Poor, in debt, and living on instant noodles, high school kendo instructor Kojiro makes a bet with an old friend on a practice meet between the all-girls’ teams of their respective schools. The prize: a year’s worth of free sushi! It’s too good for the desperate Kojiro to pass up! But with only one active member on the kendo team, Korjio must move quickly to put together a squad before the meet. He’s got his eye on Tamaki, the daughter of a kendo master and a skilled swordswoman herself. The only trouble is…she’s not interested. Kojiro’s willing to try anything, but what will it take to win her over?
- BAMBOO BLADE Volume 1 | May 2009
- BAMBOO BLADE Volume 2 | September 2009
- BAMBOO BLADE Volume 3 | December 2010
- BAMBOO BLADE Volume 4 | March 2010
- BAMBOO BLADE Volume 5 | June 2010
- BAMBOO BLADE Volume 6 | Coming September 2010
- BAMBOO BLADE Volume 7 | Coming December 2010
- BAMBOO BLADE Volume 8 | Coming March 2011
BAMBOO BLADE © Masahiro Totsuka, Aguri Igarashi / SQUARE ENIX
BAMBOO BLADE Volume 1
story by Masahiro Totsuka, art by Aguri Igarashi
May 2009 | ISBN: 978-0-7595-3005-8 | $10.99 ($11.99) | 224 pages | 5”x 7.5″ | Older Teen
Poor, in debt, and living on instant noodles, high school kendo instructor Kojiro makes a bet with an old friend on a practice meet between the all-girls’ teams of their respective schools. The prize: a year’s worth of free sushi! It’s too good for the desperate Kojiro to pass up! But with only one active member on the kendo team, Korjio must move quickly to put together a squad before the meet. He’s got his eye on Tamaki, the daughter of a kendo master and a skilled swordswoman herself. The only trouble is…she’s not interested. Kojiro’s willing to try anything, but what will it take to win her over?
BAMBOO BLADE Volume 2
story by Masahiro Totsuka, art by Aguri Igarashi
September 2009 | ISBN: 978-0-7595-3046-1 | $10.99 ($12.99) | 224 pages | 5”x 7.5″ | Older Teen
With the expert Tama-chan on the squad, Kojiro feels confident in his team’s chances in the upcoming kendo meet. But the match is rapidly approaching, and he’s still shy one member — not to mention getting newbie Miya and elusive Saya up to speed. With a year of all-you-can-eat sushi on the line, Kojiro’s determined to use every trick he can think of to win, but just how far is he willing to go?!
BAMBOO BLADE Volume 3
story by Masahiro Totsuka, art by Aguri Igarashi
December 2010 | ISBN: 978-0-7595-3047-8 | $10.99 ($12.99) | 224 pages | 5”x 7.5″ | Older Teen
The girls’ kendo meet continues with one victory on the board for Muroe High. Despite her inexperience, Miya’s ferocious shinai is a force to be reckoned with, and Captain Kirino is no pushover either. It’s a tight race until Tamaki reemerges as the bespectacled “Bureiba” to battle in the fifth and final match. But is Tamaki’s weak disguise enough to mask her superior abilities?
BAMBOO BLADE Volume 4
story by Masahiro Totsuka, art by Aguri Igarashi
March 2010 | ISBN: 978-0-7595-3086-7 | $10.99 ($12.99) | 224 pages | 5”x 7.5″ | Older Teen
When word of Kojiro’s angry outburst at the supermarket gets around to the chairman of the school board, Kojiro’s future at Muroe High is in jeopardy! But there’s really nothing the kendo club can do to help…or is there? Surely the principal wouldn’t dismiss the coach of the kendo team that won the National Tournament?!
BAMBOO BLADE Volume 5
story by Masahiro Totsuka, art by Aguri Igarashi
June 2010 | ISBN: 978-0-316-07298-4 | $10.99 ($12.99) | 224 pages | 5”x 7.5″ | Older Teen
With their new goal in mind, the practice meet between Muroe and Seimei High begins. As Muroe is still short a member, the girls manage to persuade Azuma to participate…just this once. As joint practice gets underway, the Seimei team is quick to spot Tamaki’s overwhelming talent. To see a female kendo competitor at her level is inspiring not only to Seimei, but to Azuma as well. As memories of the thrill of the sport come back to her, will Azuma be tempted to join the kendo team for good?
BAMBOO BLADE Volume 6
story by Masahiro Totsuka, art by Aguri Igarashi
Coming September 2010 | ISBN: 978-0-316-07299-1 | $10.99 ($12.99) | 224 pages | 5”x 7.5″ | Older Teen
Having emerged victorious in their first two matches, Muroe High is gearing up to face Toujou High in the match that will determine which team advances to the prefectural preliminaries! Rumor has it Toujou High’s senpo, Konishi, is a tough competitor whose opponents always suffer some mysterious misfortune just before their matches. But word of Tamaki’s incredible talent is getting around as well…If what they say about Konishi is true, will Tamaki’s skill make her a target?!
BAMBOO BLADE Volume 7
story by Masahiro Totsuka, art by Aguri Igarashi
Coming December 2010 | ISBN: 978-0-316-07305-9 | $10.99 ($12.99) | 224 pages | 5”x 7.5″ | Older Teen
With their first major competition as a fivesome behind them, the girls of the Muroe High kendo club head to the mall for some serious shopping. But who would have guessed that a freak accident would interrupt their outing…and introduce them to a stranger whose skill with a sword rivals Tamaki’s?! Perhaps fate will bring Tamaki and this mysterious swordswoman face-to-face once more…in the kendo ring!
BAMBOO BLADE Volume 8
story by Masahiro Totsuka, art by Aguri Igarashi
Coming March 2011 | ISBN: 978-0-316-07310-3 | $10.99 ($12.99) | 224 pages | 5”x 7.5″ | Older Teen
