Kagurabachi in English: where it stands before volume 9

What Kagurabachi is about

Kagurabachi is a manga by Takeru Hokazono. It began in Japan in 2023. The genres are action, drama and fantasy. Swordplay and revenge sit at the center of it.

Chihiro Rokuhira grows up in his father's forge. He learns to make swords there. His father is a legendary smith. The enchanted blades he made once ended a war.

That quiet life does not last. Sorcerers come for the blades. They kill his father and the six blades vanish with the killers. Chihiro now carries an enchanted sword of his own. He hunts the people responsible.

The trail leads him through yakuza gangs. It also runs into the criminal side of sorcery in modern Japan. That gives the series its urban fantasy setting. It also explains why criminal organizations are such a big part of it. Chihiro himself is calm and focused. He says little.

What kind of read it is

Kagurabachi is a lean revenge story. The sword fights are sharp and cinematic. The panels are clean. You can follow the action without effort. It is a serious action manga that gets to the point.

One warning before you start. There is a lot of blood. Some of the violence is brutal. Readers who want a lighter action series should know that going in.

Where the series stands in Japan

As of October 2026 Kagurabachi has 12 volumes in Japan. The series is not finished. It is still releasing there. New volumes keep adding to that count.

The English edition so far

VIZ Media publishes Kagurabachi in English. Volume 1 came out on 5 November 2024. Volume 8 arrived on 4 August 2026. English readers have 8 volumes on the shelf. Japan has 12. That leaves four Japanese volumes still to come in English.

When volume 9 comes out

Kagurabachi volume 9 comes out in English on 3 November 2026. VIZ Media publishes it. The format is paperback.

If you already read volume 8 you can go straight on from there. If you have not started yet there is time to catch up before the release.

How to start

Begin with Volume 1. It is the one starting point for the series. There is no other entry to pick from.

• Start with: Volume 1 from VIZ Media
• Volume 1 release: 5 November 2024
• Latest English volume: Volume 8 on 4 August 2026
• Next English volume: Volume 9 on 3 November 2026
• Volumes in Japan: 12 and still releasing

Should you pick it up now

Think about what you want from an action manga. Kagurabachi offers a clear revenge plot. It has a quiet lead with a sword and a goal. It has fights that are easy to read on the page. It also has heavy violence.

Catching up means reading 8 volumes. After that the English edition moves one volume at a time. Volume 9 is the next step. The full list of English volumes and dates is on the Kagurabachi series page.