# Yaiba

Yaiba (stylized as Y∀IBA) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Gosho Aoyama. It was serialized in Shogakukan's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Sunday from September 1988 to December 1993, with its chapters collected in 24 tankōbon volumes. The manga has been licensed for English release in North America by Viz Media.
The story follows Yaiba Kurogane, a samurai boy raised in the forest by his father who ends up returning to city life in Japan. Yaiba encounters a rival swordsman, Takeshi Onimaru, but when the battle just so happens to end in a stalemate, a humiliated Onimaru is lured into malevolence upon stumbling across a magical katana, culminating in his plans to take over the world with an army of demons. This forces Yaiba and his allies to go on a quest to defeat the newly transformed demon lord, while also encountering several figures from Japanese history and mythology along the way.
A 52-episode anime television series adaptation by Pastel, titled Kenyū Densetsu Yaiba, aired on TV Tokyo and Television Hokkaido from April 1993 to April 1994. A second anime television series adaptation produced by Wit Studio, titled Yaiba: Samurai Legend, is set to premiere in April 2025. The second anime television series adaptation has been licensed by Viz Media.
By May 2024, the manga had over 17 million copies in circulation. In 1993, Yaiba received the 38th Shogakukan Manga Award for the shōnen category.

## Story

Yaiba Kurogane is an adventuring boy who knows how to be a samurai and little else. Yaiba lives with his father, Kenjurou, in the forest. One day, while Yaiba was eating, a troop of gorillas came to attack. Yaiba and his father escaped and hid inside a box, but they did not know that the box was full of pineapples and was going to be transported into the city. In the city, Yaiba finds out that he is a legendary warrior and has to fight the evil of a demonic looking high-school student named Takeshi Onimaru.
The people that Yaiba meets along his journey to become a true samurai encourage him, train him, or inspire him to greatness, though at heart he is still a child, and his incredible skill with a sword is matched only by his kindness towards his friends. Though he tends to leap before he looks, and his thick-headedness tends to turn potential allies into enemies, his friends soon clobber him, and salvage the situation. This unlikely group embarks on a host of incredible adventures where they meet legendary figures from Japanese history, and finally overcome impossible odds, and put everything on the line, to save the entire planet from a threat not of this world.

## Media
### Manga

Written and illustrated by Gosho Aoyama, Yaiba was serialized in Shogakukan's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Sunday from September 7, 1988, to December 1, 1993. Shogakukan collected its chapters in 24 tankōbon volumes, released between April 18, 1989, and February 18, 1994. Shogakukan republished the series in a 10-volume bunkoban edition from December 14, 2001, to August 10, 2002. Shogakukan released a second 24-volume edition from July 15, 2004, to April 18, 2005.
In October 2024, Viz Media announced at New York Comic Con that it has licensed the manga for English release in North America, with the first volume set to be released in July 2025.

#### Volumes

| No. | Original release date | Original ISBN | English release date | English ISBN |
| 1 | April 18, 1989 | 4-09-122271-4 | July 8, 2025 | 978-1-9747-5604-9 |
| 2 | June 17, 1989 | 4-09-122272-2 | October 14, 2025 | 978-1-9747-5876-0 |
| 3 | August 18, 1989 | 4-09-122273-0 | — | — |
| 4 | October 18, 1989 | 4-09-122274-9 | — | — |
| 5 | December 14, 1989 | 4-09-122275-7 | — | — |
| 6 | March 17, 1990 | 4-09-122276-5 | — | — |
| 7 | May 18, 1990 | 4-09-122277-3 | — | — |
| 8 | July 18, 1990 | 4-09-122278-1 | — | — |
| 9 | October 18, 1990 | 4-09-122279-X | — | — |
| 10 | February 18, 1991 | 4-09-122280-3 | — | — |
| 11 | May 18, 1991 | 4-09-122561-6 | — | — |
| 12 | July 18, 1991 | 4-09-122562-4 | — | — |
| 13 | September 18, 1991 | 4-09-122563-2 | — | — |
| 14 | November 18, 1991 | 4-09-122564-0 | — | — |
| 15 | January 18, 1992 | 4-09-122565-9 | — | — |
| 16 | April 17, 1992 | 4-09-122566-7 | — | — |
| 17 | June 18, 1992 | 4-09-122567-5 | — | — |
| 18 | August 10, 1992 | 4-09-122568-3 | — | — |
| 19 | November 18, 1992 | 4-09-122569-1 | — | — |
| 20 | February 18, 1993 | 4-09-122570-5 | — | — |
| 21 | May 18, 1993 | 4-09-123231-0 | — | — |
| 22 | July 17, 1993 | 4-09-123232-9 | — | — |
| 23 | October 18, 1993 | 4-09-123233-7 | — | — |
| 24 | February 18, 1994 | 4-09-123234-5 | — | — |

