Ninja vs. Gokudo

Ninja vs. Gokudo
First tankōbon volume cover, featuring Kiwami Kimura (left) and Shinoha Tanaka (right)
忍者と極道
(Ninja to Gokudō)
Genre
Manga
Written byShinsuke Kondō
Published byKodansha
English publisher
ImprintMorning KC
MagazineComic Days
Original runJanuary 20, 2020 – present
Volumes16
Anime television series
Directed byToshinori Watabe
Written byKeiichirō Ōchi
Music by
  • Keita Takahashi
  • Harikemu Wata
StudioStudio Deen
Licensed byAmazon Prime Video
Original networkNippon TV, BS NTV
Original run October 8, 2025 – December 24, 2025
Episodes12

Ninja vs. Gokudo (忍者と極道, Ninja to Gokudō) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Shinsuke Kondō. It began serialization on Kodansha's Comic Days website in January 2020. An anime television series adaptation produced by Studio Deen aired from October to December 2025.

Plot

An ancient war between ninja and yakuza has raged for over three centuries, resurfacing across eras as societies rise and fall. In the modern age, Shinoha Tanaka, a young ninja traumatized by his past and is unable to laugh, encounters Kiwami Kimura, a seemingly ordinary office worker who secretly leads a powerful yakuza faction. Unaware of each other's true identities, the two form an unlikely bond through shared interests, creating a fragile sense of normalcy amid hidden danger. Their friendship unfolds as tensions between ninja clans and yakuza organizations escalate once more, reigniting the long-standing blood feud.

Characters

Shinoha Tanaka (多仲 忍者, Tanaka Shinoha)
Voiced by: Chiaki Kobayashi[3] (Japanese); Conradie van Heerden[4] (English)
Kiwami Kimura (輝村 極道, Kimura Kiwami)
Voiced by: Katsuyuki Konishi[3] (Japanese); Nate Prentice[4] (English)
Zanzo Kazai (神賽 惨蔵, Kazai Zanzō)
Voiced by: Toshiyuki Morikawa (Dandy), Kensho Ono (Pretty Boy), Mariko Higashiuchi (Blonde Beauty), Yūki Sanpei (Beast), Serina Machiyama (Boy), Volcano Ōta (King), Hisako Kanemoto (Beauty)[5] (Japanese); Gavin Gomes,[4] Chris van RensburgEp. 5 credits (King), Bontle MafojaneEp. 7 credits (Blonde Beauty) (English)
Kaiza Akiba (璃刃 壊左, Akiba Kaiza)
Voiced by: Hōchū Ōtsuka[5] (Japanese); Gordon van der Spuy[4] (English)
Kosei Yuzawa (夢澤 恒星, Yuzawa Kōsei)
Voiced by: Yasuhiro Mamiya[5] (Japanese); Rob Coutts[4] (English)
Nodoka Matsumoto (祭下 陽日, Matsumoto Nodoka)
Voiced by: Yuma Uchida[5] (Japanese); Luke BollmanEp. 2 credits (English)
Shiki Yamada (病田 色, Yamada Shiki)
Voiced by: Kana Hanazawa[5] (Japanese); Bontle MafojaneEp. 2 credits (English)
Gamute (ガムテ)
Voiced by: Sumire Uesaka[3] (Japanese); Schae PietersenEp. 3 credits (English)
Hiroki Yajima (殺島 飛露鬼, Yajima Hiroki)
Voiced by: Takehito Koyasu[5] (Japanese); Kine MatoseEp. 3 credits (English)
Sako Hasegawa (覇世川 左虎, Hasegawa Sako)
Voiced by: Makoto Furukawa[5] (Japanese); Thomas CollinsEp. 4 credits (English)
Uryu Yagi (邪樹 右龍, Yagi Uryū)
Voiced by: Hiroki Yasumoto[5] (Japanese); Rob CouttsEp. 4 credits (English)
Daijin (大臣)
Voiced by: Nobunaga Shimazaki[6] (Japanese); Conradie van HeerdenEp. 6 credits (English)
Tome Odaka (雄鷹 斗女, Odaka Tome)
Voiced by: Yuka Iguchi[5]
Anatomi Kurita (繰田 孔富, Kurita Anatomi)
Voiced by: Tomokazu Sugita[5] (Japanese); Chris van RensburgEp. 12 credits (English)
Hanako Saito (砕涛 華虎, Saitō Hanako)
Voiced by: Taiten Kusunoki[5]
Maya Kohara (蟲原 真夜, Kohara Maya)
Voiced by: Mamiko Noto[5]

