like before. As the men hold her down, she realizes all the men are just puppets following orders while she is a tool for giving birth. She intends to bite off her own tongue and commit suicide when Irako pleads to call this off. He knows doing this will lead to Mie killing herself and the family will die out. He hopes to carry this out at another time. Then we see Irako in some kinky sex play with Mie. She’s blindfolded and tied up as he puts a small grain of rice on the tip of her tits. Then using his special technique, he slices it into perfect quarters. What the f*ck?! But yeah, what a joyous day. When an assassin arrives to kill Fujiki to avenge the twins’ death. However Fujiki was so fast that he couldn’t see his throat got slashed.

Episode 5
As Irako continues to practice, there is word going around that he is a son of a rich dye shop owner. Because he did nothing but practice his sword, he was disowned. Also, Fujiki is somewhat missing and the rest thinks it is due to the recent event of Kogan handing Mie to Irako. After all, he was originally supposed to be Kogan’s successor. They put their trust in him that he isn’t such a petty man and will return. Irako continues to fool around with Iku. At this rate, she will become his mother-in-law. Iku doesn’t like this idea. She refuses to believe she is Kogan’s woman or a cursed child. She is just an ordinary woman just like Irako told her. This scene is very confusing and scary because there’s this pregnant woman giving birth all by herself and there’s blood splattering everywhere. Then her child crawls out like demon from her belly?! WTF is going on?! I am not sure if this child was Irako. Then there is Kogan having sex with Iku. He then tells her he can tell much on how the sword is treated by its pattern. He is hinting he can see through her because she is his tool. While it seems like he is molesting her boobs, suddenly he cuts her nipples off!!! WTF?! OMG?! He believes Irako has deceived him. Then dojo starts to scramble because Kogan has given his orders. Fujiki then returns. He sees Irako and tells him that Kogan wants to see him. He goes to see Kogan at the top of the mountain where his secret sword technique known as Nagareboshi awakened. Kogan says he will now teach Irako this technique.

Episode 6
Iku is tied up and her wound given ointment, Ushimata eats her sliced off tit?! He claims he will punish Irako for driving her into this mess. As Irako prepares to accept the teachings, but first he must fight Ushimata to show his skills. Irako thought he won this practice match but Ushimata continues to beat him up. Did Kogan tell them to stop? Kogan then summons Fujiki to continue. Panic at first, Kogan asks him if he wants to stop learning. Irako then apologizes he should’ve seen all this coming. He is going to take everything from Kogan style and rise to the top. Both men start fighting for the first time since they first met. Irako has made a cut on Fujiki’s forehead. Now he is waiting for the blood to blind his eyes to go in for the finishing strike. When that happens, Irako confidently dives in but Fujiki deals him a knockout blow. It is not over yet because as Fujiki kneels before Kogan, Irako wakes up from behind and tries to snap his neck? Not sure what happened but now we see Fujiki on top of Irako and punching his face relentlessly. Kogan orders to stop. Then there is this scene whereby Iku is forced to use some hot burning thing on Irako. If she refuses, the men will take his life. Now Kogan takes his sword. Is this Irako’s final lesson? Both man prepare their stance. Kogan angry for being deceived. Irako then hears Iku screaming to him to fight and kill that old bastard. Meanwhile Mie knows her father is handing down the secret technique. However her retainer is in shock because she is smiling. After all the hardships she has been through? Flashback shows her mother hung herself and Kogan couldn’t care less about this foolishness. The lesson ends with Kogan blinding Irako. Everyone leaves while Irako could only scream and cry in agony in Iku’s arms. It is noted this is the end of a genius swordsman and the birth of a monster. Ushimata notes Mie now belongs to Fujiki but gets scared when he sees a different set of eyes. Who this guy? Another monster born. Make that 3 if you consider Mie.

Episode 7
Uhm, is this how they check for virginity?! Some retainer’s daughter is going to serve her lord in bed and so the matron checks for her virginity by inserting her hand… Go figure the rest. When it’s time to serve her lord, he steps on her head before strangling her to death. I guess this is better thrill than sex? Now we see a town infested with ronins. They talk bad about the Kogan style and all those who study under it. Until this young lad, Suzunosuke “Suzu” Kondou barges in and to tell them off. One of them acts tough until Suzu slices off his head! The others descend on him but the ronin boss has a better idea. Suzu returns to apologize to Ushimata about this because now the ronin guys want to duel him and to bring an observer. Ushimata praises him for a job well done. It is narrated that Suzu joined the dojo a year ago as he admires Fujiki who is also his instructor. During the duel, it seems Fujiki will take them all. However he defeats all of them with his bare hands and not a sword. He won’t bother using his sword on lowlifes. Meanwhile we see Kogan in his usual demented state. It has been 3 years since Irako got punished and banished and his guys don’t want to mention that name before sensei. Flashback to 11 months after Irako’s punishment, Fujiki noticed Kogan bit a hole in his sake bottle. It is no ordinary hole. So he tried to replicate this whatever technique with his bare hands. After all the practice and realizations, he mastered it and is approved of this technique. We now see him take on the ronin boss as he easily removes his head with his bare hands! The other ronins are killed but is told to leave 1 alive but with a different look. Suzu continues to admire Fujiki and hopes to be like him one day. But the last scene shows him dead!

