Ninja Girl & Samurai Master

Ninja Girl & Samurai Master, known in Japan as Nobunaga no Shinobi (信長の忍び, lit.'Nobunaga's Ninja'), is a Japanese four-panel manga series written and illustrated by Naoki Shigeno. It has been serialized in Hakusensha's seinen manga magazine Young Animal since June 2008, with its chapters collected in 20 tankōbon volumes as of May 2023. The series is about a fictional shinobi named Chidori who aids the real Japanese general Oda Nobunaga on his journey to the unification of Japan, so that he may bring peace to the land.

Ninja Girl & Samurai Master
First tankōbon volume cover, featuring Chidori
信長の忍び
(Nobunaga no Shinobi)
GenreComedy, historical[1]
Manga
Written byNaoki Shigeno
Published byHakusensha
MagazineYoung Animal
DemographicSeinen
Original runJune 13, 2008 – present
Volumes20
Manga
Nobunaga no Shinobi: Owari Tōitsu-ki
Written byNaoki Shigeno
Published byHakusensha
MagazineYoung Animal Arashi
DemographicSeinen
Original runNovember 2, 2012May 2, 2017
Volumes3
Manga
Gunshi Kuroda Kanbee Den
Written byNaoki Shigeno
Published byHakusensha
Magazine
  • Young Animal Densi (2013–2017)
  • Manga Park (2017–present)
DemographicSeinen
Original runApril 26, 2013 – present
Volumes6
Manga
Masamune-sama to Kagetsuna-kun
Written byNaoki Shigeno
Published byLeed Publishing
Magazine
  • Comic Ran Twins Sengoku Busho Retsuden (2013–2016)
  • Comic Ran Twins (2016–2020)
DemographicSeinen
Original runOctober 26, 2013July 14, 2020
Volumes4
Manga
Sanada Tamashii
Written byNaoki Shigeno
Published byHakusensha
Magazine
  • Young Animal Densi (2015–2017)
  • Manga Park (2017–present)
DemographicSeinen
Original runJanuary 30, 2015 – present
Volumes4
Anime television series
Directed byAkitaro Daichi
Music byToshio Masuda
StudioTMS/V1 Studio
Licensed byCrunchyroll
Original networkTokyo MX, TV Aichi
Original run October 4, 2016 September 29, 2018
Episodes78
icon Anime and manga portal

The series has spawned various spin-off manga series. An anime television series adaptation directed by Akitaro Daichi and animated by TMS Entertainment was broadcast for three seasons between October 2016 and September 2018, totalling 78 episodes. The series was licensed by Crunchyroll.

Characters

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Chidori (千鳥)
Voiced by: Inori Minase[2]
An extremely skilled shinobi that is also very clumsy. She was saved from drowning by Nobunaga as a young girl, and thus wants to serve him with all her strength. She is shown to be so skilled that she is able to easily take on one of the leading male ninjas from Koga who has had years of training (though is defeated through her own idiocy). She is also able to persuade many political leaders to Nobunaga's side.
Oda Nobunaga (織田信長)
Voiced by: Wataru Hatano[2]
The first leading unifier of Japan since the collapse of the old shogunate, who throughout the series works to defeat other daimyos to bring peace to the land. He saved Chidori from drowning when she was young, thus earning her loyalty. He is a very skilled commander, beating out many other daimyos and gaining the support of the Shogun. His three weaknesses, as listed by Chidori, are Oichi (his younger sister), alcohol, and sweets.
Sukezou (助蔵)
Voiced by: Ayumu Murase[2]
Chidori's friend and fellow shinobi. He seems to have a crush on Chidori. His skill is currently unknown, but he is shown to be an inventor of sorts; Chidori uses a smoke bomb designed by him.
Kichou (帰蝶)
Voiced by: Chiaki Takahashi
The wife of Nobunaga. She is very airheaded, and as such Nobunaga doesn't trust her with doing anything. However, he still loves her.
Kinoshita Hideyoshi (木下秀吉)
Voiced by: Kappei Yamaguchi[2]
One of Nobunaga's most trusted generals, though he started out as an errand boy. He seems to be unable to die (getting shot multiple times with arrows, among other things) and is extremely clumsy and dense.
Nene (ねね)
Voiced by: Rie Kugimiya[2]
Hideyoshi's wife, who was friends with him from childhood. She has an extreme Tsundere personality and is terrible at cooking, but loves Hideyoshi very much.
Oichi no kata (お市の方)
Voiced by: Suzuko Mimori[2]
The younger sister of Nobunaga. He loves her very much, listed by Chidori as one of his weaknesses. She is married to Azai Nagamasa, who finds her extremely cute and beautiful, essentially having love at first sight.
Mori Yoshinari (森可成)
Voiced by: Tomokazu Seki[3]
Nobunaga's retainer, a gallant spear fighter.
Honganji Kennyo (本願寺顕如)
Voiced by: Ryotaro Okiayu[4]
The wealthy head of the Ikkō sect.
Nyoshunni (如春尼)
Voiced by: Ayane Sakura[4]
Kennyo's irritable wife.
Mochizuki Chiyome (望月千代女)
Voiced by: Atsumi Tanezaki[4]
Ashikaga Yoshiaki (足利義昭)
Voiced by: Wataru Takagi
Hachisuka Koroku (蜂須賀小六)
Voiced by: Nobuyuki Hiyama
Akechi Mitsuhide (明智光秀)
Voiced by: Shinnosuke Tachibana
Matsudaira Motoyasu (松平元康)
Voiced by: Ryōtarō Okiayu
Matsunaga Hisahide (松永久秀)
Voiced by: Kazuhiko Inoue

