Best Japanese Anime About Samurai

Welcome to our blog dedicated to samurai anime , a captivating universe where honor, loyalty, and the code of Bushido shape unforgettable stories. Dive into the heart of samurai anime and explore epic stories inspired by feudal Japan , where intense battles and moral dilemmas punctuate the destiny of legendary warriors. Whether you are passionate about samurai anime , a fan of samurai manga , or curious to discover masterpieces of the genre, this blog offers you an unmissable selection. Prepare to be immersed in thrilling adventures and striking characters that embody the soul of samurai anime .

1 - Demon Slayers

This manga tells us the story of Kamado Tanjiro and his sister Nezuko. One day while Tanjiro is selling coal to a neighboring village, his family is massacred by a demon, and the only survivor is Nezuko who is then transformed into a man-eating demon. Later we will see how he will try to make his sister become human again, and how he will hunt demons as a slayer. If this manga has managed to be so popular it is partly thanks to the magnificent adaptation made by the ufotable studio (studio that made the excellent Fate Zero), but also and above all thanks to the richness of the manga's storyline. The author presents us with a large number of characters, developed and endearing, whether human or demon. Thus even characters who are at first glance unpleasant become endearing in the end and their stories can only move us.

2 - Afro Samurai

In a futuristic feudal Japan, young Afro is a samurai as formidable as he is atypical! He is indeed tall, curly, and of African origin! Holder of the second headband, he wants to become the most powerful samurai and to do so must kill the owner of the first headband. He therefore sets out in search of Justice, a powerful adversary who is also his father's murderer. In this quest for revenge, solitude and suffering will be his only companions.

Why watch it: This anime is known for its stylized animation, intense violence, and soundtrack by RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan. It's a series that skillfully blends Eastern and Western influences.

3 - Rurouni Kenshin

In the middle of the last century, Japan was about to enter the Meiji era , moving seamlessly from the Middle Ages to industrialization. The samurai no longer had a place in this modern society where warriors were less useful than merchants. Unemployed, no longer allowed to carry a sword, and faced with rifles and cannons, the samurai gradually disappeared and became legendary.

Kenshin is one of these lost warriors. A great swordsman, he has become a vagabond wandering the roads of Japan. But his chivalrous spirit and courage will transform this former mercenary into a beloved and respected vigilante.

Why watch it: This anime skillfully blends action, romance, and drama, with beautifully choreographed battles and a deep exploration of redemption and morality.

4 - Samurai Champloo

Fuu, a young tea waitress at a bar-restaurant in feudal Japan, has no family and loses what little she has left when her workplace burns to the ground. She's looking for a samurai who "smells like sunflowers" and enlists the help of Mugen and Jin, two sauras with very different personalities, to find this mysterious man.

Why watch it: This anime is a unique blend of traditional samurai culture and modernity with a hip-hop soundtrack. Its distinctive visual style and energetic pace make it a must-see.

5 - Shigurui

At the beginning of the Edo period, when peace reigned, Lord Tokugawa Tadanaga held tournaments. In the past, the fights were fought with wooden swords, but this time, they will be real ones.

The two fighters are Fujiki Gennosuke, a one-armed man, and Irako Seigen, a blind man.
Both were trained by Kogan Iwamoto, who at the time was recognized as the greatest swordsman in Japan. Each wanted to prove himself worthy of being Iwamoto's successor.

But this fight can have no winner, and so their story begins.

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6 - Samurai of the Eternal

In ancient times, the Emperor of the Apocalypse Arago was defeated in single combat by a samurai named Chaos and sent to the Underworld.
After 1,000 years of exile, Arago returns to claim Earth as his own, plunging the world into darkness. Only five warriors known as Samurai Troopers, possessing mystical weapons and mastering the techniques of Fire, Air, Light, Earth, and Water, can confront and defeat him.

7 - Samurai 7

In the small, peaceful village of Kanna , where the inhabitants mainly grow rice, bandits come to collect the rice as they do with every harvest. But in addition to taking the villagers' rice, the bandits are now kidnapping some of the village's women. The farmers, unable to live like this any longer, call on samurai to defend them. Rikichi, a farmer, accompanied by Kirara , the village priestess, then head to town in search of samurai. But the task is not easy, given that they only have rice to offer these samurai as a reward.

8 - House of Five Leaves

It's the story of a rather shy ronin named Akitsu Masanosuke . Although he is rejected by his peers, he nevertheless possesses incredible strength.
While on his way to Edo in search of a livelihood, he accidentally met Yaichi , who hired him as his bodyguard. Yaichi is the leader of a group of bandits called Goyô , who specialize in kidnapping for ransom. From that day on, the adventure began for our hero.

9 - Samurai Deeper Kyo

Kyoshiro Mibu is a sought-after traveling pharmacist, which attracts a young woman named Yuya Shiina , a rather famous young bounty hunter. But it turns out that Kyoshiro harbors within himself the killer with 1000 victims, the notorious and murderous Kyo with the Demon Eyes .

The latter wants only one thing: to recover his body. And to do so, he will undertake a quest across Japan, meeting various characters like Red Tiger and Sanada Yukimura.
Yuya decides to follow this killer, because with a bounty of 1 million Ryo on his person, there's no way she's letting him go. But she'll learn that Kyo and Kyoshiro are linked in a murky way and that the latter is far from who she thought he was. And when the Mibu Clan finally surfaces, she realizes that the answers to her questions aren't so easy to achieve.

10 - Hakuouki

The heroine of the story, Yukimura Chizuru, is the daughter of a doctor working in Edo. One day, the father leaves Edo without his daughter to work as a volunteer doctor in Kyoto.
As time passes, Chizuru becomes more and more worried about losing contact with her father, so she decides to go to Kyoto to look for him.
On the way, Chizuru is attacked by a group of criminals and witnesses a fight between an Oni and the Shinsengumi . After saving her, the Shinsengumi wonder what to do with Chizuru when they discover that she is the daughter of the doctor they are also looking for. They therefore decide to become Chizuru's protector and help her find her father.
Many events will occur during Chizuru's journey with the Shinsengumi as they discover mysterious secrets and fight the Bakumatsu group.

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BONUS

11 - Sword of the Stranger

Synopsis: This film tells the story of Kotaro, a young boy on the run, and Nanashi, a nameless ronin. Together, they face ruthless warriors sent by the Ming Dynasty in a desperate quest for freedom.

Why watch it: With its stunning fight scenes and high-quality animation, “Sword of the Stranger” is often hailed as one of the best samurai anime films.

12 - Basilisk

Synopsis: Immerse yourself in the world of Basilisk, an intense and uncompromising story that explores the world of these shadow assassins. Lord Tokugawa Ieyasu, unable to choose his heir between his two sons, decides to hold an unusual contest to decide between them: he asks the powerful ninja clans, Koga and Iga, each representing one of his sons, to fight to the death. The leaders of these rival clans, bound by a non-aggression pact, welcome this news with enthusiasm and prepare for a great war between ninjas. However, the heirs of each clan, Gennosuka of Koga and Oboro of Iga, are deeply in love and wish to marry. This is the beginning of a bitter and dramatic battle.

Why watch it: “Basilisk” is dark, violent, and psychologically intense. It offers a more realistic and brutal take on samurai life, far removed from romantic idealizations.

13 - Sengoku Basara

Synopsis: Inspired by the video games of the same name, “Sengoku Basara” is an exaggerated fantasy take on the Warring States period. It follows historical figures like Date Masamune and Sanada Yukimura in epic battles for dominance over Japan.

Why watch it: For those who enjoy over-the-top action and charismatic characters, “Sengoku Basara” is pure entertainment, with fast-paced battles and a colorful visual style.

Conclusion

Samurai anime offers a wide range of stories and styles, from brutal realism to wild fantasy. Whether you're a fan of intense action, moving drama, or historical tales, there's a samurai anime that will capture your imagination. Dive into these fascinating worlds and discover honor and bravery through the eyes of these legendary warriors.