The Elusive Samurai, Vol. 11

逃げ上手の若君 [Nige Jōzu no Wakagimi] #11

by Yusei Matsui

In medieval Japan, eight-year-old Hojo Tokiyuki is the heir to the Kamakura shogunate. But the Hojo clan is in decline, and Tokiyuki’s peaceful days of playing hide-and-seek with his teachers come to an abrupt end when his clan is betrayed from within. The lone survivor of his family, Tokiyuki is the rightful heir to the throne, but to take it back, he’ll have to do what he does best—run away!

The battle for control of Kamakura has been joined! The Hojo and Ashikaga forces clash as Tokiyuki and his Elusive Warriors take on the members of the infamous Kanto Hisashiban, and Kojiro has engaged Kagetada, a warrior twisted by Uesugi’s chemical experiments. Meanwhile, Genba skirts the edges of the battle, trying to track down another Ashikaga ninja. After Tokiyuki’s inspiring race around the battlefield, his opponent, the horse-mad samurai Imagawa, moves in for the kill. Even Tokiyuki’s famed elusiveness may not save him this time…

Genres: Manga, Historical, Action

200 pages, Paperback

First published June 2, 2023

About the author

Yūsei Matsui (松井優征 Matsui Yūsei?, born January 31, 1981 in Saitama, Japan) is a manga artist known for manga Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro. He was an assistant of Yoshio Sawai, the manga artist of Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo (Shirota Masakage made a cameo appearance in Shinsetsu Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo).

Reviews

[Blake the Book Eater · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great volume, and the finale to the Battle for Kamakura. Crazy how attached I’ve become to Tokiyuki and his struggle. It’s very different from typical shonen manga, but I really like that about this story!

[Ya Boi Be Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another strong EluSam volume that has me eager for next volume. Something about how Matsui ends his volumes just always wants me coming back for more usually. Making it's the clear endcaps of arcs / story beats while keeping up hope or ideas for the upcoming volume. We get the tail end of the Kanto Hisashiban as well as the intro to the Tengu girl whose interactions with Genba I swing back and forth on liking and finding it as a bit too much though it does get to highlight Genba's mischievousness. But the meat and potatoes is the Kamakura arc as Tokiyuki fights on a riverfield against Takuaji's brother Tadayoshi (whose schtick is his politician prowess and monetary skills) to come back to his homeland.
I love the Kamakura arc. It’s fairly quick and doesn’t linger on the strategy much instead giving a bunch of fun character moments. We get one of the fun Nan-Boku-Cho Tag faceoffs like in the pre-war volumes in the verbal battle against Tokiyuki and Tadayoshi. It also lets Yasuie (forehead guy) have a moment to shine as he convinces a key enemy to turn. The ending is sweet as well with the framing of him running into Kamakura as the memories flood into him adding to the moment.
I forget where this is placed in consideration to the rest of the chapters that I’ve read weekly but I think the timeskip arc is coming up. It also sets up the Takuaji betrayal nicely with Go Daigo’s (behind the curtain guy) son being killed by the Takuaji’s amidst the chaos. But I think first we’ll have the new weapons mini-story with the sword leg girl. Either way great stuff coming up ahead with this being near the endcap of pre-timeskip iirc.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Elusive Samurai makes it back to his home. The place from where he was chased away. This volume has many battles and many twists and turns. It was very enjoyable along with the history lesson at the end.

Re-read: March 2025

[Sam Accardi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5