Kacchū no Senshi Gamu

Gamu the Armored Soldier (甲冑の戦士雅武, Kacchū no Senshi Gamu) is a Japanese manga series by Yoshihiro Takahashi, which was serialized in the magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump.

Story

Kacchū no Senshi Gamu tells the story of a fallen clan of ganin (牙忍 (fanged ninjas) - dogs that have been adorned with armor and a sword and trained as ninjas) that makes its living by helping warlords against invading clans in Japan's Sengoku Era. When what remains of their clan is destroyed by one such invader, the only two survivors, a ganin named Gamu, and his human master, Rando, join Oda Nobunaga in his Battle of Okehazama. Eventually they come across the Gama Clan - the ones that destroyed theirs, and are able to take revenge.

Characters

Protagonist Dogs

Gamu - 雅武

(Kishu Inu) The son of the legendary Honou and the present leader of the Kagerou ninja dogs. When growing up, he befriended the wolf named Belmont and the two shared a strong bond. Gamu's personality is level-headed and practical. However, he does have a calculating temper, especially seen in the first chapter against Takakuwa Guzen. He protects Rando and his Kagerou clan, which are most important to him.

Hayabusa - 隼

(Great Dane) When he was younger, Hayabusa was trained by Gamu's mother, Honou. Caught amidst the enemy army, Hayabusa was abandoned by his peers and almost shot, but Honou jumped in front of him and took the bullet, killing her. Hayabusa—wrecked with pain and anger—joined Gama, becoming one of his highest-ranking fighters. When he met Gamu, he was brought back to the good side, yet was killed by Gama and thrown to the ravens. He was found by Gamu and his son, Tsubakuro, as a corpse, being devoured by a flock of birds.

Kusakage - 草影

(Kishu Inu) One of the Kagerou clan and a loyal soldier to Gamu. He is shown being a bit of a jokester and easily bored, though he still has a good head on his shoulders. During the raid on the Kagerou Clan, he jumps into a fire to die with his Lord, Ryuugen, but it is later revealed he is still alive after Ryuugen shielded him from the flames by pressing him under his belly. He joins Gamu in the fight against Gama after they are reunited.

Shiba - 紫刃

(Kishu Inu) One of the Kagerou clan and a loyal soldier to Gamu. Unlike Gamu and Kusakage, he is a bit anxious. He never disobeys orders, and is shown getting angry at Kusakage for shirking his duties at times. During the raid on the Kagerou Clan, he jumps into a fire to die with his Lord, Ryuugen, but it is later revealed he is still alive after Ryuugen shielded him from the flames by pressing him under his belly. He joins Gamu in the fight against Gama after they are reunited.

Tsubakuro - 燕

(Great Dane) Hayabusa's son. Once he finds out Gama killed his father, he joins Gamu.

Tsuchigumo - 土蜘蛛

(Kishu Inu) A follower of Gama. He quickly changed his ways and became a fighter for Gamu, to be with his friend Tsubakuro.

Oboro - 朧

(Kishu Inu) A follower of Gama. He quickly changed his ways and became a fighter for Gamu, to be with his friend Tsubakuro.

Honou/Honoo - 炎

(Kishu Inu) Gamu's mother and the leader of the Kagerou clan. She was a legend for her bravery, strength, and skills as a ganin. She mentored Belmont and Hayabusa and her son, Gamu, and was the creator of the greatest ganins. When she saw that Hayabusa was going to be shot, she got in front of him and took the bullet herself. Her dying words were that her life was for everyone, and that she was glad to have died for a friend.

Antagonist Dogs

Gama - 牙魔

(Kai Ken) Once trained by a great mentor, Gama killed his trainer and grew in power, disguised as a human warlord. Once he confronted Gamu, his disguise was thwarted and he was forced to fight. With Rando at his side, Gamu killed Gama, with the help of Hayabusa's soul possessing the ravens that ate his flesh - who plucked Gama's eyes out, effectively blinding him.

Belmond/Belmont - 白耳紋怒

(Japanese Wolf) He was found by Hono and befriended by Gamu when a pup. When his mentor Hono was killed, he—along with Hayabusa—joined Gama. Belmont's mission was to keep Gamu busy while his human corpse puppet, Gennosuke, assassinated Ryuugen. He changed into an illusory dragon during the battle, but was ultimately killed by Gamu.

Humans

Oda Nobunaga - 織田信長

Imagawa Yoshimoto - 今川義元

Yamamoto Kansuke - 山本勘助

Rando - 蘭人

When Rando was an infant, he was given milk from Honou, allowing him to develop telekinetic powers similar to those of a ganin. As such, he has an important place in the Kagerou Clan as the only one who can communicate with them, mentally. He has a smart mouth, but is fiercely loyal to his clan, and is good friends with Gamu. He is the only human survivor after Gama's raid on the Kagerou village.

Ryuugen - 龍玄

Rando's father and head of the Kagerou Clan. He is very serious by nature, but expresses some childish joy with his brother, Gennosuke. He is wounded by Gennosuke when said brother is possessed by Belmont, and thus killed by Kurokishi in the raid on the Kagerou village.

Gennosuke - 元之介

Ryuugen's brother, who was killed in battle. He later shows up in the village as a monk, but it is a ruse, as his corpse was merely being manipulated by Belmont. He manages to wound Ryuugen, despite dying, himself.

Kurokishi - 黒騎士

A samurai with the Gama Clan who accompanies Hayabusa to the raid on the Kagerou village. He ultimately succeeds in killing Ryuugen, though is killed, himself.

Gama - 牙魔

The human disguise the ganin, Gama, uses until his true identity is revealed.

The Ritual of "Ganin Oroshi" (牙忍降ろし)

Best translated as "Processing Ganins," the ritual involves placing a fine pin in the ganin's helmet. The pin is steeped in a secret elixir, that penetrates to the brain and evolves it to a superhuman level - giving the trained ninja dog the art of speech and telekinesis. "Processed" ganins are shown being able to understand and speak the human language, manipulate human minds, bend or twist things with mental powers, and wield a sword like a samurai.

See also

• Yoshihiro Takahashi