Ore wa Chokkaku

Aired: 1991

A jidaigeki anime adaptation of Yu Koyama's swordsman manga, broadcast on TV Tokyo. The story follows the earnest but stubbornly forthright young samurai Chokkaku, who sets out on a journey to master the sword, learning lessons about humanity and bushido through his encounters with townsfolk and rival swordsmen. The series mixes comedy with action, drawing humor from Chokkaku's blunt manner of speech and the misunderstandings he causes, while his determined sword fights anchor the storytelling. The theme songs Gakumon no Suzume and Kirai ni narazu ni wa Irarenai by Busy Four Special, with their bright vocal harmonies and snappy rhythm, perfectly captured the show's good-natured spirit and remain fondly remembered.