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{{Short description|Japanese manga series}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{other uses}}
{{Infobox animanga/Header
| image = Azumi vol. 1.png
| caption = First {{Transl|ja|[[tankōbon]]}} volume cover
| ja_kanji = あずみ
| genre = <!-- Note: Use and cite reliable sources to identify genre/s, not personal interpretation. Please don't include more than three genres (per [[MOS:A&M]]). -->
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Print
| type = manga
| author = [[Yū Koyama]]
| publisher = [[Shogakukan]]
| demographic = {{Transl|ja|[[Seinen manga|Seinen]]}}
| magazine = [[Big Comic Superior]]
| first = 1994
| last = 2008
| volumes = 48
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Print
| type = manga
| author = Yū Koyama
| publisher = Shogakukan
| demographic = {{Transl|ja|Seinen}}
| magazine = Big Comic Superior
| first = December 26, 2008
| last = February 28, 2014
| volumes = 18
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Footer}}

{{nihongo||あずみ|'''Azumi'''}} is a Japanese [[manga]] series written and illustrated by [[Yū Koyama]]. It was serialized in [[Shogakukan]]'s [[Seinen manga|{{Transl|ja|seinen}} manga]] magazine ''[[Big Comic Superior]]'' from 1994 to 2008, with its chapters collected in 48 {{Transl|ja|[[tankōbon]]}} volumes. A sequel series with the same title (rendered in [[all caps]] Latin-script) was serialized in the same magazine from 2008 to 2014, with its chapters collected in 14 ''tankōbon'' volumes. The story follows the title character, a young woman, brought up as part of a team of assassins charged with killing the [[warlord]]s that threaten the uneasy peace in [[Feudal Japan]] in the aftermath of its long [[Sengoku period|Sengoku]] civil war period.

The series has been adapted into two feature films starring [[Aya Ueto]], ''[[Azumi (film)|Azumi]]'' in 2003 and ''[[Azumi 2: Death or Love]]'' in 2005, and a video game and a stage play in 2005.

''Azumi'' received the Excellence Prize at the 1997 [[Japan Media Arts Festival]] and won the 43rd [[Shogakukan Manga Award]] in the general category in 1998.

==Plot==
''Azumi'' focuses upon the life of the titular young female assassin. The manga begins an indeterminate number of years after the [[Battle of Sekigahara]]. As Azumi begins her duty, the manga introduces its characters into mainstream history. Many of Azumi's early missions are the assassinations of prominent supporters and generals of the [[Toyotomi clan]], against whom [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] expected to again go to war. The manga "reveals" that many of the Toyotomi leaders who conveniently died of diseases or accidents prior to the final confrontation between the Toyotomi and Tokugawa were actually victims of assassinations by Azumi and her comrades, thus indicating to the reader when the events were taking place.

Azumi is raised by an old man known as Jiji (Grandfather), whose name is later revealed to be Gensai Obata. She is the only girl among ten students. They are secluded from the society in a tiny valley called Kiridani (Fog Valley) to such an extent that they do not know the difference between men and women, what a baby is, or customs like marriage. Early in the manga, as part of their training, Azumi and her comrades are ordered to go to Shimotani, a hidden community of ninja who became farmers, to learn the basics of [[ninjutsu]]. The manga sets a very chilling tone early on. The ten ''erabareta senshi'' (chosen warriors), who are all young children (Azumi has her first period well after her first missions, so she appears to be somewhere between 10–12 years of age at the onset of the manga) are told by Jiji that they have completed their training. For their first mission, they are to pair with whomever among the ten they feel the closest. Azumi pairs with Nachi, and all others pair with their closest friends. Once the students are paired, Jiji tells them that their first mission is to kill their partner—whoever is too weak to kill their partner is too weak to fulfill their life's missions, and will not be allowed to survive. The children fight their respective duels. Azumi slays Nachi, an event which appears to deeply traumatize Azumi, but, like others, she hides her feelings. Their second mission is to massacre all fifty-three residents of the peaceful ninja village, including their teacher, women and children, as they know of the group's existence. Azumi slays three men and four teenagers, but is unable to kill a woman with a baby, a task which one of her comrades quickly accomplishes.

