- People of the Sengoku period in popular culture
Many significant Japanese historical people of the Sengoku period appear in works of popular culture such as
anime ,manga , andvideo games . This article presents information on references to historical people in such works.Akechi Mitsuhide Akechi Mitsuhide is featured in various fictional works, mostly as a hero.
*He is featured inCapcom 's "Onimusha " as Samanosuke's uncle/relative, as well asOnimusha Tactics as a playable character.
*Mitsuhide is also one of the playable characters inKoei 's "Samurai Warriors " series. He wields a katana, obviously taking techniques from the sword school ofIaido , and is portrayed to have a very close relationship withMori Ranmaru . In the second installment, the relationship is not present, instead, becoming closer to Nobunaga (and taking longer to fall out with Nobunaga) to a point where he doesn't want to kill him. This caused Saika Magoichi to assasinate Nobunaga from afar, leaving Mitsuhide as to blame.
*He also appears in the "Warriors Orochi " spin-off series as a starting character in the "Samurai"/"Sengoku" story lines. In this game, he shows no intention of killing or betraying Oda Nobunaga and follows him faithfully; in fairness, this depiction is based on the "Samurai Warriors 2" incarnation.
*He is also featured as a playable character in "Sengoku Basara ", where in he is portrayed as a sadistic psychopath who wields dual scythes, and enjoys killing his opponents. For some reason, he is able to attack his allies without damaging them.
*Mitsuhide plays a part inKonami 's "Demon Chaos " video game for the PlayStation 2 set during feudal Japan.
*InEiji Yoshikawa 's novel "Taiko ki" (released in English as "Taiko: An Epic Novel of War and Glory in Feudal Japan"), Mitsuhide is emotionally abused by Nobunaga, who calls him by the nickname "kumquat head".
*In Koei's "Kessen III ", he is portrayed as an ally turned main villain through the game; this is because Oda Nobunaga is portrayed as the hero and unifier of Japan.
*In "Hikaru no Go " a character named Yuki Mitani plays Mitsuhide in a school play.
*In the manga series "Tenjho Tenge ", the characterSouhaku Kago initially went by the name Akechi Mitsuhide, and killed Oda Nobunaga bydecapitation . He then faked his death and became the High Buddhist priest called Tenkai.
*In theJames Clavell historical novel Shōgun, the character of "Akechi Jinsai" is a pastiche of Mitsuhide.Azai Nagamasa *Nagamasa makes appearances as a general in the Main Campaign and in various Historical Battles and Historical Campaigns in the PC game "
Shogun Total War ". Additionally, Nagamasa returns as an Heir to the Azai Clan in the fan created Samurai Warlords Mod (aka the Shogun Mod) for the PC game .
*Nagamasa is a featured playable character within the video game series "Samurai Warriors ", in which he is depicted as an extremely honorable man who will stop at nothing to ensure that his notions of justice are enforced. As like in history, Nagamasa decides to collaborate with his erstwhile allies, the Asakura, and fight against Nobunaga at Anegawa; he also expresses a more dramatized showing of love towards his respective wife, Oichi, and cares deeply for her welfare. In appearance, Nagamasa is depicted with his traditional kabuto helmet and carries a lance as his weapon of choosing. This version of the character also appears in the spin-off series "Warriors Orochi " as an unlockable character for theCao Wei storyline.Cao Pi andMitsunari Ishida attack Nagamasa's forces, including his wifeOichi andGan Ning ofWu . Instead of death, as they wanted, Cao Pi enlists the three of them into his army against Orochi.
*Nagamasa is an NPC in "Sengoku Basara 2 ", along with Oichi, but becomes playable in the expansion "Sengoku Basara 2: Heroes". He wields a long sword and carries a shield with him and is portrayed as a justice loving man.Chōsokabe Motochika Motochika appears in the video game series Sengoku Basara as a playable character who takes the persona of a pirate commander. He wields a long anchor-like spear that is respectively equipped with a metal chain and appears within many variable conflicts as a supposed rival to
Mori Motonari .Motochika has also been featured within Samurai Warriors 2 Empires, but as an infamous general, he became playable in Samurai Warriors 2 Xtreme Legends where he wields a
shamisen and sports aGlam rock inspired appearance, which leads him to continuously calling himself as "The Bat King". [ [http://www.capcom.co.jp/sengoku/ 戦国BASARA ] ]Date Masamune *Date Masamune has featured in several
video game s includingKoei 's "Kessen " series (where he is a relatively minor officer), and "" as the daimyo of the Rikuchu province.
*In "Samurai Warriors ", he is depicted as a young and hot-headed ruler who is chaotically interrupting the battles of other warlords, usually attacking multiple armies at once. His weapon in the first game is a pair ofbokken . In the second game, he now looks a little more older, with his weapons changed to a western-stylesabre and a pair ofpistols . He frequently expressed ambitions to explore the world beyond Japan, and acquire new, foreign technologies. In the first game, Date's childhood name, Bontenmaru, is the name of one set of his weapons. In the related series "Warriors Orochi ", he is an officer for Orochi's forces, but is unlockable in the 5th Gaiden forShu Han . With the help ofXing Cai andZhu Rong , Magoichi Saiga defeats Masamune, and convinces him to join Shu's quest to saveLiu Bei . In the sequel, however, he returns as a permanent member of Orochi's forces.
*In the manga series "Samurai Deeper Kyo " Date Masamune (referred to in the series by his childhood name, Botenmaru) is a member of the Shiseiten and former follower/rival of the main character Kyo.
*In the anime series "Yoroiden Samurai Troopers ", the characterDate Seiji is a descendent of Date Masamune. Seiji wears his hair covering one eye, and is at one point asked byHashiba Touma if he does so because he is related to the One-Eyed Dragon.
*Capcom 's highly successful hack-&-slash game "Sengoku Basara " and "Sengoku Basara 2 ", includes Date Masamune as one of the main characters. In "Basara", a distinguishing trait of Date Masamune is his usage of Japanese-style English, orEngrish . Reminding fans of Dante ofDevil May Cry 's fame, Masamune is portrayed as a brazen young lord bent on having fun while conquring the country, dressed in blue and black with a tsuba over his right eye as well as the historically accurate golden arc on his battle helmet. He is also known in-game by his nickname, the One-Eyed Dragon (Dokuganryu). He is also depicted in constant rivalry withSanada Yukimura , although there is no clear historical record to suggest such a rivalry ever existed.
*Masamune also appears in the PC game "" as a general in the Uesugi army but not until later in the game (around 1580). He also appears as the leader of the Date Clan in the Samurai Warlords Mod (aka the Shogun Mod) for the PC game "Medieval Total War ".
*He is also one of the Leaders (a class ofSamurai ) in "Throne of Darkness ".
