The Elusive Samurai, Vol. 7

逃げ上手の若君 [Nige Jōzu no Wakagimi] #7

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!

With Shinano under intense surveillance by enemy spies, Yorishige has sent Tokiyuki to Kyo, the capital city of Japan, to stay until things cool down. Accompanied by his uncle, Hojo Yasuie, Tokiyuki must learn all he can about his enemy’s intentions. Entranced by the sights and sounds of the city—and the flashy hostess of a gambling den—Tokiyuki discovers even more about his own ability to get people on his side. Surrounded by Ashikaga Takauji’s intrigues in Kyo, he’ll need all the allies he can get!

Genres: Manga, Historical Fiction, Comics, Graphic Novels, Action, Historical, Young Adult

200 pages, Paperback

First published August 4, 2022

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]

The ACTION the INTENSITY in this volume is great. We finally get a one on one confrontation between Tokiyuki and Takauji and damn it was so good. And we’re finally off to war! This series does a great job in getting you invested in the movements and strategies of war.

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

A 4.5/5 easily brought up from one of my favorite arcs and Matsui's artistic talents as he showcases his ability to draw monstrous entities.
The first two-thirds are the end of the Kyoto arc which continues to be fun as we move beyond Mima (the trendy girl) and go onto the rest of the Kyo arc stuff like Kusonoki. I just enjoy the Kyoto arc in general as it moves away from combat to instead put the crew in an unfamiliar situation and "fleeing" by hiding their identity while gaining information and dealing with being in a city teeming with notable enemies of theirs. It has a bombastic second half as well with the assassination attempt on Takauji. Bear in mind this is his characterization before the chapter in the 100s where he is characterized by flip-flopping between stoic and freaked out. This is when he's a straight monster. And his actions are cold and cunning and play very well into Tokiyuki's main goals and feelings towards him. And Matsui delivers some EXTREMELY CLEAN art in this volume.
The last third is just cooldown from the arc showing growth and establishing the next arc. Which I don’t mind as it has some of my favorite characters like Shokan the ant kimono guy as well as the establishing moment where Tokiyuki decides he will declare himself as a Hojo in the upcoming battles.

[Chang Huey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm actually not sure why I continue keeping up with this anymore. Maybe because of nostalgia from the author's previous works Nougami Neuro and Assassination Classroom?

Ah least the expressions are wacky af

[Sam Accardi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

[Aimee Spencer-Kruczek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! A lot of experience was gained in this one and big pieces have moved into place. Looking forward to the next volume!

[Bonnie Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can sense that some emotional damage is coming 🥲🥲🥲

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5

[Andrés · Rating 5 out of 5]

This manga is so unique, funny, and sometimes deep. I love it