#Hōjō Ujimasa

[yeonchi]

Warriors Orochi: The Recollective Redux Part 6.1: Orochi Story A

The Orochi story was extended to have the Orochi Army subjugate all factions. This story begins after Da Ji frees Orochi from his prison on the Wuhang Mountains (scenario can be played in Dream Mode).

Initial characters: Orochi, Da Ji, Dong Zhuo

Chapter 1: Battle of Odawara Castle 小田原城の戦い (uses SW2 west map)

Orochi Army vs. Hōjō-Toyotomi Army Allied characters: Orochi, Da Ji Enemy characters: Hideyoshi Toyotomi, Ujimasa Hōjō, Nene, Keiji Maeda, Kotarō Fūma, Hanbei Takenaka, Kanbei Kuroda, Masanori Fukushima, Kiyomasa Katō, Ujiyasu Hōjō, Kai, Lady Hayakawa, Yoshimoto Imagawa

Unlocked characters: Keiji Maeda, Kotarō Fūma

After being broken out from the mystic realm by Da Ji, Orochi used his demonic powers to warp time and space, creating a world where they would fight the bravest warriors of China and Japan. Dong Zhuo encounters them and decides to join them, seeing that they can help him create his world of paradise.

Hanbei Takenaka replaces Teruzumi Akashi in this stage.

Masanori Fukushima and Kiyomasa Katō appear inside Odawara Castle alongside Nene’s ninja unit when the Orochi Army enters the castle.

After Ujimasa and Hideyoshi are defeated, Ujiyasu Hōjō, Kai, Lady Hayakawa and Yoshimoto Imagawa will appear in the central garrison at Mt Ishigaki and charge the main camp. Defeat Ujiyasu and Yoshimoto to win the battle.

Chapter 2: Battle of Xiapi Castle 下邳城の戦い (uses DW8XL map)

Orochi Army and Himiko Troop vs. Lu Bu Coalition Allied characters: Da Ji, Dong Zhuo, Diamondback Third-party characters: Himiko Enemy characters: Lu Bu, Diaochan, Chen Gong, Lu Lingqi, Zhang Yan, Yuan Shu, Gongsun Zan, Jia Xu, Tao Qian, Liu Yao, Zhang Xiu

Unlocked characters: Lu Bu, Diaochan, Chen Gong, Lu Lingqi, Jia Xu, Himiko

Upon discovering that all the lands were taken in the chaos caused by Orochi, numerous regional lords of China banded under Lu Bu at Xiapi Castle. They knew that it would be worthless fighting Orochi themselves, so they hoped that Lu Bu would be able to protect them.

Da Ji and Dong Zhuo arrive at the northwest of the battlefield. One of Da Ji’s soldiers spots a girl with mystical powers trapped in the southwestern garrison while Dong Zhuo’s soldiers find a floodgate to the northeast, which they can use to decimate Lu Bu’s forces.

Da Ji and Dong Zhuo set about their tasks. Da Ji heads to the southwestern garrison is isolated by Zhang Lu sealing the gates to the garrison. Zhang Lu knew that Da Ji was a sorcerer and he used the girl as bait due to her magical powers. Because Zhang Lu neutralised the girl’s powers, she has been weakened, unable to use her powers to save herself. Zhang Lu sends in phantom soldiers and sorcerers to attack Da Ji and the girl, who introduces herself as Himiko. Assist Da Ji by opening the gates into the garrison (if outside) and defeating the sorcerers which will make the phantom soldiers disappear. Zhang Lu will appear with his own troops to attack Da Ji. Defeat him to recover Himiko’s powers.

Dong Zhuo heads east and heads past the north side of the castle to the floodgates. Chen Gong would know that Dong Zhuo would head for the floodgates, so ambush units led by Yuan Shu and Gongsun Zan will attack him. Defeat the ambush units to open the floodgates and flood Xiapi Castle.

With the castle flooded, Dong Zhuo will send out bridgelayers and siege ramps to allow the Orochi Army to enter the castle. Da Ji suggests to Dong Zhuo that they set parts of the castle (the armory and supply depot) on fire. Himiko teleports into Xiapi Castle and engages Lu Bu’s forces while Dong Zhuo’s officers head to execute the fire attacks.

Regardless of whether the fire attacks are successful or not, Jia Xu will arrive with Tao Qian, Liu Yao and Zhang Xiu from the south and east. Lu Bu and his officers will be captured upon their defeat. Defeat Lu Bu and Jia Xu to win the battle.

Lu Bu is angered at the prospect of being captured by Dong Zhuo, to which Dong Zhuo says that he won’t kill him if he joins the Orochi Army. Da Ji also mentions that her lord Orochi is looking for worthy opponents from all over the land to fight; since Lu Bu is also interested in fighting worthy opponents, he decides to join them. Jia Xu decides to surrender to the Orochi Army while Himiko joins Da Ji as her personal companion.

Chapter 3: Battle of Chengdu 成都の戦い

Orochi Army vs. Shu Army Allied characters: Orochi, Kotarō Fūma Enemy characters: Liu Bei, Zhao Yun, Zhuge Liang, Yueying, Guan Xing, Zhang Bao, Fa Zheng, Guan Suo, Bao Sanniang, Meng Huo, Zhurong

Unlocked characters: Zhuge Liang, Guan Xing, Guan Suo, Fa Zheng

The Orochi Army’s next conquest was the land of Shu, specifically the city of Chengdu, remarked by their scouts as empty and insignificant.

With this game adapting characters from Dynasty Warriors 8 and Samurai Warriors 4, some generic officers are upgraded to playable characters where appropriate.

Bao Sanniang appears alongside Guan Suo just outside the western gate of Luo Castle. Fa Zheng appears at the north gate of Chengdu Castle, staying behind when Liu Bei escapes with Zhao Yun and Yang Yi. Yueying appears with Zhuge Liang in the inner sanctum of the castle.

Unlike the original version, the north gate of Chengdu Castle will be closed and will not open until all enemy officers inside are defeated. The central gate will remain locked, as with the northern gate of Luo Castle.

Liu Bei is captured and Zhuge Liang, along with a number of Shu officers, are forced to serve Orochi. Zhuge Liang mentions that there are other officers who will surely come to rescue Liu Bei and that this will provide great opportunities to neutralise them.

Chapter 4: Battle of Mt. Shigi Castle 信貴山城の戦い (uses SW4 map)

Orochi Army vs. Miyoshi Coalition Allied characters: Orochi, Lu Bu, Chen Gong, Jia Xu Enemy characters: Hisahide Matsunaga, Munenori Yagyū, Goemon Ishikawa, Nagayasu Miyoshi, Masayasu Miyoshi, Tomomichi Iwanari, Yoshikata Rokkaku, Masamoto Kodera

Unlocked characters: Hisahide Matsunaga, Munenori Yagyū

Orochi’s army arrive in Kii Province, under the hands of Hisahide Matsunaga and the Miyoshi. The Rokkaku and Kodera clans also gather in the area to stop Orochi.

