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Yaiba

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Japanese manga series and its franchise

This article is about the 1988 manga. For the unrelated 2016 manga, see Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. For the 2014 video game, see Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z.
Yaiba
First tankōbon volume cover, featuring Yaiba Kurogane (left) and Sayaka Mine (right)
GenreAction, comedy
Manga
Written byGosho Aoyama
Published byShogakukan
English publisher
ImprintShōnen Sunday Comics
MagazineWeekly Shōnen Sunday
DemographicShōnen
Original runSeptember 7, 1988 – December 1, 1993
Volumes24
Anime television series
Kenyū Densetsu Yaiba
Directed by
Produced by
  • Mutsuo Shimizu
  • Noriko Kobayashi
  • Toshihiro Nakazawa
  • Toshiaki Okuno
Written byKenji Terada
Music byKohei Tanaka
StudioPastel
Original networkTXN (TV Tokyo, TVh)
Original run April 9, 1993 – April 1, 1994
Episodes52
Anime television series
Yaiba: Samurai Legend
Directed byTakahiro Hasui
Produced byMaiko Okada
Written byTouko Machida
Music by
StudioWit Studio
Licensed by
  • NA: Viz Media
Original networkNNS (YTV, NTV)
Original run April 2025 – scheduled
icon Anime and manga portal

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

See also: List of Yaiba characters

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. Japanese release date Japanese ISBN
1 April 18, 19894-09-122271-4
2 June 17, 19894-09-122272-2
3 August 18, 19894-09-122273-0
4 October 18, 19894-09-122274-9
5 December 14, 19894-09-122275-7
6 March 17, 19904-09-122276-5
7 May 18, 19904-09-122277-3
8 July 18, 19904-09-122278-1
9 October 18, 19904-09-122279-X
10 February 18, 19914-09-122280-3
11 May 18, 19914-09-122561-6
12 July 18, 19914-09-122562-4
13 September 18, 19914-09-122563-2
14 November 18, 19914-09-122564-0
15 January 18, 19924-09-122565-9
16 April 17, 19924-09-122566-7
17 June 18, 19924-09-122567-5
18 August 10, 19924-09-122568-3
19 November 18, 19924-09-122569-1
20 February 18, 19934-09-122570-5
21 May 18, 19934-09-123231-0
22 July 17, 19934-09-123232-9
23 October 18, 19934-09-123233-7
24 February 18, 19944-09-123234-5