The remaining five warriors proceed to go on assassination missions of various important supporters of the Toyotomi faction. As the manga proceeds, it reveals various moral concepts, such as the morality of assassinations (and killing in general), the dehumanization effect of politics, and provoking the reader to question the basic assumptions of right and wrong. For example, throughout much of the middle volumes of the manga (Vol. 8-19), Azumi frequently fights and kills bandits—many of whom are depicted robbing, murdering, and raping innocent victims. Azumi does not question that her killing such bandits is right, and few readers probably question her righteousness. Later on in the manga, the political background resulting in the banditry is revealed. The Tokugawa ruling family deposed and ended many previously prominent ''[[daimyō]]'' feudal lords who opposed them. The samurai and mercenaries serving the feudal lords were, thus, left without work or means to live, and therefore, resorted to banditry. Azumi questions whether it was right for her to kill so many men who had been forced to resort to banditry and were not bandits by choice.

A consistent recurring theme is the contrast between Azumi and other prominent characters. Azumi is compared to a bodhisattva—a kind of enlightened being, while the characters around Azumi are motivated by various obsessions. Some are motivated by blind idealism, some by religion, others by a lust for battle, greed, or even normally sanctified motivations like honor. Not all the forces (particularly those motivated by more noble incentives, like a pair of ninja assassins killed by Azumi who are participating in the planning of a revolt as the only way for a ninja community to survive) are depicted as if their single-minded drive toward their goals are somehow evil. However, nonetheless, in each case, those who are attached intensely to something in the world are killed by Azumi, while she, who seemingly has little attachment to the earthly world and few personal desires, survives.

==Media==
===Manga===
Written and illustrated by [[Yū Koyama]], ''Azumi'' was serialized in [[Shogakukan]]'s [[Seinen manga|{{Transl|ja|seinen}} manga]] magazine from 1994 to 2008.<ref name="Natalie-Azumi1">{{cite web|script-title=ja:あずみ連載再開「あずみ」から「AZUMI」へ|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/11865|website=[[Natalie (website)|Comic Natalie]]|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|access-date=January 13, 2022|language=ja|date=December 25, 2008|archive-date=January 15, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115062710/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/11865|url-status=live}}</ref> Shogakukan collected its chapters in forty-eight {{Transl|ja|[[tankōbon]]}} volumes, released from January 30, 1995,<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:あずみ 1|url=http://www.shogakukan.co.jp/comics/detail/_isbn_4091835414|publisher=[[Shogakukan]]|access-date=January 12, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011171403/http://www.shogakukan.co.jp/comics/detail/_isbn_4091835414|archive-date=October 11, 2012|language=ja}}</ref> to February 27, 2009.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:あずみ 48|url=http://www.shogakukan.co.jp/comics/detail/_isbn_9784091823731|publisher=[[Shogakukan]]|access-date=January 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012140531/http://www.shogakukan.co.jp/comics/detail/_isbn_9784091823731|archive-date=October 12, 2012|language=ja}}</ref> Shogakukan re-released the series in a twenty-four volume ''[[bunkoban]]'' edition, from January 14 to December 15, 2012.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:あずみ １ (文庫)|url=https://comics.shogakukan.co.jp/book?isbn=9784091962119|publisher=[[Shogakukan]]|access-date=January 13, 2022|archive-url=https://archive.today/20220113104120/https://comics.shogakukan.co.jp/book?isbn=9784091962119|archive-date=January 13, 2022|language=ja|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:あずみ ２４ (文庫)|url=https://comics.shogakukan.co.jp/book?isbn=9784091962348|publisher=[[Shogakukan]]|access-date=January 13, 2022|archive-url=https://archive.today/20220113104402/https://comics.shogakukan.co.jp/book?isbn=9784091962348|archive-date=January 13, 2022|language=ja|url-status=live}}</ref>

