#Sasaki Kojirō

[kikaruuni]

Fate Grand Order material II [Digital]part 1

[chernobog13]

Miyamoto Musashi V: Duel At Ganryu Island (1965).

This is the final episode of director Tomu Uchida's 5-part, 10-hour adaptation of Eiji Yoshikawa's fictionalized biography of Japan's greatest swordsman.

The story concerns the final battle between Musashi and his greatest rival, Sasaki Kojirō. Kojirō was a master swordsman, with a deadly technique, the Deadly Swallow Cut. Additionally, he favored a straight-edged sword with a blade length of almost 3 feet, nine inches longer than the typical katana blade. Musashi, who mastered the art of using two swords, went into the duel carrying only a shaved-down boat oar.

The Samurai Trilogy, directed by Hirsoshi Inagaki and starring Toshiro Mifune as Musashi, is more famous here in the West (thanks, in part, to the first installment winning the 1955 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film).

In Japan, however, this series starring Kinnosuke Nakamura as Musashi, is considered the better of the two.

[telvess]

I was hanging out with a little girl who fucking coughed on me and now I'm sick...

Usually I'll drink a shot of vinegar, ginger honey, cinnamon and cayenne pepper... but i don't have access to than rn...

And in my sick/ half sleep haze I was thinking about how our diverse cast of hot men would take care of sick s/o using natural remedies

So Shiva, jataka, Buddha, (it might be the same because India idk, I guess Thai for Buddha)

Loki (Celtic/Greek idk)

Kojiro (Japanese)

I need some ror men..

medicine!

Need medicine...

I hope your sickness was short!

I THINK I'M IN LOVE WITH SASAKI BECAUSE OF YOU!

RoR: How do they take care of sick s/o (Shiva, Jataka, Buddha, Loki, Sasaki Kojirō)

Shiva

Shiva has never been sick in his life, so he freaks out a bit when you get sick. Not the most helpful companion you can find. At first he asks what to do, but if you are too weak to speak, then… oh well.

Shiva doesn’t leave his realm, so he doesn't know any natural, human remedies that could help you. He keeps you warm and sits next to you the entire time. He remains vigilant. Even he pretends it’s nothing, his wives can tell he genuinely worries.

Once the worst is over and you start to look more alive, Shiva does his best to keep you in a good mood. Say a word and he will even dance for you.

What’s surprising, no matter how hard you try, you can’t infect Shiva. He basically cuddles you, feeds you, and helps you change clothes all the time, and yet all the germs seem to ignore him.

Jataka

Jataka was sick himself, he knows it all too well. As soon as he notices the first symptoms, he is very caring. Even if it’s just a flu, he doesn't downplay it.

He prepares for you an ayurvedic drink. Depending on your symptoms, he will choose the right recipe. He makes sure you drink all of it, so don’t even try to argue. It’s a waste of time, this man is too stubborn.

Jataka provides everything you need, he even brings you a book to read or he reads to you himself. He is cautious and keeps his distance, but that doesn’t stop him from being very strict: he makes sure you drink enough water and that you’re warm.

Every time he checks if you have a fever, he caresses your cheek with his finger before moving away. It's the only physical thing he can do right now to show you his affection.

Buddha

His first reaction is to tell you to lie down. It doesn't seem to bother him, because it’s just the flu. He had it when he was human, it’s not a big deal, especially if you have everything you need right under your nose. But secretly it eats him up inside, to the point where he can no longer eat sweets. So he shows up on your doorstep with his very casual attitude and starts asking questions. He checks if you’re hydrated, if you have a fever, if you need anything.

Buddha was born in present-day Nepal, so he follows ayurvedic… a little. He knows it’s not 100% effective, but he still finds some methods solid. He would make you brew containing honey, tusi leaves and lemon juice, and force you to drink it. It’s the best for the flu in his opinion.

He sits at the proper distance, eats his sweets and talks to you. He isn’t the worst companion you can get. Isn’t the best either… Do you know how good this candy is? Oh, right, you don’t, because you can’t taste *smirk* Don’t waste your pillow trying to hit him…

Loki

Let’s be honest, Loki probably isn’t the best person to take care of a sick person. At first, he acts annoyed when you announce your condition to him, but after awhile when he sees you struggling with the easiest tasks, he begins to worry. Seeing you in such weak shape makes Loki a little, a bit… soft.

From what I’ve researched, the Nords believed that sickness was an attack of malignant spirits (often ancestors) on the body. Loki obviously knows better what’s going on with you, but I wouldn’t be surprise if he mentions this fun fact to you. He was probably the one who sold people this nonsense in the first place. Let's just hope you're not hallucinating…

Loki prepares you tea with honey and entertains you with his new diabolical plans of how to mess with humans. He doesn’t even need you to be active in the conversation, but it's nice to see you smile or snort from time to time.

Loki doesn't follow any rules (i.e. keeps his distance, washes hands) and he will probably end up sick as well. Guess whose fault it is? And guess will have to take care of him? AND guess who won’t lie in bed and rest but spread germs everywhere? That’s right…

Kojirō Sasaki

He is the sweetest guy you could have by your side right now. A little clumsy, but he has got a spirit.

Considering how observant Kojirō is, he'll probably be the first to notice the symptoms. Even if you deny it, he will prepare for the possibilities ahead.

Sasaki would prepare for you hachimitsu-daikon - it’s Japanese form of cough and throat syrup, made from honey and Japanese radish. Kojirō would make it for you just like his mother did when he was a child.

Kojirō doesn’t mind missing a few days of training, you’re his priority. He is with you as long as you need and entertains you with stories from his life. He can read you something until you fall asleep.

He makes sure you’re hydrated, always brining you fresh water or preparing ginger tea called shoga-yu. He doesn’t try to make you anything else, because he is terrible at picking herbs and might accidentally poison you.

[bluelocksource]

Kiyora Jin’s trivia

☆ Character color: Peacock blue.

☆ Birthday: 31st August.

☆ Current age: 17 (2nd year high schooler).

☆ Zodiac: Virgo.

☆ Birthplace: Fukuoka Prefecture.

☆ Family structure: Father, mother, older brother, himself, younger brother.

☆ Current height: 165 cm.

☆ Foot size: 26 cm.

☆ Dominant foot: Right foot.

☆ Blood type: A.

☆ Visual acuity: 1.2

☆ Grip strength: 55kg.

☆ Nickname: "Dance Battle Footballer"

☆ Motto: "Sharpen your blade, prepare for battle."

☆ Starts playing football: At age 2. “Before I knew it, I was playing soccer with my big brother.”

☆ Team before joining BLUE LOCK: Murasame High School Soccer Club.

村雨 (Murasame) means "village rain".

☆ Hobby: Breakdancing. "Come breakdancing with me".

☆ Favorite food: Candied grapes (budō ame). "I got addicted to its crunchy texture and juiciness."

☆ Food he dislike: Mizuna (Japanese mustard greens). “Isn't that just a leaf?”

☆ What goes best with rice: One stick of mentaiko. "Beware of overeating!"

☆ Favorite animal: Peacocks. "The difference between the moment they closes and opens their feathers are amazing."

☆ Favorite season: Summer. “It ignites my fighting spirit.”

☆ Favorite football player: Yuki Soma.

☆ Favorite song: "NIGHT DANCER" by imase.

☆ Favorite manga: Vagabond.

☆ Favorite movie: Fight Club. "Passionate film directing. Clever composition."

☆ Mushroom shoots vs Bamboo shoots: Mushroom. "I feel like bamboo shoots always win, so I’ll side with mushrooms."

☆ What makes him happy: Provocation "The thought of me crushing someone gets me excited."

☆ What makes him upset: Atrophy. "This is what makes me lose strength. Don't freak out, you pigs."

☆ What he thinks his strength is: Extremely competitive.

☆ What he thinks his weakness is: Tends to think everything is a fight. "Sorry, I can't change that"

☆ What made him cry recently: “I hit my head during breakdancing practice. I got 3 stitches.”

