The Warring States period, also known as the Sengoku period, is one of the most well-known parts of Japanese history due to the number of political upheavals and civil wars that took place during that time. Iconic figures in Japanese history such as Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu all come from this era.
The Warring States period is a frequent choice of setting for many dramas and movies, as well as manga and anime. Whether it be fantastical reimaginings or faithful re-tellings, the Warring States period has always been a source of inspiration for many excellent stories.
8 Ninja Girl & Samurai Master
As a young girl, Chidori was saved from drowning by a young Nobunaga. Now a skilled yet incredibly clumsy ninja, Chidori is sent to serve Nobunaga as he begins his conquest of Japan.
Ninja Girl & Samurai Master is a comedic anime series that is very short, with only a few minutes per episode. Most episodes are quite light-hearted and silly in nature, featuring Chidori's many attempts to help out Nobunaga. While history foretells a bad ending for Nobunaga, this anime portrays him in a softer light.
7 Battle Girls: Time Paradox
After a slew of unfortunate incidents, Yoshino Hide is inexplicably sent back to the past. She quickly realizes that she is in the Warring States period with one major change: every major historical figure in that era has swapped genders, including the legendary Oda Nobunaga. Nicknamed Hideyoshi and taken under Nobunaga's wing, Yoshino now fights to help find pieces of a Crimson Armor that will help Nobunaga conquer the land.
Battle Girls: Time Paradox is a standard "bishojo" action-comedy series full of pretty girls and high-octane action. While historical accuracy is far from the goal here, fans of the Warring States period will certainly notice plenty of references to that era.
6 Inuyasha
Though the main character Kagome Higurashi comes from the present day, the majority of Inuyasha takes place in the distant past. The series has never paid all that much attention to actual historical events, meaning that the exact time period in which Inuyasha takes place is rather vague, though it is obviously set sometime during Japan's feudal era.
Surprisingly, a very small reference gives a hint that Inuyasha takes place in the Warring States period. That hint is given by Amari Nobunaga, who Kagome accidentally mistakes for Oda Nobunaga. Amari refers to Oda disrespectfully, hinting that Inuyasha takes place sometime before Nobunaga became the legendary conqueror he is known as today.
5 Brave 10
During the latter days of the Warring States period, wandering ninja Kirigakure Saizo saves a young woman named Isanami. Saizo takes Isanami to see the legendary hero Sanada Yukimura, who has been gathering an elite force of fighters he calls the Sanada Ten Braves, who he believes will help him lay claim to the land.
Brave 10 is a fantastical retelling of the Warring States period, complete with supernatural powers and abilities. The series is based on folk legends of the historical figure Sanada Yukimura, who was known for his loyalty and bravery.
4 Dororo (2019)
To secure prosperity for his people, a feudal lord sacrifices his son's organs and limbs to twelve demon gods. The child is saved by a doctor, who gives him prosthetic limbs and a name: Hyakkimaru. When Hyakkimaru sets off to recover his limbs, he is joined by Dororo, a young thief.
Dororo is a historical fantasy series featuring supernatural demons and dark action scenes. While the series does take place in the Warring States period, it rarely involves itself with historical events.
3 Sengoku Basara
During the Warring States period, many warlords set out to stake their claim on Japan, but none were as successful as the fierce Oda Nobunaga. The only ones with the guts and the strength to rebel against his forces are the warriors Sanada Yukimura and Date Masamune - however, the two of them are too busy with their own rivalries to properly put up a fight against Nobunaga.
Sengoku Basara originally started as a series of hack-and-slash video games by Capcom but soon blossomed into a franchise with multiple anime adaptations. Unlike most historical stories, Sengoku Basara is outlandish in both its designs and its story, making it stand out from more conventional adaptations.
2 Samurai Deeper Kyo
Shiina Yuya is a female bounty hunter searching for the murderer who killed her brother. While on her journey, she meets a medicine peddler named Mibu Kyoshiro, and the two become friends. Yuya soon learns that Kyoshiro hides a second personality inside of him: Demon-Eyes Kyo, a legendary samurai known for his ruthlessness.
Samurai Deeper Kyo is a classic samurai anime with a splash of supernatural powers. While the series once again does not really concern itself with historical events, it does feature several iconic characters from the Warring States era, including Sanada Yukimura and Date Masamune.
1 Nobunaga Concerto
Modern high school student Saburo finds himself thrown into the Warring States era, where he meets a surprisingly frail and meek Oda Nobunaga, who happens to look just like him. Nobunaga begs Saburo to replace him so that he can finally get some rest.
Nobunaga Concerto is a historical drama mixed with a classic time travel story. This anime is much more historically accurate than other series, although it still has its share of liberal changes and adjustments.