Ishura

Ishura (Japanese: 異修羅) is a Japanese light novel series written by Keiso. It originated on the novel posting websites Kakuyomu and Shōsetsuka ni Narō, before being acquired by ASCII Media Works, who published the series with illustrations by Kureta under their Dengeki no Shin Bungei imprint. As of February 2024, nine volumes have been released. A manga adaptation with illustrations by Meguri began serialization in Kodansha's Monthly Shōnen Magazine in March 2021. As of December 2023, its chapters have been collected into three tankōbon volumes. An anime television series adaptation produced by Passione and Sanzigen aired from January to March 2024. A second season has been announced.

Plot

The demon king is dead. However, the host of "Shuras", demi-god-like people capable of felling him, remain and are now effectively free to do whatever they want, with some becoming conquerors while others wander, indifferent to the world around them. Thus, with the identity of the one who slew the demon king being a mystery, these champions now spark conflicts among themselves all to determine who is the mightiest and attain the title of "True Hero".

Characters

Shuras

Soujiro the Willow-Sword (柳の剣のソウジロウ, Yanagi no Tsurugi no Sōjirō)

Voiced by: Yuki Kaji

A boy who was transported from another world. He is an unbelievably strong swordsman, capable of defeating an army by himself, who travels the world looking for worthy opponents, indifferent to ordinary people's struggles due to his extraordinary strength.

Alus the Star Runner (星馳せアルス, Hoshihase Arusu)

Voiced by: Jun Fukuyama

A mutant wyvern possessing an additional three arms with opposable fingers that allow him to wield weapons, making him unmatched in the air. Being from a naturally greedy species, he seeks ever greater heights of wealth and glory.

Dakai the Magpie (鵲のダカイ, Kasasagi no Dakai)

Voiced by: Sōichirō Hoshi

A bandit working under Taren who was originally summoned from another world. He now works as the New Principality of Lithia's primary enforcer and spy, causing him to become acquainted with several other Shuras.

Regnejee the Sunset Wings (夕暉の翼レグネジィ, Sekki no Tsubasa Regunejī)

Voiced by: Showtaro Morikubo

A wyvern possessing a genius intellect who raised his flock into a powerful army. He now serves Taren as the New Principality of Lithia's finest general, commanding the world's first air force.

Kia the World Word (世界詞のキア, Sekaishi no Kia)

Voiced by: Aoi Yūki

A young elf wizard of immeasurable power, capable of freely manipulating the world around her. Having been born and raised within the elven community all her life, she is very naive when it comes to the outside world.

Nihilo the Vortical Stampede (濫回凌轢ニヒロ, Rankai Ryōreki Nihiro)

Voiced by: Rie Takahashi

A revenant created by a demon lord. She is currently being held captive by the Aureatia Kingdom to be used as a weapon of war in exchange for her freedom.

Shalk the Sound Slicer (音斬りシャルク, Otogiri Sharuku)

Voiced by: Koichi Yamadera

An undead skeleton mercenary renowned for his incredible speed who is currently hired by the New Principality of Lithia.

Higuare the Pelagic (海たるヒグアレ, Umitaru Higuare)

Voiced by: Tomokazu Sugita

A mandrake gladiator renowned for his endless string of victories in the arena. He currently works as a mercenary for the New Principality of Lithia.

Kuze the Passing Disaster (通り禍のクゼ, Tōri-ka no Kuze)

Voiced by: Shin-ichiro Miki

A paladin seeking to revive his dying order by working dangerous missions as an assassin. In reality, however, his powers entirely stem from his angelic partner, Nastique, who is the actual Shura rather than him.

Nastique the Quiet Singer (静かに歌うナスティーク, Shizuka ni Utau Nasutīku)

Voiced by: Yui Horie

Kuze's angelic partner and the source of his powers, invisible to anyone but him. She is the actual Shura between them and holds authority over death itself.

Aureatia

Aureatia (黄都, Koto lit. the Golden Capital) is the largest nation in the setting. It is governed by 29 Officials.

Jelky the Swift Ink (速き墨ジェルキ, Hayaki Sumi Jeruki)

Voiced by: Takehito Koyasu

Ranked as the third official. A refined man who often colloborates with Hidow.

