Busou Shoujo Machiavellianism (Armed Girl's Machiavellism)

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Japanese: 武装少女マキャヴェリズム

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Information

Type: Manga

Volumes: 13

Chapters: 90

Status: Finished

Published: Mar 25, 2014 to Aug 26, 2022

Genre: Action

Themes: Martial Arts, School

Demographic: Shounen

Serialization: Shounen Ace

Authors: Kanzaki, Karuna (Art), Kurokami, Yuuya (Story)

Statistics

Score: 7.14¹ (scored by 3,824 users)

¹ indicates a weighted score.

Ranked: #7492²

² based on the top manga page. Please note that 'R18+' titles are excluded.

Popularity: #1574

Members: 15,711

Favorites: 93

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7.14

Ranked #7492Popularity #1574Members 15,711

MangaShounen AceKanzaki, Karuna (Art), Kurokami, Yuuya (Story)

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Volumes: /13

Chapters: /90

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Synopsis

The Private Aichi Symbiosis Academy was originally a high school for high-class girls, when it became co-ed, the girls, out of fear, asked to be permitted to bring weapons to school. When that was enforced, a five-member vigilante corps-like organization called the "Supreme Five Swords" was also formed.

After many generations, the five swords eventually became a group which corrected problematic students and such the academy started proactively accepting such students in order to correct them.

Nomura Fudou was sent to that school after being part of a huge brawl, what will he do when the only options he has after enrolling are being expelled from that school too or being corrected the way the rest of the male students there were...by being forced to dress and act like girls!

(Source: Batoto)

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Characters

Amou, Kirukiru

Main

Onigawara, Rin

Main

Tamaba, Satori

Main

Nomura, Fudou

Main

Inaba, Tsukuyo

Main

Kikakujou, Mary

Main

Hanasaka, Warabi

Main

Kyoubou

Supporting

Mozunono, Nono

Supporting

U Baragasaki, Chouka

Supporting

Reviews

May 13, 2025

SushiSuperLover

Recommended

I am aware this manga ended several years ago but here I am since a translator team caught up.

I am certain Busou was one of the first manga titles I read several years ago when i was new to the hobby? The story itself is nothing special, just a usual school of sword fighters with a capable MC. He is a user of hand to hand combat arts which is unique and not over powered in anyway.

Plot wise, it's blatantly simple as he seeks to survive and defeat strong people? That's basically the whole story as there is nothing else exciting or epic about it. ...

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Jul 29, 2026

SenpaiHasIdeas

Recommended

Before I begin I must admit that I only began the manga at around volume 6 chapter 33, this is because I had already seen and rewatched the anime. Now with this information the validity of my review is entirely up to interpretation.

Art:
The art is excellent as it has to since the form is portrayed through still images. Each panel has something for the reader to digest and interpret the events happening and the consistency in quality is well kept. The use of angles is generic and fine for the intent, but sometimes the angles are interesting and cinematic. The use of space is excellent ... and sometimes makes for beautiful scenes as if a cinematographer presented it, however these scenes are often cut short by a switch to a character speaking or another event which is disappointing because the audience needs to digest the area and environment not just the characters. Motion is the key to the illusion of life and the artist did a swell job with showing motion especially with the combat.

Story:
The story is well done in terms of writing and it is not your typical hero's journey because Nomura is already an great artist in combat and he has to overcome his goals but sometimes his goals become short-lived. Nomura's goals are often immediate such as his desire to leave school grounds which became a overarching goal in the Aiichi arc. Progression is moderate usually through one of the heroines and the presence of immediate danger/obstacle. Pacing is somewhat good because it depends on the character and event, but sometimes there is the noticeable rush to events but other times events are dragged on to not so unsavorable degree. Comedy is not horrible and the type of humor is often immature and it isn't sporadic or interrupting, also it never takes away from serious or emotional moments. The arcs are thought out well and the Aiichi Arc seamlessly waves into the Hokkai Arc in an excellent way, however the best in writing goes to the Aiichi Arc because the build up was adjusted finely as it wasn't spontaneous and the intrigue was simmering into a boil, however what holds the writing back is that some characters fall flat in both arcs. Both arcs end in satisfying ways that feel natural to the world and the established feelings of the characters, but the overall story is fine but the cliffhanger at the end of volume 13 with no continuation is very distasteful, saddening and maddening.

Characters:
The main character Nomura is okay, but he is complicated because he is determined to his beliefs and he will do what he must to oblige by those beliefs. Often it is up to other characters such as the main heroines to help Nomura in his troubles which is fine but the lack of an actual developed relationship between them is lacking, but it isn't so distracting that the immersion is ruined. The women sometimes feel like your typical harem in a low tier story, which is disheartening because there is potential for true romance. There is a glaring issue where some characters perform an action in combat that is not shown but often explained after it happened this I find disappointing because the story makes an effort to explain how a weapon is used and the efficiency of the weapon or combat form but when it comes to showcasing it sometimes feels like the audience is robbed. For example in Initial D when a character performs a stunt the story presents the process of how the action was done, because of the excellence of show don't tell.

Backstories and flashbacks are the best parts of the showcase in some characters, since we are given deph to a select few characters they feel like a 3d person compared to a 2d. The backstories of the antagonists are the best written in the series especially Amou, Aoi and Nonomura these are the ones that I consider that carry the intrigue and weight of the series.

Conclusion:
For these reasons I believe the series earns an 8/10, the art, story and characters hold up just enough on their own but when combined the make an incredible piece of fiction. My only wish is to see the series continue as foretold by the cliffhanger. I just hope we get to see Amou x Nomura in the future, Well that's about it see ya.

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Jul 15, 2024

0megabyyte

Mixed Feelings

TLDR, this is basically the most mediocre of mediocre manga.

The plot goes about as follows: Nomura gets into a brawl with a bunch of delinquents and is forced to transfer to Aichi High School, a school with a lengthy history of martial arts wherein all the female students carry practice swords, seldom for the 5 top swordsmen who carry real swords, whom he will obviously fight all of eventually.

Now, this premise is not necessarily bad; it's a tad bit generic, but it serves the manga well enough to give justification for all these elite swordsmen high school girls to be here and/or why this ...

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Manga 'Busou Shoujo Machiavellianism' Gets Anime Adaptation

Kadokawa's official website for the manga Busou Shoujo Machiavellianism (Armed Girl's Machiavellism) has announced that it will be receiving an anime adapt...read more

Jun 19, 2016 8:56 PM by Stark700 | Discuss (44 comments)

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Number of chapters on MAL senju44 - Jun 23	2 replies	by senju44 »» Jun 23, 5:06 AM
Poll: Busou Shoujo Machiavellianism Chapter 86 Discussion allenjke - Jul 27, 2022	5 replies	by bakakisima »» Aug 28, 2025 5:32 AM
Poll: Busou Shoujo Machiavellianism Chapter 33 Discussion Lordponczek - Jun 14, 2025	0 replies	by Lordponczek »» Jun 14, 2025 8:45 AM
What happens (Ending) Radtoter - Feb 27, 2023	5 replies	by No1_LoliLover »» May 23, 2023 1:39 AM
Where can I hire someone to translate this manga Natsuki_Hitama - Apr 23, 2021	25 replies	by Casual_Patrician »» Nov 26, 2021 3:22 PM

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