Oudou no Inu

In a tale set in the middle of the Meiji era, Shusuke Kano is doing hard labor in Hokkaido, imprisoned for demonstrating against the government for freedom and democracy. He escapes from prison with another government opponent and pretends to be an Ainu, to hide his true identity. Later, Kano meets Sokaku Takeda, a martial arts master, and becomes his disciple. Adept in martial arts, Kano works as a bodyguard for the Korean revolutionist, Kim Okyon. Kano is angry that leading members of the Liberal Party were freed from jail quickly and now live comfortably, while more unfortunate participants of the liberal democratic movement are still in prison. He soon becomes a faithful follower of Kim, a serious revolutionary. As Kano becomes more deeply involved in revolutionary activities across Asia, he finds himself drawn into the complex world of international politics and revolutionary movements. His journey takes him from the frozen landscapes of Hokkaido to the tumultuous political climate of East Asia, where he must navigate shifting alliances and dangerous conspiracies while remaining true to his ideals of freedom and justice.