Maniwa Ninja Corps

Maniwa Ninja Corps
Japanese Name	真庭忍軍
Romaji Name	Maniwa Ningun
English Name	Maniwa Ninja Corps
Information
Leader	Houou Maniwa The Twelve Bosses
Members	50
Role	Antagonists
Headquarters	New Maniwa Village
Media
Work of Origin	Katanagatari Series
Novel Debut	Katanagatari Chapter One: Absolute Sword, Plane
Anime Debut	Katanagatari Episode One

The Maniwa Ninja Corps (真庭忍軍(まにわにんぐん), Maniwa Ningun), nicknamed the Maniwacs (まにわに, Maniwani) for short by Shichika and Togame, are one of the main antagonistic forces of the Katanagatari Series. They are a clan of eccentric ninja searching for the Twelve Possessed.

History

The Maniwa Ninja Corps have a long history, having been active since at least the Sengoku Period. At that time, the Maniwa were in the middle of a major dispute with another ninja clan, the Aioi Ninja Corps. In order to gain an advantage over their enemies, the leader of the clan, Houou Maniwa, decided to update their command structure into a twelve-leader format. Eventually, the Maniwa managed to wipe out the Aioi clan entirely, the only survivor being Emonzaemon Souda, the former rivals forgotten to time as over 170 years passed. Using his ninja art, Houou remained alive the entire time, him and Kyouken being the only ones to not pass on their positions as leaders ever since the beginning.

Clothing

Unusually for ninja, the Maniwa all wear distinct and recognizable clothing which immediately sticks out. While their outfits differ, they all share a few common characteristics: sleeveless tops and chains dangling all over them. Additionally, as the Maniwa bosses are named after animals, their outfits are reminiscent of their namesake creature.

Organization

The Maniwa has a peculiar command structure, being led by twelve bosses, each separated into four squads, each made up of three people: the Bird Squad (鳥組(とりぐみ), Torigumi) led by Houou Maniwa, the Beast Squad (獣組(けものぐみ), Kemonogumi) led by Kawauso Maniwa, the Fish Squad (魚組(さかなぐみ), Sakanagumi) led by Umigame Maniwa and the Insect Squad (虫組(むしぐみ), Mushigumi) led by Kamakiri Maniwa. While they all supposedly have equal authority, the true leader of the clan and the one with the most respect is Houou. At the time of Shichika and Togame's sword hunt, the New Maniwa Village is said to be inhabited by 50 people, though not all of them combatants.

Members

Twelve Bossesss

Houou

Shirasagi

Oshidori

Kawauso

Koumori

Kyouken

Kamakiri

Chouchou

Mitsubachi

Umigame

Kuizame

Pengin

Name	Gender	Alias	Squad	Animal
Houou Maniwa	Male	The Divine Phoenix	Bird Squad	Phoenix
Shirasagi Maniwa	Male	Backwords Shirasagi	Bird Squad	Heron
Oshidori Maniwa	Female	The Feathered Reel	Bird Squad	Mandarin Duck
Kawauso Maniwa	Male	The Nosey Otter	Beast Squad	Otter
Koumori Maniwa	Unknown	Koumori the Hell-Made	Beast Squad	Bat
Kyouken Maniwa	Female	The Dogged Scourge	Beast Squad	Dog
Kamakiri Maniwa	Male	Kamakiri the Head Hunter	Insect Squad	Praying Mantis
Chouchou Maniwa	Male	Flying Butter Chouchou	Insect Squad	Butterfly
Mitsubachi Maniwa	Male	Mitsubachi the Sharpshooter	Insect Squad	Honeybee
Umigame Maniwa	Male	The Immortal Turtle	Fish Squad	Turtle
Kuizame Maniwa	Male	Kuizame the Sand Trap	Fish Squad	Shark
Pengin Maniwa	Male	Penguin the Breeder	Fish Squad	Penguin

Former Bosses

Shirasagi the 1st

Koumori the 1st

Chouchou the 1st

Kuizame the 1st

Name	Gender	Alias	Squad	Animal
Shirasagi Maniwa the 1st	Male	Shirasagi of the Spear	Bird Squad	Heron
Koumori Maniwa the 1st	Unknown	Koumori the Self-Reliant	Beast Squad	Bat
Chouchou Maniwa the 1st	Male	Chouchou the Ill-Fated	Insect Squad	Butterfly
Kuizame Maniwa the 1st	Female	Tearful Kuizame	Fish Squad	Shark

Other Members

Boufura

Haruzemi

Matsuzemi

Dokuhebi

Dokuzuru

Dokufugu

Dokuari

Dokugumo

Name	Gender	Squad	Animal
Boufura Maniwa	Male	-	Mosquito Larva
Haruzemi Maniwa	Male	-	Cicada
Matsuzemi Maniwa	Male	-	Cicada
Dokuhebi Maniwa	Male	Poison Squad	Snake
Dokuzuru Maniwa	Male	Poison Squad	Crane
Dokufugu Maniwa	Male	Poison Squad	Japanese Pufferfish
Dokuari Maniwa	Male	Poison Squad	Ant
Dokugumo Maniwa	Male	Poison Squad	Spider