*Date Masamune was also the main subject of the Japanese networkNHK 'sTaiga drama "Dokuganryu Masamune " (One-eyed Dragon, Masamune) in 1987, starring the then youngKen Watanabe as Date Masumune. To-date, this series is the highest rated NHK Taiga drama. [ [http://www.videor.co.jp/data/ratedata/program/03taiga.htm Video Research (Japanese)] .]
* In theThomas Harris novel "Hannibal Rising ",Hannibal Lecter 's aunt, Lady Murasaki, is said to be a descendant of Date Masamune. It is one of Masamune's swords that Lecter uses to commit his first murder by killing a butcher named Paul Momund for insulting Lady Murasaki because she is Japanese.
* In "Age of Empires III : ", Daimyo Date Masamune is available as a daimyo unit. In the game, he's available with Shogunate wonder, only for Japanese civilization. Daimyos can receive shipments and train troops, while they are a powerful hand cavalry unit. They also provide an attack boost to nearby troops.Fūma Kotarō Fūma Kotarō is often depicted as the arch-rival of Hattori Hanzō (who is depicted as a ninja in the Samurai Warriors games). As the name Fūma means literally "wind demon", depiction of Fūma Kotarō is frequently more flamboyant, fantastical, and sometimes demonic, in contrast to Hanzō who is usually rendered with a relatively subdued appearance.
*Kotarō has been featured in the
Capcom video game "", and has made an appearance as a non-playable character in "Sengoku Basara 2". He becomes playable in Sengoku Basara 2:Heroes ,and is literally portrayed as a silent assassin.*He also appears in
Koei 's "Samurai Warriors 2 " ("Sengoku Musou 2") as Hanzō's foe, who, despite serving the Hōjō, prefers chaos, and continually makes trouble for many of the factions (mainly in the form of ambushes). He commands the Hojo's defence during the Siege of Odawara Castle, laying numerous traps for the invading Toyotomi army. In his own story mode, he eliminatesTakeda Shingen ,Oda Nobunaga andToyotomi Hideyoshi , establishing the Hojo clan as the most powerful in Japan, only to later betray them with the help of the Tokugawa. He then unifies the land himself, only to hand it over toTokugawa Ieyasu , telling him to create his own history of how he came to power, before disappearing. He wields gauntlets that bestow him the ablility to elongate his arms at will. (Oddly enough it seems that he may beclairvoyant , as he predicts Nobunaga's death in fire at Honnouji before it happens, as well as spreading the news abnormally quickly.) He has light purple skin, tattoos, and red dreadlocks. He prefers to think of himself as the "winds of chaos"*In "
Warriors Orochi " he still likes chaos. At Chang Shan he had captured Supply dumps fromOrochi 's army, howeverSun Ce ,Zhou Yu andHattori Hanzo had taken the supplies back and captured Kotaro. Then the chaos maker joinsSun Wu .*He also makes an appearance in "
Samurai Deeper Kyo " as Sasuke's childhood friend and rival.*Kotarō also appears as a minor character in "Nobunaga's Ambition II", as well as in "Taikou Risshiden V". (While only
daimyo can unify Japan, he is one of the ninja leaders who can be unlocked as a playable character, with his weapon-of-choice being thekunai .)*He also is portrayed as the principal villain, in the popular Japanese TV series of the 1960s called, The Samurai, which became a cult hit in Australia.
*He is also a main character in the "
World Heroes " fighting game series and his main rival wasHanzo Hattori . He along with Hanzo was also featured inNeo Geo Battle Coliseum . These Versions of Fuma and Hanzo were designed to look and fight just like each other in a similar fashion to Ryu and Ken.*He can be summoned as a persona of the rare "FOOL Class" in the video game "".
*Fūma Kotarō makes an appearance in
Mirage of Blaze during the story arc involving theHōjō clan .*More recently, the
Naruto character Pain was revealed to be of the Fūma clan. having previously killed the legendary ninja Hanzō.*Fūma can be obtained in
Kessen III after beating the game.Hattori Hanzō *Hanzō frequently appears in "
jidaigeki ". ActorSonny Chiba played the role in theV-Cinema series "Shin Kage no Gundan" [http://www.geocities.jp/haiyaku_houten/honbun/ha2.html] . Manyfilm s, specials and series on the life and times of Tokugawa Ieyasu depict the events detailed above.
*In the film "Kill Bill ", Hattori Hanzō (Sonny Chiba ) is a master swordsmith who is called upon to create a katana for the film's protagonist. It has been implied that this character is a descendant of the historical figure.
*The life of Hanzō and his service to Tokugawa Ieyasu is fictionalised in themanga "Path of the Assassin ," created by writerKazuo Koike and artistGoseki Kojima .
*Hanzō also appears in the 1999 "jidaigeki" movie named "Fukurō no Shiro (Owl's Castle)". He was played by actorJinpachi Nezu .
*The manga "Basilisk" features a character named Hattori Kyohachiro as an attendant to the shogun, being the son of the second Hanzō, and adopted son of the fourth Hanzō.
*In the novel "Battle Royale " the protagonistShuya Nanahara 's watch is described in page 82 as an "old, domestically manufactured Hattori Hanzō limited-edition diver's watch" donated to him through the orphanage.
*In a more romanticized setting, the manga "Tail of the Moon " features Hattori Hanzō and his clan.
*In the manga "Ninja Hattori ".
*In the parody anime and manga "Gintama ".
*In the anime "Samurai Deeper Kyo ".
*Hanzō appears as a recurring character in the "Samurai Shodown " video game series, appearing in every game in the series.
*In the "World Heroes " video game series, Hanzō serves as one of the main characters, and is portrayed as rivals with Fuma Kotaro, also featured in the games. Their rivalry is based upon the legend surrounding Hanzō's death.
*He features in Koei's video game series "Samurai Warriors ", where he is portrayed as a highly skilled ninja who makes frequent references to the shadows and is highly loyal to Tokugawa Ieyasu. In his Story Mode, he is attributed to the death of many of Ieyasu's rivals, including Imagawa Yoshimoto, Takeda Shingen, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Sanada Yukimura. In Samurai Warriors 2, he has an extremely fierce rivalry withFuma Kotaro . He wields aKusarigama . He also appears in "Warriors Orochi ", a crossover between Samurai Warriors and "Dynasty Warriors ", aiding theWu forces.
*In the popular anime/manga franchiseNaruto a character named Hanzo stood as the leader of a ninja village. Hanzo was portrayed to be a powerful ninja and his name is likely a homage to Hattori Hanzo.
*In the first two games of the "Gensou Suikoden " series, a character named Hanzo is the leader of the hidden ninja village of Rokkaku.
*InWorld of Warcraft there is a weapon called the "Hanzo Sword" which looks like aNinjatō .
*Hattori Hanzō is a Great Spy in .
*In the manga "Hagane ", a parasite is injected into a young boy, giving him the memories and skills of Hattori Hanzo. It is suggested that the parasite itself is the original Hanzo, and that the historical "Hanzo" was a host for the parasite.Hōjō Ujimasa Hōjō Ujimasa is a playable character in
Capcom 's , in which he wields a large sextuple-pronged-and-hooked spear and strongly fears and respects his ancestors.Honda Tadakatsu *Honda Tadakatsu appears in numerous Japanese "
jidaigeki " that show the rise of the Tokugawa to power. He is a minor role inAkira Kurosawa 's movie "Kagemusha ."
*Honda Tadakatsu also appears in the video gamesKessen , , ,Samurai Warriors 2 , ,Sengoku Basara , andWarriors Orochi . In any series trying to fight him alone usually results in death.Hosokawa Gracia Gracia frequently appears as a character in Japanese historical fiction, both novels and drama. One website lists her as a character in over 40 stage dramas, movies, TV dramas, etc., from 1887 to 2006. She is also frequently referred to in popular writing or talks on the history of the period. A work that has been translated into English is
Ayako Miura 's novel, "Hosokawa Garasha Fujin" (English title: "Lady Gracia: a Samurai Wife's Love, Strife and Faith"), which follows history fairly closely.James Clavell used Gracia as the model for the character of Mariko in his novel "Shogun", which was later adapted for television as a miniseries. Elements of Mariko's story follows Gracia's quite closely, although the manner of her death is different and the two characters do not fundamentally have anything in common.A very heavily fictionalized Gracia also appears in
Futaro Yamada 's novel "Makai Tensho ", as a sidekick toAmakusa Shirō Tokisada .In the
video game "Kessen ", there is a cut-scene depicting Gracia dying heroically because her religion (Christianity) forbade her to commit suicide.Gracia is among the playable characters included in
Koei 'sSamurai Warriors 2 Xtreme Legends . Her story mode, which differs greatly from historical events, depicts her having run away from home, eager to learn more about the world. She befriends and tags along withMagoichi Saika . She also wields a pair of bracelets sealed with magical powers, conflicting that she has one of the most powerful musou attacks, despite her low stats. [http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a177/LittleDragonZhaoYun/graciaSW2XL.jpgjp icon]Imagawa Yoshimoto Imagawa Yoshimoto is a playable character in the
Koei action game . He also appeared early on in the company's action-strategy gameKessen III . Both games depict Imagawa as a childish dandy, although Samurai Warriors takes this to an extreme by giving him akemari (a Japanese kickball), which he uses as a weapon (though he used a generic sword in the original Samurai Warriors game). In his story mode ending, Yoshimoto miraculously manages to defeat both Takeda Shingen and Oda Nobunaga in Kyoto, and then plays kemari to his heart's content in front of the other warlords who look on in amusement and disgust.In
Samurai Warriors 2 however, due to time constraints (as well as an overall shift away from Nobunaga's life towards the post-Nobunaga years), the Battle of Okehazama was shown as part of Nobunaga, Noh, and Mitsuhide's intro movies, and Yoshimoto was only mentioned and shown impaled to death within his palanquin by Nobunaga's spearmen. However in Samurai Warriors 2: Xtreme Legends, the battle was brought back, and Yoshimoto himself is given an updated appearance and additional moves as well as a new story mode that tells about his quest for somebody to play kemari with him due to his extreme loneliness.In
Warriors Orochi , he is found retreating from the burning Fan Castle but, is rescued by the Tokugawa and escapes. Later, he becomes part of the Resistance against Orochi aiding Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin but, ends up supporting Wei after being defeated by them in the Saika Territory. Days later he had been ordered by Cao Pi to give Lu Meng aid at Osaka Bay.Yoshimoto is also featured as an unplayable character in the Japanese action game Sengoku Basara (as well as the sequel). He becomes playable in Sengoku Basara 2: Heroes.
In the translation of Path of the Assassin, a Dark Horse Comics translation of Hanzo no Mon, which focuses on Tokugawa Ieyasu and Hattori Hanzō's perspectives, Yoshimoto is viewed more positively (perhaps ironically, compared to Nobunaga) and even decides during the Okehazama campaign to replace Ujizane with Ieyasu (then Matsudaira Motoyasu) as his heir, though dying before doing so.
He also appears briefly in the short manga Kacchu no Senshi Gamu, by
Yoshihiro Takahashi .Ishida Mitsunari *The story of
James Clavell 's novel "Shogun" is based on the strife between Ishida (called Ishido in the novel) and Tokugawa (Toranaga) over the Taiko's son.
*Mitsunari also appears as one of the main characters ofKoei 'sKessen . He is the first of three commanders under the Toyotomi forces depicted opposingTokugawa Ieyasu . Whether or not he survives the Battle of Sekigahara and defeats Ieyasu depends on the Player's actions.
*Mitsunari is also a playable character inKoei 'sSamurai Warriors 2 . He wields a folded fan, and is shown to be arrogant and prone to making snide remarks in the game. He is also depicted as a friend ofSanada Yukimura andNaoe Kanetsugu . Towards the end of his story, he admits that he changed his arrogant ways due to the influence of his friends. InSakon Shima 's ending, he forms a friendship with him. In Kanetsugu's ending, he was defeated at Sekigahara and was never found, similar to his actual death.
*Mitsunari also appeared inWarriors Orochi , a crossover between Samurai Warriors andDynasty Warriors . In this game, he is part ofOrochi 's army, under the control ofDa Ji but, later forms a friendship withCao Pi after witnessing him allowingSun Ce to escape from Orochi's forces during one of their battles and aids him throughoutWei 's story line there on in.
*Mitsunari is a villain in campaign. In the Japanese campaign, players must kill him in order to win and unify Japan.
*In the anime Bleach, the characterUryū Ishida is based on Mitsunari and shares his last name.
*Mitsunari assumed the role of one of the main antagonists in Capcom's , and featured in the opening video fighting againstNankobo Tenkai using a folding fan. His Samurai Warriors 2 Interpretation may be based on him.
*Mitsunari is confirmed as the lead character of Koei's upcoming DS game "Saihai no Yukue ." Fact|date=September 2008Ishikawa Goemon *He has been the subject of many
Kabuki plays.
*He was the subject of Tomoyoshi Murayama's "Shinobi no Mono " novels, which in the 1960s became a film series starringRaizo Ichikawa as Ishikawa.
*A new Goemon movie is scheduled for 2009; it is directed byKazuaki Kiriya .
*He is mentioned in connection with the Sanmon Gate at the Nanzen Temple inYukio Mishima 's workThe Temple of the Golden Pavilion . [citation| last=Mishima| first=Yukio| title=The Temple of the Golden Pavilion| translator=Ivan Morris| year=1959| publisher=Alfred A. Knopf| location=New York]
*He is the main character in a video game series produced byKonami known as "Ganbare Goemon " in Japan and as "Mystical Ninja" elsewhere.
