Despite having been whisked away to Senkutsuji Temple in Nara Prefecture, Haruki’s treatment to recover his powers after the Rakuzaichi arc risks being cut short in Kagurabachi chapter 51 as the Hishaku launch a furious assault. Yet they get more than they bargained for when Samura, contracted owner of the enchanted blade Tobimune, stands in their way.
Samura was first introduced in the last chapter, but his origins and motivations are what form the core of Kagurabachi chapter 51. The story actually begins with a flashback to when Shiba took Samura to see Chihiro when he was a kid: alongside giving him some pointers on his swordplay, this moment also allows Samura to explain why he went blind in the first place. As it turns out, he blinded himself on purpose to rid himself of “worldly passions” and thus improve his swordplay.
To a certain extent, this is played as a joke as Shiba points out that Samura still tries to look at dirty magazines and constantly keeps an unlit cigarette in his mouth. Even so, the sword skills he displays in Kagurabachi chapter 51 are definitely no laughing matter as he takes out a whole squadron of goons all by himself, using echolocation to make up for his lack of sight. That cigarette also gets lit just before as a way to “get fired up.”
In many ways, the juxtaposition between Samura’s contradictory renouncement of worldly desires and his unique fighting style are precisely what makes his character instantly interesting. You can’t help but wonder why he made that choice, as well as if it actually helps him be a better fighter. The humor in this juxtaposition also handily draws some attention away from the fact that he blinded himself, which is a pretty gruesome plot detail.
As mentioned in my previous write-up of the Rakuzaichi arc, one of Kagurabachi’s biggest flaws has always been its straight-laced and somewhat one-dimensional protagonist in the form of Chihiro. It seems like series author Takeru Hokazono is aware of this as not only did the Rakuzaichi arc center around Haruki, this current arc has already introduced two other enchanted blade wielders in the form of Uruha and Samura. This should hopefully go a long way in preventing the series from becoming stale in the future.
Finally, it’s worth pointing out what a unique location the Senkutsuji Temple is for a fight. While the superstitious may squirm at shedding blood in front of an avatar of the divine, the giant Buddha statue in the background undoubtedly makes for a striking image and lends an almost ethereal air to the proceedings. If there’s one thing that Kagurabachi knows how to do right, it’s make things look really cool - and chapter 51 is no exception.
You can read Kagurabachi chapter 51 via VIZ Media’s Shonen Jump.
