Crescent Moon in the Warring States
Encyclopedia
is a manga written by Nobuhiro Watsuki
back in his days as a manga artist assistant. It is his first professional work, which is indirectly set in the Rurouni Kenshin
world. The story tells the tale of a former who has the same name as the Hiko Seijūrō
in Rurouni Kenshin
. It is collected in Rurouni Kenshin tankōbon
volume 6, as the third end of volume special.
Its storyline involves Hiko Seijūrō as a Samurai of the Sengoku period
(Warring States period) of Japan. He is in full samurai
armor, and utilizes the "Hiten-Mitsurugi-ryū" Style of Kenjutsu Swordsmanship. Hiko also sports the same length of coat with a slightly different collar than the one the character of the same name wears in Rurouni Kenshin
. Hiko is not the main character, but the role is taken by young farm boy, .
In the story, the country of and the country of went into a war. Kitakata was much weaker than Nagumo, so the two forged a peace treaty. The princess of Kitakata, , was forced to marry , the ruler of Nagumo. Princess Natsu begged Hiko to take her from Iwano, but he let Iwano take her so that Kitakata would find peace. Nagumo resumed its attacks on Kitakata and broke the peace treaty. The lord of Kitakata and his family were executed.
Hiko, the last hope of the Kitakata, is a powerful samurai who remains undefeated, and he meets Isshinta, a farm boy who was drafted into the military who then deserted, while rescuing him from some samurai from Nagumo, and they escape from the reinforcements. The readers then learn that Isshinta and Hiko both know different girls, both by the name of Natsu. Isshinta's Natsu lived in the village with him. Natsu chided Isshinta for being cowardly, since he did not want to join the war effort; at the same time Isshinta's Natsu wants Isshinta to survive. Both Isshinta and Hiko were in love with "their" Natsu. Hiko begs Isshinta to run away, and Hiko decides to die since he felt guilty about betraying the princess. Isshinta returns and begs Hiko to rescue his Natsu, because Natsu would cry forever if Hiko died. Hiko rescues Isshinta and charges after Iwano, who uses a gun to injure Hiko. Hiko kills Iwano and rescues the princess. Isshinta, now courageous, reunites with his Natsu. Hiko and his Natsu are now the rulers of Kitakata.
Watsuki said in Rurouni Kenshin Volume 6 that he feels nostalgia for the work.
an milieu
." As Watsuki saw fantasy settings "everywhere" he switched the setting to the Sengoku period
. Watsuki intended for Isshinta to be the main character as he felt moved by "weaker" characters who "grow into their courage." Therefore the highlight of Crescent Moon in the Warring States is Isshinta's "kindness turns to courage" idea as opposed to Hiko's traits such as his strength and his "romantic appeal." Watsuki added that his editor initially believed that Hiko was the main character of the series. Watsuki believed that Isshinta formed in a manner "100%" as intended.
Watsuki received questions about whether Hiko is related to the Hiko in Rurouni Kenshin. Since Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū is passed by ability instead of blood, the Hiko in Rurouni Kenshin is not biologically related to the Hiko in Crescent Moon of the Warring States.
Nobuhiro Watsuki
is a Japanese manga artist, best known for his samurai-themed series Rurouni Kenshin. He once worked as an assistant for his favorite author Takeshi Obata.-Biography:...
back in his days as a manga artist assistant. It is his first professional work, which is indirectly set in the Rurouni Kenshin
Rurouni Kenshin
, also known as Rurouni Kenshin and Samurai X, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Nobuhiro Watsuki. The fictional setting takes place during the early Meiji period in Japan. The story is about a fictional assassin named Himura Kenshin, from the Bakumatsu who becomes a wanderer to...
world. The story tells the tale of a former who has the same name as the Hiko Seijūrō
Hiko Seijuro
is Himura Kenshin's master in the manga and anime series Rurouni Kenshin. As a potter, he uses the assumed name of . His Japanese seiyū is Shūichi Ikeda, and his English voice actor is Richard Epcar.-Development:...
in Rurouni Kenshin
Rurouni Kenshin
, also known as Rurouni Kenshin and Samurai X, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Nobuhiro Watsuki. The fictional setting takes place during the early Meiji period in Japan. The story is about a fictional assassin named Himura Kenshin, from the Bakumatsu who becomes a wanderer to...
