Shounen Orient by Shinobu Ohtaka

[Haya-san]

I expect in the next chapter, Musashi will come off as mad/petty/salty when he criticizes Naotora. The Takeda subordinates might also rub it in his face that their leader saved his life.

In Magi, we had countries with different idelogies and cultures, but in Orient, we might get clans/bushidans, each with their own politics and style. Even though I too feel there's something incredibly fake about Naotora, he's the representative of a well-known family in the Sengoku period. I expect him to become a major player in the story.

In real history, the Takeda clan went into decline after it was defeated by Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu. There was also a rivalry between them and the Uesugi clan that the manga might introduce as a bushidan later.

 

[Laminariales]

Spoiler

These characters aren't that memorable like Sinbad.

Yo the 100th post.

Spoiler

To be fair, sinbad had the most "impressionable" entrance in my manga history, very few would have been able pull it off without being arrested. The point where two stories connect

 

[crystalblade13]

Soooo this series is getting the magi sense scan treatment already? We're two chapters behind

 

[Haya-san]

This is not a criticism, just an opinion now that we have all the chapters that make up the first volume. Also, beware the Magi spoilers:

Spoiler

The start of this manga is a bit weird or at least unusual. Normally in a shounen, we are introduced to a few major characters with them visiting a few new places and being involved in small conflicts. The Promised Neverland also had an unusual introduction with the readers being introduced to a big mystery and battles that are fought with your brain rather than flashy moves. And you might get addicted to the TPN by the first chapter. In Orient, the first volume is basically a big boss fight (Medium or at least Cassim level) with no heroine in sight and a group that may or may not become the main antagonists of this manga.

In Magi, it took arcs to make the readers suspect whether Sinbad will end up becoming an antagonist. I'm a bit surprised Ohtaka is being too obvious with Naotora so early on in the story. If you read Magi, you instantly see the pattern: a seemingly well-intentioned guy with a vision, who's loved by his subjects/subordinates and seems he would use dirty tactics to achieve his goals. I hope that Naotora is just a red herring or just the Jamil of the first arc, but let's see what Musashi will do in the next chapter.

This is why this manga is a bit difficult to judge at this point for me. The MCs are still stuck in their home village, no heroine or major characters beside the MCs, and I don't find the Takedas that likable. Can't say I was bored with what we got so far, but I really want to see MCs finally start their journey and meet some likable characters lol!

Also, I'm surprised with the length of the first chapters of this manga. It made me think since when Ohtaka started working on them. I won't be surprised if she already finished the storyboards for the end of this arc and maybe even beyond.

 

[Laminariales]

The closer thing it feels like is a game, but even so it's hard to place naotora

One thing we all have trust issues, it's difficult to see naotora as his own, but out of the options we have for him
A] A reliable ally/mentor
B] Shady leader/fraud will he pull a hans
C] Might take a standby role akin to reim empire, and just introduction to what a bushidan are

I can't agree more about more characters, the volume is up for preorder at CDjapan, there will be 6-ish more chapters before its release so we'll see. Actually this is my first time reading a manga before it hit 100 chapter and never committed to anything before a few of volumes are out I don't know how magazines' executives do it xD For now the art is amazing, and musashi/kojirou feel not magi which is good.

 

[Haya-san]

Ch 6 spoiler images:

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Spoiler

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Summary:

Spoiler

Kojirou introduces himself and Musashi. Naotora apologizes for stealing their prey, but Kojirou reassures him that they were the ones who lacked power. The Takeda subordinates notice how silent Musashi has been and ask him 'it couldn't be you're mad at us stealing your first trophy?', and another reminds him that their leader saved his life. Naotora advances toward Musashi and pats him on the head that he's got potential. He may now be weak, but he should work hard from now on. Musashi finally snaps and tells Naotora to shut up and that how dare he steal their first kill. The subordinates are pissed, but Naotora stops them that he understands how he feels. He aknowledges once again that Musashi was brave in that battle and places the oni crystal around his neck. Musashi is confused and asks what is this, and Naotora tells him with a condescending smile that this is his consolation prize and too bad he didn't kill the kishin. Everyone expect Kojirou laughs, and Naotora tells him before taking off that he got plenty of those crystals anyway. If he wants to get his own trophy, he should search for the next kishin himself, and the crystal might come in handy.

