Kagurabachi Chapter 43 Review: Kyora Sazanami Is Brought To His Knees!
Kagurabachi manga has been delivering bangers one after the other, and chapter 43 is no different. The latest chapter brings about the conclusion of the action packed Rakuzaichi arc, and that too in a poetic fashion to be honest.
Though Chihiro was hailed as the hero, Kagurabachi chapter 43 was all about Kyora Sazanami and his last stand.
The way I am gassing him might make you feel like he is one of the good guys
And even though it feels like Kagurabachi took a leaf out of its author’s favorite series, I am pretty sure that it is maintaining its own distinct style and flavor.
Yes, my heart does go out for Kyora Sazanami. But, it’s not empathy I feel. I am just in awe of Takeru Hokazono’s storytelling.
Kagurabachi chapter 43 began with Chihiro’s nail-biting acts of heroism as he battled against time and a crumbling space. His goal? To rescue the 37 people who were trapped in the remnants of what was once the famed Rakuzaichi storehouse.
Just like Shiba and Hiyuki, I am pretty sure all of us readers too were kept on the edge of their seats. While Hakuri deserves praise for managing to hold on under extenuating circumstances, one can’t help but wonder – could he have pulled it off alone?
Well, it is true that Chihiro and Hakuri were responsible for freeing those trapped. However, we can’t objectively overlook the massive contribution that Kyora Sazanami made here.
If Kyora had given in to the Shinuchi’s control and let himself be corrupted, Chihiro along with the remaining ‘merchandise’ of the Rakuzaichi would have never seen the light at the end of the tunnel.
It was the Sazanami clan head’s sheer willpower that made the rescue plan possible. And it is what Hakuri bet on.
However, that willpower did not stem from a wish to help Chihiro and Hakuri, it was his determination to keep ‘proceeding’. That’s right – right till the end of his life, Kyora Sazanami only wanted one thing – to oversee a successful Rakuzaichi.
If there was anything that was corrupting Kyora’s soul, it was not the Shinuchi. His devotion to the Rakuzaichi had already done that a long time ago.
And as the dying embers within Kyora burnt with even greater intensity – a desperate attempt to hold on – we were presented a very different picture of the Sazanami head.
No, there were no drawn out or melodramatic flashback scenes which made us empathize with him. Whatever crumbs Hokazaono decided to give only reiterated one thing – Kyora’s devotion to the Rakuzaichi.
But even that devotion seemed to waver for a second when he thought about what could have been. Words weren’t needed, but Kyora’s regrets might just have bared itself there.
“If the Rakuzaichi never took place, you might not have been such a bad person”
What if he wasn’t a son who decided to honor the duty of the Sazanami clan? What if he weren’t a blind follower of the “sacred tradition” that he felt was set in stone?
What if… he was just a bit more like Hakuri?
These questions definitely welled up in Kyora’s mind. And in the end – he acknowledged Hakuri too. However, he still did not give up on the Rakuzaichi. He decided to walk the path he was on.
Did he have regrets? I don’t know. The thing that stands out the most in the end is the ambiguity that Hokazono left us with.
Even though he placed a price on the intruders’ heads, he held on till Chihiro had made it out of his storage space. And it was only at that moment that he let go of the Shinuchi and the Rakuzaichi.
Did he intentionally do that? Or was all of it merely a coincidence? We’ll never know that.
When the dust had finally settled, Kyora Sazanami was brought to his knees. But, the way he met his end will be remembered forever by us Bachibros.
His devotion to the Rakuzaichi ruined not just him but also his family. He will go down in Kagurabachi annals as an evil character, there is no doubt about it. However, one can’t take away the fact that he had an extremely well written character arc.
And that final panel? That is pure art!
Hokazono has once again struck gold with his narrative. Two high-octane arcs, and two exceptionally good villains. The Rakuzaichi is all but over, however, there are still some plot points to be resolved, which might be taken up in the upcoming chapters.
Kagurabachi chapter 43 was a great read. And I am looking forward to what Hokazono will offer us next. A new villain? Bring it on!!
What are your thoughts on Kagurabachi chapter 43? Let me know them in the comments below!