Kagurabachi

**Kagurabachi** (Japanese: カグラバチ, alternatively known as *Kagura Bachi*), is a Japanese manga series created by Takeru Hokazono. It started serialization on September 19, 2023, as part of the second batch of releases in Weekly Shonen Jump's 2023 Issue #42. This publication comes right after "Mama Yuyu", which was introduced in the previous Issue #41, and it sets the stage for the upcoming release of "Two on Ice", scheduled for Issue #43.

## Premise

The Kagurabachi manga is a sword-fighting battle series within the shonen genre, characterized by its overarching revenge storyline. In the initial stages of the plot, a proclivity towards violence is evident, and this thematic trajectory is anticipated to persist in upcoming chapters. Recent leaks have hinted at the protagonist's intent to target a specific group of individuals, further highlighting their compelling personality.

Compared to typical shonen manga, Kagurabachi exhibits a higher degree of violence, as evident from the released panels of Chapter 1. While the narrative doesn't prominently feature explicit gore, the presence of blood is a constant motif throughout. The storytelling is marked by its aggressive and unflinchingly brutal design, exemplified by moments such as the central protagonist effortlessly cleaving a group of adversaries in a single swift motion. This meticulous portrayal of graphic elements underscores the manga's commitment to a detailed and intense narrative presentation.

## About

Shueisha recently launched its JUMP NEXTWAVE initiative with the debut of Yoshihiko Hayashi's manga series, "MamaYuyu," last weekend. While Weekly Shonen Jump has a history of welcoming new and retiring series, Hayashi's work, along with others, is being introduced under distinct and noteworthy circumstances.

In addition to Hayashi's "MamaYuyu," Takeru Hokazono's "Kagurabachi" and Elck Itsumo's "Two on Ice" are also part of the JUMP NEXTWAVE initiative. These three were specifically chosen because they were all participants in Shueisha's in-house Tezuka Award, not to be confused with the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize.

As mentioned, the JUMP NEXTWAVE project features three Tezuka Award participants who have been granted publication opportunities by Shueisha. Given the project's name, it appears that the publishing company is actively working to establish its flagship series for the next generation of manga enthusiasts.

## History

Recently, it has been officially confirmed that Hokazono Takeru's manga, Kagurabachi, will be included in Shonen Jump's NETXWAVE initiative. This project aims to support emerging talent within the manga industry. The decision to launch this initiative was influenced by several factors, including the imminent conclusion of established authors' series, a shortage of promising new talents in recent years, and a strategic effort to revitalize their manga lineup.

In this context, Takeru stands out as a relatively new entrant in the industry, with only two prior works to his name: Chain in 2021 and Roku no Meiyaku in 2022, both of which were one-shot publications.

## External Links

* Official Website (in Japanese)
* VIZ Media Official Website (English)
* MANGAPlus Official Website (English)