Arata: The Legend, The Flowers of Evil, Daily Lives of High School B, Nobunagun, Hen Semi
The Severing Crime Edge(Japanese: 断裁分離のクライムエッジ,Hepburn: Dansai Bunri no Kuraimu Ejji) is a Japanese manga series, written and illustrated by Tatsuhiko Hikagi. KADOKAWA began releasing the digital English volumes on BookWalker on December 10, 2014. An anime television series adaptation by Studio Gokumi premiered on Tokyo MX and other networks on April 4, 2013.
Kiri Haimura is a seemingly ordinary boy with one slight problem: he is obsessed with cutting other people's hair. One day, he meets Iwai Mushanokōji, the "Hair Queen" (髪の女王,Kami no Joō) who cannot cut her hair because of an inherited curse. Kiri finds out that his scissors, "The Severing Crime Edge" is the only thing that can cut them. The scissors were a killing tool that belonged to his ancestor, Norma Grayland, the most infamous serial killer in history. But little did Kiri know that his meeting with Iwai sparked the start of an old murder game to kill the "Hair Queen" using the cursed killing tools, the "Killing Goods" (殺害遺品,Kiringu Guzzu). It is said whoever assassinates the Hair Queen will have a wish granted. Can Kiri protect Iwai from the Killing Goods Owners, known as 'Authors', associates of the illegitimate Gossip organization? Let the game begin!
Characters
Kiri Haimura (灰村 切,Haimura Kiri)
Voiced by: Natsuki HanaeThe main protagonist, current owner and Author of the Killing Good, "The Cutting and Severing Crime Edge", a pair of scissors. Subsequently, he is usually annoyed by his neighborhood since childhood because of his habit of cutting hair. His scissors, which can cut through human flesh, belonged to his ancestor, the infamous serial killer known as Norma Grayland, who, in the 1860s who fled from Europe to Japan and claimed to have killed 200 people with them. After Kiri meets Iwai by accident, he becomes fascinated with her beautiful hair, becoming friends with her after realizing that her hair can only be cut by his scissors. Upon learning that Iwai is targeted by other Killing Good users, he vows to protect her, making use of the enhanced reflexes he gains when fighting with his scissors. Iwai acts as an "Instead" to Kiri, with the act of cutting her hair every day relieving him from the homicidal tendencies that usually befall an Author when possessed by a Killing Good. Should Iwai die, the loss of his Instead would eventually have him overcome with this desire, turning him into a murderer. He later unlocks the true power of the "Crime Edge", using the ability of pain augmentation, causing excruciating pain on whoever he hurts with them, creating hallucinations of their body being severed.
Iwai Mushanokouji (武者小路 祝,Mushanokōji Iwai)
Voiced by: Kotori KoiwaiThe main heroine and the current "Hair Queen". With a long hair that goes down all the way to her feet that can't be cut or damaged with ordinary tools, she is a reclusive person unable to leave her home until meeting Kiri. Thanks to Kiri being able to cut her hair, she finally manages to get to school and talk normally with others. However, every day at midnight, her hair grows back to the original size, thus Kiri must cut it every day, which is not a nuissance to him at all as he never gets bored of doing it. According to legend, Zewulfa, the original Hair Queen, left a curse to her descendants - including Iwai - which gives them uncuttable hair, and she is the origin of the Killing Goods. It is said that as the Hair Queen, she can only be harmed with Killing Goods, explaining why Iwai's hair can be cut with the "Crime Edge" and whoever manages to kill her can have a wish granted, even if it means destroying the world's natural laws, thus she is usually targeted by other Authors. Iwai and Kiri develop a romantic relationship, and become a couple.
Yamane Byouinzaka (病院坂 病子,Byōinzaka Yamane)
Voiced by: Kaori FukuharaThe younger sister of Houko Byouinzaka and Author of the Killing Good called "The Injection of Eternal Sleep" a syringe that can kill people either by being injected or being nicked. The original owner of her Killing Good was a medical professional, Nightingale, who is known to have infected people with her poisonous vaccinations. Yamane goes to the same school and class as Kiri. She's often very unpredictable and constantly on edge when her lust for blood is not satisfied, which is why she is very much dependant on Houko as her "Instead." Byouinzaka's first victims were her parents, a crime for which Houko took the blame so as to keep Byouinzaka from being incriminated.
Houko Byouinzaka (病院坂 法子,Byōinzaka Hōko)
Voiced by: Yumi UchiyamaThe elder sister of Yamane Byouinzaka and the professor's assistant, she is cold and heartless towards Iwai. Houko allowed herself to be Yamane's "Instead" as a way to relieve her from the blood lust due to the pressure of Killing Goods that she possesses by allowing Yamane to inject her with a saline solution as a way to act out the latter's murderous intent. It is hinted that she has gotten so used to it, that she develops a kind of masochistic arousal.
