Nippon Sangoku
Japanese manga series
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nippon Sangoku (日本三國; 'Japan: Three Kingdoms') is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Ikka Matsuki. It began serialization on Shogakukan's Ura Sunday website and MangaONE app in November 2021. An anime television series adaptation produced by Studio Kafka premiered in April 2026.
| Nippon Sangoku | |
First tankōbon volume cover | |
| 日本三國 | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Post-apocalyptic[1] |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Ikka Matsuki |
| Published by | Shogakukan |
| Imprint | Ura Sunday Comics |
| Magazine |
|
| Original run | November 24, 2021 – present |
| Volumes | 7 |
| Anime television series | |
| Directed by | Kazuaki Terasawa |
| Written by | Teruko Utsumi |
| Music by | Kevin Penkin |
| Studio | Studio Kafka |
| Licensed by | Amazon Prime Video |
| Original network | Tokyo MX, BS Nittere, TV Aichi, ytv, OX, ITC, BBT, EBC, tys, SBS, ABS, BSN, Fukui TV, TKU, TOS, HBC, RSK, NBS, SAY, KFB, KTS, mit, NCC, GYT, AT-X, Animax |
| Original run | April 7, 2026[a] – present |
| Episodes | 6 |
Plot
At the end of the Reiwa era, Japan was hit by the effects of nuclear war around the world, resulting in an influx of refugees, followed by a deadly virus and a devastating earthquake, while the country was mismanaged, with those in power levying heavy taxes, leading to famine. Eventually, the people began a revolt, which overthrew the national government, though the population was reduced to a tenth of its pre-war size, the technology had been reduced to that of the Meiji era, and the country was divided into three kingdoms: Yamato, Takeo, and Seii. One hundred years later, a man named Aoteru Misumi leads a movement to reunify the country.
Characters
- Aoteru Misumi (三角青輝, Misumi Aoteru)
- Voiced by: Kenshō Ono[2] (Japanese); Alejandro Ruiz[3] (English)
- Saki Higashimachi (東町小紀, Higashimachi Saki)
- Voiced by: Asami Seto[2] (Japanese); Ratana[3] (English)
- Denki Taira (平殿器, Taira Denki)
- Voiced by: Takashi Nagasako[2] (Japanese); Steve Mize[3] (English)
- Yoshitsune Asama (阿佐馬芳経, Asama Yoshitsune)
- Voiced by: Jun Fukuyama[4] (Japanese); Kieran Regan[3] (English)
- Yasuaki Kaku (賀来泰明, Kaku Yasuaki)
- Voiced by: Yuichi Nakamura[4] (Japanese); Tom Choi[3] (English)
- Mitsuhide Ryumon (龍門光英, Ryūmon Mitsuhide)
- Voiced by: Kazuhiro Yamaji[4] (Japanese); Ron Banks[3] (English)
- Fuji III (藤3世, Fuji 3-sei)
- Voiced by: Taihi Kimura[4] (Japanese); Michael Sinterniklaas[3] (English)
- Ohga Wajima (輪島桜虎, Wajima Ōga)
- Voiced by: Minami Tsuda[4] (Japanese); Jennifer Sun Bell[3] (English)
- Yayakichi Hei (閉伊弥々吉, Hei Yayakichi)
- Voiced by: Kenyu Horiuchi[5] (Japanese); June Yoon[3] (English)
- Muuton Nagao (長尾武兎惇, Nagao Muuton)
- Voiced by: Shūichirō Umeda[5] (Japanese); John Patneaude[3] (English)
- Aterui Kura (九羅亜輝威, Kura Aterui)
- Voiced by: Shunsuke Sakuya[5] (Japanese); Michael SorichEp. 6 credits (English)
- Tonotsugu Taira (平殿継, Taira Tonotsugu)
- Voiced by: Ayumu Murase[5] (Japanese); Michael Johnston[3] (English)
Media
Manga
Written and illustrated by Ikka Matsuki, Nippon Sangoku began serialization on Shogakukan's Ura Sunday website and MangaONE app on November 24, 2021.[6][7] Its chapters have been compiled into seven tankōbon volumes as of April 2026.[8]
| No. | Release date | ISBN | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | March 10, 2022[9] | 978-4-09-851030-6 | |
| |||
| 2 | July 19, 2022[10] | 978-4-09-851206-5 | |
| |||
| 3 | December 12, 2022[11] | 978-4-09-851448-9 | |
| |||
| 4 | June 12, 2023[12] | 978-4-09-852016-9 | |
| |||
| 5 | July 11, 2024[13] | 978-4-09-853298-8 | |
| |||
| 6 | November 12, 2024[14] | 978-4-09-853709-9 | |
| |||
| 7 | April 10, 2026[8] | 978-4-09-854207-9 | |
| |||
Anime
An anime television series adaptation was announced on January 27, 2026. The series is produced by Studio Kafka, co-produced with Amazon MGM Studios, and directed by Kazuaki Terasawa, with Teruko Utsumi handling series composition, Takahiko Abiru designing the characters and serving as chief animation director, and Kevin Penkin composing the music. Megumi Han is providing the narration.[2] It premiered on April 7, 2026, on Tokyo MX and BS NTV.[b] The opening theme song is "Hidane" (火種; 'Flashpoint') performed by Tatsuya Kitani,[4] while the ending theme song is theme song is "Chikai" (誓い; 'Oath') performed by Leina.[5] Amazon Prime Video began streaming the series worldwide on April 5, two days before the scheduled broadcast on Japanese linear television.[4]