### Anime
#### 1993 series

An 52-episode anime television series, titled Kenyū Densetsu Yaiba (剣勇伝説YAIBA, lit. 'Brave Sword Legend Yaiba'), produced by Pastel, aired on TV Tokyo from April 9, 1993, to April 1, 1994. The opening and ending theme songs were performed by Kabuki Rocks [ja]; "Yuuki ga Areba" (勇気があれば, lit. 'If You Have Courage') and "Shinjigakunaki Tatakai" (神智学無き戦い, lit. 'Battle Without Theosophy') respectively.

##### Episodes

| No. | Title | Original release date |
| 1 | "Heisei's Samurai Yaiba Appears!" Transliteration: "Heisei no Samurai Yaiba Tōjō!" (Japanese: 平成の侍ヤイバ登場!) | April 9, 1993 (1993-4-9) |
| 2 | "The Awakening of the Sword of Fuujin!" Transliteration: "Yomigaeru Fūjin no Ken!" (Japanese: よみがえる風神の剣!) | April 16, 1993 (1993-4-16) |
| 3 | "Sword Of Raijin/Sword Of Fuujin" Transliteration: "Raijin no Ken/Fūjin no Ken" (Japanese: 雷神の剣/風神の剣) | April 23, 1993 (1993-4-23) |
| 4 | "The Eight Demons: Frog Man's Assault" Transliteration: "Hakki Kaeru Otoko no Shūgeki" (Japanese: 八鬼・カエル男の襲撃) | April 30, 1993 (1993-4-30) |
| 5 | "Special Attack Senpuu Ken!!" Transliteration: "Hissatsu Waza Senpū Ken!!" (Japanese: 必殺技せんぷう剣!!) | May 7, 1993 (1993-5-7) |
| 6 | "Frightening Slug Man Appears" Transliteration: "Kyōfu no Namekuji Otoko Sanjō" (Japanese: 恐怖のナメクジ男参上) | May 14, 1993 (1993-5-14) |
| 7 | "The Eight Demons: Spider Man's Weakness!?" Transliteration: "Hakki Kumo Otoko no Jakuten!?" (Japanese: 八鬼・クモ男の弱点!?) | May 21, 1993 (1993-5-21) |
| 8 | "Vampire: Bat Guy!" Transliteration: "Kyūketsuki. Battogai!" (Japanese: 吸血鬼・バットガイ!) | May 28, 1993 (1993-5-28) |
| 9 | "The Secret of the Onimaru Manjuu" Transliteration: "Onimaru Manjū no Himitsu" (Japanese: 鬼丸まんじゅうの秘密) | June 4, 1993 (1993-6-4) |
| 10 | "The Revival of the Master Swordsman, Kojiro" Transliteration: "Tensai Kenshi Kojirō Fukkatsu" (Japanese: 天才剣士小次郎復活!) | June 11, 1993 (1993-6-11) |
| 11 | "Who Is the Strongest Swordsman?!" Transliteration: "Kengō Nipponichi wa Dare Da!!" (Japanese: 剣豪日本一はだれだ!!) | June 18, 1993 (1993-6-18) |
| 12 | "The Birth of the Kaminari Giri!" Transliteration: "Higi Kaminari-Giri Tanjō!" (Japanese: 秘技カミナリ斬り誕生!) | June 25, 1993 (1993-6-25) |
| 13 | "Gigantic Anglerfish! Sneak into Onimaru Castle" Transliteration: "Kyodai Ankō!? Onimaru Jō Sennyū" (Japanese: 巨大アンコウ!?鬼丸城潜入) | July 2, 1993 (1993-7-2) |
| 14 | "Vanished, the Enemy Chameleon!" Transliteration: "Kieta? Kyōteki Kamereon!" (Japanese: 消えた?強敵カメレオン!) | July 9, 1993 (1993-7-9) |
| 15 | "Kojiro's Betrayal!?" Transliteration: "Kojirō ga Uragitta!?" (Japanese: 小次郎が裏切った!?) | July 16, 1993 (1993-7-16) |
| 16 | "The Strongest Machine of the Four Guardians Attacks!" Transliteration: "Shitennō Saikyō Mashin Shūgeki!" (Japanese: 四天王最強マシン襲撃!) | July 23, 1993 (1993-7-23) |