Starting in the southwest, Chen Gong and Jia Xu work together to claim Mt. Shigi Castle. After an initial attack from the west, an explosion caused by Goemon Ishikawa blocks their path to the castle. After breaking through the Rokkaku troops in the centre, Hisahide sets the area on fire. Jia Xu and Chen Gong find the troops who are responsible for the fire and capture them to set another fire attack to the northeast of the battlefield. Chen Gong sets the fire while Jia Xu clears the western path to the northern garrison to allow access.

Entering Mt. Shigi Castle, Munenori Yagyū will defend the entrance to the keep. Upon defeating him and entering the keep, Hisahide sets off the explosives contained in the teapots set around the walls of the castle, causing another fire. Despite this, Hisahide Matsunaga is defeated.

Goemon Ishikawa escapes the battlefield while Hisahide and Munenori surrender to Orochi.

Chapter 5: Battle of Kawanakajima 川中島の戦い

Orochi Army vs. Takeda-Uesugi Army Allied characters: Orochi, Dong Zhuo, Keiji Maeda Enemy characters: Shingen Takeda, Kenshin Uesugi, Yukimura Sanada, Nobuyuki Sanada, Kanetsugu Naoe, Kagekatsu Uesugi, Aya, Kunoichi

Knowing of the threat posed by the Orochi Army, Shinken Takeda and Kenshin Uesugi form an alliance and set their camps at Kawanakajima. The Orochi Army are split into two groups, with Dong Zhuo and the main army in the northeast (at Mt Saijō) and Keiji Maeda in the southeast.

Aya will be with Kenshin in the northwestern garrison (Kaizu Castle). Kagekatsu is with Kanetsugu in the western garrison; his original place in the north of the battlefield is replaced by a generic officer.

Nobuyuki Sanada replaces Nobutsuna next to Yukimura in the southeast. Kunoichi appears with the Takeda ambush units upon entering the Stone Sentinel Maze.

Chapter 6: Battle of Jiange 剣閣の戦い (uses DW8 Hanzhong map)

Orochi Army and Kiyomori Troop vs. Shu Army Allied characters: Da Ji, Himiko, Dodomeki, Diaochan, Lu Lingqi, Zhuge Liang, Guan Xing, Fa Zheng Third-party characters: Kiyomori Taira Enemy characters: Liu Shan, Jiang Wei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Wei Yan, Pang Tong, Xu Shu, Guan Ping, Xingcai, Ma Dai, Guan Yinping, Ma Chao, Huang Zhong, Liu Biao, Liu Zhang

Unlocked characters: Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Liu Shan, Kiyomori Taira

Just as Zhuge Liang predicted before, the remaining Shu officers are forming a stand against Orochi in Jiange. Liu Shan and Jiang Wei are at the northeast with the more veteran officers while the younger officers are stationed at their main camp beneath the mountaintop (where Mt. Dingjun is in DW8). Da Ji and Zhuge Liang set up camp in the southwestern garrison within the forest caves. Receiving report that the Orochi Army have set up camp, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei charge towards the Shu camp to attack Zhuge Liang and Da Ji, hoping to have their brother Liu Bei freed from capture. They are defeated and they retreat soon after.

Upon reaching the southern garrison, Orochi Army scouts have found a mysterious grave on the mountaintop (Mt. Tiandang in DW8). At the same time, Pang Tong and Xu Shu begin their plan by sending wave after wave of officers to attack the Orochi Army. Zhuge Liang implements stage one of his plan by having Diaochan and Lu Lingqi lure the enemy frontline to the centre and setting a fire attack, lowering the Shu forces’ morale. Pang Tong and Xu Shu fall back to work out what Zhuge Liang could be planning next.

Zhuge Liang prepares the second part of the plan in preparation of a pincer attack on Liu Shan and Jiang Wei. He sends Himiko, Diaochan and Lu Lingqi to wait in the east while he goes with Da Ji and Guan Xing to the mountaintop. Dodomeki will defend the southern garrison in their absence. Jiang Wei predicted Zhuge Liang’s plan and he sends out units to counterattack.

Pang Tong reappears on the mountain with reinforcements from the Nanman (not Meng Huo however). Xu Shu also reappears to the east, suspecting that Zhuge Liang is trying to ambush their main camp. He attacks Diaochan and Lu Lingqi, but Xu Shu is defeated and he retreats for a second time. Back to the west, Da Ji, Zhuge Liang and the others defeat Wei Yan and Xingcai on their way to the summit. Wei Yan and Xingcai retreat to the northeast and the main camp respectively. Xingcai warns Guan Ping and the others at the camp to strengthen their defences for Zhuge Liang’s assault. Zhuge Liang defeats Pang Tong and the Nanman reinforcements, claiming the mountaintop for the Orochi Army. Pang Tong retreats again.

On the mountaintop, Da Ji discovers the grave of Kiyomori Taira, who was said to have died somewhere else in a duel (against Yoshitsune Minamoto). Magically digging up his body, Da Ji wonders what it would be like if Kiyomori could rampage against the Shu Army. Da Ji and Himiko resurrect Kiyomori into a half-human, half-demon after Kiyomori agrees to sell his soul to the Orochi Army.

Once Kiyomori is resurrected, he charges down into the Shu main camp and unleashes his newfound demonic power against the young Shu officers. Zhuge Liang, Da Ji and the others follow Kiyomori into the battlefield. The entire Shu Army goes into a panic, with masses of Shu soldiers fleeing the battlefield. Jiang Wei gathers the rest of the Shu Army and charges towards their main camp.

Himiko, Diaochan and Lu Lingqi set fire to the Shu main camp and ambush it. Guan Yu and Zhang Fei reappear again to tell Liu Shan to escape. Pang Tong and Xu Shu assist him, taking a break mid-way.

Back on Mt. Dingjun, the Orochi Army with the help of Kiyomori eliminate the majority of the Shu Army, with many officers captured. Zhuge Liang heads to where Guan Yu and Zhang Fei are fighting and announces to them that their children have been captured and will be spared, along with Liu Bei, if they immediately surrender.

Following Guan Yu and Zhang Fei’s surrender, Jiang Wei joins Liu Shan and the others in his escape. Zhuge Liang chases them to the escape point (east of the southern garrison) and after being intercepted by Orochi Army officers, Liu Shan and the others put up a fight before Liu Shan is captured.

In the aftermath, Ma Chao, Huang Zhong, Guan Ping, Xingcai, Ma Dai, Wei Yan, Guan Yinping, Jiang Wei, Pang Tong and Xu Shu have evaded capture. Guan Yu, Zhang Fei and Liu Shan are forced to work in Orochi’s army.

