Intrigue in the Bakumatsu 幕末機関説~いろはにほへと~ [Season 1 Episodes 1-3]

Intrigue in the Bakumatsu: Irohanihoheto – A Bloody Blend of History and Supernatural Mystery

If you’re into samurai flicks but crave something weirder than just sword fights, Intrigue in the Bakumatsu: Irohanihoheto (or Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto if you want to sound fancy) might be your next obsession. This 2006 anime from Sunrise—yes, the studio behind Code Geass and Gundam—drops you into Japan’s chaotic Bakumatsu period (1853–1867), where samurai clash, shoguns fall, and… wait, is that a guy hunting supernatural relics with a sword?

Let’s break down the first three episodes, which hit you like a shuriken to the gut—fast, sharp, and full of surprises.

The Wanderer with a Sword and a Grudge

Meet Yojiro Akizuki, our main man: a mercenary with a face like he’s seen one too many battles (and he has). He’s not just slicing up bad guys for cash—he’s on a mission to find “Onmyoji artifacts,” these creepy supernatural items that seem to mess with reality. Fans on MyAnimeList are already geeking out over his vibe: “Yojiro’s single-mindedness is both cool and scary,” one user wrote. “He’ll cut down anyone in his way, but you can tell there’s more to his quest than just power.”

In Episode 1, we see him track a relic to a small village, only to find it guarded by a cult that’s been sacrificing people. The fight scenes here are brutal—think Samurai Champloo but with more blood and less jazz. Sunrise’s animation shines when Yojiro unsheathes his blade; every swing feels weighty, like you can almost hear the metal cutting through air.

The Theater Troupe with a Secret

Then there’s the traveling theater group, the “Oniwabanshu.” At first, they seem like your average performers—singing, dancing, putting on plays about ancient heroes. But don’t be fooled. Episode 2 reveals they’re actually spies working for the shogunate, using their shows to gather intel and eliminate enemies. “The theater angle is genius,” a fan commented. “You never know if they’re acting or plotting—their smiles are so fake, it’s unsettling.”

The troupe’s leader, a mysterious woman named Yukimura, has a past tied to Yojiro’s. Their first encounter is tense: she’s performing a play about a samurai’s revenge, and Yojiro storms the stage, sword drawn. “Is this your idea of entertainment?” he growls. The crowd panics, but Yukimura just smirks. “We’re all actors in the end, aren’t we?”

History Meets Horror

What makes Irohanihoheto stand out is how it weaves real Bakumatsu events into its supernatural plot. The fall of the Tokugawa shogunate, the rise of the Meiji Restoration—these aren’t just backdrop; they’re fuel for the chaos. Episode 3 dives into the “Sakuradamon Incident” (1860), where samurai assassinated a shogunate official. But here, the assassins are wielding Onmyoji artifacts, turning the historical event into a horror show.

“Mixing real history with ghosts and relics shouldn’t work, but it does,” another fan raved. “You learn something about Japan’s past while being creeped out by a samurai possessed by a demon. Win-win!”

The Verdict So Far

After three episodes, Irohanihoheto has set up a world where no one is safe, and every secret is deadlier than the last. The pacing is tight—no filler, just nonstop action and intrigue. Yojiro’s quest, the theater troupe’s agenda, and the looming threat of the artifacts all collide in a way that leaves you begging for more.

Is it perfect? No. Some fans complain the dialogue can be a bit heavy on exposition (“They explain the Onmyoji stuff like we’re in a history class”), but honestly, it’s worth it to understand the lore. And let’s be real—when Yojiro is slicing through a horde of cultists while a relic glows in the background, do you really care about a few extra lines?

If you’re tired of generic isekai or slice-of-life anime, give Intrigue in the Bakumatsu: Irohanihoheto a shot. It’s dark, it’s stylish, and it’s proof that samurai stories don’t have to be stuck in the past. Just don’t watch it alone at night—those Onmyoji artifacts are nightmare fuel.

Rating (so far): 8/10 — Bloody, brainy, and bizarre in the best way.

P.S. Keep an eye on the opening theme—“Hengen Jizai no Maguna” by Kousuke Atari. It’s a bop that sounds like a samurai’s war cry mixed with a lullaby. You’ll be humming it for days.