Kijin Gentoushou

Aired Date:2025-03-31

Status:RELEASING

Ratings:71/100

Genres:Action, Adventure, Fantasy

Season:1

Total Episodes:0

Duration:24 min/ep

Studio:Asmik Ace

Source:OTHER

Format:TV

Director:Kazuya Aiura

Review:N/A/100

Watch Online: Official Site Twitter HIDIVE YouTube Bilibili TV

Synopsis

In the Edo period, there was a shrine maiden called "Itsukihime" in the mountain village of Kadono. Jinta, a young man who acts as the shrine maiden's guardian despite being a stranger, encounters a mysterious demon who speaks of the far future in the forest where he went to defeat it. From Edo to the Heisei era, this huge Japanese fantasy series follows a demon man who travels through time while continuously questioning the meaning of wielding a sword. (Source: Crunchyroll News, edited) Notes: • The first episode has a runtime of ~1 hour.

Trailer

Characters

Jinta MAIN

Suzune MAIN

Yotaka SUPPORTING

Naotsugu Miura SUPPORTING

Juuzou SUPPORTING

Naotsugu no Haha SUPPORTING

Shirayuki SUPPORTING

Oufu SUPPORTING

Toumi no Kijo SUPPORTING

Natsu SUPPORTING

Hey, anime warriors and dark fantasy fanatics! Prepare to have your minds sliced wide open, because Sword of the Demon Hunter: Kijin Gentosho crashed into Spring 2025 like a samurai blade through a demon’s hide, and I’m here, your resident anime sage, to carve out a totally fresh take on this time-bending, blood-soaked epic! Premiering March 31, 2025, on Tokyo MX with a gutsy one-hour special, this Yokohama Animation Lab gem—based on Moto’o Nakanishi’s haunting novels—doesn’t just swing a sword; it slashes through genres, eras, and your expectations. Buckle up for a wild ride through Edo shadows and Heisei mysteries—here’s why this anime’s a cut above, served up in a way you’ve never tasted before!

A Blade Forged in Time’s Crucible

Imagine a story where a single swing of a sword echoes across centuries, where a lone warrior’s scars bleed from feudal Japan to modern Tokyo. That’s Sword of the Demon Hunter—a cosmic tapestry of fate, not just a plot. We meet Jinta, a rugged outsider in Edo-period Kadono village, sworn to guard the fiery priestess Shirayuki and his half-demon sister Suzune. When a snarling demon in the forest spills a cryptic prophecy—a Demon God rising 170 years later, rooted in this very moment—Jinta’s thrust into a destiny that’s less a straight path and more a spiraling vortex. This isn’t your typical demon-slaying flick; it’s a fever dream where time folds like origami, blending samurai grit with a modern edge. Episode 1’s jaw-dropping leap from 1840 to 2010 had me reeling—think Frieren’s timeless ache meets Demon Slayer’s raw fury, but with a twist that’s pure, unhinged originality

A Dance of Steel and Soul

The action? It’s a brutal ballet, and I’m obsessed! Yokohama Animation Lab wields a moody palette— misty forests, torchlit villages, and blood-red skies—that feels like a haunted woodblock print come alive. Jinta’s clash with the demon in episode 1 aims for Princess Mononoke vibes, with gore and desperation dripping from every frame. The arm-loss moment? Meant to gut-punch, but the plastic-y CGI had me wincing for the wrong reasons—still, the sheer ambition shines. As the two-cour saga unfolds (24 episodes, running through September 2025), the battles promise to escalate, with Jinta’s blade carving a path through demons, doubt, and time itself. It’s not just swordplay; it’s a visual poem of purpose, rough around the edges but sharp where it counts.

Heroes and Demons: A Tangled Heartbeat

Jinta, voiced by Taku Yashiro, is no cookie-cutter hero—he’s a quiet storm, a guardian wrestling with duty and a cursed fate. Yashiro’s gruff tone grounds him, making his resolve feel like a blade tempered by pain. Shirayuki (Saori Hayami) glows with fierce grace, a priestess tied to the shrine and Jinta’s heart, while Suzune (Reina Ueda) tugs at my soul—her half-demon struggle and red eye hint at tragedy brewing. Episode 10 teases a “mysterious beauty” and a man like Jinta’s brother, and I’m dying to see how they unravel this knot! The cast—Saya Aizawa as Natsu, Hiromu Mineta as Zenji, and more—deepens the Edo arc, but it’s the slow reveal of their bonds and burdens that hooks me. This isn’t about flashy archetypes; it’s a raw, human pulse beneath the supernatural—a family forged in fire, facing a destiny that shifts like shadows.

A Soundtrack and Style to Haunt You

The production’s a bold swing—Kazuya Aiura directs with a dark, theatrical flair, Deko Akao’s scripts weave poetic dread, and Taro Ikegami’s character designs bring rugged charm. The opening, “Continue” by NEE, pulses with rock energy, driving Jinta’s endless hunt, while Hilcrhyme’s “Sen-ya Ichi-ya” ending (feat. Izumi Nakasone) lingers like a mournful chant—perfect for this timeless tale. The vibe’s a blend of eerie calm and brutal chaos, though the animation’s “decent but unpolished” feel keeps it from perfection. Still, the mood—think Oedipus Rex despair meets samurai honor—sets a stage no other anime dares to tread. It’s not pristine, but it’s a gritty canvas that screams potential.

The Edge: A Fable That Cuts Deep

Here’s the real blade: Sword of the Demon Hunter isn’t just a show—it’s a meditation on why we fight. Jinta’s quest—spanning Edo’s mud and Heisei’s neon—asks, “What’s the sword for?” Duty? Love? Revenge? The demon’s prophecy ties his era to a future apocalypse, and every slice peels back layers of loss, loyalty, and a world dripping with mystery. Early episodes build slow, novel-like, and I’ll admit the middle drags—pacing’s a beast they’re still taming. But that time skip in episode 1? A genius gut-check, echoing X/1999’s doomed fates, and I’m all in for where this century-spanning riddle lands. Compared to Jujutsu Kaisen’s flash, this leans quiet, dark, and thoughtful—a fable with fangs.

Verdict: A Slash Into the Unknown

Airing Mondays at 11:00 a.m. EDT on HIDIVE, Sword of the Demon Hunter: Kijin Gentosho (delayed from July 2024 to March 31, 2025) is a daring beast. Four episodes in as of May 2025, it’s carving a niche—less about relentless action, more a haunting journey through time, blood, and purpose. It’s not flawless—animation wobbles, some twists feel rote—but its heart, mood, and wild premise make it a dark horse I can’t look away from. I’m calling it an 8.5/10— a steel-sharp start with room to forge a legend. For fans of historical fantasy, demon carnage, and soul-deep stakes, this is your cut. Where’s Jinta headed? What’s Suzune’s fate? Slice into this one, anime crew, and let’s unravel the mystery together