Written and illustrated by Yuu Watase, chapters of Arata: The Legend has been serialized in Shogakukan's Weekly Shōnen Sunday magazine since October 2008. Shogakukan collected its chapters into twenty-four individual tankōbon volumes, published from January 16, 2009, to September 18, 2015.[1][2] Shogakukan started re-releasing the series in a two-in-one volume "remastered edition", which includes the original color page chapters from the magazine and various other modifications.[3] The first volume was released on July 18, 2013.[4] On May 14, 2021, Watase wrote on her blog that the tankōbon edition of the series would not continue being published and the series will only continue with the remastered edition.[5] As of May 18, 2021, thirteen volumes have been released.[6]
The manga is licensed for English release in North America by Viz Media, as part of their Shonen Sunday imprint. The first volume was released on March 9, 2010.[7] The 24th and last volume of the tankōbon edition was released on August 9, 2016.[8]
In a world where humans and gods coexist, Arata is the unfortunate successor to the matriarchal Hime Clan – unfortunate because if he’s not cross-dressing to hide his gender one minute, he’s fleeing for his life the next! When Arata winds up in the modern world and switches place with a boy named Arata Hinohara, it’s a wonder which Arata’s actually better off…
Hinohara is the spitting image of Arata, so he suddenly finds himself fighting people after his life! As he navigates through this foreign world filled with power-hungry warriors, who will come to his aid? One thing's for sure - it's not easy being Arata.[7]
17. "The Great Shinshou" (偉大なる神鞘, Idai Naru Shinshō)
In a world where humans and gods coexist, Arata is a member of the Hime clan. One day, he winds up in the modern world and switches places with a boy named Arata Hinohara. While Arata acclimates himself to the life of a high school student, Hinohara must summon up the courage to face Arata’s overwhelming enemies…
Framed for the assassination of Princess Kikuri, Hinohara is sent to the prison island Gatoya, where the fearsome warden Tsutsuga awaits him. Will Hinohara be able to awaken his Hayagami in time to escape?[10]
In a world where humans and gods coexist, Arata is a member of the Hime clan. One day, he winds up in the modern world and switches places with a boy named Arata Hinohara. While Arata acclimates himself to the life of a high school student, Hinohara must summon up the courage to face Arata’s overwhelming enemies…
Hinohara manages to escape his captors, and now he must make his way back to the Amawakuni capital, in order to get there, however, he has to first cross the region ruled by the treacherous Kannagi.[12]
34. "The Island of the Children" (子供の島, Kodomo no Shima)
35. "The Invisible Shou" (見えない鞘, Mienai Shou)
36. "The Adults" (オトナ, Otona)
37. "Nagu and Naru" (ナグとナル, Nagu to Naru)
Hinohara becomes more resolved in his mission now that he knows he is the rightful wielder of the powerful Hayagami called "Tsukuyo." However, Kannagi comes after Hinohara, intent on taking Tsukuyo for himself![14]
Hinohara is surprised to learn that Kotoha no longer believes he's Arata of the Hime clan. Meanwhile, a group within the Twelve Shinsho sets in motion a diabolical plan to eliminate Hinohara![16]
Hinohara discovers to his horror that his tormentor Kadowaki has followed him to Arata's world. Recalling his suffering, Hinohara flies into a rage that triggers his transformation into a demonic entity![18]
60. "Time Reversal Jutsu" (トキカエシノジュツ, Tokikaeshi no Jutsu)
61. "Mother's Soul" (ハカノミタマ, Haka no Mitama)
62. "Entrust Completely" (スベテヲタクシテ, Subete wo Takushite)
63. "Declaration of War" (センセンフコク, Sensenhukoku)
64. "Suguru" (スグル, Suguru)
65. "Revenge" (カタキ, Kataki)
66. "With All My Strength" (ゼンリョクデ, Zenryokude)
