The Elusive Samurai

Lore & Background

The Elusive Samurai is set between the late Kamakura and early Muromachi periods, following Hōjō Tokiyuki, a boy on the run after his family is overthrown by Ashikaga Takauji. With only a shady priest and his followers as allies, Tokiyuki must seek revenge and regain his glory, using his superhuman ability to flee and hide. The manga was serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump from January 25, 2021, to February 16, 2026, and collected into 26 volumes by August 2026. In North America, Viz Media licensed the manga for English release, publishing chapters digitally on Shonen Jump and in print starting July 2022.

Reader's Guide

The Elusive Samurai won the 69th Shogakukan Manga Award in 2024, alongside Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, Sūji de Asobo, and Trillion Game. By July 2026, the manga had over 6 million copies in circulation. The anime adaptation, produced by CloverWorks, aired its first season in 2024 and a second season in 2026. The series was nominated for the seventh Next Manga Award in 2021 and ranked eighth on the Nationwide Bookstore Employees' Recommended Comics of 2022. At the 9th Crunchyroll Anime Awards in 2025, Hōjō Tokiyuki was nominated for 'Must Protect at All Costs' Character, and the ending theme 'Kamakura Style' was nominated for Best Ending Sequence. The series is noted for its emotional intensity and has become a highlight of Weekly Shōnen Jump's newer titles.

Did You Know?

• The manga was serialized from January 2021 to February 2026, with 26 tankōbon volumes released as of August 2026.
• The anime's second season premiered in July 2026 on the Noitamina programming block.
• The series was nominated for the 69th Shogakukan Manga Award in 2024 but did not win.