☆ Favorite/best subject: P.E. "I like competitive sports. You can really engage!"

☆ Weak/least favorite subject: Overall studying. "I aim for the borderline of failing grades."

☆ Ideal type: Someone who likes sports. Good at making up after fights.

☆ Number of chocolates received from previous Valentine: 7.

☆ At what age he experiences first love: 10 years old.

☆ The first time he got confessed to: “In the second year of middle school, I was confessed to by both of my twin classmates. I got confused about who was who, so I turned both of them down.”

☆ Fixation: Sweats. "I like people who are sweating."

☆ Average sleeping time: 8 hours (6.5 hours + 1.5 hours nap)

☆ How he spend his holiday: “I participate in dance battle events. Of course, I aim to win.”

☆ When taking a bath, which part he washes first: "My bottom. I loosen up while washing."

☆ What he usually buy from the convenience store: Red Bull. "I feel energized after drinking it."

☆ What will he do if he received 100 million yen: "I would return it. I want to earn it with my own hands. Money earned with blood and sweat is not just paper."

☆ At what age he stops receiving presents from Santa: 11 years old.

☆ What was his last wish from Santa: Weight training equipment. "To win fights against my older brother and younger brother."

☆ What will he do during his last day on Earth: Dance and play soccer. "I’d probably do it while crying, thinking it might be the last time."

☆ Favorite historical figure: Sasaki Kojirō.

☆ If he hadn’t encountered soccer, what will he be doing: “Breakdancing. I’d probably have won a gold medal”

☆ If he could only take one thing to a deserted island, what would it be: A sleeping bag. “I can't stand being cold.”

☆ If he had a time machine, would he go to the past or the future: The future. “I have no interest in the past. Living for the future is what it means to be human.”

note: i want to apologize in advance for any mistake made in the translation!

source: twt & vol. 26 & Egoist Bible 2.

Last updated: 28/10/2024

[deathmetalunicorn1]

Hades, Nikola Tesla, Buddha, Jack, Kojirō Sasaki, and Beelzubub who had a lovely human wife that passed tragically. But to their surprise their wife is their opponent in ragnarok because-

A: They reincarnated as a human

or

B: They ascended to Godhood when they died ( pick Buddha and the humans for this one please 😊 )

Just want that classic Hurt/ comfort for this please.

-He could still remember that terrible day as if it was only moments ago.

-The day you were taken from him, dying to protect another.

-He remembers screaming your name, watching your body crumple to the ground with a dull thud, you had died instantly.

-He didn’t even get a chance to say goodbye.

-So much time had passed since he last saw you, held you, there was not a day that passed where he didn’t remember your smile.

-When he was selected to fight next in Ragnarok, he was informed that his opponent changed at the last moment, which confused him as he walked out first, listening to both the cheers and the jeers from either side.

-The last person he was expecting to see was you, wearing a long flowing white gown with golden armor adorning your features, holding a matching sword and shield.

-Hades- He could only openly gawk, as did many others, seeing you there, you had been taken away so violently by a rouge god and Hades never forgave himself for not getting to your side quickly enough, he always blamed himself. To see you there, standing across from him as his opponent, as a human, reincarnated, Hades felt his throat tighten, joy swelling up inside of him. Your confident smile and the faint color in your cheeks made you so beautiful, you grinned, lowering your own weapons, “My love~” your embrace as he rushed you had both sides cheering loudly, as he picked you up and spun you, twirling you around, so happy to be together again. You didn’t fight, he refused to harm even a hair on your head, and you were the same, but none held it against the two of you as you walked out hand in hand, just as you should be. You explained to him later, once he had paused attacking your face with kisses, that your soul had been lost, wandering aimlessly, before you reincarnated as a human. Then when you died, Brunnhilde was the one to find you, to bring you back to him. As you were now a human, Hades’ view changed, wanting to save humanity, as you would perish a second time if the gods won, he couldn’t lose you a second time.

-Beelzebub- His eyes were wide in shock, frozen in place, he had to wonder if this was a cruel joke, a sick prank, someone using illusion magic, he couldn’t believe his eyes, seeing you across from him. You smiled softly at him, your sword and shield lowering, fondness in your eyes, which made his heart jolt in his chest, almost painfully. He mouthed your name, unable to find his voice before he approached you. You remained silent as his hand lifted to cup your cheek, feeling that you were real, you were really there. A tear appeared in the corner of your eye and his thumb brushed it away as it slipped down your cheek, a soft smile appearing on his lips. Zeus cupped his hands around his mouth, “Kiss her already!!” the crowd was quick to agree, cheering loudly, celebrating your reunion which made you giggle softly. He kissed you softly, but so passionately, one of your feet popped up, before he pulled away and instantly picked you up princess style and walked out, listening to the cheers of your reunion. Beelzebub was amazed when you told him how you had been reincarnated as a human and brought to Valhalla after your death by Brunnhilde, who knew to pair you with Beelzebub in the fights, to reunite you. Brunnhilde was surprised when she received a thank you letter from him two days later.

-Buddha- His mouth was open, just slightly in shock, seeing the battle maiden across from him, seeing that it was you, after all these years, now a god yourself, just like him. You smiled warmly at him, giving him a bright grin, one that was burned into his memory, “Hello Siddhartha, my love.” His heart swelled, hearing you call him by his original name, his prayer wheel falling to the ground and your weapons did the same as you ran to each other, embracing, your legs going around his waist, hugging each other so tightly if the other would vanish if you let go. Zeus was cheering loudly, a bright grin on his face, seeing the two of you together, even if you both made him want to pull his hair out. Gods and humans both cheered for the two of you, both knowing that you and Buddha were both originally human lovers and both ascending to godhood, now together again after all this time. Nobody was surprised when you both gave a big grin to the crowd before grabbing your weapons and headed out of the arena, hand in hand. Buddha wanted to know, later that day after hours of ‘getting reacquainted’, if you had been a god for so long, why hadn’t you come to him sooner. You explained that after your death, you were worshipped as a hero, and that kept you bound to earth, unable to ascend, until you were able to obtain enough power to do so and with it came your godhood.

-Tesla- The smile on his face was a big as the sun, Gondul unfused with him, a smile on her face as he immediately ran for you, “Y/N!” your weapons fell as giggles bubbled out, his hands meeting your waist and spinning you around rapidly before pulling you into his arms, hugging you tightly. He tilted your face up and kissed you passionately, which made the crowd cheer loudly while Gondul giggled softly, “So youthful~” many of the gods were lamenting the loss of you, but you had been refusing gods for years now, as your heart belonged to another and would always belong to him. Zeus and Brunnhilde both sent each other a small nod in agreement, not going to make you fight each other, allowing this battle to end in a draw without a fight. Nikola was glued to you once you went back to your private waiting room, having you sit on his lap as he admired every part of you, seeing that your sparkling eyes and stunning smile were just as beautiful as the day that he lost you. He was very enthusiastic to learn about your ascension, his science side taking over as he wanted to know everything about it, which you thought was cute, but that was one of the things that made you fall in love with him all over again, happy to oblige his curious nature.

-Kojiro- Despite being way older than the last time you both met, as you passed a year before he did, you could still recognize him, you knew that the man across the arena from you was Kojiro, your Kojiro. He was stunned, mouth open just a hair, his eyes wide and quickly welling with tears, seeing you standing there, looking like an angel, his angel. Your weapons were quickly dropped, abandoned as the crowd cheered, seeing the reunion. Many knew your tale, as you died a hero, defending a child, and for your heroism, you ascended to Valhalla as a goddess, becoming a patron of children. Had you known Kojiro was here in Valhalla, you would have sought him out centuries ago, to reunite with the only man you had ever loved. Gods were jealous of Kojiro, as he ‘stole’ you away from them, but you had always been his. His hand lifted to your cheeks, feeling your soft skin under his calloused but strong hands, signs of his hard work and you smiled up at him, tears welling in your eyes before they fell and his tears soon joined as the crowd roared with cheers. Backstage in his room, he said nothing, only holding you close, he didn’t care that you were a goddess now, nothing else mattered to him other than holding you in his arms again, right where you were supposed to be.