Kanae Sumeragi (皇 鼎,Sumeragi Kanae)
Voiced by: Kōji YusaHe is a college professor that observes the Gossip organization, and is Iwai's legal guardian. He is also the Byouinzaka sisters' foster parent, mainly out of self-interest. Houko describes him a Lolicon. He mutters that Kiri will suffer a fate similar to his unknown past.
Emily Redhands (エミリー・レッドハンズ,Emirī Reddohanzu)
Voiced by: Rina HidakaA professional foreign killer and the adopted daughter of Iwai's father, making her Iwai's little sister. Her Killing Goods is "The Opener of Bloody Dissection", a collections of knives that inflicts the wounded victims with endless bleeding unless treated with a special cure. Originally made into a Killing Goods owner by Iwai's father so that Iwai's hair can be cut. Following his death, Emily's intention changed to killing Iwai so she could wish for her father's revival, mostly out of jealousy of Iwai. However, after experiencing excruciating pain and defeat from Kiri's Crime Edge, she bonds with Iwai. She is one of the only three successful "custom-made" Killing Goods owners: Owners who are not descendants of the original users of the Killing Goods they own.
Students
Kashiko Misumi (美墨 かしこ,Misumi Kashiko)
Voiced by: Kiyono YasunoKashiko's family runs a beauty salon and determines she should take over the family business eventually, but Kashiko aspires to be an attractive model instead. It seems she harbors romantic feelings for Kiri, even letting him cut her hair when Iwai isn't around.
Kotarō Naruto (鳴門 小太郎,Naruto Kotarō)
Voiced by: Nobunaga ShimazakiHe's an ace member of the Iaido club, and a friend of Kiri.
Nigi Ubuzato (初郷 和,Ubuzato Nigi)
Voiced by: Arisa NotoShe enjoys horror stories, and seems to be fond of the Norma Grayland's history. She is neighbors and childhood friends with Kotarō and harbors feelings for him.
Authors and Insteads
Ruka Shihōdō (四方堂 瑠架,Shihōdō Ruka)
Voiced by: Yōko HikasaShe is the vice president of the student council and is the owner of the Killing Good "Pet Whip of Submissive Butchery" a whip that manipulates people with a few slaps from it into submissive zombies. She despises popularity because people only see her attractive instead of her well-being. It said the whip belonged to her ancestor, Fujin Shihōdō, headmaster of the Kazoku, in the Meiji era, who used it for stealing other people's will and imprisoning them until they die of starvation. Ruka desires true domination. Her "Instead" is Romio whom she worshiped since childhood.
Romio Zaiga (雑賀 露見男,Zaiga Romio)
Voiced by: Yuichi NakamuraHe is the president of the student council and acts as an "Instead" for Ruka. Since childhood he adores her as a princess, leaving many girls around jealous of Ruka for having Romio. He and Ruka are often charged with cases involving Gossip.
Seigi Nakajima (中嶋 正義,Nakajima Seigi)
Voiced by: Akira IshidaHe is the owner of the Killing Good "The Rulebook of Sentencing and Execution" and enjoys killing various other Authors who go after the Hair Queen. It said his book belonged to a judge, Garivaldi, who executed twenty people by his own hands. By reciting the various crimes of target, he can summon a rope and hang the target. If the target is not evil, or guilty enough of these crimes, then the rope shall snap leaving the target knocked out. Kozakura is always interfering with Nakajima's selfish actions of justice. He was killed by Emily with her forty-three knives after intervening a Gossip party to execute Kiri.
Hitomi Karuko (軽子 瞳,Karuko Hitomi)
Voiced by: Kikuko InoueShe is an employee at a particular food bar that Iwai's father usually went to. In the bar, Karuko owns a white piano which she plays it frequently but some customers can notice that she stops halfway, claiming it is to encourage more customers to come and listen. In reality, however, the real reason why she doesn't is because her piano is actually the Killing Good "Pianissimo of Ecstatic Symphony", which kills people after listening to the final note. Koizumi is her "Instead". Due to her blindness, Karuko has Koizumi direct her walking. She and Koizumi don't wish to participate in the murder game.
Houichi Koizumi (小泉 芳一,Koizumi Hōichi)
Voiced by: Takehito KoyasuHe is Karuko's co-worker and acts as a tuner to her piano. He serves as an "Instead" for Karuko thanks to his deafness, which is why her Killing Good leaves him unaffected. Kiri sees Koizumi and Karuko's relationship similar to him and Iwai.