*He is a character in theKoei "Samurai Warriors " game series, wielding a mace and with a cannon on his back. He was omitted from the second game. However, he appeared in the spin-off series "Warriors Orochi ".
*He is claimed to be the ancestor ofGoemon Ishikawa XIII in the "Lupin III " movies, the first in a lineage of renegadesamurai . In one of the "Lupin" TV movies, "Burn, Zantetsuken! ", the opening sequence shows Goemon Ishikawa XIII weeping while watching the famed kabuki performance based on his ancestor's life.
*He appears in the third and fourth episodes of the anime series "" where it is hinted that he is a lineal ancestor of the title character, Kureha Misaki.
*In a Neo Geo fighting game called "Ninja Master's ", Goemon appears as one of the selectable characters. This rendition of him, however, carries a large cannonesque gun that he uses in battle.
*Japanese pro wrestler Koji Nakagawa regularly portrays a character named GOEMON, who is loosely based on Ishikawa Goemon.Izumo no Okuni Unlike her role in history, Okuni's appearances in fiction often portray her as a nihongo|"betsushikime"|別式女, a capable fighter skilled with weapons and magic.
* She is a playable character inKoei 's "Samurai Warriors " series as a fighter using a parasol. In "Samurai Warriors 2 ", she is a special character who is unlocked by clearing theSugoroku game. She additionally appears in thespin-off series "Warriors Orochi as well.
* In themanga andanime "Samurai Deeper Kyo ," she is initially a foil for the main character, Mibu Kyoshiro, but later becomes a spy forOda Nobunaga .
* Okuni is a playable character in theCapcom videogame "Onimusha Tactics ". She fights with a spear and can use healing magic. She is also mentioned as a close friend to Jubei Yagyu in "", where she is described as being a great dancer and fighter. According to the the game's comic tie-in "Night of Genesis", she's also a long-standing friend of Tenkai Nankobo.
* Okuni also appears as a character in theNHK drama "Musashi"; however, in this series she remains a performer and does not have any fighting skills.
* Okuni makes a small appearance as a little girl in "Okami " singing about the Water Dragon.
* The courtesan and geisha Kiku fromJames Clavell 's novel "Shogun" is based on Okuni.Katakura Kojūrō *Katakura has appeared as a character in fiction, appearing in the video game "
Sengoku Basara 2 ".Komatsuhime In the video game "
Samurai Warriors 2 ", Komatsuhime (known as Ina in the game) is a warrior who is deeply conflicted on her reason for fighting; for peace or enjoymentFact|date=June 2007. She wields a long bladed bow, and can attack in melee combat and also at range. Additionally, in the game, she is charged with one ofHattori Hanzo 's accomplishment during Ieyasu's journey in Iga: escortingAnayama Nobukimi , while Hanzo escorts the lord personally. Historically, Hanzō took both tasks at once and succeeded them both.Ina also appears in the crossover game "
Warriors Orochi ". In it, she befriendsSun Shang Xiang after Orochi blackmails the Tokugawa and theWu Army into servitude. Although both of them are forced to fight for Orochi against their will, they end up joining the Resistance after Ina convinces Sun Shang Xiang to reunite with her older brotherSun Ce atSekigahara .Kōsa In fiction, Kōsa usually appears with the name Honganji Kennyo.
*Kennyo appears as a non-playable character in
Koei 'sSamurai Warriors video game, in which he possesses a distinct Buddhist wheel on his back. He also appears inCapcom 'sSengoku Basara 2 , where he is portrayed as a large and greedy man.Maeda Matsu Matsu is despicted in Capcom's
Sengoku Basara video game series as a woman who wields a naginata as her respective weapon, possessing a significantly close relationship with her husband, Toshiie.Matsu had also been featured within a certain TV drama shown by NHK within Japan, depicting her relations with Toshiie, and thus making her a primary figure of romantic fame.Although not a real playable character, Matsu is also a bodyguard inKoei 's Samurai Warriors 2 under the "Lady Samurai" class.Maeda Toshiie * Maeda Toshiie appears as a playable character within the video game , in which he is depicted as an apprentice to
Shibata Katsuie and a man that would sacrifice himself in the name of a warrior, one of the common romanticizations thatKoei regularly use to individualize their characters. He wields a serrated sword, accompanied by two spears.
* HisSengoku Basara portrayal is most likely to be serving the Oda clan off screen, but his story mode depicts him as a dysfunctional family man, in which he has a close relationship with his wifeMatsu , and their "nephew" Keiji, where the first two story modes tell on their unusual methods to support one another.
* The 2002 NHKTaiga drama "Toshiie to Matsu" (利家とまつ~加賀百万石物語~) was based on the story of their lives together. Maeda Toshiie was played byToshiaki Karasawa , and Matsu byNanako Matsushima . Karasawa later made a special appearance as the same character in the 2006 NHK Taiga drama "Komyo ga Tsuji" (功名が辻) (eps 39 and 40)Maeda Toshimasu Toshimasu (often depicted under the name of Keiji or Keijirō) is often portrayed as somewhat of a
prankster and is often dubbed crazy, orkabukimono , by others for his wild ways. Sampling this where is was showed/mentioned in a few video games that he filled his uncle's (Toshiie)'s bath with cold water.*He is a playable character in the
video game series "Samurai Warriors " and is considered one of the stronger characters along withHonda Tadakatsu . His weapon is a two-pronged spear, similar to asasumata . He also appears in "Warriors Orochi " on the Orochi Army, later serving the Wu Army as a Gaiden character.
* Maeda Keiji is a new character in "Sengoku Basara 2 ", which is the sequel ofCapcom 's Sengoku based hack and slash game, "Sengoku Basara ". This version of the character wields a giantodachi and has a pet monkey.
* Keijiro also appears in "Onimusha Blade Warriors " as well as the first "Onimusha " game, under the name: Yumemaru (a little boy that Princess Yuki takes care of). Maeda Keiji is also a secret playable character in "Kessen III " through loading a "Samurai Warriors" data file from the memory card.
*Amanga series loosely based on Keiji's life illustrated byTetsuo Hara (of "Fist of the North Star " fame) was produced titled "Hana no Keiji". It inspired a live-action film version and a "Super Famicom " game.
*In the NHK television drama series "Toshiie to Matsu", Maeda Keijiro is depicted by the actorMitsuhiro Oikawa .Matsukaze
Additionally, Keiji's famed horse, Matsukaze, appears in a number of games and movies as well.
* Matsukaze is a ridable horse in the "Samurai Warriors " and "Warriors Orochi " game series.