Chapter 7: Battle of Shangyong 上庸の戦い (uses DW8XL map)

Orochi Army and Sun Wukong Troop vs. Jin Army Allied characters: Kiyomori Taira, Dong Zhuo, Lu Bu, Gyūki, Chen Gong, Jia Xu Third-party characters: Sun Wukong Enemy characters: Sima Yi, Sima Shi, Sima Zhao, Deng Ai, Zhong Hui, Wang Yuanji, Zhuge Dan, Xiahou Ba, Guo Huai, Jia Chong, Wen Yang, Zhang Chunhua

Unlocked characters: Sun Wukong, Sima Yi, Sima Shi, Sima Zhao, Wang Yuanji, Zhang Chunhua

With the surrender of the entire Shu Army to the Orochi Army, the entire land was determined to fight, but were scared to because of the Orochi Army’s immense power. Knowing of the danger the Orochi Army would pose against Wei, Sima Yi decided to engage them by gathering his army in Shangyong. In response, Dong Zhuo and Lu Bu set to the battlefield with Kiyomori Taira.

Starting from the northeast, the Orochi Army are ordered to occupy Shangyong Castle. On the way, Kiyomori spots a mysterious boulder (at the northmost part of the battlefield) where Sun Wukong is squashed under it, having been put there by the Mystics for failing to prevent Orochi’s release. Kiyomori offers him freedom in exchange for servitude under his wing; Wukong accepts and Kiyomori frees him as they continue to Shangyong Castle.

After defeating Xiahou Ba and Guo Huai, Shangyong Castle is set on fire and ambush units attack from the path leading to the northwest. Once the ambush units are defeated, Kiyomori will send sorcerers through the northwest path to unleash poison gas on Sima Zhao’s camp while Chen Gong and Jia Xu hold the Jin Army back. Defend the sorcerers as they head to the strategic point, then once the poison gas is unleashed, defeat Sima Zhao and his army.

Sun Wukong will then summon clones of himself in Sima Yi and Sima Shi’s camps, forcing them to advance their armies to Shangyong Castle, with Xiahou Ba and Guo Huai reappearing as well. Defeat Sima Yi and Sima Shi to win the battle.

In the aftermath, Sima Yi happily surrenders to the Orochi Army, claiming that his intellect can surpass anyone else’s in the land. Sima Shi happily follows his father while Sima Zhao is uneasy about his father’s decision, a foreshadowing for the Jin stories.

Chapter 8: Battle of Hefei 合肥の戦い

Orochi Army vs. Wu Army Allied characters: Zhuge Liang, Guan Suo, Fa Zheng Enemy characters: Sun Jian, Zhou Yu, Ling Tong, Zhang Liao, Gan Ning, Guo Jia, Yue Jin, Li Dian, Yu Jin, Lu Su, Sun Ce, Daqiao, Han Dang

Unlocked characters: Sun Ce, Daqiao, Han Dang

Da Ji decided to have Zhuge Liang lead a mobile unit to quash the human resistance, which he agreed to and set off for Hefei to confront the Wu Army.

Li Dian and Yu Jin will appear with Zhang Liao and Gan Ning’s ambush unit.

Ding Feng and Lu Su are replaced by other generic officers.

[nexu101]

The Mute Mercenary, Fuuma Kotarou

[samurailoveballadhistory]

@7-oh-ta1 submitted to samurailoveballadhistory:

I actually didn't know Hōjō Ujiyasu was in this game until recently I guess I'm kind of an airhead-- 🏃‍♀️💨 And I was wondering if you knew what routes he appears in, and if his role has any similarities to history? I noticed he's a very small kid, here 🤔

If I remember it right, he does not actually show up in Main Stories. I think I only ever saw him in events. Granted I'm a bit fuzzy on the Shadow (Ninja) routes, so I might be mistaken.

His role is more or less similar to how it is in history, but very likely overlapping with his son Ujimasa. In one of the older events, they actually said “Ujiyasu has died”, but retconned/completely ignored it in later events.  

[ayanos-pl]

The parade of Odawara Hojo 5s Festival 小田原北條五代祭りパレード

[nebris]

17th-century Samurai Yamamoto Tsunetomo of the Saga Domain put forth his famous axiom – “the way of the Samurai can be found in death”, thereby exemplifying the perceived nature of honor and duty in the erstwhile Japanese society. To provide a few examples, actions like failing one’s lord, bringing oneself into disrepute, or even allowing oneself to be taken prisoner by rival clans, were seen as fates worse than death. In that regard, the bushido made the case for seppuku (also called hara-kiri in English), a form of ritual suicide, that was basically seen as the means to ‘preserve’ one’s honor even after his/her revealed failing (on the line of duty).

Steering clear of the gruesome details of the spectacular forms of seppuku, the affair was usually a very painful one with traditional cuts being made in a horizontal manner below the navel (sometimes followed by a vertical upward cut from the very same area). In most occasions, a second retainer waited behind to decapitate the person for a merciful quick death, but such time-consuming ‘ceremonies’ were not available to the warriors after defeats in battles. Samurai women also performed their own version of seppuku known as the ojigi that entailed the thrusting of dirks directly into their throats. But even more grim (at least to our modern-day sensibility) was the practice of junshi, wherein the clan retainers and followers of the deceased lord voluntarily committed suicide to reinforce/showcase their ties of loyalty.

One particular example relates to an incident in circa 1651 AD, when thirteen Rōjū (Elder Counselors) of Shōgun Tokugawa Iemitsu committed seppuku after his death, thereby creating a political vacuum in the administration. Suffice it to say, such actions didn’t bode well for the functioning of the feudal governments and the power of the heir lords, primarily because of the loss of their influential retainers. In fact, there have been statutes put forth by Shoguns themselves (like that of Tokugawa Ieyasu) that strictly forbade the practice of junshi, thereby somewhat limiting the overtly ardent (and often fatalistic) tendencies of some Samurai. We should also note that seppuku was sometimes prescribed as a form of ‘hidden’ punishment for the defeated generals by their victors – as was the case when Hideyoshi forced daimyo Hōjō Ujimasa to commit suicide after the Siege of Odawara in circa 1590 AD.

[jibuyo]

Takeda Shingen’s daughters

Ōbai-in (黄梅院) - 1543 - 1569; real name unknown mother: Sanjō no kata

In 1553 during the process of forming the Imagawa-Takeda-Hōjō alliance, it was decided she is going to be married to the eldest son of Hōjō Ujiyasu, Ujimasa. The following year she moved to Odawara. She was 12 years old. 

A year later she gave a birth to Ujimasa’s son, but he died prematurely. Next year she bore him a daughter. In 1562, she gave birth to Ujimasa’s her Ujinao and in following years to his other sons. It is thought that their husband-wife relationship was good (because the number of children is a proof apparently). 

However in 1568 when Shingen invaded Suruga, the alliance was broken. Ujiyasu was furious and sent Ōbai-in back to Shingen. She became a nun and died following year at a young age. She was 26.

When Takeda and Hōjō became allies again in 1571, Ujimasa built a Ōbai-in in a Hōjō clan’s Sōun temple and put some of her ashes in there.

Kenshō-in (見性院) - ? - 1622; real name unknown mother: Sanjō no kata

In 1558, she was married to a son of Shingen’s sister, Anayama Nobutada. In 1572, she gave birth to his son, Katsuchiyo, who later became known as Takeda Nobuharu.

Nobutada betrayed the Takeda, surrendered to the Tokugawa and fought against Katsuyori. During the Honnōji incident, he was together with Ieyasu in Kyoto, but both of them were returning separated ways and Anayama Nobutada was killed. Katsuchiyo became the head of the family, but he also died early in 1587 because of illness. The Anayama family was inherited by 

Kenshō-in continued living with the Tokugawa and later she was given a residence in Kita no maru in Edo castle. She raised an illegitimate son of Tokugawa Hidetada and his lover Shizu, Yukimatsu, later known as Hoshina Masayuki. 

Shinryū-in (真竜院、眞龍院) - 1550 - 1647; real name unknown, popularly known as Marihime (真理姫) mother: either Sanjō no kata or Lady Aburakawa

In 1555, when Kiso Yoshiyasu surrendered to Shingen, Shingen gave his daughter to his son Yoshimasa, because the Kiso clan protected important bases of his territory. In 1577, she gave Yoshimasa an heir, future Kiso Yoshitoshi.

But when Oda Nobunaga started his elimination of Takeda clan in 1582, Yoshimasa separated from Takeda Katsuyori and joined Nobunaga. Because of that, the Takeda forces executed some of their children in Sunpu castle that were there as hostages. Mari separated from her husband and lived together with he third son in seclusion.

Yoshimasa was transfered to Shimosa province and her son Yoshitoshi was reproved from killing his uncle and lost his rank. It’s said he went to live with his mother after that.

There’s a letter left that Mari wrote where she’s pitying the state of the clan she once married into.

She died at the age of 97.

Taigi-in (大儀院) - 1558 (1563?) - 1604; real name Kiku mother: Lady Aburakawa

In 1578/1579 her brother Takeda Katsuyori made an alliance with Uesugi Kagaketsu who was in the middle of a succession conflict with Uesugi Kagetora. As a symbol of this alliance, Kiku was married to Uesugi Kagekatsu in 1579. After the marriage she was called Kōshū-fujin (Kōshū = different name for Kai province) or Kai-goryōnin by the Uesugi retainers and was loved and respected by them as a woman blessed by beauty and intelligence that encouraged frugality. 

Thanks to her influence, Takeda Nobukiyo was allowed to come and serve the Uesugi clan, after the Takeda clan was destroyed and starting from the second generation, the Takeda clan was treated with politeness by the Uesugi.

In 1589, Hideyoshi ordered all daimyō to send a hostage to Kamigata, so Kiku together with Kagekatsu and his men paid homage to Hideyoshi. Since then, she lived in the Uesugi mansion in Kyoto. She was exchanging gifts and correspondence with women from noble families. According to a “History of Myōshinji temple”, she was devoutly mourning her brother Katsuyori there. 

In 1595 she moved into Uesugi’s residence in Fushimi where she was joined by Osen, Naoe Kanetsugu’s wife. 

In the Winter of 1603, she fell ill and died next year in Fushimi. She never went back to Echigo, never visited Aizu nor Yonezawa. It is said that Kagekatsu and the Uesugi retainers felt very sad upon hearing about her death. She never had children.

Shinshōni (信松尼) 1561 - 1616; real name Matsu  mother: Lady Aburakawa

Matsuhime is famous for being engaged to Oda Nobutada, Nobunaga’s heir. After Katsuyori’s wife, Nobunaga’s adopted daughter died, to continue the alliance a marriage was agreed upon between Matsu (6yo) and Nobutada (10yo).

The alliance was however broken in 1572 and so was their engagement, but neither of the two forget about the other. It’s said they fell in love through exchanging letters.

After Shingen’s death, Matsu went to live with her brother Nishina Morinobu (Shingen’s 5th son) in Takatō castle. In 1582 when Oda forces were attacking, she first escaped to Sunpu castle and then to Hachiōji castle. After the Takeda was destroyed, Matsu got an invitation from Oda Nobutada and they were finally scheduled to meet, however Honnōji happened and Nobutada died.

Matsu became a nun a prayed for Nobutada and Takeda clan’s souls. In 1590, she moved close to the Hachiōji castle. It’s said she was teaching kids how to read and write in a school connected to the temple, growing silkworm, and making textile to get some sort of income.

Together with her sister Kenshō-in, she helped with raising Hidetada Tokugawa’s son, Hoshina Masayuki.

She became a heart and support of many former Takeda vassals that were concentrated around Hachiōji castle.

It’s mainly for my own reference. There could be misunderstandings.

[chanoyu-to-wa]

Rikyū Chanoyu Sho, Book 4 (Part 9):  Measurements of the Utensils that are Used in the Sukiya (5).

28) The bamboo hook on which the hishaku is hung is 1-sun 1-bu [long]¹.  The warpage is 7-bu².

29) The measurements of the hana-tsutsu [花筒]³:

◦ overall height of the tsutsu⁴:  9-sun 8-bu [九寸八ぶ];

◦ height of the lower part [from the bottom to the bottom of the opening]⁵:  6-sun 8-bu [六寸八ぶ];

◦ the size of the cut-out [“window”]⁶:  2-sun 2-bu [弐寸弐分];

◦ the upper ring⁷:  8-bu and a half [八ふ半];

◦ the breadth of the back side of the cut-out⁸:  2-sun 5-bu [弐寸五ふ];

◦ the space above the hole by which [the ichi-jū-giri] is suspended⁹:  8-bu [八ふ];

◦ the length [of the hole]¹⁰:  7-bu [七ふ];

◦ the width [of the hole]¹¹:  5-bu [五ふ] (the hole must be gouged out in a rounded shape)¹².

◎ With respect to the previous, saw-marks should not be [visible on any of the cut surfaces]¹³.

30) The measurements of the geta [げた]¹⁴:

◦ thickness [of the wooden sole]:  1-sun 2 and a half bu [壱寸弐分半];

◦ length:  7-sun 2 and a half bu [七寸弐分半];

◦ width:  2-sun 9-bu [弐寸九ふ];

◦ hana-o no kata [はな緒ノ方]¹⁵:  2-sun 2-bu [弐寸弐ふ];

◦ ato no kata [跡ノ方]¹⁶:  2-sun 9-bu [弐寸九分].

_________________________

¹Hishaku kake no take-kugi ichi-sun ichi-bu nari [ひしやく掛の竹釘壱寸壱ぶ也].

    This entry refers to the bamboo peg* occasionally nailed into the wall on the left side of the utensil mat, on which the hishaku may be suspended†.  (The hook is also used to hang the habōki, and the chaire's shifuku, at other points in the gathering‡.)

