Historical anime are the perfect watch to know about certain important events in history from various perspectives mixed with fiction. It lays bare the truths and harsh moments in history along with the ones that sent a chill down your spine.
Japanese historical anime is another window opening into the rich culture and major events related to Japan. Here are some of the Best Japanese Historical anime you should watch.
10Who’s Left Behind
Exploring the Showa Era and the grave life conditions of World War II, Who’s Left Behind, aka Ushiro no Shoumen Daare, delves into the life of an innocent young girl as she moves through the adversities of the war. Kayoko had just started her first grade and looked forward to becoming a big sister.
Life was normal with her three older siblings and the innocence filled youthful life. But the war came, and her beautiful life was turned upside down. It was never the same, and war tumultuously changed the atmosphere and life around her. The story is based on the real-life of Kayoko Ebina during World War II.
9Sengoku Basara:Samurai Kings
People strived for power and unification in the Sengoku period, leading to wide bloodshed and chaos. There lived a General known as the Demon King of Owari, Nobunaga Oda. He eliminated everyone who stood in his path to a tyrannical central government. It didn’t matter if it was a friend or foe.
Well, two people dared to challenge him- The one-eyed Dragon of Oshu, Masamune Date, and Takeda clan’s hot-blooded warrior, Yukimura Sanada. But these two couldn’t stand each other. Well, if you have a common enemy, then you are friends, right? So, they decided to work together despite their differences.
8Miss Hokusai
This is the story of O-ei, whose talent was overshadowed by her father, Katsushika Hokusai. In 1814, in Edo, Tetsuzo, aka Katsushika Hokusai, was one of the most famous artists. His works were well popular and accepted. But, his third daughter, from his second marriage, O-ei, was as talented as him.
She often painted instead of him, but her works remained uncredited. Even when he was recognized as a great artist in Europe, she stayed in the shadows. This is the story of a talented, lively woman.
7Barefoot Gen
This movie delves into the horrors of World War II, especially the dropping of “Little Boy” through the eyes of a young boy, Gen Nakaoka, who lived in Hiroshima. It lays bare the image of Japan where people survive through the shortage of basic necessities amidst the war.
The original manga author, Keiji Nakazawa, was a survivor of the Hiroshima atomic bombing. Nakazawa illustrated his experiences of the horror of the atomic bombing through the character where he tried to save his family, including his pregnant mother.
6In This Corner of the World
This is another touching story focused on the atomic bombing in Hiroshima. The story revolves around Suzu, who lived in a seaside town called Eba near Hiroshima. She married a young military clerk and moved to his house in Kure.
As the condition in Japan worsened with the war, she struggled to meet both ends. She helped the people around her as there was a scarcity of food and other items.
5The Wind Rises
The Wind Rises is a Ghibli movie inspired by the life of Jiro Horikoshi, who designed the fighter plane Zero of World War II. The fictionalized character Jiro wanted to be a Pilot. Later, he decides to build planes after Caproni appears in his dreams.
Jero joined for aeronautical engineering at Tokyo Imperial University. His life took a different turn as he realized that his life meant more than building planes, especially after the use of his planes in the war and the turn in his life.
4Golden Kamuy
Set in the early 1900s Hokkaido after the Russo-Japanese war, this story follows the life of Saichi Sugimoto, who wanted to amass a fortune for the treatment of his dead friend’s wife, and Asirpa, a young Ainu girl whose father was killed by a strange man.
Desperate to find the gold, both of them embark on a journey together. With the survival instincts of Sugimoto and Asirpa’s proficiency with the sword they form an interesting pair who can navigate their way to the hidden treasure.
3Samurai Champloo
Fuu Kasumi, whose clumsy nature led to a few samurais harassing her, cried for another samurai and he came and scooped the others down with his appalling sword style that involved breakdancing and slashing. He got into a fight with another strong Ronin named Jin. Thier ensuing fight led to the death of local magistrate’s son, and now they are almost put to death because of their crimes.
Fuu comes in time to save them and appoints them as her bodyguards. With no place to go, she along with Mugen and Jin, embark on a journey to find another Samurai who smelled of sunflowers. The series contains an exciting journey filled with comedy, insane swordfights and two friends who keep trying to kill each other.
2Grave of Fireflies
Set in a devastated world following the consequences of World War II, this story follows life of Seita and his sister Setsuko who had been orphaned by the raging war. Having no home to go back because of the bombing, they have to live scurrying across the countryside fighting both their hunger and the deep evil that has been instilled in the people of Japan because of the war.
Truly a masterpiece by Studio Ghibli, this movie stands out as one that depicts the devastation a war leaves behind and how people succumb to their miseries and cause discontent to others too. It shows how war disturbs not only a country but also shakes the very future of all its people.
1Rurouni Kenshin
Into the Meiji era after all the wars had come to an end, Kaoru Kamiya finds herself in a dilemma as someone is trying to imposter her sword art style, Kamiya Kasshin-ryu and is killing innocent citizens. Hence tarnishing her already struggling dojos name. In a strive to save her dojo she comes across Kenshin Himura who decides to help her.
Thus, slowly it comes to light that this seemingly ordinary wanderer in none other than the infamous hero Hitokiri Battousai who was a legend during the Bakumatsu period and was a big part of the reason that it ended. Now he is faced with people from his past who want to end this peaceful era and bring war again. He must face them along with the help of the friends he has found along the way.
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