* The jetbike Keiji rides in the "Vasara" game series is said to be the model "Matsukaze 1000".Matsunaga Hisahide Matsunaga Hisahide is featured as a character within the video game , in which he is depicted as a man of treachery who enjoys any course of action that would subsequently present to him a greater sum of pleasure. He takes a primary role in
Katakura Kojuurou 's story; and by the end of such a scenario he sets aflame his initial base with explosives as a showing of defeat.He also appears in
Samurai Warriors 2 as a purchasable Bodyguard under the "Fire Ninja" class.Miyamoto Musashi See
Miyamoto Musashi in fiction .Mōri Motonari He (along with
King Lear ) was the basis of Hidetora Ichimonji in theAkira Kurosawa filmRan .Motonari has also made an appearance in video games such as that of
Capcom 'sSengoku Basara 2 initially as a playable character who is relatively inconsiderate to his subordinates, abandoning them if they are below his standards and employing other means that can be deemed cruel. Motonari wields a large wheel as his weapon, which possesses an outer-layer of blades.Motonari is the main protagonist of the
NHK 36th drama "Motonari".Mori Ranmaru Ranmaru has appeared as a character in fiction & has appeared in several video games (such as "
Sengoku Basara ", "Onimusha", "Kessen III " and the "Samurai Warriors " series) in which he is usually portrayed as having a feminine to an androgynous appearance, in which leads to usual confusion of his gender. He is also depicted as truly loyal to Oda Nobunaga, who in return praises Ranmaru for generally his skills (and possibly his beauty) in battle.Ranmaru is depicted greatly in "
Samurai Warriors " as Nobunaga's most loyal bodyguard, where he wields anodachi . Differentiating all the other portrayals was seen in the first "Samurai Warriors ", where he also has a close friendship withAkechi Mitsuhide , who at the time planned to assassinate Nobunaga, leaving Ranmaru in a state of confusion on which path he will follow. In "Samurai Warriors 2 ", Ranmaru has no storyline, but is seen in some cutscenes and cinema cameos and is a special character unlocked by completing the first two Ranmaru's and Mitsuhide's Requests in Survival Mode.He also appears in
Warriors Orochi as fighting for the Resistance Army alongsideMa Chao in Mt. Ding Jun.Sun Ce of the Orochi Army later on captures Ranmaru after a duel, yet was set free due to Sun Ce feeling some comfort fighting him. From then on, Ranmaru joins Sun Wu to understand more about the Sun Family's unbreakable bonds.Sengoku Basara portrays a different appearance for Ranmaru as a young, boyish, and eager archer in his early teens who seeks recognition from Nobunaga. He is apparently the most childish in all his portrayals, seeking only candy as a reward from his master in his endings.Naoe Kanetsugu Naoe Kanetsugu was featured as a playable character in
Samurai Warriors 2 , wielding an ornate sword and paper charms, portrayed as originally serving Uesugi Kenshin at the Battles of Kawanakajima and Tedorigawa, then serving Hideyoshi and later the Western Army against Tokugawa Ieyasu, though being concerned with justice and honor primarily. He also depicted as having an extremely close friendship withMaeda Keiji ,Ishida Mitsunari andSanada Yukimura .Kanestugu also appears in
Warriors Orochi , a crossover between Samurai Warriors andDynasty Warriors , usually alongsideKenshin Uesugi .Kanetsugu will be the protagonist of the 2009
NHK Taiga drama.
=Nene=*Nene is a featured playable character within the
Samurai Warriors series and acts as an ultimate replacement of Kunoichi. Being the wife ofToyotomi Hideyoshi , Nene respectively acts as his bodyguard and supporter in the persona of a female ninja, with almost the same moves as her predecessor, Kunoichi. Contrasting this is her special skills and her strange motherly personality, in which she refers to everyone (especially to her husband's retainers) as her "children". An example of her motherly personality can be found in one of her cutscenes, where she "lectures" her defeated enemies to make them get to know one another.
*Nene is a major character in Eiji Yoshikawa's novel "Taiko ki".Nōhime Unlike her role in history, Nōhime is usually portrayed as a
femme fatale , in line with the traditional villainous portrayal of her husband, Nobunaga Oda.
*She appears as a playable character in the "Samurai Warriors " "Sengoku Basara" and "Warriors Orochi " series. She also appears in the videogames "" and "Nohime".
*A different view of Nōhime is presented in the game "Kessen III ." Under her childhood name of Kicho, she is presented as a chaste and innocent princess.
*Nōhime was portrayed by Japanese actressMiki Nakatani in the 1998 film "Oda Nobunaga", and byHaruka Ayase in the 2005 sci-fi film "Sengoku Jieitai 1549 ".Emi Wakui played Nōhime in the 2006NHK drama "Kōmyō ga tsuji".Oda Nobunaga See
Oda Nobunaga in fiction .Oichi Oichi was depicted by the actress
Tanaka Misato in the 2002NHK Taiga drama nihongo|"Toshiie to Matsu"|利家とまつ.She also made an appearance in
videogame s ,Samurai Warriors ,Warriors Orochi , andSengoku Basara 2 .Suzuki Magoichi In all of most of his fictional portrayals, he is often referred to his more common name, Saiga Magoichi.
In
Onimusha 2 Saika Magoichi is a calm musketeer trying to protect Saiga village from Nobunaga's army. He feels indebted to the women of the village because his mother died at a young age, so the women raised him. He raises doubts amongAnkokuji Ekei andYagyu Jubei (actually he was the first Jubei, grandfather of the infamous Yagyu Jubei Mitsuyoshi,Yagyu Muneyoshi ) whenTokichiro Kinoshita /Toyotomi Hideyoshi accuses him of servingNobunaga . This same Magoichi is also in Onimusha: Tactics, as well as Onimusha: Blade Warriors. He also served as a mentor toOhatsu , Oichi's/Oyu's daughter, from Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams, tutoring her in the wielding of firearms. He also appears inWarriors Orochi .Magoichi is also a playable character in the
Samurai Warriors series, wielding in both installments amusket with underbarrel bayonet. Magoichi is laid back, dressed in a trench coat,and is generally thought to be the manliest character in the series,while bearing no resemblance to either Suzuki Shigehide nor Suzuki Sadayu (in fact, he cannot be Suzuki Sadayu; Suzuki is a separate character in the sequel). He fights to protect the people he cares about most as well as for the ladies, and even makes a friendly rival out ofMaeda Keiji . He has a slight womanizing obsession. In his story path, beginning with the Battle of Ise (a fictional representation of the fall of Nagashima), and following a continuing anti-Nobunaga campaign, one ending has him becoming a wanderer after the surrender of theIshiyama Honganji (having joined their campaign against Nobunaga), whereas a second ending has him years later raidingAzuchi Castle and killing Nobunaga.In
Samurai Warriors 2 , his storyline is revised to have him be a mercenary leader originally on friendly terms with Hashiba Hideyoshi, first fighting for Nobunaga at Anegawa and then opposing him in a later stage at Osaka Bay (intended to briefly touch on the Honganji). Angered by a retaliatory attack on his village (though he is able to mitigate the damage) and temporarily breaking his friendship with Hideyoshi, he rushes over to Honnō-ji where, amidst the chaos, he shoots and killsNobunaga , and repentantAkechi Mitsuhide is the one to take the blame. Ironically enough at the end of the Battle of Yamazaki (his final stage) while standing over Mitsuhide's body he is mortally wounded by a random shot in the back fired from offscreen, and his ending has him surviving long enough to stagger into camp before collapsing and apparently dying in Hideyoshi's arms. However, inDate Masamune 's ending he is shown as surviving, though it is set years after Yamazaki.Koei , which is behind both games, In the Nobunaga's Ambition series (in particular installments XI and XII) and in Taikou Risshiden (in particular V). He also appears as an enemy general in "Kessen III ".He is also a hidden playable character in Visco Games' arcade
shoot-em-up "Vasara 2 ", and is the grandfather of the female Saiga Magoichi in the original game, "Vasara".In Warriors Orochi, Magoichi helps Zhao Yun and his army to free
Yue Ying from Orochi's forces, and later joins forces with Shu Han at the end of the stage. His personality is that of a womanizer, attempting to flirt with female characters such as Xing Cai, Yue Ying, Da Qiao, Zhu Rong, and even, Orochi's strategist, Da Ji.Sanada Masayuki *Sanada Masayuki is a major character in the 2005 movie "".
*He is also a non-playable character in the "Samurai Warriors " and "Warriors Orochi " video game series.
*He also appears as a playable unit in "Kessen ".Sanada Yukimura Sanada Yukimura has been portrayed in some form in many anime and etc. such as....
*Koei 's "Samurai Warriors " series. Similar toZhao Yun of the "Dynasty Warriors " series, Yukimura is the icon for "Samurai Warriors" and thus usually placed on the game manual/cover. Perhaps because of this, in both games so far his lifespan and prominence have been greatly extended. In the first game, he was portrayed as Takeda Shingen's second-in-command even at the Fourth Battle of Kawanakajima - which occurred 6 years before he was born historically. In the second game, the extension is more modest, but he is still portrayed as a major Takeda officer at the Battle of Nagashino, when he would have been 8. Both games feature the Summer Siege of Osaka Castle as his last and most notable battle. In the related series "Warriors Orochi " he was tricked by Orochi into thinking that Zhao Yun and the other resistance were phantoms. After losing to Zhao Yun in a fight, he realized that he was deceived, and apologizing, compensated his error by joining forces with Zhao Yun to help rescueLiu Bei .
*Akimine Kamijyo's popular anime and manga series "Samurai Deeper Kyo ".
*Capcom 's videogame "Sengoku Basara ", in which he is a playable character.Hoshi Soichiro provides Yukimura's voice in the game.
*In the popular anime and manga series "Prince of Tennis ", the captain of the near-unstoppable Rikkai Dai team is named Yukimura, while his vice-captain is named Sanada.
*Sanada Yukimura appears in his ownanime called "Sanada Juyushi Special ", directed byShimizu Keizo .
*Sanada Yukimura was portrayed by comedianTomonori Jinnai in the movie "". His Braves also made a cameo in the movie.
*In the anime series "Musashi Gundoh ", the voice of Sanada Yukimura is played bySayaka Kinoshita .
*In the manga series "Tenjho Tenge ", he appears during a flashback taking place days before the winter siege of Osaka castle.
*Sanada is one of the three playable characters in the videogame "Vasara".Sarutobi Sasuke *Sarutobi Sasuke was the main character of a 24 episode
anime seriesManga Sarutobi Sasuke , where he was portrayed as a young ninja. The anime aired from 1979-10-09 to 1980-04-29 and was dubbed in several languages, best known to English language anime fans as "Ninja, The Wonder Boy", a highly edited,highly condensed version of this series. The whole 24 episodes aired in manyEurope an andArabic countries, where it was more successful. [ [http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=2308 Anime Network's profile of Manga Sarutobi Sasuke] ]*Sarutobi Sasuke's legacy is almost omnipresent in the
anime andmanga Naruto , in which four characters are named after him: "Sasuke" Uchiha, The Third Hokage himself is also known as Sarutobi, his son, Asuma "Sarutobi", and Sarutobi Konohamaru .
*Sarutobi Sasuke is a character in theanime andmanga Samurai Deeper Kyo , in which he serves Sanada Yukimura as a part of theSanada Ten Braves , alongside Kirigakure Saizo.
*Sarutobi Sasuke appears in theCapcom gameSengoku Basara 2 , where is portrayed as a laid-back but cunning ninja.
*Sarutobi Sasuke appears in theKoei gameSamurai Warriors 2 as a purchasable bodyguard under the "Ninja" class.Sasaki Kojirō * The epic historical adventure fiction novel "Musashi", by famed Japanese author
Eiji Yoshikawa , features a separate parallel plotline and various sub-plots highlighting the exploits of Sasaki Kojirō Ganryũ. Eventually the Musashi and Kojirō plotlines intertwine, with the pair's famous duel the climax and final chapter of the novel.
* In the gameBrave Fencer Musashi , the title character's sworn rival was named after Kojirō. And in "", the main villain was named Gandrake, named after 'Ganryũ'.
* The birth and growth of Sasaki Kojirō is also featured in "Vagabond" byTakehiko Inoue , amanga dedicated to the life of Miyamoto Musashi, though in it, Sasaki Kojirō is portrayed as being deaf.
* In the Manga byMasami Kurumada ,Fuma no Kojiro (1982-1984), Sasaki Kojiro and Miyamoto Musashi are main characters. An Anime version of Fuma no Kojiro was released in 1992.
* Kojirō appears as the main spirit in themanga Kensei Tsubame (剣聖ツバメ "lit." Sword Saint Tsubame), a story about kendo practitioners who become possessed by the spirits of many famous Japanese swordsmen. The protagonist, who is possessed by Kojirō, is named Tsubame Kamoshita. His name is probably a reference to Kojirō's technique.
* In "Pokémon", the Japanese names for Jesse and James (Team Rocket ) are Musashi and Kojiro.
* In the visual novel and anime series "Fate/stay night ", the Servant Assassin introduces himself as Sasaki Kojirō and wields theNoble Phantasm "Monohoshizao," with which he performs the Tsubame-Gaeshi technique. However, it is debated whether his true identity is actually Sasaki, as he claims that he only took Kojiro's name. In Episode 18 of the anime, Saber recognizes Assassin as Kojiro. Assassin then claims Kojiro is but a fake name and that the person called Sasaki Kojirou does not exist; he is but a character with a fabricated past that has been made into a master swordsman inside people's memories.
* In the video game "Samurai Warriors 2 " byKoei , Kojiro appears as an enemy officer and an unlockable bodyguard, but not a playable character except through Nene's special ability (taking on the appearance and moveset of an officer nearby) and in the Samurai Warriors 2: Empires game. Kojiro is a playable character in Samurai Warriors 2; Xtreme Legends, with his own Story Mode, focused mainly on persuing and fight Musashi. The ending features Kojiro becoming rather upset after killing Musashi, and his Dream Mode (a sort of what if scenario) has Kojiro realising that he wants to fight alongside Musashi, rather than kill him, and they battle their way through a series of officers and challenges to reach Oda Nobunaga. The cut scenes and dialogue between Musashi and Kojiro in Xtreme Legends, has sparked discussion on their sexuality within the game, though it's never explicitly stated. His skin color is bone white (possibly as white face paint), and is depicted as an evil minded and bloodthirsty fiend who claims to give his enemies a "beautiful end". He appears in the sequel toWarriors Orochi ,Warriors Orochi 2 where he joins the Samurai faction under Sakon Shima. Ironically, Musashi also fights for the same Samurai faction.
*Tachibana Ukyo from the "Samurai Shodown" series, is based on Kojiro just asHaohmaru is based on Musashi.
* In an 80's comedy shonen anime and manga titled "Yaiba " Sasaki Kojirou was revived from his death after the final battle with Miyamoto Musashi, Yaiba's teacher. He was brought to life by Yaiba's nemesis Onimaru in an attempt to defeat Yaiba. However, after a twisted turn of event he then join Yaiba and the gang. His reputation as cool, handsome, and know his way around girls as often portrayed in many fiction about him was parodied in this series as he is shown as a complete womanizer, playboy, and even has a radar for beautiful woman. His appearance in this series was almost entirely comedic although the same would also apply to almost all of the character. The author of the manga isAoyama Gosho the same author of "Meitantei Conan " or "Case Closed " in the U.S.A.
* In "Dr. Slump ", Arale, Gatchan, and Taro used the "Time Slipper" to travel to the day of Musashi's duel with Kojiro. It states that Musashi was late for the duel over a two-day game of Rock, Paper, Scissors. Kojiro is shown waiting impatiently for Musashi, and is left waiting after Musashi goes with Arale to the future.
*Kojiro 's Tsubame Gaeshi is a technique used byShusuke Fuji inPrince of Tennis , and by Sanada Kazuki in Fighting Spirit.
* The sword Monohoshizao appears in Soul Blade, the first game of the popular Soul series fighting games. It was an extra weapon for Mitsurugi, but it was simply named "Kojiro's sword". It later became an alternate weapon forYoshimitsu in the third part:Soulcalibur II where it is described as a sword that was used by the renowned Japanese swordsman named Kojiroh Sasaki. InSoulcalibur III , it appears as an alternate weapon for the bonus character Arthur, a counterpart toMitsurugi who himself is based on Miyamoto Musashi.
*Kojiro is an unlockable character in the Ubisoft/Genki game "". Which also has Ganryu Island a selectable arena. Also the game features Miyamoto with an actual oar instead of a self modified oar-Suburito.Shibata Katsuie Katsuie Shibata is a playable general in Koei entertainment's 'Kessen III' in which he is clad in black 'Oni' armour, and looks the same facially in both Kessen III and Samurai Warriors 2, showing some continuity.
Katsuie appears as a
non-playable character in the sequel toKoei 'sSengoku Period -basedvideogame 戦国無双 2 or 'Samurai Warriors 2' as it's known in the US and Europe. It is available for the Xbox 360 and PS2 gaming consoles, as is the second part of the series 'Samurai Warriors 2:Empires', in which Katsuie is a playable character.He is available as an unlockable bodyguard through Samurai Warriors 2 'Survival' mode. He returns in the Empires expansion as a fully playable character. However, in Samurai Warriors 2 Xtreme Legends, uses a pair of hand-axes instead of a spear, making him a fully fledged unique character.
Shima Sakon Sakon is a playable character in
Samurai Warriors 2 , where he is portrayed as a former servant ofTakeda Shingen and wields a ludicrously huge falchion. He also makes vague impersonations ofElvis Presley , which are seen on his sideburns and his quotes ("Thank you. Thank you very much.", "Sakon... has left the battlefield."). He must be defeated by the Eastern Army in the Battle of Kusegawa.He also appears in
Warriors Orochi as an enemy and later ally in theWu storyline. He developed a friendship withLu Meng .He also appears in the
Kessen series.Sakon appears in
Onimusha Dawn of Dreams, where his mind is twisted and brainwashed byOphelia , one of theGenma Triumvirate . Tenkai Nankobo uses his purification skills to free Sakon of the evil mind altering.A
manga series loosely based on Sakon's life illustrated byTetsuo Hara was produced titled "Sakon". He survives Sekigahara and is ordered by his lord to disrupt a plot set byTokugawa Ieyasu 's kagemusha.In the infamous
manga Tenjho Tenge authored byOh! Great , a character is named after him, Sakon Shima.Shimazu Yoshihiro Yoshihiro has appeared in several video games.
*He appears in the Koei game "Kessen ".
*He also appears in Capcom's "Sengoku Basara ", where he wields a giant sword. In the game's sequel, "Sengoku Basara 2 ", he is determined to duel Honda Tadakatsu to determine who is stronger.
*Yoshihiro is present in Koei's "Samurai Warriors 2 ". While still portrayed as an old man, he wields a giant mallet and has a rivalry with Tachibana Ginchiyo (heiress to the Tachibana of Kyushu), while the surprise attack before Sekigahara is proposed by Toyohisa (and rejected by Mitsunari for honor's sake) at the opening of the Sekigahara stage. He also appears in the spin-off series "Warriors Orochi " as a starter character forShu Han , along sideZhao Yun andXing Cai . He assists Xing Cai and the mysticZuo Ci in freeing Zhao Yun from Orochi's prison.Tachibana Ginchiyo Ginchiyo appears in
Koei 'sSamurai Warriors series of fighting actionvideo games . She is a popular character despite her debut and only appearance inSamurai Warriors 2 , "Samurai Warriors 2 Empires " and "" (without countingWarriors Orochi ). In the game, she has a rivalry withShimazu Yoshihiro , the daimyo of Satsuma. In Xtreme Legends, she becomes an ally of "Chōsokabe Motochika " alongside "Shimazu Yoshihiro ". Her attacks are centered around lightning; one of her special abilities is to summon a lightning storm, or augment her sword with a lightning attributeGinchiyo also appears in
Koei 'sKessen III as a hidden character, voiced byNaomi Shindou .She also appears in
Warriors Orochi . She is seen by Zhao Yun, Xing Cai, and Yoshihiro Shimazu, escaping Ueda Castle, at the same time Cai and Shimazu are freeing Zhao Yun. She escapes with them, and joins Zhao Yun's Shu Han forces.Takeda Shingen The 1988
NHK Taiga drama television series "Takeda Shingen" was a fictionalized account of his life withKiichi Nakai in the title role. His life is also dramatized in NHK's 46th Taiga drama "Fūrin Kazan".Akira Kurosawa 's 1980 film "Kagemusha " was also inspired by his life; it brought the musket-wound theory to public attention outside Japan. Takeda Shingen appears inToshiro Mifune 's historical filmSamurai Banners (風林火山 "Furin Kazan").
*He also appears in the epic film "Heaven and Earth". The film's title is a reference to Takeda Shingen's famous quote, "In heaven and earth, I alone am to be revered".
*In the science-fiction film "Sengoku Jieitai", in English also known as "Time Slip" and "G.I. Samurai" (1979), a group of Japanese Defense Force soldiers take on his forces.
*InWarriors Orochi , he arrives to meet Nobunaga Oda atHonnoji , but ends up helping Oda,Huang Zhong , andXiahou Dun fend off Da Ji's forces. He forms an alliance with his nemesis,Kenshin Uesugi . In the main story, Uesugi and Takeda fall atNagashino , while Nobunaga's forces are atGuan Du . In the Gaiden stage, aid is sent by Nobunaga to Nagashino, in the form of Huang Zhong and Guan Ping. Takeda and Uesugi join with Nobunaga in theWu Zhang Plains to defeat Orochi's forces.
*Takeda Shingen is the main character in the NES game "Shingen the Ruler ", and his conquests are also portrayed in the PC game, "Takeda". Shingen also appears as a character in the "Samurai Warriors " and inNobunaga's Ambition (信長の野望 Nobunaga no Yabo) game series, as well asSengoku Basara Takenaka Shigeharu *Shigeharu is often likened to
Zhuge Liang of "Romance of Three Kingdoms ". This is mostly due to a romanticized tale of Hideyoshi needing to visit Shigeharu many times before gaining his services, much similar toLiu Bei 's three visits toZhuge Liang . [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhuge_Liang]
*Shigeharu (as Hanbei) is featured in the game "Sengoku Basara 2" byCapcom . Voice actorAkira Ishida voices him. [ [http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=443 Akira ISHIDA - Anime News Network ] ] He wields a whipsword, much like Ivy from the Soul series.Tokugawa Ieyasu Within the video game series
Samurai Warriors , Ieyasu is depicted as a man that values patience and the welfare of his subordinates above all else. Equipped with the kabuto that he was historically valued for, Ieyasu also wields a romanticized spear that has the ability to shoot flames and cannonballs from its center.
*TheAkira Kurosawa film "Kagemusha " tells a fictionalized account of the events leading up to theBattle of Nagashino . The novel "Kagemusha Tokugawa Ieyasu " was written byKeichiro Ryu between 1986 and 1988, and tells the fictional story of the Ieyasu's double who changes places into assassination Ieyasu ahead of theBattle of Sekigahara . The novel was adapted to manga byTetsuo Hara in 1994. Another novel, "The Kouga Ninja Scrolls " and its adaptations, "" and "Basilisk (manga) ," are fictional stories in which Ieyasu is central to the storylines. Ieyasu appears as the leader of the Japanese people in Sid Meier'sturn-based strategy game "Civilization IV ", and a recurring character in the manga series "Samurai Deeper Kyo ". He is in the video game series "Samurai Warriors .Tokugawa Ieyasu is depicted as one of the only six survivors of the destruction of the colony ship "Mesopotamia" in the anime series "Saber Marionette J ". He and the other five survivors (all male) land on the planet that becomes known as Terra II, and each man founds a new city-state reflective of his respective heritage. Each city-state is populated by clones of the founder; the Ieyasu that appears at the start of the series is the 15th cloned incarnation of the original.He is also featured as a non-playable character inSengoku Basara He appears as a man of short stature but has command of a very powerful general.In Warriors Orochi, he is a starter character, for Wu, along sideSun Ce andHanzo Hattori . He is forced to fight for Orochi with Ce, and revolts against Orochi with Ce.The history of his rise to power is fictionalized inJames Clavell 's novel "Shogun" under the name "Toranaga," and in the television show (seeShogun (miniseries) ) based on it.Toyotomi Hideyoshi *
Eiji Yoshikawa 's novel "Taiko ki" (English title: "Taiko: An Epic Novel of War and Glory in Feudal Japan") is about the life of Toyotomi.
* Hideyoshi appears in the "Samurai Warriors " and "Warriors Orochi " game series.
* He is a playable character in the gameSengoku Basara 2 .
* He is also the center of Koei'sTaikou Risshiden series of games, which focus primarily on Hideyoshi's rise to prominence.
* In the PC game "Age of Empires II: The Conquerors Expansion", in the "Kyoto" scenario, the player, as Toyotomi Hideyoshi, must rescue "Lord Nobunaga" from Kyoto.
* He is one of the principal villains in the first three "Onimusha" games and becomes the main villain in the fourth installment, "".
* Toyotomi (or his faction) is a selectable character in the "" and "Throne of Darkness " games.
* The character Taikō Nakamura inJames Clavelle 's novel "Shogun " is a pastiche of Toyotomi.Uesugi Kenshin *Kenshin, as Kagetora, is the main character in the film "Heaven and Earth".
*Kenshin, as Nagao Kagetora is a central character in the Japanese sci-fi film "Sengoku Jietai".
*Kenshin is featured inKoei 's video game series "Samurai Warriors " and "Warriors Orochi ". He wields a seven bladed sword and prays to Bishamonten every time he starts a battle.
*He also features in Koei's "Nobunaga's Ambition " series of games. He makes another appearance in "Kessen III ", also by Koei.
*Kenshin is also featured inCapcom 's "Sengoku Basara ". In there, he is depicted as a much more feminine figure who would sometimes act rather narcissistic. He's assisted with Kasuga, a fictional Kunoichi who is apparently in love with him (She may possibly be named afterKasugayama Castle , Kenshin's primary fortress).
*The board game Shogun, features Uesugi Kenshin as one of the Daimyos to choose.
*Kenshin is portrayed by Japanese pop culture iconGackt in the Japanesetaiga drama "Fūrinkazan" (風林火山).
*In theanime "Rurouni Kenshin ", the main character is a wanderingsamurai named Kenshin, whose fighting style includes moves related to dragons in a reference to "The Dragon of Echigo." The anime character is also noted for his "godlike speed," and eventually comes into conflict with a gun-wielding entrepreneur whose surname is Takeda.
*In the SNES (Super Nintendo) game "", Uesugi Kenshin is Daimyo of the province Echigo.Yamamoto Kansuke Kansuke was the subject of the 1969 film, Fūrin kazan (called "
Samurai Banners " in English), directed by Hiroshi Inagaki, where the role of Kansuke was played by Toshiro Mifune.The 2007 NHK Taiga drama Fūrinkazan (風林火山) features Yamamoto Kansuke as the main character (played by Uchino Masaaki). It is based on the novel by Yasushi Inoue.
Kansuke also appears in the Yoshihiro Takahashi manga Kacchu no Senshi Gamu.
He is also featured as one of the generals in the strategy game .
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.