    In the photos below, the hook is shown from below (left) and above (right).  Note that the skin of the bamboo is left on the upper surface.

    The measurement issun ichi-bu [壱寸壱ぶ = 一寸一分] refers to the length of the peg that is visible outside of the wall. __________ *This kind of bamboo peg is usually sold under the name of mizuya-kugi [水屋釘] today -- since they are more commonly used in that area.  Nailing such a peg into the wall to the left of the temae-za was most usually done in the small room, and the prevalence of the ō-yose-chakai (the large, mass gatherings) as the most common venue for chanoyu today has rendered the small room almost irrelevant -- certainly in the eyes of the utensil merchants, at least.

†When hanging the hishaku on this peg, it is important that the end of the cup (which is usually damp) does not touch the wall (since the moisture might soften the mud-plaster of the wall).  Traditionally it is said that the cup should be about 3-bu away from the plaster.

    The same is also true when the habōki or chaire’s shifuku are hung on this hook (in these cases, it is so that moisture usually present in the wall during most seasons of the year will not be transferred to the paper ring of the habōki, or the himo, since this will potentially damage them; also the mud plaster could stain them).

‡The rule was that when a hook such as this is present beside the utensil mat, it should be used as much as possible over the course of the gathering, so it will never seem to be superfluous.

²Sori nana-bu nari [そり七ぶなり].  

    Sori [反り] refers to the angle of deviation from the horizontal (this is sometimes referred to as the warpage -- which is the usual English translation of the word sori).

    Here, the end of the peg farthest from the wall is elevated 7-bu [七ぶ = 七分]* above the horizontal (defined by the point where the hook enters into the wall, or roughly an angle of 18° above the horizontal.

    The sketch accurately represents the angle, as it is described in the Rikyū Chanoyu Sho.  (Modern bamboo hooks are made so that the part that comes in contact with the surface of the wall is carved at the proper angle, and so acts as a brace to help keep the hook from breaking off.) __________ *7-bu [七分] is approximately 2.1 cm, or about 0.85 inch.

³Hana-tsutsu no sunpō [花筒ノ寸法].

    Hana-tsutsu [花筒] means a tube or cylinder (in this case, fabricated from bamboo), in which flowers are held or kept alive.  This entry enumerates the measurements of a typical representative of Rikyū's ichi-ju-giri [一重切] (the very first of which, known as Onjō-ji [園城寺], is shown below).

    This information is not found in the Nambō-ate no densho, since that densho was written around 1574, while the take ichi-ju-giri was not created by Rikyū until the summer of 1590 (during Hideyoshi's siege of Odawara) -- less than one year prior to his death.

    There are two other known documents related to Rikyū's take-hanaire, but neither of which is the source for the information given here:

- the first, known as the Rikyū Tsutsu Denju no Koto [利休筒傳受之事], was purportedly written by his own hand*;

- the other is a collection of brief documents assembled (and largely written in their present form) by Katagiri Sekishū, which detail the measurements and other particulars of Rikyū's three bamboo hanaire that were made during Hideyoshi's siege of Odawara.  

    As the latter focuses on the peculiarities of these three hanaire (the details of the measurements given by Sekishū can be more accurately ascertained by looking at any good museum catalog where they have been displayed); and the details of the cracks and other imperfections, while perhaps useful in identifying them, were the result of happenstance†, general principals can not be learned from this document; and the details do not match with those recorded in the Rikyū Chanoyu Sho. __________ *This manuscript, which was included in the Sen no Rikyū Zen-shu by Suzuki Keiichi (whose scholarship verified the provenance of this document), will be translated as an appendix to this installment (since it is a little too long to be dealt with adequately in a footnote).

†When Hideyoshi announced his intention of taking Odawara to the defender, Hōjō Ujimasa [北条氏政; 1538 ~ 1590], he accompanied his letter with a calling gift of three bales of straw (suggesting that the inhabitants of the castle would eventually be reduced to gnawing on straw like horses).  Ujimasa's polite refusal was accompanied by a return gift of three lengths of bamboo (perhaps to suggest that the Hōjō would, like bamboo, bend, but never break).

    Somehow these pieces of bamboo came into Rikyū's hands; and he used them to create three hanaire that were used during a all-night flower-arranging competition that was held in Hideyoshi's presence (while he and his commanders were waiting for news from the front) -- see the photo in sub-note “*” under footnote 9, below.  These were the first of the Rikyū-style bamboo hanaire; and certain details were limited by the material that Rikyū had to use.  Subsequent bamboo hanaire probably better reflected his maturing concept; but it is difficult to know which of these were actually made by him, and which were made as copies of his pieces by other hands (and hence the reliance in the three that can be ascribed to him without doubt).

⁴Tsutsu takasa, ku-sun hachi-bu [筒高サ].

    Takasa [高さ] means the overall height.

⁵Shita no wa no take [下のわのたけ].

    Shita no wa [下の輪] means the lower ring.  This refers to the part of the ichi-ju-giri below the cut-out.

    Take [高] means the height.

    In other words, this measurement refers to the height from the bottom to the rim of the mouth of the hanaire.

⁶Hikkiri no ma [引切の間].

    Hikkiri [引切] literally means "cut and knocked off."  This is a literal description of the way the window was originally made by Rikyū:  two parallel cuts are made in the bamboo (with care being taken that they both end at exactly the same place on both sides of the piece of bamboo), and the the area between the cuts is struck with a hammer, causing it to fall away.  Then the edges of the sides of the window, between the two cuts are, are finished by scraping them with a blade.

⁷Ue no wa [上のわ].

    This refers to the ring (wa [輪]) above the window:  it is 8 and a half bu thick.

⁸Hikkiri no ato-haba [引切の後はゞ].

    This refers to the part of the bamboo left intact on the back side of the cut-out.

⁹Kugi-kake no ana no ue [釘かけの穴ノ上].

    The distance between the top of the hole* and the top of the ichi-jū-giri.

__________ *Kugi-kake no ana [釘掛の穴], the “hook-hanging hole,” refers to the hole in the back of the ichi-jū-giri through which the hook (attached to the back wall of the toko, or on the bokuseki-mado) is inserted.

    In Rikyū's mind, the ichi-jū-giri (above, left) was intended to be hung up, while the shaku-hachi-giri [尺八切] (middle) was supposed to be placed on the floor of the toko.  Meanwhile, the ni-jū-giri [二重切] (the one of the original three bamboo hanaire with two windows, shown on the right) was not really supposed to be a proper hanaire at all, but used only to keep the flowers fresh during the flower-arranging contest for which the three were made.

    Later generations of chajin have forgotten these things, and use any these hanaire however they want (even going so far as to bore a kugi-kake no ana in the back of the shaku-hachi-gire).

¹⁰Tate [たて].

    This refers to the bottom-to-top (tate [竪]) measurement of the kugi-kake no ana (the hold by means of which the ichi-jū-giri is hung up).

