"Shigurui" Review: A fusion of brutal aesthetics and profound human drama

Shigurui - Cruel beauty and profound human drama

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

comics

■ Broadcast period

July 19, 2007 - October 12, 2007
WOWOW July 19, 2007 - October 12, 2007 (1st - 12th episodes)

■Broadcasting station

WOWOW

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 12

■Original Story

Takayuki Yamaguchi

■ Director

Hiroshi Hamasaki

■ Production

Animation Production: Madhouse Production: Shigurui Production Committee (WOWOW, Geneon Entertainment, Madhouse, Akita Shoten)

■Works

©2007 Norio Nanjo, Takayoshi Yamaguchi/Akita Shoten, Shigurui Production Committee

■ Story

It is the beginning of the Edo period, and the place is a match in front of the shogun at Sunpu Castle. Two young men stand face to face. Gennosuke Fujiki and Seigen Irako. Fujiki has lost an arm, and Irako is blind. The two were once fellow students at the Iwamoto Togan Dojo, a school renowned for its peerless swordsmanship. Their pasts are heavy and intense.

■Explanation

Based on the work "Suruga Castle Court Match" by Norio Nanjo, who created a craze for cruelty, Takayuki Yamaguchi's manga "Shigurui" (serialized in Monthly Champion RED) depicts the brutal lives of nameless warriors. Many people said it was "impossible to film" due to its extreme depictions, but it has been made into a long-awaited anime with an R15 rating under the direction of Hiroshi Hamasaki, director of "Texhnolyze".

■Cast

・Gennosuke Fujiki/Daisuke Namikawa
・Irako Seigen/Nozomu Sasaki
・Mie Iwamoto/Houko Kuwashima
・Go/Emi Shinohara
・Togan Iwamoto/Seizo Kato
・Ryosuke Kondo/Mitsuko Horie (guest appearance)
・Gonzaemon Ushimata/Yusaku Yara
・Maruko Hikobei/Inaba Minoru
・Kuroemon Yamazaki/Bin Shimada
・Okitsu Sanjuro/Koyama Rikiya
・Shinpachi Munakata/Ryusuke Obayashi
・Narration/Cho

■ Main staff

・Original story by Takayuki Yamaguchi ・Director: Hiroshi Hamasaki ・Series composition and script by Kiyosuke Mizukami
・Character design and chief animation director: Masanori Shino ・Assistant director: Mitsuyuki Masuhara ・Art director: Hidetoshi Kaneko ・Color design: Chikako Kamata ・CG director: Hiroshi Soma ・Music: Kiyoshi Yoshida ・Sound director: Yasunori Honda

■ Main Characters

Gennosuke Fujimoto is the assistant instructor at the Iwamoto Togan dojo. He is loyal to Togan, who picked him up as a farmer's son when he was a child. He was seen as the heir to the Togan school, but his fate changed when Irako appeared at the dojo.
Seigen Irako is a gifted swordsman who one day appears at the Kogan dojo to challenge it. He quickly shows his talent after joining. He is a handsome man who is good at worldly things and secretly aims to become the successor to the Kogan style.
Mie Iwamoto. The only daughter of Togan Iwamoto. She is destined to be the successor to the Togan style. One day, she falls in love with Irako who appears at the dojo.
- The concubine of Iku Togan. She has such an unfortunate past that a children's song tells us that anyone who approaches her will suffer an unfortunate fate.
・Iwamoto Togan The head of the Togan school, he is known as a swordsman of unparalleled skill, but he falls into Yagyu's trap and loses his chance at promotion. He is ruthless towards traitors.

■Subtitle

Scene 1: Tournament in front of Sunpu Castle
・Second Scene: Drooling Azuki Beans
・Third Scene / Kamaitachi
・Scene 4: Children's Songs
・Fifth Scene/Secret Sword Teaching
・Scene 6: The First Cry
・Seventh Scene/Fangs
・Eighth Scenery/Cicada Shigure・Ninth Scenery/Torako・Tenth Scenery/Kengyō Shioki House・Eleventh Scenery/Moonlight・Twelfth Scenery/Ignorance Backflow

■Detailed evaluation and recommendation

■ Background and production process of the work

"Shigurui" is a manga drawn by Takayuki Yamaguchi based on the novel "Suruga Castle Court Match" by Norio Nanjo, and is characterized by its violent depictions and deep human drama. The anime adaptation was directed by Hiroshi Hamasaki and was produced with an R15 rating. The animation produced by Madhouse skillfully visualized the cruelty and beauty of the original work, leaving a strong impression on viewers.

■ The appeal of the story

The story of "Shigurui" is set in a match in front of the Emperor at Sunpu Castle in the early Edo period, and depicts a showdown between two swordsmen, Fujiki Gennosuke, who lost an arm, and Irako Seigen, a blind swordsman. The two were once fellow students at the Iwamoto Togan Dojo, and their pasts hide a heavy, intense drama. This work has the power to draw viewers in, delving deeply into themes such as human relationships, betrayal, and loyalty, in addition to swordsmanship.

■ Character depth

Fujiki Gennosuke is portrayed as a loyal man who was picked up by Togan as a child. The reason for his loss of an arm and his relationship with Irako become clear as the story progresses, eliciting sympathy from the viewer. Meanwhile, Irako Seigen is a gifted swordsman who aims to become the successor to the Togan school with his good looks and intelligence. His blindness symbolizes his strength in overcoming his visual handicap and his inner depth.

Mie Iwamoto appears as Togan's only daughter, destined to marry the successor of the Togan school. Her love for Irako adds an element of romance to the story, stirring the emotions of the viewer. Iku is Togan's concubine, and is portrayed as a character with an unfortunate past. Her presence emphasizes the dark atmosphere of the entire work, leaving a deep impression on the viewer.

■ Evaluation of video and music

The visuals of "Shigurui" are characterized by their attention to detail in order to express both cruelty and beauty at the same time. In particular, the depiction of the battle scenes is realistic and powerful, and has the power to draw the viewer in. In addition, the color design and art direction are also excellent, and the atmosphere of the Edo period is realistically reproduced.

The music was composed by Kiyoshi Yoshida, and features a heavy sound that matches the atmosphere of the work. In particular, the background music that heightens the tension in battle scenes and the melodies that portray the characters' feelings have the power to stir the emotions of the viewers.

■ Cast performances

Namikawa Daisuke, who plays Fujiki Gennosuke, skillfully expresses his loyalty and anguish, evoking sympathy from viewers. Sasaki Nozomu, who plays Irako Seigen, brings out the charm of his character with his calm and wise acting. Kuwashima Houko, who plays Iwamoto Mie, captures the hearts of viewers with her realistic portrayal of pure love and conflict. Additionally, Cho, who provides the narration, plays a role that further enhances the heavy atmosphere of the work.

■ Recommendation points

"Shigurui" is a work where cruelty and beauty coexist, and it is a work that depicts a deep human drama. It is especially recommended for those who are interested in swordsmanship and bushido. In addition, the story that delves deeply into the inner lives of the characters gives viewers a lot of emotion and empathy. The quality of the images and music is also high, making it a work that is both visually and aurally satisfying.

■ Related works and recommendations

For those who enjoyed "Shigurui," we also recommend the following works:

• "Basilisk: The Koga Ninja Scrolls": A work depicting brutal ninja battles, its appeal lies in its deep human drama, just like "Shigurui."
• "BERSERK": A story about a swordsman surviving in a harsh world, a work where cruelty and beauty coexist.
• "Suzaku: The Cry of the Devil": A work with themes of swordsmanship and revenge, it is characterized by a profound storyline similar to "Shigurui."

■How to watch

After being broadcast on WOWOW, "Shigurui" has been released on DVD and Blu-ray. It is also available on streaming services. In particular, you can watch it on Amazon Prime Video and Netflix, so if you're interested, be sure to check it out.

■ Summary

"Shigurui" is a work where cruelty and beauty coexist, and it is a work that depicts a deep human drama. It is especially recommended for those who are interested in swordsmanship and bushido. The quality of the images and music is also high, and it is a work that satisfies both visually and aurally. Please give it a watch.