The Elusive Samurai: When Running Away Becomes a Path to Victory

The Elusive Samurai

Do you have some odd skill or ability you excel in? It may not be the ideal skill your family or community expects of you. Still, you are great at it anyway and enjoy every moment spent perfecting and engaging in said ability. But what if your capabilities can reach the same goals expected of you but through a different route? As long as the objective is met and nobody or nothing is hurt along the way, there shouldn't be a problem. So, while you’re grinding to meet societal expectations, don’t forget to hone the unique skills that you enjoy. They may come in handy in unexpected ways someday, and there’s always an enjoyment to be had in perfecting them!

“The Elusive Samurai," also known as “Nige Jouzu no Wakagimi” or simply "Nigewaka," is a 12-episode TV anime series that aired from the 6th of July till the 28th of September in Summer 2024. It was produced by Aniplex, Tokyo MX, Shueisha, BS11, and Bit grooove promotion, licensed by Aniplex of America, and brought to life by Studio CloverWorks. Its central staff included Umehara Shouta, Oowada Tomoyuki, Fukushima Yuuichi, and Matsumoto Miho as producers. This series of 23-minute episodes featured the genres of adventure and comedy alongside the themes of historical and samurai. Targeted at the Shounen demographic, it earned a rating of R-17+ for its violence and profanity.

The anime is based on the manga series of the same name, which is the work of Arthur and artist Matsui Yuusei. It began publication on the 25th of January 2021 and is still ongoing, targeted at the Shounen demographic and serialized in Shounen Jump (Weekly). It even won the 69th Shogakukan Manga Award in 2024. It has been simulpub digitally in English via MANGA Plus, and the volumes have been published in English via VIZ Media under the Shonen Jump imprint since the 5th of July 2022. A sequel TV anime season titled “The Elusive Samurai Season 2” has been announced by producer Aniplex, and it is said to follow the same manga. A single Summary episode titled “The Elusive Samurai: Interlude (1333-1334) "History" (The Elusive Samurai Episode 9.5) was released on the 7th of September 2024 by Studio CloverWorks; it runs for 23 minutes and recaps of the first nine episodes of Season 1. A music video titled “Kamakura Style” was released on the 14th of July 2024, which featured the song by Botchi Boromaru that served as the ending theme for Season 1.

Tokiyuki Houjou, the protagonist of the tale, is an eight-year-old child of nobility who is carefree and content with his current serene life in Kamakura. He spends his day at ease without much regard for the weighty responsibilities that would befall him in due time, as he must someday succeed his father as the next shogun himself. While his family requires him to dedicate himself to rigorous training in swordsmanship or archery, Tokiyuki prefers to dabble in the niche art of evasion. He is skilled in the evasive arts, dodging his advisors daily and discovering flawless hiding spots. But considering his lineage, things weren’t going to sail smoothly for long; his peaceful life is abruptly shattered by a coup that brutally wipes out his entire clan.

Now overwhelmed with sorrow and guilt as the sole survivor, Tokiyuki sees no path forward and even considers joining his family in their graves. But things change abruptly again when an enigmatic priest named Yorishige Suwa appears and shoves him onto a chaotic battlefield. Yorishige goes further to prophesize that the MC will one day become a great hero, leaving the young boy with no alternative outside of navigating his way out from among the plethora of enemy soldiers. While he struggles to survive against these numerous foes, he also finds a newfound thrill in the higher stakes compared to his usual safe hide-and-seek games. Now infused with a renewed sense of purpose and drive, Tokiyuki accepts Yorishige's promise of powerful allies and vows to avenge his family in the future. But he won’t be doing so using his fighting skills; no, he would utilize his extraordinary talent for running away to enact justice!

In the story department, the narrative follows a dual tone that stands out from the onset. From one angle, you see a Shounen adventure undertaken by a wacky group of young characters. Their ragtag cast consists of but isn’t limited to the adorably capricious and sincere Tokiyuki, the quirky mentor Yorishige, a very serene shrine maiden, a mischievous Ninja, and numerous menacing and/or hilarious villains. The main themes driving the tale are the usual values of camaraderie, loyalty, discovering oneself, and so on. However, if you step back and observe the show from a different perspective, you will come to understand its solemnly brutal nature. This fits right in with the historical drama tone. Still, they don’t let it get too serious too early, thanks to the playful and lighthearted aspects, which are obviously embellished perfectly alongside the supernatural element of the show. So thankfully, it doesn’t feel too edgy, dramatic, or somber, and the sheer contrast between the two tones has been executed well; this is where this anime retains its uniqueness compared to other Shounen.

