|
The Yagyu Ninja Scrolls
is a period-themed seinen manga by Masaki Segawa that was serialized in Kodansha's '' Weekly Young Magazine'' from 2005 through 2007 and compiled into 11 collected volumes. Like the author's previous title ''Basilisk'', ''The Yagyu Ninja Scrolls'' is an adaptation on a novel from Futaro Yamada's ''Ninpōchō'' series and can therefore be considered a sequel to ''Basilisk'', especially as several of the same historical characters featured in ''Basilisk'' make a return appearance. Its story centers on seven female survivors of the Hori clan, aided by Yagyū Jūbei, and their quest of vengeance. Plot In the Nineteenth Year of Kannei (1642), a rebellion by the Hori clan against Katō Akinari, the ''daimyō'' of Aizu, has been suppressed through the intervention of the Tokugawa shogunate. Placed into the custody of the Seven Spears, Katō's brutal group of personal enforcers, the Hori men are dragged to the Tōkei-ji "Divorce Temple" at Kamakura where the Hori women had been hi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Action (genre)
Action fiction is a literary genre that focuses on stories that involve high-stakes, high-energy, and fast-paced events. This genre includes a wide range of sub-genres, such as Spy fiction, spy novels, Adventure fiction, adventure stories, tales of terror and intrigue ("cloak and dagger") and Mystery fiction, mysteries. This kind of story utilizes Thriller (genre), suspense, the tension that is built up when the reader wishes to know how the Conflict (narrative), conflict between the protagonist and antagonist is going to be resolved or what the solution to the puzzle of a Thriller (genre), thriller is. Genre fiction Action fiction is a form of genre fiction whose subject matter is characterized by emphasis on exciting Action (narrative), action sequences. This does not always mean they exclude character development or story-telling. Action fiction is related to other forms of fiction, including action films, action games and analogous media in other formats such as manga and an ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tokugawa Ieyasu
was the founder and first ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa Shogunate of Japan, which ruled Japan from 1603 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was one of the three "Great Unifiers" of Japan, along with his former lord Oda Nobunaga and fellow Oda subordinate Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The son of a minor daimyo, Ieyasu once lived as a hostage under daimyo Imagawa Yoshimoto on behalf of his father. He later succeeded as daimyo after his father's death, serving as a vassal and general of the Oda clan, and building up his strength under Oda Nobunaga. After Oda Nobunaga's death, Ieyasu was briefly a rival of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, before declaring his allegiance and fighting on his behalf. Under Toyotomi, Ieyasu was relocated to the Kanto plains in eastern Japan, away from the Toyotomi power base in Osaka. He built his castle in the fishing village of Edo (now Tokyo). He became the most powerful daimyo and the most senior officer under the Toyotomi regime. Ieyasu preserved his strength i ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chinese Martial Arts
Chinese martial arts, often called by the umbrella terms Kung fu (term), kung fu (; ), kuoshu () or wushu (sport), wushu (), are Styles of Chinese martial arts, multiple fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in Greater China. These fighting styles are often classified according to common traits, identified as "families" of martial arts. Examples of such traits include ''Shaolin kung fu, Shaolinquan'' () physical exercises involving Five Animals, All Other Animals () mimicry or training methods inspired by Chinese philosophies, Old Chinese philosophies, religions and legends. Styles that focus on qi manipulation are called ''Internal martial arts, internal'' (; ), while others that concentrate on improving muscle and cardiovascular fitness are called ''Styles of Chinese martial arts#External styles, external'' (; ). Geographical association, as in ''northern'' (; ) and ''southern'' (; ), is another popular classification method. Terminology ''Kung fu'' and ''wu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kenpō