¹¹Yoko [よこ].

    This describes the side-to-side (yoko [横]) measurement of the kugi-kake no ana.

¹²Maruku hitsu-nari ni kuru nari [丸くひつなりニくる也].

    Hitsu-nari is an Edo period reading of the word that is usually pronounced hitsu-gata [必形] today -- meaning the “mandatory shape” of the hole (should be maruku [丸く], rounded).

    Kuru [刳る] means to carve or gouge out, and refers to the way that this opening is made.

    This statement is represented in the Rikyū Chanoyu Sho as if it were a gloss (added perhaps later, or by another hand, to the original manuscript, in order to describe the hole better).

    The “mandatory” shape of the hole actually a result of the way in which it was first made*:  first, two two small holes are bored in the bamboo (at what will be the top and bottom of the proposed kugi-kake no ana); and after being joined, the hole is then then widened on the left and right by twisting a blade back and forth (while bracing it against the other edge of the hole).  This action opens a hole of the desired ovoid shape (though in fact the width is not nearly as important as the height, so long as it is wide enough to let the hook pass through easily†). __________ *Rikyū was not a professional bamboo craftsman, and his methods were fairly rudimentary, so “mandatory” might be a case of holding him up to ridicule by the better skilled.

†In fact, the holes in Rikyū's original hanaire do not allow them to be hung from the mu-so-kugi [無雙釘 =　無双釘] (the retractable hook for the kake-hanaire that is installed in the back wall of the tokonoma), since he made them to be hung on an ordinary ore-kugi that was nailed into the wall.  Thus to blindly imitate such details of Rikyū's ichi-jū-giri can result in kake-hanaire that can not be used easily.  (And this is a serious problem, in this case, since the hanaire is supposed to be filled 70% full of water in the mizuya -- and so likely to spill if the host has to wiggle the hanaire onto the hook, as is necessary when the hole is too small.)

¹³Migi nani mo nokogiri-me nari [右何ものこぎり目なり].

    Migi [右], at the right -- this word refers to the measurements of the hana-tsutsu that were recorded previously.

    Nani mo [何も] means “nothing,” “not any.”  It is a rather inelegant construction -- the sort of thing someone might utter offhandedly, but usually not write.

    Nokogiri-me [鋸目], lines caused by sawing, refers to visible scratches that are made by the teeth of the saw.  Either an especially good saw with very fine teeth should be used (this is what bamboo craftsmen use, who prefer not to sand their cuts afterward as a sign of their skill), or the cut edges should be sanded smooth with a piece of dried horsetail (sugi-na [杉菜], Equisetum)* stalk.  If sanding is carried out, one must be especially careful not to rub the edges of the cuts (which will quickly bevel the edges). __________ *In translations, this variety of horsetail is sometimes referred to as the “scouring rush” (for which purpose it was commonly employed in antiquity)

     In Japan, sugi-na [杉菜] (Equisetum hyemale var. hyemale, or the very similar E. ramosissimum var. japonicum; both of them are sometimes referred to as E. japonicum) stalks are first boiled and then dried, and used to sand things made of wood and bamboo in place of sandpaper -- not just hanaire, but also handmade chashaku may be finished in this way  The natural silica present in the stalks smooths the cut edges of the bamboo without leaving any scratches.

    However, rubbing with sugi-na will dull the skin of the bamboo, and also bevel the cut edges, so care must be taken not to allow the dried sugi-na to rub against the glossy skin of the bamboo accidentally (this is especially important at the edges of the cuts, which should be sharp -- never beveled, even slightly).

    Equisetum prefer damp soil, and this Japanese horsetail is sometimes found in Japanese gardens (often planted at the sides of ponds).  Chajin who prefer to make their own chashaku usually grow a clump of it in an out-of-the-way place in their garden, so they will have a ready supply of sugi-na stalks to dry and use. 

    Horsetails grow from spores, like ferns, rather than seeds:  the fertile stalks have a cone-like structure called a strobilus on the upper end (as seen above), and these stalks, which appear in early spring, are known as tsukushi [土筆].   Tsukushi [つくし] is a poetic word associated with early spring in Japan.

¹⁴Geta [げた].

    Geta [下駄] are a sort of platformed, wooden-soled footwear that may be worn by the host and guests when passing through the roji* -- on the argument that the ground is usually too damp for it to be comfortable to wear the flat-soled zōri [草履]/setta [雪駄]†.

    In the Nampō Roku, Rikyū chides Nambō Sōkei for his fondness for noise‡ (because he preferred to wear geta when walking through the roji)**, and recommended that he consider changing to setta because they allow the guest to pass through the roji without disturbing the peace. __________ *Geta were originally worn during rainy weather, to elevate the feet away from puddles on the path.

†Zōri [草履] (above) are made with a coarse woven-grass sole while setta [雪駄], which look almost the same (while the ones shown below have white leather thongs, others have braided grass thongs like zōri), have a leather sole (in both cases, the sole is hidden by a covering made of woven grass or bamboo-sheath).

    However, the leather sole of the setta allows a person to wear it when walking over damp ground without wetting his feet.

    It is said that Rikyū invented the setta specifically as footwear to be worn in the roji.

‡Kashimashisa no monozuki nari [カシマシサノ物ズキナリ].  Kashimashisa [姦しさ] means an inclination toward things like boisterousness, unrulyness, rambunctiousness, clamorousness (the kanji shows three women noisily chattering -- or arguing -- together).  The statement -- these were Rikyū's words, uttered between guffaws -- means that Sōkei has a predilection for being rowdy.

**Be that as it may, wearing geta accorded with Jōō's teachings regarding the proper footwear to wear in the roji.  It must be remembered that in Jōō's day the roji was extremely small, and primarily contained the tsukubai -- the area around which was usually quite damp (since the basin is refilled several times over the course of the gathering by emptying a full bucket of water into it until it overflows freely -- thus flushing out any dust).

    Jōō was Sōkei's original teacher, and they had likely been together for many, many years.  (Sōkei -- who may have been a several years younger than Sōkei -- only approached Rikyū for instruction eighteen years after Jōō's death; therefore it is not really surprising that he brought along many deeply ingrained habits that reflect the proclivities of his former teacher.)

    It was said that the expertise of the wearer was revealed by the way in which he traversed the roji in geta -- by the sound of his footfalls on the stones that paved the path.  Since Rikyū eliminated these tobi-ishi as much as possible from his roji (keeping them only where their absence would be a hardship for the guests -- such as around the tsukubai and within the genkan leading up to the guests’ entrance where the ground is especially damp all the time -- while covering the rest of the path with turf grass), we may surmise that he preferred not to judge those present based on such trivialities, and this was at least part of the reason behind his creation of the setta.

¹⁵Hana-o no kata [はな緒ノ方].