The creators have fully embraced these unique elements of the show, making you feel invested, and they don’t miss a single opportunity to use the narrative to elevate each character’s distinct qualities. So prepare for a coming-of-age story like no other, where a group of starry-eyed kids face the merciless battle for succession. It’s not like these kids are unaffected by the cruel world around them either, but that never becomes the central point, and I love that. But it is that very pain that allows the MC to grow and finally escape the death and destruction around him so that his heart remains pure, compassionate, sincere, and righteous—the kind of leader their country truly needs.

In the Character Department, most of the series’ development focuses on Tokiyuki himself, especially the initial episodes. The kid is not too serious despite his circumstances, but not as playful or carefree as one might expect either. He is visibly lost in the adult world, but he does love his homeland, Kamakura, and is determined to change Japan for the better someday. Honestly, I deeply admired this MC and emphasized my strong desire for him to succeed without compromising his integrity. Meanwhile, his interactions with his companions are pure gold. If he is to lead Japan someday, he must learn many skills, including swordsmanship, archery, espionage, and so on, and to this end, he recruits someone adept at each skill along the way. Thus, everyone has a reason for being in this chaotic party and feels dynamic from the onset. We also see how the MC grows due to these relationships, so no screen time is wasted. They are up against enemies with superior numbers, power, fame, money, and the whole package, so our protagonist's varied input from the distinct people around him is instrumental in his journey. Also, nobody here is stupid enough to take the enemy head-on; instead, they focus on creating an insurgence, and I loved that approach.

It’s best to gradually let the MC’s party’s characters reveal themselves to you. So, let me instead talk about the antagonist, Ashikaga Takauji. Ashikaga Takauji is a formidable character and an ideal antagonist for a show like this. He lacks any unnecessary backstory; he is simply cold, calculating, evil, and even adept at charming people. We still don’t know his real motivations and rationale behind betraying the royal family, so I’m very hyped for any revelations to be made in Season 2.

The art and animation department is well done, as expected by CloverWorks. The animation is smooth and mostly consistent, but there are a few moments where the CGI was botched up. The backgrounds and scenery are breathtaking, employing superb keyframing and visuals that will stick with you long after you finish the series. On the other hand, the art style is simply stunning with its mix of traditional and modern art; it employs bold lines and vibrant colors alongside muted shades, which even reminded me of hand-drawn cel animations. The overall cinematography and art direction are genuinely remarkable. Finally, the character designs are just what you’d expect from historical Japan, with each character having distinct features that tell us something about them and even their respective skills to an extent. Whether it's a comedic moment or a full-blown battle, the quality of the visuals is genuinely remarkable.

In the Sounds and Music department, another round of applause, please! Starting with the OSTs, these pieces are perfect for the historical Japan theme, so kudos to music composer Akiyuki Tateyama for a job well done. The music has this comforting effect as well, which may not be ideal for the action scenes, but it reflects the underlying warmth of the MC in an odd way. The opening theme is "Plan A" by DISH//, and the ending is "Kamakura STYLE” by Botchi Boromaru. Both of these are bangers that made it onto my anime playlist. They, too, nail the historical Japan theme, which strangely applies to the ending, which is a catchy rap song. I must commend the visuals in both sequences for their informative and gorgeous nature, especially the ending, where they portray Kumakura as it stands today, alongside the geographical features and tourism-related activities.

Overall, “The Elusive Samurai” is a beautiful show that would take you on a warm but troubled journey through historical Japan, as long as you are open-minded enough to give it a chance. Let this anime tell you its story and indulge yourself with the characters, even if the humor can be a miss. The creators put in a lot of effort here, and this is a unique series, so I implore you to follow my recommendation and watch the first three episodes before deciding to drop or continue it.