| 17 | "Wind and Thunder Clash! Yaiba vs. Onimaru" Transliteration: "Fū-Rai Gekitotsu!! Yaiba tai Onimaru" (Japanese: 風雷激突!!ヤイバ対鬼丸) | July 30, 1993 (1993-7-30) |
| 18 | "Searching for the Legendary Orb!" Transliteration: "Densetsu no Tama wo Sagase!" (Japanese: 伝説の玉をさがせっ!) | August 6, 1993 (1993-8-6) |
| 19 | "What Kind of an Orb is the Golden Orb?" Transliteration: "Kin no Tama wa Nanno Tama?" (Japanese: 金の玉は何の玉?) | August 13, 1993 (1993-8-13) |
| 20 | "Legend of the Red Dragon!! Amakusa Shirou Appears!" Transliteration: "Sekiryū Densetsu!! Amakusa Shirō Arawaru!" (Japanese: 赤龍伝説!!天草四郎現わる!!) | August 20, 1993 (1993-8-20) |
| 21 | "Feverish Hell! Steal the Flame Orb!!" Transliteration: "Netsu Jigoku! Kaen no Tama wo Ubae!!" (Japanese: 熱地獄!火炎の玉を奪え!!) | August 27, 1993 (1993-8-27) |
| 22 | "The World Renowned Thief, Goemon" Transliteration: "Tenka no O-Dorobō Goemon" (Japanese: 天下の大泥棒・ゴエモン) | September 3, 1993 (1993-9-3) |
| 23 | "Huge Battle! Buddha vs. Osaka Onimaru Castle" Transliteration: "Kyodai Kessen! Daibutsu VS Oosaka Onimaru Jō" (Japanese: 巨大決戦!大仏VS大阪鬼丸城) | September 10, 1993 (1993-9-10) |
| 24 | "Friend or Foe? The Revival of Jubei Yagyu!" Transliteration: "Teki ka Mikata ka? Yagyū Jūbee Fukkatsu!" (Japanese: 敵か味方か?柳生十兵衛復活!) | September 17, 1993 (1993-9-17) |
| 25 | "The Waiting Trap!? The Decisive Battle of Kawanakajima" Transliteration: "Machi Ukeru Wana!? Kawanakajima Kessen no Maki" (Japanese: 待ちうける罠!?川中島決戦) | September 24, 1993 (1993-9-24) |
| 26 | "The Darkness Orb is the Entrance to the Dark World" Transliteration: "Yami no Tama wa Ankoku Sekai e no Iriguchi" (Japanese: 闇の玉は暗黒世界への入口) | October 1, 1993 (1993-10-1) |
| 27 | "Throw Away Your Dream! Special Training Deadly Sword" Transliteration: "Yume wo Suteru ka! Tokkun Hissatsu Ken" (Japanese: 夢をすてるか!特訓必殺剣) | October 8, 1993 (1993-10-8) |
| 28 | "Fast Ball Match! Strike Out Benkei" Transliteration: "Gōkyū Shōbu! Benkei wo Uchitore" (Japanese: 剛球勝負!弁慶を打ちとれ) | October 15, 1993 (1993-10-15) |
| 29 | "What!? 100,000 Legendary Orbs?" Transliteration: "Nanii! Densetsu no Tama ga 10 Man ko?" (Japanese: なにっ!伝説の玉が10万個?) | October 22, 1993 (1993-10-22) |
| 30 | "Stinger of Petrification! Monkey Basho" Transliteration: "Seki ka no Dokubari! Monkii Bashō" (Japanese: 石化の毒針!モンキー芭蕉) | October 29, 1993 (1993-10-29) |
| 31 | "Aim for the Ryuujin Orb on Mount Fuji!" Transliteration: "Mezase! Fujisan Ryūjin no Tama!" (Japanese: 目指せ!富士山龍神の玉!) | November 5, 1993 (1993-11-5) |
| 32 | "Yaiba Loses the Seven Orbs!?" Transliteration: "Yaiba Nanatsu no Tama wo Ushinau!?" (Japanese: ヤイバ7つの玉を失う!?) | November 12, 1993 (1993-11-12) |
| 33 | "Ryuujin's Ruthless Test" Transliteration: "Hijō Naru Ryūjin no Shiren!" (Japanese: 非情なる龍神の試練!) | November 19, 1993 (1993-11-19) |
| 34 | "Disappearing Companions" Transliteration: "Kiete Iku Nakama-Tachi" (Japanese: 消えていく仲間達) | November 26, 1993 (1993-11-26) |