Episodes
| No. | Title [16][17] | Directed by [c] | Written by [c] | Storyboarded by [c] | Original release date [18][a][b] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "An Oath for Peace" Transliteration: "Taihei no Chikai" (Japanese: 泰平の誓い) | Kazuaki Terasawa | Teruko Utsumi | Kazuaki Terasawa | April 7, 2026 | |
|
Towards the end of the Reiwa era, Japan experiences a major economic crisis. Following a nuclear war, Japan experiences a refugee influx, which leads to social collapse and technological regression. During the Sankoku period, three nations fight for control of the country. In the nation of Yamato, Aoteru Misumi, a scholarly agricultural officer, marries the headstrong Saki Higashimachi. Their village in the Ehime Prefecture is visited by Denki Taira, the corrupt Lord of Home Affairs, who orders a tax inspection. While Aoteru is timid, Saki encourages her husband to stand up for what is right. She stops an unscrupulous tax collector from terrorizing a fellow villager and beats him with his own stick. Later, Saki is beheaded by the Taira clan for stopping the tax collector and insulting Taira. Aoteru seeks an audience with Taira and defends Saki's honor. Impressed by his courage and understanding the tax collector is the one who directly did the insult, Taira orders the execution of the tax collector. Before leaving to mourn Saki's death, Aoteru quotes a passage from Sun Tzu about the use of deception in warfare. | ||||||
| 2 | "Toryumon" Transliteration: "Tōryūmon" (Japanese: 登龍門) | Himari Tamagawa | Teruko Utsumi | Kazuaki Terasawa | April 14, 2026 | |
|
The eastern nation of Buo invades Aichi in Yamato territory. Despite their superior numbers, the invaders surrender after Mitsuhide Ryumon, the Yamato borderland general, leads a successful decapitation strike against the Buo commanders and convinces the remaining officers and troops to surrender in return for land. After burying Saki, Aoteru moves to the Yamato capital Osaka to participate in the Toryumon, an entrance exam for the elite Borderland General Corps. While staying at a hotel, Aoteru meets Yoshitsune Asama, an ambitious noble who is a skilled swordsman. Yoshitsune uses his combat skills to drive off several thugs. Aoteru also has a philosophical discussion with Yoshitsune, whose combative nature clashes with Aoteru's introspective nature. The two participate in the Toryumon exam, which involves attempting to force Ryumon to bend his knee. Several applicants try the test but fail. Yoshitsune proceeds to advance on Ryumon with his sword. | ||||||
| 3 | "Imperial Council" Transliteration: "Chōgi" (Japanese: 朝議) | Yoji Sato | Teruko Utsumi | Hiromitsu Kanazawa | April 21, 2026 | |
|
While Ryumon blocks Yoshitsune's first attack, he is forced to bend his knee after Yoshitsune hits him with a follow-up attack. Having passed the test, Ryumon inducts him into the Borderland Corps. Taking a different approach, Aoteru briefs Ryumon about his proposed agricultural policy to boost agricultural production in the Borderlands by using soldiers as farmers. Impressed, Ryumon willingly kneels before Aoteru, inducting him to the Borderland Corps. Three years pass and Aoteru's agricultural policy is successfully implemented, boosting Yamato's agricultural production while ensuring a strong military presence in the Borderlands. With Yamato's northern neighbor Seii facing famine and social collapse, Ryumon advises Fuji III, the emperor, to negotiate a truce with Seii with the goal of commencing modest trade relations. However, Taira counsels Fuji III to instead invade Seii, having already sent a letter demanding their unconditional surrender without the latter's approval. When several court officials oppose Taira's plan, Taira has his troops execute the dissenters. As such, a cowardly Fuji III accedes to Taira's plan. Sensing trouble ahead, Aoteru and Yoshitsune resolve to support Ryumon. Taira's missive later arrives in Seii. | ||||||
| 4 | "The Seii Coup" Transliteration: "Seii Seihen" (Japanese: 聖夷政変) | Aro Morita | Akimine Takahashi | Aro Morita | April 28, 2026 | |
|