A sequel series, also titled ''Azumi'' (Latin-script title in [[all caps]]), was serialized in the same magazine from December 26, 2008,<ref name="Natalie-Azumi1"/> to February 28, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ressler|first=Karen|title=Female Assassin Manga Azumi Ends|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-02-13/female-assassin-manga-azumi-ends|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=January 13, 2022|date=February 13, 2014|archive-date=January 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220113104716/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-02-13/female-assassin-manga-azumi-ends|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:小山ゆう「AZUMI」完結、次々号よりボクシング新連載|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/110859|website=[[Natalie (website)|Comic Natalie]]|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|access-date=January 13, 2022|language=ja|date=February 28, 2014|archive-date=January 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220113104523/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/110859|url-status=live}}</ref> Shogakukan collected its chapters in eighteen ''tankōbon'' volumes, released from June 30, 2009,<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:ＡＺＵＭＩ－あずみ－ １|url=http://www.shogakukan.co.jp/comics/detail/_isbn_9784091825193|website=[[Natalie (website)|Comic Natalie]]|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|access-date=January 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302102624/http://www.shogakukan.co.jp/comics/detail/_isbn_9784091825193|archive-date=March 2, 2014|language=ja}}</ref> to April 30, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:【4月30日付】本日発売の単行本リスト|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/115527|website=[[Natalie (website)|Comic Natalie]]|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|access-date=January 13, 2022|language=ja|date=April 30, 2014|archive-date=January 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104091234/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/115527|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Film series===
{{main|Azumi (film){{!}}''Azumi'' (film)|Azumi 2: Death or Love{{!}}''Azumi 2: Death or Love''}}
''Azumi'' was loosely adapted into an [[action film]] directed by [[Ryuhei Kitamura]] in 2003. A sequel, ''Azumi 2: Death or Love'', directed by [[Shusuke Kaneko]], followed in 2005.

===Video game===
An [[action game]] for [[PlayStation 2]], based on manga's original story, was developed by Gargoyle Mechanics and released in Japan only by [[Entertainment Software Publishing]] in 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/716/716134.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310150854/http://uk.ps2.ign.com/objects/716/716134.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 10, 2012|title=IGN: Azumi|publisher=Uk.ps2.ign.com|date=2004-11-22|access-date=2013-07-23}}</ref> The game was also re-released as part of the budget-range [[Simple series]] (Vol. 32).

===Stage play===
The theatrical version, directed by Okamura Toshikazu, premiered on April 3, 2005, starring [[Meisa Kuroki]] as Azumi.

===Merchandise===
''Azumi Original Soundtrack'' containing music from the film was released by [[For Life Music]] in 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=FLCF-3949|title=Azumi Original Soundtrack Original Soundtrack (CD)|publisher=Cdjapan.co.jp|access-date=2013-07-23|archive-date=October 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019142845/http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=FLCF-3949|url-status=live}}</ref> Azumi figure line based on the manga version was released by figuAX in 2006.<ref>[http://www.toypara.com/catalog.cgi?products/extra/azumi/home.html figuAX あずみアートコレクション 【ハピネットロビン】] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815080605/http://www.toypara.com/catalog.cgi?products%2Fextra%2Fazumi%2Fhome.html |date=August 15, 2019 }} {{in lang|ja}}</ref>

==Reception==
''Azumi'' received an Excellence Prize at the 1997 [[Japan Media Arts Festival]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archive.j-mediaarts.jp/en/festival/1997/manga/works/01m_Azumi/|title=Excellence Award - Azumi Award Manga Division 1997 [1st]|publisher=[[Japan Media Arts Festival]]|access-date=March 11, 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230311022611/http://archive.j-mediaarts.jp/en/festival/1997/manga/works/01m_Azumi/|archive-date=March 11, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref> and won the 43rd [[Shogakukan Manga Award]] in the general category in 1998.<ref name="ShogakukanAward">{{cite web|url=http://comics.shogakukan.co.jp/mangasho/rist.html|script-title=ja:小学館漫画賞: 歴代受賞者|publisher=Shogakukan|language=ja|access-date=2007-08-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929094941/http://comics.shogakukan.co.jp/mangasho/rist.html|archive-date=29 September 2007|url-status=dead }}</ref>

==References==
*Gifford, Kevin. "Azumi". (November 2006) ''Newtype USA''. p.&nbsp;154.
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100930045748/http://www.esp-web.co.jp/products/azumi/|title=Official video game website}} {{in lang|ja}}
* {{Anime News Network|manga|5877}}

{{Big Comic Superior}}
{{Shogakukan Manga Award - General}}

[[Category:2005 video games]]
[[Category:Action games]]
[[Category:Fictional assassins in comics]]
[[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1994]]
[[Category:Japan-exclusive video games]]
[[Category:Manga adapted into films]]
[[Category:Ninja in anime and manga]]
[[Category:Orphan characters in anime and manga]]
[[Category:PlayStation 2 games]]
[[Category:PlayStation 2-only games]]
[[Category:Samurai in anime and manga]]
[[Category:Seinen manga]]
[[Category:Shogakukan manga]]
[[Category:Video games based on anime and manga]]
[[Category:Video games developed in Japan]]
[[Category:Winners of the Shogakukan Manga Award for general manga]]
[[Category:Yū Koyama]]