In a mythical world where humans and gods co-exist, a ceremony marking the new governing princess is about to occur for the first time in 60 years. Only a girl from the Hime Clan may take this position, but the lack of females born to this family means that a boy called Arata must pose for the role. During the ceremony, the Twelve Shinsho, the wielders of special swords called Hayagami, led by Kannagi, betray the princess by trying to kill her and Arata. Arata escapes and runs into the Kando Forest. He emerges from the forest and finds himself in the alley in present day Japan. He has a run-in with the police because he is shirtless but is saved by Nao, a girl who claims to be his sister.

Meanwhile in modern-day Japan, a boy named Arata Hinohara is starting his new life in high school. He wants to put memories of his difficult past behind him, but things aren’t going to be simple when Kadowaki, the bully from his old school, emerges. Kadowaki's bullying continues, and Hinohara discovers that his friend, Suguru, allied with Kadowaki and covered his desk with glue. Feeling angry and betrayed, he walks into an alley, and soon finds that is no longer in Japan, but rather a new world, Amawakuni, the other Arata's home. He is helped by Arata's grandmother and Kotoha, Arata's childhood friend. When Kannagi searches their house, Hinohara comes across a rusted sword and activates its power and becomes a sho. The sword is a Hayagami, or god, named Tsukuyo.

Kotoha gives Hinohara a stone (michihi no tama). He is arrested, and in a jail cell, talks to Arata through the stone. He discovers the truth behind the princess' assassination, and both realize that they are in each other's worlds and being mistaken for each other. Hinohara is speedily tried, found guilty, and exiled to Gatoya Island, a place compared to a living hell. On the trip to the island Kotoha tags along and gives him his Hayagami. Also because of the stones power he is able to talk to the princess (who is just barely alive) and she asks him to govern the world as otherwise there will only be war and bloodshed.

On the Gatoya, he meets two friends, Kanate and Ginchi, who try to steal his belongings and Kotoha. Kotoha soon disappears, and Hinohara, desperate to find her, trades everyday items from Japan for information. He discovers that Tsutuga, the warden of Gatoya Island, is a sho, and confronts him. Hinohara learns that Tsutuga was betrayed and empathizes with him. Tsutsuga decides to give his Hayagami to Hinohara, and becomes one with his Hayagami. Hinohara uses his new power to then restore the island. He and Kotoha escape with their new friends, Kanate and Ginchi, to the mainland to restore order and save the princess.

Arata: The Legend (アラタカンガタリ 〜革神語〜 Arata Kangatari), a Japanese manga written by Yuu Watase that began serialization in the manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Sunday in 2008. The first volume of the series was released in Japan on January 16, 2009. The series has seventeen volumes and is still serialized in Shōnen Sunday. The series is Watase's first shōnen series. It is licensed by Viz Media as part of their Shōnen Sunday imprint.
An anime TV series adaptation produced by Satelight and Korean studio JM Animation will begin airing in April 2013.

革神语～天启剑神～主要讲诉了《革神语》是梦幻游戏的超魅力作家渡濑悠宇的连载少年漫画，于2008年在小学馆《周刊少年Sunday》上连载。《周刊少年Sunday》与《周刊少年Jump》，《周刊少年Magazine》为日本三大少年漫画杂ne》为日本三大少年漫画杂志。《革神语》是曾获得顺位前20的人气作品。