Who Is Yusei Matsui, the Author of "The Elusive Samurai"? Introducing His Other Works Adapted into Anime and Live-Action Films

"The Elusive Samurai" (Japanese: Nige Jozu no Wakagimi), often referred to as "Nige Waka," is a thrilling tale of escape that depicts the growth of a young samurai lord who loses his family due to the rebellion of vassals and is subsequently exiled from his land. It is currently serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump (published by Shueisha). As of January 2025, the total number of copies in circulation has exceeded 4.5 million, and the latest volume, Volume 20, was released in May 2025. It is a hot title that won the 69th Shogakukan Manga Award.

With the anime adaptation of "The Elusive Samurai" airing from July 6, 2024, the series is gaining even more attention. But who exactly is its author? Here we highlight the author's profile, social media accounts, and information about his other works.

What Is "The Elusive Samurai"?

Set in medieval Japan in the 1300s and based on historical events, "The Elusive Samurai" unfolds during the transition from the Kamakura period to the Nanboku-cho period, an era when the samurai held considerable power.

The protagonist, Tokiyuki Hojo, is the second son of the Tokuso family, the ruling house of the Kamakura shogunate. Although he is the heir apparent, Tokiyuki is indifferent to status and honor, and is notably skilled at escaping his vassals who force him to undergo martial arts training. However, after the betrayal by a vassal of the Hojo family—the future shogun Takauji Ashikaga—Tokiyuki not only loses his family and status but also narrowly escapes death as a surviving remnant.

Guided by Yorishige Suwa, a Shinto priest with the power to foresee the future, Tokiyuki develops his talents as a samurai while mastering the art of survival—valued in an era that prized "dying in battle"—by learning how to "live by escaping."

The Author of "The Elusive Samurai" Is Yusei Matsui

Yusei Matsui, the creator of "Nige Waka," is a manga artist from Saitama Prefecture. He aspired vaguely to a career in drawing from his teens and joined the manga research club in high school. At around 19-20 years old, Matsui began submitting his works to Shueisha.

At age 21, he won the Special Prize of the Monthly Prize for award period October 2000 for his one-shot "Loving Dead." After working as an assistant for Yoshio Sawai, the creator of "Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo," Matsui created and debuted his first serialized work, "Neuro: Supernatural Detective," which won Runner-Up at the 12th Jump Treasure Newcomer Manga Award in 2004.

As of June 2025, Matsui does not have a publicly available personal social media account. For behind-the-scenes stories and the latest updates, please check the official accounts of his works.

Additionally, a video that reveals Matsui's true personality was once uploaded to "Jump LIVE" (now Shonen Jump+). In the video "JOJO's Kitchen: Hirohiko Araki Makes Pasta," Matsui can be seen cooking together with Hirohiko Araki, creator of "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure," in a preview available for free on the Weekly Shonen Jump official YouTube channel.

The contents of this intriguing project are also drawn in the reportage manga "Yusei Matsui Eats Hirohiko Araki's Home Cooking," which Matsui serialized for a short time on "Jump LIVE."

Why Tokiyuki Hojo Became the Protagonist in "The Elusive Samurai"

In interviews, Matsui has revealed his reasons for spotlighting Tokiyuki Hojo—the son of the last Tokuso of the Kamakura shogunate—who had not previously been a central figure in popular culture.

The first reason is Tokiyuki's tumultuous life, which Matsui believes possesses the "flair" of a typical shonen manga protagonist. Tokiyuki is a samurai who never gave up on avenging his family and relentlessly pursued his one and only nemesis. His elusive fighting style and adventures make him perfectly suited to be a main character.

Matsui also expressed that choosing a "virtually unknown samurai" as the subject provided him with a unique creative challenge. He described Tokiyuki as "a rare kind of warrior who can only be empathized with through the lens of shonen manga" and noted that by making him the topic of a manga, he could "shine a light on a figure who might otherwise be forever forgotten in history."

