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A spoiler-free analysis/presentation of Shigurui where we ask ourselves what makes a great writer-artist team and why Norio Nanjo and Takayuki Yamaguchi are one.
This is one of the most brutal seinen out there with also a lot of nudity so if that's not your thing don't read this
This is one of the most brutal seinen out there with also a lot of nudity so if that's not your thing don't read this
What makes a great writer-artist team in manga?
If they are used to work within the same popular codes in the genre (sports, yakuza, etc) then it's easier since they have a common ground (see pictures)
But how can 2 people with strong specific visions complete each other?
If they are used to work within the same popular codes in the genre (sports, yakuza, etc) then it's easier since they have a common ground (see pictures)
But how can 2 people with strong specific visions complete each other?
To be honest I don't know the answer to that question 
What I'm sure of is that we can learn a lot from analysing the atypical Shigurui.
I'll first look into the writing of Norio Nanjo (first picture) then the specificities of Yamaguchi's art and how it completes the writing
What I'm sure of is that we can learn a lot from analysing the atypical Shigurui.
I'll first look into the writing of Norio Nanjo (first picture) then the specificities of Yamaguchi's art and how it completes the writing
The manga Shigurui is based on the first chapter of the novel Surugajô Gozenjiai from Norio Nanjo (he is a novelist).
Surugajô Gozenjiai tell the story of the participants of the historical Supu castle tournament where they had to fight using real swords, with horrible results.
Surugajô Gozenjiai tell the story of the participants of the historical Supu castle tournament where they had to fight using real swords, with horrible results.
Shigurui focuses on two handicapped samurais who fought against one another in the tournament : Irako Seigen and Fujiki Gennosuke.
Through their rivalry Norio Nanjo depicts a merciless, rigid and deeply unjust feodal society in which humans struggle to be free.
Through their rivalry Norio Nanjo depicts a merciless, rigid and deeply unjust feodal society in which humans struggle to be free.
The tone is set from the first chapter, this isn't going to be a pretty story.
The main theme is how that society oppresses individuals and the different ways those men and women will try to live or simply survive in it.
The main theme is how that society oppresses individuals and the different ways those men and women will try to live or simply survive in it.
In practice Shigurui is set apart from other samurais mangas by the huge presence of the narrator.
It is a tool for Norio Nanjo to put his own thoughts, explaining historic rituals, roles and positions to the reader, which gives the manga a very realist feel.
It is a tool for Norio Nanjo to put his own thoughts, explaining historic rituals, roles and positions to the reader, which gives the manga a very realist feel.
Most of the time though Norio simply describes the actions already happening in the panels.
At first glance this seems to be bad storytelling as it goes against the "show don't tell" rule, but it works in this specific context for two reasons :
At first glance this seems to be bad storytelling as it goes against the "show don't tell" rule, but it works in this specific context for two reasons :
1) It allows Norio to slow down the pace and raise the tension (good exemple in the picture) like a spaghetti western.
2) It creates distance between the reader and the characters, as the narrator takes the place of the character's thoughts which are used less.
2) It creates distance between the reader and the characters, as the narrator takes the place of the character's thoughts which are used less.
This distance helps the reader stomach the suffering of the characters better (at least for me
) but it's main usefulness is to incite the reader to interpret the symbols/subtext that Norio has scattered in the manga.
Shigurui is indeed filled with beautiful unexplained imagery
) but it's main usefulness is to incite the reader to interpret the symbols/subtext that Norio has scattered in the manga.Shigurui is indeed filled with beautiful unexplained imagery
They are unavoidable and while their meaning is often obvious, some of them indicate that there is something more and push the reader to try to understand the subtext.
If the reader is attentive enough they act like a reward.
If the reader is attentive enough they act like a reward.
To finish on Norio's writing I found that one big weakness of Shigurui is the midway introduction of two characters unrelated to the main plot.
They don't fit in the manga setting and their character arc lack closure.
They don't fit in the manga setting and their character arc lack closure.
Now let's look at the art!
Yamaguchi's drawings are very realistic and detailed, he is capable of drawing realist historical buildings as well as extremely intidimating character avatars or beautiful compositions.
Yamaguchi's drawings are very realistic and detailed, he is capable of drawing realist historical buildings as well as extremely intidimating character avatars or beautiful compositions.
But what Yamaguchi brings that can't be found in any other manga artist is his special depiction of the character's body.
I am not only talking here about the realism in which he draws the bodies but how he uses their representation.
It's an entire new mean of expression.
I am not only talking here about the realism in which he draws the bodies but how he uses their representation.
It's an entire new mean of expression.
The human body with Yamaguchi is both capable of impossibly strong violence while being as fragile as a real human body (unlike with Boichi).
This is enhanced through very good paneling and to understand we'll examine the conclusion of Gennosuke vs a poor pitiable samurai (PPS).
This is enhanced through very good paneling and to understand we'll examine the conclusion of Gennosuke vs a poor pitiable samurai (PPS).
In this page we see that PPS is already hurt in the big panel with Gennosuke focused on him.
But instead of retracting his arm, Gennosuke starts to spin.
This is shown in 2 panels with minimal changes to slow time, PPS is stuck in a small panel between the two. No time for him.
But instead of retracting his arm, Gennosuke starts to spin.
This is shown in 2 panels with minimal changes to slow time, PPS is stuck in a small panel between the two. No time for him.
The composition of the next page show Gennosuke dominating PPS. Time is almost suspended now (very small motion lines show the speed difference between the two).
The punch is finally released in two panels where the acceleration is shown through a moment-to-moment transition.
The punch is finally released in two panels where the acceleration is shown through a moment-to-moment transition.
The gruesome result is shown indirectly at first, then we see the PPS's destroyed face. The wandering lower jaw is a bonus.
Time is not only stopped to show the damage but also used to detail the movement and strenght of the punch.
The hand isn't fine either (last picture)
Time is not only stopped to show the damage but also used to detail the movement and strenght of the punch.
The hand isn't fine either (last picture)
Of course Yamaguchi's paneling changes a lot from fight to fight, but this obsession on all-powerful but vulnerable bodies is always there.
The movements are often detailed like above, making the fight scenes realistic (in the manga's own setting).
The movements are often detailed like above, making the fight scenes realistic (in the manga's own setting).
This treatment of the human body completely fits the themes of Shigurui as Man is either the victim or the persecutor in this feodal society.
Honestly I don't think there would be a better artist to draw those fights.
Honestly I don't think there would be a better artist to draw those fights.
What is even more crazy to me is the way Yamaguchi managed to hide his weaknesses. He has never been able to display subtle emotions in his mangas, going often into the grotesque.
Here the body does the job instead! (only two pictures because I can't spoil)
Here the body does the job instead! (only two pictures because I can't spoil)
Stress, rage, sexual attraction, disgust, the bodies show what the characters can't express openly.
This suits the theme of the manga perfectly too as almost every character in the manga has learned to hide his/her emotions to survive. Their lack of expression is a necessity.
This suits the theme of the manga perfectly too as almost every character in the manga has learned to hide his/her emotions to survive. Their lack of expression is a necessity.
I hope you liked this analysis/presentation, I don't usually present mangas so I tried to find an angle with which everyone can learn something, even those who already read Shigurui.
If you don't agree with something or you have questions please tell me.
If you don't agree with something or you have questions please tell me.
