Shigure (Ninja Scroll)

nihongo|Shigure| is a fictional character and major protagonist featured in the Japanese anime series "". Shigure is known as the Light Maiden and is highly treasured by her fellow people.

Character history

tay with the villagers

At the first part of "Ninja Scroll", Shigure would be seen at a rather small village stationed atop a miscellaneous mountain. Day and night Shigure and her people enjoy peace, but she constantly enforces swordsmanship training as to ensure safety if ever attacked. Within this village, she is known as "Mistress Shigure" due to her rank. Shigure is first shown gazing at the sky, in which she envies the freedom a bird possesses while flying softly amongst the sky. After Jubei is caught by Shigure in an arrow trap for trespassing, a small bird is hurt by this trap and is soon freed by Shigure out of mercy.

Attack of the Kimon Clan

After the sun had set in the evening, there had been the sudden arrival of a large iron beast. To the surprise of Shigure, all of the villagers who she believes to be inept all threw off their average clothes and appeared in the uniform of a shinobi. Many upon many of Shigure's fellow villagers are all killed by this large monster, installing fear and despair into the heart of Shigure. After the whole village is set aflame and corpses lie commonly amongst the soil, Shigure is personally saved by a mysterious man with a mask who called her by the name of "Light Maiden". This mysterious man was going to hand Shigure the sacred Dragon Stone, but was not allowed to due to the sudden arrival of an enemy. Thus, Shigure is forced to flee from the chaos by running through a nearby forest for safety. With tears in her eyes, she experiences true distress and confusion.

Meeting of the mountain thief - Tsubate, and the priest - Dakuan

During Shigure's flight, night soon turns to day and she happens to run into a mountain thief by the name of Tsubate. Shortly following this, Shigure would also run into Dakuan, who is a priest. While at a current state of confusion, Shigure soon realizes what one of her fellow villagers had told her: "If trouble presents itself, go to Yagyu village." Thus, Shigure will travel with her two companions to Yagyu village. After Shigure is also attacked by the iron beast that slaughtered her whole village, a ruse is soon formed which ends with the destruction of this foul beast.

Notes and references

* "Ninja Scroll" anime episodes 1 and 2