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.TitleOriginal air date 
1"Heisei no Samurai Yaiba Tōjō!"
(Japanese: 平成の侍ヤイバ登場!)		April 9, 1993 (1993-04-09)
2"Yomigaeru Fūjin no Ken!"
(Japanese: よみがえる風神の剣!)		April 16, 1993 (1993-04-16)
3"Raijin no Ken! Fūjin no Ken"
(Japanese: 雷神の剣!風神の剣)		April 23, 1993 (1993-04-23)
4"Hakki Kaeru Otoko no Shūgeki"
(Japanese: 八鬼・カエル男の襲撃)		April 30, 1993 (1993-04-30)
5"Hissatsu Waza Senpū Ken!!"
(Japanese: 必殺技せんぷう剣!!)		May 7, 1993 (1993-05-07)
6"Kyōfu no Namekuji Otoko Sanjō"
(Japanese: 恐怖のナメクジ男参上)		May 14, 1993 (1993-05-14)
7"Hakki Kumo Otoko no Jakuten!?"
(Japanese: 八鬼・クモ男の弱点)		May 21, 1993 (1993-05-21)
8"Kyūketsuki. Battogai!"
(Japanese: 吸血鬼・バットガイ!)		May 28, 1993 (1993-05-28)
9"Onimaru Manjū no Himitsu"
(Japanese: 鬼丸まんじゅうの秘密)		June 4, 1993 (1993-06-04)
10"Tensai Kenshi Kojirō Fukkatsu"
(Japanese: 天才剣士小次郎復活!)		June 11, 1993 (1993-06-11)
11"Kengō Nipponichi wa Dare Da!!"
(Japanese: 剣豪日本一はだれだ!!)		June 18, 1993 (1993-06-18)
12"Higi Kaminari-Giri Tanjō!"
(Japanese: 秘技カミナリ斬り誕生!)		June 25, 1993 (1993-06-25)
13"Kyodai Ankō!? Onimaru Jō Sennyū"
(Japanese: 巨大アンコウ!?鬼丸城潜入)		July 2, 1993 (1993-07-02)
14"Kieta? Kyōteki Kamereon!"
(Japanese: 消えた?強敵カメレオン!)		July 9, 1993 (1993-07-09)
15"Kojirō ga Uragitta!?"
(Japanese: 小次郎が裏切った!?)		July 16, 1993 (1993-07-16)
16"Shitennō Saikyō Mashin Shūgeki!"
(Japanese: 四天王最強マシン襲撃!)		July 23, 1993 (1993-07-23)
17"Fū-Rai Gekitotsu!! Yaiba tai Onimaru"
(Japanese: 風雷激突!!ヤイバ対鬼丸)		July 30, 1993 (1993-07-30)
18"Densetsu no Tama wo Sagase!"
(Japanese: 伝説の玉をさがせっ!)		August 6, 1993 (1993-08-06)
19"Kin no Tama wa Nanno Tama?"
(Japanese: 金の玉は何の玉?)		August 13, 1993 (1993-08-13)
20"Sekiryū Densetsu!! Amakusa Shirō Arawaru!"
(Japanese: 赤龍伝説!!天草四郎現わる!!)		August 20, 1993 (1993-08-20)
21"Netsu Jigoku! Kaen no Tama wo Ubae!!"
(Japanese: 熱地獄!火炎の玉を奪え!!)		August 27, 1993 (1993-08-27)
22"Tenka no O-Dorobō Goemon"
(Japanese: 天下の大泥棒・ゴエモン)		September 3, 1993 (1993-09-03)
23"Kyodai Kessen! Daibutsu VS Oosaka Onimaru Jō"
(Japanese: 巨大決戦!大仏VS大阪鬼丸城)		September 10, 1993 (1993-09-10)
24"Teki ka Mikata ka? Yagyū Jūbee Fukkatsu!"
(Japanese: 敵か味方か?柳生十兵衛復活!)		September 17, 1993 (1993-09-17)
25"Machi Ukeru Wana!? Kawanakajima Kessen no Maki"
(Japanese: 待ちうける罠!?川中島決戦)		September 24, 1993 (1993-09-24)
26"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 (1993-10-01)
27"Yume wo Suteru ka! Tokkun Hissatsu Ken"
(Japanese: 夢をすてるか!特訓必殺剣)		October 8, 1993 (1993-10-08)
28"Gōkyū Shōbu! Benkei wo Uchitore"
(Japanese: 剛球勝負!弁慶を打ちとれ)		October 15, 1993 (1993-10-15)
29"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"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"Mezase! Fujisan Ryūjin no Tama!"
(Japanese: 目指せ!富士山龍神の玉!)		November 5, 1993 (1993-11-05)
32"Yaiba 7tsu no Tama wo Ushinau!?"
(Japanese: ヤイバ7つの玉を失う!?)		November 12, 1993 (1993-11-12)
33"Hijō Naru Ryūjin no Shiren!"
(Japanese: 非情なる龍神の試練!)		November 19, 1993 (1993-11-19)
34"Kiete Iku Nakama-Tachi"
(Japanese: 消えていく仲間達)		November 26, 1993 (1993-11-26)
35"Shijō Saikyō! Ryūjin Ken!!"
(Japanese: 史上最強!龍神剣!!)		December 3, 1993 (1993-12-03)
36"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"Dai Gekichin! Onimaru Fuyū Jō!"
(Japanese: 大撃沈!鬼丸浮遊城!)		December 17, 1993 (1993-12-17)
38"Tōkyō Mizuzeme Dai Sakusen!!"
(Japanese: 東京水攻め作戦!!)		December 24, 1993 (1993-12-24)
39"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"Shin Ryūjin Densetsu Tanjō!!"
(Japanese: 新龍神伝説誕生!!)		January 7, 1994 (1994-01-07)
41"Onago Kyūshutsu Sakusen Kekkō!"
(Japanese: おなご救出作戦決行!)		January 14, 1994 (1994-01-14)
42"Karada wo Ubawareta Jūbee!?"
(Japanese: 体を奪われた十兵衛!?)		January 21, 1994 (1994-01-21)
43"Sayaka Pinchi! Isoge Yaiba"
(Japanese: さやかピンチ!急げヤイバ)		January 28, 1994 (1994-01-28)
44"Nerawareta Ryū no Miko. Sayaka"
(Japanese: 狙われた龍の巫女・さやか)		February 4, 1994 (1994-02-04)
45"Gekkō no Gyakushū! Maō Ken"
(Japanese: ゲッコーの逆襲!魔王剣)		February 11, 1994 (1994-02-11)
46"Yaiba, Maō Ken ni Yabureru!"
(Japanese: ヤイバ、魔王剣に敗れる!)		February 18, 1994 (1994-02-18)
47"Onimaru Fukkatsu! Sayaka wo Sukue!!"
(Japanese: 鬼丸復活!さやかを救え!!)		February 25, 1994 (1994-02-25)
48"Kurae! Gattai Waza Fū-Rai ha"
(Japanese: くらえっ!合体技風雷波)		March 4, 1994 (1994-03-04)
49"Kaguya, Osoroshiki Shin no Sugata!"
(Japanese: かぐや、恐ろしき真の姿!)		March 11, 1994 (1994-03-11)
50"Zettaizetsumei! Yaiba Ken wo Ushinau"
(Japanese: 絶体絶命!ヤイバ剣を失う)		March 18, 1994 (1994-03-18)
51"Shiroki Ryūjin Arawaru!!"
(Japanese: 白き龍神あらわる!!)		March 25, 1994 (1994-03-25)
52"Kurogane Yaiba, Samurai da!"
(Japanese: 鉄ヤイバ、サムライだ!)		April 1, 1994 (1994-04-01)