| 35 | "The Strongest in History! The Ryuujin Sword!!" Transliteration: "Shijō Saikyō! Ryūjin Ken!!" (Japanese: 史上最強!龍神剣!!) | December 3, 1993 (1993-12-3) |
| 36 | "Invaders From the Moon - The Empress Kaguya" Transliteration: "Tsuki Kara no Shinryaku Sha. Jotei Kaguya" (Japanese: 月からの侵略者・女帝かぐや) | December 10, 1993 (1993-12-10) |
| 37 | "Large Sinking! Onimaru's Floating Castle" Transliteration: "Dai Gekichin! Onimaru Fuyū Jō!" (Japanese: 大撃沈!鬼丸浮遊城!) | December 17, 1993 (1993-12-17) |
| 38 | "Tokyo Flooding Strategy!" Transliteration: "Tōkyō Mizuzeme Dai Sakusen!!" (Japanese: 東京水攻め作戦!!) | December 24, 1993 (1993-12-24) |
| 39 | "The Moon Alien Merged with the Gas Tank!?" Transliteration: "Gessei Jin, Gasu Tanku to Gattai!?" (Japanese: 月星人、ガスタンクと合体!?) | December 27, 1993 (1993-12-27) |
| 40 | "Birth of the New Ryuujin Legend!!" Transliteration: "Shin Ryūjin Densetsu Tanjō!!" (Japanese: 新龍神伝説誕生!!) | January 7, 1994 (1994-1-7) |
| 41 | "Carry Out the Women Rescue Mission" Transliteration: "Onago Kyūshutsu Sakusen Kekkō!" (Japanese: おなご救出作戦決行!) | January 14, 1994 (1994-1-14) |
| 42 | "Jubei Loses His Body!?" Transliteration: "Karada wo Ubawareta Jūbee!?" (Japanese: 体を奪われた十兵衛!?) | January 21, 1994 (1994-1-21) |
| 43 | "Sayaka's In Trouble! Hurry, Yaiba!" Transliteration: "Sayaka Pinchi! Isoge Yaiba" (Japanese: さやかピンチ!急げヤイバ) | January 28, 1994 (1994-1-28) |
| 44 | "The Targeted Dragon Priestess - Sayaka" Transliteration: "Nerawareta Ryū no Miko. Sayaka" (Japanese: 狙われた龍の巫女・さやか) | February 4, 1994 (1994-2-4) |
| 45 | "Gekko's Return! The Demon King's Sword" Transliteration: "Gekkō no Gyakushū! Maō Ken" (Japanese: ゲッコーの逆襲!魔王剣) | February 11, 1994 (1994-2-11) |
| 46 | "Yaiba, Defeated By the Demon King's Sword" Transliteration: "Yaiba, Maō Ken ni Yabureru!" (Japanese: ヤイバ、魔王剣に敗れる!) | February 18, 1994 (1994-2-18) |
| 47 | "Onimaru Returns! Save Sayaka!!" Transliteration: "Onimaru Fukkatsu! Sayaka wo Sukue!!" (Japanese: 鬼丸復活!さやかを救え!!) | February 25, 1994 (1994-2-25) |
| 48 | "Take That! Combined Technique Wave of Wind Thunder" Transliteration: "Kurae! Gattai Waza Fū-Rai ha" (Japanese: くらえっ!合体技風雷波) | March 4, 1994 (1994-3-4) |
| 49 | "The Terrible True Figure of Kaguya!" Transliteration: "Kaguya, Osoroshiki Shin no Sugata!" (Japanese: かぐや、恐ろしき真の姿!) | March 11, 1994 (1994-3-11) |
| 50 | "Desperate Situation! Yaiba Loses His Sword" Transliteration: "Zettaizetsumei! Yaiba Ken wo Ushinau" (Japanese: 絶体絶命!ヤイバ剣を失う) | March 18, 1994 (1994-3-18) |
| 51 | "The White Ryuujin Appears!!" Transliteration: "Shiroki Ryūjin Arawaru!!" (Japanese: 白き龍神あらわる!!) | March 25, 1994 (1994-3-25) |
| 52 | "I'm Yaiba Kurogane, a Samurai!" Transliteration: "Kurogane Yaiba, Samurai da!" (Japanese: 鉄ヤイバ、サムライだ!) | April 1, 1994 (1994-4-1) |