Jack- His eyes were wide, immediately removing his monocle, to look at your soul, seeing blaring joy and love gazing back at him, those beautiful colors he had seen so long ago, those colors he missed each and every day. He couldn’t believe it, his breath catching in his throat as you smiled across the arena at him. He didn’t know how you were there or how you managed to ascend to becoming a goddess yourself, but you were there. Glokk unfused with him as he made it to you, a smile on her lips as his hands cupped your cheeks, all three of you ignoring the crowd, many who were upset that he was touching you in such an intimate way. Your hands lifted to cup his cheeks and he sighed, feeling your warmth on his face, his eyes closing, relaxing as he basked in your affections. The fight didn’t occur, but nobody expected it to, despite some wanting to see the villain that is Jack the Ripper get destroyed, you refused to fight the man you loved, and he couldn’t even think about harming a single hair on your head. In his private room, he held you for what felt like hours, you sitting in his lap, his arms around you, his head against your chest, hearing your heartbeat after so many years. The two of you didn’t need words spoken between you to know how each other felt.

[teal-eyedronin378]

Sasaki Kojiro, Humanity's biggest loser!

Sasaki Kojirō (佐々木 小次郎, also known as Ganryū Kojirō; c. 1585 – April 13, 1612) was a Japanese swordsman who may have lived during the Azuchi���Momoyama and early Edo periods and is known primarily for the story of his duel with Miyamoto Musashi in 1612, where Sasaki was killed. Although suffering from defeat as well as death at the hands of Musashi, he is a revered and respected warrior in Japanese history and culture. Later Miyamoto proclaimed that Sasaki Kojirō was the strongest opponent he faced in his life. (Wikipedia)

[hirazuki]

Hi! Re: the WIP folder game, please could you share more about...

Fate/Postscript

lemon balm and salvia, blue, mairon & maedhros

tsukuyomi (curious about this one bc i've also got a scene coming that mentions tsukuyomi-no-mikoto skdjas)

Hii!!

Fate/Postscript is a Fate series (TYPE-MOON) fic that follows the universe of Fate/Zero and Fate/Stay Night, and veers a little into the El-Melloi II Case Files territory. Not sure how familiar you are with this franchise (always happy to give you more details!), this is basically an OC/Sasaki Kojirō | Assassin story, because my favorite character from this franchise is, once again, a minor side-character with precious few fics to his name and needs some love nevermind that this has been languishing in my drafts since like. 2017, let's ignore that

“At any rate,” he said after a few moments, “I really do recommend that you keep your visiting hours with me late at night.” She looked over her shoulder at him, confused. He pointed to the crowds of people walking up and down the stairs. “It does not do for a young woman to appear to be talking to herself.” She cackled, loudly. “Why should I care what people think? I’m not even from around here. And besides,” she continued, after a few more swings with the sword, “some of us actually sleep at night.” “A pity,” he said, closing one eye. “When there are other things you could be engaging in.”  She spun around again, attempting to take a swing at him. Before she even knew he had moved, Kojirō leapt up, drew his sword and, flicking the tip under her sword’s edge, cleanly disarmed her. Her blade went flying vertically in the air, and he caught it easily. He flipped the edge towards himself, and held it out for her to take. “Come now, allow a man a little harmless flirting.” She snorted, amused, as she took back her sword from his outstretched hand. “There is nothing harmless about you.” “Maybe so,” he conceded as he sat back down. “But I am bored, and you are the only one I converse with.”

lemon balm and salvia, blue, mairon & maedhros ... ahaha *hides face in shame* This is a tumblr writing prompt that @celebbun sent me... over a year ago... *weeps* T_T

First Age, 465 He's bleeding out. How will he go back to Angband, in such a state and with such news? Himring... Himring is not far. Closer than Angband. Perhaps... perhaps he could -- He shakes his head free of the delusion a moment later. He cannot. Even were Fëanor's eldest inclined to humor his plea after everything, his own loyalty and sense of duty will not allow him. He curls up tighter, further into the dark tree hollow, and closes his eyes and falls into fitful sleep, to thoughts of red hair and white fire.

Tsukuyomi is a Naruto fic! (this probably won't be its final title). Again, not sure how much you know about this series, but basically at one point, almost all characters are put under a virtually unbreakable illusion (the name of this technique is Infinite Tsukuyomi, hence the name of the WIP) where they are trapped in their own dreams, and they experience their perfect world as though it was their reality. We get to see a good number of these dreams, and they give us a really neat window into the supporting cast, for instance, with whom we don't necessarily spend too much time with in the main story, getting to see their hopes/fears/what makes them tick, etc. We don't see everyone's obviously, and Orochimaru's (one of my faves) tsukuyomi dream is skipped over, so this would be my take on what his ideal world would look like. I've got some ideas jotted down as to what it would include, but don't have anything actually written down yet ^^

[yeonchi]

Koei Warriors Retrospective Part 9: Samurai Warriors 2

Samurai Warriors 2 (戦国無双2) Platforms: PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, PC Release dates: Japan: 24 February 2006 (PS2), 17 August 2006 (Xbox 360), 11 July 2008 (PC) USA: 19 September 2006 (PS2), 19 September 2006 (Xbox 360), 27 June 2008 (PC) Europe: 22 September 2006 (PS2), 22 September 2006 (Xbox 360), 27 June 2008 (PC)

For years, what I knew about this game and the Samurai Warriors series in general came from the Warriors Orochi games. I didn't know a lot about the figures or battles of Sengoku era Japan unless I researched it on Wikipedia or eventually played the games.

While writing my personal project in 2014, the order of adapted battles in the story for that year went as follows: Mikatagahara, Odawara, Nagashino, Shizugatake, Okehazama, Komaki-Nagakute, Sekigahara, Ōsaka and Honnōji. If I had a more proper understanding of the game and the era, I probably would have done those things in order, but then again I'm just making up my story and not entirely adapting history.

Like how Dynasty Warriors 5 was made more historical than previous games, Samurai Warriors 2 was the equivalent for its series. This game goes past Nobunaga's era to focus on Hideyoshi's unification of the land and the Battle of Sekigahara, introducing characters associated with said battles. The visuals are made golden to contrast the darker colours of the previous game.

Let's get into the guts of it right after the break.

Samurai Warriors 2

Starting off with the characters now, and one thing to note is that the character lineups are not consistent between games as characters have been cut and reintroduced as the series goes on. As such, Goemon Ishikawa, Kunoichi and Yoshimoto Imagawa have been cut from the game, but their images can still be seen in Sugoroku and the Battle of Okehazama is still mentioned at the start of the Story Mode for related officers.

Okuni and Ranmaru Mori are still in this game, but they have no Story Modes. Okuni is unlocked by winning a game of Sugoroku while Ranmaru is unlocked by playing the first two Mitsuhide and Ranmaru's Requests in Survival Mode. Their fourth (and later fifth) weapons are also unlocked in Survival Mode as well.

Here are the new characters debuting in this game:

Ieyasu Tokugawa (PC'd)

Mitsunari Ishida

Nagamasa Azai (PC'd)

Sakon Shima

Yoshihiro Shimazu

Ginchiyo Tachibana

Kanetsugu Naoe

Nene

Kotarō Fūma

Musashi Miyamoto

Kojirō Sasaki (NPC)

Katsuie Shibata (NPC)

As listed above, Ieyasu Tokugawa and Nagamasa Azai are now made into playable characters, with Nagamasa's seiyuu changing from Takayuki Sasada in 1 to Hiroshi Kamiya from this game onwards. Nene essentially replaces Kunoichi's role as a female shinobi in this game. Yoshihiro and Ginchiyo's introduction also marks the introduction of the clans of Kyūshū, most notably the Shimazu and the Tachibana (through the Ōtomo clan). Katsuie Shibata and Kojirō Sasaki are the new NPCs appearing in this game; they can be unlocked as bodyguards for 6,400 gold in the shop after clearing a mission in Survival Mode. The narrator in the Japanese dub has been changed to Daisuke Gōri, who also voices Shingen Takeda.

