Thanks to barnesandnoble.com for the images.

Set in Japan in the early 1860’s, Kaze Hikaru is the story of a girl named Tominaga Sei who disguises herself as a boy to avenge her father and brothers.  She takes the name Kamiya Seizaburo and joins the Shinsengumi, a band or warriors formed to protect the Shogun.  Aspiring to be a true bushi (samurai), she trains under Okita Soji, the only person in the Shinsengumi who knows her true identity.

Kaze Hikaru, Vol. 8 picks up during the aftermath of the conflict known as “Kinmon no Hen.”  This volume also offers the origin of Okita Soji and how, as a small child, he met Kondo Isami and Hijikata Toshizo.  The older Kondo and Hijikata would help the spoiled crybaby grow into a man, and this trio would form the nucleus of the Shinsengumi.

THE LOWDOWN:  Manga-ka Taeko Watanabe blends elements of historical fiction and character and costume drama to create a story of friendship and bonding that captivates the reader with its warmth and genuine spirit.  Watanabe also manages to portray the horrors of war and what it forces people to do in stark visuals that are beautifully drawn, but also raw and unflinching.

The pretty art with its soft shapes and cute character faces may seem out of place in a manga about war, but those big eyes sell the emotions and moods: anger, bloodlust, determination, fear, joy, satisfaction, sorrow, etc.  Making her story rich in intrigue, Watanabe deftly portrays both the selfish and murderous inclinations of people.  However, the abundant camaraderie of the samurai protagonists makes Kaze Hikaru an appealing period drama.

POSSIBLE AUDIENCE:  Although part of VIZ Media’s “Shojo Beat” line of comics for teenage female readers, fans of Japanese historical fiction will dig this, regardless of gender.

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