Back in Kojirou's house, Kojirou, while examining the crystal, tells a sulking Musashi to let it go. Musashi retorts that Naotora gets on his nerves and he just can't let things end like that. Kojirou informs him that their fort is stationed in town, but he shouldn't start any trouble, since they are leaving tomorrow. Musashi snatches the crystal from Kojirou, telling him to not bother with it, and it turns out the bottom of the crystal is some sort of a kaleidoscope with symbols and a map of some sort . Kojirou says he saw these pattern before and then, they take out the scroll from the first chapter and begin studying it. They find a symbol of a samurai holding this exact kaleidoscope and deduce that just like Naotora told them, the kaleidoscope is a device to locate kishins. Musashi makes up his mind that they may have not been able to kill their first prey, but they still have another chance to slay a kishin.

Interestingly enough, the editorial comment refers to the Takeda clan as 'that ill-natured group ' and 'things must not end like that'.

Well, things finally picked up with the scroll turning out to be a map with hidden secrets and that the MCs will be embarking on their first adventure. We might meet the heroine next. Also, I like that Ohtaka isn't hiding that she designed Naotora to be not so likable. In the end, the Takeda clan might just be a low-level samurai group at this point and we might meet much stronger ones in the future.

 

[Laminariales]

At last the plot moves! a good chapter!!!

Spoiler

Help me so cute!

Takeda was such a good guy this chapter, I don't know if he have a bad personality as per musashi but I would support that . The crystal and map panels were good, such an aesthetic. I don't think I get how they work quite yet but wonder if the kishin/demons are categorized by strength=size on map? and the head in the middle is the ultimate boss? or just a demon poster since it disappeared when looking with the glass? idk

I'm happy with this chapter, and was nervous for it to end at any second. I don't know where the plot would go from now on or how mushashi would get his color spread sword but I'm excited for the next stage

 

[Samurai Rider]

Naotora is quite the troll, I mean at the end of chapter 4 we got a glance of this when he gloated about stealing Musashi’s kill to his face, but this chapter really cranks it up a notch, I liked it, noble saints type characters can be kind of boring imo

I can’t help but notice in the last chapter when Takeda was absorbing the Kishin’s energy he was holding Musashi’s arm, so I wonder if some of that energy was shared with him.

Soooo this series is getting the magi sense scan treatment already? We're two chapters behind

It really sucks that Kodansha USA didn’t give this series a simulpub.

 

[Haya-san]

I thought Naotora looked like someone who was so full of himself when he first appeared, and it turned out I was right. I want Musashi to fight him and see this happen to him:

Spoiler

Forgot to mention this in the summary, but he told Musashi to aim to be like him, which caused Musashi to finally snap.

Also, Musashi needs to get a new weapon and learn how to enhance it in order to cut a kishin's weak point... or maybe Kojirou's sword once belonged to a legendary samurai and is already equiped with that ability?

 

[Theforsakensoul]

Can someone please send the links to chapters 4-6 inclusive (if 6 is out). Been trying to find it somewhere but have come up short. Would really appreciate this, thanks.

 

[Laminariales]

@Theforsakensoul Sense scans just released 4 & 5
http://sensescans.com/index.php?topic=4614.0

and there is a text trans for 6

Spoiler

 

[Demonspeed]

Just read Chapter 5. Musashi says all these things but he just seems to be a sore loser to me .

 

[Laminariales]

Just read Chapter 5. Musashi says all these things but he just seems to be a sore loser to me .

I'm pretty sure it's 99% that、we don't know much about naotora but neither does musashi. He does sound annoyingly patronizing in chapter 6 though xD

 

[Haya-san]

Just read Chapter 5. Musashi says all these things but he just seems to be a sore loser to me .

