Kagurabachi isn’t just a meme anymore — it’s one of the best manga you can read right now

Enter a world of crime blended with the supernatural in this edgy manga that’s destined to be an anime classic

Kagurabachi gained mass appeal fairly quickly. The Weekly Shōnen Jump manga written and illustrated by Takeru Hokazono originally launched in 2023 and has already skyrocketed to the top of several must-read lists — and for good reason. Despite its clichéd revenge story, Kagurabachi is fast on its way to becoming the next Jujutsu Kaisen.

It all started with a string of memes, now affectionately known as “Kagura Bachi Glazing,” which led up to the release of the manga’s first volume. At the time, little was known about the story or its characters, but the internet already collectively agreed: Kagurabachi is the best manga of all time. (The joke being that manga/anime fans love hyping up new releases without any good reason to be so excited.) But three years later, potentially nearing the release of an anime adaptation, it’s looking more and more likely that the internet was onto something.

The plot of Kagurabachi centers on the 18-year-old Chihiro Rokuhira and his quest for vengeance against the foes that killed his father. Rokuhira welds his father’s last remaining blade, called Enten, which grants him several special abilities, including energy absorption and physical prowess.

The various factions of sorcerers, ninjas, and swordsmen make up the vast tapestry of characters that fill the manga’s pages, each offering Rokuhira a deeper perspective on the criminal world of Kagurabachi’s alternate-history Japan. This is how the manga feels more like a mystery built into the skeleton of a battle shōnen, mirroring early mystery-of-the-week episodes of Yu Yu Hakusho mixed with the sword-slashing action of Demon Slayer.

The shadowy syndicate known as the Hishaku serves as Rokuhira’s primary antagonist. They’re a ruthless band of criminal sorcerers who killed Rokuhira’s father and stole six enchanted swords from his home. These aren’t your typical Shōnen bad guys; the villains in Kagurabachi feel far more grounded and realistic, operating under a systematic criminal hierarchy.

Kagurabachi eloquently blends crime thriller elements with supernatural abilities and larger-than-life characters. It has a slight edginess to it, but it never gets overbearing. It helps that Takeru Hokazono makes the action feel like it could pop right off the page.

There’s a subtle dynamism and cinematic flavor added to the panels in Kagurabachi that far outshines its rivals; featuring close-ups of characters’ faces and full-page action shots evoking scenes from Akira Kurosawa films. I’m already champing at the bit to see what an anime adaptation of Kagurabachi will look like, and I’m not alone.

As of writing, there is no official news about an anime release, but given the hype surrounding this manga, it’s only a matter of time. Will it put Jujutsu Kaisen in its place? We’ll just have to wait and see.