Shuriken and Pleats Review: A Ninja Bodyguard Tries to Live a Normal Life
by Matsuri Hino
*Affiliate link — I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Quick Take
- The fish-out-of-water ninja-in-high-school premise is reliably comedic and warm
- Hino's art maintains its Vampire Knight quality in a lighter genre
- 6 volumes complete; pleasant short action romance
Who Is This Manga For?
- Readers who want light action romance with fish-out-of-water comedy
- Anyone who enjoyed Matsuri Hino's previous work in a different register
- Fans of ninja/action premise shojo manga
- Readers looking for short complete action romance
Content Warnings & Age Rating
Age Rating: T (Teen) Content Warnings: Ninja combat; assassination attempts as comedy; high school fish-out-of-water; light action romance
T rating — appropriate for most readers.
Yu's Rating
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Story Depth | ★★★☆☆ |
| Art Style | ★★★★★ |
| Character Development | ★★★☆☆ |
| Accessibility for Non-Japanese Readers | ★★★★★ |
| Reread Value | ★★★☆☆ |
Story Overview
Mikage has been a ninja bodyguard her entire life. Her master — the noble she protected — died. In his final message, he released her from service and asked her to live a normal life.
Normal life means high school. Mikage enrolls. She is extremely good at being a high school student in the ways that involve physical capability and discipline. She is bad at the social parts.
The assassination attempts don't stop just because she enrolled. The people who want her dead don't care about her new normal life.
Characters
Mikage — Her combat skill is contrasted with her social inexperience; the comedy of a lethal ninja navigating high school social rules is the series' most reliable source of warmth.
Mahito Wakashimatsu — Her neighbor who becomes her first genuine friend; his response to discovering what Mikage is reveals his character.
Art Style
Hino's art is elegant and precise — the action sequences are rendered with the same quality as her dramatic series, and Mikage's expressions as she processes normal social situations are consistently funny.
Cultural Context
Shuriken and Pleats ran in LaLa. Matsuri Hino is best known for Vampire Knight; this series shows her in lighter mode while maintaining her visual quality. The premise — warrior released from service — is a common samurai/ninja story applied to a female protagonist in a modern setting.
What I Love About It
Mikage's earnestness. She takes the assignment to have a normal life as seriously as she took her service. She studies high school the way she studied combat. Her dedication to an activity she doesn't fully understand is the series' warmest quality.
What English-Speaking Fans Say
Western readers describe Shuriken and Pleats as a pleasant light Hino work — specifically noted for the art being excellent, for the fish-out-of-water comedy being warm rather than mockingly, and for the action sequences being well-rendered in the school setting. Recommended for Hino fans who want something lighter than Vampire Knight.
Memorable Scene ⚠️ Spoiler Warning
The first moment Mikage responds to a normal social situation as if it's a combat scenario — when her ninja reflex misreads the social context completely — is the series' most purely comedic moment.
Similar Manga
- Vampire Knight — Hino's major series in much darker register
- Tail of the Moon — Ninja female protagonist in historical setting
- Brave 10 — Ninja action in historical setting
- Kekkaishi — Supernatural ninja-adjacent action in different register
Reading Order / Where to Start
Volume 1 — Mikage's arrival at high school.
Official English Translation Status
Viz Media published the complete 6-volume English series.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Hino's art excellent as always
- Fish-out-of-water comedy warm and reliable
- Short and focused
- Complete at 6 volumes
Cons
- Lighter fare compared to Hino's major work
- Action and romance elements feel separate
- Supporting cast thin
Format Comparison
| Format | Notes |
|---|---|
| Individual Volumes | Viz Media; complete 6 volumes |
| Digital | Available |
Where to Buy
Get Shuriken and Pleats Vol. 1 on Amazon →
This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
*Affiliate link — I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Written by
Yu
Manga Enthusiast from Japan
I grew up in Japan and manga literally saved me during a tough time in elementary school. My English isn't perfect, but my love for manga is real — and I want to share it with you.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.