Episode 8
Ushimata finds blood flowing out from the dojo. Just mad Kogan eating raw fish like a barbarian. Nothing to see here. He then tells the rest that he is sure that Kogan is not Suzu’s killer. As they deliberate who could’ve decapitated that young boy, they think it could be one of the ronins. After his burial, they continue to discuss in finding his killer. However Ushimata thinks they should create one and pin the blame on him. And let the real killer get away? Korouemon Yamazaki disapproves of this but as said, this is to save their dojo some face and not just anybody they can choose to be the killer. It has to be someone with skill. It is suggested Jingorou Higaki who once lost to Ushimata as he is now secluding himself in the mountains for training. Shinpachirou Munakata is sent to do the job and he easily kills Higaki. On his way back, he sees a madman before his path. From his stance, he believes he is Suzu’s killer but unfortunately he gets killed. He is decapitated and his head left on the bridge for all to see. The guys take him back and examine those deep cuts and really believe it is the same killer who did in Suzu. As some people are badmouthing about the dullness of the Kogan style, Yamazaki shuts them up by breaking it with his fist! What madness as he eats one of their eyeballs?! As Yamazaki continues to mourn and think of Suzu, that madman appears. He too gets cut down and his head paraded on the bridge. Meanwhile Mie continues to act strange. Like prostrating herself before a tree for hours and looking lost.

Episode 9
2.5 years after Irako was punished, Mie has been reduced to a bag of bones as she is still reeling from it. But with Kogan trying to force feed her to regain her vitality and become a vessel again, one night she stole his sword and ran away. Kogan gave his orders to hunt her down and kill her. Yamazaki found her hiding in some shrine. He was going to kill her but Fujiki knocked her out. He then prepares to face her as she uses her Nagareboshi stance. When she strikes but missed, he grabbed the sword with both his hands. She is returned to the dojo. Now, Fujiki believes Irako is the killer. From Munakata and Yamazaki’s deaths, the signs on their corpse indicates the similar scar or sign they did when they punished Irako. But Ushimata says Irako is blind and describes how a blind man fights instead of this precision slash by the killer. As they go around trying to find the killer, they also talk to the blind masseur as the blind have their own connections. He suggests to talk to Kengyou Shizuhata who is the leader of Toudouza. However they get mad and make him piss in his pants for such suggestion because they can’t seek an audience with him due to their different class. Some narration about his achievements he got from the shogun. Then there is this guy, Hikobei Mariko whose strength is only second to Ushimata. He too gets easily cut down in the bath by the madman. His guts all spilling out too!!! After Sanjuurou Okitsu finishes talking to some house about Irako’s whereabouts, Fujiki asks him if Irako is there. Okitsu instead asks him if he is going to spend his life in that room. Is there a future for Kogan style? Fujiki says Kogan’s style future is Mie. Okitsu laughs it off and then says something about stealing this technique from him when he punished Irako. He tries to cut down Fujiki with it but Fujiki kills him instead.

