The Elusive Samurai (Japanese: 逃げ上手の若君, Hepburn: Nige Jōzu no Wakagimi, "The Young Lord Who Is Skilled at Escaping") is a Japanese historicalmanga series written and illustrated by Yusei Matsui. It is based on the historical figure of Hōjō Tokiyuki, a young samurai determined to enact revenge on Ashikaga Takauji, a samurai who betrayed and caused the downfall of his family. It has been serialized in Shueisha's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump since January 2021, with its chapters collected in 16 tankōbon volumes as of July 2024. An anime television series adaptation produced by CloverWorks premiered in July 2024.
Set between the late Kamakura and early Muromachi periods, during the Kenmu Restoration, the story follows the tale of Hojo Tokiyuki, a boy on the run after his family is overthrown by Ashikaga Takauji. With his only allies being a shady priest and his followers, the young lord must seek revenge and regain his glory, with his only weapon: a superhuman ability to flee and hide.
The heir of Tokusō Hōjō family, Takayuki the second son who was born to the lawful wife of Hojo Takatoki. His older brother, Kunitoki, was born from a concubine. He was expected to eventually inherit the family headship, before Ashikaga Takauji betrayed and destroyed his family. After the fall of the Kamakura shogunate, he took refuge under Yorishige, where he was taught martial arts and academics while plotting to overthrow the Ashikaga clan and restore the Hojo clan. He was only 8 years old when the incident happened. After living at Suwa Taisha Shrine, he hid his identity and took the pseudonym Koizumi Chōjomaru (小泉 長寿丸).
A shady priest who claims can see the future. He is a loyal follower of Hōjō family. He predicts that Tokiyuki would become a hero when he turns 10 years.
Tokiyuki's older brother, who was born to a concubine. Kunitoki has no interest in inheriting the family in order to prevent a dispute over the succession. He likes kemari. He was beheaded after his own uncle, Godaiin Muneshige, betrayed him. Despite being half-brothers, he and Tokiyuki were on good terms.
Media
Manga
Written and illustrated by Yusei Matsui, The Elusive Samurai started in Shueisha's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump on January 25, 2021.[7][8] Shueisha has collected its chapters into individual tankōbon volumes. The first volume was released on July 2, 2021.[9] As of July 4, 2024, 16 volumes have been released.[10]
In North America, the manga is licensed for English release by Viz Media, who simultaneously publishes the chapters digitally as they are released in Japan on its Shonen Jump website.[11] In October 2021, Viz Media announced that they would publish its volumes in print, with the first one released on July 5, 2022.[12][13] Shueisha also simulpublishes the series in English and Spanish for free on the Manga Plus platform.[14]
"The Blue Devil Who Wept 1338" (泣いた青鬼 1338, Naita Aooni 1338)
"Strong Luck 1338" (強運 1338, Kyōun 1338)
This incomplete list is frequently updated to include new information.
Anime
An anime television series adaptation was announced in March 2023. It is produced by CloverWorks and directed by Yuta Yamazaki, with scripts supervised by Yoriko Tomita, and character designs handled by Yasushi Nishiya.[43][44] Yūsuke Kawakami serves as assistant director, and Gembi and Akiyuki Tateyama composed the music.[45] The series premiered on July 6, 2024, on Tokyo MX and other networks.[46][47] The opening theme song is "Plan A" (プラン A, Puran A), performed by Dish, while the ending theme song is "Kamakura Style" (鎌倉 STYLE, Kamakura Sutairu), performed by Botchi Boromaru [ja].[5]
In 1333, during the Kamakura period, Hōjō Tokiyuki is the heir to the regency who holds reluctance in succeeding his father and partakes in mischief; he meets with Hōjō ally Ashikaga Takauji as the latter departs to quell a rebellion led by supporters of the emperor. Tokiyuki is later startled at the presence of Suwa Yorishige and Shizuku, who have come to pray for Kamakura's protection against its enemies. Yorishige shares to Tokiyuki a vision of him being hailed as a hero of a great war in the future, making Tokiyuki uncomfortable enough to leave and hold suspicion with their claims. An envoy reports to the shogunate of Takauji defecting to the emperor's side and launching a coup against them, leading to mass killings and suicides and the fall of the shogunate, traumatizing Tokiyuki. Yorishige and Shizuku appear again under the orders of his deceased father to help him escape. As they overlook the burning town from a cliff and Tokiyuki wishes on wanting to die alongside his father, Yorishige abides by pushing him off the cliff and Tokiyuki slows down his fall with his skills in speed and evasion, using them to his advantage in killing samurai through friendly fire. Yorishige then speaks on how he can use his elusive nature for survival with Takauji hunting him and they leave to gather more allies.
