The fact that he is so normal and that his troubles and fears are often mundane makes him a relatable and understandable view-glass with which to look at a mystical world.
And it comes from all sides–the unfolding war, poverty, man-eating demons, demon-exterminating monks, and Jinka’s possibly dangerous (okay, probably dangerous) desire to give up his humanity and become a youko himself.Īmid all the nationwide and supernatural drama, Shinsuke is the rock of the narration. Like many comedy-dramas, the comedy gradually takes backseat to the developing drama and darkness folding around the protagonists. Some of the demon encounters are whimsical or downright silly, complete with an unfortunate running gag named Tago in the second half. Shinsuke is not one of the naturally-talented protagonists destined for greatness he’s an average swordsman at best and can never hold a candle to Jinka (who in addition to being well-trained, can undergo a Saiyan-like transformation into a youko form.) Much fun is made of the initial conflicts between the idealistic Tama, the aloof Jinka, and the average, normal Shinsuke. While the series does feature some great, high-powered battles, the story is just as much about its humanity as its action. “You bastards’ actions are in the wrong! Quit your evil ways!”
Thus begins their wanderings across a Japan, where the world of humans and the world of demons often intersect and conflict. While many a shounen manga would use this as a lead-in to discovering great powers within and supernatural battle abilities, Shinsuke is just a human and has none of that. After seeing their prowess in battle against some bandits, Shinsuke decides to travel with them to learn how to become strong. The titular youko, Tama, and her half-brother Jinka (she was in love with his adoptive dad, so they call each other siblings, until they fall in love…look, it’s complicated) meet a wandering samurai named Shinsuke. Set in sixteenth-century Japan against a backdrop of both political upheaval and the world of Japanese mythology, Sengoku Youko at first glance feels like a shounen manga setup. One of the titles I had the delight of reading through recently is a 17-volume historical fantasy called Sengoku Youko (戦国妖狐, “Warring States Fox Spirit”), written by Satoshi Mizukami. Kids, I’m not saying you should get a degree in Japanese so you can read manga, but learning has its uses. When I get done with those and don’t see anything else that catches my interest, I hop online and see what’s popular in Japan that might be fun.
I borrow copies from friends and the mobile manga library. Since I can read a graphic novel in about ten minutes, it’s a good way to fill my narrative appetite without having to commit for hours, because you know that novel ain’t gettin’ put down. Being a person who loves reading, but also has struggles with time, depression and ADHD, manga hits a sweet spot for me.
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