History manga isn’t always about bloodshed, betrayal, and all-out wars. Sometimes it follows a lighter storyline like wholesome love stories, thereby once again showing that the concept of love’ has been perennial throughout the pages of history.
Moreover, historical romance isn’t something that you will come across every day. So, it’s better to grab the opportunity when you find one. Here, we bring you a list of 10 historical manga you shouldn’t miss.
We often get tired of exploring either slice-of-life or fantasy stories. Thus, historical manga can be a break from conventional storylines, lying somewhat between daily life and fantasy.
Not to mention that learning how human nature, customs, mindset, and values have changed over the centuries is nothing less than a treat.
10. Sayonara Rose Garden
‘Short, sharp, and sweet’ is the best p hrase I can think of to describe Pepako Dokuta’s Sayonara Rose Garden manga.
With only three volumes having 18 chapters, it’s one of the best historical romance manga released in recent years. It follows Hanako, a budding author who flees to England to follow her dream.
However, this impulsive expedition turns out to be her worst nightmare after getting belittled and rejected by her dream publishing company.
Sayonara Rose Garden
Shattered by this incident, Hanako loses all her hopes of succeeding. She bumps into Alice Douglas, a noblewoman kind enough to take her in as her maid.
Hanako starts to enjoy working, and despite their social differences, their bond grows stronger. One fateful day, Alice asks Hanako to kill her in return for her deepest desire.
Why is the English woman seeking death so desperately? Find that out yourself by reading the manga.
9. Snow White with the Red Hair
Don’t be deceived by the name; it has nothing as straightforward as the one we read in childhood. Here, the protagonist is cheerful, diligent, brave, and unlike the original Snow White, she is red-haired.
Her ordinary life of being a herbalist turns down when the evil of Tanbarun forces her to become his concubine. Instead of compromising her career, gallant Shirayuki escapes to the forest, where Prince Zen Wistalia.
Snow White with the Red Hair
Indebted and impressed by Zen’s act of kindness, Shirayuki agrees to become the court herbalist of Zen’s country. Thus, Shirayuki’s new life mostly occurs in the Royal Court of Clarines.
Soo, Shigaraki, and Zen become very good friends, totally unaware of the romantic relationship gradually nurturing between them. The Prince talks to Shiirayuki about her endeavors, and she vows to support him in every situation.
8. Kaze Hikaru
Kaze Hikaru is the best option if you are searching for a historical romance manga that has been airing for decades and is still ongoing.
The manga takes us to the famous Bakumatsu revolution, an event that marked the end of the Tokugawa era and the beginning of the Meiji era.
Amidst all the bloodshed, a young girl named Sei Tominaga is thriving with the sole purpose of avenging her dead parents.
She gets herself disguised as a boy and joins the organization Shinsengumi. The manga is full of historical events, politics, thrill, and lots and lots of romance.
Kaze Hikaru
7. Hakushaku to Yousei
Hakushaku to Yousei is a manga in which history blends with fantasy. Although the events are from the 18th century, the manga is set in a world where fairies exist.
Lydia Carlton, the protagonist, is the only doctor around who can interact with fairs. Being one of the hand-picked people who can see fairies, no one believes in her words.
Hakushaku to Yousei
On the other hand, Edgar is desperately searching for someone with vast knowledge of fairy lore, and it seems Lyda is the person he needs. Edgar claims to be the Blue Knight’s Earl and becomes the first person to recognize Lyda’s skills.
However, there’s more to it. Lyda discovers Earl has been hiding some deep secrets behind his noble mask. Does that mean their romantic relationship is just a part of a treacherous plan?
6. Tsuki no Shippo
We are already done with noblewomen, Earl, samurai, and herbalists, and now it’s time to take you to the story of a ninja village from the pages of Japanese history.
Despite being the granddaughter of a famous ninja family, Usagi is a complete failure. Her condition is so hopeless that she never made it out of the kiddie class even with her best efforts.
Tsuki no Shippo
Disappointed by Usagi, her grandfather sends her to marry Lord Hanzo and make many ninja babies with him. Like a typical family head from that period, he didn’t even think about Usagi’s opinion, thereby enforcing his opinion on her.
Thankfully, Lord Hanzo has absolutely no interest in her child-bearing potential and is keener to explore her as a person.
5. Versailles no Bara
I placed this manga so high up on this list because it paved the way for the Shoujo genre to blossom in the upcoming days.
Moreover, the manga somewhat revolves around one of the most notable events of human history. Yes, you guessed it right. I am talking about the French Revolution.
Back then, marriages were a means to strengthen a country’s political occasion. On one such occasion, Austrian Princess Marie Antoinette is sent to marry French Prince Louis XVI. Despite the political benefits, she is pretty dissatisfied with the fate decided upon her.
Versailles no Bara
After arriving in the country, she gets acquainted with Oscar Fançois de Jarjayes, the commander of the Royal Guard.
H er family’s strong desire to have a son has raised her like a boy. Tired of masquerading as a man, she gradually falls in love with Marie.
4. Kanata Kara
Katana Kara is my personal favorite among all the historical romance manga. The story falls on the romantic events of teen Noriko, who gets skied into a historical timeline.
An isekai anime with history elements in it, what more can you ask of? Noriko’s new journey isn’t easy, and she keeps running into trouble till a handsome nobleman, Izark, saves her, becoming her guardian angel.
Izark teaches Noriko to explore her powers and reveals to her their history together. The two pair up and becomes a formidable duo, ready to face any obstacle.
Kanata Kara
3. Rurouni Kenshin
No matter how hard rock is, a stream of water can wear it out over the years. We, the humans, are equally vulnerable to change. Who knows it better than Rurouni Kenshin’s protagonist, Hitokiri Battousai?
