# ISSEN: Samurai Slash — One breath, one perfect cut

> One breath, one perfect cut (iPhone/iPad app by Kenji Kobayashi.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/issen-samurai-slash/id6772437281 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Kenji Kobayashi](https://appshunter.io/developer/535002271)
- Category: Games, Action
- Price: Free
- Age rating: 12+
- Requires: iOS 16.0 · 166 MB
- Languages: American English, French (France), German (Germany), Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, European Portuguese, Russian and 2 more
- Released: 2026-05-28
- Data updated: 2026-07-27
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/issen-samurai-slash/id6772437281/reviews.md

## What is ISSEN?

ISSEN is a calm-then-explosive samurai timing game. Breathe, focus, and release a single perfect stroke. In the stillness of a sumi-e ink world, one flash of the blade decides everything.

THE WAY OF ONE CUT
Wait for the moment. Swipe one arc to slash every target in range. A dead-center cut becomes a True Issen - time slows, ink bursts across the screen, and your combo soars. One stroke can cut several at once.

A SUMI-E INK WORLD
Hand-painted Japanese ink-wash visuals: black sumi ink, a single stroke of vermilion, and the beauty of empty space. Stillness and motion in sharp contrast - quiet calm, broken only by the flash of your blade.

BREATH AND FOCUS
Land True Issen cuts and keep your combo to fill the Breath gauge. Release it to enter focus: the world slows, the cut window widens, and you chain huge combos in the decisive moment.

READ THE FLAMES
- Red: cut it - a dead-center hit is a True Issen
- Blue: timing targets to read and slash
- Gold: cuts only on a perfect center hit - a big bonus that restores a life

MORE TO MASTER
- Boss duels: one-on-one showdowns
- Daily Cut: a fixed daily challenge, the same for everyone
- Dojo: unlock 6 blade-trail skins
- Records and encyclopedia: chase your personal bests
- Stage select: replay any cleared stage

FEATURES
- Pure one-stroke control - easy to learn, deep to master
- Satisfying slow-motion on every perfect cut
- Original Japanese instrumental soundtrack (shakuhachi and koto)
- 12 languages supported
- One-handed, portrait play
- No internet required after install

Free to play, supported by ads.

Breathe. Focus. The world slows. Then - one flash.


## Version history (last 4 releases)

### 1.0.9 — 2026-07-26

Smaller download size and smoother performance.

### 1.0.8 — 2026-06-02

FIXED: The "Revive" option no longer gets stuck when a video isn't ready — it now shows a clear message.
NEW: Added a privacy consent prompt where required (EEA/GDPR).
IMPROVED: Ad stability and minor fixes.

### 1.0.6 — 2026-05-29

NEW: Cut 20 red flames in a row to gain +1 life (restores HP). HUD shows the countdown.
IMPROVED: "Totonou" Focus mode — deeper slow-motion, glowing targets, refined eye animation.
FIXED: Focus now reliably triggers strike-windows during boss duels.

### 1.0.0 — 2026-05-28

No release notes.

## More apps by Kenji Kobayashi

- [CounterParts](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/counterparts/id535002008)
- [HOTARU: The Lost House](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hotaru-the-lost-house/id6770427114)
- [Mole Whack](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mole-whack/id6770864132)
- [HAYATE: Katana Racer](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hayate-katana-racer/id6775771603)
- [Bounce Cat: Free the Cat](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bounce-cat-free-the-cat/id6776876260)

All apps by Kenji Kobayashi: https://appshunter.io/developer/535002271

## Related topics

[issen](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/issen)

---

*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-07-27.*