Line #5 Manga/Hitogatana


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hitogatana_1529556.jpg]]
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3	''Hitigatana'' is an ActionGenre ScienceFiction {{Shounen}} manga by author and artist Onigunsou which began serialization October 10, 2009 in Comic Blade, and ended January 30, 2020. It is published in eleven volumes.
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5	The story takes place TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture, where the invention of the miraculous technology to transfer a human soul into other objects in order to control something not of one's own body is the main factor for the rise of androids. Initially the main function of these androids were for industrial work and medical use. Over time a type that was equipped with weapons was manufactured specifically for combat use. These 'Armed Operational Androids' were called "Katana" and inscribed with the names of legendary katana's from Japanese history and folklore.
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7	Crimes committed using "Katana" run rampant. In an effort to maintain order, the government has organized the AKCD - "Anti Katana Crime Division". The story follows Togusa, a member of the 8th squad of the AKCD who bridges the gap between human and machine and is constantly at war with those who misuse "Katana" and with his own inner demons and doubts.
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9	The manga shares some similarities to ''Anime/GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplex'', and the works of Creator/TsutomuNihei, and has a very similar art style to ''Manga/DOGSBulletsAndCarnage''.
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11	!!This work has examples of:
12	* TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture: The setting looks like modern day, except that we have RidiculouslyHumanRobots tech.
13	* AndroidsArePeopleToo: Not believed by the general public or government, but the AKCD do, and take in Togusa and later Hahagiri when otherwise they would have been 'disposed of'.
14	* BankRobbery: In chapter 3, two guys who've hijacked katanas use them to rob a bank.
15	* BigDamnHeroes: The AKCD often. In Chapter 2, Togusa and Yachiyo pull one on [[NobleBigotWithABadge Inspector Takemoto]].
16	* ByTheLightsOfTheirEyes: A particularly cool panel in chapter 2 shows the two squad eight katana shadowed in darkness but with GlowingEyes. Whether their eyes are actually glowing or it's artistic license is hard to say.
17	* TheCollector: The villain of chapter 4 is someone who collects katana.
18	* CaughtTheHeartOnHisSleeve: Hahagiri does this to Togusa occasionally, and while the ship-tease isn't lost on the audience, those involved are half-robot, so the significance doesn't quite sink in to them.
19	* CurbStompBattle: All the battles against minor criminals who steal katana. The AKCD are professionals and newbs never give them a hard time. The trouble starts when fellow professionals start running amok...
20	* DoubleStandard: PlayedForLaughs and remarked on in-universe. When Hahagiri is unable to give Squad Eight any information about her father, she apologizes, and this conversation happens between Yachiyo and Togusa:
21	-->'''Yachiyo:''' Oh, you don't have to apologize. You're cute so it's forgiven!\
22	'''Togusa (A guy):''' Ane-san, what if I were to give you the same answer?\
23	'''Yachiyo:''' I'll smack you.
24	* GuestStarPartyMember: Togusa temporarily partners with Shinobu in chapter 3 since they're the only AKCD members who are able to take care of an incident that happens during a meeting.
25	* HeartDrive: Katana. They seem to run by 'placing your soul' into the katana.
26	* {{Hihiirokane}}: A vital component of all Katana, due to its ability to store souls.
27	* InternalReveal: Shinobu's appearance is revealed to the audience and hinted at to Togusa early on at the end of chapter 3, but it seems so unlikely to Togusa that he dismisses the truth.
28	* MadScientist: Many, but notably Amamiya Kyouko, Togusa's creator and Hahagiri's 'father'.
29	* MasterApprenticeChain: A lot of the hijacked katana were stolen by assistants and apprentices of legal kenshi and smiths.
30	* NobleBigotWithABadge: Inspector Takemoto who hates Katana and anything to do them, including the hero, Togusa.
31	* PsychicNosebleed: Piloting a katana seems to have a lot of strain on a human's soul, and can potentially erode it if it stays too long in a katana.
32	* RidiculouslyHumanRobots: The Katana all resemble humans, and can be and are mistaken as humans. Possibly justified by the fact that they are manipulated by a human's soul like their own body, so it makes sense for it to be human shaped. Also, a human-looking robot is much more stealthy than something that is obviously inhuman.
33	* SillyMeGesture: Yachiyo and Inuzuka both do this a lot.
34	* ThemeNaming: All the katana are named after RealLife famous and mythological Japanese swords.
35	* ThisIsADrill: The enemy katana in chapter 4 can put its arms together and twist and attack like a drill.
36	* WhatMeasureIsANonHuman: Togusa, and later, other characters who identify as half-katana, half-human.

Context Manga / Hitogatana