Adult Topic Blogs

Who is the elusive samurai? The real life of Hojo Tokiyuki

Who is the elusive samurai? The real life of Hojo Tokiyuki

The Elusive Samurai CloverWorks’ Disgaea has been hailed as one of the highlights of the summer anime season. Based on the manga of the same name by Yusei Matsui, the series tells the story of Hojo Tokiyuki – a young samurai noble with a near-superhuman ability to run and dodge attacks – as he seeks to avenge his family after they were betrayed by a trusted general. Due to the series’ fantasy elements and bold blend of comedy and bizarrely brutal violence, some may be surprised to hear The Elusive Samurai is based on fact. Hojo Tokiyuki (??? – 1353) was a real historical figure, and while the anime does get a lot of details about him correct, there are still some things that the show leaves out, including:

Who is the elusive samurai? The real life of Hojo Tokiyuki genko war

A scene from the Genko War, which led to the fall of the Kamakura shogunate.

Hojo Tokiyuki is a small but deeply symbolic figure in Japanese history

The Hojo clan was once the de facto ruler of Japan, thanks in large part to Sister General. But near the middle of 2014day As the century progressed, their power waned and they faced growing opposition from Emperor Go-Daigo and later the traitor Ashikaga Takauji. In 1333, the Hojo clan was almost entirely massacred, marking the end of the Kamakura period and paving the way for the Muromachi period (1336-1573). This was a turbulent time, with the establishment of the Ashikaga shogunate and the creation of two rival imperial courts. Many modern accounts of the era do not mention Hojo Tokiyuki at all. If they do, it is usually in the form of a footnote.

Toki’s mark on history can be summed up as surviving attacks on his family, finding allies, retaking and losing Kamakura (the seat of power) several times, and then being captured and beheaded. As a result, most records tend to gloss over him. But for Matsui Yusei, the young warrior is a powerful symbol of how the idea of ​​the samurai has changed over the centuries, as samurai didn’t always consider it honorable to die in battle. “To Kamakura and [later] At certain times, victory is escape and survival.” The artist told Japanese News“In this comic, I made it clear that Toki’s special talent is his ability to escape… because I don’t think that’s historically wrong.”

Hojo Toki's Onimaru SwordHojo Toki's Onimaru Sword

Hojo Tokiyuki’s legendary sword “Onimaru”.

Hojo Tokiyuki has a legendary sword that can slay demons

According to 14day-century It’s easy In the epic, Tokiyuki possesses the legendary samurai sword Onimaru. Legend has it that the sword was in the hands of Hojo for more than a century and was once used by Minamoto no Yorimitsu and Watanabe TsunaAnd tasted the blood of many GoblinsToday, it is owned by the Imperial Household Agency and is considered Tianxia Royal Researchone of the five famous swords in Japan.

It is said that Toki never separated from Onimaru, but was eventually forced to leave the sword behind. Terrible In 1335, during the retreat from the Ashikaga army, he entrusted Onimaru to the Hojo vassal Suwa Yorishige, who took him in after the death of Tokiyuki’s family and helped him raise an army. He is also one of the main characters in the anime, so consider this a spoiler warning. The story goes that Yorishige and his retainers committed seppuku and had their faces peeled off by the last member of the suicide squad. Some sources even claim that they He peeled off the skin on his face himself. The purpose of this was to conceal their identities, and because Onimaru was near the corpse, the enemy would mistake Tokiyuki for one of the faceless dead, giving the elusive samurai more time to escape. This sword later became one of the symbols of the Ashikaga shoguns.

Tomb of Hojo Toki

Ryukou Execution Ground, which is said to be the place where Hojo Tokiyuki was executed.

Hojo Tokiyuki was one of the shortest-reigning rulers in Japanese history.

Tokiyuki’s fight against the imperial army was aimed at restoring government in Kamakura after Takauji’s betrayal, and it worked. But it was very, very short-lived. After winning several battles, Hojo Tokiyuki recaptured the city in 1335 and was ready to begin ruling. Since his family no longer existed, and he was never officially appointed regent like his father, his time in Kamakura is not considered a continuation of Hojo rule. And since he was later driven out of the city (leading to the defeat of Onimaru and the near death of Suwa Yorishige), his “reign” was essentially his own affair, a minor link between the Hojo and the later rule of Emperor Go-Daigo and the Ashikaga shogunate. We say minor because Tokiyuki was only in Kamakura for about 20 days before retreating. This is why the whole event is sometimes referred to as the “20-day period.”

Hojo Tokiyuki retook Kamakura in 1352, but as a servant of Emperor Go-Daigo, he submitted to him after Ashikaga Takauji rebelled against the imperial court. However, he again failed to control the city for long and was executed soon after. Emperor Go-Daigo continued to fight Ashikaga but was badly defeated and was the last emperor to hold actual power in Japan until the mid-19th century.day century.

Related articles

Related Posts

Leave a Reply