Media

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Manga

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Written and illustrated by Naoki Shigeno, Nobunaga no Shinobi began its serialization in Hakusensha's seinen manga magazine Young Animal on June 13, 2008.[5] Hakusensha has collected its chapters into individual tankōbon volumes. The first volume was released on June 29, 2009.[6] As of May 29, 2023, 20 volumes have been released.[7]

Spin-offs

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A spin-off series, titled Nobunaga no Shinobi: Owari Tōitsu-ki (信長の忍び外伝 尾張統一記) was serialized in Young Animal Arashi from November 2, 2012,[8] to May 2, 2017.[9] Hakusensha collected its chapters in three tankōbon, released from August 29, 2014,[10] to July 28, 2017.[11]

A second spin-off series, titled Gunshi Kuroda Kanbee-den [ja] (軍師 黒田官兵衛伝), was serialized in Young Animal Densi web magazine from April 26, 2013,[12] to June 30, 2017,[13] and was later transferred to the Manga Park website and app starting on October 3, 2017.[14] The first volume was published on January 29, 2014.[15] As of March 29, 2023, six volumes have been released.[16]

A third spin-off series, titled Masamune-sama to Kagetsuna-kun [ja] (政宗さまと景綱くん), was published in Leed Publishing's Comic Ran Twins Sengoku Busho Retsuden from October 26, 2013,[17] to June 27, 2016.[18] and later in Comic Ran Twins from October 13, 2016,[19] to July 14, 2020.[20] Its chapters were collected in four volumes, released from July 29, 2015,[21] to September 29, 2020.[22]

A fourth spin-off, titled Sanada Tamashii [ja] (真田魂), was serialized in Young Animal Densi from January 30, 2015,[23] to June 16, 2017,[24] and was later transferred to the Manga Park website and app starting on August 23, 2017.[25] The first volume was released on April 28, 2016.[26] As of March 29, 2023, four volumes have been released.[27]

Anime

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Preceded by an "Episode 0" screened at the AnimeJapan 2016 event between March 25 and 27,[28] an anime television series adaptation, directed by Akitaro Daichi and animated at TMS Entertainment,[29][30] aired for twenty-six episodes on TV Aichi and Tokyo MX between October 4, 2016, and March 28, 2017.[3][31]

A second twenty-six-episode season, titled Ninja Girl & Samurai Master 2nd, known in Japan as, Nobunaga no Shinobi: Ise Kanegasaki-hen (信長の忍び~伊勢・金ヶ崎篇~), aired from April 8 to September 30, 2017.[32][33]

A third twenty-six-episode season, titled Ninja Girl & Samurai Master 3rd, known in Japan as Nobunaga no Shinobi: Anegawa Ishiyama-hen (信長の忍び~姉川・石山篇~), aired from April 7 to September 29, 2018.[34][35][a]

The series has been streamed by Crunchyroll.[36]

Notes

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  1. ^ Tokyo MX listed the air dates for the series on Friday at 25:35, which is effectively Saturday at 1:35 a.m. JST.[34][35]

