Usagi is the granddaughter of the leader of a prestigious ninja village, but she's such a klutz that she has never advanced beyond the beginner class. Frustrated with Usagi's lack of progress, her grandfather decides to send her off to marry Lord Hanzo, hoping they will have many ninja children together. However, Lord Hanzo shows no interest in her or her potential as a mother!
(Source: VIZ Media)
Tsuki no Shippo was published in English as Tail of the Moon by VIZ Media under the Shojo Beat imprint from October 3, 2006, to February 3, 2009.








I've read this entire manga series at least three times, maybe more, and I have never found it boring.
The story is fantastic, no matter how many times you reread it. Its freshness and beauty remain intact.
All the characters are enjoyable, even their backstories are amusing and will surely entertain you.
Overall, the impact is immense. While giving it full marks might seem excessive, I just can't forget how incredible this manga is. It's cute, incredibly funny, and simultaneously incorporates political and historical aspects of war.
This manga... ah... where do I even begin? Well, for starters, let me tell you it's absolutely worth your time to read and possibly buy the entire series. If you're not into the ninja romance genre, this might disappoint you initially. Honestly, I wasn't too keen on it at first either, but after giving it a shot, I found myself completely enamored with the ninja theme. This manga was my gateway.
The story revolves around Usagi, a young female ninja who hasn't yet managed to become a full-fledged shinobi. Her grandfather sends her on a mission that is essentially a last-ditch effort to marry and bear Lord Hanzo's children due to her ongoing frustrations. However, there's a catch: Hanzo has no interest in marriage or Usagi herself—or does his disinterest stem from his mysterious feelings for a certain princess?
Usagi faces numerous challenges and competition as she tries to win Hanzo's affection. Along the way, Hanzo gradually opens up to her and starts accepting her presence. I'll leave the summary here to avoid spoilers. Did I pique your interest? I hope so. Overall, the art and character development are splendidly executed. I adored the heartwarming scenes in this manga. It's not just about romance; action and comedy spice things up, perhaps even adding a dash of drama.
Usagi and Hanzo's love story is one-of-a-kind—if you can call it that. Hanzo's cold heart slowly begins to thaw and soften as he learns more about and grows closer to Usagi. Their love makes my heart flutter and sometimes makes me long for that kind of connection with someone special.
To sum it up, I give this manga an outstanding 10/10. Two thumbs up! You won't be disappointed by this ninja love adventure!
I adore this manga so much that I've read it over three times. This story has everything I ever wanted: romance, action, tragedy, humor, and a main female character who genuinely strives to improve herself! However, it does contain some mature themes, so I would recommend this series only to readers aged 16 or 17 and above.
I find it quite sad that the female lead has to struggle so much for a guy who doesn't care about her. It really annoyed me when he kicked her out just because she didn't want to do training. Why doesn't Sara simply make it clear that she isn't interested in him? I don't have the patience or time to watch a girl desperately trying to express her love. The beginning was truly disappointing for me.
Overall, I don't think this is a bad manga; it's just not one that appeals to people like me.
It might seem like I'm overhyping it, but honestly, it's that amazing! A shoujo manga featuring samurais, a stoic lord, and a girl who fails to become a ninja, thus being sent to bear the lord's child. It's an adorable manga set in a war-torn era. Though my description may make it sound somewhat grim (sorry, mentioning war does that), it's actually a very humorous read. I highly recommend it!
This manga is a classic shoujo extravaganza. Everywhere you turn, there are attractive guys. They rescue the heroine from perilous situations and attempt to seduce her despite their reluctance. Shurikens interrupt kisses, and piggyback rides abound, alongside intense kissing scenes and more. Yet, it's neither ecchi nor hentai. It's an engrossing manga. The female protagonist is a clumsy ninja frequently mistaken for a guy. She wins everyone over with her kind heart. The story is incredibly captivating and heartwarming. The artwork is excellent and appealing. It's a great read and will undoubtedly be a hit with fans of Hana Yori Dango. However, I believe Usagi should have ended up with Ranmaru or Goemon. Hanzo comes off as cold and doesn't love her enough. Nevertheless, it's too shoujo-oriented for my taste. I plan to return to typesetting Hotaru no Hikari.
Story - 8
Tail of the Moon revolves around a girl named Usagi, who struggles with rigorous exercises. Her great-grandfather decides that her one viable path is to become the bride-elect of Hanzo and marry him. This tale leans more towards romance but also weaves in elements of adventure and humor. The narrative unfolds at a steady pace, holding your attention until the very end. Initially, it may seem simple and unoriginal, but as the story progresses, it becomes increasingly complex and intriguing. The plot does an excellent job of concealing the characters' true intentions, making it impossible to predict how the story will unfold, which adds to its excitement.
Art - 7
The artist dedicated significant effort to crafting the characters and their appearances. This meticulousness is evident upon viewing the illustrations. Particular attention is given to the facial features and attire of the characters. However, one issue I encountered was mistaking Hanzo for a girl upon first sight due to his hair and long eyelashes.
Characters - 8
This story features numerous important characters, each receiving ample screen time to ensure they remain memorable. Their personalities are distinct from one another, even among siblings, adding uniqueness to each character.
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I thoroughly enjoyed this manga and would recommend it to those who appreciate romance or enjoy a touch of adventure in their stories.
I truly made an effort to enjoy this series. It includes all the elements you'd expect from a shoujo manga: romance, attractive male characters, and comedy. Unfortunately, I just couldn't connect with the protagonist, Usagi. It appears the mangaka attempted to make her "spunky" to compensate for her complete lack of skills. While she does have some charm as a character, her uselessness in the story is too much for me. Additionally, her sudden attraction to Hanzou felt forced and unnatural, making it hard for me to continue reading.
If you choose to give this a try, I will say there seems to be potential for meaningful character development, though I can't be certain based on my limited experience with a volume and a half. I understand that reading less than 10% isn't enough to make a definitive judgment, but I didn't want to invest more time into it. :/
That said, I recognize the potential for people to like this series because it's undeniably well-executed. The panel flow is good, and the translation I read was one of the best I've ever encountered—it was very accurate to the original Japanese.
I also appreciated the classic shoujo art style and skimmed through the last few chapters to see how the artist's style evolved. I must say, it looked GREAT! The initial style was quite cute, but by the end, it had become really refined and mature.
If the story and characters were less stereotypically unrealistic, I believe I would have thoroughly enjoyed this manga.