Meiji Gekken: 1874

Meiji Gekken: 1874 (明治撃剣－1874－) is an original Japanese anime television series created by Tsukasa Sakurai and Naoki Tozuka and animated by Tsumugi Akita Animation Lab. It is directed by Jin Tamamura and written by Tozuka, with Naru Nishikori and Masayori Komine designing the characters and Shūji Katayama composing the music. It aired from January 14 to March 24, 2024, on BS Shochiku Tokyu. Crunchyroll licensed the series as part of its Crunchyroll Originals label.

Characters

 * Shizuma Origasa (折笠静馬)
 * A former samurai of the Aizu Domain who embarks on a quest to locate his missing fiancée, Sumie Kanomata. He begins working as a rickshaw puller in Edo and then takes a position in the police force.
 * A former samurai of the Aizu Domain who embarks on a quest to locate his missing fiancée, Sumie Kanomata. He begins working as a rickshaw puller in Edo and then takes a position in the police force.


 * Kyōshirō Shuragami (修羅神狂死郎)
 * A proficient silver-haired swordsman who wears a patch over one eye. He was a Shounai Domain samurai, formerly known as Ikegami Souichirou. He joins the Moriya Clan to pursue his own agenda to take revenge on Buhei Hiramatsu.
 * A proficient silver-haired swordsman who wears a patch over one eye. He was a Shounai Domain samurai, formerly known as Ikegami Souichirou. He joins the Moriya Clan to pursue his own agenda to take revenge on Buhei Hiramatsu.


 * Sumie Kanomata/Hinazuru (鹿又澄江／雛鶴)
 * She is the sister of Shuragami's best friend who asked him to look after her. The sole survivor of a massacre of women by the samurai Masaomi Kuramoto during the Boshin War, she resurfaced later as the geisha and assassin Hinazuru to take revenge on the Meiji government for its atrocities during the Boshin War.
 * She is the sister of Shuragami's best friend who asked him to look after her. The sole survivor of a massacre of women by the samurai Masaomi Kuramoto during the Boshin War, she resurfaced later as the geisha and assassin Hinazuru to take revenge on the Meiji government for its atrocities during the Boshin War.


 * Senri Kuroki (黒木せんり)
 * She is a spy working for the British government and poses as the red-haired reporter, Mary Blackwood.
 * She is a spy working for the British government and poses as the red-haired reporter, Mary Blackwood.


 * Buhei Hiramatsu (平松武兵衛)
 * A fair-haired Western man whose real name is John Henry Schnell. He was an Advisor to the Aizu and is plotting to overthrow the government. He normally wears a head and face covering to disguise his identity and runs the local opium export business. He is also the overlord of the Moriya and Fujishima clans and their criminal enterprises.
 * A fair-haired Western man whose real name is John Henry Schnell. He was an Advisor to the Aizu and is plotting to overthrow the government. He normally wears a head and face covering to disguise his identity and runs the local opium export business. He is also the overlord of the Moriya and Fujishima clans and their criminal enterprises.


 * Ryūzō Moriya (守屋龍三)
 * The scheming head of the Moriya Clan in business with Hiramatsu but also tries to cheat him. He employs Shuragami to do his dirty work which causes friction within his clan.
 * The scheming head of the Moriya Clan in business with Hiramatsu but also tries to cheat him. He employs Shuragami to do his dirty work which causes friction within his clan.


 * Toshiyoshi Kawaji (川路利良)
 * The very principled Chief Superintendent of police who sees the potential in Shizuma and convinces him to join the police force.
 * The very principled Chief Superintendent of police who sees the potential in Shizuma and convinces him to join the police force.


 * Gorō Fujita (藤田五郎)
 * A cold blooded and neatly dressed young man wearing round spectacles who works undercover for the Metropolitan Police. He is also an excellent swordsman
 * A cold blooded and neatly dressed young man wearing round spectacles who works undercover for the Metropolitan Police. He is also an excellent swordsman


 * Koume (小梅)
 * The innocent friend of Hinazuru who has no knowledge of her past nor current mission.
 * The innocent friend of Hinazuru who has no knowledge of her past nor current mission.


 * Koto Nakazawa (中澤琴)
 * She is a superb Shinchougumi swordswoman who uses a twin blade technique.
 * She is a superb Shinchougumi swordswoman who uses a twin blade technique.


 * Junpei Midorikawa (緑川順平)


 * Dario (ダリオ)
 * A young archer who works for Shuragami.
 * A young archer who works for Shuragami.


 * Genshō (幻丞)
 * An old man wearing a hat who works for Shuragami.
 * An old man wearing a hat who works for Shuragami.


 * Guen (愚円)
 * A huge man who usually wears a fox mask and works for Shuragami.
 * A huge man who usually wears a fox mask and works for Shuragami.


 * Toshimichi Ōkubo (大久保利通)

Easter Egg
Each episode contains a code puzzle designed by Nick Tierce, with the last episode requiring the solutions to the 9 preceding episodes.