Blast from the Past: Historical Fiction Manga

By Amanda Pagan, Children's Librarian

November 13, 2020

Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (SNFL)

Historical fiction allows us to travel to the past and experience a different era through the eyes of the characters. With its rich cultural history and heritage, Japan has produced magnificent works of historical fiction based on different eras. Feudal Japan is a popular time period, however, Japanese mangaka have not limited themselves to simply exploring Japan’s past. Several highly regarded historical fiction manga have been set in parts of Europe and elsewhere.

For the purpose of this list, we chose manga whose narratives specifically revolve around a definitive period of time and place within our world’s history. However, this does not mean that the manga is historically accurate. Some of the titles are more based in reality than others, but they are all equally fantastic reads that we highly recommend.

Travel to the past with these fantastic historical fiction manga!

Based in Japan

Ayako by Osamu Tezuka; translation, Mari Morimoto.

Initially set in the aftermath of World War II, Ayako focuses its attention on the Tenge clan, a once powerful family of landowners living in a rural community in northern Japan. From the moment readers are introduced to the extended family, it is apparent that the war and American occupation have begun to erode the fabric that binds them all together. The increasing influence of political, economic and social change begins to tear into the many Tenge siblings, while a strange marriage agreement creates resentment between the eldest son and his sire. And when the family seems to have completely fallen apart, they decide to turn their collective rage on what they believe to be the source of their troubles, the newest member of the Tenge family, the youngest sister Ayako.

Blade of the Immortal art and story, Hiroaki Samura; translation by Dana Lewis and Toren Smith

A cursed, seemingly immortal warrior aids a young girl in her quest for revenge, as the students of a brutal new sword school tear a bloody path across Japan.

Blood-C: Demonic Moonlight by Ryo Haduki; translated by Camellia Nieh; english adaptation by Philip R. Simon; lettered by Steve Dutro.

The prequel to the Blood-C saga from CLAMP, Production I.G, and artist Ryo Haduki! In occupied Japan in 1946, an American military investigator is sent to the Yokohama base to research a number of bizarre deaths. He soon discovers that the murderer isn’t human! Blood-C: Demonic Moonlight is the prequel fans have been waiting for!

Demon slayer = Kimetsu no Yaiba story and art by Koyoharu Gotouge; translation, John Werry; English adaptation, Stan!; touch-up art & lettering, John Hunt.

In Taisho-era Japan, Tanjiro Kamado is a kindhearted boy who makes a living selling charcoal until his peaceful life is shattered when a demon slaughters his family and turns his sister into another demon, forcing Tanjiro on a dangerous journey to destroy the demon and save his sister.

Golden Kamuy story and art by Satoru Noda; translated by Eiji Yasuda; touch-up art and lettering by Steve Dutro

In the early twentieth century, Russo-Japanese War veteran Saichi “Immortal” Sugimoto scratches out a meager existence during the postwar gold rush in the wilderness of Hokkaido. When he stumbles across a map to a fortune in hidden Ainu gold, he sets off on a treacherous quest to find it. But Sugimoto is not the only interested party, and everyone who knows about the gold will kill to possess it! Faced with the harsh conditions of the northern wilderness, ruthless criminals and rogue Japanese soldiers, Sugimoto will need all his skills and luck—and the help of an Ainu girl named Asirpa—to survive.

Lone Wolf & Cub story by Kazuo Koike; art by Goseki Kojima; translated by Dana Lewis; lettering by Digital Chameleon; cover art by Frank Miller

Shogunate executioner Ogami Itto is framed as a traitor by the agents from a rival clan. With his wife murdered and with an infant son to protect, Ogami chooses the path of the ronin, the masterless samurai. The Lone Wolf and Cub wander feudal Japan, Ogami's sword for hire, but all roads will lead them to a single destination: vengeance.

Ōoku by Fumi Yoshinaga; [translation & adaptation, Akemi Wegmüller; touch-up art & lettering, Monlisa De Asis].

Genre: Historical Fantasy

Volumes: 19

In Edo period Japan, a strange new disease called the Red Pox has begun to prey on the country's men. Within eighty years of the first outbreak, the male population has fallen by seventy-five percent. Women have taken on all the roles traditionally granted to men, even that of the Shogun. The men, precious providers of life, are carefully protected. And the most beautiful of the men are sent to serve in the Shogun's Inner Chamber.

Samurai Executioner story by Kazuo Koike; art, Goseki Kojima; translation Dana Lewis.

Yamada Asaemon has been trained since childhood in the way of the sword. Now, the feared Decapitator Asaemon tests swords and performs executions at the shogun's behest. Asaemon is the last stop for the condemned and often becomes final confessor as well as slayer, finding that sometimes the stories of the doomed do not end with their deaths. From Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima, the legendary creators of Lone Wolf and Cub, comes Samurai Executioner, a dark, complex exploration of Edo-period feudal Japan and the depths of the human spirit.

Vagabond by Takehiko Inoue; English adaptation by Yuji Oniki; touch-up and lettering by Steve Dutro

Striving for enlightenment by way of the sword, Miyamoto Musashi is prepared to cut down anyone who stands in his way. Vagabond is an action-packed portrayal of the life and times of the quintessential warrior-philosopher—the most celebrated samurai of all time!

Yukarism story and art by Chika Shiomi

Genre: Romance

Volumes: 4

Yukari Kobayakawa, an accomplished author at the age of 17, writes with amazingly accurate details about historical Japan. It turns out he has the ability to travel back in time…to his past life as a renowned courtesan in the Edo period! As he goes back and forth between the past and present, he unravels the karmic relationship he has with his beautiful classmate Mahoro Tachibana…

Outside of Japan

Claudine, story and art by Riyoko Ikeda, translation by Jocelyne Allen, lettering and retouch by CK Russell

This heart-wrenching story follows Claudine, born in a female-assigned body that doesn't reflect the man inside, through life, pain, and the love of several women. Master shoujo mangaka Riyoko Ikeda explores gender and sexuality in early 20th century France in this powerful tale about identity, culture, and self-acceptance. Note: Some of the terminology used in this title for LGBTQ+ people is outdated.

Emma by Kaoru Mori; translated by Sheldon Drzka; lettering by Abigail Blackman*

Calling upon his former governess, William Jones, gentleman, is startled when his knock is answered by an uncommonly beautiful servant, the soft-spoken Emma. Throughout his visit, William's eyes drift to the maid whenever she enters the room, and he contrives to meet Emma socially as she goes about her errands. But London society is a web of strict codes and divisions. For the son of a wealthy merchant, seeking out a working-class girl is simply not done! William's father plans for his son to marry into the peerage and elevate the Jones family to greater heights, but although William says and does what is expected of him, he longs only for Emma's company.

The Ghost and the Lady by Kazuhiro Fujita; translation: Zack Davisson; lettering: Evan Hayden.

Deep in London's Scotland Yard sits an evidence room dedicated to the greatest mysteries of British history. In this "Black Museum" sits a misshapen hunk of lead—two bullets fused together—the key to the untold story of a wartime encounter between Florence Nightingale, the mother of modern nursing, and a supernatural Man in Grey. The record books show Florence fought for compassion as empires' petty rivalries threatened to destroy the hopes and lives of common people. But a gues in the Black Museum knows the truth is not so simple, and the famed Lady with Lamp had a ghastly secret...

Red River story and art by Chie Shinohara; translation and English adaptation by Yuko Sawada*

Yuri, a pretty Japanese girl, is ecstatic after passing her college entrance exam and having her first kiss with her childhood friend-turned boyfriend. However, her luck soon changes. She starts to notice that water becomes agitated whenever she goes near it. One night, hands appear out of a puddle on the street and drag her into the water! Transported to an ancient village in the Middle East, she is then captured by armed troops and taken to the Queen's palace for a human sacrifice.

Requiem of the Rose King story and art by Aya Kanno; translation by Jocelyne Allen

In medieval England, during the age of the Wars of the Roses, a fierce battle rages between the House of York and the House of Lancaster. Young Richard of the House of York is determined that his family will ascend the throne... but he's hiding a secret that could destroy everything he desires.

The Rose of Versailles by Riyoko Ikeda; translated by Mari Morimoto; lettering and touch up by Jeannie Lee

Oscar François de Jarjeyes,a young noblewoman raised as a son by her father. Oscar rises to commander of Marie Antoinette's palace guard and is brought face-to-face with the luxury of King Louis XVI's court at Versailles. Oscar and the servant, André, have an inside look at the intrigue and deceit of France's last great royal regime.

Why should you read it? This series is a time capsule that shows the reader exactly what 1970s Shojo was all about. If you love beautiful artwork, over the top soap-opera esque plot, and stories that play around with gender, then read this.

The Summit of the Gods script by Yumemakura Baku; art by Jiro Taniguchi; translated by Kumar Sivasubramanian

'Because it's there.' George Herbert Leigh Mallory is said to have given this in reply to the question 'Why do you want to climb Mt. Everest?' On his third expedition in June 1924, Mallory and his climbing partner, Andrew Irvine, disappeared on the North-East ridge during their ascent, having been sighted only a few hundred metres from the summit. In 1993, in a small Nepalese store, Makoto Fukamachi, photographer for a Japanese expedition to conquer Mt Everest, stumbles across an old camera -- a Vest Pocket Autographic Kodak Special. Could it be Mallory's camera? Did it hold the secret of whether Mallory and Irvine made it to the summit?

Vinland Saga by Makoto Yukimura; translated by Stephen Paul; lettering by Scott O. Brown

As a child, Thorfinn sat at the feet of the great Leif Ericson and thrilled to wild tales of a land far to the west. But his youthful fantasies were shattered by a mercenary raid. Raised by the Vikings who murdered his family, Thorfinn became a terrifying warrior, forever seeking to kill the band's leader, Askeladd, and avenge his father. Sustaining Throfinn through his ordeal are his pride in his family and his dreams of a fertile westward land, a land without war or slavery...the land Leif called Vinland.

*Note: some volumes may only be available through Interlibrary Loan.

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Staff picks are chosen by NYPL staff members and are not intended to be comprehensive lists. We'd love to hear your ideas too, so leave a comment and tell us what you’d recommend. And check out our Staff Picks browse tool for more recommendations!

Summaries provided via NYPL’s catalog, which draws from multiple sources. Click through to each book’s title for more.