Grenadier (manga)


Grenadier is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Sōsuke Kaise. It was serialized in Kadokawa Shoten's manga magazine Monthly Shōnen Ace from April 2002 to March 2005, with its chapters collected in seven volumes. In North America, the manga was initially licensed by Tokyopop and released in print from 2006 to 2008. It was later licensed for digital release by Viz Media and released in 2015.
A 12-episode anime television series adaptation, produced by Studio Live and Group TAC, and directed by Hiroshi Kōjina, was broadcast on Wowow from October 2004 to January 2005. The series was licensed in North America by Media Blasters.

Plot

Rushuna Tendō, a skilled teenage gunfighter known as a Senshi or "Enlightened", travels alongside the samurai Yajirō Kojima, a mercenary swordsman. Their journey begins when Yajirō and a group of samurai launch an unsuccessful assault on a fort occupied by enemy gunners, who have captured their lord. Forced to retreat, Yajirō flees to a cliff and escapes by jumping into a hot spring, where he encounters Rushuna bathing. Unperturbed by her nudity or his presence, she hides him from pursuers before explaining her philosophy of resolving conflict by removing an enemy's will to fight.
Returning to the battlefield, Yajirō witnesses the enemy leader wielding a Gatling gun to devastating effect. Rushuna intervenes, demonstrating her exceptional marksmanship and single-handedly defeating the gunner, securing the lord's rescue. Inspired by her methods, Yajirō chooses to accompany her as her partner.
Their travels bring them into conflict with a masked figure known as the Jester, who commands a dangerous weapon called "Enlightened Evil". They later learn that Tenshi, the one who sent Rushuna on her journey to master the "Ultimate Battle Strategy", has placed a bounty on her head. Joined by Mikan Kurenai, a young balloon maker, the trio proceeds toward the capital of Tento, overcoming numerous adversaries, including the elite Juttensen, Tenshi's personal guards. Upon reaching Tento, they uncover the truth behind their struggles, leading to a final confrontation with the Jester.

Characters

Main characters

;Rushuna Tendou
;Yajiro Kojima
;Mikan Kurenai

The Juttensen

The Juttensen are Tento's elite assassins, each wielding one of the ten sacred weapons.
;Touka Kurenai
;Sanzo Souma
;Teppa Aizen
;Fuuka Shirato
;Shin'noshin Hakubi
;Yuzuriha Shimon
;Danjo Oma
;Honmaru Tojo

Other characters

;Tenshi
;Kaizan Doushi
;Setsuna Oomido
;Kasumi
;Ganzo Arima / Ganzo Tenma
;Furon
;Koto
;Banmaru Zoushi
;Nago Akki
;Kanetsugu
;Midare Kojima
;Tekka Aizen

Media

Manga

Written and illustrated by Sōsuke Kaise, Grenadier was serialized in Kadokawa Shoten's manga magazine Monthly Shōnen Ace from April 26, 2002, to March 26, 2005. Kadokawa Shoten collected its chapters in seven volumes, released from June 26, 2003, to May 24, 2005.
In North America, the manga was licensed for an English print release by Tokyopop; the seven volumes were released from August 8, 2006, to August 12, 2008. The manga was later licensed for an English digital release by Viz Media; the seven volumes were released from April 21 to September 29, 2015.

Anime

A 12-episode anime television series adaptation, titled Grenadier: The Senshi of Smiles, produced by Studio Live and Group TAC, and directed by Hiroshi Kōjina, was broadcast on Wowow from October 15, 2004, to January 14, 2005. The opening theme is "Kohaku" and ending theme is "Kanashimi ni Makenaide", both performed by Mikuni Shimokawa. When the series was later re-broadcast, opening and ending themes were replaced with "Akatsuki no Sora wo Kakeru" and "Hana no Youni" by Hiromi Sato.
In North America, the series was licensed by Media Blasters. The episodes were collected on three DVDs released in 2005. Media Blasters re-released the series on a single Blu-ray set on January 18, 2022.

Reception

;Manga
;Anime