The Man with the Hammer
Voiced by: Daichi EndōAn unknown Author who using a Killing Good "The Sledgehammer of Crushing Disintegration" a huge hammer that smashes walls and makes things brittle. He doesn't have an "Instead" to relieve him, so he's engulfed by the impulses of his killing tool and kills without a purpose. The man apparently broke out of his cell, and eventually reaches Iwai's house and battles Kiri. After Kiri defeats him, the man is hung by Seigi for his crimes.
Other characters
Lady Violet Witchy (ヴァイオレット・ウィッチー卿)
Voiced by: Yukari TamuraThe mistress of the Gossip organization who has information on all "Killing Goods" and the Authors, and she might hold a personal grudge against the Hair Queen because of her ancestor. She appears to be acquaintances with Emily. She stole Kiri's first kiss. In Volume 5, she claims to have had Iwai's father put to death and also to be a descendant of the witch who cursed the Queen's descendants.
Kozakura Zenigata (銭形 小桜,Zenigata Kozakura)
Voiced by: Juri NagatsumaA female police officer, who is often in charge of cases involving Seigi since he judges other Authors before having them brought to court, and she used or fond of getting herself hanged by his Killing Good rope, or falling unconscious. She sort of acts as an "Instead" for him but claims he doesn't care. Upon Seigi's death, it is revealed that she loved him.
Keiichirou Jin (神 敬一郎,Jin Keiichirō)
An optimistic Author who works as an aid for Lady Violet Witchy. He is one of the only three successful "custom-made" Killing Goods owners. His Killing Good is "The Rapidshot of Pinpoint Penetration" a rifle that fires endless long range bullets with instant hits thoroughly. His hobby is stuffed animal collecting, and is sensitive to pain. He is defeated by Kiri and arrested.
Hari Haimura (灰村 針,Haimura Hari)
Kiri's sister. She is hasty and stubborn. Kiri says that Hari was one of those who label him as a "creep" to their neighborhood because of his habit of cutting hair. During childhood, Hari liked Kiri for cutting her hair, but claims she now hates it. Iwai can tell she still enjoy having her hair cut, so she has Kiri set up a special salon for Hari.
Manga
Volume 01
Chapter 1: The Sleeping Princess of the Forest
Chapter 2: Portrait of Heresy
Chapter 3: Isolation Inhibitor
Chapter 4: A Bell's Pitch
Chapter 5: To Escape the Storm
Chapter 6: Lights, Camera, Action!
Volume 02
Chapter 7: Where’s the Guest?
Chapter 8: Isolation Inhibitor "2"
Chapter 9: Before the Game
Chapter 10: Break & Through
Chapter 11: To Overcome the Corpses
Chapter 12: Hardcore Breakbeats
Volume 03
Chapter 13: Strawberry Jam
Chapter 14: Waltz Under the Stars
Chapter 15: Heaven's Coins
Chapter 16: Fondling Wheel
Chapter 17: Party Chopper
Chapter 18: Lyrical Night Fright
Volume 04
Chapter 19: Standing Ovation
Chapter 20: Red Rising
Chapter 21: Cooperation in Blood Donation
Chapter 22: The Forbidden Game
Chapter 23: Inhumane Glory
Chapter 24: Grayland Is In the House
Chapter 25: Flowing Blood Relations
Chapter 26: Order-Made "2"
Volume 05
Chapter 27: The Downpour From The Heavens
Chapter 28: Air For Brains
Chapter 29: Tower Offense
Chapter 30: Like a Gift of Magi
Chapter 31: Poisonous Notebook
Chapter 32: Role Play
Anime
The anime television series adaptation is directed by Yūji Yamaguchi and produced by Studio Gokumi with music by Yasuharu Takanashi. It started airing on Tokyo MX on April 4, 2013. It was streamed by Crunchyroll with subtitles in English. Sentai Filmworks licensed the series for home video release in North America. The opening theme was "Unmei no Ori" (運命の檻) by Aimi Terakawa and the ending theme – "Kimi to Futari" (君と二人) by Yuri*Kari Yurika Endō and Karin Takahashi.
Reception
Carl Kimlinger of Anime News Network published a positive review of the first half of the anime series. While expressing criticism towards its change into different genres as "messy", Kimlinger praised it for its direction in atmosphere and action, funny humor and viewing the perverse Author/Instead relationships in a romantic light. Kimlinger wrote that the subject matter of the first half will not be to everyone's liking. Richard Eisenbeis of Kotaku talked about the complete anime series, expressing interest in the world and its cast of diverse characters but felt that it was let down by its constant genre jumping and unsatisfying ending.
