The Kobikicho Vendetta | My Top Recommendation for Those Who Aren't Fans of Period Dramas

*Word count of this article: approx. 700 words*

I cried.

"The Kobikicho Vendetta" (Author: Sayako Nagai)

A vendetta?!
Sounds gloomy.
Can I even read a period drama?

Before I read it, I had those preconceived notions as hurdles.
But once I started reading, I couldn't stop.
I read it all in one sitting.

A movie adaptation is also scheduled for release on February 27, 2026✨

The story begins with a beautiful young man named Kikunosuke carrying out a vendetta on a snowy day.

The story progresses in a style where the narrator interviews people connected to the theater who witnessed the entire event.

The story of what happened back then is told from the unique perspectives of each individual.

Through the stories of the narrators' backgrounds, I learned about the worldview of the Edo period and found commonalities with the Reiwa era.

And I was reminded once again of the richness of living in the modern day.

Juhachi-san, who was born in a pleasure district.

Hotaru-san, who came to Edo during a famine.

They had unreasonable pasts, but their way of living in the present, accepting them flexibly without denying them, was captivating.

Yosaburo-san, the fight choreographer who directs the stage combat.
Aun no Kuza-san, the prop maker, and his wife.

Their figures, trying so hard to live despite being on the verge of defeat by events that make you wonder 'why...', struck a chord in my heart.

And then, the playwright Kinji Shinoda-san.

Once this character appeared, the resolution of the 'vendetta' suddenly sharpened.
Things that were just dots began to connect into a line.

And then, the climax.

Ahhh, that was so interesting.

There's mystery.
There's plenty of human drama.

In the end, it's a book that makes you involuntarily say, 'I'm glad I read this.'

After finishing it, a warm feeling gently remained, and I felt positive, thinking, 'Alright.'

A story that makes you want to believe in human connections.

I want people who think 'period dramas are a bit...' to read this most of all.
Even I, who am not a fan, was completely absorbed.

You can read it on Kindle Unlimited right now😊

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Updated March 2, 2026
Thank you so much for reading♡