Media

Manga

Written and illustrated by Shinsuke Kondō, Ninja vs. Gokudo began serialization on Kodansha's Comic Days website on January 20, 2020.[7] Its chapters have been collected in sixteen tankōbon volumes as of October 2025.[8]

During their Anime Expo 2023 panel, Kodansha USA announced that they licensed the series, with the first volume releasing in Q2 2024.[9]

No. Original release date Original ISBN English release date English ISBN
1April 8, 2020[10]978-4-06-519365-5June 11, 2024[11]979-8-88-877164-8
2July 8, 2020[12]978-4-06-520098-8July 16, 2024[13]979-8-88-877165-5
3October 14, 2020[14]978-4-06-520852-6October 15, 2024[15]979-8-88-877166-2
4January 13, 2021[16]978-4-06-521835-8November 26, 2024[17]979-8-88-877167-9
5February 10, 2021[18]978-4-06-522201-0January 21, 2025[19]979-8-88-877168-6
6July 14, 2021[20]978-4-06-523455-6March 18, 2025[21]979-8-88-877169-3
7October 13, 2021[22]978-4-06-524976-5May 13, 2025[23]979-8-88-877170-9
8January 12, 2022[24]978-4-06-526450-8July 15, 2025[25]979-8-88-877171-6
9April 13, 2022[26]978-4-06-527483-5September 16, 2025[27]979-8-88-877172-3
10September 14, 2022[28]978-4-06-529056-9November 18, 2025[29]979-8-88-877173-0
11January 11, 2023[30]978-4-06-530297-2January 13, 2026[31]979-8-88-877174-7
12October 11, 2023[32]978-4-06-533107-1March 17, 2026[33]979-8-88-877316-1
13June 12, 2024[34]978-4-06-535861-0May 19, 2026[35]979-8-88-877454-0
14November 13, 2024[36]978-4-06-537366-8——
15May 14, 2025[37]978-4-06-539489-2——
16October 8, 2025[8]978-4-06-540991-6——
17April 8, 2026[38]978-4-06-542662-3——

Anime

An anime television series adaptation was announced on February 24, 2025.[39] It was produced by Studio Deen and directed by Toshinori Watanabe, with Keiichirō Ōchi handling series composition, Toshiyuki Matsutake designing the characters, and Keita Takahashi and Harikemu Wata composing the music.[40] The series aired from October 8 to December 24, 2025, on Nippon TV's AnichU programming block, as well as BS NTV.[3][a] The opening theme song is "Sweet Disaster", performed by Miyavi, while the ending theme song is "Until You Die Out", performed by Fear, and Loathing in Las Vegas. Amazon Prime Video is streaming the series worldwide.[5]