. It is collected in Rurouni Kenshin tankōbon
Tankobon
, with a literal meaning close to "independently appearing book", is the Japanese term for a book that is complete in itself and is not part of a series , though the manga industry uses it for volumes which may be in a series...
volume 6, as the third end of volume special.
Its storyline involves Hiko Seijūrō as a Samurai of the Sengoku period
Sengoku period
The or Warring States period in Japanese history was a time of social upheaval, political intrigue, and nearly constant military conflict that lasted roughly from the middle of the 15th century to the beginning of the 17th century. The name "Sengoku" was adopted by Japanese historians in reference...
(Warring States period) of Japan. He is in full samurai
Samurai
is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
armor, and utilizes the "Hiten-Mitsurugi-ryū" Style of Kenjutsu Swordsmanship. Hiko also sports the same length of coat with a slightly different collar than the one the character of the same name wears in Rurouni Kenshin
Rurouni Kenshin
, also known as Rurouni Kenshin and Samurai X, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Nobuhiro Watsuki. The fictional setting takes place during the early Meiji period in Japan. The story is about a fictional assassin named Himura Kenshin, from the Bakumatsu who becomes a wanderer to...
. Hiko is not the main character, but the role is taken by young farm boy, .
In the story, the country of and the country of went into a war. Kitakata was much weaker than Nagumo, so the two forged a peace treaty. The princess of Kitakata, , was forced to marry , the ruler of Nagumo. Princess Natsu begged Hiko to take her from Iwano, but he let Iwano take her so that Kitakata would find peace. Nagumo resumed its attacks on Kitakata and broke the peace treaty. The lord of Kitakata and his family were executed.
Hiko, the last hope of the Kitakata, is a powerful samurai who remains undefeated, and he meets Isshinta, a farm boy who was drafted into the military who then deserted, while rescuing him from some samurai from Nagumo, and they escape from the reinforcements. The readers then learn that Isshinta and Hiko both know different girls, both by the name of Natsu. Isshinta's Natsu lived in the village with him. Natsu chided Isshinta for being cowardly, since he did not want to join the war effort; at the same time Isshinta's Natsu wants Isshinta to survive. Both Isshinta and Hiko were in love with "their" Natsu. Hiko begs Isshinta to run away, and Hiko decides to die since he felt guilty about betraying the princess. Isshinta returns and begs Hiko to rescue his Natsu, because Natsu would cry forever if Hiko died. Hiko rescues Isshinta and charges after Iwano, who uses a gun to injure Hiko. Hiko kills Iwano and rescues the princess. Isshinta, now courageous, reunites with his Natsu. Hiko and his Natsu are now the rulers of Kitakata.
Watsuki said in Rurouni Kenshin Volume 6 that he feels nostalgia for the work.
Development and creation
Watsuki originally set the series in a "fantasy land," with Hiko as a knight and Isshinta as a "farm-boy-turned-soldier" with both characters in "a Northern EuropeNorthern Europe
Northern Europe is the northern part or region of Europe. Northern Europe typically refers to the seven countries in the northern part of the European subcontinent which includes Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Finland and Sweden...
an milieu
Milieu
Milieu is the word for environment in French, and, for hundreds of years, also in Dutch, Swedish, English, and other languages that were strongly influenced by French culture and French language, primarily during the 17th and 18th centuries....
." As Watsuki saw fantasy settings "everywhere" he switched the setting to the Sengoku period
Sengoku period
The or Warring States period in Japanese history was a time of social upheaval, political intrigue, and nearly constant military conflict that lasted roughly from the middle of the 15th century to the beginning of the 17th century. The name "Sengoku" was adopted by Japanese historians in reference...
. Watsuki intended for Isshinta to be the main character as he felt moved by "weaker" characters who "grow into their courage." Therefore the highlight of Crescent Moon in the Warring States is Isshinta's "kindness turns to courage" idea as opposed to Hiko's traits such as his strength and his "romantic appeal." Watsuki added that his editor initially believed that Hiko was the main character of the series. Watsuki believed that Isshinta formed in a manner "100%" as intended.
Watsuki received questions about whether Hiko is related to the Hiko in Rurouni Kenshin. Since Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū is passed by ability instead of blood, the Hiko in Rurouni Kenshin is not biologically related to the Hiko in Crescent Moon of the Warring States.