Tail of the Moon

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Tail of the Moon

月のしっぽ
(Tsuki no Shippo)

Genre

shōjo

Manga

Authored by

Rinko Ueda

Publisher

Shueisha

Other publishers:
Viz

Serialized in

Original run

2002 –

No. of volumes

Tail of the Moon (月のしっぽ, Tsuki no Shippo^?) is a shōjo manga series by Rinko Ueda.^[1] It is published by Viz Media in the U.S. and three volumes have been released as of March 2007. The main characters are Usagi and Hattori Hanzo.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

[edit] Plot

The story takes place in the Tensho Era of Japan. Usagi is a bumbling Ninja-In-Training in her village in Southern Iga. Since she is such a terrible Ninja and has made no progress, though she is already 15, her Grandfather gives her a special mission: to go to Segachi and marry Hanzo Hattori, the leader of the main branch Ninja family.

Mamezo, Usagi's longtime friend and companion, accompanies her on her trip to Segachi. Once they arrive it becomes apparent that Hanzo has no intention of marrying anyone, and worse yet, it seems Usagi has a much more refined rival. It is clear that as Usagi spends more time with Hanzo, she is growing on him, though the fact that he is constantly bombarded with new potential brides makes Usagi self-conscious.

[edit] Characters

Usagi (also known as "Usa"): A young Ninja-In-Training who seeks to marry Hattori Hanzo in order to bear his child for the sake of her family. Her one skill is the making of medicinal herbs, due to the fact that she suffers from constant stomach aches and sought to find a medicine that would cure them. It is revealed that originally, Usagi faked stomach aches to get out of ninja practice, but as she got older she really began to have them. It has not yet been revealed why. She is immune to most poisons due to the strong medicine that she constantly ingests.

Mamezo: Usagi's constant companion. He is a young boy who looks to be between six to eight years old, although he seems somewhat more skilled in every day tasks than Usagi (at one point, it is revealed that he even helps her dress).

Hanzo Hattori: Usagi's love interest. A dedicated and talented young ninja who is head of his clan. He has made it clear that he has no intention of marrying anyone, although he allows Usagi to hang around and even indulges her a little.

Yuri Fujibayashi: Usagi's rival. Yuri is clearly more talented than Usagi at ninjutsu, but appears to be threatened by the way Usagi's good-natured and straight forward behavior seems to affect Hanzo. Shortly after she arrives, she attempts to poison Usagi but fails due to Usagi's immunity.

Hanzo Hattori Okazaki (Branch Family): A relative of Hanzo's, and a notorious playboy. He is dating Princess Sara, the daughter of Nobunaga, against the will of his father (a servant of Lord Ieyasu).

Princess Sara: The daughter of the feudal warlord Nobunaga, Princess Sara is a talented Ninja, but is considered a enemy by many Ninja clans due to her father's actions. Assassins are regularly sent after her.

Goemon: He was once engaged to be married to Usagi, and grew up taking care of her in their Ninja village. Goemon canceled the engagement for some unknown reason, but appears to still hold feelings for Usagi, and actively interferes with communications between Hanzo and Usagi for a while.

Lord Ieyasu: Another Feudal Lord, Ieyasu's son and wife were killed by Princess Sara. He hires Usagi as an herbalist to assist his current herbalist, Yukimaru.

Yukimaru: The chief herbalist at Ieyasu castle. Originally Usagi believed him to be a woman, due to his good looks. Yukimaru also believed Usagi to be a boy. Yukimaru has a fear of women, and Usagi makes him uncomfortable.