Carried By The Wind: Tsukikage Ran

Alternate titles: Kenshin

In the revolutionary Meiji period, Japan is undergoing enormous political change. It is a time when vagabonds and terrorists will use any method to prevent the modernization of their country, even if it means trampling on the innocent in the process. In such a time, Himura Kenshin, a wandering samurai, has dedicated his life to protecting the weak and desperate peasants from those who would oppress them. However, Kenshin has a dark past which threatens to destroy the values he is fighting for. When he meets his new friends Kaoru, Sanosuke, and Yahiko, and tries to build a peaceful life with them, events conspire against him. Can Kenshin overcome the demons within and without, and finally ensure the peaceful future that Japan deserves?

Meet Lina Inverse, a mighty sorceress who fights evil in the name of... greed, gluttony and black magic?! When she meets Gourry, a swordsman whose skill with the blade is rivaled only by his stupidity, Zelgadis, a grumpy sorceror who's been turned into a golem, and Rezo, a priest known for his benevolence (with a dark secret), you know her adventures are just beginning!

Samurai Champloo is all about style, from the dj-style scratching scene changes to the hip-hop-inspired soundtrack to the eclectic character design. Mugen's fighting style is a funky meld of capoeira and limb-cutting, and Jin is the dramatic foil; he is all steel and old-school samurai style. What binds them together is the desire to test each other's abilities, and a promise to a girl named Fuu: to find the samurai that smells of sunflowers, who plays a pivotal role in her past. Together they travel through edo-era Japan, finding battle and comedy wherever they stop.

Peace Maker Kurogane takes place in Kyoto in the late 19th century, during the height of the conflict between the Shinsengumi, a shogunal police force, and its enemy, an anti-government faction called the Choshu. This tale follows a young boy named Ichimura Tetsunosuke who is desperate to join the Shinsengumi and avenge his parents' deaths by the hands of the Choshu. But in the midst of the bloodshed, will he be strong enough to survive?

Rumic's Theater is a collection of 13 stories by Rumiko Takahashi, who is also responsible for such things as Inuyasha, Kimagure Orange Road, and Mermaid's Forest. While each story has its own tone, the focus tends to be based upon marriage, death, apartments, or general quirky situations and experiences. Sarcasm and mixups abound in this entertaining series.

In another world, there exist many countries, each with different cultures, customs, and traditions. From technological marvels to folk legends, each location yields a vast wealth of insight of its people: their hopes and their dreams, their failures and fears. Kino is a traveler whose goal is to visit as many new places as possible, learning about others' ways of life, but also making sure to stay clear of their affairs. Together with the talking motorrad Hermes, Kino sets out to explore the beautiful world and meet its inhabitants, wherever they may be.

Hiroko Matsukata is a 28-year old editor at Jidai Weekly. She is a talented writer who strives to provide her readers with the biggest scoops, by whatever means necessary. What distinguishes Hiroko from other writers is her ability to transform into the go-getter Hataraki Man (aka working man), allowing her to write furiously until an article is completed! In addition to her masterful writing ability, Hiroko also can’t stand those who don’t take magazine articles as seriously as she. Though Hiroko desires romance in her life, her career as a writer is all encompassing. Can Hiroko maintain a romantic life outside of work, or is she doomed to the life of a spinster?