Additionally, Matsui emphasized the message he could convey specifically because Tokiyuki is a samurai whose name has almost disappeared from records. He remarked that Hojo Tokiyuki, long forgotten by history, "isn't all that different from ordinary people today," and hopes that "by depicting the life of such a person with care, readers will come to see that their earnest lives are also an important page in history." This sentiment appears to inform the colorful cast of supporting characters and the distinct worldview in "The Elusive Samurai."

"The Elusive Samurai" Is Matsui's Third Anime-Adapted Work!

All three of Matsui's serialized works—from his debut to his latest, "The Elusive Samurai"—have been adapted into anime. Here, we highlight the two previous works that also received anime adaptations.

First Work: "Neuro: Supernatural Detective"

"Neuro: Supernatural Detective" had its original one-shot version win Runner-Up at the 12th Jump Treasure Newcomer Manga Award in 2004. The series was later serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from 2005 to 2009, with a total of 23 volumes published.

The anime adaptation aired from October 2007 to March 2008.

Synopsis
Neuro Nogami, a demon who feeds on mysteries, comes to the human world in search of the ultimate mystery. Under the cover of high school girl Yako Katsuragi, who has lost her father, Neuro uses demonic tools to solve complex cases, consuming each mystery along the way.

Second Work: "Assassination Classroom"

"Assassination Classroom" was serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from 2012 to 2016 and has over 27 million copies in print across its 21 volumes.

The anime adaptation aired in two seasons: the first from January to June 2015, and the second from January to July 2016. Additionally, a recap film, "Assassination Classroom the Movie: 365 Days' Time," together with the spin-off "Koro-sensei Quest!," was screened for a limited time starting November 19, 2016.

Synopsis
Class 3-E of Kunugigaoka Junior High, a collection of problem students, is assigned a new homeroom teacher—a mysterious and dangerous creature, Koro-sensei, who destroyed 70 percent of the moon. The government threatens to destroy Earth unless Koro-sensei is assassinated by the end of March next year, offering a reward of 10 billion yen to the students. Attracted by the bounty, the students attempt to assassinate him—but...

Live-Action Films and Numerous Game Adaptations!

"Assassination Classroom" has been adapted into a variety of media beyond its TV anime. Here we summarize information about its live-action films, games, and events.

Live-Action Films
Assassination Classroom (First Film, 2015) Cast: Ryosuke Yamada, Masaki Suda, Kazunari Ninomiya, and others
Assassination Classroom: Graduation (Second Film, 2016) Cast: Ryosuke Yamada, Masaki Suda, Kazunari Ninomiya, and others

Games
Assassination Classroom: Koro-sensei’s Great Besiegement!! (Nintendo 3DS)
Assassination Classroom: Assassin Training Plan!! (Nintendo 3DS)
Assassination Classroom: Encirclement Time (Mobile game)

Real-Life Escape Games
First Installment: "Escape from Assassination Classroom"
Second Installment: "Escape from Assassination Classroom 2"

Spin-off Work: "Koro-sensei Quest!"

The official spin-off "Koro-sensei Quest!" reimagines Koro-sensei as a demon lord in an RPG world. Authored by Yusei Matsui with planning/story by Kizuku Watanabe and art by Jo Aoto, it was serialized in Saikyo Jump (Shueisha) from October 2015 to October 2019.

"Koro-sensei Quest!" was also adapted into an anime, airing from December 2016 to March 2017.

Summary of the Author of "The Elusive Samurai"

Yusei Matsui, the author of "The Elusive Samurai," is a hit-maker whose three consecutive serialized works—beginning with "Neuro: Supernatural Detective" and "Assassination Classroom," and now "The Elusive Samurai"—have all received anime adaptations. "Assassination Classroom" was also developed into live-action films and games. Currently, the author's personal social media accounts are not publicly available.

"The Elusive Samurai" is an escape story based on historical facts, centering on a real-life boy samurai. Matsui has stated that the worldview and settings depicted in the story strongly reflect the figure of Tokiyuki Hojo and the period's historical background as recorded in the chronicles. Readers are encouraged to deepen their understanding of the work through Matsui’s interviews and discussions, while further enjoying the storyline of "The Elusive Samurai."

(C) 松井優征／集英社・逃げ上手の若君製作委員会