Aoteru rises to the position of auditor general in the Borderland Corps and develops a reputation for his zero tolerance of corruption, ordering the hanging of a corrupt deputy auditor who murdered three citizens and sexually assaulted their daughter. While Yoshitsune balks at his friend's zeal and refusal to grant favors to colleagues, Aoteru counters that corruption undermines public trust in the Yamato government. Meanwhile, Seii's corrupt government is about to surrender to Yamato's demands when a militant faction led by Commander Ohga Wajima stages a coup d’état and executes the President Haruichi Azadi. While preparing for war with Yamato, Ohga embarks on a campaign to win the hearts and minds of her impoverished subjects by distributing rice porridge from the state's stores. | ||||||
| 5 | "The Borderland General Corps Marches Out" Transliteration: "Henkyō Shōgun-tai, Shutsujin" (Japanese: 辺境将軍隊、出陣) | Miho Nagisa | Teruko Utsumi | Miho Nagisa | May 5, 2026 | |
|
Ryumon learns from a spy that Seii may be preparing to attack and offers to travel to Fukui near the border to investigate. When Fuji III expresses his support for the plan, they are interrupted by Denki Taira. Just then, grand archivist Tonotsugu Taira, Denki's son, brings news that Muuton Nagao, Seii's chief negotiator and governor of Kaga Province, has offered to defect to Yamato with his soldiers and territory after he was supposedly sent to Kaga as punishment. Tonotsugu recommends that troops and supplies be sent immediately to Kaga, but Ryumon suspects that it is a trap by Ohga. However, Denki insists that Fuji III sends 30,000 troops from Fukui to Kaga and that Ryumon lead 5,000 soldiers to support Tonotsugu. Ryumon meets his strategist, Yasuaki Kaku, who also suspects a trap, and they develop their own plan, leaving a skeleton force that includes Aoteru and Yoshitsune to hold the fort. Ryumon also imprisons one of his officers, who is sympathetic to Ohga and advocates defecting to her side. | ||||||
| 6 | "Eve of War" Transliteration: "Kaisen Zen'ya" (Japanese: 開戦前夜) | Shūjirō Ami | Teruko Utsumi | Shūjirō Ami | May 12, 2026 | |
|
Tonotsugu sets out for Kanazawa, protected by Ryumon and accompanied by Right Lieutenant General Goh Sugoh of the Borderland General Corps with 30,000 soldiers and 1,000 reinforcements. Leading a force of 1,000 soldiers, Left Lieutenant General Shiryo Nagamine is posted in Daishoji, while Borderland General Mitsuhide Ryumon and strategist Yasuaki Kaku, leading a rear force of 3,000, reach Fukui Reihoku Castle. At Kanazawa Castle, Kaga, the Seii Commander-in-Chief, Ohga Wajima, receives news that Tonotsugu has reached Kaga. Wajima interrogates Yamato Chief Negotiator Muuton Nagao by beating him publicly, although Nagao is secretly supporting Wajima, and has his messenger report back that Yamato should attack Kaga. At the Tedori River outside Kaga, Tonotsugu receives news that Kanazawa is poorly defended and decides to cross the bridge and take the town. However, Right Lieutenant General Goh Sugoh urges caution and suggests they camp and send out scouts while awaiting reinforcements. Tonotsugu disagrees, and he has Goh Sugoh arrested, then prepares to advance. When Ryumon hears this news, he decides not to proceed to Kanazawa, suspecting a trap. Meanwhile, 70,000 Seii forces led by Aterui Kura break through the Tani Tunnel and invade Okuetsu and attack Kuzuryu Castle, which only has Yamato 2,000 defenders. Second-in-Command Hiraizumi suggests that Castellan Yoshinaga Sato request reinforcements from Osaka, but the Seii commander, Aterui Kura, breaches the castle walls. He offers freedom to the inhabitants if he receives the head of the Castellan, but instead of surrendering, the Yamato forces ride out to defend the castle. | ||||||
Reception
The series was nominated for the eighth Next Manga Awards in 2022 in the web category and was ranked 17th out of 50 nominees.[19] It was also nominated for the ninth edition in 2023.[20] The series was ranked 12th, alongside Fool Night and Kujima: Why Sing, When You Can Warble?, in the 2023 edition of Takarajimasha's Kono Manga ga Sugoi! guidebook for the best manga for male readers.[21] The series was nominated for the 16th Manga Taishō and was ranked fifth alongside A Witch's Life in Mongol.[22] The series ranked third in the Nationwide Publishers Recommended Comics of 2023 list.[23] The series was ranked 22nd in Da Vinci's "Book of the Year" list in 2023.[24]