#### 2025 series

A second anime adaptation, with supervision from Aoyama, was announced in Weekly Shōnen Sunday on May 8, 2024. Titled Yaiba: Samurai Legend (真・侍伝YAIBA, Shin Samurai-den Yaiba, lit. 'True Samurai Legend Yaiba'), the television series is produced by Wit Studio and directed by Takahiro Hasui, with Touko Machida writing series scripts, Yoshimichi Kameda designing the characters and serving as chief animation director, Maiko Okada serving as animation producer, and Yutaka Yamada and Yoshiaki Dewa composing the music. Minami Takayama will reprise her role as the voice of Yaiba Kurogane from the original series. It is set to premiere on Yomiuri TV, Nippon TV and other NNS stations on April 5, 2025, and will air in tandem with Aoyama's other anime series adaptation, Case Closed; the first three episodes are set to have a early screenings at ten Toho Cinemas locations on March 13. The opening theme song is "Blade", performed by Blue Encount [ja].
In October 2024, Viz Media announced at New York Comic Con that it has licensed the series. The series will stream on Netflix in North America, Latin America, Australia, and New Zealand starting on April 5, 2025, and will also stream on Hulu in the United States.

## Reception

By May 2024, the manga had over 17 million copies in circulation. In 1993, Yaiba, along Ghost Sweeper Mikami, received the 38th Shogakukan Manga Award for the shōnen category.