Episode 10
A mad Kogan beats up and accuses Ushimata and Fujiki, thinking both have sold out the Kogan style for money like Okitsu. But they are spared with a well-timed invitation letter from Kengyou. Kogan makes his way there as he shows his respect to the blind man who of course assures the Kogan style is a treasure to Kakegawa. But the reason he is called him here is to ask for his opinion on this strange sword belonging to one of his disciples, Sekiun. Kogan believes it cannot cut things and is just for decoration. Kengyou then suggests Fujiki to give Sekiun a lesson. Sekiun will use this strange sword as opposed to Fujiki a wooden one. This is after all just for fun. Because of that, Kogan steps in and wants to spar with Sekiun instead. As Sekiun makes a weird stance, the rest think he cannot cut Kogan at this rate. But suddenly swiftly, Sekiun strikes into Kogan’s arm. As narrated, this is a Spanish fencing sword and is made primarily for thrusting and not cutting. A short narration how Sekiun was abandoned by his parents and was given this sword by Tadaaki Ono who taught him how to use it. He honed his skills and became a very deadly killer with it. Kogan is shocked to see Irako coming in to watch this match. Sekiun continues his agile thrusting at Kogan. However once Kogan traps his sword in his, he proceeds to give him a beat down with his fist. As narrated, Sekiun’s disownment was due to not understanding a samurai’s loyalty to his master. Because now he turns on Kengyou and tries to attack him! Luckily his bodyguard protects him and kills off this psycho. Later Kengyou thanks Kogan for his help and never thought Sekiun would be this disloyal. Meanwhile Irako goes to see Ushimata and Fujiki. He splashes drinks on them, making an excuse he is blind. Ushimata reminds Fujiki not to do it and to remember where he is. But Fujiki bites his own hand and then spits blood all over Irako’s face. Ushimata accuses Irako of using Sekiun to kill Kogan but he denies. The plan was for Sekiun to kill Fujiki but looks like sensei saved him again thinking he wasn’t strong enough. When Ushimata claims Kogan did so because Fujiki is a man who can’t have fun, Irako laughs and bitterly accuses them for ganging up to burn a woman’s breast and blinded him. Irako warns Fujiki he is next.

Episode 11
Ushimata is being put up by Kogan to travel around to so called unrivalled dojos to show them what Kogan style is. Many are impressed and gave rewards for impressing their students. This was how Kogan earned his living expenses during his younger days. As Fujiki is alone back at the dojo, he has to put with one of many of Kogan’s delirium. This includes tearing apart the place before falling to sleep. Soon, 3 guys from other Kogan style dojos arrive as they received a letter from Ushimata to fill in his place to protect the place in his absence. Fujiki wants to spar with them first to test their skills. We see Kengyou talking to Irako that he was blinded as a child and had never seen light. He had to gain his own light, achieving status and fame on his own. But there is 1 light he could never achieve as a blind man and that is martial arts. He hopes he can give him that light. Fujiki then receives a challenge letter from Irako. Time to settle everything. So as Fujiki waits and trains, we see a short flashback of Irako and Iku being exiled after that night. They stumbled into bandits who thought Irako was easy meat. Blind dude swung his sword and got stuck in a tree. Bandits relish to cut him down but it was their fatal mistake since the speed in which Irako pulled it out sliced their guts out! Ushimata is being attacked by several men whom he believes are sent by Irako. He manages to decapitate them all including the big boss. However he soon realizes that he got poisoned from one of their claws. A lone gunman fires at Fujiki who deflects it with his sword. Dumb guy should’ve been shooting from the shadows instead of showing himself. As he tries to run, Fujiki decapitates him. Irako and Iku arrive at Kogan’s dojo.

Episode 12
Irako claims he is here under Kengyou’s orders to deliver some appreciation for that swordplay the other day. They let him in but knows he is after Kogan’s life. Before Kogan, Iku starts playing her biwa while Irako sings and dances. After that, he shows his ‘fine art’. That is, a huge tattoo all over Iku’s back. It is then Kogan flies into rage and cuts off that slab of flesh! When the bodyguards try to protect Kogan, he slashes them instead! Irako can tell that Kogan is not demented. He is a demon who will cut anyone before him. This is all going as part of his plan. The dance was to test the floor. However Kogan starts to overwhelm Irako’s senses as he splatters blood and guts all over. Irako tries to escape to the open area but his foot accidentally got cut by his own sword. Both men start their supposed victory stance and then go in for the kill. While it seemed like Irako took the hit, he claims victory over Nagareboshi. All that is left is to wait for the sound of Kogan’s dropped body. But nope. That’s Iku fainting and the stone slab being cut. Irako then realizes Kogan is still standing and starts to fear this demon. At the same time, Mie comes out, all dolled up and dressed in her wedding dress. Kogan is pleased that her daughter is now beautiful. But Irako uses this distraction to kill Kogan. Obviously Mie faints as she sees half her father’s face being cut off! When Fujiki returns, he is shocked to see Kogan’s corpse. Not sure what he is doing by sucking out the blood? Then a psycho Mie welcomes Fujiki home. Bloodied and mad. 7 days later, Ushimata returns and upon realizing what happened, he could not contain his agonizing scream. Irako is seen before the shogun and wants to know what technique he used to kill Kogan: Mumyo Sakanagare.

