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A lantern faintly lights a stall under a willow tree in the Shinbashi area of Oedo. The soba stall, which appears and disappears like a dream, is called "Gen-an." Gentaro Makino, a former hatamoto (feudal lord), gave up his important position as an accountant and retired early from that business. He has decided to devote himself to "making soba" as his second life. The story is about the life of a former Lord, who is now enjoying a friendly competition to master the art of buckwheat noodle making. (Source: Leed Publishing, translated)
Kashiwagi, who keeps shady ties with the yakuza, is invited out for some fun by Tatsumi, an executive at the office, and ends up at a drag bar. Though not in the mood, Kashiwagi finds himself intrigued by Mei, Tatsumi's favorite at the bar. After closing time, Kashiwagi waits outside for Mei, only to realize they are Koikawa, the classmate he once bullied in high school. (Source: LEED Publishing, translated) *Note: Includes one extra chapter.*
It's August 15th, the season of the Bon Festival. Aki likes this time of year because she can see the spirits of everyone's ancestors that come back home, and wishes that it could stay like this forever. However, her wish comes true as the same day begins to repeat over and over. She works together with a mysterious young man named Natsuo, the only other person in town who notices the days repeating, in order to find out what's going on, and how to return things back to normal. (Source: Leed Publishing, translated)
The story of Garan, a travelling executioner who roams the land, killing bad guys.
The final years of the Tokugawa Shogunate in the capital of Edo (present-day Tokyo). Uncomfortable with society's expectations of her gender, Suzu Kanchiku becomes the only woman in a sword training school and devotes herself tirelessly to her art until she can even defeat men. Outside the confines of the dojo, she faces other challenges such as samurai who seek to woo her, and she carves out her own path as she realizes what it means to "live as a woman" in her day and age. Through the lives of female martial arts masters, prostitutes, shop clerks, Buddhist nuns and swords-for-hire, Hinatsuba conveys the strength, resilience and kindness of the various women who lived in Edo at the end of the mid 19th century.
*Note: Includes one extra chapter.*
Former samurai Uedo Ushinosuke wonders in the streets of Tokyo during the time of Meiji restoration. Would he settle down during this changing time where samurai are no longer needed or fight for one last time for his pride as a samurai?