References

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  1. ^ Komatsu, Mikikazu (April 6, 2017). ""Ninja Girl & Samurai Master" 2nd Season PV Introduces New OP Song by Renka". Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on November 14, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Nobunaga no Shinobi Anime's Cast, Staff Unveiled". Anime News Network. March 24, 2016. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  3. ^ a b "Nobunaga no Shinobi TV Anime's Additional Cast, October 4 Premiere Revealed". Anime News Network. August 25, 2016. Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. Retrieved October 5, 2016.
  4. ^ a b c "Ninja Girl & Samurai Master Anime's 3rd Season Adds 7 More Cast Members". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
  5. ^ 【ヤングアニマル】ヤングアニマル 12号 好評発売中. manganohi.jp (in Japanese). June 13, 2008. Archived from the original on July 17, 2008. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  6. ^ 信長の忍び 1 (in Japanese). Hakusensha. Archived from the original on November 14, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  7. ^ 信長の忍び 20 (in Japanese). Hakusensha. Archived from the original on December 31, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  8. ^ 重野なおき「信長の忍び」外伝が始動、信長の青春期描く. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. November 2, 2012. Archived from the original on November 14, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  9. ^ ヤングアニマル嵐 ヤングアニマル増刊 2017年6月号. Neowing (in Japanese). Archived from the original on November 14, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  10. ^ 信長の忍び外伝 尾張統一記 1 (in Japanese). Hakusensha. Archived from the original on November 14, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  11. ^ 信長の忍び外伝 尾張統一記 3 (in Japanese). Hakusensha. Archived from the original on November 13, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  12. ^ 軍師 黒田官兵衛伝. Young Animal Densi (in Japanese). Hakusensha. Archived from the original on June 9, 2013. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  13. ^ 軍師 黒田官兵衛伝. Young Animal Densi (in Japanese). Hakusensha. Archived from the original on July 9, 2017. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  14. ^ 軍師 黒田官兵衛伝. Manga Park (in Japanese). Hakusensha. Archived from the original on November 14, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  15. ^ 軍師 黒田官兵衛伝 1 (in Japanese). Hakusensha. Archived from the original on November 14, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  16. ^ 軍師 黒田官兵衛伝 6 (in Japanese). Hakusensha. Archived from the original on March 30, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  17. ^ 重野なおき新作、引っ込み思案な政宗とドSな景綱の4コマ. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. October 26, 2013. Archived from the original on November 14, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  18. ^ 戦国を題材にした時代劇誌「戦国武将列伝」が休刊、「セキガハラ」など完結. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. June 27, 2016. Archived from the original on April 29, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  19. ^ コミック乱ツインズ 2016年11月号 【表紙】 鬼役. Neowing (in Japanese). Archived from the original on November 14, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  20. ^ コミック乱ツインズ 2020年8月号 【表紙】 鬼役. Neowing (in Japanese). Archived from the original on November 14, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  21. ^ 重野なおき、伊達政宗・片倉景綱描く新作と「信長の忍び」9巻でサイン会. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. July 15, 2015. Archived from the original on November 14, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  22. ^ 重野なおき「政宗さまと景綱くん」最終4巻は描き下ろし収録、「信長の忍び」新刊も. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. September 29, 2020. Archived from the original on November 14, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  23. ^ 重野なおき、真田幸村ら一族の歴史描く「真田魂」WEBで連載. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. January 30, 2015. Archived from the original on November 14, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  24. ^ 真田魂. Young Animal Densi (in Japanese). Hakusensha. Archived from the original on July 9, 2017. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  25. ^ 真田魂. Manga Park (in Japanese). Hakusensha. Archived from the original on November 14, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  26. ^ 真田魂 1 (in Japanese). Hakusensha. Archived from the original on November 14, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  27. ^ 信長の忍び外伝 尾張統一記 4 (in Japanese). Hakusensha. Archived from the original on March 30, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  28. ^ Pineda, Rafael (April 2, 2016). "Nobunaga no Shinobi Anime's 'Episode 0' Shows Chidori, Nobunaga's Meeting". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on November 14, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  29. ^ "Naoki Shigeno's Nobunaga no Shinobi Manga Gets TV Anime". Anime News Network. February 25, 2016. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  30. ^ "Nobunaga no Shinobi TV Anime Premieres This Fall". Anime News Network. May 23, 2016. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  31. ^ 信長の忍び. Media Arts Database (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Archived from the original on November 14, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  32. ^ "Nobunaga no Shinobi TV Anime Gets 2nd Season in April". Anime News Network. February 22, 2017. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved April 16, 2017.
  33. ^ 信長の忍び ~伊勢・金ヶ崎篇~. Media Arts Database (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Archived from the original on November 14, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  34. ^ a b Ressler, Karen (March 16, 2018). "Ninja Girl & Samurai Master Anime's 3rd Season Premieres on April 6, Casts Rikiya Koyama". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on November 14, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  35. ^ a b 信長の忍び~姉川・石山篇~ (in Japanese). Tokyo MX. Archived from the original on November 14, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  36. ^ "Crunchyroll Adds Ninja Girl & Samurai Master/Nobunaga no Shinobi Anime". Anime News Network. October 3, 2016. Archived from the original on October 4, 2016. Retrieved October 5, 2016.
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