Living Madness: The Scars You Can’t See Are The Hardest To Heal
Uhm… Hey… Wait! Is that really the end?! OMFG?! Are you kidding me?! Here I thought I actually missed out one more episode or perhaps they forgot to make the last episode. But damn, after doing a double take, it indeed ended there! OMFG?! Are you kidding me?! WTF is this cliff-hanger ending?! Oh heck, it is not even an ending! Obviously, now I understand why those who had unsatisfactory comments about this series came from. Well, to be fair, the animated series just adapted about half of the 15 volume manga source. So if you’re really curious to know what follows next, you know what to do, right? But for me who don’t read the manga, the unsatisfactory feeling continues…

Honestly, I am having a lot of mixed and conflicted feelings while watching the series. I cannot seem to place if this series is actually good or bad. In fact, it is both. The whole pacing of the story is draggy and long overdrawn affair. There were many confusing moments which I do not understand. However at the same time, everything from it was intriguing and in a way interesting enough to make me glued to the screen as I keep anticipating and wanting more of what’s to come. Yes, the irony that despite the draggy pace, the enigmatic nature of this series still kept me enthralled and watching right till the end. Unfortunately with that kind of ‘ending’, you could say it pretty much ruined my day. There was no closure at all and perhaps the producers intended it that way since to reflect the morbid and melancholic feel of that Edo period, we viewers can’t have the luxury of a happy ending or at least even a decent ending. There. Show ends here. Take it or leave it. Go f*ck yourself. Uh huh. That’s how I felt when I reached the end.

You have got to agree with me that the entire series is just one long draggy flashback between the main characters. Oh heck, the tournament at the beginning does not even matter at all! So if they started the series of Irako first coming to the dojo rather than how they meet in the first round of the tournament, it will still play out fine but then we’ll be confused over what the whole thing is about anyway? Oh right. Revenge. That’s the rest of what the series is about, if not the entire series. So basically Irako is actually the main character here because it focuses on his arrival and rise in the dojo before his fall and exile. It somewhat culminates with him getting revenge on the person who took his sight from him.

Throughout the series especially in the early half, there were lots of unrelated scenes (as I should call them) and because of that, this is why I am mainly confused about the whole thing. It is one thing the series is already draggy by itself, they show such scenes to perhaps fill in the air time which otherwise the episode would’ve been a lot shorter? Just a wild speculation on my side but yeah, but because of that, I do not seem to understand or connect that to the story. For example, that scene of a woman singing a children’s song that is a play on words and numbers. Like, how is that related to the story? Therefore I am left utterly clueless and confused and at the end of the day, from my perspective it doesn’t really mean a thing.

The characters are also a bit confusing and like I have pointed out, the whole series is about the rise and fall of Irako. Fujiki might also be the main character but he feels really a lot secondary because of his stoic nature. Plus, we have seen how Irako got blinded and limping but we never see how Fujiki lost his arm. Sure, those who read the manga might know in later chapters but for viewers like yours truly, this question will keep bugging us till kingdom come. Even more so I felt Ushimata had more character than Fujiki since he is like the big brother of the group. Then there is of course the ‘antagonist’ Kogan who is painted more like a madman than anything else. Because of his unrivalled technique, this keeps everyone in check as he drives everyone around him mad. Even in his demented state, he is dangerous and has already ingrained fear in everyone in the dojo. Ironically instead of death frenzy, everyone’s life is a living hell. So it is a bit surprising that Fujiki looks like the only one who could retain his sanity from start to finish. Not sure if this is because of his stoic nature or he is a good poker face player. Even Mie isn’t spared and has turned into some sort of psycho too. Oh well, the Kogan style ends here with no successor. And there are lots of lesser characters too whom I thought would mean something but they get killed off too. I guess giving them a name trolled me into thinking they had significance, huh?

Despite the series being draggy, the one thing that makes it stand out is its blood and gore. That’s right. You would think this would be some harmless show but after a few episodes in, damn if you’re not strong enough to stomach all the violence, you’re really going to throw up. Thank goodness I have built immunity from all the bloody and gory shows like Shingeki No Kyojin and Elfen Lied so I’m good. But yeah, it is indeed not for the faint-hearted. You see blood splatter everywhere as well as people being cut into half and their organs falling out! Oh damn, you thought Shingeki No Kyojin and Elfen Lied was gory enough? This one is even gorier only because it is not fantasy! It’s so real! And to think that this series also had a lot of mutilated moments. Yes, some scenes showing people who don’t look like your ordinary human. Fancy seeing a guy without his jaw! Damn, that’s going to be memorable! Ushimata’s creepy mouth line is enough to be your nightmare fuel for weeks! Kogan looks like a creepy living mummy and definitely not Tinder material! HAHAHA!!! Oops! And of course the one that takes the cake is when Kogan slashed off Iku’s tits! Oh damn, seeing that scene is enough to make me squirm! It felt like my nipples too were cut! It hurts so real! Damn! And then to see the hideous scar that formed over it, oh man, we’re going to have nightmares about tits… So be warned for all those who want to take a look at this show.