2
"The Gentle Uncle" Transliteration: "Yasashī Ojisan" (Japanese: やさしいおじさん)
Yūsuke Kawakami
Yoriko Tomita
Yūsuke Kawakami
July 13, 2024 (2024-07-13)
A search party loyal to Takauji is dispatched to locate Tokiyuki's brother Kunitoki as he is found by their uncle Godaīn Muneshige, who points the party to his direction. Meanwhile, Tokiyuki questions Yorishige's plans for him being in violation with the code of honor, and Yorishige assures him with patience. Tokiyuki learns of Muneshige's treachery and Kunitoki's capture and execution, further traumatizing him and he collapses to his knees, feeling betrayed by everyone he knew. After hearing from Yorishige on Muneshige's whereabouts and wanting to avenge his brother, Tokiyuki follows him as they analyze a desperate Muneshige wanting to claim glory by capturing him. He meets Yorishige's allies Kojirō and Ayako, who lend their assistance to his cause. Later that evening, Tokiyuki and Muneshige meet, where Tokiyuki springs a trap that is countered by Muneshige. Tokiyuki evades Muneshige's swings, which Kojirō and Ayako exploit to give Tokiyuki an opening, taking it and killing Muneshige. A flashback to before the coup is later shown of Kunitoki telling Tokiyuki to become a hero.
3
"A Forest Inhabited by a God" Transliteration: "Kami no Sumu Mori" (Japanese: 神の住む森)
Riharu Funakubo
Yoriko Tomita
Riharu Funakubo
July 20, 2024 (2024-07-20)
Yorishige briefs Tokiyuki after the fight on being righteous while not forgetting his roots if he comes to face Takauji in battle and defeat him as they head off and leave Kamakura. They arrive at the Suwa Grand Shrine, where Yorishige plans to train Tokiyuki in martial arts and academic studies, compelling Tokiyuki to skip training. Yorishige confronts him during a rainy day and reveals himself to be a god as he demonstrates his powers, surprising Tokiyuki and he places his trust in him in training to become a hero. Yorishige later elects Kojirō, Ayako, and Shizuku to be Tokiyuki's retinue and tasks him to become familiarized with them; he is shocked with their eccentricity and choice for the first task, but they settle for hunting. While hunting rabbits, they encounter an ox demon and they engage it in battle, managing to kill it through teamwork. Tokiyuki is grateful for their assistance as the group settles on naming themselves the Elusive Warriors. Elsewhere, a group of archers are seen finding Yorishige.
Takauji is commended by the emperor for his efforts in overthrowing the shogunate and appoints his retainers in court positions. He tasks one of his appointed retainers, Ogasawara Sadamune, to find remnants of the Hōjō clan. Sadamune complies and later meets with Yorishige, threatening to use brute force to find any survivors as he shoots a shrine maiden and grazes her ear as a warning; Tokiyuki observes this and commends his archery skills while acknowledging him as a threat. Sadamune joins a shooting competition, leading Yorishige to elect Tokiyuki as his opponent while teaching him to use it as an opportunity to learn from Sadamune, much to the disapproval of the Elusive Warriors. During the competition, Tokiyuki, under instruction from Yorishige, directs Sadamune's full attention to him and annoys him enough for Tokiyuki to score a point. Sadamune, noticing he used up most of his arrows to try and hit Tokiyuki, uses his last remaining arrow to land a headshot on him, giving Sadamune a massive point advantage. Tokiyuki, wounded from the arrow, begins to have fun.
Reception
By May 2022, the manga had over 1 million copies in circulation;[54] over 1.5 million copies in circulation by April 2023;[55] over 2 million copies in circulation by March 2024;[56] and over 3 million copies in circulation by July 2024.[57]
Anthony Gramuglia of Comic Book Resources wrote that the series has become one of the "highlights of [Weekly] Shōnen Jump's newer titles", adding that "[it] is not only surprisingly emotional but also surprisingly intense, starting with all cylinders at full-throttle and never letting up".[64]
Notes
^Unlike past years, since 2023 the nominees are not divided into categories.[63]