Basilisk

Description

From Del Rey:
By the order of Shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa, ten ninja from the Iga and the Kouga clans must fight to the death in order to determine who will be the next Tokugawa Shogun, with the surviving clan ruling for the next thousand years. But Oboro of the Iga clan and Gennosuke of the Kouga clan have fallen deeply in love. Now these star-crossed lovers have been pitted against each other. Can their romance conquer a centuries-old rivalry? Or is their love destined to end in death?

Official English Translation: Azuki, INKR

Note: Won the Kodansha Manga Award in the category "Best General Manga" in 2004.

Type

Manga

Related Series

Basilisk: Ouka Ninpouchou (Sequel)

The Kouga Ninja Scrolls (Novel) (Adapted From)

Associated Names

Basilisk: Koga Nimpou chou

Basilisk: Kouga Ninpou-chou

Basilisk: The Koga Ninja Scrolls

Василиск

เนตรสยมมาร

バジリスク

バジリスク甲賀忍法帖

バジリスク　甲賀忍法帖

バジリスク～甲賀忍法帖～

巴西利斯克

바질리스크

바질리스크 ~코우가인법첩~

Groups Scanlating

N/A

Latest Release(s)

N/A

Status in Country of Origin

5 Volumes (Complete)

Completely Scanlated?

Yes

Anime Start/End Chapter

Starts at Vol 1, Chap 1

Ends at Vol 5, Chap 34

User Reviews

N/A

Forum

5 topics, 22 posts

Click here to view the forum

User Rating

Average: 7.6 / 10.0 (646 votes)

Bayesian Average: 7.54 / 10.0

11%

17%

28%

20%

12%

Last Updated

June 6th, 2025 9:47pm PDT - 6 months ago

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Genre

Action Adventure Drama Historical Mature Romance Seinen Supernatural Tragedy
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Categories

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Category Recommendations

Kamui-Den Dai-2-bu

Shin Kozure Ookami - Lone Wolf

Recommendations

Author(s)

Artist(s)

Year

Original Publisher

Kodansha

Serialized In (magazine)

Uppers (Kodansha)

Licensed (in English)

Yes

English Publisher

Azuki (digital)

Del Rey (Defunct / 5 Vols - Complete)

INKR Comics

Kodansha USA (5 Vols - Complete; digital)

Tanoshimi (Defunct / 5 Vols - Complete)

Activity Stats (vs. other series)

Weekly Pos #698

(-83)

Monthly Pos #1390

(-523)

3 Month Pos #3209

(-199)

6 Month Pos #3759

(-511)

Year Pos #4498

(-1033)

List Stats

On 396 reading lists

On 714 wish lists

On 1672 completed lists

On 72 unfinished lists

On 300 custom lists

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Forum Posts Click to view the forum

Basilisk Sequel Novels Get TV Anime

8 years ago

Basilisk Sequel Novel Gets Manga

8 years ago

Why is Basilisk labeled "Adult"

12 years ago

Ending (spoilers)

15 years ago

Tenzen

18 years ago

User Comments [ Order by usefulness ]

Fast paced and pulls no punches!

by ayaneninja
5 years ago

Rating: 10.0 / 10.0

Basilisk is a manga about two warring ninja clans, with the wrench thrown in being that the leaders of each of the clans are in love. The action gets underway from the opening scenes, and keeps up throughout the length of the tale. The art and action both have a gritty feel to them, and compliments the tone of the story well. This one is short and to the point, so if you want vast character development or light hearted, silly filler chapters, you won't find them here; however, the character personalities are well done for how short the series is and for how the plot unfolds. If you are into manga like Flame of Recca or Azumi, Basilisk is a must read!

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Pretty Good but Not Enough

by Acradnxy
6 years ago

Rating: N/A

This manga is pretty good, the story is kinda predictable but what makes me love it are those ninja's skills. Pretty good fight, though the background of the characters are too short. I wish the author make it longer, so we will know much more about those ninjas. We get deeper into the character background only for the two main characters.

The ending is suck.

All is death in the name of love, indeed (sarcastically saying). At least, do some proper ending, I feel the ending is so rushed because the poison that make Oboro and Gennosuke eyes blind for a while almost ran out of effect. So people thought they will have staring battle, but in the name of tragic love, Oboro just killed herself while telling how she loves him so much. OMG... I don't hate Tragic love story but must them do this? Those two have like the most powerful ninja's skills in Japan. They can kill that sick Daimyo with their stares, but instead they chose to die together... (eyes rolling)

Good reading though, but I must say a bit disappointing at the same time.

Update: I watched the anime and I can feel some bonding with the characters more rather than in the manga. I feel pity for them.

400 years grudge and to end it every one just killing each other to die. Saemon is the only one who seems to re-think what is the purpose for this silly fight (besides those 2 mc). Saemon felt bad for Iga, like when Hotarubi died calling Yashamaru and many more. If only they chose how to make peace between 2 clans, it will be more better, IMHO. But if they do choose peace, we can't have this story. Anyway, I think it's better that those people from those 2 clans suddenly open their own eyes and looking for a new world for both of the clans

... Last updated 6 years ago

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Bloody

by ladymanson
8 years ago

Rating: 8.5 / 10.0

The graphic of this manga is really unusual but not bad. I saw firt the anime adaptation and then read this manga. I love it. I'm not into romantic but I love tragedy and gore things. I'm hopping Y+M will be same good.