Ch 6 spoilers

Spoiler

He is being childish and he knows it. He knows he lacks power, he's being unreasonable and that he's nothing compared to Naotora who appears to be fighting for a great cause. He acknowledges that they saved the day and the villagers are happy about it and tried to at least be considerate of their feelings. He was suppressing his petty inner rage until Naotora rubbed it in (maybe unintentionally) that he was weak and he should become like him. This made me think he might not be as one-dimensional as I thought. A protagonist who knows his own faults and sometimes experiences personal, inner conflicts because of them could be fun to read about.

--- Double Post Merged, Jul 10, 2018, Original Post Date: Jul 7, 2018 ---

Ch7 spoiler images:

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A short summary:

Spoiler

-Musashi and Kojirou continue reading the scroll. When they were little, they couldn’t read much of it, since they didn’t know much kanji back then. Kojirou is still bad at reading kanji and asks Musashi to read the rest for him, maybe because he dropped out of school.

-the passage from the start of this manga about Japan being invaded by oni comes up. They also find out that there are more than 100 kishin and a list of their names. Tengu that Naotora defeated is listed among them.

-the scroll urges the samurai to defeat the kishin and take back Japan. The strongest samurai who defeats the strongest kishin will unify Japan and become its king.

-Musashi begins to understand Naotora when he remembers Kojirou’s father and what he said about the samurai being the only people who didn’t throw away of their pride. As the Takeda clan was about to leave, he goes to meet them and confronts Naotora with his new found knowledge. After Naotora recovers from his surprise, he tells Musashi that kishin hunting is not a game for kids like him. Musashi counters that the Kishin have been around for 150 years, which means no samurai has been able to accomplish the task bestowed upon them by the scroll. He swears that he’ll become stronger than him and any other samurai and will defeat them all. Naotora tells him to bring it on.

-in the next morning, Musashi and Kojirou get ready to leave. It turns out all the oni left and peace has returned to Tatsuyama, thanks to what happened yesterday. Kojirou asks Musashi once more if he really wants to do this, since they’ll face stronger enemies and no one will come to save them like yesterday, and Musashi reassures him that he undrstands the risks. The chapter ends with the village gate opening and the editorial text heralding the start of a legend. Next chapter is the start of a new arc and we’ll get color pages.

I’m guessing since most of Magi’s arcs were named after locations, the name of the first arc is the ‘Tatsuyama arc’? Or maybe the ‘Tengu arc’ after the kishin?

This also sounds a lot like Magi with the concept of the strongest samurai/king who unifies the land.

 

[Laminariales]

Spoiler: Chapter 7

Wow that was only 20 page,

As expected more world building and at last some shadows. They look evil as smugly smiling shadows usually do, freckles, bowl cut, and dreadlocks we'll meet you soon, your swords look fabulous. I got the sense that there'll be a few bushidan that aim to be HiNoMoto ruler rather than saving humanity from oppression, that would be sengoku like. Actally what is musashi dream? be a bushidan? kill oni? rule the country?

In the less serious side of thing: Kojirou a word for you: home schooling. The takedadan and musashi thing at the end was embarrassing for some reason, too much fingers and all of them are striking a pose the blindfold one looks like he's blowing a kiss.

Edit: senscans released 6!
http://sensescans.com/index.php?topic=4619.0

 

[Haya-san]

Spoiler

The freckled guy is Koumei, the one with the bowl cut is Nerva and the one on the right is Cassim, or so I thought when I saw them

I think they are other samurai leaders. The one holding the cross is probably based on Dom Justo Takayama (Hikogorou Shigetomo), a daimyou who converted to Christianity. The one on the right could be Yasuke, an African samurai who fought under Oda Nobunaga.

Ohtaka probably learned from the battle against the medium and thought people would lose interest quickly if the first arc was divided to shorter chapters. It seemed she wanted to be done with the battle as quickly as possible to begin the real story and introduce more of the main cast.

 

[Laminariales]

Spoiler

Dreadlocks was more seishuu to me almost sew snakes, I imagine nerva bowl cut to turn out very handsome, and wonder if cross will be a fashion statement or he will take religious take on the demons (must be exorcised). Now imagine if he's in anyway devine yet called danshou and ride with a motorcycle gang- were my swirl of first thoughts

The historical accounts were interesintig, especially yasuke his name origins is intriguing and worked for nobunobu

 

[MArGi]

I can't say I really enjoyed those 6 first chapters. The character introduction is a bit weak and pretty cliché imho and I can't help but compare it to Magi's. Aladdin and Alibaba were both rather mysterious and intriguing while here it feels like we already know everything about Musashi and Kojiro. But of course I suspect Ohtaka will surprise us all in the future.
I do like Naotara though. I like how he is taunting Musashi and how he is not this, you know, overly serious and honorable bushi leader like I expected him to be.
In any case, I am a bit more hyped about what's coming next, now that they've decided to leave the village and go kishin-hunting. World building is always nice. I hope they'll meet a female character who will join them in their adventure. My bet is she'll be named after Otsu, but we'll see. Do you think Ohtaka will also introduce Matahachi, Oko, Akemi, Jotaro, Takuan...?

And one last little thing that bothers me... why motorcycles?! ^^

 

[Haya-san]

I can't say I really enjoyed those 6 first chapters. The character introduction is a bit weak and pretty cliché imho and I can't help but compare it to Magi's. Aladdin and Alibaba were both rather mysterious and intriguing while here it feels like we already know everything about Musashi and Kojiro. But of course I suspect Ohtaka will surprise us all in the future.

You’re not the only one. By the fourth chapter, I started contemplating whether to preorder the first volume or just wait until the manga gets really interesting. I think I might wait until the end of the second arc before deciding whether to start collecting the manga. Also, from my own experience, just because I liked one manga by an author, it doesn’t mean that I’m going to like their next work. However, I really want to give Ohtaka a chance and ch7 made me optimistic for what’s to come. Let’s hope it gets better from now on.

I do like Naotara though. I like how he is taunting Musashi and how he is not this, you know, overly serious and honorable bushi leader like I expected him to be.

He’s acting too self-important for my taste, but who knows? He might grow on me later. He kind of reminds me of Touga from Revolutionary Girl Utena or Mitaka from Maison Ikkoku. I came to like the latter more toward the end of the series.

 

[airmattress]

Yeah @MArGi hit it home. These 2 MCs so far are just... 2 guys that were trained by a samurai... and they want to save the world. They're an open book and a very basic one at that.

Another thing I don't like is how Musashi is very strong from the get go. Yeah it's a fantasy setting, but how come he's the only human guy (not powered by the crystal things) to be able to destroy the ground just by swinging his penis pickaxe (sry had to do that). I mean even Kojirou who's supposed to have trained a fair bit doesn't even come close to that kind of power. It just bothers me that he can do well against a Kishin that supposedly killed a lot of legendary samurais this early on, it doesn't leave a lot of room him to improve and it also makes said samurais look pretty weak. I guess it can't be helped if your goal is to "SAVE THE WORLD!!!" You have to start off pretty op sadly.

Magi had a very good foundation from the start and that's why I found it very appealing. This manga just throws us into a fight in a post-apocalyptic ish world and already in the first 5 chapters we kill one of the demons responsible for bringing the world to this stage. Are we given any particular reason to care about whether these guys succeed or fail? Not really they just have to beat up the big bad monsters because monsters are evil. Magi did things so much better honestly. It had build up and if memory serves the first volume was mostly just introducing us to these 2 very different guys preparing for and hyping up their eventual dungeon dive, with doubts and resolves and fun moments. That gave so much weight and importance to this dungeon and made us consider will happen afterwards. It's funny because as soon as the story became about "saving the world" Aladdin and Alibaba started to become very very generic. Not to say it couldn't have worked but it feels like they were forced onto that role way too quickly (probably because of pacing issues), and here it's the same thing really. Unless they get some more confined and specific goals I don't think this is gonna be very appealing.

But I still feel like there's a lot of potential. Just hope everything slows down now and we get properly acquainted with this world and we should care about it. Also we seriously need a female lead or something that can maybe get these 2 guys to not be so generic.