Hideyoshi Hashiba is now known as Hideyoshi Toyotomi from this game onwards, with his seiyuu changing from Munehiro Tokita to Hideo Ishikawa. Historically, the name Toyotomi was granted to Hideyoshi and his clan by the Emperor in 1586. In this game, Hideyoshi's surname is never mentioned and he is only known by his former name when he's an ally or enemy before the Conquest of Kyūshū (Shikoku in XL); when you play as him, he will always be known by his new name no matter what battle you play. Later games would make the distinction clearer and more accurate, with Hideyoshi being known under Hashiba or Toyotomi depending on what year the battle took place (except for the stages where he wasn't originally featured in 3 in which case is is always known under Toyotomi).

Story Mode is made up of five (individualised) stages per character (no splitting paths or special conditions) with an extra Gaiden/Dream stage after completing the first five. Ieyasu and Mitsunari, being the leading figures at the Battle of Sekigahara, get a sixth story stage. For Kenshin, Oichi, Magoichi, Mitsunari and Yoshihiro, their Dream stages are unlocked after also fully clearing the Story Modes for Shingen, Nō, Masamune, Kanetsugu and Yukimura. The stages Village Rescue (set in Saika) and Pirate Hunt (set at Ōsaka Bay) are used as filler stages for 10 characters (including Kojirō in XL).

Free Mode is streamlined from how it was in the first game; each (or rather, most) battles have only two sides to play as and they utilise one character's version of each battle from Story Mode (with some exceptions depending on who you play as). Reused stages and Dream stages are excluded in this mode. One thing you will notice is that Odawara Castle has two versions for the west and east sides, though I wish they didn't name both versions as Siege of Odawara Castle (小田原城攻略戦) even though it is technically correct. All battles are one part only (thank god), with castles being incorporated seamlessly onto the maps.

Although battle objectives/missions still exist, battles are not entirely defined by them, meaning that objectives only trigger when you approach certain areas or officers. Also, for the first time, there are no subofficers listed in the officer/Unit Info list, meaning that player characters are listed individually in the list. If you're not a listed officer in the battle, you are shown at the bottom of the list, which is still better than being listed under the commander as "Player 1" or "Player 2". Third-party armies are now displayed in a separate list to the enemy army so more than 12 enemy units can be placed on the map.

Speaking of missions and Odawara, the west map features a mission where you have to defend a siege ramp. The siege ramp in that stage has got to be the weakest siege ramp ever because every enemy that comes near it will try to attack it and it gets destroyed if you leave it alone for more than 30 seconds. The Battle of Chencang in DW5 was less intense in comparison.

Survival Mode continues from the last game. Instead of offering two (or three) modes to choose from, you're given four missions to choose, some of them free and some of them paid. Each mission has five floors and you have the option to save after each one. In the free missions, you have Search for a Hero (強き者求む) which is just randomised missions, or the request storylines from Ranmaru, Mitsuhide and Keiji which cover you for the first 50 floors.

Once you get to that point, you're able to skip up to floor 51 on a new playthrough by paying a fee. The game goes up to floor 100 but you can continue on if you want to. Floor 71 has missions to unlock two rare horses, Persian Mare and Moon Child (Hoshōtsukige/放生月毛). Floor 76 has missions to unlock Katsuie and Kojirō. Also on floor 71 along with 86 and 96 are missions to unlock three Level 4 skills, but you need to have your character's respective Level 3 skills before attempting to unlock them otherwise you're just wasting your time. The good thing is that once you've done this for one character, you don't have to do this again for everyone else. When you get those Level 3 skills, you can just buy the Level 4 skills at the shop.

Sugoroku is a unique mode in that it's a Monopoly-esque game unlike the traditional Japanese board games. You play with four opponents (human or CPU) and the overall objective is to be the first player to achieve a particular gold amount set at the beginning (from 5,000 to 50,000 gold). You can choose between a small map covering only Honshū or a large map covering all of Japan.

As you go around the board, your focus is to obtain three flags scattered randomly on the map and return to home base to move up a rank. While you do this, you buy unoccupied territories to claim rent from the other players and take occupied territories by challenging their owners in one of six different challenges (provided without a separate Challenge Mode).

If you land on a shrine, you'll get to roll two dice to determine what happens to you; you might earn gold, increase land prices (fucking Asian real estate developers lol), take another turn with one or two dice, lose gold, teleport to another square or make things happen to everyone. If you roll a double here, you're taken to achieve a goal in a challenge; completing it will give you 100 gold, but failing it will cause that reward to be rolled over for the next double roll challenge. The weird thing about the shrine dice rolls is that it's hard to determine which die will determine which category or challenge until they land and rearrange themselves (ie, if die 1 lands on the right and it decides the left number, vice versa with die 2). If they made it so you roll one die at a time or made both dice different colours, then you could have a better idea of what to expect.

This game does take some time to play, even for a 5,000 gold target. The bad thing about this is that you can't save and move onto something different, even in a single player game, but that's what emulators are thankfully good for. At the end of the game, you get about 12.5% of your final gold total to use in the rest of the game, which is just paltry for the effort required to play it. I'll come back to gold earnings later.

In battle, Special Skills are a new mechanic introduced in this game, triggered by pressing R1, then pressing either Square or Triangle. This functionality replaces ranged attacks from the first game. With the introduction of Special Skills, a very small number of characters are able to summon horses, those characters being Yukimura and Keiji (and later Toshiie in XL). If you ask me, it is a bit unfair that only three characters can summon their horses, but rest assured that this does get fixed in future titles.

Two new moveset types have also been introduced for characters in addition to the Charge Attack moveset from the last game, namely the Normal Attack moveset and Special Skill movesets. Some characters from the last game retain their Charge Attack moveset while others have their attacks reassigned for the Normal Attack moveset or nerfed for the Special Skill moveset. For the Normal Attack moveset, Normal Attacks go up to N12 while Charge Attacks go up to C8 and are single-tiered. For the Special Skill moveset, it remains similar to the Charge Attack moveset except the Charge Attacks are only double-tiered, but both Special Skills are triple-tiered.

The Musou bar is upgradable to three levels, with the maximum reached by the time you reach the maximum level of 50. You can unleash a Musou Attack as long as the first section of the bar is filled, meaning that you can only manually charge it up to that point (but let's face it, who does that anyway). The first and second level Musous only affect the colour of the finishing shockwave (from blue to green) while the third level Musou adds a secondary effect depending on the character (while also changing the finishing shockwave to yellow). The same applies to the True Musou Attack as well.

Holding down the Circle button on horseback no longer swings your weapon like it did in the last game and DW, but you can still perform Normal and Charge Attacks while charging around. This game would begin a trend of horseback Musous just being bland rampages.

The right analog stick can now be used to rotate the camera, something that would be included in future Warriors games from this point forward.

Between battles, you will be able to access the shop to upgrade your weapons and skills. The shop is run by Saya, the master's daughter from the first game's New Officer Mode (who also slaps Magoichi in the first movie of his Story Mode). She will continue to make appearances as the shopkeeper in future games.

Four levels of weapons continue to be offered from the previous game. Weapons can have up to eight slots for attributes (going up to level 20 in a similar manner to DW5) and they can also have an element that is activated when you have one level filled in the Musou Gauge. The Dark element from the last game has been replaced with the Wind and Demon/Death elements. You can upgrade your weapon with a random ability for the price of 100n + 400, where n is the number of times you've upgraded your weapon. There is a chance that you may get a duplicate attribute; the stats do stack but you can have a maximum of 3 copies for that particular attribute.

