On June
6, Square Enix's Young Gangan magazine
surprised Bamboo Blade fans with the release of the first part
of a one-shot commemorating the manga's 20th anniversary. This
special story, written by Masahiro Totsuka and illustrated
by Aguri Igarashi, will be divided into two chapters, the second
part of which will be published next Friday, June 21.
A look
at the future of the kendo club
The first
part of the special is titled "Muroe Kōkō Kendō-bu to ○-nen
Ato" (The Muroe High School Kendo Club and __ Years Later), and
offers a nostalgic look at the characters after the original series finale. The
second part, titled "Honki Kojirō to Gachi Tama" (The
Serious Kojirō and the Determined Tamaki), promises to delve into the evolution
of these iconic protagonists who left their mark on fans of kendo and sports
manga.
A
classic kendo manga with humor and heart
Bamboo
Blade debuted
in 2005 in the pages of Young Gangan and concluded in 2010
with a total of 14 compilation volumes. The story revolves
around Kojiro, a kendo instructor with debts and a big appetite,
who bets with a friend on a competition between women's teams. The prize? A
year of free sushi! To win, Kojiro recruits Tamaki, a talented
swordswoman who, however, has no interest in participating. The play mixes
comedy, sports and personal development in a school environment full of
challenges.
A legacy
with spin-offs and anime
The success
of Bamboo Blade spawned several spin-off series,
including Bamboo Blade B (2009–2013), Bamboo Blade C (2013–2016),
and the four-panel comic book B.B. Deformer (2013–2016). In
addition, the manga was adapted into a 26-episode anime broadcast
between 2007 and 2008, which was distributed by Funimation in
North America.
A work
that is still alive in the memory
After more
than a decade since its conclusion, Bamboo Blade returns to
thrill its old fans and perhaps conquer new readers. This anniversary special
not only celebrates the manga's legacy, but also rekindles the fighting spirit
and camaraderie that defined its history.