The legendary assassin of the Bakumatsu era was a nightmare even for the most skilled sworders. The merciless murderer was undefeatable and disappeared from the crime world at the peak of the Japanese Revolution.
Rurouni Kenshin
After ten peaceful years of no signs of Hitokiri, it is revealed he has completely given up on his bloodstained ways. He lives a simple life under his new alias of Kenshin Himura in a village.
One day, he bumps into Kaoru Kamiya, who is threatened by some imposter claiming to be Hitokiri. Following his vow not to kill someone ever again, he decides to help her in a non-violent way. You can call this a historical version of ‘Ways of the Household’ or ‘Sakamoto Days.
2. Yona of the Dawn
Yona of the Dawn is another example of a good manga where the mythical and the historical elements mix with a proper balance.
Although it’s set in a world filled with dragons, goblins, and whatnot, the story portrays political elements identical to human history.
Yona, the protagonist, is destined to become the heir of the Kouka kingdom. However, the sky falls upon him when her father gets brutally murdered by her cousin.
Yona of the Dawn
With no one to trust in this treacherous environment, Yona prioritizes her safety and flees from the kingdom with her bodyguard. She learns that the only way to restore the kingdom is by getting help from the four legendary Dragon warriors.
1. Inuyasha
I don’t think I have to explain why this historical romance manga is at the top. It is a classic franchise that has been a fan favorite for generations.
It follows Kagome, a high school student, who gets transported to a new world through an old well. The world we are talking about is somewhat based on ancient Japan but is populated with demons and evil beings.
Inuyasha
Kagome finds herself constantly haunted by demons. Thankfully, she comes across a half-demon boy, Inuyasha, who agrees to protect her.
Well, initially, Inuyasha had a disliking over Kagome because of her uncanny similarities with Kikyou. However, Inuyasha gradually realizes their circumstances, and he lends her a helping hand.
Honorable Mention
I Can’t Do That With My Former Student
Here is Ichi The Killer Ending Explained. Japanese action movie Ichi the Killer, from 2001, was written and directed by Takashi Miike. Starring Tadanobu Asano and Nao Omori, it is based on the same-named manga series by Hideo Yamamoto. The eponymous character, played by Omori, is a psychologically unstable guy who is persuaded to attack or murder members of opposing factions of feuding yakuza gangs while being followed by a sadomasochistic enforcer (Asano).
Ichi the Killer is one of the early 2000s cult classic films. Two central figures are contrasted in Ichi the Killer: Kakihara, the Yakuza’s masochistic right-hand man who derives pleasure from beating and torturing others. On the opposite side is Ichi, a timid, reclusive psychopath who makes the ideal killing machine. It has been more than 20 years since this movie, which is based on the same-named manga by Hideo, was released. But in those 20 years, nothing has changed—or has it? If you are one of those people who just finished watching Ichi The Killer but still do not know what happened at the end, then this article is for you. We have for you Ichi The Killer Ending Explained.
Ichi The Killer Ending Explained
We have done the task for you. Here is the synopsis of Ichi The Killer Ending Explained. Ichi The Killer Ending differs from the original Manga. The audience anticipates a confrontation between Kakihara and Ichi right from the start. However, this is not for retaliation, as most people would assume. Instead, Kakihara deliberately seeks out Ichi after witnessing the violence he is capable of, hoping that Ichi will be able to provide him with the agony and suffering he has been actively seeking since his boss vanished. He sort of wants Ichi to torment and dismember him to fill that enormous vacuum.
Things do not turn out as expected when the super-masochist finally meets the super-sadist. Kakihara rapidly concludes that Ichi is not the monster he was looking for and cannot inflict the punishment he so urgently desires. In actuality, Ichi is reduced to crying and weeping and loses his ability to use force. To block out the noise, Kakihara stabs his ears. He then visualizes being tortured by Ichi before jumping to his death from a building. Then, Takeshi, a little child who had worshipped Ichi but now sees him for the monster that he is, kills Ichi. This was the Ichi The Killer Ending Explained.
Also Read 10 Heart-Warming Childhood Friends Romance Manga That You Should Read!
How Is The Ending Different From Original Manga?
After Ichi The Killer Ending Explained, let us know the difference between Manga and film. You will discover that the plot of the majority of other animes has been lifted directly from the manga . Ichi, the Killer, is in the same boat. The plots of the manga and the movie are identical, and all you can witness are your favorite manga characters going through dramatic changes. However, how both of them are framed together, in this case, is the primary distinction. The manga’s psychological focus is on grabbing readers’ attention early on so they can see that the characters are dealing with an internal situation. But this part is different in the movie.
Compared to the original manga, the conclusion is significantly more gloomy and less violent, depicting a bleak future in which an adult Takeshi is seen wandering with young children and the body of Jijii, who hangs herself in the end. It’s a Miike-style conclusion in which nobody finds happiness or redemption. Even though it is unnecessary and terrible, the violence serves as the story’s abstract painting on canvas as it comes to a close. Viewers will always remember the characters for their peculiar interests and love of violence.
Although the movie has the plot to communicate with the audience, you won’t be able to understand it as quickly as you would have with a manga. The primary distinction that readers may point out for you is this. This is the process. For instance, Ichi is depicted in the manga’s opening plot as a “violent” or “pervert.” This has happened because Ichi has frequently displayed traits of an aggressive and perverted person. It is clear from the outset that Ichi is the major antagonist of the movie and that his involvement in the plot is unrelated. It’s more like establishing Ichi’s persona for the audience right away. Therefore, we have Ichi The Killer Ending Explained.