Episodes

No.Title [41][42]Directed by [41]Written by [41]Storyboarded by [41]Original release date [43][a]
1"Shinoha and Kiwami"
Transliteration: "Shinoha to Kiwami" (Japanese: 忍者（しのは）と極道（きわみ）)		Toshinori WatanabeKeiichirō ŌchiToshinori WatanabeOctober 8, 2025 (2025-10-08)
2"Part 1 The Blood-Scented Flare of Akasaka"
Transliteration: "Daiisshō Akasaka Keppū Rōen" (Japanese: 第一章 赤坂血風狼烟)		Takashi AndōKeiichirō ŌchiToshinori WatanabeOctober 15, 2025 (2025-10-15)
3"Part 2 Blazing Chivalry and Justice in Kabuchika"
Transliteration: "Dainishō Moeru Jingi no Kabuchika" (Japanese: 第二章 燃える仁義のカブチカ)		Toshinori WatanabeKazuhiko InukaiToshinori WatanabeOctober 22, 2025 (2025-10-22)
4"Part 3 The Great Burial of Love #1"
Transliteration: "Daisanshō Jōai Dai Bōsō 1st" (Japanese: 第三章 情愛大暴葬 1st)		Taiei AndōKeiichirō ŌchiTaiei AndōOctober 29, 2025 (2025-10-29)
5"Part 3 The Great Burial of Love #2"
Transliteration: "Daisanshō Jōai Dai Bōsō 2nd" (Japanese: 第三章 情愛大暴葬 2nd)		Toshinori WatanabeKazuhiko InukaiShinji IshihiraNovember 5, 2025 (2025-11-05)
6"Part 3 The Great Burial of Love #3"
Transliteration: "Daisanshō Jōai Dai Bōsō 3rd" (Japanese: 第三章 情愛大暴葬 3rd)		Toshinori WatanabeKeiichirō ŌchiToshinori WatanabeNovember 12, 2025 (2025-11-12)
7"Part 4 Young Maniacs' Death Game, Stage 1"
Transliteration: "Daiyonshō Yokyō Bōrei Yūgi Sutēji 1" (Japanese: 第四章 幼狂死亡遊戯 STAGE1)		Hiromasa IrieKazuhiko InukaiHiromasa IrieNovember 19, 2025 (2025-11-19)
8"Part 4 Young Maniacs' Death Game, Stage 2"
Transliteration: "Daiyonshō Yokyō Bōrei Yūgi Sutēji 2" (Japanese: 第四章 幼狂死亡遊戯 STAGE2)		Yū YabūchiKeiichirō ŌchiShōko HayashiNovember 26, 2025 (2025-11-26)
9"Part 4 Young Maniacs' Death Game, Stage 3"
Transliteration: "Daiyonshō Yokyō Bōrei Yūgi Sutēji 3" (Japanese: 第四章 幼狂死亡遊戯 STAGE3)		Kōsuke ShimotoriKazuhiko InukaiShinji IshihiraDecember 3, 2025 (2025-12-03)
10"Part 4 Young Maniacs' Death Game, Stage 4"
Transliteration: "Daiyonshō Yokyō Bōrei Yūgi Sutēji 4" (Japanese: 第四章 幼狂死亡遊戯 STAGE4)		Taiei AndōKazuhiko InukaiTaiei AndōDecember 10, 2025 (2025-12-10)
11"Part 4 Young Maniacs' Death Game, Stage 5"
Transliteration: "Daiyonshō Yokyō Bōrei Yūgi Sutēji 5" (Japanese: 第四章 幼狂死亡遊戯 STAGE5)		Toshinori WatanabeKeiichirō ŌchiToshinori WatanabeDecember 17, 2025 (2025-12-17)
12"Ninja vs. Gokudo"
Transliteration: "Ninja to Gokudō" (Japanese: 忍者（にんじゃ）と極道（ごくどう）)		Toshinori WatanabeKeiichirō ŌchiToshinori WatanabeDecember 24, 2025 (2025-12-24)

Reception

The series was ranked 9th at the 2020 Web Manga General Election poll.[45] It was also ranked 8th in Takarajimasha's Kono Manga ga Sugoi! guidebook list for best manga for male readers in 2021.[46] The series was ranked 13th in the Nationwide Bookstore Employees' Recommended Comics of 2021.[47] It was also nominated for the 7th Next Manga Awards in the digital category and ranked 10th out of 50 nominees.[48] The series was ranked 10th in AnimeJapan's 6th "Most Wanted Anime Adaptation" poll in 2023.[49]

Notes

  1. ^ a b Nippon TV listed the series premiere on October 7 at 25:59, which is effectively October 8 at 1:59 a.m. JST.[44]