Skills are a new mechanic that replaces the item system from the first game. Characters can learn skills by buying them in the shop, levelling up or stealing (or rather, learning in the English version) from enemy officers. Excluding rare skills, you'd be looking at spending 81,600 gold to buy all non-rare skills up to level 3, then another 30,000 gold to get the three level 4 skills. Rare skills can be learnt on Hard difficulty and above by defeating certain playable officers. When your character reaches a certain level (in a multiple of 10), they will learn a quasi-unique Self Skill. Skills can be turned on and off before starting a battle.

Bodyguards are also reduced to being a single officer instead of a group of four soldiers (also similar to DW5). They can be levelled up to a maximum level of 20. There are 10 classes of bodyguards and you can keep up to 8 of them (out of a total of 54), but if you were to hire everyone, you'd be looking at spending 153,900 gold. Once again, bodyguards only have voice lines when they are killed.

My main gripe about this game are the costs to purchase things in the shop when compared to the amount of money earned each battle. Amongst the collectible items in the game, you can collect up to 100 gold at a time, with level 4 Greed giving you a multiplier of 1.8 for a total of 180 gold. Given how much things in the shop cost, you can only really afford to do so much before you run out of money. Compound that with the fact that there are 26 playable characters in this game (32 with Xtreme Legends) and it does take a while for you to get your character decently powered-up. Of course, if you've spent a lot of time on this game (particularly 18 years ago when this game was first released) then this will be nothing to you, but this is coming from me who's only been playing it for two years in the hope of eventually reviewing it.

New Officer Mode has been removed in this game, but the closest thing to playing the CAW sword, spear and naginata movesets, along with the movesets of various troop types, is by using one of Nene's Special Skills, which can make her disguise herself as a nearby soldier or officer.

No new voice lines have been recorded for Survival Mode (like with the last game), so the only voices you'll be hearing are those that were already in the rest of the game. Some lines have been recorded for player characters in Sugoroku, but I'm not sure if they were also heard in other areas of the game. This can't be traced back to lazy localisation (we haven't even got to that point yet) because I've been playing this in Japanese and I've experienced the same thing, though I suppose if the lines were voiced in the Japanese version and not the English then this issue wouldn't have stood out that much and I probably wouldn't have noticed it when I did.

Now let's talk about the English localisation of this game and hmm... are those the English voice actors being credited in the credits? Breaking with what should be tradition for Warriors games, the localisation for this game was done in Canada, the actors provided by Total Casting and the dubbing produced by Agile Sound, both being subsidiaries of Montreal-based Agile Entertainment. No justification is given as to why Koei decided to use another company instead of Voicegroup for localisation, but a lot of fans I've seen do seem to like the English dub for this game. As someone who came to this series after playing Warriors Orochi however, I honestly can't get used to it as it sounds kind of bland in some places, but hey, I guess that's my toxic nostalgia talking. Looking forward though, I can see how some character lines from this game inspired those in Warriors Orochi.

For the first time, the PC port of SW2 does not have any enhancements like DW4 Hyper or DW5 Special. Once again, given the timing of that release, the lack of Xtreme Legends features in PC ports continues to confound and infuriate.

Samurai Warriors 2 Xtreme Legends

Samurai Warriors 2 Xtreme Legends (戦国無双2 猛将伝) Platforms: PlayStation 2, Xbox 360 Release dates: Japan: 23 August 2007 (PS2), 14 April 2008 (Xbox 360) USA: 18 March 2008 (PS2), 16 April 2008 (Xbox 360) Europe: 28 March 2008 (PS2), 16 April 2008 (Xbox 360)

Uniquely, the Xtreme Legends expansion for SW2 was released after its Empires spinoff, explaining the nearly 18-month gap between the vanilla game and the expansion as opposed to the 6 month gap in the case of DW4 and 5. At least DW3XL came out nearly a year after its vanilla release.

This game also marks the first time that (the full content of) an Xtreme Legends expansion is made available on a non-Sony console. With the Xbox Live Marketplace being the first digital game distribution shopfront of its kind, SW2XL was made available on the Xbox 360 as DLC in April 2008, it being compatible with both the physical and digital versions of the vanilla game. Such a shame it's no longer available for purchase now that the marketplace closed down at the end of July 2024.

In Japan, the DLC release was a month after a physical version was sold on 19 March 2008 in the form of a "with Xtreme Legends" Complete Edition. This also begins a confusing tradition of Complete Edition games being released alongside Xtreme Legends expansions exclusively in Japan. Such a thing wouldn't happen in the West until DW8.

Some PS2 players have reported issues with this game, particularly those with older "fat" models and Slim models, due to the game being on a dual layer DVD-9 disc and the laser reader sometimes having issues with it.

5 new playable characters make their debut in this game:

Toshiie Maeda

Motochika Chōsokabe

Gracia

Kojirō Sasaki

Katsuie Shibata

Kojirō and Katsuie were previously made playable in Empires, but this game gives them new unique weapons. Motochika's introduction introduces the Chōsokabe clan of the Shikoku region as well. Gracia, the daughter of Mitsuhide Akechi also known as Tama(ko), is never named by any of the characters in any game she appears in. Granted, Gracia is her Catholic name and she wasn't baptised until 1587 when Hideyoshi was conquering Kyūshū, but it's kind of weird to have characters refer to her as "Mitsuhide's daughter" or something vague.

Yoshimoto Imagawa makes a return in the expansion after being cut from the vanilla game. As such, Okehazama returns as a stage in this game and a new stage, Shikoku, is introduced.

Toshiie Maeda is an example of a generic officer being upgraded to a playable character in the expansion. However, the extent of how he is upgraded when seems to vary. See, the assumption is that when a generic officer is made playable in an expansion, that officer's appearance in other stages is upgraded to their playable appearance (which does happen in later games). In the case of Toshiie in this game, some of his appearances are straight-up upgrades, but in some stages he is replaced by another generic Oda officer like Nagahide Niwa, Nagayoshi Mori or Nagachika Kanamori. This happens regardless of whether Toshiie was an allied or enemy officer in the vanilla game.

So yeah, all the Xtreme Legends trimmings are there, from Story Modes for the new characters, Novice and Expert difficulties to fifth weapons for all characters, including Ranmaru and Okuni which once again, are only unlockable in Survival Mode. Levels are increased to 70 for player characters and 30 for bodyguards.

In regards to Musou Mode, the final cutscene movie of Toshiie's Musou Mode has been changed in Western releases for the Xbox 360 and the European release for the PS2, but it is intact in the US release for the PS2 and all Japanese releases. The original cutscene shows Toshiie, in grief over Katsuie's death, punching out Hideyoshi while proclaiming his new duty to watch over him and share the burden he bears. In the changed versions, the cutscene was changed to be a shortened replay of Katsuie's final cutscene where he farewells Toshiie before resigning himself to his fate inside a burning Kitanoshō Castle. I presume this decision was made for censorship reasons due to violence, which is kind of weird considering the nature of this game and the fact that Toshiie gets punched himself in earlier cutscene movies.

New charge attacks are introduced for all characters, namely the C5 for the Charge Attack and Special Skill movesets and the C9 for Normal Attack movesets. They are all single tier and some of those attacks may also incorporate elements of their Special Skills.

Two new sections have been added to the shop. When your character reaches level 19, Special Skills will be available for purchase, but note that buying one only buys it for that character and not everyone else. To buy all 15 Special Skills you'd be looking at spending 417,000 gold per character. If you don't want to spend that much, then take note that some characters' Self Skills are the same as Special Skills such as Finesse/Spring, Resist/Balance, Omniscience/Awareness, Pressure/Repel and Resist/Confidence. Only one Special or Self Skill can be equipped on a character.