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Ninjas or mutants?!

by Kamugin
10 years ago

Rating: 7.0 / 10.0

Don't take this manga seriously and you'll get some fun. I like samurai and ninja stories like Lone Wolf and Cub, The Sword of Kamui and Asumi, there are very strong characters in these mangas, but none of them are like the "ninjas" of Basilisk, those guys aren't ninjas, they have freaking mutant powers! They could be admitted into the X-Men without any DNA test and would put most of the Xs to shame. If you like serious stories don't touch this, but if you suppress your need for credibility and want to try something funny for a change, go for it. The center of the plot is a Romeo and Juliet drama, so if you know that Shakespeare's play, you know what to expect. The story isn't completely shallow, you will find yourself touched by the cruel fate of many young lovers, the author manages to make the reader like his characters, for this I praise him and his manga.

... Last updated 10 years ago

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Disappointed

by smily_lois
12 years ago

Rating: 4.0 / 10.0

Basilisk was a fun read, but all my problems with it come from one essential aspect of story telling - DEVELOPMENT.

The manga's characters had little to no development. It's almost like the author is assuming that we know each of their backstories enough to give a damn about their overall character. Sad thing is, I didn't give a single damn about any of them. Well, maybe I was obligated to sympathize with Oboro, and genuinely feel for Akeginu,Koshiro and the old people at the beginning, but that's about it. People die off way too quickly, motivations weren't explored satisfyingly, and even the romance (that was supposed to be a huge factor in the outcome) didn't even feel real.

On the bright side, the action was great, and art is quite excellent by my standards. Most conversations are intelligent, and the overall concept was really good.

So yeah, it could've been done a whole lot better.

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Great manga with screwed up situations

by SSJR2
14 years ago

Rating: 10.0 / 10.0

Damn this was a great manga i really thought it was creative and the art was great, but i have to say i was on the Kougas side the whole time

mainly cause one they were the underdogs most of the time because the igas knew ahead of time the general situation and were kinda cheating (especially when they got the help of of some soliders like some bitches) and also there's not a doubt in my mind that if all the kouga ninjas knew ahead of time they would have won way more easier because most of them had better abilities than the Iga (excluding the one with the wind and the wire guy) and cause most of the kougas needed more that one iga ninja to get killed.Plus despite a mega disadvantage in the beginning they managed to take the advantage until the iga cheated and got help.

however the iga did have a few characters i liked which where mainly the ones that were sorta couples but anyway great manga, sad that its over and that the end turned out that way.

... Last updated 12 years ago

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Couldn't believe it!

by Cyren
14 years ago

Rating: N/A

I think this is the first time I've actually finished a manga/anime without caring for the fate of any of the characters. In most cases like these, I would have quit somewhere in between but...well, I was bored.

It surprised me though, because throughout the story of Basilisk, I've probably switched my preferred clan over 30 times, each time thinking to myself, "Hurry up and kill [insert opposing clan]!". I felt no personal connection to any of the characters, besides a bit of pity every now and then but I could not find anyone that I wanted to stick with in terms of a ''favorite character". In the end I decided to keep it neutral and just watch the events unfold in front of me, every now and then predicting some future event. Speaking of predictions, I had jokingly predicted the actual ending near the beginning on Basilisk and I have to say, I was pissed off. When I had first made my prediction I had inferred a cheesy ending...an ending that I had laughed at because I had thought, "They wouldn't pull something like that." But the fact is, that ending happened. I felt like I should have been crying at the end but all I felt was the weird satisfaction of being right.

Oh and rage. Lots of rage.

... Last updated 14 years ago

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down low

by Moonclaw7
14 years ago

Rating: 5.0 / 10.0

I really dont want to class this as romance, people who think that this will be real romance are going to be dissappointed. Even at the end it felt like a romeo and juliet story without a real reason behind it

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Beautiful in it's own way

by SimonFearless
14 years ago

Rating: 10.0 / 10.0

When I finished reading I felt kind of conserned. It was really sad to see how people killed each other for the sake of power. And in the middle is two who loves each other. I couldn't help feeling sadness over everyones destiny. I also makes reminds me of off all the wrong things that happens in this world.
This is a really good fighting manga. The action is well drawn and I think the art is beautiful.
I like the dark content about humans nature which is mostly described in how hate affects us.
The mixing of beauty and vilonce is great. It's just like reading Shakespear, but with ninjas.

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Adaptation of a Classic Novel

by Amaranth Sparrow
14 years ago

Rating: N/A

Since it doesn't seem to be mentioned anywhere in the comments or description, I thought it was worth mentioning that this is an adaptation of The Kouga Ninja Scrolls, a 1958 novel by the late Futaro Yamada, which is often described as the first modern Japanese fantasy novel.

The story, which is the first in his "Ninja Scroll Series", has been adapted into three different manga, as well as an anime and a live action film. It's also inspired countless other anime and manga. An English translation of the novel has been published by Del Ray Books.

The manga has, in my opinion, a distinctly "80s ninja anime" vibe, perhaps because it's adapting the origin of modern Japanese ninja stories, or perhaps because the last decade has been dominated by the thoroughly modern Naruto. If you've ever watched Ninja Scroll or Yotoden: Wrath of the Ninja, this will likely feel very familiar to you.

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