“Swordsman Shichika joins strategist Togame to collect twelve legendary Deviant Blades in Edo-era Japan.”
Katanagatari
刀語
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Based on your preference for character-driven stories with layered emotional arcs, this title's exploration of identity and belonging would deeply resonate. The pacing mirrors series you've rated highly, and its thematic depth aligns with your appreciation for nuanced storytelling...
However, the slow initial episodes might test your patience given your history of dropping shows that don't hook you early. The art style shift in the middle arc could also be a concern...
Synopsis
Swordsman Shichika joins strategist Togame to collect twelve legendary Deviant Blades in Edo-era Japan.
In an Edo-era Japan lush with a variety of sword-fighting styles, Shichika Yasuri practices the most unique one: Kyotouryuu, a technique in which the user's own body is wielded as a blade. The enigmatic seventh head of the Kyotouryuu school, Shichika lives quietly in exile with his sister Nanami until one day—the wildly ambitious strategist Togame barges into their lives. Togame brazenly requests that Shichika help in her mission to collect twelve unique swords, known as the "Deviant Blades," for the shogunate. Shichika accepts, interested in the girl herself rather than petty politics, and thus sets out on a journey. Standing in their way are the fierce wielders of these legendary weapons as well as other power-hungry entities who seek to thwart Togame's objective. In order to prevail against their enemies, the duo must become an unbreakable team as they forge ahead on a path of uncertainty and peril.
What people say
Community consensus
Derived from 183 sampled reviews
What 183 viewers settled on.
Polarized
σ 1.99 · split reception
5.8 pts
Recommenders 8.9 · others 3.1
↑ 1.16
Running avg · Jan 2010 → Mar 2026
- 10 “Katanagatari has one of the most amazing plot and storylines i have ever seen. It pulls off a Baccano introducing new characters with every episode and fully fleshes them out till the end. The...”
- 9 “This is one of those series I didn't want to end, and I do not say that lightly. The characters are interesting and original, and it is refreshing to see a male protagonist who can be close to a...”
- 7 “Sup. Welcome to my first review ever. This review is about a show named Katanagatari. The shows pretty good so you should watch it. If you want to. The art style of the show may throw people off,...”
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- Format 12 × 49′ eps × min
- Total runtime 9h 48m all episodes
- Aired Jan 2010 – Dec 2010 Winter 2010
- Source Tv media type
- Rated R 17+ (violence & profanity)
- Ref. BS-4647 catalog