Fuuma no Kojiro: Jo no Maki

Fuuma no Kojiro: Jo no Maki is the opening volume of the manga series created by Masami Kurumada, first serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump during the early 1980s. Emerging shortly before his massive success with Saint Seiya, the series reflects Kurumada's signature style of blending high-stakes martial arts action with dramatic, stylized character designs. The narrative centers on a legendary clan of ninjas, the Fuuma, and their struggle against a rival group, establishing the intense, rivalry-driven storytelling that would become a hallmark of his career.

Kurumada intended this work to capture the adrenaline of traditional ninja fiction while injecting his trademark focus on camaraderie and epic combat sequences. The design of the volume emphasizes the aesthetic of the era, featuring sharp, energetic linework and expressive character portraits that define the Fuuma clan. Upon its release, it was well-received by fans of the shonen genre, solidifying Kurumada’s reputation as a master of action-oriented manga and paving the way for his later, even more globally influential works.