Brave 10

Brave 10 (Japanese: ブレイブ・テン, Hepburn: Bureibu Ten) is a manga series by Kairi Shimotsuki, serialized in Media Factory's Comic Flapper from 2007 to 2010. The series was resumed on June 15, 2011 and retitled Brave 10 Spiral (ブレイブ・テン・スパイラル, Bureibu Ten Supairaru), better known as Brave 10 S, serialized in Monthly Comic Gene. An anime adaptation by Studio Sakimakura and TMS Entertainment began airing on January 8, 2012.^[1] The original manga series is licensed by Tokyopop, though no volumes have been released as of 2012. The series is based on the legendary Sanada Ten Braves, a group of ninja that assisted warlord Sanada Yukimura during the Sengoku period of Japan. The series had been licensed for streaming on Crunchyroll.

Plot

The story takes place during the Warring States period, approximately a year before the Battle of Sekigahara. Kirigakure Saizou, an Iga Ninja in search of his life's path, comes across Isanami, an Izumo shrine maiden, being attacked by assassins. Isanami, who survived the burning of Izumo Temple by Tokugawa Ieyasu's forces, is traveling to Shinshuu to seek sanctuary with Sanada Yukimura. At the same time, Sanada Yukimura is in the midst of gathering 10 subjects of extraordinary valor, the Sanada Ten Braves, whose combined strength will allow them to alter the course of history. During the course of the continuing battles, the mysterious power hidden within Isanami will awaken soon...

Characters

Saizō Kirigakure (霧隠才蔵, Kirigakure Saizō)

Voiced by: Daisuke Ono

A Ninja who originally came from Iga. He was rumored to be the "genius" ninja who has never let even a single strand of hair to be touched. It was indicated Saizo has been a cold, efficient ninja who has killed large number of people, but later changed after he met Isanami who insisted to believe in him. His weapon allowed him to use "senkou" (flash) that enables him to accelerate. According to Yukimura, Saizo carries the element of light, which he denies because he has taken so many lives.

Isanami (伊佐那海)

Voiced by: Rina Satō

A girl Saizo saved in the woods, first seen running from an organization that seem to after her. After her home in izumo is burnt down, Isanami as the only survivor went to seek refuge by Yukimura. Though it seems she always play a damsel in distress because of her kushi mitama, she regrets of making people hurt because of her and decided to run away. But later Ana encourage her to face the reality and that the strength come in different shape, boosting her confidence to become one of Yukimura's brave. Among the braves, when Saizo is the light, Isanami is actually the darkness. Later it was revealed that she was the goddess of darkness that took 1000 people lives named Isanami, and the only one that could stop her is only Saizo.

Sasuke Sarutobi (猿飛佐助, Sarutobi Sasuke)

Voiced by: Tetsuya Kakihara

A ninja that could communicate with the animals and always having a composed feature. His element is grass.

Yukimura Sanada (真田幸村, Sanada Yukimura)

Voiced by: Toshiyuki Morikawa

The Lord that gathers the 10 braves with his non-chalant attitude. But his subordinates are all loyal to him, especially Rokuro. He seems to possess the power to battle either by demonstrating the small duel between him and Date Masamune.

Anastasia (アナスタシア)

Voiced by: Yū Asakawa

The stranded princess from Europe to Japan. In order to return the honor back to her family, Hanzo tricked her and made her his pawn. Making her betraying the Yukimura and the braves. Her element is ice.

Benmaru (望月六郎 (弁丸))

Voiced by: Izumi Kitta

A kid Yukimura met on the way to Kyoto. He excels in traps and bombs. His element is fire.

Masamune Date (伊達政宗, Date Masamune)

Voiced by: Takehito Koyasu

Hattori Hanzō (服部半蔵, Hanzō Hattori)

Voiced by: Takahiro Sakurai

The head of the 5 Iga ninja. Seems to be even stronger then Saizo in terms of speed. But later due to his greed and thinking that he could tame the pure darkness, Isanami who has changed into the goddess devoured him.

Kakei Juzo (筧十蔵, Juzo Kakei)

Voiced by: Ryōtarō Okiayu

An up-tight and sticking to the tradition samurai that excels in sniping. Seems to love his gun to the point of naming them one by one. His element is metal.

Jinpachi Nezu (根津 甚八, Nezu Jinpachi)

Voiced by: Kazuya Nakai

Miyoshi Seikai Nyuudou (三好清海入道, Nyuudou Miyoshi Seikai)

Voiced by: Kazunari Tanaka

The one who picked Isanami in Izumo when she was a baby. When he learned about Isanami he became confused with the path of God and went to search of his own God. He thought isanami as his own sister and went to lengthy measure to protect her, including when she is being picked. He has a monstrous power and muscles that could block shuriken and crush the ground. His element is earth

Rokuro Unno (海野 六郎, Unno Rokuro)

Voiced by: Hiroshi Kamiya

Yukimura's most loyal servant and is able to record and see through anything in his right eye. He also has the power of soundwaves. His element is water.

Kamanosuke Yuri (由利 鎌之介, Yuri Kamanosuke)

Voiced by: Motoki Takagi

An unclear fact whether kamanosuke is a girl or a man. He wields a large sickle and able to control wind. He was saved by Isanami from Saizo and after letting him live, he went to follow Saizo to battle him more, and later picked by Yukimura to be one of the braves.

Ishida Mitsunari (石田 三成, Mitsunari Ishida)

Voiced by: Hikaru Midorikawa

Naoe Kanetsugu (直江 兼続, Kanetsugu Naoe)

Voiced by: Shinichiro Miki

Media

Manga

Anime

Episode list

Radio

There is a Web Radio program called " 柿原徹也・ 森川智之の BRAVE10 on the radio " ^[2] starring Japanese voice actor as host: Tetsuya Kakihara as Sarutobi Sasuke (猿飛佐助, Sarutobi Sasuke) and Toshiyuki Morikawa as Yukimura Sanada (真田幸村, Sanada Yukimura) It was first broadcast online in December 2011.

They usually talk about what is happening currently in the anime and manga related to Brave 10 series. Sometimes random guests from the Japanese anime cast will also come join in the radio chat. You can listen to it free of charge at the HiBiKi radio station website. However, they do update and replace the old episodes as newer episodes comes, so don't miss the chance to listen to it.

The " 柿原徹也・ 森川智之の BRAVE10 on the radio " program is also released on DVD and Mobacon format in Japan.^[3] There are five volumes being released. The first volume was released on January 27, 2012 in Japan. People who pre-ordered the first volume received special photos from the Japanese voice acting radio cast.

References

External links

• Brave 10 (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
• Official site (Japanese)