KAZE HIKARU GN (2025)

"Title: Kaze Hikaru, Vol. 14 By Taeko Watanabe Synopsis: Nakamura Goro, is convinced Sei is a girl the moment he lays eyes on her. Irresistibly attracted to her, he is determined to uncover her so he can have her as his woman. "

"Taeko Watanabe (w/a) Doctor Kondo, a respected expert in western medicine, visits the troop. As an act of kindness, the doctor offers to give physical exams to the entire troop, and the men are ordered to strip down to their loincloths. Now Sei seems to be caught in a trap she can't get out of. She's managed to fool everyone else into thinking that she's a boy, but how can she possibly fool a doctor?"

"(W/A) Taeko Watanabe"

"Headquarters in Kyoto learns that the rogue behavior of their branch troop captain in Osaka is stirring up resentment among the local populace. Kondo takes Okita, Sei and the first troop to Osaka to investigate. They find that Tani Sanjuro, the captain of the seventh troop, is a hard-hearted man who rules with an iron fist. Will Kondo find a way to deal with this ogre, or will he need to take extreme measures to eliminate him?"

"Japan is approaching a tipping point, with increasing pressure from the West to open its borders. The Shinsengumi are being trained to use firearms, but Okita refuses, insisting on the way of the sword. He represents many in the group who cling to old samurai values. But it is clear that the times are changing and the Shinsengumi embodies the 'old guard.' Will they survive the coming upheavals? "

"By Taeko Watanabe The leaders of Japan panic when foreign forces deliver an ultimatum: open the borders and allow trade or face invasion. The politicians squabble, and finally the young Shogun Iemochi resigns in exasperation. Lord Matsudaira goes to consult with Iemochi, accompanied by Kondo, Soji and Kamiya. Kondo's heartfelt plea convinces Iemochi to return to Kyoto and lead the Bakufu through this time of chaos."

"Hijikata decides to make use of Kamiya's feminine features and sends 'him' out dressed as a woman on a spy mission. Her assignment: to ascertain the whereabouts of the notorious enemy leader Sakamoto Ryoma. Soji, left in the dark about the secret mission, sets off to find Kamiya. The two get more than they bargained for when they come face-to-face with the enemy himself!"

"After Hijikata grows suspicious of Soji's feelings about Sei, he reassigns Sei to the thirdtroop under Saito's command. Soji, puzzled by his own recent irrational behavior toward Sei,attempts to distance himself from her. Sei, in turn, interprets this as Soji's realization of herfeelings for him and decides that she can no longer serve as a bushi alongside him. She goes to visit Suigetsuni, a nun who knew Sei in her former life as a girl, to discuss renouncing theworld and entering the convent!"

"Now that Sei has been transferred to the third troop under his command, Saito grows increasingly suspicious of Sei's true identity. He is visited by dreams of his old friend, Sei's brother, Yuma. The memories of Yuma's words gradually grow more vivid, and Saito finally realizes Sei's secret. Feeling he must protect her, Saito confronts Soji with an ultimatum: expose Sei to Hijitaka and have her dismissed from the troop, or allow Saito to take her as his bride."

"Sei is badly injured when she rescues Shoji in a surprise attack against the Shinsengumi. Though she seems to be recovering, Shoji is haunted by the incident and Sei's role in saving his life. His behavior is so unreasonable that Saito threatens to revoke his role as Vice Captain! Meanwhile, Captain Ko ndo returns from a disappointing trip to Hiroshima little does he know that some of his closest confidants are conspiring against him! For older teen audiences. "

"When word arrives that the renowned assassin Sakamoto Ryoma is active again, the Shinsengumi must come up with a plan to stop him. Sei, still undercover as the male warrior Kamiya Seizaburo, tries to persuade her superiors that he's not the threat they believe him to be, but to no avail. Will she take matters into her own hands, despite the risk to herself and her troop? For older teen audiences. "

"Shinsengumi captain Kondo, vice captain Toshizo, and Tominaga Sei, a female samurai living as a man, confront internal strife when money goes missing from the Shinsengumi's account. Can Sei help her comrades escape fatal punishment and keep her true identity a secret? For older teen audiences. "

"Kondo, disillusioned by the weakened state of the Shogunate, returns from Hiroshima in despair. Upon his return, he moves in with his mistress Mikyuki. Hijikata is on high alert, and he observes the couple very closely. What are Miyuki's motives, and why is she staying with Kondo? For older teen audiences. "

"The chaos of the Bakumatsu period escalates as he Bakufu and Choshu factions come face-to-face n Hiroshima. In the midst of this volatile situation, councillor Ito continues to fl irt with vice captain Hijikata."

"Warfare between the Choshu and the Bakufu factions seems inevitable. Will Sei and the Shinsengumi be drawn into the hostilities as well? Meanwhile, Captain Harada Sanosuke's first child is born in Kyoto. While the Shinsengumi members are overjoyed, trouble arises when Sanosuke names the child... For older teen audiences. "

After attempting to seduce Sei, the aristocrat Yoshinobu begins to tell her about his past. With Sei's support, Yoshinobu makes up his mind to take on the role of shogun. However, his decision to call off the Choshu expedition and request an imperial order to stop the fighting enrages Councillor Ito to the point that he decides to overthrow the Bakufu. Nakamura Goro, who is on Ito's side, has always had feelings for Sei, and he comes up with his own plans to separate her from troop captain Soji, who is the love of her life... For older teen audiences.

When Emperor Komei dies shortly after Yoshinobu officially becomes shogun, the political climate intensifies and assassination is suspected. Devious Councillor Ito seeks to further divide the Shinsengumi into factions, and sends Captain Hijikata on an ill-fated mission to Satsuma. Then, on New Year's Day, Ito invites Saito and Second Troop leader Nakagura to a banquet, where the three of them each have their own private reasons for risking their lives to plan an explosive scheme! For older teen audiences.

In 1867, a time of turmoil for the Shinsengumi, Councilor Ito Kashitaro's complex espionage plan is put into action. Its ostensible purpose is to gain information on the Sat-Cho alliance, but as usual, Ito's got ulterior motives. When the selection of an outside member to join the Goryoeji espionage group causes controversy among the Shinsengumi rank and file, Sei, Okita, Saito, Hijikata, and Kondo reevaluate their roles in the organization.

Posing as a man, Sei trains with the Shinsengumi and does her best to survive the turbulent times. Sei and her secret crush Soji watch as the Shinsengumi begins to crumble, while their former fellow member Saito leaves with the breakaway faction led by devious Councilor Ito. Meanwhile, just as Sei and Soji's feelings for each other are deepening, it turns out an escort from Kyoto also has feelings for Soji!

Posing as a man, Sei trains with the Shinsengumi and does her best to survive the turbulent times. Although she can see that former councilor Ito Koshitaro is manipulating the Shinsengumi for his own purposes, its leadership is slow to respond. Meanwhile, Nakamura Goro-an Ito sympathizer and hopeless romantic-takes it upon himself to try to 'rescue' Sei! Unfortunately for Goro, a tender relationship has developed between Sei and Assistant Vice Captain Soji, the only Shinsengumi member who knows her secret!