References

  1. ^ 忍者と極道の300年にわたる因縁バトルを描く、近藤信輔「忍者と極道」1巻. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  2. ^ "Ninja Vs. Gokudo". Kodansha USA. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d Hodgkins, Crystalyn (May 9, 2025). "Ninja vs. Gokudo Anime Stars Chiaki Kobayashi, Debuts in October". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d e Mateo, Alex (October 7, 2025). "Ninja vs. Gokudo Anime Streams Same-Day English Dub". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on 2025-10-07. Retrieved December 29, 2025.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Cayanan, Joanna (September 8, 2025). "Ninja vs. Gokudo Anime's 2 Promo Videos Reveal More Cast, Theme Songs, October 7 Debut". Anime News Network. Retrieved September 8, 2025.
  6. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (November 7, 2025). "Ninja vs. Gokudo Anime Casts Nobunaga Shimazaki". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on November 7, 2025. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
  7. ^ 忍者と極道. Comic Days (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  8. ^ a b 忍者と極道（１６） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved September 8, 2025.
  9. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (July 1, 2023). "Kodansha USA Reveals 21 New Print Licenses, 3 Omnibus Releases, 2 Digital Licenses (Updated)". Anime News Network. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  10. ^ 忍者と極道（１） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  11. ^ "Ninja Vs. Gokudo 1". Penguin Random House. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  12. ^ 忍者と極道（２） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  13. ^ "Ninja Vs. Gokudo 2". Penguin Random House. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  14. ^ 忍者と極道（３） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  15. ^ "Ninja Vs. Gokudo 3". Penguin Random House. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  16. ^ 忍者と極道（４） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  17. ^ "Ninja Vs. Gokudo 4". Penguin Random House. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  18. ^ 忍者と極道（５） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  19. ^ "Ninja Vs. Gokudo 5". Penguin Random House. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  20. ^ 忍者と極道（６） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  21. ^ "Ninja Vs. Gokudo 6". Penguin Random House. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  22. ^ 忍者と極道（７） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  23. ^ "Ninja Vs. Gokudo 7". Penguin Random House. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  24. ^ 忍者と極道（８） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  25. ^ "Ninja Vs. Gokudo 8". Penguin Random House. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  26. ^ 忍者と極道（９） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  27. ^ "Ninja Vs. Gokudo 9". Penguin Random House. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  28. ^ 忍者と極道（１０） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  29. ^ "Ninja Vs. Gokudo 10". Penguin Random House. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
  30. ^ 忍者と極道（１１） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  31. ^ "Ninja Vs. Gokudo 11". Penguin Random House. Retrieved September 8, 2025.
  32. ^ 忍者と極道（１２） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
  33. ^ "Ninja Vs. Gokudo 12". Penguin Random House. Retrieved September 8, 2025.
  34. ^ 忍者と極道（１３） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  35. ^ "Ninja Vs. Gokudo 13". Penguin Random House. Retrieved September 8, 2025.
  36. ^ 忍者と極道（１４） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  37. ^ 忍者と極道（１５） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  38. ^ 忍者と極道（１７） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved March 5, 2026.
  39. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (February 24, 2025). "Ninja vs. Gokudo Manga Gets TV Anime". Anime News Network. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
  40. ^ STAFF&CAST. ningoku-anime.com (in Japanese). Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  41. ^ a b c d "Story | Terebi Anime『Ninja to Gokudō』Kōshiki Saito" 各話紹介 | TVアニメ『忍者と極道』公式サイト [Story | TV Anime『Ninja vs. Gokudo』Official Site]. www.ningoku-anime.com. Archived from the original on December 29, 2025. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  42. ^ "Prime Video: Ninja Vs. Gokudo". Amazon Prime Video. Archived from the original on December 29, 2025. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
  43. ^ 忍者と極道. The Television (in Japanese). Kadokawa Corporation. Archived from the original on December 29, 2025. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
  44. ^ "On Air | Terebi Anime『Ninja to Gokudō』Kōshiki Saito" 放送・配信 | TVアニメ『忍者と極道』公式サイト [On Air | TV Anime『Ninja vs. Gokudo』Official Site]. www.ningoku-anime.com. Archived from the original on November 14, 2025. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  45. ^ Loveridge, Lynzee (October 30, 2020). "Voters Crown Days on Fes as #1 in Web Manga General Election". Anime News Network. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  46. ^ Mateo, Alex (December 17, 2020). "Kono Manga ga Sugoi! Editors Unveil 2021 Rankings". Anime News Network. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  47. ^ 全国書店員が選んだおすすめマンガ、今年の1位は「わたしの幸せな結婚」. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. January 29, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  48. ^ Loveridge, Lynzee (August 24, 2021). "Kaiju No. 8, Oshi no Ko Win Next Manga Awards Web, Print Categories". Anime News Network. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  49. ^ Morissy, Kim (March 23, 2023). "Hyperinflation Tops AnimeJapan's 'Manga We Want To See Animated' Poll". Anime News Network. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
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