So yes, this means the action moments are pretty short and swift. When you see the men picking up their sword and start swinging, you bet there is going to be some sort of cutting up. Somebody dies or gets mutilated real bad. I also want to point out one of the unique scenes of the series, when you see the character making their stance, you can see x-ray flashes of their muscles and bones. This makes me wonder if Mortal Kombat took inspiration from this and made their infamous and bloody bone breaking x-ray moves! Not sure what those scenes mean because it’s not like I even remember all the relevant muscle or bone names to begin with. Like as though it’s a scene to either see a character power up or that poor chap is going to get killed. Another action scenes to note, some of the excess gore and violence are envisioning scenes. What I mean is that, you thought the character is dead after being cut down. But it turns out to be a what-if moment and a possible outcome in the minds of a character. Perhaps it is to add to the shock factor to make viewers think that OMG this dude is dead but then psyche! Just your imagination only!

Speaking about the tits, there is also a fair share of fanservice in this show. But it is not the kind that you horny guys would casually love to fap to. Uh huh. Unless you’re into some mutilation fetish, nobody is going to get a hard on with Iku’s scarred tits. Then there are lots of bare tits especially in the first half of the series and there are many confusing short sex scenes or at least still clips of women in the midst of sex. It’s a very dark and mature theme as well as they are perplexing just to make you go, “WTF was all that for?”. Like Kogan molesting Mie’s tits. Molesting and almost raping his own daughter! All just to see if this tool-cum-vessel is good enough to get f*cked and produce an heir. To put it in the crudest way!

Having said about the gore, action and the sex, this brings me to the animation and visuals. The whole series is very bland and monotonous. Heck, I thought I was watching almost the entire series in black and white! This is how plain the entire series is but I think it works because it shows the morbid and gloomy side of this era. It’s not a very nice era to live in, contrary to all that rosy picture that anime has painted! Hell yeah it is f*cking unpleasant to be alive in such times especially if you’re poor! The only bright and perhaps the brightest and most vivid of colour is when blood flows out from one’s body. Otherwise, the colouring here is so monotonous that the colouring section is having the easiest job in the animating department. There are also many dark scenes and it is hard to make out what is happening. Also I want to give credit that they show scenes in different and strange-cum-unique angles. This helps stem the boredom that the fight might be just one or two scenes. Which also of course adds to the drama and confusion. This anime is done by Madhouse who did One Punch Man, Highschool Of The Dead, Overlord, Black Lagoon, Death Note and No Game No Life.

The opening theme is as the same name of this series and composed by Kiyoshi Yoshida. A bit refreshing as it is an instrumental using traditional Japanese instruments and a few orchestra strings to add to the dramatic effect. Sounds okay to me but be warned of the opening credits animation. Not sure what this hellish psychedelic mishmash is all about because it’s chaotic with pictures overlapping each other in shades of red. Ugh… What? But I guess in this sense it is better than the ending theme. Wait, I take that back. Koji also by Kiyoshi Yoshida is a stranger entry. It is very hollow and plain. A few drum beats and the occasional biwa strings. But then a lot of long pause and silence in between. Are you sure this is a song and an instrumental one? Oh well, at least it is not completely silent. But hey, still better than inserting those blaring synthesizer effects crap! Then there’s the ending credits animation. There is none! Just a black screen! Yeah, saves time and energy. Given with all the confusing and strange things that have happened in the episode, it is only proper for this emptiness so that we can digest and recollect our thoughts in the end. The worst and most boring ending credits animation ever or the best? You decide.

Overall, this show is clearly not for everyone and is only for mature audiences as there are very dark and adult themes to handle. Blood, gore and sex permeate the rest of this slow and draggy series. Not your typical period samurai animes like Rurouni Kenshin or Samurai Champloo. Not even close. Furthermore, the animated version is ‘incomplete’ and quite confusing with its story and characters. It is such a pity that this series didn’t get a sequel and I foresee it will not despite the manga has long ended in 2010. Oh well, in this day and age where the young ones are so weak and feeble in the mind, body and soul, maybe we couldn’t stomach any more of those gory mutilations, guts splattering and blood spilling scenes. Imagine the outrage over the internet. Sorry people, Japan wasn’t always filled with huge robots, wide eyed ever smiling kawaii bishoujos and overpowered heroes of justice with superhuman powers and abilities. This is the (almost) real history that Japan was built upon. Now excuse me while I go check and see if my nipples are still in place. Yikes!