OverviewBased on the Japanese historical fantasy novel series written by Moto’o Nakanishi and illustrated by Tamaki. The story begins in the 1830s in Japan and follows Jinta and Suzune. Two abused siblings who run away from home and find refuge in Kadono village, where they grow up alongside Shirayuki and learn to defend themselves against demons threatening their home. Under the guidance of Motoharu, Jinta trains as a sentinel to protect the village’s sacred demonic sword and its new guardian, Shirayuki, who years later grows into her role as the new Itsukihime. The bond among this trio deepens over the years, yet is complicated by unspoken emotions, and an inevitable arranged marriage rears its ugly head as it challenges their sense of duty, identity, and belonging. However, all of that escalates one night when manipulation and perceived “betrayal” fracture these bonds, leading to tragic confrontations fueled by jealousy, duty, and supernatural forces that drive Jinta onto a painful path that intertwines love, loyalty, and vengeance…Our TakeIn a nutshell, this was a long one to work on, only because the first episode was an hour-long premiere. It introduced a deeply emotional story rooted in themes of trauma and the search for belonging. At its core is a trio of characters brought together by circumstance and raised in a village where they slowly rebuild their lives through friendship, mentorship, and purpose. As they grow, their bonds deepen, shaped by both affection and duty. But peace can only last for so long as the feeling of betrayal, real or perceived, escalates into tragedy, and the fallout is devastating, sparking a transformation that propels Jinta (later renamed Jinya for some odd reason) into a far-reaching journey with roots in the past and consequences stretching far into the future.In episode two, we meet the hardened Jinya as he wanders feudal Japan, offering his skills as a ronin to vanquish demons wherever he roams. Yet fate threads him back to his old home village before he moved to Kadono, where he accepts a plea from a familiar face to guard a young girl in his care, eventually leading to a series of twists that in some form or another come full circle in unexpected ways.By episode three, rumors of gruesome murders near a rural soba shop pull Jinya into a fresh mystery: the count of corpses far exceeds the number of the missing, suggesting something more sinister afoot. Forming a tentative alliance with a local aide, he treads a fine line between hunter and haunted man, driven by his vow to hunt evil and the ghosts of his tragic past.Overall, for the first 3 episodes, it delivers a compelling setup for an inter-generational story that weaves together different periods in Japan, often moving through stages with a “monster of the week” format while exploring how youthful choices ripple through the future. The narrative masterfully blends coming-of-age warmth with rising tension, as characters confront their pasts, challenge tradition, and face difficult truths about love, loyalty, and identity. The presence of demons with varied, sometimes benevolent powers adds intriguing layers to the universe, enriching the story’s complexity. Although the pacing in the third episode slowed a bit, the detailed storytelling maintained interest, especially highlighting the strong bond between Jinta and his sibling, which suggests that even potential confrontations might be tempered by their connection. The question is, how far will it go until it reaches a desired conclusion?