In Tougen Anki, a teenager discovers his heritage as a blood-manipulating oni warrior.
In short: Shiki Ichinose lived a normal life until an assassin attack revealed his true identity: he is an oni, a supernatural being locked in a generational war against the Momotarou. Following his adoptive father's death, Shiki joins Rasetsu Academy, where students harness their own blood to manifest unique, lethal combat abilities.
Created by Yura Urushibara and serialized in Weekly Shonen Champion since June 2020, Tougen Anki reimagines Japanese folklore. The series centers on the conflict between oni and the Momotarou, legendary hunters who now utilize black bacteria to combat their foes. Shiki, one of the eight children of Kishin, possesses the Fire elemental attribute, with his power often resulting in catastrophic environmental effects, such as blood raining from the sky.
At Rasetsu Academy, Shiki encounters a diverse cohort of oni students, each with distinct Blood Eclipse Release powers tied to their personal histories. For instance, Homare Byobugaura manifests a gargantuan, ghoul-like entity representing her late sister, while others utilize tools ranging from sonar to paper fans. The academy is overseen by a mysterious headmaster and taught by Mudano, a strict, roller-skating instructor respected by both sides of the conflict for his combat prowess.
The Momotarou antagonists are equally complex, driven by deep-seated trauma and rigid ideologies. Characters like Tsubakiri Momomiya, who lost his capacity for empathy after a tragedy, engage in the scientific dissection of oni, while officers like Momoiwa resort to underhanded tactics to climb the ranks. The series explores the brutal cycle of vengeance, as seen in Shiki's vow to avenge his father, Tsuyoshi, who was murdered by the Momotarou officer Samidare Momoya after abandoning his duty to raise an oni child.
The franchise expanded significantly with an anime adaptation produced by Studio Hibari, which premiered in July 2025. A second season followed in October 2026, further cementing the series' exploration of identity, trauma, and the blurred lines between hero and monster. Whether through medical oni performing miraculous limb-restoring transfusions or reconnaissance units using echolocation, the world of Tougen Anki remains defined by the high cost of survival in a world that demands total war.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Tougen Anki
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