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Article date: September 03, 2004
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Basilisk - Kouga Ninpou-chou
Created by: Masaki Segawa (Manga) & Fuutarou Yamada (Story)
Manga: 2003 - 2004
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While few outside of Japan may recognize his name, Masaki Segawa is one of the rising stars of the manga industry. The recent conclusion of his popular historical fantasy "Basilisk - Kouga Ninpou-chou" was accompanied by an exciting announcement regarding the series' upcoming anime adaptation. Lauded by both fans and the industry, Segawa's masterpiece is destined to become a modern classic.
While Masaki Segawa's mainstream manga industry debut was with "Sen Ma Monogatari," a one-shot manga in a 1997 issue of Comic Morning special edition Open, it was not until the next year's "Oni-kiri Jyuzo" that the majority of manga fans began to take notice of him. "Oni-kiri Jyuzo," which ran from 1998-2000 in Young Magazine special edition Uppers, featured gorgeous digitally manipulated art and a deep, intriguing plot involving Taoist magic and creatures from Japanese folklore. Segawa's lush artwork and fantastic use of historical Japan as a setting hinted to readers that this was an author worth watching.
Segawa's latest project, "Basilisk - Kouga Ninpou-chou," is based on a book by the late Fuutarou Yamada, one of Japan's most well known historical novelists. Yamada is most famous for his Ninpou-chou series of ninja-related tales, which began publication in 1958. Some of the works in this series include "Ninpou Chuushingura," "Kunoichi Ninpou-chou," and "Makai Tenshou" (recently released as a major motion picture). It was the "Kouga Ninpou-chou" volume of Yamada's series that formed the basis of Segawa's "Basilisk."
The basic plot is simple, but compelling. When feudal shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa finds himself unable to decide which of his two heirs should replace him, his advisor suggests a contest: let the shogun's two ninja clans battle to the death, with ten master shinobi from each clan standing in for one heir. The winning ninja clan determines who will succeed to the throne. Ieyasu agrees to the competition, declaring that the Iga ninja clan shall represent his eldest son Takechiyo, with the Kouga clan fighting in the name of second son Kunichiyo. The chief ninja from both clans enthusiastically agree to the battle, having existed in an uneasy state of cold war for generations. Finally released from the non-aggression pact forged by ninja leader Hanzou Hattori, members of the Iga and Kouga clans immediately begin to slaughter one another with gleeful abandon. Complicating matters, however, is the fact that the heirs of each clan - Gennosuke of the Kouga and Oboro from the Iga - are deeply in love. Thus begins a cruel war in which two lovers are turned against each other, forced to confront their conflicting loyalties and meet on the field of battle.
"Basilisk - Kouga Ninpou-chou" is a gripping story with excellent characterization. Neither the Iga ninja nor the Kouga are represented as good or evil, but instead as complex characters with both noble and dishonorable tendencies. They are desperate people in an extreme situation, sometimes treating their enemies with unlimited cruelty and at other times unexpected kindness. Adding to the characters' appeal are their various superhuman ninja powers. No two characters have the same ability; spider-like Shougen is able to shoot a sticky web, for example, while beautiful Akeginu is capable of attacking foes with the use of her own blood.
With incredible action scenes and a fascinating plot, the exciting potential inherent in an anime adaptation of "Basilisk" is obvious. Fans were delighted when plans to bring the series to the TV screen were announced in July. Funded by private investors and produced by Studio GONZO, the 24 episode series is scheduled for broadcast in April 2005. Both fans of the manga and industry observers have high hopes for the series.
Featuring a classic story by Fuutarou Yamada along with Masaki Segawa's lush, dynamic art, "Basilisk - Kouga Ninpou-chou" is a masterpiece of the manga art form. Fans have loved the series since its 2003 debut in Young Magazine Uppers, and the series has also gained considerable industry recognition, earning publisher Koudansha's Best Manga award in 2004. Not only is "Basilisk - Kouga Ninpou-chou" one of the best series in recent memory, it is also the perfect introduction to the work of genius creator Masaki Segawa.
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