    The hana-o [鼻緒] (“nose-cord”) is the thong under which the toes fit.  So hana-o no kata means the front part of the geta -- what we would refer to as the toe of the footwear.  Here the text is describing the thickened part of the sole beneath the toes (see the sketch below):  it extends backward 2-sun 2-bu from the toe-end of the sole.

¹⁶Ato no kata [跡ノ方].

    What we would call the heel of the geta (see the sketch, above).  It extends forward 2-sun 9-bu from the back end of the sole.

[scoobydoojedi]

Fūma Ninja clan

The Fuma Ninja was based in Kanagawa Prefecture, specializing in horseback guerrilla warfare and naval espionage. According to some sources, the family has roots in the 10th century when they served Taira no Masakado in his revolt against the Kyoto government. The use of the name started with the first leader (jonin) of the clan: originally surnamed (Fūma), with a different kanji, it was later changed to as a rank for Each subsequent leader of the school adopted the same name as its founder, making it difficult to identify them individually. This school was in the service of the Hōjō clan of Odawara.

*Prominent People*

*Fuma Kazama* (????-1603) better know as *Kotaro Fuma*. Fūma Kotarō was the fifth and the best known of the Fūma clan leaders. Born in Sagami Province (modern Kanagawa Prefecture) on an unknown date, he became notorious as the leader of a band of 200 Rappa "battle disrupters", divided into four groups: brigands, pirates, burglars and thieves. Kotarō served under Hōjō Ujimasa and Hōjō Ujinao. His biggest achievement came in 1580, when the Fūma ninja covertly infiltrated and attacked a camp of the Takeda clan forces under Takeda Katsuyori at night, succeeding in causing severe chaos in the camp, which resulted in mass fratricide among the disoriented enemies. In 1590, Toyotomi Hideyoshi laid siege to Odawara Castle, which eventually fell, and the Hōjō clan was forced to surrender.When the Tokugawa shogunate came to power, the remnants of Fūma-ryū were reduced to a band of brigands operating in and around Edo. A popular but fictional story says that in 1596, Kotarō was responsible for the death of Hattori Hanzō, a famous ninja in the service of Tokugawa Ieyasu, who had tracked him down in the Inland Sea, but Kotarō has succeeded in luring him into a small channel, where a tide trapped the Tokugawa gunboats and his men then set fire to the channel with oil. Kotarō was eventually caught by the shogunate's special law-enforcement force, guided by his rival and a former Takeda ninja Kosaka Jinnai, and executed through beheading by an order of Ieyasu in 1603.

[yeonchi]

Warriors Orochi: The Recollective Redux Part 2.2: Shu Side Stages

Some conditions in this have been made easier than in the original game, particularly with Musashi.

Chapter 2-X: Ambush at Nanzhong 南中突破戦 (uses DW5 Battle of Nanzhong map)

Coalition Army and Jiang Wei Army vs. Orochi Army Allied characters: Zhao Yun, Yoshihiro Shimazu, Toyohisa Shimazu, Ginchiyo Tachibana Third-party characters: Jiang Wei Enemy characters: Zhang He, Daqiao

Unlockable character: Jiang Wei

Clear Chapter 1 to unlock this stage.

Hearing that Zhao Yun has escaped Ueda Castle, Jiang Wei offers to join him. They meet at Nanzhong, where Jiang Wei tells Zhao Yun that the road ahead is blocked by the Orochi Army. Yoshihiro suggests luring them out and Jiang Wei decides to follow this plan. Jiang Wei retreats, leaving Zhao Yun and Yoshihiro to act as bait, luring the enemy units from the west and east.

Be careful not to attack the enemy, otherwise the ambush will fail and enemy pursuit units will arrive from Ueda Castle to reinforce the enemy. If the ambush succeeds, Jiang Wei will be unlocked. Defeat Zhang He and Daqiao to win the battle.

Chapter 3-X: Battle of Shizugatake 賤ヶ岳の戦い

Coalition Army and Hōjō Army vs. Orochi Army Allied characters: Yukimura Sanada, Nobuyuki Sanada, Wei Yan, Yueying Third-party characters: Ujimasa Hōjō, Ujinori Uesugi, Ujinao Hōjō, Norihide Matsuda, Ujiteru Hōjō Enemy characters: Pang De, Cao Ren, Jia Xu, Diamondback

Unlockable character: Pang De

Clear Chapter 3 to unlock this stage.

An uprising led by the Hōjō Army was being forcibly suppressed by the Orochi Army, led by Pang De. Seeing the struggle firsthand, Pang De was ashamed at his cowardice.

Nobuyuki Sanada replaces Teruzumi Akashi in this battle.

On the battlefield, the Hōjō Army will be in the east as enemy ambush troops attack them. Ujimasa and his troops are wavering on whether to stand their ground or surrender to Orochi.

To unlock Pang De, the player needs to rescue at least three Hōjō officers before defeating him.

Chapter 4-X: Escape from Chibi 赤壁逃亡戦

Coalition Army and Okuni Troop vs. Brigand Army Allied characters: Wei Yan, Xingcai Third-party characters: Okuni Enemy characters: Goemon Ishikawa, Kotarō Fūma, Musashi Miyamoto

Unlockable character: Goemon Ishikawa

Clear Chapter 3-X to unlock this stage.

Wei Yan’s treasure was stolen by the master thief Goemon Ishikawa. The treasure was a gift from Liu Bei and was valued by Wei Yan. Wei Yan enlists Xingcai’s help and they set off to the Huarong Pass near the cliffs of Chibi.

Shigekata Tōgō replaces Munenori Yagyū in this battle.

To unlock Goemon, destroy all ten treasure boxes before defeating him. Every time one is destroyed, Goemon will slow down. Goemon’s miscreants along with Kotarō Fūma will stop the player along the way. Okuni will also slow Goemon down as he reaches the ships in the south, forcing him to turn back and head to the ships in the southwest. Musashi will also help Goemon, but upon his defeat, Wei Yan tells him that Goemon stole his treasure, leading him to defect and help to stop Goemon.

Chapter 5-X: Battle of Jieting 街亭の戦い

Coalition Army and Gracia Troop vs. Orochi Army Allied characters: Magoichi Saika, Zhurong, Xingcai Third-party characters: Gracia Enemy characters: Masamune Date, Sun Shangxiang, Lianshi, Kojūrō Katakura, Hisahide Matsunaga, Munenori Yagyū

Unlockable character: Gracia

Clear Chapter 4 to unlock this stage.

Masamune Date set up his camp in Jieting, hoping to force the surrender of Zhao Yun. Zhao Yun sends out Magoichi to lead the battle, accompanied by Zhurong and Xingcai. When they got there, Magoichi sees Gracia and goes to her rescue; in return for finding her, Gracia decides to help Magoichi in this battle.

This is one of few stages where the unlockable character is different from the original. This was done to maintain Masamune’s status as a staunch officer of the Orochi Army (and to account for future appearances in other stories).