is the name of several arts. The word kenpō is a Japanese translation of the Chinese word "''quánfǎ''". This term is often informally transliterated as "kempo", as a result of applying Traditional Hepburn romanization, but failing to use a macron to indicate the long vowel. The generic nature of the term combined with its widespread, cross-cultural adoption in the martial arts community has led to many divergent definitions. The word Kenpō translates thus: "''Ken''" meaning 'Fist' and "''Po''" meaning 'Method' or 'Law' as in 'Law of gravity', a correct interpretation of the word Kenpō would be 'Fist Method', the same meaning as 'Quanfa'. However, it is often misinterpreted as 'the Law of the Fist'. Shorinji Kenpo is claimed to be a modified version of Shaolin Kung Fu (using the same kanji). It was established in 1947 by , a Japanese martial artist and former military intelligence agent, who combined his quanfa and jujutsu practice. Nippon Kenpo Okinawan Kenpo Some ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Edo Castle
is a flatland castle that was built in 1457 by Ōta Dōkan in Edo, Toshima District, Musashi Province. In modern times it is part of the Tokyo Imperial Palace in Chiyoda, Tokyo and is therefore also known as . Tokugawa Ieyasu established the Tokugawa shogunate there, and it was the residence of the ''shōgun'' and the headquarters of the military government during the Edo period (1603-1867) in Japanese history. After the resignation of the ''shōgun'' and the Meiji Restoration, it became the Tokyo Imperial Palace. Some moats, walls and ramparts of the castle survive to this day. However, the grounds were more extensive during the Edo period, with Tokyo Station and the Marunouchi section of the city lying within the outermost moat. It also encompassed Kitanomaru Park, the Nippon Budokan Hall and other current landmarks of the surrounding area. History The warrior Edo Shigetsugu built his residence in what is now the ''Honmaru'' and ''Ninomaru'' part of Edo Castle, around t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yoshiwara
was a famous (red-light district) in Edo, present-day Tokyo, Japan. Established in 1617, Yoshiwara was one of three licensed and well-known red-light districts created during the early 17th century by the Tokugawa shogunate, alongside Shimabara in Kyoto in 1640Avery, Anne Louise. ''Flowers of the Floating World: Geisha and Courtesans in Japanese Prints and Photographs, 1772–1926'' xhibition Catalogue(Sanders of Oxford & Mayfield Press: Oxford, 2006) and Shinmachi in Osaka. Created by the shogunate to curtail the tastes of and sequester the nouveau riche (merchant) classes, the entertainment offered in Yoshiwara, alongside other licensed districts, would eventually give rise to the creation of geisha, who would become known as the fashionable companions of the classes and simultaneously cause the demise of , the upper-class courtesans of the red-light districts. History 17th and 18th century The licensed district of Yoshiwara was created in the city of Edo, near to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kusarigama
A is a traditional Japanese weapon that consists of a ''kama'' (the Japanese equivalent of a sickle or billhook) on a kusari-fundo – a type of metal chain (''kusari'') with a heavy iron weight (''fundo'') at the end. The ''kusarigama'' is said to have been developed during the Muromachi period. The art of handling the kusarigama is called ''kusarigamajutsu''. History The researcher Nawa Yumio believes that the ''kusarigama'' was based on the ''jingama'', a tool that resembles a sickle, which was used to cut through a horse's ropes in the case of a fire. The ''jingama'' could also be used as a weapon and according to Nawa, the tool might have been combined with a ''konpi'' (棍飛) which is a chain that contained a weighted end and a chain around the user's wrist. People would wield the weapons with both hands to protect their horses against criminals. Another theory is that the ''kusarigama'' is based on the ''tobiguchi'' ( :ja:鳶口), which is a type of axe that had a "stou ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Katō Yoshiaki
was a Japanese ''daimyō'' of the late Sengoku period to early Edo period who served as lord of the Aizu Domain. A retainer of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, he fought in the battle of Shizugatake in 1583, and soon became known as one of the ''shichi-hon-yari'' (七本槍), or Seven Spears of Shizugatake, Yoshiaki was one of Hideyoshi's seven most trusted and experienced generals. He was involved in the bitter naval battles at Siege of Shimoda in the Odawara Campaign (1590) and fought off the coast of southern Korean peninsula during the 1st and 2nd Korean Campaign, many of which went in favor of the Korean navy. After Hideyoshi's death in 1598, Katō fought alongside Tokugawa Ieyasu. Following the important victory at Sekigahara in 1600, Tokugawa doubled Katō's fief from 100,000 ''koku'' to 200,000. For a time, he was lord of Aizu. See also *Katō Kiyomasa *Siege of Shimoda Popular culture * Portrayed by Kim Kang-il in the 2014 film '' The Admiral: Roaring Currents''. * Portrayed ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Seven Spears Of Shizugatake
