Episodes: 26

Year: 2004

Status: Complete, Licensed by Media Blasters

Shura no Toki Official Site (Japanese)

Rating: Alright

Review: “Legend has it that since the Heian era they practiced an unarmed martial art. They walked the path of the undefeated. And were known as the Shura. Their martial-art was called Mutsu Enmei-ryuu.” (The opening lines of the episodes). Shura no Toki, or Age of the Shura is about the legendary Mutsu Enmei-ryuu - the unarmed art that was undefeated even by the greatest fighters in history. This anime traces the journeys of three generations of those carrying the Mutsu clan name - Mutsu Yakumo, Mutsu Takato and Mutsu Izumi. It begins in the Heian era and leads up all the way through the Bakumatsu. Each of them fight some of the greatest swordsmen in history including Miyamoto Musashi and Sakamoto Ryouma. Their journey is about how they face their opponents and whether the legendary Mutsu can really stand up unarmed against the art of the sword.

Shura no Toki is an interesting anime due to the mix of history along with the fictional Mutsu clan. Particularly so with Mutsu Izumi, the anime shows the effect these legendary fighters have had on history. The action itself is very intense and personally I like Mutsu Yakumo’s big fight the best! I also like how we can see the progression of history from the stability of the shogunate to the chaos of the Bakumatsu. You should like this anime if you like history and martial arts. It doesn’t have quite the animation style as Kenshin or as Peacemaker Kurogane which was one of the parts I was disappointed with. It’s not an anime that leaves a lasting impression but it’s still a good one to pick up on an evening when you’re tired of robots, high school romances and vampires.

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