Ichi - MangaUpdates

Ichi

Description

Ichi is a lone goze (blind woman singer) who has become separated from her traveling entertainment troupe. Wondering how she will find her place in life, she carries only a shamisen (a traditional Japanese stringed instrument) and a walking stick with a hidden blade inside. When necessary, she uses her exceptional sword skills to fight off yakuza and other villains.

Type

Manga

Related Series

Zatoichi (Alternate Version)

Associated Names

Первая

市

Groups Scanlating

Easy Going Scans

Latest Release(s)

v.7 c.39 (end) by Easy Going Scans 12 years ago

v.7 c.38 by Easy Going Scans 12 years ago

v.7 c.37 by Easy Going Scans 12 years ago

Search for all releases of this series

Status in Country of Origin

7 Volumes (Complete)

Completely Scanlated?

Yes

Anime Start/End Chapter

N/A

User Reviews

N/A

Forum

1 topics, 5 posts

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User Rating

Average: 7.9 / 10.0 (248 votes)

Bayesian Average: 7.73 / 10.0

21%

13%

29%

20%

Last Updated

May 19th, 2025 12:04pm PDT - 4 months ago

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Genre

Action Adventure Drama Historical Seinen
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Categories

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Category Recommendations

Teiden Shoujo to Hanemushi no Orchestra

Recommendations

Author(s)

Artist(s)

Year

Original Publisher

Kodansha

Serialized In (magazine)

Evening (Kodansha)

Licensed (in English)

English Publisher

N/A

Activity Stats (vs. other series)

Weekly Pos #731

(-27)

Monthly Pos #1578

(-131)

3 Month Pos #3796

(+533)

6 Month Pos #4552

(-892)

Year Pos #6734

(-341)

List Stats

On 909 reading lists

On 779 wish lists

On 627 completed lists

On 39 unfinished lists

On 295 custom lists

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Forum Posts Click to view the forum

General Discussion

13 years ago

User Comments [ Order by usefulness ]

Why??

by Acradnxy
6 years ago

Rating: N/A

It has a very very extremely good potential. The characters are good, the story is good, and the art... OMG, the art is so godly, but why author? Why? Why did you stop it? It makes me thinking that the author didn't know what to do with the story after involving Shinsengumi. As many people who are avid reader with Japanese historical setting, Shinsengumi didn't ends pretty well. I think that the author doesn't want to end the story with sad end. Well, bad news Sensei, you did end it bad and it makes me super sad to see a good manga with so much potential got wasted like this.

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Too much frontloaded exposition.

by MondSemmel
10 years ago

Rating: 7.1 / 10.0

I can see why this was axed. It seemed like more than a third of the first 10 chapters is just exposition describing the historical background. Those parts are incomprehensible to anyone not well-versed in Japanese medieval history, and manage to confuse with their litany of un-memorable names. It doesn't help that characters also look too much alike, making it difficult to follow the larger story (as opposed to the plots of individual chapters).

It's a pity. This initial chunk of pointless exposition is followed by a more fluid storyline, including pretty great flashback chapters describing the main characters' pasts. Sadly, none of these are sufficiently self-contained that I can just recommend individual chapters. And then there's the fact that the story was axed...

PS: This review was based on the first 23 chapters of the manga.
PPS: If you like historical manga / manhwa, I recommend Song of the Long March instead.

... Last updated 10 years ago

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pity it was axed

by SephiriaChronos
11 years ago

Rating: 8.0 / 10.0

I really like this, not to mention the female lead was really unique personality wise. It could have been so much more, but it was axed. I would definitely continue if there was a sequel.

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WHY DID IT END

by WShin
11 years ago

Rating: 9.0 / 10.0

Touma didn't get to kill his brother, we don't see anything that happens to Katsura or the Shogun or Shinsengumi (later on). Arrgghh I'm so annoyed. It's like this mangaka dangled a tantalizing steak of court intrigue, warring factions, and ruthless swordfights and then decided 'The End' randomly!

(I'm thinking that they wanted to end it because the story does get extremely depressing - the two "lovers/partners" don't get their happy ending from what I've read. But even soo....it's so good I don't careeee.)

Please mangaka, make a sequel. You are good enough to make one, just do it!

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Art is great, but everyone looks the same

by harrysoung
12 years ago

Rating: N/A

Ichi depicts historical Japan's acceptance of foreigners as well as the political conspiracies within Japan's government. The titular Ichi is a blind swordswoman/gozen who occasionally does jobs for the police and ends up being part of a scheme with Japan's future at stake.

Art is fantastic, but my only gripe about Ichi is that pretty much everyone looks the same. You get a bunch of pretty boys with long hair, assign names to them, forget which pretty boy is which, and end up missing out on the story.

Don't turn out like me and read this manga with your brain turned off.

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Good in some parts, but overall

by enaikelt
12 years ago

Rating: 8.0 / 10.0

it lacked something. I can't believe it just ended like that - came totally out the blue. A good many of the male characters were also incredibly difficult to tell apart. Beautiful art, but glad it was short.

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Decent but too short

by MangaGhost
12 years ago

Rating: 7.0 / 10.0

Decent, but way too short. I would have liked to have seen this be at least 10 volumes and I wouldn't have minded a little more detail on some of the characters. I would have liked to have seen some resolution with a few of the characters stories. I really like Ichi as a character, she's powerful but not invincible and can in a few situations be emotionally weak which makes her a more three dimensional character. Visually a few of the male characters look a little too much alike for my tastes, but overall its a nice looking series. The action on the other hand, is not really drawn very well or exciting, imho. Its sometimes just a static image with a lot of speed lines and its not very dynamic or dramatic. This is a shame because the action is not up to the quality of the other parts of the art. Manga like Blade of the Immortal, Vagabond, Berserk, etc. have action that is presented in a much more interesting or exciting way. I hope they will someday make more stories on Ichi, because she has got a lot of potential as a character. If you like Zatoichi movies then you will probably like this. I give this a 7 or B grade.

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Zatoichi movie series

by Phoenix0armour
13 years ago

Rating: N/A

As the fan of Zatoichi movie series I pretty like reading Ichi manga while in this story is a female version of Zatoichi.

Those who did not see I also recommend movies:

There are totally 26 Zatoichi movies and 4 tv seasons released between 1962-1989 (for detailed episode names, look in wikipedia)

Zatōichi (2003)
Ichi (2008)
Zatoichi: The Last (2010)

... Last updated 13 years ago

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Expertly crafted

by noobshi
13 years ago

Rating: N/A

An exellent display of a persons 's will. The story is written in a interesting chronological event that keep you wants more. Humors get sprinkle unexpectedly throught the story. Fights are satisfying and bloody. Not much romance, but relationship is slowly developing between the two main characters.

... Last updated 13 years ago

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Beautifully done.

by Syphilis
13 years ago

Rating: 9.0 / 10.0

It's a little dark, but not enough to depress the reader - and there are some heartwarming moments. While I did notice a bit of a lack of range of expression, it doesn't take away much; in fact, it helps develop the characters faster. This type of work just doesn't click with some people, but Ichi is definitely a gem.
Side note: I have to disagree with TRMshadow here. While Ichi is loaded with historical references, they simply add to the setting and are not vital to the plot.

... Last updated 13 years ago

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