Hargent the Silencer (静寂なるハルゲント, Seijaku Naru Harugento)

Voiced by: Akio Otsuka

Ranked as the sixth general. A military general within the Aureatia Kingdom's military. He has a close yet strained relationship with Alus, having saved the mutant wyvern when he was young but later growing to regret this after learning of the latter's exploits.

Elea the Red Tag (赤い紙箋のエレア, Akai Shisen no Erea)

Voiced by: Mamiko Noto

Ranked as the seventeenth official. Kia's mentor who is actually the head of the Aureatia Kingdom's spy network and plans to use her protégé's talents to advance her political agenda.

Hidow the Clamp (鎹のヒドウ, Kasugai no Hidō)

Voiced by: Nobuhiko Okamoto

Ranked as the twentieth official. A young aristocrat and minister from the Aureatia Kingdom who is also Kuze's employer.

New Principality of Lithia

New Principality of Lithia (リチア新公国, Lichia Shinkouku) is a city-state declared independent by Taren.

Taren the Punished (警めのタレン, Imashime no Taren)

Voiced by: Romi Park

A former military general from the Aureatia Kingdom, originally ranked as the twenty-third general, until she defected and founded the New Principality of Lithia. She seeks to gather powerful allies and unite the world under her rule.

Curte the Clear Sky (晴天のカーテ, Seiten no Kāte)

Voiced by: Sora Amamiya

Taren's blind adoptive daughter who also shares a close relationship with Regnejee.

Lana the Moon Tempest (月嵐のラナ, Getsu no Rana)

Voiced by: Yumiri Hanamori

An intelligence agent working for the New Principality of Lithia. She travels the world to recruit powerful allies for the Principality, including Shalk and Higuare.

Others

Yuno the Distant Talon (遠い鉤爪のユノ, Tōi Kagizume no Yuno)

Voiced by: Reina Ueda

A former inhabitant of the Nagan Labyrinth City until the city was destroyed by golems. Despite being saved by Soujiro, she comes to greatly resent his apathy toward ordinary people and offers to be his guide around the world only in hopes of finding someone who can kill him.

Media

Light novels

The series is written by Keiso. It originated as a web novel published on the Kakuyomu novel website on June 30, 2017. It then appeared on the Shōsetsuka ni Narō website as well on July 2, 2017. It was later acquired by ASCII Media Works, who published the series under their Dengeki no Shin Bungei imprint. The first volume was released on September 17, 2019. As of February 2024, nine volumes have been released.

In September 2021, Yen Press announced that it had licensed the series for an English publication, releasing the first volume on May 3, 2022. Its imprint Yen Audio began to release an English audiobook of the novel on October 10, 2023. It features the voices of Chris Guerrero and Emily Bauer.

Volumes

Manga

A manga adaptation, illustrated by Meguri, began serialization in Kodansha's Monthly Shōnen Magazine on March 5, 2021. As of December 2023, the individual chapters have been collected into three tankōbon volumes.

Volumes

Anime

An anime television series adaptation was announced on February 12, 2023. It was produced by Passione and directed by Yuki Ogawa, with chief direction by Takeo Takahashi, assistant direction by Takuya Asaoka, Fujiaki Asari, Takahiro Majima and Hironori Aoyagi, scripts written by Kenta Ihara, characters designed by Yoko Kikuchi and Yuka Takashina, music composed by Masahiro Tokuda, and CG animation produced by Sanzigen. The series aired from January 3 to March 20, 2024, on Tokyo MX and other networks. The opening theme song is "Shura ni Otoshite" (修羅に堕として, lit. 'Falling into the Carnage') performed by Sajou no Hana, while the ending theme song is "Hakka" (白花, lit. 'White Flower') performed by Konomi Suzuki. The series is streaming on Disney+ (via Star) worldwide, on Star+ in Latin America, and on Hulu in United States.

Following the airing of the final episode, a second season was announced.

Episodes

Reception

Chiriuchi Taniguchi from Real Sound offered the series praise, specifically stating it has a great cast of characters and unique storytelling.

In the Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! guidebook, the series ranked first in the tankōbon in 2021, receiving the most votes for any series in the history of the guidebook.

See also

• Demon Lord 2099, another light novel series illustrated by the same artist

Notes

References

External links

• Light novel official website (in Japanese)
• Manga official website (in Japanese)
• Anime official website (in Japanese)
• Ishura (light novel) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia