Yaiba | Kenyuu Densetsu Yaiba | ABC 90s English Dubbed Anime Retrospective

Legend of the Swordmaster Yaiba or commonly known here in the Philippines as Yaiba was an English dubbed Japanese animated series (anime) that aired in ABC-5 (now known as TV5) during the 90s. Yaiba (Ken'yū Densetsu Yaiba) was first a manga created by Gosho Aoyama the same creator and artist who brought us two other popular manga/ anime with Kaito Kid and Detective Conan. The Yaiba anime aired simultaneously on TV Tokyo (where it was titled as Kenyuu Densetsu YAIBA), TV Hokkaido, and TV Aichi from April 9, 1993~April 1, 1994 with 52 episodes. Let's take a look back at the adventure of the legendary swordsman, Yaiba Kurogane here at Retro Pilipinas.


Yaiba - The Story
Yaiba - Series Plot

Yaiba Kurogane is a samurai-in-training living together with his father (Kenjurou) and his two animal friends (Kagetora and Shonosuke). One day they were attack by gorillas where they barely escape and eventually found themselves in the big city where Yaiba found out that he is a legendary warrior's incarnation able to wield the Raijin-ken or commonly known in the English dubbed series as "Sword of Thunder God" and has to be Onimaru. He is then set on a quest to become the Samurai that he has always dreamt of through the power of the legendary sword and its powers.

Yaiba Opening Theme
Yaiba Series Intro





"Yuuki ga Areba" (If You Have Courage)
Performed by Kabuki Rocks

tatakau kotoba ikiru sadame dato iu naru
kachi tsuzukeru koto dake tada hitotsu no nozomi

kami ga ataeta shiden o koete
henka no PAWAA furishi boru sa

* yuuki ga areba dekiru hazu
yume to iu na no katana o nuite
tatakae! subete no chikara de kimi o mamotte miseru

kaze kiru kata ni tooku tobi satta ano koro
tsuyoku naritai dake tabidatta kokyou

furi kaeritai toki mo aru kedo
henka no PAWAA yomi ga eru sa

* repeat

kami ga ataeta shiden o koete
henka no PAWAA furishi boru sa

tatakae! subete no namida to kaeranu toki o sutete
yuuki ga areba dekiru hazu
yume to iu na no katana o nuite
yuuki ga areba wakaru hazu
ai o shinjiru koto o
Yaiba Closing Theme
Yaiba Series Outro



"Shinjigakunaki Tatakai" (Battle Without Theosophy)
Performed by Kabuki Rocks

Nna yatsu inai yo doko datte
MAKUNBA kamashita onna no ko
TAFUna yarou ga daisuki na no
Hanfuku yokotobi kimeteru ze!

Aaa nan darou kono yume dou yuu kokoro
Aaa senazaiishiki no araware nanda na
JUNG fuu ni kaishaku suru naraba

TORA TORA UMA TORA TORA UMA
RIBI-LIBIDOU (RIBI-LIBIDO)
KOGI KOGI KOGI KOGI KOGI KOGI
KOGI KOGI COGITO (ERGO SUM)
Nna koto bakkari no tamau hima nado
Samurai nya nai no da!

Nna yatsa inai yo doko datte
KOKKURI uto-uto onna no ko
CARISMA yarou ga daisuki na no
Fumitai shoukou kimeteru ze!

Aaa nan darou kono yume wo dou yuu kokoro
Aaa shinsou shinri no araware nanda na
KAFKA fuu ni byousha wo suru naraba

TORA TORA UMA TORA TORA UMA
RIBI-LIBIDO (RIBI-LIBIDO)
KOGI KOGI KOGI KOGI KOGI KOGI
KOGI KOGI COGITO (ERGO SUM)
Nna koto bakkari no tamau yatsu nado
Samurai nya narenai!

TORA TORA UMA TORA TORA UMA
RIBI-LIBIDOU (RIBI-LIBIDO)
KOGI KOGI KOGI KOGI KOGI KOGI
KOGI KOGI COGITO (ERGO SUM)
Nna koto bakkari no tamau hima nado
Samurai nya nai no da!




Yaiba is one of the many masterpiece which came from the brilliant mind of Gosho Aoyama who is also the creator of Kaito Kid, and one of the longest running anime Detective Conan (Maitantei Conan). There is a special anime episode in Detective Conan where Yaiba, Conan, and Kid were featured. You can check it out here:


What is there to NOT say about The Legendary Brave Swordsman Yaiba? It is only just one of the most kick ass anime series of the 90s!!! Okay, I've calmed down. I plan to re-watch the series online again to see as how well it lives up up to this day. I am also thinking of getting this on DVD or Bluray as part of a collection. So what made Yaiba so great? It is probably the Dragon Ball-esque like elements where Yaiba and the crew starts hunting magical spheres or orbs to power up the "Sword of the Thunder God" (Raijin-ken) to defeat the forces of Onimaru and Princess Kaguya (last arc). It started light-hearted and later became more action-packed which is perfect for a growing 90s boy like myself at that time. I also remember doing the "whirlwind sword technique" a.k.a. Senpūken, in which Yaiba spins the sword like a lawnmower blade by inserting his fingers in the hole where the orbs would usually go then twirls it, using everyday household materials just to emulate Yaiba's technique. I usually use a clothes hanger for this deed. I like at how some villains eventually became Yaiba's most trusted friends like Spiderman, Frogman, Slugman, Starman, and Grasshopperman (Wew! and I haven't rewatched it and I still remember them). I also love the twist in the Princess Kaguya story in the end. If ever there is something that local television station like GMA, ABS-CBN, and TV5 should pick up again, it is Yaiba.


How about you guys, what are your fondest memory of Yaiba? Do you have any favorite episode(s), memorabilia, and experiences with the Gosho Aoyama masterpiece? Share your thoughts about the phenomenal 90s English-dubbed anime Yaiba in the comments section below: