Who is the Author of "From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman"? Is the Author on Twitter? [Ossan Kensei]

The light novel "From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman" was adapted into a TV anime in the spring 2025 season.

The abbreviated title is "Ossan Kensei." The story follows Beryl Gardinant, a man who has trained numerous disciples as the master of a countryside sword dojo. He is summoned to the royal capital to become an instructor for the Rebelio Knights. This is a fantasy tale of an underdog middle-aged swordsman— a master rewarded by the success of his strongest disciples.

This article summarizes information about the original author of "Ossan Kensei" as well as the creators of the manga adaptation.

What is "From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman"?

Beryl Gardinant, a sword dojo master living in the countryside, expected to spend his life quietly in rural peace. One day, his former disciple Allucia Citrus comes to visit. Allucia, who has risen to the position of captain of the kingdom’s Rebelio Knights, informs Beryl that she has recommended him as a special instructor for the knights, and that he’s been approved.

Beryl is soon taken to the capital, Baltlén. Feeling that the role of instructor is a heavy burden, he nevertheless possesses sword skills honed with integrity to the point he is called the "Master Swordsman of the Old Country." The story unfolds as Beryl, who once taught swordsmanship in the countryside, begins a new life in the city, reunites with former students, and takes on formidable foes and monsters.

The TV anime adaptation was announced in August 2024, and the show aired from April 5, 2025, on the TV Asahi anime block "IMAnimation."

Who is the Author of "From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman"?

The author of the novel "Ossan Kensei" is Shigeru Sagazaki.

Starting in 2020, Sagazaki began posting "Ossan Kensei" on the web fiction site "Shousetsuka ni Narou" (Let's Become a Novelist). Soon after, Square Enix reached out, and from April 2021, the series was published as a light novel under the SQEX Novels label.

In the author’s note on the cover flap of "Ossan Kensei" volume 1, Sagazaki mentions being "born in the Showa era" and reveals that besides writing novels, his creative activities include making music and drawing. He says he creates "Ossan Kensei" by simply making what he himself enjoys, drawing on his diverse creative experiences.

In the afterword of volume 1, Sagazaki writes that he enjoys quirky (ponkotsu) characters, and that the heroine Allucia reflects his own preferences. In the essay “How 'Story Characters' Emerge as 'Heroine Candidates'” posted on "Shousetsuka ni Narou", he notes that he finds depicting heroines a bit challenging.

In the volume 5 author comment, Sagazaki admits he was a full-fledged humanities type, but lately has started watching YouTube videos that interestingly discuss science topics. Commenting on the anime adaptation of "Ossan Kensei," he reveals that he has lived without a TV for about 10 years.

Shigeru Sagazaki’s Comment on the Anime Adaptation of "From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman"

Soon after I began posting online, I was contacted by Square Enix, and then also by Akita Shoten, and before I knew it, I had come this far. At last, the novel "From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman" will be adapted into an anime.
I owe everything to the support of everyone who has continued to cheer me on. I offer my deepest gratitude.
The director, scriptwriters, and everyone involved in production patiently listened to what I, a complete novice regarding anime, had to say.
I am certain that something wonderful will come out of this, and I too have high hopes for it.
Although I have lived without a television for about ten years, perhaps I’ll buy one again for this occasion.
I look forward to the day when everyone who has supported my humble work can enjoy this anime together with me.

What Other Works Has Shigeru Sagazaki, Author of "From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman," Written?

As of February 2025, Sagazaki’s published works include eight volumes of "Ossan Kensei" (with cover and internal illustrations by Tetsuhiro Nabeshima) under the SQEX Novels label.

Volume 1 of the manga adaptation of "Ossan Kensei" features an exclusive short story by Sagazaki titled "Ossan, in His Younger Days," depicting a young Beryl, published to commemorate the first manga volume.

On the novel-publishing website "Shousetsuka ni Narou," in addition to "Ossan Kensei," Sagazaki has also posted "Isekai Hoken Romushi Haruba," the story of a protagonist who, as a certified social insurance labor consultant, is transported to another world.

Does Shigeru Sagazaki Use X (Formerly Twitter) or Other Social Media?

Sagazaki has an account on X (formerly Twitter). On his X, he sometimes shares character insights not depicted in the novel under the heading "Ossan Kensei Yotabanashi (Tall Tales of Ossan Kensei)." For example, on February 21, 2022, he posted about the characters’ alcohol tolerance, and on March 5, 2022, he revealed that Beryl’s height is 178 cm.

In addition to social media, he posts illustrations, manga, and novels on pixiv under the name "Sagam Shige," and publishes music on Niconico Douga and SoundCloud under the name "mkei."

The Manga Author Is Kazuki Sato

The manga adaptation serialized in the digital magazine "Doko Demo Young Champion" is illustrated by Kazuki Sato. While the overall plot is similar between the original novel and the manga, there are significant differences in event details and story progression. Note that the anime adaptation airing from April 2025 will be based on the novel, not the manga version.

Sagazaki comments in the afterword of volume 3 that he was impressed by how much the expression changes when the medium is different, as he viewed the manga’s storyboards and finished pages. On his X, he wrote, "I really think the Beryl vs. Spur scene in the manga adaptation is a gem of fight choreography— I want all of humanity to see it if possible."

The manga adaptation of "Ossan Kensei" has received high acclaim: it won second place in the "7th TSUTAYA Comic Awards Voted by Everyone" in 2023, following Hiromu Arakawa’s "Yomi no Tsugai." Additionally, it won the "Piccoma AWARD 2023," awarded by the digital manga and novel service Piccoma to outstanding works. In the first-half 2024 sales ranking of seinen (young men’s) manga on the e-book rental site "Renta!", it placed second.

Sato has commented about the battle scenes in "Ossan Kensei" on his own X: "When I draw battles, I make the characters fight as if I might even kill off the protagonist. In scrapped storylines, Beryl has died about twice."

Who Is the Author of the "From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman" Spin-Off Manga?

"Ossan Kensei" has a spin-off side story manga. Titled "Katainaka no Ossan, Kensei ni Naru Gaiden: Hajimari no Mahō Kenshi," the story follows Ficelle Harbeller, Beryl’s former disciple and the ace of the Kingdom’s Magic Battalion, and is serialized on the manga app "Manga UP!" "Hajimari no Mahō Kenshi" is illustrated by Megumu Soramichi with composition by Itsuki Watanabe.

Soramichi has previously worked on the GA Bunko light novel "Chivalry of a Failed Knight," the manga adaptation of the anime "Zombie Land Saga," and the musical adaptation manga "YoRHa: Pearl Harbor Descent Record" for the game "NieR: Automata."

Watanabe has been in charge of manga composition for light novel adaptations such as "Undefeated Bahamut Chronicle," "I Lost My Adventurer's License," and "I Think I'll Cheat to Become a Spellsword in Another World."

Summary of the Authors of "From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman"

The light novel "From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman" is written by Shigeru Sagazaki.

"Ossan Kensei" also has a manga adaptation, with the manga version illustrated by Kazuki Sato. The spin-off manga telling Ficelle’s story, "Katainaka no Ossan, Kensei ni Naru Gaiden: Hajimari no Mahō Kenshi," features art by Megumu Soramichi and composition by Itsuki Watanabe.

(C)Shigeru Sagazaki, Tetsuhiro Nabeshima/SQUARE ENIX, From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman Project