Hakkenden: Touhou Hakken Ibun and Hakkenden: Touhou Hakken Ibun 2nd Season

Cover for Hakkenden's first season

Five years ago Inuzuka Shino's village, Ohtsuka was wiped out. But he and his friends Inukawa Sousuke and Hamaji survived the plague. Since then they lived in a church in a nearby village, but their life was far from peaceful. One day, agents of the Imperial Church came in search of Murasame. It is a living sword spirit which Shino possesses in his right arm.

Their friend Hamaji was kidnapped, forcing Shino and Sousuke to come after her. They met Satomi Riou, one of the members of the Four Sacred Beast Houses, who told them to look for the six bead holders. These beads, eight in total, represent the eight young men fought alongside Princess Fuse against Tama-Azusa in the remote past.

Riou saved Shino, Sousuke and Hamaji at Ohtsuka before and now has volunteered to be Shino's guardian. The four sacred houses are the fox, the wolf, the snake, and the panther.

The first installment of Hakkenden focuses on unraveling some of Shino's past and the trio's adventures in their search for the six bead holders.

Inuzuka Shino and Murasame (on his arm)

Inukawa Sousuke

Satomi Riou and his giant wolf Yatsufusa

Cover for Hakkenden's second season

In the second installment of Hakkenden, most of the six bead holders have been found, but Shino and Sousuke face a different threat. A man named Ao, who looks exactly like Sousuke is claiming that he is the other half of Sousuke's soul. He possesses memories which Sousuke does not seen to remember.

It seems too that the bead holders have some things in common. Finding these out will make the search easier. Ao however is just waiting for the right time to make his move. He is waiting for Shino to gather all the bead holders. Shino's confusion grows as he finds out more about Ao's nature. But he has to stay firm or he will lose Sousuke for good. 

Ao

From left: Inuyama Dousetsu, Sousuke, Inusaka Keno and Chitose

For a fan of the supernatural genre, I expected a lot of action in the series. It seems however that there is much more focus in the relationships between the characters. Their back stories are interesting enough and these help create the anticipation of a good fight. Most of the fights however are postponed or cut short and there is no decisive battle until the final episode. The series could have been better if there was more action. I was also expecting a lot of magic but it came up short in that area as well. 

As for the characters, I think enough attention was given to the development of the eight bead holders and some of the supporting cast. There's also enough mystery left for speculation.

The series could have been improved. It lacks so many things I was expecting to see.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10