Basilisk

Basilisk (Basilisk Kōga Ninpō Chō) is a Japanese comic, or manga, that was created by Masaki Segawa. It was first published in 2003 in Young Magazine Uppers and ended its run in 2004, with a total of five volumes. The manga is based on a novel that was written in 1958 by Futaro Yamada that was called “The Kouga Ninja Scrolls”. In 2004, Basilisk won the Kodansha Manga Award.

Synopsis

Basilisk is about two clan of Ninja, who fight each other constantly. One is known as the Iga Tsubagakure and the other the Kouga Manjidani. These two battled against each other for centuries, until they were united in battle by Tokugawa Ieyasu. Ieyasu becomes the Shogun and is able to form the first centralized government. Once he retires, his son, Hidetada, is given the power by Ieyasu. There becomes a huge dispute over who is the rightful successor, as other grandsons believe that they are the rightful ruler. Village start taking side and the country is once again on the verge of destroying itself.

Ieyasu takes a desperate stand and orders the pact between the Iga and the Kouga clans to be null and void. He tells them each to send their ten best ninja. These ninja will enter into a competition where the ruler will kill or be killed. Each group of ten will represent one of the grandsons, and the grandson who is on the side that wins will be named as heir to the Shogunate. Gennosuke is the heir to the Kouga ninjas, and Oboro is the heir to the Iga ninjas. These two were engaged to be wed, in hopes that they will be able to stop the fighting between their clans once and for all. They get drafted as one of the ten best ninjas, and have to choose whether they should fight each other or not.

Characters

Kouga Ninja Clan

• Kouga Gennosuke – Gennosuke is the leader of the clan and was once engaged to Oboro.

• Kouga Danjo – Danjo is Gennosuke’s grandfather and used to be the leader of the Kouga clan.

• Kagerou – Kagerou is a beautiful young woman who is in love with Gennosuke, although he does not return the love. Her breath turns poisonous whenever she’s sexually aroused.

• Kisaragi Saemon – Saemon has the ability to transform into other people.

• Kasumi Gyoubu – Kasumi is able to blend into his surroundings like a chameleon and wants to destroy the Iga in his father’s name.

• Okoi – Okoi is the sister to Saemon, who is able to drain blood from another person merely by touching them.

Iga Ninja

• Oboro – Oboro is the granddaughter of the leader of the Iga clan. She becomes the leader and is able to neutralize the technique of any ninja who stares at her.

• Ogen – Ogen is the leader of the ninja clan who is able to control a hawk with extreme accuracy.

• Yakushiji Tenzen – Tenzen manages to overthrow Oboro in order to become a leader. He is the main villain in the story.

• Akeginu – Akeginu is Oboro’s bodyguard and friend. She is also in love with Tenzen’s apprentice, Koshirou.