Ishura
Ishura is a Japanese light novel series written by Keiso. It originated on the novel posting websites Kakuyomu and Shōsetsuka ni Narō, before being acquired by ASCII Media Works, who published the series with illustrations by Kureta under their Dengeki no Shin Bungei imprint. As of December 2024, ten volumes have been released. A manga adaptation with illustrations by Meguri began serialization in Kodansha's Monthly Shōnen Magazine in March 2021. As of June 2024, its chapters have been collected into four volumes. An anime television series adaptation produced by Passione and Sanzigen aired from January to March 2024. A second season aired from January to March 2025.
Plot
The demon king is dead. However, the host of "Shuras", demi-god-like people capable of felling him, remain and are now effectively free to do whatever they want, with some becoming conquerors while others wander, indifferent to the world around them. Thus, with the identity of the one who slew the demon king being a mystery, these champions now spark conflicts among themselves, all to determine who is the mightiest and attain the title of "True Hero".Characters
Shuras
;Soujiro the Willow-Sword;Alus the Star Runner
;Dakai the Magpie
;Regnejee the Sunset Wings
;Kia the World Word
;Nihilo the Vortical Stampede
;Shalk the Sound Slicer
;Higuare the Pelagic
;Kuze the Passing Disaster
;Nastique the Quiet Singer
;Mele the Horizon's Roar
;Linaris the Obsidian
;Toroa the Awful
;Mestelexil the Box of Desperate Knowledge
;Hiroto the Paradox
Aureatia
Aureatia is the largest nation in the setting. It is governed by 29 Officials.;Jelky the Swift Ink
;Hargent the Silencer
;Elea the Red Tag
;Enu the Distant Mirror
;Hidow the Clamp
New Principality of Lithia
New Principality of Lithia is a city-state seeking independence from Aureatia.;Taren the Punished
;Curte the Clear Sky
;Lana the Moon Tempest
Others
;Yuno the Distant Talon;Kuuro the Cautious
;Cuneigh the Wanderer
;Kiyazuna the Axle
Media
Light novels
The series is written by Keiso. It originated as a web novel published on the Kakuyomu novel website on June 30, 2017. It then appeared on the Shōsetsuka ni Narō website as well on July 2, 2017. It was later acquired by ASCII Media Works, who published the series under their Dengeki no Shin Bungei imprint. The first volume was released on September 17, 2019. As of December 2024, ten volumes have been released.In September 2021, Yen Press announced that it had licensed the series for an English publication, releasing the first volume on May 3, 2022. Its imprint Yen Audio began to release an English audiobook of the novel on October 10, 2023. It features the voices of Chris Guerrero and Emily Bauer.
Manga
A manga adaptation, illustrated by Meguri, began serialization in Kodansha's Monthly Shōnen Magazine on March 5, 2021. Kodansha has collected its chapters into individual volumes, with the first one released on July 16, 2021. As of June 17, 2024, four volumes have been released.Anime
An anime television series adaptation was announced on February 12, 2023. It was produced by Passione and directed by Yuki Ogawa, with chief direction by Takeo Takahashi, assistant direction by Takuya Asaoka, Fujiaki Asari, Takahiro Majima and Hironori Aoyagi, scripts written by Kenta Ihara, characters designed by Yoko Kikuchi and Yuka Takashina, music composed by Masahiro Tokuda, and CG animation produced by Sanzigen. The series aired from January 3 to March 20, 2024, on Tokyo MX and other networks. The opening theme song is "Shura ni Otoshite", performed by Sajou no Hana, while the ending theme song is "Hakka", performed by Konomi Suzuki. The series is streaming on Disney+ worldwide and on Hulu in United States.Following the airing of the final episode, a second season was announced, which aired from January 8 to March 26, 2025. The opening theme song is "True Peak", performed by Mayu Maeshima, while the ending theme song is "The Iolite", performed by Sajou no Hana.
Episodes
Season 1 (2024)
Season 2 (2025)
Reception
Chiriuchi Taniguchi from offered the series praise, specifically stating it has a great cast of characters and unique storytelling.In the Kono [Light Novel ga Sugoi!] guidebook, the series ranked first in the in 2021, receiving the most votes for any series in the history of the guidebook.