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 ytv, Nippon Television and other NNS stations in April 2025.

In October 2024, Viz Media announced at New York Comic Con that it has licensed the series.

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.

References

  1. "YAIBA". Mangapedia [ja] (in Japanese). Voyage Group. Archived from the original on November 30, 2024. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
  2. 週刊少年サンデー 1988/09/07 表示号数39 (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Archived from the original on March 26, 2020. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  3. 週刊少年サンデー 1993/12/01 表示号数50 (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Archived from the original on March 26, 2020. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  4. ^ YAIBA 1 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on September 11, 2004. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  5. ^ YAIBA 24 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on April 17, 2005. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  6. YAIBA (小学館文庫) 1 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on December 14, 2005. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  7. YAIBA (小学館文庫) 10 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on December 25, 2005. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  8. YAIBA〔新装版〕 / 1 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on February 17, 2006. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  9. YAIBA〔新装版〕 / 24 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on August 21, 2005. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  10. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (October 19, 2024). "Viz Media Licenses Gōshō Aoyama's Yaiba: Samurai Legend Manga, Manga's Upcoming New TV Anime". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  11. YAIBA 2 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on February 16, 2005. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  12. YAIBA 3 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on February 16, 2005. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  13. YAIBA 4 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on February 16, 2005. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  14. YAIBA 5 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on February 16, 2005. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  15. YAIBA 6 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on February 16, 2005. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  16. YAIBA 7 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on February 16, 2005. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  17. YAIBA 8 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on February 16, 2005. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  18. YAIBA 9 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on February 16, 2005. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  19. YAIBA 10 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on March 8, 2005. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  20. YAIBA 11 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on September 11, 2004. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  21. YAIBA 12 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on February 12, 2005. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  22. YAIBA 13 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on February 12, 2005. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  23. YAIBA 14 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on March 8, 2005. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  24. YAIBA 15 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on March 5, 2005. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  25. YAIBA 16 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on February 12, 2005. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  26. YAIBA 17 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on March 8, 2005. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  27. YAIBA 18 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on February 16, 2005. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  28. YAIBA 19 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on April 16, 2005. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  29. YAIBA 19 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on February 21, 2005. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  30. YAIBA 21 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on April 17, 2005. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  31. YAIBA 22 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on April 17, 2005. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  32. YAIBA 23 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on April 17, 2005. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  33. ^ 剣勇伝説YAIBA (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Archived from the original on March 3, 2018. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  34. 青山剛昌「YAIBA」が新たにアニメ化！原作者描き下ろしビジュアル＆特報解禁. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. May 8, 2024. Archived from the original on May 8, 2024. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  35. Tai, Anita (May 7, 2024). "Detective Conan Author Gōshō Aoyama's Yaiba Manga Gets New Anime". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on May 8, 2024. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  36. 「YAIBA」新作アニメ、刃役は高山みなみ！鬼丸役に細谷佳正、制作はWIT STUDIO. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. September 4, 2024. Archived from the original on September 4, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  37. Cayanan, Joanna (September 4, 2024). "New Yaiba Anime Reveals TV Airing, Main Cast, Staff in Promo Video". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on September 4, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  38. Loo, Egan (November 23, 2024). "New Yaiba Anime's 2nd Teaser Unveils More Cast, April 2025 Premiere". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  39. 『YAIBA』完全新作で再びアニメ化 30年ぶり制作で青山剛昌「スゲーよ!」 特報映像公開. Oricon News (in Japanese). May 8, 2024. Archived from the original on May 8, 2024. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  40. 小学館漫画賞：歴代受賞者 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on November 10, 2018. Retrieved November 10, 2018.

External links

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