Peter's Japan blog

A long title for this semi-historical epic anime. It combines some historical and fictional characters and events that takes place during the Bakumatsu period in the last years of the shogunate and the first years of the Meiji Restauration.
The story goes about a mysterious samurai, Akizuki Youjirou, who wields a legendary sword and who has a special destiny to stop an rising super-natural evil which could change the course of history. He comes across a traveling kabuki theatre group headed by Yuyama Kakunojou. The actors seek revenge for the man who killed their parents. Akizuki travels somewhat alongside them. They are also followed by an intelligent playwright Ibaragi Soutetsu, but has some mysterious motives.

I just ended watching the whole series and I must say it is a very good one. It has drama and beautiful historic scenes that give a very good impression of how Japan was in the 1850-60s. It gives many references to historical battles and persons. The characters are very good and you really start to like them, and they are portrayed very well.
The story itself takes a bit long to develop though and gets quite complicated, and there are many names to remember.
The soundtrack is just awesome, this is not your simple midi-keyboard. The complete soundtrack is done by an orchestra also using some typical japanese instruments, which gives the music a very japanese style. Also the melody is very typical japanese and it is really able to create the perfect mood. Also the OP theme is wonderful.

My rating:
Animation: 8
Characters: 9
Sound: 10
Story: 7
Overal: 8

If you like semi-historical drama with some super-natural, this is certainly something for you. And the soundtrack really makes up for some of the negative points.

Some pictures:

The opening title:
YouTube