Ryuu: Ron
Kyōto, April 1928. Oshikouji Ryu is 17 years old, and is known as a Kendō prodigy, the 'Dragon of Kyōto'. He will inherit the property of the noble Oshikouji family, but prefers practicing Kendō. He enters Busen, the most renown martial arts school in the country, but his senpai are harsh and intolerable. But Ryu doesn't surrender and overcomes the problems, later on he impresses his senpai and they begin to like him. This manga tells a great story against the richly textured background of historical Japan and China with refined and excellent artwork. Murakami's views on Chinese and Korean people is very warm, and not those of the previous invader and governor such as the extreme right party in Japan. Another interesting part of the manga is its rich depiction of Japanese colorful life. A typical example of the realistic style and a manga of high reputation in Korea and Japan.