The other new section in the shop is Orb Synthesis. Using orbs, you can directly add attributes of +20 to your weapon or even change your weapon's element, even for fourth and fifth weapons and weapons with no attribute slots. Orbs are mostly obtained through Mercenary Mode, but in rare cases they can also be found in Story and Free Modes (though I suppose the chances are higher on harder difficulties). The cost to do this is x*y where 0 < x < 9 for the number of slots and y < 5 for the weapon level, which potentially makes it more expensive than when . Weapons without attribute slots (usually initial weapons) are treated as if they had one and fifth weapons are charged the same as fourth weapons. The maximum limit of three copies per attribute still applies.

Mercenary Mode is the new unique mode added to this game. It serves as a great grinding mode for experience, gold and orbs, plus this is arguably easier than Xtreme Mode in DW4XL and 5XL, probably because it carries over your gold and character stats from the rest of the game.

After selecting your character, you can choose from three battles that all have different objectives and handicaps, such as starting with low health, multiplied damage or nullified guarding. You earn gems after each battle and as rewards for completing special missions.

Guards can also be hired between battles for 10 gems each. You can deploy two guards at a time with an additional three in reserve. After playing or deploying a character for a certain amount of turns (certain rewards can reduce this), they are able to be levelled up, granting them an additional skill. Skills include automatically opening gates when approaching them, using some of your Musou gauge to create a barrier, earning an extra gem every 50 KOs and nullifying enemy quagmires (giggity)/birdlimes/tar traps, poison attacks and fire attacks. Skills apply from both the player character and the guards deployed, so it's a good idea to ensure you have as many bases covered as you can.

As you play battles with clans, they will give you rewards the more you play with them. When you play 7 battles under the same clan, you will be offered to join them as a retainer for 50 gems. Once you do, no other clan will give you rewards while the clan you joined will continue giving you rewards the more battles you play under them.

Special events will appear in the menu throughout your playthrough. Some of these may be rewards from various people, requests for assistance that unlock special missions, or offerings that unlock Precious Swords. I'm not sure if those missions expire, but if you're aiming for the second ending, then it's a good idea to complete them as soon as you have the gems for them.

There are two ways to clear Mercenary Mode. The first way is to join a clan and fight another 7 battles under them for a total of 14, at which point you can fight a battle to unite the land and clear the mode. The second way is to collect all ten Precious Swords and unlock a battle for supremacy, where you will have to fight three officers in hyper mode to clear the battle. This battle doesn't happen until you reach battle 100 because of how the Precious Swords are collected and there's nothing special after that. As such, there is no reason to replay with the second way other than to get the associated achievements/trophies because the first way is faster.

Like with Survival Mode in the vanilla game, no new voice lines have been recorded for Mercenary Mode. Is it so much to ask for consistency?

Samurai Warriors 2 Xtreme Legends HD Edition (Sengoku Musou 2 with Moushouden HD Ver.)

Samurai Warriors 2 Xtreme Legends HD Edition (戦国無双2 with 猛将伝 HD Ver.) Platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita Release dates: Japan: 24 October 2013

This is the version of the game I've been playing for the purposes of this review. Why did I pick this version for it? Well, I was able to get most of the Samurai Warriors games on the PS3 anyway, so why not get this version of SW2 and make RPCS3 my Samurai Warriors hub? Sure, I could play the Xbox 360 version for a widescreen experience that's closer to the original PS2 release, but why the hell should I go to the effort of setting up Xenia for it when I could just get this?

In 2013, Koei (Tecmo) rereleased SW2XL alongside Empires in an HD Edition for the PS3 and PS Vita. Both games are sold separately on the PlayStation Store, but on the PS3, they can be bundled into a single digital package or a physical disc, meaning that when you launch the game, you are greeted with a launcher that allows you to select between the two games. This also allows you to switch between the games by going back out of the main menu and into the launcher without having to change discs or exit to the Home Screen/XMB. Save data and trophies remain separate between the two games.

The main enhancement of the HD version is that this version takes advantage of the PS3's capabilities to deliver improved graphics and more enemies on screen. Apparently this version also makes use of the AI engine from the next game, Samurai Warriors 3, and while I haven't seen any Japanese sources to confirm this, I can say that you do get a bit of that feeling, particularly in Empires. All modes and characters are available from the start.

With this game also being available on the Vita, ad-hoc multiplayer gameplay is available (Sugoroku only allows you to have two players playing wirelessly against two CPU players). Cross-save functionality is also available between the PS3 and Vita through the PlayStation Network. This would also become a thing for later games, although in general, I wish Sony made it so that save files can easily be copied between different consoles, like the PS3 and Vita via USB, without necessarily having to be logged into the PSN. However, this would essentially require companies like Sony to believe in the philosophy of free and open source software (FOSS).

If there's one thing I could say about this port, it would be, WHY WASN'T THIS PORT RELEASED TO THE WEST? The localisation already exists, so it would be easy to publish a localised port of a remastered game. Considering what happened with the Western release of Samurai Warriors 3, this game could have been an easy cash grab to make up for it while also being a nostalgia trip for people who played the game on the PS2 or Xbox 360. Koei (Tecmo) aren't the only main factor in this as Sony also plays a factor in the decision to publish games and ports. This is something I'll come back to when we cover Warriors Orochi Z.

Rant: Why I play in Japanese/MobileJOY

Before I started this retrospective, I stated that I would be playing the Japanese or Asian versions of the games over the English versions where possible. There are multiple reasons for this.

Firstly, there are some games and ports that were only available in Japan/Asia, such as SW2XLHD, SW3Z and WOZ. Secondly, and this ties into the first reason, I don't want to waste time setting up and going between other emulators (like Dolphin for SW3 on the Wii or Cemu for WO3 Hyper on the Wii U) to play the games in English. As it is, I'm already playing Xtreme Legends expansions on one console per game to save time and effort.

Thirdly, and this reason is more for the later games, I play Japanese/Asian versions because I'm disappointed with Koei Tecmo's treatment of localisations, not just with the lack of English dubbing, but their translation decisions and errors. "But Azuma, translation errors existed in earlier games as well!" Yes, I know and I have noticed them despite their rarity, but I'm bringing this to the forefront because of Koei Tecmo's complacency to these incomplete localisations and apathy to their Western fanbase in regards to this. I'll talk more about this when we get to Warriors Orochi 3.

The main exception to this rule mostly involve games that I already have on portable consoles, like the first few Warriors PSP games. Playing older games in Japanese is mostly for consistency with later games. In the case of the PC games, it's a mixed bag. I already had DW8XL and DW8E in English and I recently downloaded the Chinese versions for them, DW6 and WOZ are in Chinese and the other games have language options which I might utilise, but for the most part I play in Japanese or Chinese.

Now in regards to playing with the Japanese version, you might notice a section in Camp or Options called MobileJOY (like how the "import" function is also known as MIXJOY). Basically what it involves is that you go onto Koei's Musou Mobile website (with your phone) and enter the code on the screen, then it will give you a password that you put onto the screen to unlock the bonuses, which typically involve in-game items. Some games also have additional tie-ins to GREE's 100-man-nin collaboration series, such as with Samurai Warriors 3 Empires where you can unlock characters and rare items in its 100-man-nin counterpart, and in turn, you can unlock special buildings from that game in this one.

The Musou Mobile service, and with it MobileJOY, was discontinued in March 2020. Presuming that the password is generated by the game every time it is booted or you go into the MobileJOY page, that means that the game would also have the password to unlock the bonuses, so technically all that is needed would be the formula to cracking the code. But it doesn't seem to unlock anything special so maybe that's why people don't seem to want to bother with it.

In spite of Koei's decision to use a Canadian company to localise this game (and one from Quebec no less), Samurai Warriors 2 was the certified hood classic that defined the childhoods of its fans just as Dynasty Warriors 5 defined those of others including myself. It apparently had such an impact that it got Koei to get off their asses and release its Xtreme Legends expansion on the Xbox 360 before later remastering an already HD-capable release to the PS3 and PS Vita seven years after its original release. If SW1 is comparable to DW3 and DW4, then SW2 is comparable to DW5, something that would be cemented in a later crossover spinoff series.

Empires is up next for review followed by Katana, those being the spinoffs for SW2.

[animefeminist]

Many Ways to be a Warrior: Illness, martial arts, and seeing myself in Kojirō Sasaki

Content warning: Discussion of ableism

The muscular torso of Poseidon is cut in an “X” movement by two opposing katanas; it slowly tumbles to the ground, and his words of disdain towards humanity become a memory. Kojirō Sasaki has won his bout in favor of humanity over the gods, keeping the earthlings’ hope in the game. It’s a powerful moment that makes me think of my own “golden age”: while our circumstances might be different, the “weak” but incredible strategist samurai from the Record of Ragnarok anime became one of the characters that I identify with the most.  

In this anime, gods and humans gather at the Coliseum in the afterlife where they watch gladiatorial matches pitting the latter against the former, among them the bout between Kojirō and Poseidon. The God’s Council has decided that the human species has irredeemable traces; therefore, bound to be exterminated. Humanity’s last chance resides in the tournament of Ragnarök, where the earthlings will be spared if they can surpass the gods in seven out of 13 matches. The humans find their champions in the Einherjar, notable personalities from history. 

Kojirō is the only champion that grows old in the afterlife as his “golden age” is related to his learning prowess and not his physical peak, therefore he is represented as an aging swordsman. I identify with him in many points: to the untrained eye, he seems feeble and “undeserving” of representing his species when compared to more physically capable and “heroic” figures. In the anime, as in real-life, history remembers him as the opponent defeated by Musashi Miyamoto, who considered him his toughest contender. Like Kojirō, I’ve been treated as the underdog, and still am, on many occasions due to my background and health conditions. 

When you are not a so-called “genetic übermensch,” people tend to look down on you in sports environments as early as grade school. Even though we have the Paralympics, other sports events and more welcoming places for those who deal with disabilities, illnesses, and neurodiversity, participants are still bullied for not meeting the expected standards. It is something that I still deal with to this day, through my experiences as a journalist navigating an industry rife with ableism under a veneer of “inclusivity.” Kojirō may not be himself disabled nor ill, but him being seen as “weak” and having to overcome that perception is something that ill, disabled, and/or neurodivergent people can relate to. 

Read it at Anime Feminist!

[momobackpacker]

Mastering Life's Battlefield: The Wisdom of Miyamoto Musashi

Introduction:

In the annals of history, one name stands out as a symbol of unparalleled mastery in both the art of swordsmanship and the philosophy of life – Miyamoto Musashi. His journey was not just about wielding a sword; it was a relentless pursuit of wisdom, a quest to conquer the challenges that life presented.

Early Years:

Miyamoto Musashi was born in 1584 in the harrowing times of feudal Japan. His childhood marked by adversity, Musashi's early life was a canvas painted with the chaotic strokes of civil war. Orphaned at an early age, he embarked on a journey that would shape him into a legendary swordsman and philosopher.

The Sword Saint:

Musashi's name echoes through the corridors of time as the undefeated swordsman who fought over sixty duels without a single defeat. His famous duels, like the one against Sasaki Kojirō on Ganryū Island, exemplified not just his martial prowess but his indomitable spirit in the face of challenges.

Philosophy of Two Swords:

At the heart of Musashi's philosophy was the concept of wielding two swords – the katana and the wakizashi. Beyond the literal interpretation, this dual-sword approach symbolized the integration of opposing forces in life. Musashi's wisdom taught that one must be versatile, adapting to the ever-changing circumstances like the dance of a swordsman on the battlefield.

The Book of Five Rings:

Musashi's written legacy, "The Book of Five Rings," is a profound exploration of strategy, tactics, and the mindset required for mastery. Divided into five books – Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, and Void – each section delves into a different aspect of life, offering timeless insights applicable not just to the martial arts but to every facet of human existence.

Facing Inner Battles:

Beyond the external duels, Musashi faced profound internal struggles. His introspective nature led him to seek wisdom beyond the realm of martial arts. He withdrew from society, living in caves and mastering the art of painting. This period of seclusion emphasized the importance of inner balance and spiritual growth in the face of life's challenges.

Legacy and Impact:

Miyamoto Musashi's legacy extends far beyond the pages of history. His teachings continue to inspire individuals seeking mastery in their respective fields. From business leaders to martial artists, Musashi's wisdom resonates as a timeless guide for navigating the complexities of life.

The Duel at Ganryu Island:

Miyamoto Musashi, a legendary swordsman, faced off against Sasaki Kojirō on Ganryu Island. Musashi, known for his unorthodox two-sword style, arrived late intentionally to unnerve his opponent. In a fierce battle, Musashi improvised a wooden sword from an oar, defeating Kojirō with a single, precise strike. This duel became one of Musashi's most famous victories, showcasing his unmatched skill and strategic brilliance.

Miyamoto Musashi quotes

Do nothing that is of no use."

"Perceive that which cannot be seen with the eye."

"The true science of martial arts means practicing them in such a way that they will be useful at any time, and to teach them in such a way that they will be useful in all things."

"Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world."

"It is difficult to realize the true Way just through sword-fencing. Know the smallest things and the biggest things, the shallowest things and the deepest things."

Conclusion:

In the tapestry of Miyamoto Musashi's life, we find not just the tale of a legendary swordsman but a profound narrative of resilience, wisdom, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. As we reflect on his journey, may we draw inspiration from Musashi's teachings to face our challenges with courage, adaptability, and an unwavering commitment to self-mastery.

[radioactivesweet]

I could have asked what's y'all favorite, but I'm more interested in seeing which one isn't well liked. Feel free to motivate the reason why btw

I'm not including round 9 since it has just begun

[altocat]

Did you know Sephiroth was inspired by the shark from Jaws? XDDD

His theme song certainly was! And they use him sparingly in the original game in a way that mirrors how sparingly the shark was used in the movie to build suspense.

I think Sephiroth's design and rivalry with Cloud was additionally influenced by a combination of Griffith from Berserk and Sasaki Kojirō.

[nekosvocabdex]

Another randomly selected Pokémon:

Fletchinder

Starting with the name, it's ヒノヤコマ, Hinoyakoma, a combination of 火の粉(ひのこ,hinoko), sparks, and 駒鳥(こまどり,komadori), the name of the japanese robin it seems inspired from.

As for its abilities, this time both of them have a Japanese name, even if they are both pretty literal translations.

Flame Body is called 炎の体(ほのおのからだ,honoo no karada), while Gale Wings is called 疾風の翼(はやてのつばさ,hayate no tsubasa).

Let's look at a Pokedex entry, there's a lot of cool examples of "different Dex entries say the same thing in slightly different ways" for this Pokémon!

火の粉を クチバシから 飛ばして 草むらを 焦がし 驚いて 飛び出した 獲物を 捕まえる。

This sentence is a good example of how I approach and try to break down a bit more elaborate sentence if I don't get it immediately. I first look at verb and を particle.

獲物を捕まえる

獲物(えもの,emono) "prey" is a word we are going to see many, MANY times in Pokédex descriptions.

So this sentence is simply telling us "it catches prey". Everything else that comes before is a description on how this happens.

火の粉を クチバシから 飛ばして

飛ばす(とばす,tobasu) "To let fly/To launch/Spit out"

嘴(くちばし,kuchibashi) "Beak"

"It spits out sparks from his beak (...and does the following action)"

草むらを 焦がし 驚いて 飛び出した 獲物を 捕まえる。

焦がす(こがす,kogasu) "To burn"

"It burns grassy fields , then catches surprised prey that jumps out"

So the whole Dex entry is saying something along the lines of:

"It spits out sparks from his beak and burns grass fields to catch the prey that jumps out in surprise"

Other dex entries retell the same thing reorganizing the sentences, so we can kind of use them as confirmation that we have understood the sentence (and practice the vocabulary)

草むらに 火の粉を まき散らす。

This sentence is pretty much the same thing just with a slightly different verb.

