Sasuke (manga)

Sasuke (サスケ) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Sanpei Shirato. It was serialized in Kobunsha's Monthly magazine Shōnen (Japanese mangazine) from July 1961 to March 1966. A Remake ran in Shogakukan's manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Sunday from July 1968 to May 1969.

Several publishers published the series in long term, Seirindō published 20 volumes as rental from July 1962 to 1965; Shueisha published 15 volumes from September 1966 to April 1967; Akita Shoten published the series two times, first from December 1969 to November 1970 in eight volumes and republished it again in a new edition from June to October 2009; Kodansha published 15 volumes from January to August 1974; Shogakukan republished the series four times in new edition, first, from May to December 1990 in eight  volumes, the second time, in ten volumes from December 1995 to April 1996 and in nine volumes from October 2005 to June 2006.

TCJ produced a 29-episode anime television series adaptation that aired between September 1968 to March 1969 on TBS Television. In 1963, the manga, together with Shirato's other series Seton's Wild Animals, won the 4th Kodansha Children's Manga Award.

Plot
The story takes place in Japan at the beginning of the 17th century Edo period, following the political chaos of the Sengoku period, a particularly powerful lord, Ieyasu Tokugawa, was about to take over the reins of the country. Other noble feudal lords fought against him, linked to the personality of Hideyori Toyotomi, including Yukimura Sanada and his ninja clan. The cream of this fearsome clan were the so-called sarutobi warriors, reputed to be invincible. But, despite the great mastery of these warriors, the struggle for power had taken a turn favorable to Tokugawa, with his consequent victory over the enemy and the killing of Sanada. Remaining the only protagonist of the scene, Tokugawa instructs his right-hand man Hanzo Hattori to hunt down all the Sanadas who survived the clash, especially the Sarutobi, who for him were a terrible threat. Hattori, commander of the Iga ninja clan, starts a real manhunt, destined to end only when the last remaining Sanada is dead.

Among the survivors of Yukimura Sanada's clan was Daisuke Ozaru, the most fearsome of the sarutobi. Ozaru had a wife and a son, named Sasuke. Following a clash, Ozaru is injured and, with a thousand difficulties, manages to return to his house disguised as a traveller. But the hitmen who are chasing him catch up with him and manage to kill his wife. Little Sasuke is shocked by the death of his much-loved mother, especially because he does not know that the traveler who arrived that evening is his father, and he now thinks he is alone. Ozaru, for his part, cannot reveal his true identity and, despite suffering, is forced to temporarily leave the child. therefore, father and son go on a dangerous but educational journey and wander around Japan, as Sasuke will slowly learn from his father all the sarutobi techniques, and he encounters various opponents along the road.

Manga
Written and illustrated by Sanpei Shirato, Sasuke was serialized in Kobunsha's Monthly magazine Shōnen (Japanese mangazine) in two periods with a total of 55 installments. The first period was published from July 1, 1961, issue, to February 1, 1965, issue. The second period was published in the magazine's May 1, 1965 issue, and finished in the March 1, 1966 issue of Shōnen.

Several publishers published the series in long term, first Seirindō published 20 volumes as rental from July 1962 to 1965; Shueisha published 15 volumes from September 30, 1966, to April 30, 1967; Akita Shoten published Shirato's Comics anthology from December 25, 1969, to November 10, 1970, in eight volumes; Kodansha published 15 volumes from January 30, to August 5, 1974; Shogakukan republished the series four times in new edition, first, from May 10, 1990, to December 10, 1990, in eight  volumes, the second time, in ten volumes from December 10, 1995, to April 10, 1996, and in nine volumes from October 14, 2005, to June 9, 2006. Shirato's Sasuke republished again in a new edition from June 30, 2009, to October 10, 2009, by Akita Shoten.

At the same time as the anime adaptation aired, a Remake of Sasuke manga by Shirato himself serialized in Shogakukan's manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Sunday with a total of 42th installments. The manga first appeared on July 13, 1968, and its first installment was published in the magazine's August 1968 issue on July 20, 1968. The series finished its final installment in issue May 25, 1969.

Anime
An anime television series adaptation produced by TCJ aired from September 1968 to March 1969 on TBS Television, with a total of 29 episodes. A Blu-ray containing all 29 episodes of the series was released in two volumes from January 26, to February 23, 2018.

Reception
In 1963, the manga, together with Shirato's other series Seton's Wild Animals, won the 4th Kodansha Children's Manga Award.