It has been confirmed that Keiso’s action-fantasy light novel, Ishura, will be adapted into a television anime series. A teaser trailer, promotional visuals, main cast, and a commemorative illustration by Kureta, the illustrator of the light novel, were revealed alongside the announcement.
Yuki Kaji plays the role of Soujiro, the willow sword, and Reina Ueda plays the role of Yuno, the distant talon.
The light novel, which placed first in the tankōbon category of Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! 2021, has received the most votes for any series in the history of the guide. The novel began serialization on the Kakuyomu and Shōsetsuka ni Narō websites. It was later acquired by ASCII Media Works, which has been publishing the series since September 17, 2019, under its Dengeki no Shin Bungei imprint. A manga adaptation of Ishura with illustrations by Meguri began serialization in Kōdansha’s Gekkan Shōnen Magazine on March 5, 2021.
In a world where the Demon King is dead, a host of demigods capable of overthrowing him have inherited the world. A young girl, Yuno, is in the midst of despair when she is suddenly attacked by a golem and loses her best friend in front of her eyes. Then Soujiro, a master swordsman who claims to be the “last Yagyu on earth,” appears. Seeing Soujiro easily defeat the golem with a single swing of his sword, Yuno’s hatred for the powerful swordsman grows, even though he saved her life. Supported by her hatred against the unreasonable “strong”, the girl sets off with the swordsman.
The journey to kill the “strongest” and the battle to determine who is the mightiest of the mighty begins.
▍Ishura Anime Characters
■ Soujiro, the Willow Sword – CV: Yuki Kaji
“I came here because I want to cut something. Something unique to this world.”
A swordsman from another world calls himself “the last Yagyu of the earth”. He is a battle fanatic who never slows down his pace no matter what the situation, always enjoying slaying and seeking to fight powerful enemies. He wields the pinnacle of swordsmanship, identifying the enemy’s vital point in an instant and cutting even huge structures with his nagara sword.
■ Yuno, the Distant Talon – CV: Reina Ueda
“Selfish or wrong, still… I hate the strong.”
A bachelor in Nagan Labyrinth City. She was attacked by a golem that suddenly appeared from the Great Labyrinth and lost her best friend, leading her to vow revenge against the “strong”. She was saved by Soujiro.
▍Ishura Anime Cast
■ Soujiro, the Willow Sword – CV: Yuki Kaji
■ Yuno, the Distant Talon – CV: Reina Ueda