67. "Wound of the Heart" (ココロノキズ, Kokoro no Kizu)
While on his quest to help Princess Kikuri, Hinohara goes up against Yorunami, the Shinsho who controls water. But when Yorunami kidnaps Hinohara's beloved Kotoha and threatens to kill her unless Hinohara submits to him, what will he do?[20]
70. "The Zokusho Of Happuujin" (「八風陣」の属鞘, `Happū-jin' no Zoku Saya)
71. "Powerless" (無力, Muryoku)
72. "Lifespan" (寿命, Jumyō)
73. "Because We Are Friends" (友達だから, Tomodachi Dakara)
74. "Tribute" (貢ぎ物, Mitsugimono)
75. "Kagura's Palace" (クグラの宮, Kugura no Miya)
76. "Transformation" (変身, Henshin)
77. "Grown Up" (大人の男, Otona no Otoko)
Hinohara and his companions arrive in a town ruled by Kugura, the Shinsho who controls wind. But since Kugura's palace is forbidden to men, the group concoct a plan to infiltrate the place...in disguise![22]
83. "The Emperor Of Hinowa" (日輪の大王, Nichirin no Daiō)
84. "Anii" (兄ィ, Ani)
85. "The Village" (里, Sato)
86. "The Legend" (言い伝え, Iitsutae)
87. "The Answer" (答え, Kotae)
While on a mission disguised as a girl, Hinohara becomes utterly dismayed when Shinsho Kugura takes a liking to him. Meanwhile, Hinohara’s rival Kadowaki shows up and initiates a showdown! Will Kadowaki manage to best Hinohara?[24]
93. "Yataka's Proposition" (ヤタカの提案, Yataka no Teian)
94. "The Reason A Gentleman Fight" (理性との戦い, Risei to no Tatakai)
95. "So Called 'Love'" (「愛」って…, `Ai' tte…)
96. "Heart" (秘女王の「心」, Himeō no `Kokoro')
97. "Yataka's Kamui" (ヤタカの神意, Yataka no Shin'i)
While Hinohara visits the Hime clan, he is declared the second coming of a past king and the true ruler of Arata’s world! Despite the many obstacles that fate puts before him, Hinohara forges ahead. But then, he encounters his strongest foe yet—the Shinsho Yataka![26]
101. "Make me submit!!" (僕を降したまえ!!, Boku o Kudashi Tamae!!)
102. "Only "women"..." (「女」だけ…, `On'na' Dake…)
103. "Harunawa's aim" (ハルナワの狙い, Harunawa no Nerai)
104. "A new mystery" (新たな謎, Aratana Nazo)
105. "Some kind of weapon" (なにか武器は, Nanika Buki wa)
106. "Two old acquaintances" (幼なじみの2人, Osananajimi no 2-ri)
107. "Kadowaki's proposal" (カドワキの提案, Kadowaki no Teian)
While Hinohara battles Yataka, he learns that Yataka harbors a deep hatred for Princess Kikuri. As Yataka’s memories flood Hinohara’s mind, the true reason behind his bitterness is revealed. How will Hinohara untangle this complex matter of past betrayal in order to break out of an inescapable crucible?[28]
109. "Kannagi's sentiments" (カンナギの心情, Kan'nagi no Shinjō)
110. "The pilgrims" (巡礼者たち, Junrei-sha-tachi)
111. "The mystery of the fallen Arata" (倒れた革の謎, Taoreta Kawa no Nazo)
112. "Akachi's Past" (アカチの過去, Akachi no Kako)
113. "A Sorrowful 50 Feet" (哀しき50尺, Kanashiki 50-shaku)
114. "A Desperate Apology" (必死の謝罪, Hisshi no Shazai)
115. "Yataka's Fight" (ヤタカの戦い, Yataka no Tatakai)
116. "My Pain" (俺の苦しみ, Ore no Kurushimi)
117. "Each One's Pain" (それぞれの苦しみ, Sorezore no Kurushimi)
Hinohara was once friends with his tormentor Kadowaki, just as Shinsho rivals Kannagi and Akachi used to be close comrades. Now all Kadowaki wants is to make Hinohara submit to him, and he’ll go to any length to make this happen. But when Kadowaki seeks an alliance with Akachi, he gets more than he bargained for![30]
Note: The remastered edition includes more chapters than the tankōbon edition, therefore the numbering of the remastered edition do not entirely match with the numbering of the tankōbon edition. For example: chapters 208 and 226 of the tankōbon edition were numbered 226 and 243, respectively, in the remastered edition.
Note: The list of chapters follows the numbering of the remastered edition. In 2021, chapters 227–237 of the tankōbon edition, and chapters 238–240, were republished in Weekly Shōnen Sunday, numbered as 244–257.[66]
244. "Crime and Punishment" (罪と罰, Tsumi to Bachi)[a]