Igano Kabamaru (伊賀野カバ丸, Igano Kabamaru, lit. Hippo Mouth of Iga) is a Japanese manga created by Yu Azuki. The eponymous protagonist is a naive young ninja from the Iga province called Kagemaru (absolute shadow), nicknamed Kabamaru (hippo's mouth) for his insatiable appetite. After the death of his strict grandfather and ninja sensei, Kabamaru moves to Tokyo with one of his grandfather’s acquaintances. The plot deals mainly with Kabamaru adjusting to an urban lifestyle after spending a childhood in the mountains and how he finds himself caught up in the rivalry between two private schools.

Igano Kabamaru has been adapted to television and film.

Plot

Introduction

Kabamaru was orphaned at a young age and raised by his grandfather Saizō Igano (伊賀野才蔵, Igano Saizō), who trained Kabamaru and another young orphan, Hayate Kirino (霧野疾風, Kirino Hayate) in the ninja arts. While Saizō took care of the two children, he was also a very strict teacher, punishing incompetence or disobedience with physical violence. The two children eventually tried to escape, with Hayate suggesting they split up. Kabamaru was recaptured, but he refused to reveal his friend’s whereabouts to Saizō. Hayate watched, hidden, and finally made the decision to take advantage of the opportunity and flee. This choice haunted him ever since.