"Nippon Sangoku" News and Discussion

[wonderfly]

From the front page of AnimeSuperhero.com:

"“Nippon Sangoku” Manga Gets Anime Adaptation for April 2026"​

"Ikka Matsuki’s ongoing manga Nippon Sangoku will receive an anime adaptation airing in April 2026. Twin Engine (Vinland Saga, Golden Kamuy Seasons 1-3, Dororo 2019) will produce the series. Studio Kafka (The Ancient Magus’ Bride Seasons 2 and 3) will animate it.

A post-apocalyptic Japan serves as the setting of Nippon Sangoku. The old government collapsed a century earlier after a devastating series of crises that included a nuclear war and pandemic led to revolution. The country’s population is now 10% of what it had been in the early 21st century. Technology has regressed to that of the early 20th century. Three warring kingdoms now clash for control of the whole nation. Anyone unfortunate to get in their way can expect no mercy."

Read the full article here.

 

[wonderfly]

I watched the first episode. I watched the dubbed version, which was good, though with the subject matter being so thouroghly a story about Japan, I may consider rewatching with Japanese dialogue and English subtitles.

The author's vision of a "Post Apocalyptic Japan" is weird. Society just reverts back to 100 or 150 years prior (with most people having to use horses to travel). I also didn't care for some of the reasons listed for the breakdown of society in the opening monologue - Japan had to take in a bunch of refugees as the world collapses (nuclear war is referenced) and a lot of those refugees brought disease with them. Stay classy, Japan.

The main character's wife gets killed for defying the corrupt and violent authorities, and he swears vengeance. But does he go on a killing spree? No, you see, the main hero (Aoteru) is a history and literature nerd, one of the few that understands what it would take to rebuild society. Before she died, she was encouraging her husband to do something with his big brain, to help end the conflict and redeem society.

Anyway, after the wife dies, he tricks the corrupt tax collector into getting killed (as personal payback) but then heads off to the capital to reunify Japan. It's a lofty concept. I don't think there will be anyone turning super saiyan in this type of story.

Also, for a husband and wife couple, they don't get a "making love" scene before she dies (like you'd see in Western literature), instead you see them....staying up late at night talking to each other. I don't recall them ever kissing in the episode.

We know they were childhood friends, and in flashback, we see the wife's father tasking Aoteru with taking care of his daughter. I can see their friends, and that they love each other, but I don't see physical displays of that.

I'm intrigued, but also a bit perplexed.