Hakkenden: Eight Dogs of the East (八犬伝 ―東方八犬異聞―, Hakkenden: Tōhō Hakken Ibun) is a Japanese manga series by Miyuki Abe based on the epic novel series Nansō Satomi Hakkenden. An anime adaptation of the manga, produced by Studio Deen, premiered on January 5, 2013. A second season premiered in summer of 2013.

Plot

Five years prior to the start of the story the residents of Ōtsuka village all died in a plague, with only three survivors; Shino Inuzuka, Sosuke Inukawa and Hamaji. They take shelter in a church near another village, whose people views the survivors with suspicion. Now the Imperial Church comes in search of “Murasame,” the demon blade containing “life” which Shino possesses within his body. When the Church realizes that Shino will not come quietly with them, Hamaji is kidnapped, which results in Shino and Sosuke traveling to the Imperial City to rescue her. There they encounter Satomi Rio, a Dean of the Church, who tells Shino he must find the other six bead holders.

Hakkenden: Eight Dogs of the East
Cover of the first manga volume
八犬伝 ―東方八犬異聞― (Hakkenden: Tōhō Hakken Ibun)
Manga
Written by	Miyuki Abe
Published by	Kadokawa Shoten
Magazine	Asuka Ciel
Demographic	Shōjo
Original run	October 10, 2005 – present
Volumes	21
Anime television series
Directed by	Osamu Yamasaki (Chief) Mitsue Yamazaki
Produced by	Keiichi Matsuda Hiroko Kuwazono Kozue Kaneniwa Yukie Iwashita Takashi Iwasaki Masakatsu Ōmuro Natsuki Uetake
Written by	Osamu Yamasaki Mitsue Yamazaki
Music by	Hitomi Kuroishi
Studio	Studio Deen
Licensed by	AUS Hanabee NA Sentai Filmworks
Original network	MBS, Tokyo MX, BS11 Digital, TV Aichi
Original run	January 5, 2013 – March 30, 2013
Episodes	13 (List of episodes)
Anime television series
Hakkenden: Eight Dogs of the East 2
Directed by	Osamu Yamasaki (Chief) Mitsue Yamazaki
Produced by	Keiichi Matsuda Hiroko Kuwazono Kozue Kaneniwa Yukie Iwashita Takashi Iwasaki Masakatsu Ōmuro Natsuki Uetake
Written by	Osamu Yamasaki Mitsue Yamazaki
Music by	Hitomi Kuroishi
Studio	Studio Deen
Licensed by	AUS Hanabee NA Sentai Filmworks
Original network	Tokyo MX, BS11 Digital
Original run	July 8, 2013 – September 29, 2013
Episodes	13 (List of episodes)
Related works
Nansō Satomi Hakkenden (1814 novel series) The Hakkenden (1990 OVA series)