More enemy officers will appear around the battlefield, with the addition of playable officers Lianshi, Hisahide Matsunaga and Munenori Yagyū. Lianshi appears in place of Dong Xi, while Hisahide and Munenori are in the south and east respectively.

To unlock Gracia, finish the battle with the pincer attack successful. Otherwise, she will farewell Magoichi and continue wandering the land on her own.

Chapter 6-X: Battle of Tetorigawa 手取川の戦い

Coalition Army and Swordsman Troop vs. Orochi Army Allied characters: Meng Huo, Zhurong Third-party characters: Musashi Miyamoto Enemy characters: Mitsunari Ishida, Lu Bu, Zhang He, Ina, Lu Lingqi, Jia Xu, Kojirō Sasaki

Unlockable character: Musashi Miyamoto

Clear Chapter 6 to unlock this stage.

Meng Huo and Zhurong were sent to Tetorigawa to find Liu Bei, but they discovered a band of swordsmen fighting against Orochi’s forces. The swordsmen were led by the mighty warrior Musashi Miyamoto. Meng Huo and Zhurong rush to his aid.

Lu Lingqi appears in place of Yue Jin in this battle. Shigekata Tōgō replaces Munenori Yagyū in this battle. Jia Xu and Kojirō Sasaki will appear with the enemy reinforcements that Mitsunari sends out.

The unlock conditions for Musashi are easier than in the original game. Open the floodgate within 8 minutes of the start of the battle; his allies can be defeated but Musashi must stay alive.

Chapter 7-X: Battle of Xiliang 西涼の戦い

Coalition Army and Honda Army vs. Orochi Army Allied characters: Yukimura Sanada, Nobuyuki Sanada, Peasant (x3) Third-party characters: Tadakatsu Honda Enemy characters: Dong Zhuo, Lu Bu, Diamondback

Unlockable character: Tadakatsu Honda (1/4)

Clear Chapter 6-X to unlock this stage.

Across the land, people were fleeing from Orochi-controlled territories to escape his rule. Dong Zhuo declared that any caught fleeing would be executed. To demonstrate his point, Dong Zhuo launched an attack on Xiliang. Hearing news of this, Yukimura Sanada rushed to Xiliang to defend the innocent people from slaughter.

Nobuyuki appears alongside his brother in this battle.

This is one of four battles required to unlock Tadakatsu Honda. To impress him, allow all three peasants to escape. A good strategy is to follow them during their advance.

Chapter 8-X: Battle of Mikatagahara 三方ヶ原の戦い

Coalition Army and Zuo Ci Army vs. Orochi Army Allied characters: Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Guan Xing, Zhang Bao, Guan Suo, Xingcai, Bao Sanniang, Guan Yinping, Fa Zheng Third-party characters: Zuo Ci, Xiahou Dun Enemy characters: Orochi, Dong Zhuo, Lu Bu, Chen Gong, Diamondback

Unlockable character: Lu Bu (1/4)

In Chapter 7, escape Edo Castle with your allies within 3 minutes (originally 2) after the fire attack starts to unlock this stage.

After the battle of Edo Castle, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei turned upon Orochi to atone for their past sins. Following them were their children, accompanied by the strategist Fa Zheng. In response, Orochi sent Dong Zhuo and Lu Bu to put down this insurrection.

The only allied generic officer on the battlefield is Zhou Cang. With the exception of Fa Zheng, all other generic officers have been replaced with the Guan/Zhang babies and Bao Sanniang.

Orochi will appear in this battle if Chapter 8 has been cleared.

This is one of four battles required to unlock Lu Bu. To impress him, just defeat him without running away from him.

[scoobydoojedi]

Late Hōjō clan

The Late Hōjō clan was one of the most powerful warrior clans in Japan in the Sengoku period and held domains primarily in the Kantō region.

The clan is traditionally reckoned to be started by Ise Shinkurō, who came from a branch of the prestigious Ise clan, a family in the direct employment of the Ashikaga Shoguns. During the succession crisis in the 15th century, Shinkuro became associated with the Imagawa clan via the marriage of his sister to the Imagawa head, who led an army to Kyoto. Through this relationship Shinkuro quickly established a base of power in Kanto.

His son wanted his lineage to have a more illustrious name, and chose Hōjō, after the line of regents of the Kamakura shogunate, to which his wife also belonged. So he becameHōjō Ujitsuna, and his father, Ise Shinkurō, was posthumously renamed Hōjō Sōun.

The Late Hōjō, sometimes known as theOdawara Hōjō after their home castle ofOdawara in Sagami Province, were not related to the earlier Hōjō clan. Their power rivaled that of the Tokugawa clan, but eventually Toyotomi Hideyoshi eradicated the power of the Hōjō in the Siege of Odawara (1590), banishing Hōjō Ujinao and his wifeToku Hime (a daughter of Tokugawa Ieyasu) to Mount Kōya, where Ujinao died in 1591.

prominent people

Hōjō Sōun (1432 – 1519) was the first head of the Late Hōjō clan

Hōjō Ujitsuna (1487–1541) In 1524, Ujitsuna took Edo Castle, which was controlled by Uesugi Tomooki, thus beginning a long-running rivalry between the Hōjō andUesugi families. Two years later, the Uesugi attacked and burned Kamakura, which was a major loss to the Hōjō symbolically, because the earlier Hōjō clan from which they took their name fell in the siege of Kamakura in 1333. The Uesugi attacked again in 1535, when Ujitsuna was away fighting the Takeda; however, Ujitsuna returned and defeated Uesugi Tomooki, reclaiming his lands. When Uesugi Tomooki died two years later, Ujitsuna took the opportunity to seize Kawagoe Castle, and secure his control of the Kantō.

Ujitsuna then went on to win the battle of Kōnodai, securing Shimōsa Province for the Hōjō. Over the next several years before his death in 1541, Ujitsuna oversaw the rebuilding of Kamakura, making it a symbol of the growing power of the Hōjō

Hōjō Ujiyasu (1515–1571) Hōjō Ujiyasu expanded the Hōjō territory, which then covered five provinces, and managed and maintained what his father and grandfather had held. He took Kōnodai inShimōsa Province in 1564 following a battle against Satomi Yoshihiro . Towards the end of his life he saw the first major conflicts between his own clan and Takeda Shingen, who would become one of the greatest warlords of the period. 

Hōjō Ujimasa (1538–1590) Ujimasa commanded in many battles, consolidating his clan's position, and retired in 1590. His son Hōjō Ujinao became head of the clan and lord of Odawara

Hōjō Ujinao (1562–1591) the final head of the Late Hōjō clan. An important figure in the history of Azuchi-Momoyama politics, he lost his entire domain following the siege in 1590. Despite this, he survived, and his family carried on as small daimyo in the Edo period.

Hōjō Ujimori(???-???) Adopted son of Hojo Ujnao was the first daimyo of Sayama-han (Kawachi Province, 10,000 koku).