Blood Sucker: Legend of Zipangu (夜刀の神つかい, Yato-no-kami Tsukai) is a Horror-themed Japanese manga series written by Saki Okuse (奥瀬 サキ, Okuse Saki) and illustrated by Aki Shimizu.

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Quick Facts 夜刀の神つかい (Yato-no-kami Tsukai), Genre ...

Blood Sucker: Legend of Zipangu
Cover of the first volume of Tokyopop's English-language release.
夜刀の神つかい (Yato-no-kami Tsukai)
Genre	Horror, Supernatural
Manga
Written by	Saki Okuse
Illustrated by	Aki Shimizu
Published by	Gentosha
English publisher	AUS: Madman Entertainment NA: Tokyopop
Magazine	Monthly Comic Birz
Demographic	Seinen
Original run	2000 – 2007
Volumes	12

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It is twelve volumes long and was serialized in Gentosha Comics' Comic Birz magazine, and licensed by Tokyopop in the West. The manga is rated M (Mature, Age 18+), due to its scenes of intense violence and nudity.

The story follows main protagonist Yusuke Himukai, on his quest to rescue his beloved Kikuri from the vampire Migiri. With the help of Migiri's loyal servant Kuraha, Migiri has been brought back to life and has taken Kikuri as his new bride. Yusuke races to save her, and he fights Migiri, costing him his hand in the process. Two years later Yusuke is found in a mental institution.

In Jason Thompson's online appendix to Manga: The Complete Guide, he describes the manga as "super-gory horror drama", but notes that the plot is a "gripping, complicated story which unpeels effortlessly". He notes that the manga artist here is departing from her usual style, but that the manga's style suits the story being told.^[1]

• Yato-no-kami