The were mounted bodyguards for Toyotomi Hideyoshi at the battle of Shizugatake in 1583. At the decisive moment in the battle, Hideyoshi ordered them to leave the position and charge at the opposing army of Shibata Katsuie. After Hideyoshi gained control of Japan, many of the members were promoted to Daimyō. The Seven Spears of Shizugatake were the following Samurai: *Fukushima Masanori (1561–1624) *Hirano Nagayasu (1559–1628) * Kasuya Takenori (1562–1607) *Katagiri Katsumoto (1556–1615) *Katō Kiyomasa (1562–1611) *Katō Yoshiaki (1563–1631) *Wakizaka Yasuharu (1554–1626) Fukushima, Katō Kiyomasa and Katō Yoshiaki were given large benefices by Hideyoshi, 240,000 Koku in Owari Province, 195,000 Koku in Higo Province and 100,000 Koku in Iyo Province, respectively. The rest of the members remained as a small retainer of some thousands Koku. At the Battle of Sekigahara and Siege of Osaka, all of them betrayed Toyotomi Hideyori, the son of Hideyoshi, with the exce ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Date Masamune
was a regional ruler of Japan's Azuchi–Momoyama period through early Edo period. Heir to a long line of powerful ''daimyō'' in the Tōhoku region, he went on to found the modern-day city of Sendai. An outstanding tactician, he was made all the more iconic for his missing eye, as Masamune was often called ''dokuganryū'' (独眼竜), or the "One-Eyed Dragon of Ōshu". As a legendary warrior and leader, Masamune is a character in a number of Japanese period dramas. Early life and rise Date Masamune was born as Bontenmaru (梵天丸) later Tojiro (藤次郎) the eldest son of Date Terumune, born in Yonezawa Castle (in modern Yamagata Prefecture). At the age of 14 in 1581, Masamune led his first campaign, helping his father fight the Sōma clan. In 1584, at the age of 17, Masamune succeeded his father, Terumune, who chose to retire from his position as ''daimyō''. Masamune's army was recognized by its black armor and golden headgear. Masamune is known for a few things th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yagyū Munenori
was a Japanese daimyo, swordsman, and martial arts writer, founder of the Edo branch of Yagyū Shinkage-ryū, which he learned from his father Yagyū "Sekishūsai" Muneyoshi. This was one of two official sword styles patronized by the Tokugawa shogunate (the other one being ''Ittō-ryū''). Munenori began his career in the Tokugawa administration as a hatamoto, a direct retainer of the Tokugawa house, and later had his income raised to 10,000 ''koku'', making him a minor ''fudai daimyō'' (vassal lord serving the Tokugawa), with landholdings around his ancestral village of Yagyū-zato. He also received the title of (). Career Munenori entered the service of Tokugawa Ieyasu at a young age, and later was an instructor of swordsmanship to Ieyasu's son Hidetada. Still later, he became one of the primary advisors of the third shōgun Iemitsu. Shortly before his death in 1606, Sekishusai passed the leadership of Yagyū Shinkage-ryū to his grandson Toshiyoshi.Wilson, William Scott ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ninja In Popular Culture
In the history of Japan, ninja (also known as shinobi) operated as spies, assassins, or thieves; they formed their own caste outside the usual feudal social categories such as lords, samurai, and serfs. Ninja often appear as stock characters in Japanese popular culture and in global popular culture. History The ninja first entered popular culture in the Edo period. In modern Japan, ninja are a national myth that stems from folk tales and continues through modern day popular culture. Though many Japanese warriors performed amazing feats, there is no evidence that any of them were supernatural. Some of the folk tales are based on historical figures, such as a ''daimyō'' (lord) challenging a ninja to prove his worth by stealing his pillow or weapon while he slept. Legendary abilities Superhuman or supernatural powers were sometimes associated with the ninja. Such powers include flight, invisibility, shapeshifting, the ability to "split" into multiple bodies, the summoning ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
.jpg "Click for more on -> Chinese Martial Arts")
