Arata: The Legend
Arata: The Legend is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yuu Watase. The series follows two boys, Arata, from the mystical world of Amawakuni, and Arata Hinohara, from modern Japan, who switch places. Framed for treason, Hinohara must master a sacred Hayagami sword to save Amawakuni from rebellion while evading his past bully, Kadowaki, now wielding dark power. Meanwhile, Arata befriends Imina, the true heir to Amawakuni's throne, as they uncover a plot to conquer both worlds.
Arata: The Legend started serialization in Shogakukan's manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Sunday in October 2008. The series went on hiatus in August 2015 and resumed publication with republished chapters in May 2021 and all-new chapters starting in July of that same year. It finished in Weekly Shōnen Sunday in April 2022 and was transferred to the website in May of the same year, where it finished in November 2023. Its chapters were first collected in a 24-volume edition from January 2009 to September 2015, and a Remaster edition started in July 2013; after the hiatus, the subsequent chapters were only compiled in the latter edition, with the eighteenth and final volume published in December 2023. In North America, the manga is licensed for English release by Viz Media, with the 24 volumes of the edition published.
A 12-episode anime television series adaptation by Satelight and Korean studio JM Animation was broadcast on TV Tokyo from April to July 2013.
Plot
Arata of another world called Amawakuni and Arata Hinohara of modern-day Japan switch places. An illusion hides the switch from people of both worlds, and Hinohara and Arata pass as each other. Kannagi, a wielder of special sword-spirits called Hayagami, has led eleven other wielders against their ruler Princess Kikuri and framed Arata, the sole witness. The Imperial Court convicts Arata and exiles him to Gatoya Island, but due to the switch, Hinohara goes in Arata's place.Kotoha, Arata's childhood friend, accompanies Hinohara and gives him Tsukuyo, a Hayagami that Hinohara activated before his trial. She also gives him a charm Michihi no Tama, through which he and Arata communicate. Barely alive, Kikuri also speaks to Hinohara through the charm and tasks him with restoring order to Amawakuni. Hinohara escapes Gatoya, learns to use Tsukuyo, and gains allies, including Kannagi. As he defeats the other rebels, Hinohara learns Masato Kadowaki, a bully from his past in modern-day Japan, has followed in his footsteps. After switching places with Harunawa, one of the mysterious Six Shinshō, Kadowaki activates a Hayagami of his own, Orochi, and faces Hinohara in multiple fights. Along the way, Hinohara and Kotoha grow close, and their relationship complicated when Kotoha discovers Hinohara's true identity and when he loses control of his growing power and hurts her.
In modern-day Japan, Arata adjusts to high school and befriends Imina Oribe. Imina, a woman from Kikuri's clan who winded up lost on Earth fifteen years prior, is the true heir. Harunawa, who passes as Kadowaki, plots to kill Imina and end Kikuri's line. Arata and Imina search for information in prophecies on how to foil the Six Shinshō's ambition to rule both Amawakuni and Earth. Harunawa attacks the school and infects the city to augment his powers. Imina counters the outbreak with her Amatsuriki abilities, unique to women of her clan, to protect Arata and the Hinohara family.
Characters
In Amawakuni
;Arata Hinohara;Kotoha
;Princess Kikuri
;Masato Kadowaki
;Kannagi
;Mikusa
On Earth
;Arata;Imina Oribe
;Harunawa
Media
Manga
Written and illustrated by Yuu Watase, Arata: The Legend started in Shogakukan's manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Sunday on October 1, 2008. In January 2014, Watase announced that the series was heading toward its climax; that same month, Watase posted on her personal blog about negative experiences with a former editor for her series. After a chapter published on February 26 of the same year, Watase put the series on hiatus. The series resumed publication from July 8 to August 26, 2015, before entering another hiatus. In May 2018, Watase posted on Twitter that she was trying to resume the manga that year, adding that she was still recovering from depression. In December 2020, Watase reveled that she had planned the series' remaining plot. Weekly Shōnen Sunday started republishing chapters on May 19, 2021, while all-new chapters started in the magazine on July 7 of the same year. The manga finished publication in the magazine on April 20, 2022, and transferred to the website on May 4 of the same year. The series finished on November 1, 2023.Shogakukan collected its chapters in 24 volumes, published from January 16, 2009, to September 18, 2015. Shogakukan started re-releasing the series in a two-in-one volume edition, under the title Arata: The Legend – Remaster, which includes the original color page chapters from the magazine, corrections, additions, and various other modifications. The first volume was released on July 18, 2013. On May 14, 2021, Watase wrote on her blog that the edition would no longer continue, and the series would only continue with the Remaster edition. The eighteenth and last volume was released on December 18, 2023.
In North America, the manga was licensed for English release by Viz Media in 2009. Viz Media published the 24 volumes of the edition from March 9, 2010, to August 9, 2016.