まき散らす(まきちらす,makichirasu) "To scatter, to spread"

Interesting moves it can learn:

追い風(おいかぜ,oikaze) Tailwind

It translates pretty directly, and it also has the same meaning of "favourable conditions" that the word or similar have in many other languages.

燕返し(つばめがえし,Tsubamegaeshi) Aerial Ace

It literally translates to "Swallow return" and it's based on a sword technique with a similar name, which is in turn inspired by "the movements of a swallow's tail in flight". It was developed by Sasaki Kojirō, who was a heavily respected (and feared) swordsman in feudal Japan. His technique was apparently blinding fast, and involved a fierce downward cut followed immediately by one upwards.

He is regarded as one of "History's greatest losers", as he was killed in a legendary duel by samurai Miyamoto Musashi, who described him as "the strongest opponent he had ever faced".

These two guys appear a lot in various Japanese media. They appear as central characters in the historical manga Vagabond...

And get referenced everywhere, from One Piece, to the Dark Souls series that references Kojirō's legendary sword, to Fate(then again , name someone who is not in Fate) to Pokémon itself, again.

Which characters are named after them, you ask?

Yep.

[telvess]

Hi, I'm Telvess, but you can call me Tess, Telv or any other variant (everything works for me). This is multiple fandom blog that contains adult content - minors DNI.

Messages/asks are opened and very welcomed! Currently I re-entered my Jujutsu Kaisen phase and joined Your Turn To Die fandom (I need more Keiji content asap), so feel free to send me fics recommendations! 😊

English isn’t my first language. I’m trying to improve it here.

MASTERLIST:

JUJUTSU KAISEN

Pizza delivery girl (Higuruma Hiromi x reader)

RECORD OF RAGNAROK

Multiple characters headcanons:

playing Elden Ring

watching The Lion King with Reader 🔞

what kind of pet do they have?

how they sleep with their s/o 🔞

reader using pick-up lines on them

Oneshots:

First kiss (Apollo x reader)🔞

Selfie (Buddha x reader)🔞

Favourite part (Jack x reader)

Mother’s prison (Hades x Persephone!reader)

Scenarios:

how does he seek attention, part 1 (Hades, Jack, Leonidas) 🔞

how does he seek attention, part 2 (Poseidon, Loki, Heracles) 🔞

morning with him (Hermes, Hades, Qin)🔞

with painter reader (Susanoo, Hajun, Hermes) 🔞

how does he comfort a sick reader (Jataka, Heracles)

Them in relationship:

Hades 🔞

Hermes 🔞

Poseidon🔞

Nikola (with werewolf fem!reader)

General headcanons:

Hades🔞

Jack, part 1🔞

Jack, part 2🔞

Specific headcanons:

finding out s/o has an alter dedicated to him/receiving a spell jar from s/o (Jataka, Loki, Buddha, Thor, Apollo)

how does he take care of sick s/o (Shiva, Jataka, Buddha, Loki, Sasaki Kojirō)

his reaction to your moray eel children (Thor, Poseidon, Hades)

taking care of a toy that imitates a real baby (Heracles, Jack, Noah)

Dumb shit I made:

loves you

Adamas [*]

first fight meme

Odin

[invisiblepatrik04]

God I love this art style, and especially the designs. They both look so good! 10/10, would steal if I were morally reprehensible.

That said, I must channel my inner nerd emoji, just for a minute.

According to all descriptions I'm familiar with, Sasaki Kojirō used not a katana, but a nodachi. Nodachi are typically around 20 cm (or ~9 inches) longer than a katana. It's hard for me to tell, but it seems that this Kojirō is using a katana. I may, however, be wrong and just bad at gauging the length of objects in art.

Much easier to identify is Miyamoto Musashi, who rather famously used twin katana. He even founded a style of swordsmanship revolving around that idea, the Niten (or Nito) Ichi-Ryū. Unless I am horribly blind, your interpretation uses only one blade.

That all said, artistic liberty is a very cool thing, and I am nobody to tell you how to do your art. I can 100% understand wanting to simplify the designs, and they look excellent regardless. I'm personally a big fan of the heart shape in Musashi's sleeve, and the bottle cap kashira-gane on Kojirō's blade :)

And finally, a headcanon: they duel often. When first met by the protag, they have only just reached their 61st draw of 61 duels (a nod to Miyamoto's 61-duel undefeated streak)

the original miyamoto musashi and sasaki kojiro

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 4.13

1111 – Henry V is crowned Holy Roman Emperor. 1204 – Constantinople falls to the Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade, temporarily ending the Byzantine Empire. 1455 – Thirteen Years' War: the beginning of the Battle for Kneiphof. 1612 – Samurai Miyamoto Musashi defeats Sasaki Kojirō in a duel at Funajima island. 1613 – Samuel Argall, having captured Pocahontas in Passapatanzy, Virginia, sets off with her to Jamestown with the intention of exchanging her for English prisoners held by her father. 1699 – The Sikh religion is formalised as the Khalsa – the brotherhood of Warrior-Saints – by Guru Gobind Singh in northern India, in accordance with the Nanakshahi calendar. 1742 – George Frideric Handel's oratorio Messiah makes its world premiere in Dublin, Ireland. 1777 – American Revolutionary War: American forces are ambushed and defeated in the Battle of Bound Brook, New Jersey. 1829 – The Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829 gives Roman Catholics in the United Kingdom the right to vote and to sit in Parliament. 1849 – Lajos Kossuth presents the Hungarian Declaration of Independence in a closed session of the National Assembly. 1861 – American Civil War: Union forces surrender Fort Sumter to Confederate forces. 1865 – American Civil War: Raleigh, North Carolina is occupied by Union forces. 1870 – The New York City Metropolitan Museum of Art is founded. 1873 – The Colfax massacre: More than 60 to 150 black men are murdered in Colfax, Louisiana, while surrendering to a mob of former Confederate soldiers and members of the Ku Klux Klan. 1909 – The 31 March Incident leads to the overthrow of Sultan Abdul Hamid II. 1919 – Jallianwala Bagh massacre: British Indian Army troops led by Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer kill approximately 379–1,000 unarmed demonstrators including men and women in Amritsar, India; and approximately 1,500 injured. 1941 – A pact of neutrality between the USSR and Japan is signed. 1943 – World War II: The discovery of mass graves of Polish prisoners of war killed by Soviet forces in the Katyń Forest Massacre is announced, causing a diplomatic rift between the Polish government-in-exile in London and the Soviet Union, which denies responsibility. 1943 – The Jefferson Memorial is dedicated in Washington, D.C., on the 200th anniversary of President Thomas Jefferson's birth. 1945 – World War II: German troops kill more than 1,000 political and military prisoners in Gardelegen, Germany. 1945 – World War II: Soviet and Bulgarian forces capture Vienna. 1948 – In an ambush, 78 Jewish doctors, nurses and medical students from Hadassah Hospital, and a British soldier, are massacred by Arabs in Sheikh Jarrah. This event came to be known as the Hadassah medical convoy massacre. 1953 – CIA director Allen Dulles launches the mind-control program Project MKUltra. 1958 – American pianist Van Cliburn is awarded first prize at the inaugural International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. 1960 – The United States launches Transit 1-B, the world's first satellite navigation system. 1964 – At the Academy Awards, Sidney Poitier becomes the first African-American man to win the Best Actor award for the 1963 film Lilies of the Field. 1970 – An oxygen tank aboard the Apollo 13 Service Module explodes, putting the crew in great danger and causing major damage to the Apollo command and service module (codenamed "Odyssey") while en route to the Moon. 1972 – The Universal Postal Union decides to recognize the People's Republic of China as the only legitimate Chinese representative, effectively expelling the Republic of China administering Taiwan. 1972 – Vietnam War: The Battle of An Lộc begins. 1975 – An attack by the Phalangist resistance kills 26 militia members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, marking the start of the 15-year Lebanese Civil War. 1997 – Tiger Woods becomes the youngest golfer to win the Masters Tournament. 2017 – The US drops the largest ever non-nuclear weapon on Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan.