RYUU GA GOTOKU
KENZAN!
F.A.Q. / Walkthrough
by Patrick Coffman
([email protected])
(hatoriki on PSN)
Version 1.5 - Improved the "pleasure district girls" section. It's still going
to be a bit annoying, but I feel that anyone who knows little or no Japanese
can actually still pass these missions with the information provided. I've
included a new approach to the "random conversation" moments that will hope-
fully help people who can't read Japanese to find the appropriate responses.
I also added the historical section and improved a few various odds and ends.
5/11/08
NOTE: This FAQ is based upon the Japanese version of the game and the trans-
lations are the author's. They will be different from any official local-
izations.
Japanese text needed to make correct choices by import gamers cannot be
displayed at GameFAQs. This version will, therefore, not include any
Japanese text.
NOTE (2): Sometimes I will call the main character "Musashi," and other times, I
will call him "Kiryuu." I'm sorry for the confusion this creates!
SPOILER WARNING!!!! If you don't want spoilers, well...this is the wrong place
to check. Probably, the most spoiler-free place will be the "quick story
walkthrough" part of this F.A.Q., but don't count on it! I'm sorry in advance.
TABLE of CONTENTS:
1. INTRODUCTION
1a. How to Use This F.A.Q.
1b. A Word from the Author
1c. Mini-F.A.Q.
1d. How to Pronounce Japanese
2. The BASICS
2a. The Adventure
2a-I. Controls
2a-II. Display
2a-III. Start Menu Options
2a-IV. Building Up
2a-V. Story Progression
2b. Fighting
2b-I. Commands
2b-II. General Battle Advice
2b-III. Strategies for Enemies by Type
3. STORY WALKTHROUGH
3a. Prologue
3b. Chapter 1
3c. Chapter 2
3d. Chapter 3
3e. Chapter 4
3f. Chapter 5
3g. Chapter 6
3h. Chapter 7
3i. Chapter 8
3j. Chapter 9
3k. Chapter 10
3l. Chapter 11
3m. The Final Chapter
4. QUICK STORY WALKTHROUGH
5. APPENDICES
5a. Missions
5a-I. Favors
5a-II. Services
5a-III. Bounties
5b. Extra Skills & Power-Ups
5b-I. Revelations
5b-II. Gion Mute Doujou Training
5b-III. Zanki Doujou Training
5b-IV. Koetsu's Mansion Training
5b-V. Waterfall Training
5b-VI. Melon Cutting
5b-VII. Fighting the Man in the Tengu Mask
5b-VIII. Horseback Archery
5c. Houzouin Tournaments
5d. Romancing the Pleasure District Girls
5e. Skill Games & Gambling
5f. Storage Keys
5g. Maps
5h. Shops
5i. Items
5i-I. Weapons
5i-II. Armors
5i-III. Accessories
5i-IV. Healing Items
5i-V. Materials
5j. Main Characters List
5k. Completion Lists
6. EXTRAS
6a. Unlockables
6a-I. Unlockable Items
6a-II. Ultimate Fighting
6a-III. Galavanting in Kyoto
6b. The Hidden Boss
6c. Trivia
6d. Edo and Sengoku Period History 101
7. GLOSSARY
8. "THANK-YOU"'S
----------------
1. INTRODUCTION
----------------
---------------------------
1a. How to Use This F.A.Q.
---------------------------
Navigating the F.A.Q. should be simple. Even notepad has the "Find" feature.
I'd suggest using "Find" and typing in the exact text as it appears in the
Table of Contents. For instance, if it says "8a-1. The Abyss," then typing
in "8a-1. The Abyss" would get you there. Typing in "8a-1." would probably
work, too. I know F.A.Q.'s can get rather lengthy....
---------------------------
1b. A Word from the Author
---------------------------
Well...time to dust myself off and get with this "next generation" of gaming.
It actually made me a little angry to hear that Sega had announced a new Ryuu
ga Gotoku game for the PS3. Why? Because...I didn't own a PS3 yet. *ahem*
I'm a little cheap like that.
But, I digress. Ryuu ga Gotoku has moved from the PS2. Those U.S. fans out
there might have a little problem with this game because the first title was
originally released as "Yakuza." Obviously, you don't play a yakuza this time
around, per se; you play a ronin--that is, a member of a samurai household who
was not currently in service to a lord.
I do hope anyone who's played the other two games will have noticed that they
weren't so much crime games, like GTA, where you played a Japanese crime boss;
they were more like detective fiction games. This game is definitely in that
same vein; you play a jaded vagabond who knows the world isn't as great as it
appears on the surface trying to fulfill the desire to learn some deep, hidden
secret.
The same thing happens in this game, and I think you won't be disappointed if
you like that sort of thing. You won't be disappointed if you like cinematic
presentation, you won't be disappointed if you like great graphics, or great
story. Most of all, though, the fighting has the Ryuu ga Gotoku 2 feel, but is
improved (again). While it's still not the greatest system, it's very fun and
showcases brutal attacks.
So, here's my FAQ for this latest installment in this series.
----------------
1c. Mini-F.A.Q.
----------------
Here, I'll post some common questions about the game. Forgive smarmy answers.
OK; maybe, don't forgive them. It's your choice, I suppose. Have fun with that
high blood pressure, though.
Q: Ri-oo gookoo-koo-koo-koo, man--what's that??
A: First of all, games like this were designed with the Japanese market in
mind. So, if it offends you that you can't say the title, I'm sorry. It's
just that way sometimes. Such is the life for video game addicts.
So, although X-Play will undoubtedly make fun of the name yet again, a
Japanese title for a Japanese game makes sense. I only play the Japanese
versions, so, a lot of the names and such will differ.
As for the title, if you were curious, "Ryuu ga Gotoku" means "As A Dragon"
or "Like A Dragon," or something like that, in an old-fashioned way. The
subtitle, "Kenzan!" means something like "Behold!" or "(I Have) Appeared!" or
"I Am Here!" ...something like that. It's an old expression, again, and
exists pretty much solely as a stock phrase for samurai or ninja characters in
modern-day pop culture.
Q: So...are you Musashi?--as in, *the* Musashi?
A: Yes; you do, indeed, play Miyamoto Musashi, a real, historical figure.
Now, before you get all crazy making fun of Sony and crab bosses again, you
should understand that just because this is based on an historical figure,
that doesn't mean you should take this game as an account of the actual events
that happened in that person's life. In fact, there's simply not enough
documentation around, and we really don't know exactly what happened in the
real Musashi's life. In other words, this is all gonna just be a story.
I don't think we're supposed to think that Musashi is Kiryuu's ancestor,
just as we're not supposed to think Haruka is the ancestor of the Haruka in
the other games, Majima the ancestor of the Majima in the other games, Itou is
Date's ancestor, or anything like that--so please, no long essays going over
the specifics of why certain things are logically impossible, or anything like
that. Think of this as a game where the actors playing those roles in the
first couple of games were hired to play similar roles in a movie about the
samurai days.
In other words, don't think about stuff too much. Just enjoy it. You know,
like a movie about time travel.
Q: Um...why is Yakuza taking place in the 17the century?
A: Becaue the series isn't "Yakuza." It's "Ryuu ga Gotoku," as I mentioned
above, which means "like a dragon." Although you play an ex-yakuza in the
first two games, and the plot seems to focus around secret crime syndicates in
a modern Japan setting, this time, you don't, and it doesn't.
This really does seem like a side game...although many things repeat from
the previous series. The "zan" in "Kenzan!" (usually read "san") can be used
to mean "three," so it's definitely a pun there. But will they come out with
Ryuu ga Gotoku 4 after this, or will there be a game titled Ryuu ga Gotoku 3,
or, like...what? Well...I guess only time will tell.
Q: I hear samurai were all law-biding, good people, but ninja were treacherous
assassins. So, which one are you?
A: The samurai were actually a class of people in old Japan (until the mid-to-
late 19th century). This was definitely a "clan" mentality; your caste was
determined by birth. Actually, during those 250 years or so that the Tokugawa
Shogunate was in place, there were very little military campaigns going on,
and the "warrior" class consisted mainly of bureaucrats who managed the
affairs of the various states, rather than warriors who went around, fiercely
enforcing the law.
As for ninja, I'm sorry to break everyone's heart out there who so wanted to
hear explanations of the Koga and Iga valleys and how the clans used their
magic and punished evil despots or whatever, but, the truth is that ninja did
not exist--at least, not aything near the way you think of them. The truth is
that "ninja" was just an older word that literally means "one who carries out
clandestine things"--in other words, anyone doing covert operations could
technically be called a "ninja." But, that's beside the point. The plain
truth of the matter is that, although they appear in popular culture (that's
the game you're playing), ninja didn't exist.
There's much more information on Japanese history in my subsection of the
"Extras" section. My point here is that the "traditional" view of old Japan
is a little off in the West, and you'd probably just be best served by think-
ing of this game as another "noir"-esque, detective fiction.
Q: Are there unlockables? Extras? Hidden things? Hidden bosses?
A: All the answers can be near the end of the FAQ in the "Extras" section.
I don't want to put the answers too early on in the FAQ, because people may
get mad that I spoiled it.
Q: OK, so it's 1605. Is Kiryuu still a badass?
A: Yeah--very much so. You still smash people over the head with things, you
stab people a billion times or so, and you ram people's heads into objects
over and over. If that were missing, this wouldn't be Ryuu ga Gotoku, now,
would it?
Q: How is this game compared to the rest of the series?
A: It's got a much bigger setting and has tons of stuff to do, its graphics
are great, and the fighting has been smoothed out some more. But, there are
some things I really liked in Ryuu ga Gotoku 2 better. So, maybe, it's a
little early to tell, but I think my favorite might still be #2. Having said
that, this is an excellent game and everyone who has a PS3 should get it. I
bought a PS3 just to play this game, actually....
Q: What are the good points of this game?
A: This game has a great presentation, with a very good story acted by famous,
talented performers, full of both good drama and a particular brand of humor I
(usually) find pretty funny. It's also got various ways to slash people into
a bajillion pieces (don't worry, squeemish types--nobody loses any limbs or
anything, despite how brutal the attacks look). If you like Zelda-esque
exploration or games with tons of stuff to do, there's those elements, too.
In fact, there are lots of side games and items to find. If you like dungeon
crawlers, where you just keep running around, fighting guys, trying to find
items and such, well, that's in there, too.
Those who played the second game know that there were completion lists
offered in the start menu and that the game could be replayed over and over,
so there was a lot of replay value to get 100% of everything. I know this is
a spoiler, but, well, that's back again. One good change they've made this
time is that the side quests will reappear in subsequent plays through--in the
second title, you inherited the list from the previous play, so, you couldn't
"right" any wrong choices. This way, if you play through the game again, you
can redo things and hope to get "complete" in all of the side quests.
Q: What are the bad points of this game?
A: I'd have to start by mentioning that the fighting system, although it is
fairly simple and vastly improved over the first game's, can still cause some
irritation. This time, it's not so much the problems with the lock-on or
with getting trapped rushing forward in one direction while enemies walk
willy-nilly around you--no; this time, the frustration is simply in the
attacks some characters have. Firstly, almost all characters have a quick hit
that will cause Kiryuu to slowly collapse for a long time. This is inescap-
able, and, although it almost never does a lot of damage, not usually even
followed up by other enemy attacks, so it just seems to waste time while you
pound on the buttons to make Kiryuu stand again. And, enemies seem to just
wait around to hit you with this attack at the very instant you unleash a
heavy hit on another enemy, thus leaving you with no defense against it. The
other issue I had with the fighting was the sumo rikishi-type opponents, who
could seemingly defy all the rules of the game and rush about, grabbing you
lackadaisically, while being invulnerable to almost all attacks.
Besides combat, there is an issue common to nearly all video games on the
market these days: namely, overexpansion. Games these days have to have just
tons and tons of stuff crammed into them so that you artificially are forced
to take hundreds and hundreds of hours on each title. While it's good to have
a game with hidden things or side quests to break up the action, I feel that
today's trends in design sometimes make games more of a chore than something
fun. For instance, Rogue Galaxy was a nice little title, but it seemed like
after each ten hours of trying to do some menial, repetitive side task, some
new element such as fish racing or bug raising would be introduced. This way,
each town (planet in that title) took a long, long, long time to complete.
There are definitely some things in this game that are like that. You will
find yourself repeating some tasks over and over, and I think many players
will be tempted to just go on with the main story. It turns out that that's
definitely fine, because the game is never very difficult, even on the harder
settings, but since almost no superfluous material is carried over from one
play through to the next, you'll basically need to strive to complete every-
thing all at once. Before, it was more cumulative, so, you could just keep
playing through and focusing on specific instances each time. If you didn't
get it, well, nevermind; you could just take care of other things left undone
and get it the next time around. It doesn't work that way this time.
Q: I don't like weapons brawlers--I like beatin' guys down. Would I still like
this game?
A: Well, I can't say who would and wouldn't like it, but, there's plenty of
unarmed tecnhiques in the game, too. The fact is that even though you do
mostly wield swords, you can use hand-to-hand combat most of the time, too.
I think that the game feels more like the other, mostly hand-to-hand games,
than weapons-based brawlers (i.e. Golden Axe, Crystal of Kings, Shin Sangoku
Musou, etc).
Q: I loved ________ in the last game. Is there a ________ this time?
A: Probably. Even though the year has changed, pretty much all of the gameplay
elements are back. Cabaret clubs have been replaced with ageya brothels, the
fighting arena is now in a temple instead of underground in the River Styx
area, there's still all sorts of weird things to buy around town and fill in
completion lists, there are people who request your help for the side missions
and such, etc., etc. You can even get mail the same as the cell phone; you
get it delivered to you by pigeon.
Q: Where are the stairs? Where can you jump off a high height? Where are the
"bellows?"
A: For those trying to complete the Heat Actions, let me just point out that
everything will be explained in the completion lists section. The easiest
spot to get the often-overlooked Heat Actions for pushing a guy down stairs or
the one learned by watching the swallows fly around for single sword is at the
Riverside Path. The other often-overlooked spot is the place where you can
find bellows. There's a fight during the side mission "Riot at the Black-
smith's" that takes place back in the actual forge. You'll see the pit of hot
embers. Grab a guy and bring him by there, then hit Triangle in Heat Mode
and voila!
Q: OK, so...I got the last revelation from the bull, where he knocks the farmer
up into the air. That one never works. Why?
A: The instructions don't say so, but, it looks like you have to be drunk when
you perform this Heat Action. I'm not sure if it has something to do with
your Heat Gauge (since being drunk affects the gauge), but, you pretty much
have to be drunk. Also, make sure you aren't locked on, because then you'll
just do a different Heat Action.
Q: OK, well, now I still have the revelation of the meditating monk (the one
where I watched a dog sitting in a circle) to take care of. Why won't this
work?
A: This one's a little frustrating, as it's very picky and tends not to come
out. It seems like you must be locked on to an enemy, even though the
instructions don't mention that. The trouble is that you have to get a good
distance away, and sometimes it just won't work because your Heat Gauge went
down slightly in that time. All I can say is that you should remember to
lock on and try it over and over. It'll eventually work. It's not even
really worth it....
Q: OK, so...I got that special super move for completing all the Heat Actions.
So...what's the deal? How do you dizzy people?
A: This is very anti-climactic. The attack isn't anywhere near as useful as it
was in Ryuu ga Gotoku 2. There are very few instances when a foe will be
dizzy. One way to dizzy light and medium enemies is to do a charge attack
(hold Triangle, release) with a bokutou-like weapon. Only some bokutou drop-
ped by enemies or some of the swords you steal by doing the "Swordless Catch"
super move have this effect. The sword you're looking for is the kind where
when you attack, Kiryuu punches with the hilt rather than slashing (Tekken?
Yoshimitsu? Wha--?). Even then, not all of the weapons of that type will
dizzy opponents. Since this super move doesn't even show up on any list, it's
just there for show, anyway.
Q: I just cannot defeat that special, "secret-boss"-like opponent on Expert.
What should I do?
A: On Normal and Hard difficulties, you should learn to re-guard and to use the
Tengu Ashi ("Tengu Step") moves to cancel attack strings. Bring lots of heal-
ing items. Bring lots of Resurrection Amulets.
But...going head-to-head with him on Expert is very, very tough. It can
even be tough on the other difficulties if you aren't good at backstepping
and keeping him at a certain range! So...if you just really need to defeat
him, here's what I recommend: go through the game on Expert without fighting
him. This will give you a rather powerful item that grants infinite super
energy. With that equipped, you should be nigh invincible. Use the "Ascend-
ing Fish" super move on him over and over.
Q: Is this an accurate representation of life back then?
A: Yeah. They had bowling in Japan at the time. Hang gliders, too--even
baseball bats. The postal service was also extremely fast!
No, it's not historically accurate, but...whatever. Just have fun!
Q: What's with all the prostitution, man? Besides, they don't seem like pro-
stitutes to me--they're just like cabaret club girls. Right?
A: Well, yes and no. On one hand, you can claim that even cabaret clubs are a
form of prostitution--it's all part of the sex industry, even if actual sexual
intercourse is not involved. On the other hand, in those days in the pleasure
districts like Gion in Kyoto, the ageya brothels did involve sleeping with the
women--it's just a fact.
From a world-conscious standpoint, this is part of the culture of the area
and time. The women were not seen as dirty, horrible people, or put down so
much as prostitutes have been in Western cultures--especially not as much as
they are in America. Rather, they were seen as tragic figures who were doing
what they could for their families, which was one of the noblest pursuits in
Japan at that time. Most often, poorer families would have more daughters
than they knew what to do with, since males inherited everything, and all they
could hope for was that a nice man would come along and marry them. Many
women were sold to brothels as a way to make money for their poor family
rather than simply depend upon them. Also, consider the limited options the
women of the time had--basically, they would need to marry into a nice house
and take on the housework and home businesses such as home manufacturing or
farming, or they could become a Buddhist nun or a prostitute. That's about
all they could do for that period, which wasn't really so different from many
other parts of the world.
But still, it is a little difficult to get past. No matter how they trans-
late this one, they're not going to be able to hide the fact that the women in
this game live in the sex industry. It is a sad thing, and it was seen as a
sad thing back then. But, this is the super-romanticized version of Edo
Period history, after all, and probably, it's not really worth worrying so
much about. In the game, after all, the women are shown as finding freedom
through this industry.
Q: I hate you and your blessed FAQ!
A: OK!
------------------------------
1d. How to Pronounce Japanese
------------------------------
I know many people take Japanese now, and are used to hearing it from their
subtitled DVD's and such, but when I was growing up in America, there were many
people who couldn't say anything right ever. "Ryuu" (the character from "Street
Fighter") became "RYE-you," and his famous "Shouryuuken" move became all sorts
of things--the "All You Can" is my favorite.
Anyway, enough ranting. Japanese is a fairly monotone language filled with
polysyllabic words. Here's how to pronounce the consonants:
"k" = "k" as in "kite." The "k" sound is harshly aspirated in Japanese and
sometimes sounds like a "t" to English speakers because of that. In other
words, a strong puff of air comes from the lungs when saying this often.
"g" = "g" as in "good." This is a voiced "k." Also,
= "ng" as in "fang" when it comes in the middle of a word quite often,
especially in the Tokyo area.
"s" = "s" as in "lapse." The "s" in Japanese is a rather "hard" "s". It's
actually with the tongue pressed up closer to the roof of the mouth than in
English.
= "sh" as in "shape." This occurs before the "i" and "y" sounds.
TO AVOID CONFUSION I SHALL WRITE IT AS "sh" IN THESE INSTANCES.
"z" = "dz" as in "gadzooks!" The "d" is slight, so often it will sound just
like an English "z;" a voiced "s."
= "j" as in "jam." This occurs before the "i" and "y" sounds.
TO AVOID CONFUSION I SHALL WRITE IT AS "j" IN THESE INSTANCES.
"t" = "t" as in "top." Actually, this "t" is not heavily aspirated, so it
may sometimes sound like a "k" or a "d" to some English speakers.
= "ch" as in "chopper." Again, not seriously aspirated, this appears only
before the "i" and "y" sounds.
TO AVOID CONFUSION I SHALL WRITE IT AS "ch" IN THESE INSTANCES.
= "ts" as in "lets" before a "u."
TO AVOID CONFUSION I SHALL WRITE IT AS "ts" IN THIS INSTANCE.
"d" = "d" as in "don't." A voiced "t."
"n" = ... This is difficult. There are two different sounds written "n" in
Romanised Japanese.
"n" at the beginning of a syllable = "n" as in "not."
"n" by itself is its own syllable; no vowel is needed. This is a different
"letter" in the Japanese writing system, and is similar to the French
"n." In other words, the tongue doesn't touch the roof of the mouth and
a nasal sound is produced.
Before "p," "b," and "m," the lips close and this sound comes out like
an "m."
TO AVOID CONFUSION I SHALL WRITE IT AS "n'" IF IT COMES BEFORE A VOWEL AND
SHOULD BE PRONOUNCED AS THE "FRENCH 'N'." ALSO, I SHALL WRITE IT AS "m"
BEFORE LABIAL SOUNDS.
"h" = "h" as in "hat." This is actually a "hard h;" the tongue is, again,
raised up agains the roof of the mouth (farther back than the "s") and the
air almost hisses out.
= "f" as in.... Well, our "f" is just an approximation. When the lips
are pursed for "u," the air puffs out and sounds like an "f." The lip should
not touch the teeth, generally. This occurs only before the "u" sound.
TO AVOID CONFUSION I SHALL WRITE IT AS "f" IN THIS INSTANCE.
"b" = "b" as in "boy."
"p" = "p" as in "pad."
"m" = "m" as in "map."
"y" = "y" as in "you." Not that this comes right after other consonants
frequently and should be pronounced the same but with the other consonant
attached to its front; NOT AS ANOTHER SYLLABLE. For example, "kyuu" is
not "KYE-you" or something like that; it's more like "Q" as in "the letter
'Q.'"
"r" = ... Well, unfortunately, this one's a bit tricky. The tongue generally
flaps against the raised ridge behind the front teeth on the roof of the mouth
and sounds like the "tt" in "butter" in the middle of words, and comes fully
in contact with them at the beginning of words to make more of a conventional
"l" sound.
"w" = "w" as in "wane."
There are five vowels in Japanese writing:
"a" = "a" as in "father."
"i" = "ee" as in "feet." After a "voiceless" consonant (p, k, etc), the "i"
sound is muted; almost whispered with no voice. To many, it sounds like it
vanishes, but it doesn't completely.
"u" = "oo" as in "loop." Just like "i," after voiceless consonants the "u"
sound seems to vanish, but just gets quite muted and becomes almost voiceless.
"e" = "ay" as in "say," sorta. It's kind of between there and the "e" in "bet."
"o" = "oh" as in "oh, man!"
Vowels are read each after the other (without the gutteral break in "uh-oh!").
This makes pseudo-diphthongs as such:
"ai" = "ah + ee." Sounds similar to "eye."
"au" = "ah + ooh." Sounds similar to "ow" as in "cow."
"ae" = "ah + eh." No equivalent.
"ao" = "ah + oh." No equivalent.
Also, vowels can be lengthened. This means you say the vowel twice (again
without a break); making it last longer. It doesn't mean there's some weird
other sound (such as the difference between long and short vowels in English).
Here is a list of the ways I will lengthen the vowels:
"aa" or "a-"
"ii" or "i-"
"uu" or "u-"
"ei" or "e-" or "ee" Note that "ei" is sometimes pronounced as two "e" sounds
and sometimes as an "e" + "i." The difference is negligable and most Japanese
people wouldn't distinguish it.
"ou" or "o-" or "oh" or "oo" Again, "ou" is sometimes pronounced as two "o"
sounds and someitmes as as "o" + "u." The difference, again, is negligable.
The reason for "oo" to show up is because of the way the word would be written
in Japanese script, usually using the word "big" ("ookii" or "ooi" [rare, but
used as a prefix often].)
In other words, it's not "GOW-key." It's not "GOO-key." It's "GO-key." (the
"Street Fighter" character Gouki, that is.)
Consonants can be lengthened, too. This makes it sound like the word has
stopped and paused for a split second. Hold your mouth in the position of
the consonant. Sometimes it makes it sound a bit more stressed; like the
muscles were more tense than usual in the mouth. This takes a bit of practice
sometimes. Most consonants can do this, and they will be written twice.
Here is a listing of all the syllables that occur in modern Japanese:
a ka sa ta na ha ma ya ra wa ga za da ba pa n(or "m")
i ki shi chi ni hi mi ri gi ji ji bi pi
u ku su tsu nu fu mu yu ru gu zu zu bu pu
e ke se te ne he me re ge ze de be pe
o ko so to no ho mo yo ro wo* go zo do bo po
kya sha cha nya hya mya rya gya ja ja bya pya
kyu shu chu nyu hyu myu ryu gyu ju ju byu pyu
kyo sho cho nyo hyo myo ryo gyo jo jo byo pyo
*--This is really pronounced the same as "o" except by some pre-WWII people.
It's listed here because it's usually used as a "particle word."
"Stressing" syllables should usually only occur with elongated vowels and
syllables starting with a stopped (doubled) consonant. There are some words
that have clear "stress," but many words have none at all.
Lastly, note that I will use an apostrophe to separate sounds that I feel
need to be separated so you can pronounce them correctly. This will probably
only occur with "n" sounds in the middle of words (that's the nasal, solitary
"n" that is its own syllable) and long vowel patterns. For example, "Ma'ou"
should be pronounced "ma + oh (long)"--tho' I'll probably forget the apostrophe
sometimes in this instance. "In'e" should be pronounced "i + n + e;" not "i +
ne."
--------------
2. The BASICS
--------------
------------------
2a. The Adventure
------------------
2a-I. Controls
---------------
D-Pad: In battles, press one of the four cardinal directions on the D-Pad to
select your various weapons. You can equip three weapons to these slots from
the "start button" menu. Hitting down will cause you to become unarmed, or to
drop a weapon you've picked up off the ground when in hand-to-hand mode.
Also used to navigate menus.
Left Analog Stick: Moves Kiryuu around and moves the cursor in menus. Also,
quickly move the stick back and forth to help Kiryuu stand faster when lying
on the ground, or to make him recover more quickly from status ailments such
as being made dizzy.
Right Analog Stick: Moves the camera. You can't change the camera angle in
enclosed spaces too much--they still haven't gotten the hang of transparen-
cies, so the camera can't "move" through objects. You can't move the camera
in certain other areas where it's fixed, such as near exits from areas.
Start Button: Mainly used to pause the game and bring up the menu. Also brings
the title screen when the attract movie is playing, starts the game from the
title screen, and skips "cut scenes" (movies) if the correct option is set in
the options menu.
Select Button: Pauses the game and displays what chapter you're in and what
your next objective is for the main story. You have two options on this
menu. The right option is "cancel," but the left option is "to the Title
Screen." After you select that, it will ask you to confirm. "Yes" is on the
left, and "no" is on the right. Of course, you'll lose all unsaved data if
you quit.
Square: Mostly used to perform light attacks. Tapping this button quickly
will also help Kiryuu recover from status ailments such as stuns and help him
to stand more quickly.
Triangle: Mostly used to perform heavy attacks. This is also the button that
Heat Moves are assigned to. You will also be prompted to repeatedly tap it in
certain events to escape holds and things like that, and you'll be prompted to
press it to continue certain Heat Actions such as stomping on peoples' faces.
Rapidly tapping this will help Kiryuu escape status ailments such as stuns and
to stand more quickly.
This button is also used for certain options in the menus, such as listing the
places of interest on a map.
Circle: Mostly used to attempt holds and throws, pick up and throw weapons, or
kick when armed.
On a Japanese PS3, this is the "confirm" button. On an American one, it's the
"cancel" button.
Similarly, this is the "examine" button on a Japanese PS3.
Also, when held down while the R1 button is held down, you can rapidly skip
all written dialogue (in the JP version; the U.S. PS3 needs the X held down)!
X: Most often used to Sway or Roll, but you must also tap this button quickly
to escape status ailments such as stuns, to help Kiryuu stand up when he's
on the ground, or to escape throws. You can also use this to recover from
being knocked in the air (the ukemi-like "Nekogaeri" move).
On a Japanese PS3, this is the "cancel" button, but it's the "confirm" button
on an American PS3.
Similarly, this is the "examine" button on a U.S. PS3.
It's also the button you hold down in the U.S. PS3 together with the R1 but-
ton to skip written dialogue!
L1: Press (and hold) to guard. Also, zooms out while viewing the map in the
"Map" option from the Start Button Menu.
L2: This "rights" the camera, setting it behind Kiryuu. Also used to "zoom in"
when consulting the maps in the "start button" menu.
L3 (press the left analog stick in): Toggles the on-screen mini-map between a
wider view, a closer view, and no mini-map at all.
R1: Hold down to "lock on" to the nearest enemy. Kiryuu can only sway to the
side or backwards while locked on, and his moves set changes slightly. Also,
zooms out on the map in the "Map" option in the pause menu.
Also, you can hold this button and the Circle button down together to rapidly
skip all written dialogue!
R2: Taunt. This will build up your Heat Gauge slightly. This button will also
"zoom in" when consulting maps in the "start button" menu.
R3 (press the right analog stick in): "Rights" the camera, moving it behind
Kiryuu.
2a-II. Display
---------------
The orange, thicker bar on top is your health, and the lower, bluish-white bar
is your Heat Gauge. The thinner atop the health gauge represents your ex-
perience. The circle in the lower left-hand corner of your screen is the on-
screen mini-map, upon which the blue dot is Kiryuu and the little, yellow dots
are enemies. Glowing red dots and arrows pointing towards them at the edge of
the circle are your destinations. Glowing green dots and their green arrows are
destinations for sub-quests or optional events.
2a-III. Start Menu Options
---------------------------
When you pause the game with the Start button, you'll get what I call the "Start
Menu." It still displays your health, experience, and Heat gauges, as well as
your current money, but it will also show you the map of the current area, your
level and experience, and a hint as to where you should go to advance the main
story.
There are also ten options on the left side of the screen. Here are those
options, from top to bottom:
1. Items
Kiryuu can carry 15 items with him. Here, you can use them with the "confirm"
button or drop them with the Triangle button.
In addition, you can hit the R1 button to look at your "Important Items."
These are story items, such as things required for side quests. You can view
them with the "confirm" button (which will also display the text of books such
as the ones needed to make different weapons), or return to the normal Items
menu with the "cancel" or R1 buttons.
2. Equipment
As you can see from the way they've displayed it on the right, the top four
slots assign your weapons. You'll usually have two slots for the "dual wield"
option (left on the D-Pad), one slot for the "miscellaneous" option (up on the
D-Pad), and one slot for "single sword" option (right on the D-Pad). For
more information, check the "combat" section.
To the right of each weapon's name are their stats. First is Attack Power,
then comes Sword Strength, then comes Speed. For more information, check the
"combat" section.
Below those lines is your unarmed attack, which only lists Attack Power.
You can't select this line.
Below that, there are three more slots. These are your defensive items. The
first is your armor and the other two are for accessories. To the right of
the item names are four statistics, which read (from top to bottom): Physical
Attacks, Bladed Weapons, Bullets, and Fire. These obviously represent your
defense against those different attacks.
I should note that the above descriptions may make more sense outside of the
Gion area. There are really two screens here--one for your equipment in Gion
and one for your equipment wherever bladed weapons are allowed (pretty much
everywhere else). Inside Gion, there are only a few weapons you can equip--
mostly, smoking pipes (kiseru). Since you don't have the option of dual-
wielding, there will be one less slot in the weapons area. Defensive items
are allowed, however.
Press R1 to switch back and forth between the two equipment screens.
3. Map
This will bring up the map of your current area. You can zoom in with the
"confirm" button or L2 or R2, and zoom out with the "cancel" button or R1 or
L1. You may want to use the R1/L1 method to zoom out, since hitting "cancel"
will get you back to the Start Button menu, and you may want to zoom all the
way out to the main map instead.
Once you've zoomed in all the way, you can move the cursor around with the
left analog stick. Passing over a street will tell you its name--and passing
over a building you can enter will tell you its name, too.
Once you've zoomed out all the way, you'll be on what looks like a painting of
the entire area. You can select which map you'd like to look at with the
D-Pad or left analog stick and the "confirm" button.
Once you're looking at an area, you can also hit Triangle to bring up a list
of the points of interest (such as shops). You can hit Triangle or the
"cancel" button when in this list to exit, but if you just hit Start, you'll
leave little arrows pointing at the shop you last highlighted. This way, you
can find it a little more easily on your mini-map.
4. Check Abilities
This option will tell you how strong you are. The left side of the screen
will tell you your statistics. From top to bottom, it reads: level, total
experience, experience needed to level up, maximum health, maximum fighting
spirit (Heat Energy), your strength...and I'm afraid the final one is written
in such small print that my poor eyes can't see the kanji. But, I think it's
probably endurance? I don't have a high-definition TV.
There are two main options here, below those statistics. The top one is "all
of the Tiger Scroll," which basically will get you into a menu that will tell
you about the various basics to the game. The bottom one will display the
various skills you've been taught or learned through training. There are
eight categories. From top to bottom, they read: Gion Mute-Style Techniques
Learned, Zanki-Style Techniques Learned, fights with the man in the Tengu
Mask, Scarecrow Formation Records, Jiraiya-Style Practice Records, Waterfall
Training Records, Shugendo Training (Melon Cutting), and a Super Techniques
List.
5. Letters
Once you can receive letters, they will appear here, so you can check them
later. Ones with the red mark on them have been read already.
6. Completion Lists
These are lists in nine different categories. You can keep them as checklists
so you can check how well you're doing. When you complete them, you just
might get something good (hint, hint, without spoiling too much--check my
"extras" section). I'll tell you what exactly is on each list in the appen-
dices.
7. People
This will give you a brief introduction for some of the key characters.
8. Memos
This section tells you about most of the side quests you were working on.
There are three options: Favors, Services, and Bounties. The actual Japanese
word for the "favors" category is "requests," but, you are often not asked to
do anything in these. Don't worry; you don't do much for free in this game.
"Favors" are the "missions" of the previous games; people about town talk
about things and you solve the problems. "Services" are jobs you undertake--
remember, Kiryuu is sort-of a "Jack-of-all-trades" and takes on odd jobs like
collecting debts or being a bodyguard. These are tasks you'll get letters
for. The actual words used in Japanese for "bounties" is "delivery orders,"
but it's not product you're delivering--it's people wanted by officials.
I'll discuss this in the "Missions" appendix. Just so you know, there are 100
Favors, 20 Services, and 20 Bounties.
This screen will also display what chapter you're in and point you towards
your next story point.
9. Glossary
If you're playing the Japanese version and you don't know any Japanese, this
section really isn't going to help. I should note that even if you do know
Japanese, you might not need this section, because archaic terms used in
text will generally be highlighted, and you can hit Triangle while viewing
that dialogue to have a box appear and explain the terms to you.
10. Settings
There are seven different settings: Camera Control (Vertical) - Reverse,
Normal ("Normal" is default), Camera Control (Horizontal) - Reverse, Normal
("Normal" is default), Mini-Map Display (Top of Mini-Map) - North, Forward
("North" is default), Subtitles - Off, On ("On" is default), Event Skip -
Off, On ("Off" is default), Screen Brightness, and Font Settings - Auto,
Mincho, and Gothic ("Auto" is default).
Note that if you change the settings, the game will prompt you to save. This
is only a system save--it does not save current game data.
2a-IV. Building Up
-------------------
In previous titles, you assigned experience manually to build Kiryuu up in three
different statistics, similar to an Onimusha title. This way, you could direct
his development.
However, in this game, you just level up, as in any RPG. When the bar at the
top of the screen fills up, you'll gain a level. Text will appear on the screen
to tell you what you gained. You can also check this out yourself from the
Start Menu, bu choosing the fourth option from the top (Check Abilities). If
you'd rather not rely on a vague bar, on the Start Menu, under the map on the
right side, you can see your level and experience needed to level up.
So, how do you build up? Well, go out there and fight guys! You'll see a lot
of thugs and ruffians standing around, waiting to attack you. Fighting them
will give you experience. Those who played the previous games will now probably
notice that HEAT ACTIONS NO LONGER YIELD EXPERIENCE BONUSES. You are rewarded
for the type of enemy you fought. Before, you could trap guys into getting hit
with your super moves and get a little bit extra that way. Now, there is ONLY
A BONUS FOR ON-SCREEN BUTTON PROMPT SEQUENCES (similar to Shenmue's Q.T.E.'s).
Sorry to put that in all caps, but, it's pretty important. These on-screen
button prompts can be from weapons lying around the stages that you pick up when
in the "unarmed" style. When you use the heat action for rocks, for example,
you break it over the guy's head, then you have to ram on the circle button
until you run out of heat or he runs out of health. This will give you a bonus
to your experience--but it only seems to do it once per battle. So, it's not
really worth it to focus on Heat Actions--except for the heavy damage that they
inflict.
Now, to get your various attacks and skills and such, you'll need to learn
pretty much all of them from specific occurrences in the game. Before, you
could learn some from Komaki Soutarou. Well, he's back (as Komaki Souzaemon),
but there are also a few other places to learn techniques, as well as techniques
you learn from divine inspiration (Revelations).
I'll detail all of that later, in the appendices. Just so you know, you now
need to actually go out and learn the techniques; you don't get them through
levelling up. That only seems to effect your statistics.
Unfortunately, neither your skills nor your techniques will carry over in
other plays through the game. So, you will always have the same set of tech-
niques and skills and heat actions and such available at the various points of
the game, pretty much.
2a-V. Story Progression
------------------------
As Musashi's story unfolds, you will often have to run from point a to point b
and push things forward. However, you may be wise to notice that you do not
have to run DIRECTLY to point b (most of the time).
The glowing red dots on the map will show you your next story point (usually),
but you're going to be thrust into a world that acts as sort-of the overworld
map for RPG's. You'll want to explore everything you can and take care of the
side stories that appear. By taking care of side stories, you will gain not
only large experience bonuses, making you stronger for the next big fight just
around the corner at the end of the chapter, but you'll also be able to get
items and techniques you might normally overlook. In fact, you pretty much have
to do side quests to get all of Kiryuu's techniques this time around.
Pretty much every chapter starts with cinemas, leaves you on your own to wan-
der about town in an investigations phase, and then goes back to cinemas and
boss battles. So, taking care of whatever you want before fighting the next
boss is advised.
You can take care of side things later, but you don't really have control over
one thing: the time of day. Certain events only happen at certain times of the
day. You can change the time of day in the last chapter, but, you won't be
able to go back into the Gion area, so if you want to leave everything until the
end, bear in mind that you should finish up all the Gion events (including the
items from the storage lockers) while you can in the storyline!
This time, it's going to be difficult to get 100%. Most people will probably
just race through the story after a while, since it's fairly easy to do so.
It's up to you. You get some pretty cool items for doing 100% of the completion
lists, which will be carried over into later plays, and there is a hidden boss
who only appears if you do 100% of the side missions, so, you may want to try
and check those out sometime. But, since completion lists don't carry over
this time around, you'll pretty much have to do them all in one go, so, be care-
ful!
-------------
2b. Fighting
-------------
Fighting is still pretty much what the game's all about, even if they did
include a large number of side games. Sorry to all you GTA fans; this still
isn't a GTA game. It's a brawler, like Final Fight, Tenchi wo Kurau II,
Spikeout!, Dynamite Deka, Double Dragon, or what have you. So, you should be
familiar with the fighting system!
2b-I. Commands
---------------
LEGEND (I don't think you can configure the controls, but just in case, I'll
list the defaults)
Square = Weak attack button.
Triangle = Heavy attack button.
X = Sway button.
Circle = Grapple button.
L1 = Guard button.
R1 = Shift / Lock-On button.
R2 = Taunt button.
, = Then.... In other words, "Square, Triangle" means you hit square, and then
after that, you hit triangle (you don't press them together)
+ = Together. In other words, "Towards + X" means you press towards the
opponent and hit X; you don't a direction, let go of the stick, then hit the
button.
Hold = Keep the button held down for a duration of time.
Hold long = Keep the button held down for a longer period of time than just
"hold."
Forward = Press the left analog stick in the direction Kiryuu faces.
Back = Press the left analog stick away from the direction Kiryuu faces.
Left = Press the left analog stick to the left from the way Kiryuu's facing.
Right = Press the left analog stick to the right from the way Kiryuu's facing.
(Back) = Press the left analog stick in a direction other than the one Kiryuu
faces.
(Free) = Don't forgot *not* to lock on; don't press R1.
(Lock) = Must be "locked on"; while holding R1.
(Behind) = When behind an enemy. Sidestep when they attack or while paralyzed.
(Goku) = When prompted; while the "goku" kanji flashes.
(Heat Move) = Move can only be done in Heat Mode.
(Wall) = Near an environmental hazard such as a wall, bench, river, etc.
(Down) = While Kiryuu's lying on the ground.
(Falling) = While Kiryuu's flying through the air from being knocked down.
Front = While the enemy is facing Kiryuu.
Behind = While the enemy is facing away from Kiryuu.
Light = Effects light enemies.
Medium = Effects medium enemies.
Heavy = Effects heavy enemies.
Heat bonus = Increases your Heat Energy.
High Heat bonus = Increases your Heat Energy noticeably.
Heat cost = Costs Heat Energy.
High Heat cost = Costs a large amount of Heat energy.
Guard Break = Enemies who guard this move are temporarily stunned.
Knockdown = Enemies who get hit by this will be floored.
Dizzy = Makes enemy stand still a moment, seeing stars.
Collapse = Enemy slowly collapses to the floor.
Burn = Enemy becomes set on fire, taking extra damage.
UNARMED STYLE
-------------
Move: SINGLE-SWORD STYLE
Command:
Right on D-Pad outside Gion
Move: GREATSWORD / KODACHI / MISCELLANEOUS STYLE
Command:
Up on D-Pad outside Gion
Note that readying a greatsword weapon is an attack that hits nearby enemies.
Move: DUAL-WIELD STYLE
Command:
Left on D-Pad outside Gion
Move: READY GION WEAPON
Command:
Up or Left or Down on D-Pad inside Gion
Obviously, which weapon you ready depends on which ones you have equipped for
use in Gion.
Move: TWIN JABS, UPPERCUT
Commands:
Square, Square, Square
(Free) (Back) + Square, Square, Square, Square
Not too much to say here.
Move: TENGU ASHI
Commands:
Square, X
Square, Square, X
Square, Square, Square, X (cancels last attack)
(Free) (Back) + Square, X
(Free) (Back) + Square, Square, X
(Free) (Back) + Square, Square, Square, X
(Free) (Back) + Square, Square, Square, Square, X (cancels last attack)
Heat cost. Directional input changes direction of sidestep. Acts as a sway.
*Learn from sparring with the man in the tengu mask
Move: STRAIGHT TOE KICK
Command:
Triangle
Strikes through moves that evade Square attacks.
Move: GION MUTE STYLE PURGATORY PALM (GION MUTERYUU RENGOKUSHOU)
Command:
Hold Triangle, release
Hold until aura forms around Musashi. Light, Medium knockdown. High Heat gain.
*Learn from Komaki
Move: BACKSTEP
Command:
X
Move: BACKFLIP
Command:
X (or any direction + X), X
Move: SIDESTEP
Command:
Left or Right + X
Move: SIDE ROLL
Command:
X (or any direction + X), Left or Right + X
Move: FORWARD STEP
Command:
Forward + X
Move: FORWARD ROLL
Command:
X (or any direction + X), Forward + X
Move: PICK UP WEAPON
Command:
Circle near object with triangle marker
-> "OTHER STYLES" section
Move: GION MUTE STYLE BOWL SMASHER (GION MUTERYUU HACHI KUZUSHI) (Heat Move)
Command:
(Heat Mode) Triangle near short elevation with enemy in front of you
A good spot for this is at the Riverside Path, near the little tables for the
tea houses. Knocks down. Heat cost.
*Learn from Komaki
Move: GION MUTE STYLE HARQUEBUS MUFFLER (GION MUTERYUU HINAWAFUUJI) (Heat Move)
Command:
(Heat Mode) Triangle near an enemy with a firearm
Knocks down. Heat cost.
*Learn from Komaki
Move: INFINITE HOPELESS WASTELAND (MUMYOU ARANO) (Heat Move)
Command
(Heat Mode) Triangle near an enemy who is dizzy
Knocks down. Heat cost.
"Mumyou" means "ignorance," in a religious sense; the ignorance of the fluid
nature of the world and the impermanence of things. It is the basic, primary
origin of suffering in the world. In a human life, it comes before birth; so,
another name might be something like "The Big Sleep."
*Learn by completing "Heat Actions" list
Move: GION MUTE STYLE SWORDLESS CATCH (GION MUTERYUU MUTOU TORI) (Heat Move)
Command:
(Heat Mode) (Lock) Triangle as sword-using enemy attacks Musashi
Must be used against an opponent with a sword or a bokutou. Knocks down.
Heat cost. Ends with Musashi holding the enemy's weapon.
*Learn from Komaki
Move: GION MUTE STYLE MUTE REVERSAL - GENBU (GION MUTERYUU MUTEGAESHI GENBU)
(Heat Move)
Command:
(Heat Mode) Triangle as enemy attacks Musashi from the front
Knocks down. Heat cost.
*Learn from Komaki
Move: GION MUTE STYLE SWORDLESS SPINNING DEATH (GION MUTERYUU MUTOU TENSATSU)
(Heat Move)
Command:
(Heat Mode) Triangle as enemy attacks Musashi from the front while health bar
is flashing red
Knocks down. Heat cost.
*Learn from Komaki
Move: GION MUTE STYLE MUTE REVERSAL - SUZAKU (GION MUTERYUU MUTEGAESHI SUZAKU)
(Heat Move)
Command:
(Heat Mode) Triangle as enemy attacks Musashi from the back
Knocks down. Heat cost.
*Learn from Komaki
Move: GION MUTE STYLE MUTE REVERSAL - SEIRYUU (GION MUTERYUU MUTEGAESHI
SEIRYUU) (Heat Move)
Command:
(Heat Mode) Triangle as enemy attacks Musashi from the right side
Knocks down. Heat cost.
*Learn from Komaki
Move: GION MUTE STYLE MUTE REVERSAL - BYAKKO (GION MUTERYUU MUTEGAESHI BYAKKO)
(Heat Move)
Command:
(Heat Mode) Triangle as enemy attacks Musashi from the left side
Knocks down. Heat cost.
*Learn from Komaki
Move: GRAPPLE
Command:
Circle
Move: DRAG
Command:
Circle, (directional input)
Move: IPPONZEOI
Command:
Circle, Circle
Remember that directional input may be added. Tap circle to throw heavy foes.
Move: ELBOW, STOMACH PUNCH, WILD HOOK
Command:
Circle, Square, Square, Square
The first two hits leave the opponent grappled. The last hit knocks them down.
Third hit has high Heat gain.
Move: BACK KICK
Command:
Circle, (Back) + Triangle
Light, Medium knockdown.
Move: HEAVY SIDE KICK
Command:
Circle, Triangle
Knocks opponent down. Heat gain.
Move: BRAWLING SURE-KILL POWERFUL TECHNIQUE (Heat Move)
Command:
(Heat Mode) Circle, Triangle when "Goku" kanji flashes near certain spot in
the environment such as walls or stairs
Heat Action. See Completion Lists for the various actions that result.
Move: STOMP
Command:
Triangle near downed foe
Heat gain.
Move: PURSUIT MASTERY (Heat Move)
Command:
Triangle near downed foe with "Goku" kanji flashing
Heat Action. Two types--powerful face stomp for face-up foes, stomach kick for
face-down foes.
Move: GION MUTE STYLE BREAKING THROW (GION MUTERYUU TOKINAGE)
Command:
Circle repeatedly when grappled by opponent
Knocks opponent down. High Heat gain.
Move: GION MUTE STYLE CATFLIP (GION MUTERYUU NEKOZORI)
Command:
X when about to hit the ground when knocked down
You can just tap X repeatedly when flying through the air to time this better.
*Learn from Komaki
Move: GION MUTE STYLE SURVIVING FIST IN DEATH (GION MUTERYUU SHICHUUKATSUKEN)
Command:
Triangle when about to hit the ground when knocked down
You can just tap Triangle repeatedly when flying through the air to time this.
Heat gain. Light, Medium dizzy.
*Learn from Komaki
Move: TAUNT
Command:
R2
Heat gain.
Move: HEAT GAUGE CHARGE
Command:
Hold R2 down
Gains heat as long as button is held down.
*Learn from Waterfall Training
SINGLE-SWORD STYLE
------------------
Move: GREATSWORD / KODACHI / MISCELLANEOUS STYLE
Command:
Up on D-Pad
Note that readying a greatsword weapon is an attack that hits nearby enemies.
Move: DUAL-WIELD STYLE
Command:
Left on D-Pad
Move: UNARMED STYLE
Command:
Down on D-Pad
Move: TRIPLE SLASH
Commands:
Square, Square, Square
(Free) (Back) + Square, Square, Square, Square
Move: QUADRUPLE SLASH
Commands:
Square, Square, Square, Square
(Free) (Back) + Square, Square, Square, Square, Square
*Learn from Scarecrow Formations
Move: DASHING SLICE 1
Commands:
Square, Triangle
(Free) (Back) + Square, Square, Triangle
Hold Triangle on successful hit for Lingering Mind (Zanshin); charges Heat
Gauge.
Move: DASHING SLICE 2
Commands:
Square, Square, Triangle
(Free) (Back) + Square, Square, Square, Triangle
Hold Triangle on successful hit for Lingering Mind (Zanshin); charges Heat
Gauge. Light collapse.
Move: DASHING SLICE 3
Commands:
Square, Square, Square, Triangle
(Free) (Back) + Square, Square, Square, Square, Triangle
Hold Triangle on successful hit for Lingering Mind (Zanshin); charges Heat
Gauge. Light, medium collapse.
Move: DASHING SLICE 4
Commands:
Square, Square, Square, Square, Triangle
(Free) (Back) + Square, Square, Square, Square, Square, Triangle
Hold Triangle on successful hit for Lingering Mind (Zanshin); charges Heat
Gauge. Light, medium collapse.
*Learn from Scarecrow Formations
Move: TENGU ASHI
Commands:
Square, X
Square, Triangle, X
Square, Square, X
Square, Square, Triangle, X
Square, Square, Square, X
Square, Square, Square, Triangle, X
Square, Square, Square, Square, X**
Square, Square, Square, Square, Triangle, X**
(Free) (Back) + Square, X
(Free) (Back) + Square, Square, X
(Free) (Back) + Square, Square, Square, X
(Free) (Back) + Square, Square, Square, Square, X
(Free) (Back) + Square, Square, Square, Square, Square, X**
Cancels final attack with Sway sidestep. Heat cost.
*Learn from fighting the man in the Tengu mask
**Once combo extension is learned from Scarecrow Formations
Move: THRUST
Command:
Triangle
Move: ONI-KILLING SWORD COMBINATION (ZANKIKEN)
Command:
Hold Triangle, release, Triangle, Triangle
All three hits break guard and collapse. High Heat gain.
*Learn from Zanki Dojo
Move: ZANKI STYLE RUNNING SLICE (ZANKIRYUU SHISSOUZAN)
Command:
Running Triangle
*Learn from Zanki Dojo
Move: BACKSTEP
Command:
X
Move: RETREATING HELM SPLITTER
Command:
X, Triangle
*Learn from Scarecrow Formations (Sabakigiri)
Move: BACKFLIP
Command:
X (or any direction + X), X
Move: SIDESTEP
Command:
Left or Right + X
Move: BACK-OF-THE-SWORD HIT
Command:
Left or Right + X, Triangle
*Learn from Scarecrow Formations (Sabakigiri)
Move: SIDE ROLL
Command:
X (or any direction + X), Left or Right + X
Move: FORWARD STEP
Command:
Forward + X
Move: HILT STRIKE
Command:
Forward + X, Triangle
*Learn from Scarecrow Formations (Sabakigiri)
Move: FORWARD ROLL
Command:
X (or any direction + X), Forward + X
Move: SECRET SWORD - ASCENDING FISH (HIKEN - TENSHOUGYO) (Heat Move)
Command:
(Heat Mode) X (or any direction + X), Forward + X, Triangle
Knocks down. Heat cost. Opponent must be facing Musashi.
*Learn by Revelation
Move: KICK
Command:
Circle
Breaks armed opponents' guard.
Move: STOMP
Command:
Triangle near downed foe
Heat gain.
Move: SWORD PURSUIT MASTERY (Heat Move)
Command:
(Heat Mode) Triangle near downed foe
Heat cost.
Move: SECRET SWORD - SHADOW THRUST (HIKEN - KAGETSUKI) (Heat Move)
Command:
(Heat Mode) Triangle with opponent on other side of paper door
Knocks down. Heat cost.
Move: SECRET SWORD - THE CAT LOOKING AWAY (HIKEN - YOSOMINEKO) (Heat Move)
Command:
(Heat Mode) Triangle when opponent attacks from behind
Knocks down. Heat cost.
*Learn by Revelation
Move: SECRET SWORD - DANCING SWALLOW (HIKEN - TSUBAME MAIZASHI) (Heat Move)
Command:
(Heat Mode) Triangle when jumping from a high level to a foe on a lower
level
Knocks down. Heat cost. The easiest spots are at the Riverside Path and the
action stage at the Kiyomizu Temple.
*Learn by Revelation
Move: SECRET SWORD - SOUNDLESS SNAKE (HIKEN - OTONASHI NO HEBI) (Heat Move)
Command:
(Heat Mode) Triangle at a far distance from a dizzied opponent or an opponent
getting up off the ground
Kocks down. Heat cost.
*Learn by Revelation
Move: SECRET SWORD - DANCING SQUIRREL (HIKEN - MAINEZUMI) (Heat Move)
Command:
(Heat Mode) (Lock) Triangle at a far distance
Knocks down. Heat cost.
*Learn by Revelation
Move: SECRET SWORD - WILD BULL (HIKEN - AREUSHI) (Heat Move)
Command:
(Heat Mode) Triangle at a far distance, facing opponent, while drunk, with
Heat Gauge filled to the max, then, when prompted, tap Square
Knocks down. Heat cost.
*Learn by Revelation
Move: SECRET POWERFUL SWORD - ONE WAVE (HIOUGIKEN - HITONAGARE) (Heat Move)
Command:
when a boss character's health is low enough, hit Triangle when prompted on
the screen, first tapping R2 if necessary (follow on-screen prompts)
Knocks down. Heat cost.
*Learn from Melon Cutting
Move: SECRET POWERFUL SWORD - PULVERIZING THE DRIVE LEAF (HIOUGIKEN - KOUYOU
MIJIN) (Heat Move)
Command:
when Inshun's health is low enough, hit Triangle when prompted on the screen,
first tapping R2 if necessary (follow on-screen prompts)
Knocks down. Heat cost.
*Learn from Melon Cutting
Move: SECRET SWORD - ENSNARING KITE SLASHES (HIKEN - MAKI TONBIGIRI)
(Heat Move)
Command:
(Heat Mode) Triangle as sword-wielding opponent attacks from the front
Knocks down. Heat mode.
*Learn by Revelation
Move: ZANKI STYLE PARRYING SLICE (ZANKIRYUU HIKIGIRI)
Command:
L1 as opponent's attack is about to strike Musashi, Triangle
Light, mid knockdown. Heat gain.
*Learn from Zanki Dojo
Move: GION MUTE STYLE BREAKING THROW (GION MUTERYUU TOKINAGE)
Command:
Circle repeatedly when grappled
Knocks opponent down. High heat gain.
*Learn from Komaki
Move: GION MUTE STYLE CATFLIP (GION MUTERYUU NEKOZORI)
Command:
X when about to hit the ground when knocked down
You can just repeatedly press X to time this more easily.
*Learn from Komaki
DUAL-WIELD STYLE
----------------
Move: GREATSWORD / KODACHI / MISCELLANEOUS STYLE
Command:
Up on the D-Pad
Note that readying a greatsword weapon is an attack that hits nearby enemies.
Move: SINGLE-SWORD STYLE
Command:
Right on the D-Pad
Move: UNARMED STYLE
Command:
Down on the D-Pad
Move: TRIPLE SLASH
Commands:
Square, Square, Square
(Free) (Back) + Square, Square, Square, Square
Move: QUADRUPLE SLASH
Commands:
Square, Square, Square, Square
(Free) (Back) + Square, Square, Square, Square, Square
*Learn from Scarecrow Formations
Move: QUINTUPLE SLASH
Commands:
Square, Square, Square, Square, Square
(Free) (Back) + Square, Square, Square, Square, Square, Square
*Learn from Scarecrow Formations
Move: WIDE HORIZONTAL SLASH
Commands:
Square, Triangle
(Free) (Back) + Square, Square, Triangle
Hold Triangle on successful hit for Lingering Mind (Zanshin); charges Heat
Gauge.
Move: THRUST
Commands:
Square, Square, Triangle
(Free) (Back) + Square, Square, Square, Triangle
Hold Triangle on successful hit for Lingering Mind (Zanshin); charges Heat
Gauge.
Move: UPPERCUT SLASH
Commands:
Square, Square, Square, Triangle
(Free) (Back) + Square, Square, Square, Square, Triangle
Hold Triangle on successful hit for Lingering Mind (Zanshin); charges Heat
Gauge.
Move: TWIN THRUST TO BODY SLAM
Commands:
Square, Square, Square, Square, Triangle
(Free) (Back) + Square, Square, Square, Square, Square, Triangle
Knocks down.
*Learn from Scarecrow Formations
Move: JUMPING OVERHEAD CHOP
Commands:
Square, Square, Square, Square, Square, Triangle
(Free) (Back) + Square, Square, Square, Square, Square, Square, Triangle
Hold Triangle on successful hit for Lingering Mind (Zanshin); charges Heat
Gauge. Mid, light collapse.
*Learn from Scarecrow Formations
Move: TENGU ASHI
Commands:
Square, X
Square, Square, X
Square, Square, Square, X
Square, Square, Square, Square, X**
Square, Square, Square, Square, Square, X**
(Free) (Back) + Square, X
(Free) (Back) + Square, Square, X
(Free) (Back) + Square, Square, Square, X
(Free) (Back) + Square, Square, Square, Square, X
(Free) (Back) + Square, Square, Square, Square, Square, X**
(Free) (Back) + Square, Square, Square, Square, Square, Square, X**
Cancels last attack into Sway moves.
*Learn from fighting the man in the Tengu mask.
**Once combo extension is learned from the Scarecrow Formations.
Move: TWIN OVERHEAD CROSSCHOP
Command:
Triangle
Heat gain.
Move: BACKSTEP
Command:
X
Move: BACKFLIP
Command:
X (or any direction + X), X
Move: SIDESTEP
Command:
Left or Right + X
Move: SIDE ROLL
Command:
X (or any direction + X), Left or Right + X
Move: TWO-SWORDS SIDE-ROLLING SLASH (NITOU SOKUTENZAN)
Command:
X (or any direction + X), Left or Right + X, Triangle
Heat gain.
*Learn from fighting the man in the Tengu mask
Move: FORWARD STEP
Command:
Forward + X
Move: FORWARD ROLL
Command:
X (or any direction + X), Forward + X
Move: KICK
Command:
Circle
Breaks armed opponents' guard.
Move: STOMP
Command:
Triangle near downed foe
Heat gain.
Move: SWORD PURSUIT MASTERY (Heat Move)
Command:
(Heat Mode) Triangle near downed foe
Heat cost.
Move: SURE-KILL SWORDS - OROCHI WHIRLPOOL (HISSATSUKEN - OROCHI UZU)
(Heat Move)
Command:
(Heat Mode) Triangle very close to opponent
Heat cost. Knocks down.
*Learn by Revelation
Move: SURE-KILL SWORDS - TRUE TWO-SWORDS DANCE (HISSATSUKEN - SHIN NITOU NO
MAI) (Heat Move)
Command:
(Heat Mode) With one opponent at your side and one in front, or with one
opponent at the left and one to the right, hit Triangle
Heat cost. Knocks down.
*Learn by Revelation
Move: SURE-KILL SWORDS - HEROIC TWO (HISSATSUKEN - GOUSOU) (Heat Move)
Command:
(Heat Mode) Triangle with opponent's back against a wall
Heat cost. Knocks down.
*Learn by Revelation
Move: SURE-KILL SWORDS - ENMYOU (HISSATSUKEN ENMYOU) (Heat Move)
Command:
(Heat Mode) (Lock) with Heat Gauge filled to the max, from a distance, hit
Triangle, then, when prompted, X, Square, Triangle, Circle, X
Heat cost. Knocks down.
*Learn by Revelation
Move: SURE-KILL SWORDS - DANCING CAT (HISSATSUKEN ODORINEKO) (Heat Move)
Command:
(Heat Mode) while running, with opponent in front of Musashi, Triangle
Heat cost. Knocks down.
*Learn by Revelation.
Move: SECRET POWERFUL SWORD - TWO HEAVENS (HIOUGIKEN - NITEN)
Command:
when a boss character's health is low enough, follow on-screen prompts and hit
Triangle, first tapping R2 if necessary
*Learn from Melon Cutting
Move: SECRET POWERFUL SWORD - SNARE BREAKING SLASH (HIOUGIKEN - BAKUKAIZAN)
(Heat Move)
Command:
when Shishido Baiken/Majima's health is low enough, follow on-screen prompts
and hit Triangle, first tapping R2 if necessary
Heat cost. Knocks down.
*Learn from Melon Cutting
Move: SECRET POWERFUL SWORD - SWALLOW DROP (HIOUGIKEN - TSUBAME OTOSHI)
(Heat Move)
Command:
when Sasaki Kojiro/Munenori's health is low enough, follow on-screen prompts
and hit Triangle, first tapping R2 if necessary
*Learn from Melon Cutting
Move: TWO-SWORDS YIN AND YANG SLASH (NITOU ONMYOUZAN)
Command:
L1 when opponent's attack is about to hit, Triangle
Heat gain.
*Learn by fighting the man in the Tengu mask
Move: TWO-SWORDS INSTANT SLASH (NITOU SHUNZAN)
Command:
(Lock) Triangle when opponent's attack is about to hit
Heat gain. Light, medium collapse.
*Learn by fighting the man in the Tengu mask
Move: SURE-KILL SWORDS - TATAMI FLIP (HISSATSUKEN - TATAMIGAESHI) (Heat Move)
Command:
(Heat Mode) Triangle when opponent's attack is about to hit Musashi, while
Musashi stands on tatami (straw mats)
Heat cost. Knocks down. The easiest time to do this is in the room where you
fight the armored warrior in the Tsuruya.
Move: GION MUTE STYLE BREAKING THROW (GION MUTERYUU TOKINAGE)
Command:
Tap Circle when grappled
Knocks down. Heat gain.
*Learn from Komaki
Move: GION MUTE STYLE CATFLIP (GION MUTERYUU NEKOZORI)
Command:
X when about to hit the ground when knocked down
You can just tap X repeatedly when flying through the air to time this better.
*Learn from Komaki
GREATSWORD STYLE
----------------
Move: DUAL-WIELD STYLE
Command:
Left on the D-Pad
Note that stowing the greatsword weapon is an attack that hits nearby enemies.
Move: SINGLE-SWORD STYLE
Command:
Down on the D-Pad
Note that stowing the greatsword weapon is an attack that hits nearby enemies.
Move: UNARMED STYLE
Command:
Right on the D-Pad
Note that stowing the greatsword weapon is an attack that hits nearby enemies.
Move: DUAL HORIZONTAL SWINGS, OVERHEAD POUND
Commands:
Square, Square, Square
(Free) (Back) + Square, Square, Square, Square
Move: TENGU ASHI
Commands:
Square, X
Square, Square, X
Square, Square, Square, X
(Free) (Back) + Square, X
(Free) (Back) + Square, Square, X
(Free) (Back) + Square, Square, Square, X
(Free) (Back) + Square, Square, Square, Square, X
Cancels final attack into a Sway.
*Learn from fighting the man in the Tengu mask
Move: OVERHEAD POUND
Command:
Triangle
Heat gain. Light, mid knockdown.
Move: GREATSWORD TECHNIQUE MOWING SLICE (NAGIGIRI)
Command:
Hold Triangle, release
Hold until blue aura forms around Musashi. Knocks down. Heat gain.
*Learn from Scarecrow Formations
Move: BACKSTEP
Command:
X
Move: SIDESTEP
Command:
Left or Right + X
Move: FORWARD STEP
Command:
Forward + X
Move: KICK
Command:
Circle
Breaks armed opponents' guard.
Move: STRONG SWORD - FINE SPINNING MACHINE (GOUKEN - KIKOU MAWASHI)
Command:
with Heat Gauge at max, Triangle near foe
Knocks down. Heat cost.
*Learn by Revelation
Move: STRONG SWORD - MAKING FLIES CRY (GOUKEN - HAE NAKASE) (Heat Move)
Command:
(Heat Mode) Triangle with opponent's back against a wall
Knocks down. Heat cost.
*Learn by Revelation
Move: SECRET POWERFUL SWORD - POWERFUL SEVERING (HIOUGIKEN - GOUDAN)
Command:
when a boss character's energy is low enough, follow the on-screen prompts and
hit Triangle, first tapping R2 if necessary
Knocks down. Heat cost.
*Learn from Melon Cutting
Move: STOMP
Command:
Triangle near downed foe
Heat gain.
Move: GREATSWORD PURSUIT MASTERY (Heat Move)
Command:
(Heat Mode) Triangle near downed foe
Heat cost.
Move: STRONG SWORD - MONKEY FLIP (GOUKEN - SARUGAESHI) (Heat Move)
Command:
(Heat Mode) Triangle when sword-wielding enemy attacks from the front
Heat cost. Knocks down.
*Learn by Revelation
Move: GION MUTE STYLE BREAKING THROW (GION MUTERYUU TOKINAGE)
Command:
Tap Circle when grappled
Knocks down. Heat gain.
*Learn from Komaki
Move: GION MUTE STYLE CATFLIP (GION MUTERYUU NEKOZORI)
Command:
X when about to land when knocked down
You can just tap X when in the air to time this better.
*Learn from Komaki
KODACHI STYLE
-------------
Move: DUAL-WIELD STYLE
Command:
Left on the D-Pad
Move: SINGLE-SWORD STYLE
Command:
Down on the D-Pad
Move: UNARMED STYLE
Command:
Right on the D-Pad
Move: TRIPLE SLASH
Commands:
Square, Square, Square
(Free) (Back) + Square, Square, Square, Square
Move: THRUST
Command:
Triangle
Heat gain.
Move: BACKSTEP
Command:
X
Move: BACKFLIP
Command:
X (or any direction + X), X
Move: SIDESTEP
Command:
Left or Right + X
Move: SIDE ROLL
Command:
X (or any direction + X), Left or Right + X
Move: FORWARD STEP
Command:
Forward + X
Move: FORWARD ROLL
Command:
X (or any direction + X), Forward + X
Move: KICK
Command:
Circle
Breaks armed opponents' guard.
Move: STOMP
Command:
Triangle near downed foe
Heat gain.
Move: COMBINED KODACHI - ILLUSORY WOLF (KUMIKODACHI - GENROU) (Heat Move)
Command:
(Heat Mode) Triangle while 4 or more opponents are in front of Musashi, then
Square, Triangle, Square
Knocks down. Heat cost. Hits 4 opponents.
*Learn by Revelation
Move: COMBINED KODACHI - TOMOE CATCH (KUMIKODACHI - TOMOEGARI) (Heat Move)
Command:
(Heat Mode) against a guarding foe, hit Triangle
Knocks down. Heat cost.
*Learn by Revelation
Move: KODACHI RUNNING THRUST (KODACHI HASHIRITSUKI)
Command:
Triangle when running
Heat gain.
*Learn from Scarecrow Formations
Move: COMBINED KODACHI - TWIN BONES (KUMIKODACHI - SOUKOTSU) (Heat Move)
Command:
(Heat Mode) as sword-wielding opponent attacks from the front, Triangle
Knocks down. Heat cost.
*Learn by Revelation
Move: GION MUTE STYLE BREAKING THROW (GION MUTERYUU TOKINAGE)
Command:
tap Circle when grappled
Heat gain. Knocks down.
*Learn from Komaki
Move: GION MUTE STYLE CATFLIP (GION MUTERYUU NEKOZORI)
Command:
X when about to land when knocked down
You can tap X repeatedly when in the air to time this better.
*Learn from Komaki
MISCELLANEOUS (OTHER STYLES)
----------------------------
You can assign miscellaneous weapons to the "Up" slot for fights outside Gion
and to the "Left," "Up," and "Right" slots for fights inside Gion. You can
also pick up items found about the battle stages and in random fights in most
areas when you're in the "Unarmed" style.
There are ten different types of miscellaneous weapon. All of them have
these moves in common:
Move: MISCELLANEOUS WEAPON WEAK ATTACK STRING
Commands:
Square, Square, Square
or
Square, Square, Square, Square, Square
(depending on the weapon)
Move: MISCELLANEOUS WEAPON HEAVY ATTACK
Command:
Triangle
Move: MISCELLANEOUS WEAPON KNOCKDOWN ATTACK
Command:
Hold Triangle, release
Move: STOMP
Command:
Triangle near downed foe
Heat gain.
Move: PURSUIT MASTERY (Heat Move)
Command:
(Heat Mode) Triangle near downed foe
Heat cost.
Move: GION MUTE STYLE CATFLIP (GION MUTERYUU NEKOZORI)
Commands:
X when about to land when knocked down
*Learn from Komaki
Move: GION MUTE STYLE BREAKING THROW (GION MUTERYUU TOKINAGE)
Commands:
tap Circle when grappled
Knocks down, Heat gain.
*Learn from Komaki
Depending on whether they were equipped weapons or weapons you found lying
about in a stage, they react differently to how you hit the Circle button or
to what happens to them when you hit the D-Pad.
Here's what happens with EQUIPPABLE WEAPONS:
Move: SWITCH TO ASSIGNED STYLE
Commands:
Left, Right, Up, or Down on the D-Pad
Move: KICK
Command:
Circle
Breaks armed enemy's guards.
Here's what happens with NON-RETAINABLE, STAGE-ONLY WEAPONS:
Move: SWITCH TO ASSIGNED STYLE, DROP WEAPON
Commands:
Left, Right, Up, or Down on the D-Pad
Move: THROW WEAPON
Command:
Circle
MOST weapons also have a Heat Action when standing close to the opponent with
the weapon in hand, in Heat Mode, using simply Triangle. They also usually
allow for Swaying, but, the heavier ones don't.
Here is a list of the weapon types, what Circle does (i.e. if they're an
equippable weapon or not), and how to perform their Heat Actions:
JUTTE TYPE Circle: Kick
(Heat Mode) Triangle when facing a sword-wielding opponent
UMBRELLA TYPE Circle: Kick
(Heat Mode) Triangle when a sword-wielding opponent attacks
KISERU TYPE Circle: Kick
(Heat Mode) Triangle near opponent
SMALL WEAPON TYPE (i.e. small pots) Circle: Throw
(Heat Mode) Triangle near opponent, repeatedly tap Circle
BOKUTOU TYPE Circle: Kick
(Heat Mode) Triangle near opponent, repeatedly tap Circle
MEDIUM TYPE (i.e. rocks, pots held with two hands) Circle: Throw
(Heat Mode) Triangle near opponent, repeatedly tap Circle
BOX TYPE Circle: Throw
(Heat Mode) Triangle near opponent, repeatedly tap Square, repeatedly tap
Square, repeatedly tap Square, repeatedly tap X, repeatedly tap X, repeatedly
tap X
LONG TYPE (i.e. long tree branches) Circle: Throw
(Heat Mode) Triangle near opponent
SPEAR TYPE Circle: Throw
(Heat Mode) Triangle near opponent
HEAVY TYPE (i.e. logs) Circle: Throw
(Heat Mode) Triangle near opponent
The only other advice I can give you here is to watch the "use" number for
the weapons you find lying about the stages. You can only hit people with them
(even if they block the hit) a certain number of times. Once you've run out,
the weapon will break.
2b-II. General Battle Advice
-----------------------------
Slash, slash, slash, Triangle (hold). Slash, slash, slash, Triangle (hold).
This is going to be what you're doing about 80% of the time you're fighting.
You'll go through your strings either with the single-sword style or with the
dual-wield style and look to land heavy attacks when possible, while moving
around so as not to be surrounded, including swaying and rolling to get away or
to get around enemies.
You should learn the swaying, rolling, lock-on, and guard systems and become
familiar with when to use them. Dodging is pretty essential, but, I do want to
caution that all the "flips around and avoids your attacks" types of enemies
are rather easily defeated just by continuing your strings, pressing towards
them and following them around.
Dual wielding can make Kiryuu guard from all angles, which is nice. It's also
got the most varied heavy attack system; similar to the "Musou" / "Warriors"
serieses, where you are in your weak attack string determines which heavy attack
will come out. The single-sword style actually has slightly different proper-
ties for its heavy attack during strings, but, they aren't as pronounced as in
the dual-wield style. As soon as you can, you'll want to do the Scarecrow
Formations in Kouetsu's mansion, so that you can build this attack string up
and get the heavy attack that allows you to throw opponents down, as knocking
people down is still key in this series.
Single-sword style is, in my opinion, the best. You can use the heavy attack
during a string to (usually) get pretty far away from enemies or to fly towards
them quickly if they're being pains in the butt. Once you learn the Secret
Sword: Ascending Fish technique (from the Revelation in the Riverside Path,
after talking to Shichigorou at the Inari Shrine in Gion), that's probably your
best Heat Action. It's very easy to land and it does decent damage. Sure, you
can't guard in every direction, like you can with two swords, but, it's not
that hard to roll away from clusters of foes, so you probably won't get hit too
much, anyway.
The greatsword style may seem like the worst, and I don't use it too much, to
be honest. Having said that, it does have its place. When there are armored
foes or those who guard a lot, swinging your huge chunk of iron around will
usually do the trick. You can also guard bullets, but, why? There's almost no-
one shooting at you until the very end of the game, and even then, you can just
sway and roll to get away from the shots pretty easily. What's bad about this
weapon is that it's slow (of course). You swing slowly, which is bad, but you
also can't run while holding it (grr). This is why, when you need to break
objects in the background, I just run up to them with some other weapon equipped
and then quickly switch to the heavy weapon, then back. I should note that you
can't roll while in this style...only sway (grr again). But, it's great at
building Heat and has some pretty good Heat Actions.
As for unarmed, I do use it often--probably more often than the single sword,
actually. Why? Because you can throw guys. If a cluster of guys runs up to
you, you can grab one, press towards the crew, and throw him over to them,
which will either knock the group down or make them stagger long enough to get
away. Stomp on the grounded foe, and you'll pretty much be invulnerable until
they get up. If there aren't a lot of guys around, grab one guy and hit square
three times to really build up your Heat Meter. Grab the stuff that's lying
around--using weapons found lying around in stages might prompt you to hit
buttons for their heat actions, which appears the be the only way to get exper-
ience bonuses during fights. Throw, stomp, throw, stomp...this probably sounds
familiar to those who played the other games, but, it's still wonderfully ef-
fective. The bad side of being unarmed? Well...first of all, you don't do
much damage. Once you build a weapon up and get it to around 100, you'll see
that it takes much longer to beat some guy up than it does to cut him down.
Also, you should know that you can't guard against a sword while unarmed (gee).
Other than that, the best advice I can give you is that when you use pursuits
(either the Heat Actions or normal pursuit moves), opponents will be forced to
stand. This may sound like a useless revelation, but it means that you can trap
many opponents into patterns this way, in which they will have almost no way to
defend themselves. That's why I use unarmed a lot; you can throw someone down,
stomp on him, grab him, throw him down, stomp on him, etc, etc, etc. Only the
greatsword style seems to have no normal pursuit and isn't very good for this.
2b-III. Strategies for Enemies by Type
---------------------------------------
Although there are many unique enemies and unique encounters in which you will
need to use specific strategies (such as the fights against Majima--again), you
will usually encounter one of six enemy groups. All of them seem to be able to
use some quick attack to hit you right when you can't defend and make you col-
lapse for what seems to be an eternity (especially since the A.I. is so bad
that you won't even get hit with follow-up attacks). But, don't worry about
that too much. Just make sure you don't get surrounded too much.
Here are some of the types of generic enemy:
1. Generic Sword Guy. There are really two types of this guy--guys who
hold their swords at their sides and guys who hold their swords up above
their heads. Neither one poses a great threat. This is your typical
swordsman, and shouldn't really be feared. Just watch for their attacks
where they suddenly run at you and then chop. Just like in previous titles,
these attacks seem to magically avoid everything and follow you, always
right at your back. So, you'll want to let them come close and start to
swing, *then* sidestep, otherwise, you'll roll out of the way too early and
they'll just follow you. You do, of course, have the safety net of the
roll after swaying, though, which can be delayed a little.
2. Judo Guy. Oh no, it's a judo guy! Too bad this isn't UFC; it's a game
where you got swords. This guy likes to close in and suddenly grab you, so
be ready with the X button (or Circle once you learn the technique to re-
verse grabs). I say "judo guy," but I should just say "unarmed guy," be-
cause you can use pretty much the same strategy for all unarmed ruffians
except rikishi. They seem to all use strikes that will break your guard or
knock you down, and a three-hit combo that looks like exactly like the ones
used by the brawlers in the previous titles. Just bear in mind that the
heavy kicks can break your guard.
3. Rikishi. I hate these guys. With a passion. For those who don't know, a
rikishi is a sumo wrestler. You'll see them stomp their foot into the
ground in a dohyouiri stance (for those who know what that is) and stand
really squat and close to the ground.
This enemy seems to defy almost all the rules of the game. They have a
quick strike/grapple uwatenage move that cannot be broken and seems un-
blockable. Even if you're trying to roll away from them, they'll grab you
and throw you down. Their attacks seem to duck under your sword slashes.
Since they can duck under your slashes and throw you at will if you're in
range, it's a tough row to hoe with this guys. They're not so bad, really,
if you can lock onto them and shift, and then sway right as they attack.
This way, you can actually avoid even the aforementioned grapple--it seems
to be that if you try to sway and *then* they grab, it'll hit you. Plus,
single-swaying to the side will grant you access to their back and you can
mess them up.
What's wrong with that? Well, normally, you're mobbed by a whole mess of
guys. It's very hard to single out the rikishi and then sidestep away when
you've got a whole bunch of other guys running over to beat you up at the
same time.
Oh yeah; guess what else? You can't throw 'em. Don't even bother trying.
They break your grapple the instant it lands.
They're kinda rough in a group, but, if you're fighting them one-on-one
(say, at the Houzouin), here's a little hint: learn the Tokinage from
Komaki. Then, turn your back on the guy. I know--it sounds weird. But,
this usually works. Stand at a certain distance and make sure to simply
walk or sway away from their headbutts. They can slap you; all it will do
is dizzy you so they can run up.
What you're going for here is for the guy to attempt a throw from behind.
From the front, you'll just automatically be thrown without any chance to
escape. But, from the back, you actually can break their throw with X--or
use Circle to throw them instead, once you've learned the Tokinage. This
move also gives you a pretty good Heat Bonus, so, you can use Heat Moves on
them more easily after doing it (I'd recommend stomping on them).
One last piece of advice on these guys is that heavy attacks seem to work.
Remember, their attacks will go under most of your weak slashes, but, you
can hit triangle and make 'em suffer. A good strategy is to stay far away
with the single-sword style, hit your weak attack button twice, and then
rocket into 'em with heavy attack and make 'em fall down.
4. Ninja. That's right, folks--NINJA (omg hide the good stuff; the ninja are
coming). This is another catch-all name; they can be any sort of flipping-
prone, Sir Avoidsalot types. They roll and flip as you attack, throw darts,
toss down bombs and smoke bombs, and are general pains. But, they're not
really so bad. If you're unarmed, you can close in on them and grab them
(shifting to avoid darts), but if you have the single-sword style, you can
just be slow with your strings and follow them around as they flip about.
You'll catch them as they land eventually, or just corner 'em and they'll
have nowhere to go.
5. Bow/Gun Guys. This guy used to be obnoxious in the previous titles, but,
he doesn't show up too much anymore. The only thing to be aware of here
are that they will run away from you like mad so you'll want to grab them or
hit them with a knockdown (single-sword square x 2~4, triangle, for instance
or unarmed grapples), stomp on 'em, then knock 'em down again. You should
also take 'em out first. That's because if you're in a crowd of melee guys,
they'll keep interrupting you as you try to move and you'll be knocked about
for a while. Usually, they stay on the edge of the action, so, it's pretty
easy to break away from the group and get to 'em.
6. Heavy Arms Guys. These are actually fairly rare, and usually just like
bosses or people in the arena, but I thought I'd list them in the enemy
types just so that you know what to do. They absorb most hits, continuing
with their attacks even if you're hitting them. So, a good strategy is to
sway around 'em, guard (because the wind-up of their attacks will hit you
behind them), and then beat 'em up while their slow attack comes out.
Another strategy? Use *your* heavy arms. Towards the end, this type of
enemy will appear with armor on, which will need to be broken before you
can continue anyway. Just a few hits from a huge chunk of iron will do
what would take maybe 15 hits or so with a single sword. After that's
busted, these guys will stagger around after getting pummeled with your
greatsword, so...use it on 'em.
---------------------
3. STORY WALKTHROUGH
---------------------
-------------
3a. Prologue
-------------
The Dragon of Gion (Gion no Ryuu)
Missions available: None
Storage Keys: I-1
It's the Sengoku, baby. Time to throw on your armor and get your warring states
on.
The introduction scenes show men marching into battle at the final struggle in
the Warring States Period, the Battle at Sekigahara, also called "The Realm
Divide." It's called that because it is mainly from this battle where Tokugawa
Ieyasu claims authority as the great kubou (or "shogun") of Japan. The Warring
States Period is ending, and giving way to the peaceful, orderly Tokugawa Period
(also called the "Edo Period"), in which different warlords would stay pretty
much in power of pretty much the same areas for about 250 years or so.
Then, we are treated to a little sweeping crane through the bustling pleasure
district of Gion in Kyoto--the capital city.
It's really the capital only in name. This is where the Emperor has his
palace, but, you'll never even see him or the aristocratic nobility in this game
at all. Why? Because in those days, it was the kubou, or shogun, who ruled;
the military caste was in power and it was those people who were prominent
figures.
These women are being sold to the ageya brothels to become yuujo (pleasure
district sex workers). This man sleeping is the main character of the game.
Suddenly, we see a beautiful pleasure-district girl walking in a supposedly-
elegant fashion (it's a little weird, actually). That's Yoshino, the head girl
of the Tsuruya brothel. In order to win the war of the various brothels...they
parade their beautiful Yoshino around in front of everyone so that the women
who are being sold will want to become as beautiful as her. So, they sell them-
selves cheaply to the okami (the boss of the brothel) of Tsuruya.
Kiryuu, the main character of this game, is suddenly visited by this girl.
She said she was taking a walk for the first time in a long while, and thought
she should pay him a visit. But, Kiryuu tells her not to give them such empty
dreams. She tells him, "What kind of thing is that for you to say--someone who
only has a job because of us."
The, she tells him that he was just some wishy-washy, naive samurai when he
first showed up (meaning that she tricked him into being there). Before she
leaves, though, he finds it in himself to hit on her.
This next visitor is his friend, Itou. As he works for the Tsuruya, the most
powerful ageya (a type of brothel in which you can meet exquisite girls and
be entertained by them for dinner or "afterwards"), he is Kiryuu's senior. It
seems like Itou often comes to the "Tatsuya," or "Dragon Shop," Kiryuu's little
spot under the sun, and hires him for the Tsuruya.
Itou offers him a job. It seems there are many places that owe the Tsuruya
money. This is probably because the Tsuruya, being the most profitable venture
in the area, is responsible for all the land there, and people pay them rent or
some other such fee to open businesses. You have a choice: money, or a girl
from the ageya?
Well, no matter; it turns out that no matter which way you answer, the same
thing will happen--you work for free, apparently. Kiryuu will accept the job,
which entails going to three shops and asking the shopkeepers to give you money.
The three shops are: Arigataya Market, Ebisuya Pawnshop, and Tenguya Pharmacy.
You are now in control of Kiryuu Kazumanosuke, a kakemawari of the Gion dis-
trict. "Kakemawari" means "affixing around" quite literally, and means a sort
of odd job such as being a bodyguard, small investigations, collections--this
sort of thing. It also refers to the person who undertakes these tasks, and I
will usually say something like "jack-of-all-trades." This is because Kiryuu
has said that he will do any task for anyone, so long as they have the money.
Before you can even get to these shops, Kiryuu will be accosted by some guy
who wants to give you information on Gion. I have no idea how a guy could be
standing right next to a shop and have the owner walk out and then suddenly
think he was new to the area and needed directions. Anyway, you actually have
to hear what he has to say. Choose each option and then the final option should
be not to ask him about anything.
You're in tutorial mode, if you haven't realized it. This first little quest
of yours is actually to teach you how to get around town, look at your map, and
even brawl a little. So, it will force you to look at your map. The glowing
red dots are "go here" points. Seems easy enough. The last thing of the map
tutorial is pretty important: you can go to the "main map" by hitting either
"L" shoulder button. This is the "overworld map," and you can use it to check
out the various areas that are available to you.
Why is that so important? Because if you go into the map from the start but-
ton menu, and you want to scroll back to that map, but use the "cancel" button,
you will just exit the menu (boo bad programming).
When you're ready, go to the three shops. You can choose to go to them in
any order, but I'll list them in order of the least complicated task to the most
complicated.
At Arigataya, simply talk to the owner, and you'll get the money he owes the
Tsuruya.
At the Ebisuya Pawnshop, talk to the owner. He'll tell you that he lost his
storage key--the storage locker has the money you need. He recounts the places
he visited, and mentions two that may have the key: the sakaya, Nakanokura, and
the Gion Inari Shrine. They'll both light up on your map.
His key is at the shrine, near the northern lantern. Pick it up, and take it
to the Storage Lockers (located east of the middle of the map on the southern
edge of town). Open Storage Locker "I-1" and you'll get the money.
For the pharmacy, when you talk to the shopkeeper, he'll tell you the boy
working there was sent to get the money, but hasn't returned. He might be out
at the restaurant, Momijirou. Investigating there, you'll see the woman who
works there standing outside. She'll tell you that the kid is probably at his
favorite stomping grounds, the Suiten Inari Shrine are to the southwest.
There he is, being picked on by a bunch of bullies. This is your battle
tutorial. Once you beat them, you'll get the money--and a Strong Health Pills.
First, you have to attack them 10 times with either the square or triangle
buttons. I recommend using the square, as you can just do your three-hit string
and get through it quickly.
Next, you can grab an enemy and use the square to hit them, triangle to kick
them, or circle again to throw them. Again, you have to do it 10 times, so I
recommend using the square button and hitting them with your three-hit combo.
Next comes weapons. Grab weapons with circle and hit the enemies 10 times
with 'em. The buckets are infinite, but they break after one hit and you'll
need to keep picking them up, so look for the baskets and branches lying around
because they can be used more times.
Now, you have to build up your heat gauge. To do this, I'd recommend grabbing
guys and doing the three-hit square combo, becaue that gives a lot of heat
bonus. You can taunt with R2, also.
Now, it prompts you to do heat actions. You can do this with either the weap-
ons strewn about the stage or by grabbing guys and leading them to either the
shrine or the little wooden walkways.
Lastly, beat the guys up!
Once all three debts have been collected, you'll get a glowing dot indicating
that you should return to the Tatsuya. But, along the way, a bunch of
ruffians will attack you. Seems they didn't like you breaking up what was
going on at the Suiten Inari Shrine.
This is another fighting tutorial. The first one is a little weird. It says
that when you see an enemy with a glowing gourd or other such thing on his
belt, you should beat them and take their item. So, target those three guys
and beat them, taking their items.
Next, you have to guard. Guard five attacks with L1.
Next, you learn how to shift (target). Hold down R1 and move around, target-
ing for 10 seconds.
Next, you have to learn to roll or sway. Sway or roll 10 times.
Finally, beat them up!
After beating the ruffians, go to the Tatsuya and talk to Itou. He does
end up paying you 3,000 mon for your trouble. This is your basic monetary unit:
the mon. 10,000 of them make up 1 ryou. Apparently, he was just testing you.
Great, huh?
Suddenly, there is a commotion outside. There is one lone girl causing
trouble.
Investigating, Kiryuu finds that the girl is asking to meet with Kiryuu Kazu-
manosuke. "Well, I'm leaving," says Kiryuu. "I don't know that person."
But, a man nearby says, "Oh--! Kiryuu!"
The girl hears him.
Angry, Kiryuu turns to the man, who argues that he should take care of the
girl. Kiryuu holds his hand out to the man in a cartoonish fashion, noting that
he will only do it if there's money involved. The girl has no money.
But, when Kiryuu is turning away, he notices that the girl is carrying a
wakizashi, a type of short sword, with a bell tied around the guard. He recog-
nizes this weapon, and tells them to let the girl see him.
Talking to the girl, Kiryuu finds out that her name is Haruka, and that she
wants him to kill a man named Miyamoto Musashi. Kiryuu is quite upset by this.
You can now ask her why she wants Musashi killed or why she came to see Kiryuu.
Either one will start the ball rolling.
It seems that her family was killed, and she found out from an old man that
the man who killed them was named Miyamoto Musashi. Then, another man came to
her, and told her that if she wanted to avenge their deaths, she should ask for
Kiryuu Kazumanosuke at the Gion district in Kyoto.
He refuses. He says that he do it for her, and she says "But...you would do
anything if I paid, right?"
"So, do you have money to pay me? In this town, money rules all."
Just then, the madam from the Tsuruya brothel shows up with a bunch of kamuro.
A kamuro is a type of hairstyle in old Japan, but in this instance, is jargon
used to mean an apprentice at a brothel, a young girl of about 7 or 8 who is
there to learn dancing and other arts.
Kiryuu points out the young girls to Haruka, and explains to her that everyone
needs to work to earn their living.
The madam arrives at the Tatsuya and explains that Kiryuu will do anything if
you pay him. She speaks of Kiryuu condescendingly and tells the girls not to
ever rely on him. "If you do, I'm sure you won't be able to make it to the
highest chambers in our brothel."
As the madam walks away, Haruka suddenly runs out to her. She begs her to buy
her, selling her own body over to the sex trade. Then, they leave, and Haruka
gives a long, forlorned look to Kiryuu.
--------------
3b. Chapter 1
--------------
Miyamoto Musashi
Missions available: None
Storage Keys: None
Here we find Kiryuu, under the name Miyamoto Musashi, teaching students in a
small kendo club. He is showing them a sword dance, with both a dachi (the
Japanese longsword) and a wakizashi or kodachi (a Japanese shortsword). Both
are, of course, wooden, and technically called "bokutou" (wooden swords).
We also see a man peeking in the window, watching Musashi dance around, al-
though no-one seems to notice.
The students question Musashi about using two swords at once. "It's just a
dance," Musashi responds.
"But you believe," says the man from the window, now inside the dojo, "that a
man can fight with both swords, don't you, Miyamoto Musashi?"
Musashi demands to know who the interloper is. After apologizing, the man
reveals that he is Marume Nagayoshi, the swordmaster for the Tokugawa forces.
In those days, the lands were fairly united under a single ruler, called the
kubou (later called the "shogun" by those loyal to the emperor, because they
wanted to emphasize the fact that he was just a general and not the ruler of the
land). First, there was Oda Nobunaga, who used his military might to subdue
others and thus became the most powerful warlord of Japan. After his defeat at
the Honnouji Temple, he was succeeded by Toyotomi (also called "Hashiba") Hide-
yoshi, the second great ruler of Japan. His military exploits went beyond the
borders of Japan and into Korea, where he plundered great riches (and also
killed many Koreans). But as his health failed, it seemed like the weak rule of
Nobunaga and Hideyoshi was going to leave Japan once again in the hands of
strong military conquest.
Indeed it did, but the most powerful force of that time was commanded by Toku-
gawa Ieyasu. From him came the "law of the land," and it was his rule as kubou
that would really unify Japan with a strong government that lasted for over
250 years. Marume is his swordmaster, and he is visiting Musashi on the eve of
the most decisive battle in Japanese history before the 19th century's skir-
mishes: the Battle at Sekigahara.
He has something to tell Musashi, but Musashi first has to contend with his
students. This is another fighting tutorial--the weapons tutorial.
First, show them how to draw and sheath your weapon. Press the D-pad right to
get to single-sword style, then down to get to the unarmed style. Do that 5
times. It's pretty hilarious to hear them applauding and saying "Amazing!" when
you just stood there drawing and sheathing your sword.
Next, do your 3-hit square combo 5 times to the guarding student.
Next, do a square string and end it with triangle. You can do 1, 2, or 3
weak attacks before the charge; it doesn't really matter.
Next, use L1 to guard things in front of you and to your side (the single-
sword style cannot guard attacks from behind, like the dual-wield style can).
Next comes using circle to break your opponent's guard. Do so 10 times.
"Zanshin," which is your primary way to gather heat guage energy (also called
"touki" or "fighting spirit" in this game), comes last. After ending a string
with a heavy attack, continue to hold the triangle button down to stand in a
special pose and gather heat energy.
After the students go home, no surprise, Marume tells Musashi he is looking to
enlist him for the impending battle. But first, he needs to test his strength.
Fight him...and don't worry too much. I'm not even sure it is possible to win
this one--you just go down in health to a certain point and it ends.
Marume tells Musashi that he will wait for his answer in the little shed out
back. As you go there, tell the student at the gate that you're going to the
Sekigahara, and then go up to the shed. Somewhere around it, you'll see a
sparkling thing...this is a turtle, on its back. Flip it over.
Talk to Marume inside the shed when you're ready, and Musashi will go with him
back to the military's camp.
At camp, Musashi refuses to drink. He won't drink before a battle, it seems.
One of the other soldiers won't take that answer. This strange fellow, who
seems like there's a madness lurking just under his calm exterior, is Majima
Gorohachi, based on Majima Gorou in the previous titles. When Musashi throws
the sake in Majima's face, it's go time.
Majima likes to dash about a lot. You'll need to use techniques like the
square, square, triangle to dash back towards him. You can even put your weapon
away and grab him, then stomp on him, etc. This battle's obviously harder than
the ruffians before, but, it shouldn't be impossible.
After you beat him, Majima seems pretty impressed. Before the two can get
really "chummy," Marume comes in and insists that they stop.
He's followed by a condescending, two-faced shark, Tenkai, the monk. All the
other soldiers quickly drop to their knees as if this were the kubou himself
walking about, but Musashi stands there, looking at him. "Who is this one?"
Tenkai asks, looking pleasant and impressed.
When he is told that Musashi does not have a master, he takes Marume aside and
whispers to him under his fan. "Are you sure we should trust such important
matters to the likes of him?"
But, Marume seems to favor Musashi. After Tenkai leaves, Marume starts to
explain the operation for which he has them all assembled. It seems there's a
traitor to the Tokugawa, and they need to take his head. He wants two volun-
teers to enter the mansion and find the man, while the rest of the force stays
at the gates and keeps the guards distracted. It's a very dangerous mission,
and they can very easily be killed.
So, nobody wants to volunteer. Seeing everyone just sitting there, looking
nervous, Musashi volunteers. Of course, this causes Majima to volunteer as
well. He bonded with Musashi very quickly, didn't he? I guess that's the way
it is for people who are always looking for a fight.
Before they go, Marume tells them they shouldn't worry, but then, as he's
about to leave, he tells them to survive this incident. "What a strange thing
to say!" says Majima.
So, you set out for the mansion. As you enter, Musashi cuts down his first
man ever with a sword. He pauses, staring at the blood, and Majima asks what's
wrong and notes that you guys need to hurry.
Go in, kill guys, grab any stuff you see on the ground, kill guys, etc. Even-
tually, you'll reach a room where everything seems to pause. Search this room,
because there are more items strewn about. When you're ready, talk to Majima
and go down the hallway. Keep in mind that when you reach the red dot on this
map, the chapter will end automatically--don't go there thinking that you can
backtrack and explore later.
Once you reach the room where your quarry lies, he'll draw his sword, and
Musashi will dispatch him. He bemoans the fact that he could not protect his
younger brother from Tenkai's grasp.
Something's wrong here. This is no ordinary person--this is Yuuki Hideyasu,
the eldest living son of Tokugawa Ieyasu. He was expelled from the Tokugawa
house and adopted by the Yuuki clan, but he is still Ieyasu's son.
Anyway, Majima and Musashi leap into the fray when the other soldiers appear,
and decide to break free so they can meet up at the assigned point--an old
temple down the road.
--------------
3c. Chapter 2
--------------
The Trap at Sekigahara (Sekigahara no Wana)
Missions available: None
Storage Keys: None
Musashi and Majima race to the temple, where they are supposed to meet up with
Marume and the rest of the troop now that their mission is accomplished. Majima
sits in the temple and asks Musashi to please have a look around; he's too ex-
hausted to do it himself.
There are items hidden around here, so, go around and grab 'em. They're not
the world's most important items, but...still. You'll also want to flip over
the turtle in the middle of the yard.
Once you've had a little snoop around, talk to Majima. Musashi tells him that
he killed someone for the first time today. "Oh, and you were scared?" asks
Majima.
"No," says Musashi, "the opposite."
He's started to realize that it's easy to cut someone down, and he's got a
taste for fighting now. Majima frowns and cautions Musashi that he needs to
give up on that line of thought. He says that all it will do is lead him to be-
come a murderer.
It seems Majima went a little crazy in his past--well, crazier. He earned
himself the nickname "Majima the Ripper."
Just as the two were wondering where the rest of the troops were, Marume
suddenly appears.
"So, you survived," he says. "You, the two who murdered Yuuki Hideyasu!"
It seems that now he's come for vengeance on the person who killed his
master's son. You have no choice but to fight the troops--and Marume himself.
This time, you have to win.
After defeating Marume, Musashi leaves the temple, only to be blocked by more
troops. The troops are led by a strange man--young, arrogant, and pretty. This
is Sasaki Kojirou, Musashi's greatest rival.
It seems luck has run out on our hero. But wait--what's this?? Everyone is
shocked as Musashi draws not only his dachi, but his wakizashi as well. That's
right, it's time for the dual-wield style, baby.
This means another tutorial.
First, guard. You can hold down your guard button (L1) and guard from all
directions.
Next, hit 'em with square or triangle.
Lastly, beat those guys!
Kojirou is a very tough opponent. Musashi has no way to beat him, so, Majima
jumps in the way, getting his eye slashed.
Deciding that he has no way to win, Musashi turns to Marume, and says, "We'll
take your advice. We'll survive!" With only Kojirou and Marume to stop him
now, he limps over, grabs Majima, and leaps off the nearby cliff. Yeah, that's
what I'd do, too.... It's always good to jump to your death.
--------------
3d. Chapter 3
--------------
The Oath (Chikai)
Missions available: None
Storage Keys: None
Musashi and Majima are still on the run. Musashi holds Majima on his back, the
wound at Majima's eye bandaged roughly. Majima seems to be really having a hard
time--you would be, too, if your eye just got slashed, especially if you didn't
have hardly any medicine available.
Majima tells Musashi that he doesn't think he has much time left. He gives
him his sword and asks him to bring it to Ukiyo, his younger sister. Musashi
tells him not to think that way and stars to cross a rope bridge, when sudden-
ly, troops appear before them. He puts him down so he can deal with the troops.
After you defeat the troops, Musashi will look back at Majima, who seems to
have gotten himself surrounded by troops coming from behind you. Majima tells
you not to forget about his sister, and cuts the ropes to the bridge, plummeting
down the ravine.
Some time later, covered in bruises and cuts, obviously having endured many
trials and tribulations, Musashi is in Majima's homeland, standing in a rice
field. He approaches the woman and asks, "Are you Ukiyo?" When she says "yes,"
he offers her Majima's sword. But, she says, "I won't take that sword," and
goes inside her house.
While in the field, go back to the far wall away from the house, and you'll
see another turtle. Save it, as you did the one before.
Go inside the house and talk to Ukiyo. She still won't take the sword, but
will take care of Musashi. He's obviously quite exhausted, needs a bath, and
needs food. While he eats, she explains to him that Majima isn't her brother;
he actually killed her father and took her in as a younger sister.
She says that she doesn't blame Majima. Her father decided to fight him, and
was killed in the duel. But, she won't take his sword because he's not her
brother.
The two seem to become quite close. Musashi works for her in the rice field,
and she gives him room and board.
There are two skilled swordsman who show up, apparently hot on your trail.
You have to defeat them, but, from then on, Musashi decides to shun his swords-
man life.
One day, he is called in to supper, and finds that Ukiyo has tied bells around
the guards to his dachi and wakizashi. "What's this?" he asks.
"I thought it was about time for you to return to the life of the sword," she
replies.
But, Musashi won't hear of it. The way of the sword is meaningless to him now
and he won't use a sword again. Ukiyo says that her father believed that only
the strongest swordsman could protect people--that he needed to use his power to
protect those stronger than him. She seems to believe Musashi can do this
Bounty hunters appear. Seeking Majima, they go to Ukiyo's house, but are
stopped by Musashi. Musashi himself has to ask them about the other bounty they
have, and they seem confused. But, after looking at the portrait, they suddenly
realize that he is Miyamoto Musashi and fight him.
Beat these guys. Musashi still won't use a sword, but, they aren't so tough.
With all the bounty hunters defeated except for one in the yard standing next
to Ukiyo, one of the fallen men throws a knife at Musashi, making him fall on
one knee. Their leader goes to strike Musashi, but ends up getting sliced ac-
ross the back by Ukiyo. He turns, takes the wakizashi from her hand, and stabs
her with it.
Musashi rushes to Ukiyo and holds her in his arms. He hears her final wish--
for him to use his sword to protect those weaker than him.
He pulls the sword that is stuck in her out, and an old man sees him. He
pushes the sword into the ground and leaves, but the man cries "Murderer! Miya-
moto Musashi has murdered her!"
Yeah, I know...that old cliche'. I mean, really. This used to always make me
roll my eyes in superhero stories. Who would believe that? The old man saw
the bounty hunters coming and saw Musashi confront them. Why would he suddenly
think that Musashi killed Ukiyo, when he knew that he was trying to protect her
ten seconds earlier? Nonsense.
--------------
3e. Chapter 4
--------------
A New Life (Arata na jinsei)
Missions available: None
Storage Keys: None
Musashi's really not having a great time out there. When he comes to this small
temple, he is again attacked by bounty hunters. Beat them.
An old monk shows up. This strange old guy seems to be actually very skilled;
he can stop a sword with two fingers. He sends the bounty hunters packing, and
brings Musashi inside, giving him a place to rest.
The next morning, Musashi awakens to find a new change of clothes and a map
telling him how to get to the pleasure district, Gion. It seems the monk will
go on ahead and meet him there. Now, with new clothes, no more bounty hunters
should be hot on his trail (I guess).
You have to get to the Gate at Gion. Don't worry; the map will point you in
the right direction. Basically, you have to run from the southern edge of the
Mountain Road up to Kiyomizu Temple, through the Northern Mountain Road, to
the Suburbs, and then to the middle of the north of that map, where you will
find the gate to the Gion District. Along the way, be sure to get into scrapes
with enemies so that you can test out your skill and level up a bit.
Once you talk to the Mysterious Monk, the two of you will go into Gion.
Yoshino, the tayuu at the Tsuruya brothel, appears, and Musashi is astonished.
She looks just like Ukiyo. The monk looks to him, and says, "What, you want to
go see her? Let's ask around and see where she works." You can talk to some
men inside, and they'll direct you to the Tsuruya brothel.
Talk to the monk again, and you'll be prompted to go visit the brothel. Run
up there, and you'll meet up with Itou, who will let you go and see Yoshino.
The monk leaves, saying he needs to pee, and Musashi is left alone with the
beautiful Yoshino. He asks her about her past, but she cautions him that all
the girls there have no past anymore; they've decided not to talk about that
kind of thing anymore. When she asks him for a name, he gives the name
"Kiryuu."
There's a commotion outside. It seems a samurai has had a little too much and
means to kill one of the girls. So, what're you waiting for? Go out there and
throw that guy around and stomp on his face a lot!
After talking to the monk, who was eavesdropping on you while you talked to
Yoshino, by the way, Musashi decides to stay in Gion as a kakemawari named
Kiryuu. He opens a place called Tatsuya, and stands there, marvelling at it.
The monk shows up again. He has a present for Kiryuu--a fine kimono with a
dragon embroidered into it. He also talks to him about his new name--and re-
veals that he knew that he was Miyamoto Musashi. "Don't worry," he says, "I
don't think I'll tell anyone. I just wanted to see what kind of man Musashi
was." He then thinks of your personal name--Kazumanosuke.
"Kazu" is written with the character for "one," and "ma" written with "horse."
"-No-suke" was a common way to end male names in that time and just means
"son" or something like that. The idea behind the name is that there is a lone
warhorse, riding in a line, ahead of the others. The monk seems to think this
fits Musashi, because he has such a direct approach to things.
Congratulations, by the way. You've made it through the backstory segment.
Now, you're in the "real" part of the game, where there will be a lot less hand-
holding and a lot more side things to do.
--------------
3f. Chapter 5
--------------
The 1-Ryou Request (Ichiryou no negai)
Missions Available:
FAVORS
The Little Girl Selling Tougarashi (Tougarashiuri no shoujo)
The Seedy Merchant Tanaka Appears (Shaba nekkyou Tanakaya arawareru)
Homework from the Terakoya - Reading (Terakoya no shukudai ~yomi~)
Holes in the Paper Sliding Door (Shouji no ana)
The Flavor of Candy 1: The Candy of Memory (Ame no aji ichi omoide no ame)
The Flavor of Candy 2: The Candy Seller's Secret (Ame no aji ni ameuri no
himitsu)
The Fiance' (Iinazuke no otoko)
Kennosuke
Water from the Ladle 1 (Hishaku no mizu ichi)
The Old Man of the Enchanted Swords (Youtou jiisan)
Collecting the Enchanted Swords (Youtou shuushuu)
The Pretentious Man (Mieppari)
The Donations Box (Nagezeni no derudokoro)
Hinakiku at Azamiya
Hanamaru at Azamiya
Shirayuki at Azamiya
Kinuya at Yumejiya
Suzukaze at Yumejiya
Momochika at Yumejiya
Asagiri at Yumejiya
Gion Guidebook (Gion annaisho)
Stairway to Adulthood (Otona no kaidan)
SERVICES
The Impenetrable Barrier's Debt (Teppeki no tsuke)
The Man Who Wouldn't Move (Ugokanu otoko)
Storage Locker Instructions (Azukarisho shinan)
Chasing Away the Dog (Inuharai)
A Call for Help (Tasuke wo motomeru koe)
BOUNTIES
None
Storage Keys: I-2 to I-5, Ro-1 to Ro-5, Ha-1, Ha-3, Ha-5, Ni-1, Ni2, Ni-4,
Ni-5, Ho-1 to Ho-4, He-1 to He-3, He-5, To-1 to To-4, Chi-1, Chi-2, Ri-2 to
R-5, Nu-1 to Nu-4
Back to the present. Or...um, 1605...well--you know. One good thing that has
happened now that you're not in flashback land is that you can use your bed-
room to move items over into a sort-of items box (a la Biohazard/Resident Evil),
so you don't have to keep dropping things all the time. New to this game,
thankfully, is the fact that you can actually juggle between your storage and
the items you are carrying at any save point (finally!).
Kiryuu decides to go and look for Haruka and see what's become of her. To do
that, you'll need to go to the Tsuruya. It's at the middle, on the north of the
map, if you forgot.
Visiting the Tsuruya, he decides to meet his friend, Itou, around back. The
map will direct you to the right spot.
Yoshino is there, smoking. She overhears the conversation and tells Kiryuu
that the girl's name is Haruka. "My name's _Haruka_," she quotes, "not 'hey,
you." This quote should be familiar from the first game.
It seems Haruka's solder herself to the Tsuruya for only 1 ryou. Itou notes
that the madam has taken advantage of the poor thing, who doesn't know the value
of money. In those days, however, that was a lot--a year's salary for many
people. At the brothel, they've given her the name "O-Haru."
Yoshino puts Kiryuu at ease. "Don't worry about that girl; she's in our care,
now."
Itou tells Kiryuu he'll help him out if he can.
Go back to the Tatsuya, and who should pay Kiryuu a visit but Haruka. She
has on her new kimono and sports a new, clean hairstyle. She pays Kiryuu the 1
ryou and asks him if that's enough to hire him. Kiryuu explains that killing
someone is a hard thing to do and that things might get messy, but he takes the
job. Then, he sends her back home.
He talks to Itou. Itou tells him that there's a way to find out information
in this town, and says that he should visit Hon'ami Kouetsu, a famous artist in
the area. Kiryuu is puzzled, but Itou tells him that once he gets there, he'll
understand.
As Kiryuu leaves the Tsuruya, a cat wanders by him, and then he notices a
strange, old man standing there, apparently spying. When he asks what the guy's
up to, he tells him that he's an artist named Shichigorou and that he paints
animals, and notices their little worlds that most people overlook. He gives
Kiryuu a brush, some ink, and a picture of a playful cat. This is the intro-
duction of the Revelation System, new to Kenzan! Basically, Kiryuu will take a
picture or parchment and write the name of a sword technique when he is in-
spired. The picture is a clue to where you can find inspiration. Once you see
the animal or person in the picture, Kiryuu will notice them doing something.
After you correctly press the buttons that appear on the screen, you will then
have to learn something from it. Three choices will appear and you have to
decide within a limited time. If you choose the wrong ones, don't worry; just
leave the area or enter a shop and then come back and you can have another
chance. Then, Kiryuu will learn a technique from his inspiration.
To try it out, find the cat in the Gion Inari Shrine, right near where you
end up after talking to Shichigorou. You'll notice there's a little triangle
pointing towards the cat just like he was someone you could talk to. Go and
press the "confirm" button and watch the cinema. Hit "X" when prompted. The
correct response starts with "Even with his prey behind him...."
For more information, check the appendices.
You can now use the exit at the Tatsuya that goes into town. Did you ever
notice this little hallway that ends in a trapdoor that you couldn't interact
with in your room? Well, that's where it is. Go there and confirm to enter
the Suburbs.
Musashi changes clothes and wears his weapons, now that it's not illegal to
carry swords around. On a side note, it's doubtful that a place like Gion would
be able to prevent samurai from walking around with their weapons. Besides
when they were inside complexes such as the court or in their house, members of
the samurai caste were actually expected by law to wear a sword.
Be sure and do side missions. You probably won't be able to do all of them--
especially not the ones with the yuujo; that just takes too much money. But,
they offer much more experience than random fights, and they give you some
pretty keen items, too.
Your mission now is to find Kouetsu's mansion. It's located in Kawara, the
area of Kyoto off to the west, accessible from the northwest exit (at the west
end of Shijou Street).
For now, however, that exit is closed. A government official prevents you
from passing. This was common in those days--not everyone was allowed to go
everywhere. Anyway, you have to find a permit to show the guard at the gate.
So, talk to the government official. A man will run up to you as you leave
and tell you that there is someone in town who can make good forgeries of such
documents.
Go to the market on in the Higashiyama Shopping District and ask about the
permit. A bunch of yakuza will fight you--seems they don't like weird people
asking about their criminal activities. Beat them up to get a work order so
that their documents forger will make the permit for you, then go meet him at
the shogi parlor and he'll make you the permit.
As you leave, the yakuza show up with bodyguards. Oh noes! Guess you'll have
to fight them.
Show the permit to the official guarding the gate. He pauses for a while,
but doesn't notice that it's fraudulent. What a doofus. Now, you can finally
go to Kawara freely.
Kawara is a weird place; there's no real shops there. There's not too much
of interest, really; just a huge bridge and the Koetsu mansion. You can talk to
people on the way who will point to the mansion, but, it's the only point of
interest in town, so....
Tell the servant you'd like to talk to Kouetsu and he'll receive you. He's
a strange man, really, who seems to indulge all sorts of hobbies, such as epi-
curean delights, glazed ceramics, calligraphy...and spying. You may recognize
him if you played the previous games as Sai no Hanaya (a.k.a. Kage in the U.S.
release of the first game). Well...he's not so different, really.
Before he'll help you out, he asks that you do him a favor and return a fine
piece of art to him that was stolen by bandits near the Forest Path. Did you
notice that weird area there that went off to the east, but Musashi just plain
refused to go there? ("I have no business there," he says, or something like
that) That's where they are.
Along the way, as you walk by the blacksmith's, you'll get stopped and asked
to try out this huge sword the blacksmith made. Say yes (it's the top choice).
The game will now demand that you equip the item. Go to the equipment menu,
to the third line from the top, move to the left off the kodachi, and equip the
Iron Greatsword.
Oh, no--thieves! Beat them with the greatsword (it's tutorial time).
First, hold down L1 and block their musket shots. Then...beat them up!
The blacksmith's will be open now, and you'll get a book that details how to
make treasure swords. When you visit the blacksmith, you can temper any of your
weapons that can be tempered, and even build new weapons from them once you've
built them up, provided that you have a "recipe" for a new weapon. That's what
most of those weird, little items you've been getting from all the brawls were
all about.
You can talk to the blacksmith and get even more "recipes."
Once you're ready, head out to the cave, which branches off from the Forest
Path. Don't worry too much; there are healing items all over the place there.
Once inside, beat everyone up. When you encounter chains, cut them. The
greatsword is the best weapon to use on them. Be sure to collect everything,
kill the archers first so they don't annoy you, avoid the huge, fiery, rolling
boulders, and get to the inner sanctum.
Here, you'll face Shishido Baiken. He uses a kusarigama (chain and sickle),
a long chain with a weight at the end that can be spin around widly and really
can be quite a nuisance--and yes, you're not confused. That's Majima Gorohachi,
with a sword guard as an eyepatch.
Musashi recognizes Majima, but, it seems like Majima still wants to fight.
You really don't have a choice in the matter.
He likes to sidestep all over the place. One technique that seems to work
for this fight is to wait for him to finish his entire, long string, which ends
with him striking the ground violently. After guarding the last attack, lay
into him because he can't recover quickly.
After the battle, he'll give up the treasure--a little, gold statue. He seems
to have just wanted to have some fun, so he's glad he could fight a strong
opponent. Musashi tries to ask him if he remembers him, but, it seems that
Majima lost his memory after hitting the bottom of the ravine, and was saved by
the leader of the bandits. Now that the leader is dead, he's become the boss
himself. Musashi tells him his name is Kiryuu Kazumanosuke, and so, Majima
(a.k.a. Baiken) uses the name "Kiryuuchan" for him...which is, for those who
didn't play the first games, the way Majima called Kiryuu in those.
When you leave Majima, you'll find some thieves harassing some palanquin
carriers. Talk to the thieves and tell them about Baiken, and they'll leave.
The carriers thank you. From now on, they'll appear at the various maps and
you can use them to get from one point on most maps to another--shortcuts,
basically.
On the way back, a letter comes from Shichigorou. It seems he has more paint-
ings for you. This will become a regular occurrence--you'll get letters from
him and from Komaki, meaning you should visit both of them to help build up.
Go to Kouetsu's and talk to him. Kouetsu asks "Why are you looking for Miya-
moto Musashi? He's right here in front of me."
Musashi loks upset by this. "How did you know I was Musashi?"
"Because I drew this wanted poster," explains Kouetsu.
But, it seems like he won't tell anyone your secret. He tells you that there
is a man reportedly going about dojo-breaking who is calling himself Miyamoto
Musashi. This person is supposed to next strike a dojo in the area, run by the
Yoshioka family.
--------------
3g. Chapter 6
--------------
The Yoshioka Dojo
Missions available:
FAVORS
The One with the Fairest Skin (Suitsuku you na hade no mochinushi)
Izumo no Okuni
Where's the Palanquin? (Kagoya wa doko da)
The Dual-Wield Style Man (Nitouryuu no otoko)
The Enchanted Sword Suiken (Youtou Suiken)
The Cursed Tea Bowl (Noroi no chawan)
The Golden Sword (Kin no Katana)
A Treat from the Landlord (Jinushi no gochisou)
The Man Who Wanted to Be a Robin Hood (Gizoku ni naritai otoko)
The Man Who Couldn't Be Like Robin Hood (Gizoku ni narenakatta otoko)
The Town's Famous Doctor 1 (Machi no meii ichi)
Debt Collected (Kakemawarare)
How to Make Delicious Pastries (Oishii okashi no tsukurikata)
Again, the Seedy Merchant Tanaka (Shaba nekkyou Tanakaya futatabi)
The Father of the Little Girl Selling Tougarashi (Tougarashiuri no chichi)
Today's Excuses (Kyou no iiwake)
Water from the Ladle 2 (Hishaku no mizu ni)
Kintarou 1
The Sword that Grants Wishes (Negai ga kanau katana)
The Enchanted Sword Money-Eater (Youtou Kanekuimushi)
The Enchanted Sword Beckoning Sword (Youtou Manekitou)
Repelling the Oni (Oni taiji)
Homework from the Terakoya - Writing (Terakoya no shukudai ~kaki~)
Messenger from the Other World (Yomi no kuni yori no shisha)
SERVICES
Bodyguard for Ebisuya (Ebisuya no youjinbou)
The Impoverished Client is a Great Master (Binboukyaku wa daisensei)
The Targeted Yuujo (Nerawareta yuujo)
Acting Head Clerk (Bangashira dairi)
Debt Collecting (Shakkin kaishuu)
A Man Always Moves Forward (Otokotaru mono mae ni susumu nomi
BOUNTIES
Kenzaemon the Peerless (Musou Kenzaemon)
Yata the Fake Ninja (Nisenin no Yata)
Umeyasu the Good-for-Nothing (Namakura Umeyasu)
Storage Keys: Ni-3, Ho-5, Chi-3, Chi-5
Itou and Kiryuu are talking. Kiryuu tells Itou that he will sneak into the
Yoshioka Dojo by becoming a pupil there--then, he'll be able to find out about
the impending duel and investigate.
But, Itou tells him it's not that simple. There's a test to get in, but, it
seems that it's not just skill that they will consider. Kiryuu won't even be
able to try out for the dojo unless he's from a powerful family or in service to
one--they've got a reputation, after all. They're the most famous of the most
famous of dojos, apparently.
When Kiryuu's about to give up on it, Itou suddenly wonders if "that guy" can
help. He doesn't exactly have a plan, but he does seem to know something about
the dojo that can help. It's been split in two--the traditional school, taught
by Yoshioka Seijuurou, and the younger school, taught by his younger brother,
Denshichirou. It seems, though, that the school is under financial trouble.
So, Itou's got the idea of bribing one of Denshichirou's students, a man named
Gion Touji.
Touji owes a lot of money to the Tsuruya, and uses their services often. So,
Itou tells Kiryuu to come by the Tsuruya that night and he'll arrange a meeting
with the man. He thinks you should bring 20,000 mon (2 ryou).
You should go and gather 20,000 mon. It's OK if you already have it--you
don't need to actually gather 20,000 more before the game will let you pro-
gress.
One cool thing that happens in the Suburbs is that you can now take on the
task of hunting Bounties. At the west end of Shijou, near the exit to Kawara,
there's a booth on the north end with an official shogunal investigator (called
an "okappiki") in it. Talk to him and he'll explain, then read the board to
find bounties.
I should point out that there is a shogunal officer (called a "doushin") who
will appear after this event and patrol. If he spots you, he'll recognize you
as Miyamoto Musashi and give chase. Depending on which door you come out into
this map from, he appears in different spots, but they're usually quite far away
from you. Since he's on the map as a big red dot, you'd do very well to avoid
him.
Why? Because once he spots you, he calls two other officers, and they will
chase you down. While they're alerted, you can't enter buildings nor can you
leave the map. It's rather easy to avoid them, but, it's still a pain.
After the initial insanity, while the screen's all red, they decide to check
the area for you. The music will be different and you still won't be able to
enter any buildings, but they won't be magically going towards you. After a
while of that state, he sends the two other officers on their way, and they
slowly walk towards an exit. You can still be spotted by all three in this
state, so I'd recommend entering a building and then coming back out. This will
put the officer far away from you on the map, anyway.
You can just get caught and fight them, but I have to point out that it's a
pretty tough battle.
When you're ready, go to the back entrance to the Tsuruya and talk to Itou.
He'll go to get Touji, but, before he shows up, some of the yuujo show up and
throw Haruka on the ground. They're picking on her for trying to still their
johns. Before Musashi can step in to stop them, Yoshino intervenes and tells
them to get back to the guests. She says that they need to work on their own
selves instead of picking on a kamuro.
She notices Musashi, but, doesn't say anything, and leaves.
While Haruka is out there, crying, a strange man appears and starts to talk to
her. He seems to like her, and immediately offers to buy her. With him as a
sponsor, he'd make her into the best girl in town.
Musashi intervenes, asking the man if he's Gion Touji. Haruka takes the
opportunity to leave while the man admits that he is, in fact, Touji. Touji
asks "So, Mr...Kiryuu, or whatever, what do you want with me?" Musashi asks him
to help him get into the Yoshioka Dojo so that he can investigate something, and
Touji asks, "what are you planning?"
But Musashi can't tell him there. He does bribe him, and Touji accepts the
20,000 mon. "Well, I guess you really mean it--that's a lot of money!" So, he
accepts, but he cautions you that all he can do is get you into the school; it's
up to your skill to pass the test.
He asks if you're a swordsman, and Musashi says that he was, a long time ago,
but not too great. Touji says, "Well, if you get in, make sure you don't kill
anyone."
Now, before you go running off to the dojo and get yerself massacred (or em-
barrassed), it's time to go and get yourself some training. I mean, it's been
a few years since you were actually practicing swordplay, so...it's not really a
bad idea.
As you enter the suburbs area, Rakugaichou again, you'll overhear two swords-
men talking about the Yoshioka Dojo. They mention that ther's actually a
swordsmanship dojo in the suburbs! It will appear as a red dot on your map.
This is the Zanki Doujou. Pretty deserted, huh? Talk to the owner, Shibu-
sawa Zankisai, and he'll suddenly hit you with a deluge of text. Seems he was
just excited to have a new student...but, Musashi's just there to practice a
little because he's a little rusty.
So, now, it's time to learn the Zanki-Style Boulder-Splitting Sword (Zanki-
ryuu zanganken)! While locked on with R1, in single-sword style, press forward
on the left stick and the Triangle button at the same time. Easy.
Musashi notices that the old guy seems to not even guard...doesn't he mind
getting hit with a wooden sword??
As he exits, Musashi muses to himself that he might need more training.
Maybe Kouetsu can help...?
Go to Kouetsu's mansion. He's standing outside. Talk to him, and he'll tell
you that he wants you to go and buy him a dango from the riverside tea house
(they have the best, apparently). You completists, don't forget to stop by the
shogunal officer's post along the way because the final bounty of the chapter
has been unlocked! The guy also appears on the Riverside Path you'll have to
take.
So, once you get to the tea house, talk to the woman in front of it to buy
the dango. It's the seventh item from the top (fourth from the bottom), with
three kanji for the name, that costs 15 mon and looks like a bunch of green
balls.
Bring it back to him and he'll take you inside his mansion and explain that
he has many contraptions to help with training. There's the Jiraiya-Style
Practice Machine and the Scarecrow Formations. Talk to one of the ninja to get
the Classic Text of the Soul. Looking straight at the "bowling pin" setup of
ninja in the back with Kouetsu to your back, he'll be on the right.
So, talk to Kouetsu, and choose the middle choice to use the Scarecrow
Formations. The idea is simple: slash all the scarecrows down. Spikes come
up, so beware. Some of them later will have armor and bows, but, don't worry
so much about that just now. If you get a good enough time, you'll get the
ability to slash four times in a normal, single-sword style Weak Attack combo.
You can actually continue training here and get the sword offered in the
Jiraiya, or, you can just leave (you have to talk to Kouetsu and choose the
bottom choice twice to get out).
When you're ready, head on over to the Yoshioka Dojo. Touji is standing at
its gates. He'll help you get in.
That brute beating guys in sparring is Ueda, one of the most powerful students
of the group. He's the guy you have to beat in order to get in there. Gion
notes that he's no match for you--you have a true chance now to show your skills
that hlped you in Sekigahara. Does he know about Sekigahara? Musashi has no
time to ask now. He will take on Ueda.
So, beat this guy. He's not so tough. Remember that you have a bokutou, so,
you can't use sword specials--only the ones for if you had picked up a bokutou.
Touji smirks at you. Then, in walks Yoshioka Denshichirou. He seems very
pleased with Musashi's skills, but won't let him in when he finds out that he's
a ronin. I mean, it'd hurt the pride of his dojo!
But, his older brother, Seijuurou, walks in, and says he thinks that if the
man has the skill, they should let him join. Denshichirou still won't let
Kiryuu join, so, Seijuurou decides that if Kiryuu can defeat even he, himself,
he'll let him in. He goes for his sword, pauses, and chooses, coming to give
you a real weapon. This will be a true duel--one that could mean life or
death; not one with bokutou.
This guy's tough. Note that he will repel your attacks and often uses a semi-
invulnerable dodge animation to get around and slash you. So, what you need to
do is to just poke at him a little and try sidestepping, yourself, getting in
an attack while his side or back is turned. Don't overextend yourself with
long combos too much; he'll block if it's not directly on his back. If he does
parry you, you have to mash on the "X" button to recover. He'll do this when
he's in his "ready" stance (you'll hear a "twang."
Musashi breaks Seijuurou's sword, and Gion calls for the two to stop. Sei-
juurou has lost. He tells Denshichirou that should be enough, and Denshichirou
agrees, but leaves. Ueda follows. So, you've become a student, and Seijuurou
congratulates you, but leaves. He gives the broken sword to Touji, who also
congratulates you.
But, Kiryuu's upset. He was hoping for a stronger man in Yoshioka. He says
that although Seijuurou has skill, he doesn't have the heart to kill a man, so
he's not really so strong. But, Touji just laughs at him and shows him the
broken sword. It's a prop sword--a fake. Seijuurou deliberately chose it so
he wouldn't accidentally kill Musashi. He must like him.
Outside, Touji talks to you again. He reveals that he always knew that Kiryuu
was really Musashi. Apparently, he worked with you that night, under Marume
Nagayoshi. He also says that he won't tell anyone.
--------------
3h. Chapter 7
--------------
UP IN FLAMES (Enjou)
Missions available:
FAVORS
Ushi and Ben of Legend (Uwasa no ushiben)
Talent (Sainou)
Riot at the Blacksmith (Kajiya soudou)
Yet Again, the Seedy Merchant Tanaka (Matamata shaba nekkyou tanakaya)
The Flavor of Candy 3: The Price of Candy (Ame no aji san ame no kachi)
Homework from the Terakoya - The Abacus (Terakoya no shukudai ~soroban~)
The Weight of Duty (Sekinin no omosa)
Homework from the Terakoya - The Essay (Terakoya no shukudai ~sakubun~)
White Snake of Your Dreams (Yume no shirohebi)
The Mysterious Scrap of Paper (Nazo no kamigire)
Yamatoe Painter (Yamatoeshi)
Like a Cat to Catnip (Neko ni matatabi)
Like a Cat to Coins (Neko ni koban)
Master and Apprentice (Shishou to deshi)
The Monk's Secret (Bouzu no himitsu)
Water from the Ladle 3 (Hishaku no mizu san)
Gathering Ingredients for the Tougarashi Seller (Tougarashi uri no zairyou
atsume)
Kintarou 2
Dig Here, Doggy (Kokohore wanwan)
Murder-Suicide (Murishinjuu)
Spices for the Udon Restaurant (Udon'ya no yakumi)
SERVICES
The Actor in the Shadows (Kage no tateyakusha)
The Appraisal (Kantei)
BOUNTIES
Cannonball Ukimaru (Teppoudama no Ukimaru)
Kodachi Hikozaemon
Unarmed Brawling Kinta (Sotekenka no Kinta)
Storage Keys: None
A few weeks later, we find Kiryuu/Musashi in the dojo, training with a bokutou.
He's interrupted by Gion Touji. He asks Kiryuu why he's been training with
such zeal. Is Musashi trying to become a swordsman again?
No. But, Musashi tells him that he's training because he forgot something
very important--that there are others wandering the world who are stronger than
he. (Anyone else play Street Fighter I? If not, well, don't bother) If he
fought this "other Musashi" now, he doesn't know if he could even beat him.
Touji laughs. "Ahh, so this is the effect of the incident the other day with
Seijuurou. Fighting with Seijuurou, you've awakened the instincts of a swords-
man that were sleeping deep in your heart."
Musashi just goes to leave, but, Touji stops him. It seems Kiryuu has a
visitor.
It's Itou, who, oddly enough, actually was waiting directly in front of Kiryuu
before Touji told him to look in the cinema. Well...they can't all be directed
perfectly.
He asks Kiryuu how his hunt for Miyamoto Musashi is going. Since Kiryuu
hasn't been around the Tsuruya, Itou's been worried. He thought he may have
been dead or something! Also, it appears that whenever he's not around, Haruka
just can't focus on her work.
So, Kiryuu decides he should go back over to Gion later today.
But...Itou is really decked to the nines today, dressed in better clothes than
usual, and so Kiryuu asks what's going on. "Dressed up like that, you really
look like a fine swordsman."
In response, Itou asks Kiryuu if he has time today. There's somewhere he'd
like to take him. Kiryuu agrees.
Along the riverbed, at dusk, they take their stroll in the sand. Kiryuu asks
"So, what's wrong Itou?"
And Itou suddenly attacks. Kiryuu has no choice but to guard, using both
swords at once. Itou recognizes you as Musashi because of the two-sword style.
He says that he has to fight him, if he's Musashi. Musashi doesn't understand,
but, Itou tells him that they have to decide which one of them will be the one
to kill Sasaki Kojirou. You have no choice--fight him.
He's not particularly hard, but, your attacks won't normally knock him down
and he can deflect your attacks. He also gets up twice--once with a longer life
bar, and once with a shorter one. Both times, he has an aura about him as if he
were in Heat Mode.
After the duel, he sighs. "I'm getting old, huh...?"
Kiryuu asks why he wanted to fight. He says he was also a famous swordsman at
one time, Itou Ittousai. Ittousai was a very famous fencer, and Kiryuu seems a
bit awe-struck when he hears this. He says that everyone who uses the sword
knows who Ittousai is. "So," he asks, "why would such a famous swordsman hide
his true identity?"
Itou responds, "The same as you--to get revenge."
It seems that 10 years ago, when Itou started the "Ittou-ryuu" sword style,
he was called by the Tokugawa clan to teach. The man who came to him was the
very-young Sasaki Kojirou. His dream in those days was to make the Ittou-ryuu
more famous than the Shinkage-ryuu invented by Sekishuusai, and so, he refused.
(It is inferred that the Shinkage-ryuu was already being taught at the Tokugawa
camp, so, Itou needed to stay away from them for his school to be independent).
But, this refusal earned him the fury of the Tokugawa. Kojirou, acting as an
assassin for the Tokugawa, killed Itou's family and students, while Itou was off
on business. Itou figures this is because if he wouldn't ally with the Toku-
gawa, he might have allied with the Toyotomi clan, who at the end of the Warring
States Period, was perhaps the greatest rival to the Tokugawa.
Of course, Itou has sworn to see vengeance upon the man who killed his family.
"But," says Kiryuu, "why haven't you fought me until now?"
"Because Kojirou is coming to Gion now--to the Tsuruya."
His name appeared on a list of people coming from the Tokugawa tomorrow.
Itou knew that he couldn't keep this from Musashi, because he's sure that he'd
like to repay him for his past. Of course, this means that he had already
guessed Kiryuu was Musashi a long time before.
It also means he knows about Musashi's past--from Kouetsu, who he's been using
to track Kojirou's actions.
But, it doesn't matter now...it's been decided that it is Musashi who will get
to fight Kojirou; not Itou.
Or has it? Musashi suddenly tells Itou that he will leave it to him to defeat
Kojirou.
He feels that they do both hate Kojirou, but, he wants to fight him as a
swordsman, and he's given up on that kind of thought. He thinks that there was
some force pulling the strings behind the incident at Sekigahara, and so, he'll
leave it to Itou to avenge his family.
Itou agrees, and that he does understand Musashi's feelings. He's sure he'd
like to fight someone stronger than him. But...he's sure that the day is coming
when all this fighting would vanish from the country. There's no need to keep
people like himself around, who live only for revenge. And so, he says that it
is up to them to do something for the people who are coming into this great new
age.
Kiryuu's still not sure. He was tricked by the sword, he's lost someone be-
loved to him because of the sword--everything's been led by the sword. He tells
Itou about the days with Majima's sister, Ukiyo, and how she told him that if he
became a true, strong swordsman, he would be able to save people. And so, he'd
like to become stronger--he wants to aim for a more noble place as a swordsman.
So, he won't give up on fighting.
"Kiryuu. You're still young--and you're a fool! You think that the power of
a sword can do something--you're really a fool! Listen, Kiryuu, I think it's a
fool like you who will create this new future."
It seems he feels that someone who can cling to their beliefs like that may
not make too much sense in the world, but maybe, someone living like him is just
what the world needs. Why? Because Musashi might just be the kind of person
who can carve out his own life--he might be able to live as he chooses. After
all, Itou's just a product of his age, and he has doubts about fighting. But,
when the word "revenge" appeared before him, that's all he would live for.
But, Kiryuu's different. He actually believes in the principles given to him
by life--the principles of a swordsman.
It is true that in the days of the Tokugawa bakufu, samurai were mostly
"warriors" in name only. They did engage in militaristic activity and training,
but most would live as despots or bureaucrats, using the idea that they were
some romantic heroes to claim their legitimacy. This is probably what Itou is
referring to--he feels that Musashi actually has the true essence of a swords-
man, unlike all those people in the Tokugawa who simply used that heroic ideal
as a front to their schemes.
So, be true to yourself! I'm sure you haven't heard that a million times
already.
Now you finally have control of your character again. You have to talk to
Itou again, though...no other way to get out of this area. However, before you
go, make sure you find the turtle on its back, behind you and way off to the
right in the sand in the corner of the "room."
Take Itou back to Gion's Gate. Right near the gate, you'll get a carrier
pigeon with a letter from Shichigorou, telling you to come meet him and get
more paintings. After dropping Itou off, it will still be night, and you have
a few missions available. I'd suggest doing them.
Once inside Gion again, Kiryuu decides to go to the Tsuruya and check on
Haruka. Of course, this will be done at the Tsuruya's back entrance.
Letters will arrive from Kouetsu and Komaki, telling you there are more
trainings available at their respective places.
The worker there will tell you that Itou's not back yet, but, Kiryuu asks to
see O-Haru (Haruka). Well, she's busy with work, too, but the man will go and
see if he can get her. Once she comes out, Kiryuu will explain to her that he
needed to go off to investigate and not to worry. She asks if he's found any-
thing out about Musashi, and he says he is learning about him, bit by bit.
Suddenly, she tells Kiryuu she doesn't think he should kill Musashi. After
all, if he does like she asked, he'll be a bad person. She doesn't want to be
the cause of someone becoming a bad person, but Kiryuu tells her not to worry
about that sort of thing. He's worried about her--after all, she came to this
village and is becoming strained by it. He says that Gion is a place that
steals away peoples' convictions and goals. And so, he tells her not to forget
two things: why she came to this town, and why she hired him.
So, the madam shows up, and tells her not to waste her time there--she has
more important things to be doing! Off she goes, and the madam stays around to
talk to you. You two have never seen eye-to-eye, so, she says that it's been
good not to see you around Gion.
But, then, she stops you. She actually does want you to come by more often.
After all, Haruka seems to be lost when you're not around, and doesn't put any
effort into things. Just for her sake, she wants you to be around more.
The next morning, Musashi sets out to meet up with Itou at Kouetsu's mansion.
Before you go, though, you might want to take care of the various side quests
that are available. For instance, you'll probably get a letter right away from
the Zanki Doujou. Go there to learn more sword techniques.
In Kouetsu's mansion, you all start to talk about how to get Kojirou. It
seems the official coming, Itakura, really hates the Gion area, so it's weird
for him to be visiting at all. He's most likely there to look for someone
important in secret.
But will Kojirou be there? Well, Kouetsu shows the list iven to the Tsuruya
of who will be attending. Kouetsu shows Kojirou's name, but, Musashi notices
another name...Marume Nagayoshi. Itou decides that maybe Musashi should go
after Marume, while he goes after Kojirou.
That only leaves one problem...how to get into the Tsuruya? Itou's guard
won't be there--it will be the official guard. So, it will be hard to get the
swords inside the place. And, Itou can't ask the madam to help--he'd certainly
not have a job after that!
So, Musashi decides to ask. He's sure that the madam won't refuse him as a
customer--even if she hates him. Do that by going to the front entrance to the
Tsuruya and talking to the worker there--but, you may want to take a moment to
do all the side-missions and such have just become available.
Go around to the back and she'll meet up with you. She asks why you called
her, and Kiryuu tells her he'd like to visit the brothel that night and needs a
place there--a room where he can see the main performance. He first says he
wants to drink, and she tells him she'll see if some other room is available,
but, he then tells her he wants to see Haruka's dance for the first time. So,
just for her sake, she agrees to see what she can do and get him a room close to
the action.
Yoshino hears this--oh my gosh, is she jealous!?! ("Hell hath no fury," or
whatever)
It's dusk now, and Musashi decides he'd better get back to the Tatsuya and
get ready. Along the way, you may want to take care of the side mission
"Murder-Suicide (Muri shinjuu)" because this only appears at Dusk and you won't
have many other opportunities to get it.
Back at the Tatsuya, Itou is waiting for you. Once you're ready to get the
show on the road here, talk to him and choose the second choice to set out.
You have to get past the bakufu officials to get there. This is a mini-
action stage. It's not terribly difficult, but, it's not fun, either. Should
you be caught, you'll just be returned to the Tatsuya.
Inside, you guys sneak up to your room, opening the doors to watch the main
banquet with the governor, Itakura. Yoshino is at his side. But, they didn't
see Kojirou, nor Marume.
Suddenly, Haruka screams. Itakura is grabbing her, and is yelled at by the
madam, who tells him she's sorry, but she's just a kamuro. If it's a girl he
wants, Yoshino is there for him. He chases her off. Then, he drags Haruka off
by the arm, supposedly leading her to a room (even though she's so young).
After a moment, Yoshino leaves after them. Before Musashi can barge out and
save her, someone shouts. Kojirou is suddenly there, killing a man. Itou and
Musashi burst on the scene.
Itou challenges him, but Kojirou seems more impressed by the sight of Musashi.
He says, "Do you have time to do this? If you don't move now, that girl and
Itakura will be burned to death." Seems the place is going up in flames!
While itou fights Kojirou, you have to run through the place in search of
Haruka. In this action stage, there will be a bar that is your timer for how
much strength the place has left before it crumbles down on you, so pay mind to
that! Also, if you hear calls for help, it's some of the clients and women
trapped behind things. Use your heavy weapons to break the items easily and
rescue them. You should have enough time to make it through and collect every-
thing.
At the end, you'll find a "mysterious armored warrior." Watch out for prompts
to hit buttons at certain moments as he smashes pillars at you. Another heavy
weapons type, you should try and sidestep behind him and attack as he attacks,
since he won't react as you hit him when he's moving. Also note that with the
two sword style, you can use a Heat Action to reverse his attacks while stand-
ing on the tatami. This is a rare opportunity to use that Heat Action.
After that, head into the basement. You'll have to fight some ninja. They
flip around and throw bombs, so be careful.
Haruka and Itakura are separated, and Itakura tries to save her but can't
reach. He asks why he was asked to get this stupid girl, and decides she
should just go ahead and burn to death alone there. As he runs away, someone
stabs him. It's Marume Nagayoshi.
Musashi sees him and runs to attack, but Marume guards and then suddenly
gets away. "You've gotten better, Musashi," he tells him.
Haruka sees the dead governor and Kiryuu running towards her. She sees the
bells on his sword. "Why do you have that bell...?" she asks. Having seen the
dead man, she can only assume that he killed him. Haruka looks really horri-
fied!
--------------
3i. Chapter 8
--------------
The Houzouin
Missions available:
FAVORS
The Vow (Kishou)
The Soul of the Udon Restaurant (Udon'ya tamashii)
Legend of the Miraculous Swordsman (Sugoude kenshi no uwasa)
Kintarou 3
Troublesome Foreigner (Nayameru nanbanjin)
Apprentice to the Master (Shishou no deshi)
O-Saki's Situation (Osaki no jijou)
SERVICES
O-You the Mercurial (Idaten no Oyou)
I Hate You, Brothel Master (Uramarete, roushou)
BOUNTIES
Monnosuke of the Suburbs (Rakugaichou no Monnosuke)
Seitakichi the Palanquin-Killer (Kagogiri no Seitakichi)
Matsu the Judge (Mekiki no Matsu)
Storage Keys: Nu-5
The Tsuruya's been burnt down. Everyone in Gion stands, staring at its smolder-
ing remains. Musashi wonders about the Tsuruya's future, but, Kouetsu says not
to worry--he's sure that the bakufu was behind this, and, therefore, so was the
madam. She's probably gonna be taken care of.
Itou, on the other hand, is back at Kouetsu's, and is still unconscious. It
seems he's but cut all about his chest. It's really a wonder how he made it
back from the fire on his own. Right before he lost consciousness, though, he
said something strange. He said "He uses the...shinkage...."
Kouetsu has no idea what this "shinkage" is. But, before they can discuss it
any further, the madam comes over. She tells Musashi she's been having trouble
with Haruka. She's gotten the other girls to go to other brothels for the time
being, but not Haruka. She wants you to go tal to her--Haruka's only close to
you and Yoshino. She's in the Kamenoya, which is near the rear entrance to the
Tsuruya.
Talk to the man outside the Kamenoya. Kiryuu asks to see Haruka, but, it's
Yoshino who shows up. Haruka sent her, because she's refusing to meet with
Kiryuu. Yoshino explains that it has something to do with bells. She asks if
you'll just leave her alone for now, but, Kiryuu says that he must meet with
her. He asks Yoshino to arrange it, and Yoshino thinks it will take time. So,
since Kiryuu has other business to attend to, he'll just come back when he's
done.
So, better head on over to Kouetsu's. He said he had something to talk to
you about.
Seems he's got some weird lead on that "other Miyamoto Musashi." This time,
it seems this impostor is going to show up at the Houzouin. Musashi wonders if
that's the wing of the famous temple in Nara (the Koufukuji)? Yes--it's the
one where the Houzouin style of spear technique was founded by the monk In'ei.
Anyway, it looks like the impostor Musashi is goin there to enter a tournament.
Of course, this means the real Musashi will have to go investigate. But,
Kouetsu cautions that he has a feeling something's afoot here, so, he asks
Musashi to be careful.
Before he can go check it out, Musashi has to check on Haruka. Go back to the
Kamenoya and talk to Yoshino.
Kiryuu asks directly what's wrong with Haruka, who doesn't want to talk about
it--she doesn't even look in his eyes! She responds by directly accusing him of
being Miyamoto Musashi. She has a bell in her hand that is just like the one
on his sword, put on there five years ago by Ukiyo. It was on the sword of the
man who killed Haruka's family. So, she figures it was you who killed Itakura
and you who killed her family. Instead of denying it, he goes to explain, but
she says she'll never believe him again.
Instead, he tells her that sometime, he'll definitely tell her about the
bells. But, for now, he can't talk about it. Then, he tells her that he has
information that Miyamoto Musashi will appear in Nara, so he's gonna be gone for
a little while. He tells her that he can't tell her to believe him, but, he
will uphold their contract at any cost. Then, off he goes!
Return to the Tatsuya, and who should be there waiting but Kouetsu. He tells
you how to get to the temple (from the Riverside Tea House Area). Then, he...
just sits there on your floor and watches you leave (?).
Once you reach the Houzouin, talk to the monk guarding the entrance. He won't
let you in. They're only letting students of dojos with in recommendations.
Oh well. Talk to the other monk--the really weird-looking old man--near the
pillar. He invites you to come and eat with him. Seems the old man thinks if
he gives you his recommendation, you can get in.
He brings you to his house and then makes you wait. Musashi looks a little
puzzled. The monk returns with a long staff. Musashi is confused still, but
the old man introduces himself as In'ei--inventor of the cross-shaped staff
style of the Houzouin! You have to spar with him. He's not so tough--just
watch those quick jabs of his with that long thing.
In'ei says it's a matter of course that he's In'ei--who did he think he was,
anyway? He also reveals he knows his name--but, he heard him give it to the
guard a second ago. He says he'll give Kiryuu his recommendation, but, he
wants him to defeat someone--his student, Inshun. Seems he's tired of that guy
going crazy and destroying the Houzouin. Because of this fighting tournament
jazz, they're loosing their purpose--their Buddhism. Seems he picked you for
the job because you remind him of a young Yagyuu Sekishuusai (Muneyoshi)!
Anyway, go and talk to the monk guarding the place and he'll let you in. As
soon as you get close to that one weird-looking monk (he's actually wearing the
clothes of a mountain ascetic or gyouja), he'll stop you. Seems he has some
knowledge to impart upon you. He does so through a very strange training
technique--throwing watermelons at you and having you hack them in half.
Undertake the training with the bottom choice. If you score high enough,
you'll get a super move that you can only use in the fight against Inshun. When
Inshun's life is at a certain point, charge up your Heat with R2 and then hit
Triangle.
Anyway, when you're ready, talk to the person at the desk and enter the
tournament (bottom choice).
First up is Tachibana Benimaru. Not too much to say about him, really.
Next comes the Yamato Monk Kenzen. Not too much to say here, neither.
The final fight is against Inshun. He's furious that Musashi hadn't shown up.
Apparently, he feels like he shouldn't waste his time on Kiryuu, who taunts him,
saying that he's too afraid to face him.
After the fight, Inshun kicks and screams like a ridiculous child and In'ei
seems pleased. The crowd throws their seat cushions (zabuton)--just like in
sumo!
Later, In'ei admits that it was he, himself, and another man who spread the
Musashi rumor. Kiryuu looks shocked, so, In'ei tells him he should meet some-
one before he goes back to Kyoto.
Kiryuu steps inside the hut, and waits...there's nobody there. Suddenly, at
the window, is Marume.
Marume says this was the only way to meet Musashi. Musashi is quite angry at
him, but, he calms down to hear what Marume has to say. He tells Musashi that
he must protect the girl "O-Haru" (that's Haruka). He reveals that Itakura was
there to kidnap Haruka. He wanted to stop him, but, he has forced to kill Ita-
kura. Marume can't explain for now, but, Haruka's a very important person to
the bakufu. Musashi asks what Marume's hiding, but, Marume explains that he
just can't say any more. He then swears on his life that he won't ever deceive
Musashi again.
So, he goes to leave, calling Musashi "Kiryuu." But, Musashi stops him, ask-
ing if he's the one who started the rumor about the Yoshioka duel. Marume
swears he didn't. He says that Musashi should pay attention to exactly who
around him knows his true identity. They could be the real enemy.
Musashi asks if Marume is an enemy or an ally, and Marume says that he has
been both, and for now, he'll be an ally. Then, he walks away....
--------------
3j. Chapter 9
--------------
The Duel (Hatashiai)
Missions available:
FAVORS
Divorce Temple (Enkiriji)
Kiryuu's Sightseeing Tour (Kiryuu no kankou annai)
The Master Is Also an Apprentice (Shishou mo deshi)
Investment Advice (Toushi no susume)
The Woman (Onna)
The Town's Famous Doctor 2 (Machi no meii ni)
The Yuujo's Request 1 (Yuujo no negai ichi)
The Red Diary (Akai nikkichou)
The Yuujo's Request 2 (Yuujo no negai ni)
Kstayer (Kuwasuteroya)
The Faithful Old Hound (Oibore aiken)
The Egg 1: The Thing I always Wanted to Try Before I Died (Tamago ichi
shinumade ni tabete mitai mono)
A Captivating House (Miwaku no ie)
The Oracle (Otsuge)
The Benefits of a Swamp (Numa no kouyou)
The Offering to the Gods (Kamisama he no sasagemono)
The Taste of a Rice Ball (Nigirimeshi no aji)
SERVICES
True Retirement (Goinkyo no shoutai)
The Unscrupulous Procurer (Akutoku zegen)
BOUNTIES
Weird Donbei (Kahatare Donbei)
Tatsu of the Futaba Crest (Futabamon no Tatsu)
Tetsuto the Oni-Killer (Onigoroshi no Tetsuto)
Kaien the Sinful Monk (Namagusabouzu no Kaien)
Flying Kenza (Tobashi no Kenza)
Storage Keys: Ha-2, Ha-4, He-4, To-5, Chi-4, Ri-1
Some guy is handing out newspapers. Seems miyamoto Musashi is supposed to
(actually) duel the Yoshioka family. In the midst of this commotion, Kiryuu
sets out from the Houzouin. Kiryuu tells In'ei he's really got a treat--he
never thought he was going to meet Marume there in Nara. In'ei tells him that
Marume is his old friend from over ten years ago--once a fellow student! So,
he asks him not to be so hard on the poor guy. Kiryuu asks if by "fellow
student," In'ei means that they both studied Shinkage-ryuu.
In fact, they did. Marume, In'ei, and even Sekishuusai (another name for
Yagyuu Muneyoshi) studied the Shinkage-ryuu under Kamiizumi Nobutsuna.
Then, In'ei asks if Kiryuu's concerned about how to protect Haruka, or from
what. But, he tells him not to worry--he's sure it will all be made clear.
He says, "I'm sure that 'Old Fox' will make his move soon." But, he won't ex-
plain himself. It'll all be made clear soon enough.
Before you can return to Kyoto, Inshun runs up to you. "I won't lose next
time, Kiryuu!" He seems to have reformed somewhat, saying that he was blind to
the outside world until you showed up. He had forgotten there were those out
there who were stronger than him.
Also, before you return to Kyoto, you'll probably want to take care of any
missions you haven't done yet, or you might want to take part in the tour-
naments. I should also point out that En no Kozuma is now waiting for you
along the river path. You can undertake his training to gain some new Heat
Actions against powerful enemies.
But, if you're ready, head back to Gion.
Back in the Tatsuya, Musashi muses that he hasn't found anything out about
this "other" Musashi. He wonders what Haruka's up to...better go check in on
her.
As he leaves the Tatsuya, Touji suddenly shows up. He tells him about the
impending duel. Seems it will be tomorrow. He tells him that if he comes to
the dojo later, he'll tell him where the duel is being held.
Musashi turns to go back, but he's stopped by Yoshino, of all people. Seems
she's just coming back from dance practice. Somehow, the repairs have already
been completed, and so, they're going to reopen today. Haruka still looks
down, looking away from Musashi. Yoshino tells her to talk to him.
Yoshino tells Musashi that although she won't look at him, Haruka was worried
sick about him while she was gone. Haruka looks upset she told him. Haruka
suddenly asks Musashi to come by the Tsuruya that night. She's got something
she needs to talk to him about. He agrees, of course.
So, Musashi decides that first, he'd better go to the dojo and talk to Touji.
Along the way, be sure to take care of any side quests that may have opened.
Touji waits for Musashi outside the dojo with Ueda. Inside, Denshichirou is
arguing with his older brother, who is washing the floor. Seijuurou asks, "Is
there any point in fighting this 'Miyamoto Musashi?'" And so, he leaves. Den-
shichirou follows, still trying to persuade him.
Touji figures that this "other" Musashi will still show, so, Musashi had
better go thre. It's at the Rendai Fields, which are out in the countryside
to the west of the dojo. The duel is tomorrow at sundown. Musashi asks if
the other students or Denshichirou will come to see the duel, but, only Sei-
juurou and the highest students know where the duel will be, so, no-one should
be there.
Alright, so, go and talk to Haruka. You actually need to go in the front way
this time.
Yoshino is there to greet you, instead. Seems Haruka's pretty busy. She's
been promoted to Shinzou and now has more duties than when she was a kamuro.
Musashi says it's his fault she's there, and she has such a hard life, but
Yoshino doesn't agree. She says that Haruka's been really putting her heart
into her work and she thinks when she becomesa yuujo, she won't have any re-
grets.
Haruka finally enters, and Yoshino leaves.
It seems Haruka called Musashi there to ask if he's going to the duel to-
morrow. Kiryuu asks if she asked him that to suss out that he's really Musashi.
She says she doesn't want to think he's Musashi, but, he had that bell on his
sword. Also, she's pretty sure she saw him kill Itakura at the fire.
After some silence, Kiryuu tells her he's going to the Rendai Fields. That's
where the duel is.
She looks surprised. "Then, you're really Miyamoto--?"
"No;" he replies, "I'm going to see if that's the man who killed your
parents."
He then tells her that she might be in danger, remembering Marume's message.
He tells her that Marume told him that someone was after her, though neither one
of them can see a reason why. So, to find out, he's just got to go and talk to
this man calling himself "Miyamoto Musashi." He then promises her that he'll
return alive, and that he'll find the truth.
That seems to calm her fears for now. Since tomorrow's the duel, Musashi
decides to sleep until the morning. Back at the Tatsuya, when you try to exit,
he'll wonder if he should sleep. Choose the top choice if you want to nose
around at night and take care of things, and the bottom choice, when you're
ready, to advance the story a bit.
Kouetsu comes to fetch Musashi when it's about time for the duel. He tells
him that Itou's OK now, and that he's praying for Musashi to return safely. He
then shows you how to get to the Rendai Fields.
Take care of every side mission you'd like first.
At the fields, Seijuurou suddenly comes and attacks Kiryuu. "So, you are
Miyamoto Musashi, after all."
Musashi says that Touji asked him to come, but, Seijuurou says, "You're the
only one I see before me." He attacks, and Kiryuu blocks with both swords.
Seems he can't deny it now--he's Miyamoto Musashi! You'll have to duel him.
After the duel, Seijuurou is mortally wounded. He suddenly asks him to save
his brother. He says that it was the man who revealed the location of the duel
to him who betrayed them. So, it has to be Touji. He didn't want to leave his
brother like that, but, he had to fight Musashi as a swordsman. It looks like
he was unable to give up the way of the sword....
It seems that they've taken Denshichirou to the Sanjuusangendou (a temple off
to the south). But, before Kiryuu can go, Ueda suddenly shows up. So do many
of the Yoshioka students. They were waiting to pretend like they were going to
kill the person who killed their master. Then, with Denshichirou dead, they
can take over the dojo.
Suddenly, Itou bursts on to the scene, slashing down your foes. He tells you
that he'll hold them there--it's up to you to save Denshichirou--just keep
heading for the gate in the distance!
You may want to make sure you visit all the various little rooms here on your
way. There are many boss-like enemies and such along your way.
Once you do get to the gate, you'll have to run back along the path to the
Riverside Path, then way down to the tea house, then through the exit that was
previously closed and to the Sanjuusangendou.
Touji tells Musashi that he has no choice. He has to watch him kill Den-
shichirou, or else his identity will be revealed. But, Musashi won't just let
that happen.
Defeat Touji.
Suddenly, Touji comes rushing up the stairs--hit the Triangle button. This is
Touji's last little bit of strength.
Musashi apologizes to Denshichirou. It was he who killed his brother. But,
Denshichirou applauds him instead. He's grateful to have met such a great
swordsman.
---------------
3k. Chapter 10
---------------
The Old Fox's Request (Tanukijiji no irai)
Missions available:
FAVORS
The Magic Flute (Ma no fue)
The Yamauba Legend (Yamaubadensetsu)
Exorcising the Ghost (Bourei taiji)
Wings Flapping Towards the Future (Mirai he habataku tsubasa)
The Novice and the Master Fencer (Anmashi to Kengou)
SERVICES
The True Intent of the Fleeing Guest (Nigeta kyaku no shin'i)
Food, Please (Meshi tanomu)
Gifts, Please (Zoutouhin tanomu)
BOUNTIES
Takakane With the Golden Pipe (Ougontsutsu no Takakane)
Toyokichi of the Kuromon Family (Kuromon Ichizoku no Toyokichi)
Arashiyama Yuuzarou
Karasuyano Hyounosuke
Storage Keys: None
Musashi staggers back to Gion, covered in blood, wounded, and exhausted. He
collapses, and a crowd forms around him, then carry him back to Gion.
Inside the Tatsuya, Haruka and Kouetsu crouch over him, while Yoshino watches
from the doorway. Itou walks in and sits next to Kiryuu, asking if he's OK.
Kouetsu explains that Kiryuu doesn't seem particularly wounded, but, he must
just be exhauste and needs to sleep.
Finally, Yoshino asks Itou what on earth is going on.
Itou looks to Kouetsu, who nods. He says "I used to be a great swordsman
called 'Itou Ittousai.' And this man...he was a swordsman, too. That's right.
He's Miyamoto Musashi."
Poor Haruka breaks down and cries.
Sometime later, Yoshino re-dampens the cloth for Kiryuu's forehead and leaves.
She says it was very surprising to find out his true identity, but, then she
suggests that it's not got anything to do with them, right? Then she leaves,
telling Haruka to stay with Kiryuu.
Haruka looks at the bell, then to Kiryuu. "Kiryuu is...Miyamoto Musashi...."
In a flashback, we see men carrying a family around in palanquins. The guards
are all killed quickly by traveling samurai, who then proceed to stab into the
palanquins and assassinate the men and women. At last, one of them, quite
obviously Marume Nagayoshi, approaches with the wakizashi with the bell around
the hilt. Haruka darts out of the palanquin and grabs the wakizashi. She runs,
and the men go to run after her, but Marume stops them.
Staring at the bell, Haruka looks to the wakizashi it was once on. She
remembers asking the old man who witnessed Ukiyo's murder whose sword it was,
and remembers him telling her it was Miyamoto Musashi's.
Drawing the wakizashi, she points it to Kiryuu's throat.
"Are you going to kill him?" asks YOshino from the doorway.
"I won't stop you. You might regret it, though."
Then, Haruka stops. "I don't know what happened between you, but, if you
want to kill him," Yoshino says, "you can always do it later, right?"
Haruka runs off, crying, and Yoshino sits and smokes the kiseru. "Aren't you
going after her, Kiryuu?" He frowns. "I knew you were just pretending to be
asleep...."
"There's nothing I can say to her now, anyway," says Kiryuu.
"That's right," says Yoshino, looking oddly content.
Back at Kouetsu's mansion, he asks Musashi what he'll do now. Itou assumes
that the "other Musashi" was just Gion Touji, after all. So, he asks, will
Musashi just give up without knowing who it was who killed Haruka's parents?
Musashi has no answer.
Kouetsu asks him if he's going to leave Gion, but, this seems to surprise
Musashi, as if he hadn't thought of it. Kouetsu explains that Musashi was only
waiting in that town to fight Kojirou and Marume, after all. Now that they've
figured out where Musashi was hiding, he can't really stay there anymore--there
will certainly be people coming after him.
Again, Musashi does not answer. "Do you have some other reason to be here in
Gion?" asks Kouetsu.
Kiryuu turns to Itou and asks him what he'll do. Itou seems surprised. He
doesn't really have anywhere else to go, so, he'll try living at Gion a while
longer.
Kiryuu then tells them that he's made a promise to Haruka and must bring her
parents' murderers to justice. So, he has no reason to leave Gion. Also....
"Also...?" asks Kouetsu.
"No--forget it," he replies.
Itou says, "Ah--it's Yoshino, huh? Let that woman go. I don't know what's
gone on between you two, but, I'm sure there's some other motive going on with
her. Whenever I'm around her, I feel she's gonna stab me in the back."
He figures that since Yoshino was the only person who left the stage room
right before everything went up in flames, and because Yoshino seemed to be
going out after Itakura and Haruka, but wasn't with them when they were found
later, she's probably the one who set fire to the place. Yoshino wasn't even
with the madam or the other yuujo. He even thinks that Yoshino and Kojirou are
working together for some reason.
It seems that Itakura came to secretly steal Haruka away, but Kojirou and
Marume came to stop him, and Kojirou worked together with Yoshino to set fire
to the place.... Kouetsu asks, "What on earth is going on here?"
Kiryuu says, "I don't know, but, there can be no doubt that it's all connected
to Haruka."
Itou suddenly asks Kiryuu to leave it all alone. He's afraid that if he gets
more involved in this, he'll be in so deep, he won't be able to get out of it
again. But, Kiryuu says he has to do it.
"You said it yourself, Itou--remember? I'm a fool."
"No; that's not exactly what I meant--" says Itou.
"You know, Itou...I was actually happy to have had you say that to me. So,
I'm going to go down this road I believe in...even if it leads to Hell."
"I won't stop you, then," says Itou. "Kiryuu...you really are a big fool!"
Then, he tries to apologize for troubling Itou, but both Itou and Kouetsu say
that things have really been more interesting with him around.
Kiryuu decides that he has to investigate Haruka's true identity. But, the
only trouble is that he has nowhere to start. All he has was that talk before
from In'ei about the "Old Fox."
Suddenly, the door opens. It's a strange old man. "I've got something I'd
like to ask..." he says, and explains he came there because he's heard that it's
an place to get information. He's decided to go to the capital, but, he's lost
his way. He's looking for the Tsuruya in Gion. Seems one of his relatives is
there, and he'd like to go meet this person. Kouetsu asks who it is, but, the
man refuses to say.
Then, he asks about a certain kakemawari named Kiryuu. Before anyone can
answer, Kiryuu asks just what business this man has with this "Kiryuu" person.
The man answers that he'd just like to have this man show him aruond the
famous sites and help him have a good time there in the capital. Seems some
monk in Nara told him about Kiryuu.
Kiryuu says, "Could it have been...In'ei from the Houzouin?" When the man
says "yes," Kiryuu reveals his identity to him (well, his fake one, anyway).
Itou says, "Kiryuu...I don't think this is the 'Old Fox' guy, is he?"
Kiryuu agrees and accepts the man's request. So, you now have to take the
old guy around and show him a thing or three about the capital.
First, he wants to eat some dango. The easiest would be the dango in the
Yoshioka Dojo area off to the west. It's the fifth choice (32 mon).
Next, he wants to gamble. Go roll dice at the west end of Nagay Street in
the Suburbs. Go and choose the top choice to play. As soon as the old man
wins, it'll end (thank God). He's the guy at the top. I can't really explain
the rules to you so well, but, basically, if you roll up two of the same num-
ber, the third die will determine your score. The one with the higher score
wins. Just keep rolling until the old man wins.
Suddenly, a samurai shows up and threatens you--well, it's not you; it's the
old man, really. Beat them.
The old man says he has no idea why anyone would be after him.... So, go to
your next task: the theater. Watch a show there. It seems either the woman
eating the snake (for which you will have to first buy a few items at the
Ikken'ya Sakaya on Shijou) will work.
Next, he wants some udon. Take him to the White Snake Udon restaurant on
Shijou, and order the Tempura Udon. It's the eleventh item from the top for
300 mon.
Next, he wants to play shogi. The parlor will show up as a red dot--it's at
the east end of Nagaya. I have to say, I'm really horrible at shogi. If you're
like me, you'll want to honestly tell him that when you start with the bottom
choice. If you choose the top choice, you MUST win in order to get past this
part of the story. You choose the bottom? You can lose. You can even just
start the match, hit select, and choose to quit, and it'll work out.
As you leave, another samurai shows up and tries to kill the old man. Beat
him and his cronies!
Again, the old man denies knowing a reason why people would be after him.
Take him to the front gate to Gion. You have to take the usual, sneaky,
little ronin-on-the-run way like the dirty little ronin you are.
Do note before you go in, however, that this is a good opportunity to tie up
loose ends. It's also dusk, so, you can go and meet the man in the tengu mask
and take care of all sorts of neat-o training first.
Once inside, you'll meet back up with the man...but, he's with Shishido--
Majima! Musashi approaches the two.
It seems Majima was headed over to your shop to pay you a visit. Oddly, it
also seems like the old man was asking Majima to lead him around, too. He says
it was taking you a long time to get there, so, he figured he'd just go have a
nose about himself, and so he asked this one-eyed man (Shishido/Majima) to lead
him about.
Kiryuu asks who the man is related to inside the Tsuruya, and is shocked to
hear it's O-Haru (Haruka). Kiryuu suddenly realises that this *is*, in fact,
the Old Fox. Majima, on the other hand, has no idea what's going on. Still,
the old man asks him to come along.
While you lead them there, there's very little you can do, actually. You
can't initiate missions or anything like that. So, you may as well just head
straight for the Tsuruya.
Depending on how well you did gambling and such, the old man will pay you a
certain amount of money. I usually get 100,000 mon.
In your room at the Tsuruya, Yoshino dances for you, and Majima talks with
him. The old man says that he was in many battles when he was young, and Majima
says it sounds interesting.
Suddenly, Yoshino notices Majima and drops her fan in shock. Only Kiryuu
seems to notice. Suddenly, Yoshino runs off.
So, the madam comes and apologizes, but, none of them say they mind. Of
course, Majima does. He looks a little confused, and goes outside to get some
air.
The old man starts to talk to the madam about Haruka. He says that she is a
very precious yuujo. After the madam agrees, he reveals that he has come to buy
Haruka's freedom.
Kiryuu and the madam are both very shocked. He tells her to name a price--
any price. She says 5,000,000 mon (yes; that is a LOT).
He seems a little impressed, but, just as if it were nothing, he tells her
that she'll have the money tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Majima is relaxing on the roof of the place (what a nut). He seems
to remember having seen Yoshino somewhere, but...he can't remember. Suddenly,
he falls from the roof, exclaiming in his wonderful kinki dialect. Of course,
just like in a cartoon, his memory returns when he hits his head. As he does,
it starts to rain.
For some reason, he looks very upset as he calls Kiryuu "Musashi-chan."
Haruka runs into him. "My dear," he asks her, "what might your name be?" A
cunning spark shines in his eyes. What is he planning...? (dun-dun-DUUUNNN)
Kiryuu asks the old man who he is. But, before the man can say anything, a
worker runs in and says that something horrible has happened and that they need
Kiryuu's help. When Kiryuu asks what happened, the man tells him that Haruka
has been kidnapped by a one-eyed man! He left Kiryuu the message to meet him at
the Kiyomizu Temple.
When you get back to the Tatsuya, Yoshino runs to give you the news that
Haruka has been kidnapped. She wants to come with you, but, Kiryuu says that he
can't--it's a crime for her to flee this area now that she belongs to a brothel.
"Yes, but I--" she protests. Kiryuu looks at her strangely, and she looks
away. "I care about Haruka and you," she says stuntedly.
Kiryuu nods. "Just have faith in me," he says, and sets out.
Before you go there, I'd suggest taking care of business again. There are a
few side missions that have now opened. Also, make sure you stop by En no
Kozuma in the northern part of the Riverside Path to get a super move that only
works against Shishido Baiken (Majima).
Once you do head out to the Kiyomizu, be ready for a fight. This is another
action stage. When your path is blocked by...well, huge blocks, make sure you
go and get the explosives from the explosives box. Then, take them over there,
and hit up on your D-Pad to put the bomb down (while running like that you can't
use the Greatsword/Kodachi/whatever you have assigned to the "up" slot). Avoid
the flaming balls rolling down towards you and be sure to hit the buttons to
avoid the various attacks, including hitting X when the archers are shooting at
you, Circle when the guy comes to hit you on the stairs, and Triangle when yet
another guy does the same thing later.
In the final room, Majima has Haruka chained to a pillar. He confronts Ki-
ryuu, revealing that he knows he is really Musashi. He also remembers that you
promised to protect his sister, Ukiyo, but he is confused from seeing Yoshino
at the brothel and thinks that you sold Ukiyo into the sex industry. Remember,
Yoshino looks just like Ukiyo.
He won't hear any excuses. He's here to fight! He forces Musashi's hand by
attacking Haruka. Musashi leaps in the way and is struck in the chest by
Majima's kusarigama. He says, "You may be my good friend, but, laying your
hands on this one is something I will never allow. I've decided to protect her,
no matter what the cost."
So, Majima seems pleased. "How about we duel, then? If I win, you stay away
from Ukiyo. If you win, I'll let her go."
Beat him. He's kinda hard, but not impossible. Two swords may seem good
because you can block from any angle, but he tends to sweep your feet as you
guard his attacks, so you should be trying to avoid them anyway. Stay away
from anything he can jump from--he'll climb up and do a jumping attack.
The special move you learned from Kozuma for him is actually to be used after
you successfully evade his long attack cinema. So, you actually have the rare
opportunity to do two heavy-hitting boss-only super arts, because you will be
prompted to do so when his health gets to the final bar anyway.
Suddenly, Yoshino is there. He thinks she's running away from the brothel,
but, she's actually come to take care of Majima. He thinks she's Ukiyo still,
but, she explains that she is actually her older sister, Ageha.
Musashi looks surprised. But, he does say that he thought she was Ageha
earlier when he saw her in the Tsuruya, but, he didn't know how to tell her.
So, the hard-headed Majima admits he was wrong. But...then, he asks how Ukiyo
is. Is she doing well in the Oomi country? Musashi has to reveal the truth to
him...she died four years earlier. He says that he killed her.
"So, those rumors /were/ true, after all!" says Ageha.
She had been trying to believe even if he was Musashi that someone else killed
her. So, she slaps him.
But, this time, Majima defends Musashi. He thinks he wasn't that kind of
person when he met him in the Sekigahara. So, Musashi explains that the bounty
hunters came and killed her. He just feels responsible for her death. He
ends by telling Ageha that the bells on his swords were put there by Ukiyo, and
it was Ukiyo who asked him to take up the sword again.
"So, you're finally done," says Kojirou, who was watching from the back of the
temple. he draws his long sword and sticks it up against Haruka's neck. "What
fools these people are," he says. "What are you doing with them?" he asks
Ageha. Then, he reveals she was the one who set fire to the Tsuruya.
Kojirou thinks it's strange that she hasn't fled from Gion. He thinks that
maybe she couldn't leave her precious Musashi? She tells him that she was
actually out to avenge her family.
She does say that Musashi has made her realize some things, and she'll give
Kojirou back the money, if that's what he wants. But, she's going to remain in
Gion with Musashi.
Kojirou then goes to kill Haruka. This time, suddenly, Majima's kusarigama
comes and catches his sword. "I'll repay you for this eye you took in the
Sekigahara!" he vows, but, Kojirou draws his wakizashi and throws it into
Majima's chest, knocking him off the balcony.
Who should stop him now but the old man. He approaches Kojirou, who is
surprised to see him, and tells him "You must not harm this person--you know
that, don't you?" He then orders Kojirou to leave, and, surprisingly, he does.
Musashi says, "What--are you running, Kojirou??" But, Kojirou reminds him
that he ran from Kojirou once before.
Musashi demands answers from the old man, but the man just ignores him and
unties Haruka. "Aren't you listening, you old bastard?? If you had only come
earlier, Majima would still be alive!!"
Then, the man turns to him and promises that he will explain everything to him
tomorrow. So, Musashi agrees, saying he'll hear him out. The old man will
wait for him in front of the gate in Gion. His servants will come to lead them
to him. Then, he simply turns and walks away.
---------------
3l. Chapter 11
---------------
The Truth (Shinjitsu)
Missions available:
FAVORS
The Egg 2: A Fine Egg (Tamago ni kyoukyuuhin no tamago)
A Man's Pride (Otoko no hokori)
The Newborn (Akago)
SERVICES
Nones
BOUNTIES
Nobitaka Who Uses the Air to Slice (Kamaitachi no Nobitaka)
Storage Keys: None
This chapter is aptly named. This is "the reveal," so, if you're looking not
to find any more spoilers, you probably shouldn't read this (or the next one,
either).
Itou, Kouetsu, and Musashi stand in front of the gate, waiting for the old
man's servants. Kouetsu tells Musashi that there's no way Majima could have
survived such a fall, but, there's no trace of his dead body. Musashi looks
pleased. "Ah, well, with Majima, that's enough," he says cryptically, and
Kouetsu looks confused.
The madam of the Tsuruya brings Haruka, who's dressed in an extremely fancy
getup. Seems the Tsuruya has to dress her in fine clothes so that she can
leave Gion, and they won't be embarrassed. She then advises Haruka to be true
to herself. She should hear this person out and decide for herself whether to
leave Gion or not.
Kouetsu says, "What? Madam, what a nice thing to say! How unlike you!"
She looks surprised. "What?? Did you think I was some kind of monster,
sensei?"
Suddenly, the envoy arrives. There are high-ranking samurai dressed in the
bakufu's clothes. Surprise! They're from Tokugawa Ieyasu, the retired kubou
(ruler) of Japan. They lead you off to an audience at the palace.
In comes the old man, who thanks you for the tempura. He looks at the two
surprised guests. Musashi tells him to explain himself, and the man reveals
that he is Tokugawa Ieyasu himself.
Haruka asks why the Great Tokugawa Ieyasu has come to buy her from the
brothel, but he tells her that she can call him "grandpa."
He reveals that she is, in fact, his son's daughter--his son, Yuuki Hideyasu.
That's the guy you cut down at the Sekigahara. He says that the Warring States
Period was simply a period of betrayals of betrayals, and that he had her raised
by another couple so that she would never know the truth.
Musashi asks Ieyasu who it was who cut down Haruka's adoptive parents. Ieyasu
explains that it was Kojirou--well, not Kojirou, but a man working for him...
Marume Nagayoshi. But, he does point out that Haruka is still alive, and, the
only person who would know why that would be was Marume himself.... Guess he
spared her.
Seems that, contrary to rumors, Ieyasu had decided to have Hideyoshi inherit
the throne (that's the one you killed), not Hidetada (the guy who did inherit it
in reality). It seems the reason it looked like he abandoned Hidetada to the
Yuuki clan was to force him to live the same kind of childhood Ieyasu himself
had experienced: a lonely one. He was trying to toughen him up. The other
warlords were wary of Hideyoshi, however, and wanted the more weak-willed Hide-
tada in power...so, it was one of them who ordered the assassination plot.
So, apologies fly around the room. Ieyasu is sorry for Haruka and wanted to
get close to her to show her a happy life now, and he's sorry to Musashi for
putting him through all this, and Musashi's sorry for killing his son. But,
there's no ill sentiment about, it seems.
Suddenly, Haruka says she doesn't want any more bloodshed. She did want to
kill Musashi when she thought this "Musashi" character killed her parents, but,
now, she doesn't want Musashi to kill their real murderer, Marume. So, she's
decided never to seek revenge.
Her grandfather agrees and calls her a good kid.
So, he decides they should go back to Edo Castle (the seat of power at the
time). He has a lot of things to worry about. Musashi thinks it's the new
kubo, Hidetada, who is on Ieyasu's mind, but he reveals that he is actually
worried about the traitor, the Nankou Monk, Tenkai.
When he asks Haruka to go back to Edo, she refuses. She says that she wants
to remain in Gion. She thinks that no matter how dangerous or painful it is
there, she likes the Tsuruya and Gion. Also, .... She simply looks up to
Musashi, implying she wants to be near him. She wants him to see her grow up!
He says that he won't press the matter, then. He'll come by the Tsuruya when
he has time and visit her. Then, he looks all teary-eyed. *Listens to the
Cat's In the Cradle and sniffs*
After Haruka leaves Ieyasu and Musashi at the gate, Ieyasu suddenly asks him
what he's gonna do now. Musashi seems confused. "Well, you're going to fight
Kojirou, right?"
"I haven't decided," says Musashi. "I have two reasons for being in this
town: to hide my identity and to to wait for those who betrayed me at Sekiga-
hara. The other...is to get Yoshino's freedom."
"Ah, so you love her," says Ieyasu, but Musashi disagrees.
"I was unable to protect her younger sister. And so, I would like to at least
bring her some happiness."
Musashi admits, finally, "I've found another reason to be here. Since Haruka
has asked me not to fight anymore, I've got no reason to do battle with the
likes of Kojirou."
Ieyasu points out that Musashi is a swordsman, after all. Will he be able to
just let it go? He says that if he ever does decide to find out everything
about Kojirou and the incident at Sekigahara, he should head out to the Village
of the Yagyuu.
Before he can rest, though, Ageha appears at the Tatsuya. Musashi apologizes
for worrying her.
After some awkward silence, she asks if he remembers what she said back at the
Kiyomizu Temple to Kojirou about Musashi and that it was all a lie...and Musashi
lets the poor girl off the hook. She then asks if she can come by tonight
after work. Musashi decides he'd better pack it in early tonight so he can set
out for the Yagyuu Village tomorrow.
So, you're finally out of all the dialogue, and you can control Musashi.
There is very little to actually do this chapter--just to head to the Yagyuu
Village and find out what's going on there, so, you should probably take the
opportunity to take care of a few things. I'll caution you that the next
chapter is the final one and there is a point in it when you cannot return to
Gion, so you will definitely want to take care of business there, if you want to
complete everything.
Should you go to leave the Tatsuya, just like the day before the duel, it
asks if you just want to sleep without going out. You can choose the top choice
to not sleep and take care of loose ends, or the bottom choice to move the
story (and time of day) forward. I'd recommend choosing the top choice and
taking care of side business.
The next morning, Ageha comes out of Kiryuu's bedroom, looking disheveled
(but magically still with perfect hair). When Kiryuu goes to leave, she gives
him some food for his journey, and he thanks her, calling her Yoshino. "Don't
call me that name," she reminds him, and he nods.
"That's right. 'Ageha.'"
For some reason, he sets out through his front door, which is a way you can't
actually even make him go to leave Gion. Itou is standing there. Musashi tells
Itou to watch after Haruka while he's gone. Itou agrees, but stops Musashi,
cautioning him that he doesn't quite understand what's going on.
Kojirou uses the "Shinkage" Style. That means that he has some connection to
Yagyuu Sekishuusai (another name for Yagyuu Muneyoshi), patriarch of the Yagyuu
village. Whatever the case, something's up and he shouldn't let his guard
down.
Itou then tells Musashi that the Yagyuu village is off that little path from
the Kiyomizu Temple. Incidentally, you now have the entire "world map" open to
you.
When you approach the gate, it will suddenly show a different map, showing
Musashi's progress to the Yagyuu village in Nara. He introduces himself as
Kiryuu Kazumanosuke and asks to meet Sekishuusai. But, they say that it's the
law of the village that anyone who comes lookig for Sekishuusai must be killed
on sight.
Defeat them. Be aware that they aren't the easiest foes about and that
their boss has a long life bar and sweeps a lot.
After defeating them, Sekishuusai's grandson comes to you and recognizes you
from your two-swords style. He brings you inside, and apologizes for the
attack. It seems they were trying to keep people from coming, looking for a
duel against Sekishuusai.
So, in enters Sekishuusai--or as you knew him before, the mysterious monk.
Remember that guy?
Sekishuusai explains that at the time he met you, he was out to stop his son,
Munenori. Kiryuu doesn't quite understand, but, that's because Sekishuusai
hasn't explained the obvios. Sasaki Kojirou is really Yagyuu Munenori.
It seems that Sekishuusai is being controlled by the Nankou Monk Tenkai.
Kiryuu realizes that this means that Tenkai was behind everything.
Sekishuusai says that he is trying to stop Tenkai, but, Kiryuu again doesn't
quite understand. The old master explains that Munenori has joined forces with
Tenkai, who is trying to use his influence to control the current kubou of
Japan, Ieyasu Hidetada. It seems the old man knew who Haruka was and led
Musashi there so that he would watch over her.
Musashi asks why it's so important to protect Haruka, and Sekishuusai replies
that it's for the sake of the country. Also, Sekishuusai wants to do this for
his son's sake.
It seems that Munenori was a genius at swordplay in his youth. In fact, he
was too good, and gradually began to lose the ambition of becoming a swordsman.
When Sekishuusai finished training him, Munenori looked to the state. He wanted
to control the realms. Using his skill with the sword, he would run the govern-
ment from behind the scenes. And so, he got involved with Tenkai, who promised
to create a Yagyuu Domain.
Musashi knows this means that he just ended up as a puppet for Tenkai. Seki-
shuusai agrees, saying that Munenori has become nothing but a shadow for Tenkai,
performing assassinations and secret missions.
He believes that when he met Musashi and found a rival, the will to become a
swordsman was awakened within Munenori. He's sure that the only thing Mune-
nori has thought about since the Sekigahara is Musashi and fighting him again.
He says that you are the only one strong enough to face Munenori, and he thinks
that if you defeat him, he will be forced to see his true potential.
He also thinks Musashi can do whatever he pleases. It's up to him whether or
not to fight Munenori. But, he's sure that Munenori can't lie to himself for-
ever.
He then explains that he knows all of this because of Marume. Ever since the
Sekigahara incident, he has been following you. That's why he had your waki-
zashi after Ukiyo was killed--although he was supposedly there to kill you. He
then says that Haruka got the wakizashi because Marume let her take it and
leave.
Of course, she thought that it was you who killed her family, unfortunately.
But, through her coming to you, you've received your old sword back. Neither
Sekishuusai nor Marume orchestrated that. He thinks that you meeting her was
actually fate.
Musashi asks if this means that Marume and Sekishuusai were working together
all along, and Sekishuusai admits it is just so. They are comrades; fellows of
the Shinkage style.
He then apologizes for misleading Musashi, but, Musashi seems to think it all
worked out for the best, so it's alright.
Then, Sekishuusai looks to the left, revealing a shadow at the paper sliding
door. It's Marume. He's been waiting to see you, too.
He also apologizes for misleading Musashi. But, Musashi gives him some kind
words, saying that Marume had no choice, really. Also, it seems that he did
get to meet Haruka out of it. He also met Itou Ittousai and Ageha and Ukiyo--
even Majima and Kouetsu. He thinks that if he hadn't gone on that mission in
Sekigahara, he wouldn't have met such great men and wonderful women.
Musashi goes to leave, but, he then pauses. Marume asks what's wrong, and
he turns to him, asking suddenly who would win if he fought Munenori now.
Marume looks down. "I see..." he says.
So, Marume offers a solution. He'll fight Musashi and he won't hold back.
This way, he'll learn the Shinkage style firsthand, with his own body, as
dangerous as that is.
Defeat Marume. He's actually not too tough. He darts around a lot, but,
in two-swords style, he's not too much of a threat.
He admits defeat, and Musashi offers his hand, helping his friend up.
As Musashi leaves, heading back to the capital, Marume wonders, who will
Heaven allow to win--Musashi or Kojirou? He looks to the moon.
----------------------
3m. The Final Chapter
----------------------
Ganryuu Island (Ganryuujima)
Missions available:
FAVORS
Justice for All (Sorezore no Seigi)
SERVICES
None
BOUNTIES
Kuroshima Raiden
Storage Keys: None
This is it. The final chapter.
One week after visiting the Yagyuu village, Kiryuu is just lazing around when
Itou comes to visit. Seems Kiryuu's asked to buy Ageha.
Itou wonders if he's seen Haruka, but, it turns out she's just nowhere to be
found in all of Gion. Kiryuu should know--he tried looking!
Itou tells Kiryuu to treat Ageha well. She'll be his wife, after all. Kiryuu
is embarrassed. Itou then gets up and tells Kiryuu to hurry on over--Ageha's
performance to celebrate Kiryuu buying her freedom will be starting any minute.
I'd definitely advise you to take care of all business right now. It's not
very long from now when you will lose the ability to return to the Gion area.
There's really only a couple of side missions to take care of that happen beyond
that point, and you probably don't want to lose the ability to go buy items and
such that are only in Gion.
Talk to the man in front of the Tsuruya and choose the bottom choice to go in.
Everuyone's having a good time. Itou and Kouetsu are there, too, and Ageha
dances her final dance. The madam asks how Musashi how he got the money to pay
for her release, implying that he just has no money, but, he just shrugs it off.
Then, she says, "If only Haruka were here to see this...."
Musashi asks the madam if she knows where Haruka is, but, she doesn't know,
either. When Musashi asks her why she thinks Haruka left, she seems surprised
Musashi hasn't heard--she left because now that he is buying Ageha's freedom,
Haruka decided to leave so he could be alone with Ageha.
Ageha keeps dancing and everyone applauds and looks like they're having a
great time--everyone except Musashi. He suddenly gets angry and storms off,
while others offer Ageha drinks.
As Musashi sulks outside, he is suddenly met by a surprise visitor--Kojirou.
Musashi demands why he's there, and Kojirou tells him it's because he needed
to meet him. When Musashi gets mad, Kojirou calms him, telling him that he's
not there to fight.
Kojirou asks if Musashi has met his father, and Musashi answers that he has,
and he knows everything.
"Well, then, what are you going to do about it?" asks Kojirou.
"About what?" asks Musashi.
"Don't you feel like fighting me again?" asks Kojirou.
"Maybe if the time comes," Musashi answers. "But, I've got no reason to fight
you, now."
"Well, supposing the life of that Girl Haruka was on the line, what would you
do?" Kojirou asks.
Kojirou reveals that under Tenaki's orders, they have kidnapped Haruka. He
says that they don't plan to hurt her, but rather, to use her legitimacy of
birth to create a new plan. Seems he's trying to use his influence over her
uncle, Hidetada.
Apparently, after the treachery at the Sekigahara, Tenkai created the new
bakufu. But now, Hidetada has his suspicions about his older brother's death.
So, they've been trying to find other blood relatives for the legitimacy of
establishing a new kubou. They sent word to Haruka that you were in trouble and
she came immediately, and then they took her.
Kojirou explains that she's at a small island a mile off the mainland, in
Nagatonokuni (part of the present-day Yamaguchi Prefecture), called Ganryuu
Island.
Before he leaves, though, Musashi stops him. He wants to know why he told him
this. He tells him it's because he wants to live as Yagyuu Munenori. His
ambition is to once again be granted a domain for the Yagyuu clan. To do so,
he's needed to create a new identity--one that works politically, called Sasaki
Kojirou. But, now, he feels that to lead the domain, he needs to recreate the
Munenori persona as an oni--as a strong warlord.
There's a problem. He still has the the body of a swordsman. He could never
give up the way of the sword. He now believes that if he can defeat his rival,
Miyamoto Musashi, he will be able to finally discard this swordsman persona.
To Musashi, this sounds like Munenori just wants to live as a swordsman again.
But to this, Munenori just responds with angry words and leaves.
Before Musashi can leave, Itou approaches. Seems he's heard the whole thing.
He tells Musashi to leave it alone--it's just a trap. But, Musashi thinks that
Munenori came because he really does just want a fight, and so, he should go.
Tell Itou you're going to set out to the Ganryuu Island with the top choice,
and be ready to say goodbye to Gion once and for all.
Itou seems less than surprised by Kiryuu's answer. He then tells him not to
worry about Ageha; he and Kouetsu will watch after her for now. He also says
that he will come by the Tatsuya.
Try to leave again, and again Itou stops Musashi. Seems he wants to give him
a parting gift. He wants to give Musashi his sword. Musashi objects, since a
sword is the swordsman's soul and he can't accept such a gift from Itou. But,
Itou just tells him to go and get it from the blacksmith's, and, when he returns
from the Ganryuu Island, he'll take it back (he'll just lend it to him for now).
When you're ready, go into the blacksmith's and then return to the Tatsuya.
Seems Ageha's just passed out from all the drink. You can tell Itou you
still have things to do with the top choice, or just go ahead with the story
with the bottom choice. Itou leaves for now, telling Musashi not to die.
Musashi gets prepared, watching the sleeping beauty, who mutters his name in
her sleep. He leans over and kisses her. He then says his goodbye and leaves,
taking one last look around Gion, in its early-morning, quiet haze.
Outside the gates, he decides he should go ask Kouetsu how to get to Ganryuu
Island. From now on, you can't go back to Gion.
Go to Kouetsu's mansion. You'll find him standing outside. He points to the
southwest and tells you to go to the Riverside Tea House and take the ferry if
you want to go to Ganryuu Island. Turn to leave, and he'll stop you. He says
that he knows you still have some preparations to make, so, if you need a place
to rest, just come by his mansion. Resting there advances the time from Mid-Day
to Evening to Night. Choose the top choice not to rest and the bottom to rest.
When you're good and ready, head on down to the Riverside Path. Bring some
healing items with you, but, you should know that you'll find some in the final
action stages.
Choose the bottom choice when talking to the ferryboat man to set out for
Ganryuu Island. A few days later, the man asks Musashi if it's really OK to go
to this island--he's so far awawy that nobody would be able to save him, and,
it seems really ominous. He gets close and Musashi disembarks.
There are structures about the island--temple grounds, no doubt built by
Tenkai, the Tendai monk. They look a bit like a fortress.
As Musashi looks about, Munenori approaches him. He tells Musashi that Haruka
is inside, but not to worry--she won't be hurt. He says that if he can defeat
him, he should go and save her.
Musashi doesn't draw his sword, and Munenori asks him what he's doing.
Musashi tells him that he didn't come here just to save Haruka; he came here to
defeat his rival and put an end to this swordsman "Miyamoto Musashi," so that
he can just become Kiryuu Kazumanosuke and save Haruka.
It's go time. Munenori likes to use moves that sidestep, he likes to roll,
he gets a reddish aura that grants him the power not to react to hits, and he
can actually use a reversal to knock Musashi into the air. But, he's not that
bad, really; especially if you brought some healing items.
Guess what? If you equip the greatsword? He's very easy. You might not
want to do that, though--you'll probably rather want to do the heat action with
two swords.
Musashi holds his sword to Munenori's neck, but he doesn't kill him. He's
just glad to have defeated Sasaki Kojirou finally. The two collapse on the
beach.
Munenori asks where he learned to respond to his attacks. Musashi reveals
that Marume taught him. Then, Munenori stands and reaches his hand out, helping
Musashi up. Musashi looks pleased. It seems he's finally shown Munenori his
true side as a swordsman. Munenori will return to take over the Shinkage
Style, and praises Musashi's Two Swords United Style. Then, he tells him to go
and save the girl.
Then, he collapses, shot in the shoulder by Tenkai's man. Oh, well.
Tenkai tells him that he's useless now that he's betrayed him, and then,
Musashi tells Tenkai he won't let him do that to his friend. Munenori tries to
stop him, since there's no way to live. But, Musashi says that if he leaves
now, then all this fighting would be useless. He's really come to see this
life as "Miyamoto Musashi" come to an end here. Otherwise, he'll never be able
to live as Kiryuu Kazumanosuke. He then tells Haruka he wants her to see and
remember the life of this man Miyamoto Musashi.
Tenkai tells him that he's only got this chance to run away. But, Musashi
refuses. He demands that Tenkai hand Haruka over, and tells him to prepare
himself (because he's comin' to get him).
There are a lot of troops here. But, this battle's not impossible. I tend to
take out the archers and gunmen first--they're just too annoying. I also take
out the big, armored guys last, and with my big ol' Greatsword. But, it's up
to you.
After you defeat them, walk around the beach and look for items. Then, go
into the fortress.
Inside...ta-da! A bunch of weirdos. This is the Five Demon Group, so named
because they wear hannya masks of Noh theater. Each one holds a key to a door,
and, so, yes--you will need to defeat each one of them to get through different
parts of the fortress. Don't worry--it's never so ba that you can't tell
where to go. Talk to the prisoners to get the bombs to detonate obstacles.
After each stage, Tenkai gets mad and runs off, dragging Haruka with him.
Clear all five of them, and you'll have to get to Tenkai himself and beat him.
Reach his final chamber and you'll have him backed against a cliff. It's
cliche' time. Tenkai asks Musashi to join him in a Darth Vader moment. He
offers him a castle and then an entire domain. But then, in the end, he sudden-
ly gets ready to fight--with a pistol (!). I mean--it's got some action, too.
Avoid his shots or guard them with the greatsword, and be careful to attack
him when he starts to regain health.
He falls off the cliff, and Musashi follows. Before he can land the final
blow, however, a man shows up and tells Musashi to stop. This is Ieyasu
Hidetada, the current kubou of Japan. He feels that it is his duty to kill the
monk, since he's the one who trusted him too much. He didn't pay heed to what
his brother said about keeping an eye on him.
Musashi stops him. He tells him that his brother's last wish was that he
wouldn't have to live such a way, in such a world. He believes that Hidetada
should create a new kind of world, where this sort of thing no longer happens--
a new Japan.
Hidetada starts to cry and Haruka runs to see Musashi, who apologizes for
taking so long to find her. They hug, and Musashi says they won't be apart
again.
Tenkai starts to walk away, saying "I'm immortal!!" He points to the ocean,
where ships full of his loyal soldiers are about to arrive. For some reason,
he feels that he can have them all killed and he'll be the next ruler of Japan.
Just then, it is Munenori who runs up and cuts the monk down.
The troops are landing. Hidetada thinks that there is no reason for them to
fight, but, Munenori says that these men have inherited Tenkai's will, and they
will not rest.
So, Musashi makes a decision. He sends Haruka away with Munenori and Hide-
tada, holding the army at bay (somehow). Before she leaves, Haruka yells at
Musashi, telling him it was he who just said he wouldn't leave her anymore, but,
Musashi has an answer for that, too. He says that that one ryou she paid him
changed him, and that she bought him a new life then. He then tells her he
loves her, and now, he's goin to give her a new life by holding the armies off.
As the other men leave, Musashi stands ready to face the enemy. He draws his
swords. "I'll be your opponent! I'm here--Miyamoto Musashi!!"
Then, we get a still frame of Musashi in a famous pose similar to the one in
the painting used as the cover to Yoshikawa Eiji's book "Miyamoto Musashi," a
book from which most of the characters in this game were taken.
After the credits, we see a room of men in red armor, just like that night in
Sekigahara. It's ten years later. Munenori stands at the front, telling them
that tomorrow, they'll begin the operation. In the crowd, we see Marume.
They're going to save a princess. It's a very difficult task, and he thinks
that they may possibly die. When he asks for volunteers, nobody will. Then, a
man stands up and says that a very similar line to the response Musashi gave
Marume that night. Then he adds that he wants to be like that man--like the man
who saved the realms, Miyamoto Musashi! Then, the rest of them stand up, too.
Way in the back, we see Majima, sitting at the edge of the base. "Your soul
will never die," he says, and then looks to the moon. "Did you see that,
Musashi-chan?"
Well, so much for that, right? Except for now you get to play through the
battle missions and you can replay the game with your equipment and try to get
100% and defeat the ridiculous hidden boss (who's only hard until you've beaten
the game on "Expert")...and all sorts of stuff like that. Good luck! Maybe
I'll see you for the next game...maybe not. FAQ writing is just way too time-
consuming.
---------------------------
4. QUICK STORY WALKTHROUGH
---------------------------
Optional steps will be listed in parantheses. Where there are two routes, I'll
split it up and say "Route 1:" OR "Route 2." You'll see!
Prologue
--------
Answer either way to Itou -> Map tutorial -> Ask any question from the infor-
mation man -> After asking once, ask the final choice to shut him up -> collect
debt from owner at Arigataya Market -> talk to owner of Ebisu Pawn Shop -> find
storage key I-1 next to an Inari statue at the Gion Inari Shrine -> go to stor-
age lockers, use key to open locker I-1 -> talk to owner of Tenguya Pharmacy ->
talk to proprietor at Kouyourou Restaurant -> go to Suiten Inari area -> battle
tutorial 1: land strikes 10 times, land grapple attacks 10 times, land weapon
attacks 10 times, fill heat gauge to heat mode, land heat actions, finish off
enemies -> get debt from pharmacist -> return to Tatsuya; battle tutorial 2:
defeat guys with glowing items, collect items, guard 10 attacks, shift for 5
seconds, roll/shift 10 times, beat remaining guys -> talk to Itou
Chapter 1
---------
Single-sword tutorial: switch between styles 5 times, do 3-hit weak attack
string 5 times, end weak attack string with triangle 5 times, kick to break
guard 10 times, use Zanshin 10 times -> accept duel with top choice -> get down
to half energy -> (talk to student at gate) -> (turn over turtle near shed) ->
talk to Marume -> defeat Majima Gorohachi -> defeat soldiers -> talk to Majima
Gorohachi then enter final corridor -> defeat soldiers -> reach appointed area
Chapter 2
---------
(Turn over turtle in temple yard) -> talk to Majima -> talk to Majima -> defeat
Marume Nagayoshi and troops -> dual-wield tutorial: guard 10 times -> land
striking attacks 10 times -> beat remaining enemies
Chapter 3
---------
Defeat soldiers -> (turn over turtle in rice field) -> enter Ukiyo's house and
talk to Ukiyo -> defeat soldiers -> defeat bounty hunters
Chapter 4
---------
Defeat bounty hunters -> change clothes -> meet monk at Gion Gate in Suburbs ->
ask man near gate in Gion about yuujo with butterfly kimono -> enter Gion
Information Area, talk to owner, ask bottom choice -> go to leave shop -> talk
to monk -> talk to Itou outside Information Area -> go to Tsuruya -> defeat
drunk guy
Chapter 5
---------
Try to get in at the front entrance to Tsuruya -> go to the back entrance, talk
to Itou -> return to Tatsuya -> return to the Tsuruya's back entrance, talk to
Itou -> receive art from Shichigorou; gain ability to receive moves through
Revelations -> return to Tatsuya, use back entrance to the Suburbs -> talk to
government official guarding gate at the west end of Shijou Street -> talk to
weird man offering information, ask second-to-last choice for information on
forged permit, choose final selection to stop talking to him -> go to entrance
to Arigataya Market in Suburbs, talk to yakuza -> defeat yakuza -> go to the
Shogi Parlor on Higashiyama -> talk to forger -> exit store, defeat bodyguard
and yakuza -> talk to guard at western end of Shijou, choose top choice to show
permit -> go to Kouetsu's mansion, talk to servant -> go towards Forest Path,
get stopped by blacksmith, accept with bottom choice -> greatsword tutorial:
guard 5 musket shots, then defeat them -> go to cave -> defeat enemies, cutting
chains to open rooms and stop traps -> defeat Shishido Baiken -> go to Kouetsu's
mansion, talk to Kouetsu
Chapter 6
---------
With at least 20,000 mon, talk to Itou at the Tsuruya's back entrance -> choose
top choice to give 20,000 mon to Touji -> enter Zanki-ryuu Dojo on Ebisu
Street -> talk to Shibusawa -> use Boulder-Splitter on Shibusawa during train-
ing 10 times -> go to Kouetsu's mansion, talk to Kouetsu -> go down Riverside
Path to Riverside Tea House, buy Kusadango -> return to Kouetsu's Mansion, talk
to Kouetsu, undertake Scarecrow Troops and Jiraiya-Style Training -> go to
Yoshioka Dojo -> defeat Ueda -> defeat Yoshioka Seijuurou
Chapter 7
---------
Defeat Itou Ittousai -> (turn over turtle on riverside) -> talk to Itou -> take
Itou to the Gion Gate -> talk to the worker at Tsuruya's back entrance -> go to
Kouetsu's mansion -> talk to the worker at Tsuruya's back entrance -> go to
Tatsuya -> talk to Itou -> run to the Tsuruya's back entrance, avoiding bakufu
officials -> clear action stage, defeating armored warrior and assassins
Chapter 8
---------
On Kamechou Street, talk to the servant at Kamenoya -> go to Kouetsu's mansnion,
talk to Kouetsu -> go to Kamechou Street and talk to Haruka at Kamenoya -> go to
the Tatsuya, talk to Kouetsu -> go to Houzoin -> talk to monk at the gate ->
talk to old man -> defeat Houzouin In'ei -> talk to monk at the gate -> (under-
take training from En no Kozuma) -> talk to clerk, enter tournament -> defeat
Tachibana Benimaru -> defeat Yamatobou Kenzen -> defeat Houzouin Inshun
Chapter 9
---------
Go to the Tatsuya, talk to Touji outside Tatsuya -> go to the Yoshioka Dojo ->
talk to Touji -> go to the Tsuruya, talk to the worker -> return to Tatsuya,
choose not to go out, but to sleep (top choice) -> go to Yoshioka Dojo -> go to
the Countryside Path -> Rendai Fields -> defeat Yoshioka Seijuurou -> action
stage -> go to the Sanjuusankandou -> defeat soldiers and Gion Touji -> hit
Triangle in action scene after Touji is first defeated
Chapter 10
----------
Buy a dango at the tea house (it is recommended that you use the tea house by
the Yoshioka Dojo, but you can also buy a Kusadango at the Riverside Tea
House) -> play dice in Suburbs, when the Old Man wins, quit -> defeat Mysterious
Assassin -> spend 100 mon at the Showhouse, watch Woman Eating a Snake or Naked
Embrace -> order Tempura Udon at White Snake Udon -> go to the Shogi parlor (if
you answer "I'm bad at it"--the bottom choice--you don't need to win, if you
answer "I'm great at it"--the top choice--you have to win) -> defeat Mysterious
Assassin -> go to Gion Gate -> go to Tatsuya, walk outside -> talk to servant at
the front entrance to the Tsuruya -> go to Kiyomizu Temple -> clear action stage
-> defeat Shishido Baiken
Chapter 11
----------
Go to Yagyuu Village -> defeat Yagyuu Pupils -> defeat Marume Nagayoshi
The Final Chapter
-----------------
Talk to the people in front of Tsuruya -> talk to Itou -> go to the blacksmith,
talk to him, get Itou's sword -> return to the Tatsuya -> talk to Kouetsu at his
mansion -> go to the Riverside Tea House, talk to ferryman -> defeat Sasaki
Kojirou -> defeat Tenkai's troops -> clear action stage -> defeat Nankoubou
Tenkai -> feel macho
--------------
5. APPENDICES
--------------
-------------
5a. Missions
-------------
5a-I. Favors
-------------
These aren't really "favors," in the sense that you're actually getting paid for
your services. The actual word in the Japanese version is "irai," which means
something like "a request," but, you aren't always requested to do things,
either.
These are the bulk of the missions in the game, and pretty much the type of
thing I would have blindly filed under "mission" before. People you meet on the
street rumor about things or need help in certain ways, and you can seek out the
way to solve their problems. These aren't official employment, so...I think
that's why they separated them from "Services" and "Bounties."
Chapter 5
---------
THE LITTLE GIRL SELLING TOUGARASHI (TOUGARASHIURI NO SHOUJO)
Setting: Suburbs - Daylight
At the east end of Shijou Street, there's a little girl, dressed in red, wearing
a huge pepper on her back. She's trying to sell tougarashi (chili pepper).
She doesn't seem to be doing very well. She offers some for 10 mon--buy some.
As you leave, an oyabun for some criminal organization comes up and asks what
she's selling. She gives him a sample, but, he complains about how hot it is,
and they start to harass her for money. Talk to the ruffians and choose to
help her (top choice). Beat them, and they'll buy her entire stock!
Experience: 1,500
THE SEEDY MERCHANT TANAKA APPEARS (SHABA NEKKYOU TANAKAYA ARAWARERU)
Setting: Suburbs - Daylight
Near the west end of Shijou Street, there's a merchant you can talk to. It says
"Tanaka" on his apron (if you can read that). Talk to him to have him pitch his
coin purse, which will give you ten times the money you put into it. He's sel-
ling it for 200 mon. Choose to buy it with the top choice, and he'll give you
the coin purse and 2 pieces of fresh cloth. Take a few steps, and Musashi will
wonder if he should try it out. Put "yes" (the top choice) to find out the
purse's secret--there's some kind of reflective lining in the purse that makes
it look like you have ten times the money you put in.
Experience: 1,200
HOMEWORK FROM THE TERAKOYA - READING (TERAKOYA NO SHUKUDAI ~YOMI~)
Setting: Suburbs - Daylight
On the south side of the street in the west of the southernmost street in the
Suburbs, Ebisu, there's a kid with a book. He's studying at a place called a
"terakoya," which is an old type of school, typically found on temple grounds.
He's struggling and thinks he's just gonna give up and be stupid.
Right now, he's learning to read. This isn't too far-fetched--literacy started
to spread during the Tokugawa Period. He asks if he can have some help study-
ing. Choose to do so (the top choice). The first kanji he needs you to read
is "dog" ("inu"--the middle choice). The second is "bonita tuna" ("katsuo"--the
top choice. The third one is a little tougher. It's "hot water bottle"
("yutanpo")--the first choice.
Experience: 1,000
HOLES IN THE PAPER SLIDING DOOR (SHOUJI NO ANA)
Setting: Suburbs - Daylight
*After completing "The Little Girl Selling Tougarashi (Tougarashiuri no shoujo)
On the south side of the western end of the southernmost street in the Suburbs,
Ebisu, there's a man you can talk to. It seems someone's been poking holes in
his paper door. He asks you to watch for who's doing this. Agree with the
bottom choice.
Eventually, some guy shows up, chuckling. Musashi goes to chase him off, and
the guy runs away. He's standing to the south of the Blacksmith's, peeking
around the corner. He won't say why he was trying to peep at first, but when
you bring him back to the man whose door he was destroying, he says that he
heard you could see a woman bathing inside. The old man calls the woman of the
house--an old lady named O-Tsuru. She says it's OK--if he wants to see her
naked, she'll let him. He refuses.
It seems some nut named Ukichi was spreading the rumor. He hangs out in front
of the gate to Gion. Go up there and confront him. Of course, violence is the
way to solve problems in Ryuu ga Gotoku land, so, beat him up! Seems he was
the guy they had to hire to fix the doors. So, he gives them their money back.
Reward: Kiku-Brand Incense Burner Experience: 1,500
THE FLAVOR OF CANDY 1: THE CANDY OF MEMORY (AME NO AJI ICHI OMOIDE NO AME)
Setting: Suburbs - Daylight
*After defeating the yakuza's bodyguard
At the eastern edge of Higashiyama, there's a kid. Talk to him, and he really,
really seems to want candy. He wants the one that has the same flavor as the
one he remembered eating with his late father. Seems it's been a year since
Daddy kicked the bucket, and he wants the same candy. Agree to buy it for him
(the top choice) and he'll point you to a candy vendor. He wants the most ex-
pensive one on the list--the Gold-Colored Candy (for 1,500 mon). Give it to him
with the bottom choice.
Experience: 1,500
THE FLAVOR OF CANDY 2: THE CANDY SELLER'S SECRET (AME NO AJI NI AMEURI NO
HIMITSU)
Setting: Suburbs - Daylight
*After defeating the yakuza's bodyguard
*After clearing "The Flavor of Candy 1: The Candy of Memory" (Ame no aji ichi
omoide no ame
Leave after clearing the first mission, and you'll overhear the kid talkin to
the vendor. "We did it, daddy!" he tells him. Seems he doesn't even want the
candy--"that's kid stuff!" he protests.
So go beat the snot out of the candy seller!
Reward: 10,000 mon Experience: 1,000
THE FIANCE' (IINAZUKE NO OTOKO)
Setting: Kawara - Daylight
*After defeating the yakuza's bodyguard
At the western edge of Kawara you'll find a woman. Walk up to her, and Musashi
will bump right into her. She shouts. "Are you OK?" asks Musashi. She notes
how handsome he is. Her father appears to put a stop to it before things go
any further. But, she says she doesn't want to marry "that useless man." She'd
rather be with someone like you!
Just then, her boyfriend, Tasuke, shows up. She tells him that she's now en-
gaged to you. "How dare you steal my O-Kiku!" he says.
"You're mistaken," says Musashi.
Even her father says that Kiku just suddenly decided that. Her father turns to
you, during the commotion, and asks if you wouldn't mind pretending to lose, for
Tasuke's sake. Just let him beat you--you'll get your health back anyway (and
no; it won't count as a continue). The problem is that it because the A.I. is
pretty bad, it takes a very long time to lose. Try and stay fairly far away
from him so he doesn't do that lame tackle over and over, and turn your back
(lock-on facing the wrong way).
Tasuke asks Kiku to be with him, and she says they should be friends first
(jeez). Her father notes that you lost on purpose, and Kiku says, "Well, it's
OK; I guess I don't hate Tasuke, or anything. I just wanted him to prove him-
self."
Reward: Tortoiseshell Hairpin Experience: 1,500
KENNOSUKE
Setting: Kawara - Daylight
*After defeating the yakuza's bodyguard
*After clearing "The Fiance' (Iinazuke no otoko)"
Near the bridge to the Suburbs, there are two townspeople standing at the south
side of the street. They seem upset that you're a samurai. Then, a man runs
up and says, "Look out--here comes Kennosuke!"
There he is, harassing a merchant. He says he'll cut the man down, but he begs
forgiveness. In those days, a samurai was allowed to cut a commoner down if he
intentionally was rude to him. The townspeople explain that Kennosuke has been
coming into town and causing trouble, threatening to cut people down.
"Has he killed someone?" Musashi asks.
"No," says one of the men, "he hasn't really done it yet. But, he still hasn't
paid any of us. It's always 'I'll cut you down!'"
He asks why no-one's taken care of this guy before, but they say they're just
villagers and have no right to even go up against the third son of an Outsider
Daimyou--a lord with an entire domain set up for him by the bakufu after the
Battle at Sekigahara. But, then, one of the other villagers thinks he's just
the son of a powerful hatamoto (a middle-class samurai vassal).
Still another has been told he's the son of a warrior from the Battle at Seki-
gahara.
At any rate, on the north side of the street, west, past the fork that leads to
Kouetsu's, you'll find him talking to a woman. Approach them, and Musashi will
ask him to leave her alone, as he threatens her like the rest. Kennosuke asks
Musashi who he is, but Musashi tells him that you should always give your own
name before asking someone else. Kennosuke dismisses him as a poor samurai of
low birth. Musashi says, "Aren't you a samurai? Don't you feel any shame, act-
ing like this?" He asks you to pay, then--3 ryou (30,000 mon)! Don't do it--
choose the bottom choice. (Then beat 'im up!)
An old woman shows up and recognizes him. "Aren't you Kenbei?" she asks. "What
are you doing, dressed up like that?" I guess she's come to fetch him for his
wife, O-Tae. He's just a poor farmer named Kenbei, after all. He runs off to
the Suburbs, and Tae asks if you'll help her look. Choose the first choice to
help her.
You'll find him way down at the eastern edge of Shijou Street. Once you get
near him, his wife will really hand it to him!
Reward: Cool Jelly, Kujou Onion, Canal Burdock Experience: 1,500
WATER FROM THE LADLE 1 (HISHAKU NO MIZU ICHI)
Setting: Suburbs - Daylight
*After Kouetsu sends you to Shishido's Cave
In the southern edge of Hanami Street, on the west side, there's a woman in
front of an inn, throwing out water. When it hits Musashi, she apologizes
profusely. Seems she's always messing up! Her dad apologizes.
You have three choices. The top choice is kinda profanity, but, like "Who the
___ do you think you are?!" You'll get 10,000 mon for this and 500 experience.
The middle choice is "Do you think you can just apologize for this?" You'll get
5,000 mon and 100 experience.
But, if you choose the bottom choice, "Don't worry about it," they'll still give
you 3,000 mon and you'll get 1,000 experience. I believe you can only continue
this string of events with the bottom choice--so, choose the bottom choice!
Reward: Painting of a Beautiful Woman, 3,000-10,000 mon Experience: 100-1,000
THE OLD MAN OF THE ENCHANTED SWORDS (YOUTOU JIISAN)
Setting: Suburbs - Daylight
*After the greatsword training
At the southern end of Yamato Street, across from the save point, there is a
merchant selling an enchanted sword. Choose to look at it (top choice) and then
to buy it (top choice).
Suddenly, an old man appears. "Let me see this sword," he says, stopping the
sale. "Just as I thought--this is just a trick; just special effects to make it
glow that anyone could make. It's not an enchanted sword."
It turns out that he is a swordsmith, and has specialized in enchanted swords.
He made them for the weak, thinking that he could help them solve their prob-
lems, but, it turns out that they just abused their powers and now he wants to
gather all 100 swords back. He's got 95 of them and needs 5 more, and has heard
that they're in the Kyoto area!
If you want to help, bring him 5 enchanted swords. He'll wait in the black-
smith's.
Experience: 1,500
COLLECTING THE ENCHANTED SWORDS (YOUTOU SHUUSHUU)
Setting: Suburbs - Any time of day
*After the greatsword training
*After clearing "The Old Man of the Enchanted Swords (Youtou jiisan)"
You probably won't be able to clear this one right away, as you need to get four
of the swords from missions that occur later in the game. Bring all five swords
to the man in the blacksmith's. One is from the Favor "The Enchanted Sword
Suiken (Youtou suiken)," one is from the Favor "The Enchanted Sword Money-Eater
(Youtou Kanekuimushi)," one is from "The Enchanted Sword Beckoning Sword (Youtou
Manekitou)," one is from the Bounty in Chapter 10 for Karasuyano Hyounosuke, and
one can be bought at the pawn shop in Gion. As a strange side note, you just
have to bring him 5 swords--not one of each type. So, in future plays through,
if you retained some of your old enchanted swords, you can give him many of the
same type.
Reward: Enchanted Sword Chifubukimaru Experience: 1,500
THE PRETENTIOUS MAN (MIEPPARI)
Setting: Suburbs - Any time of day.
*After defeating Shishido
*After clearing "Water from the Ladel 1 (Hishaku no mizu ichi)"
At the southern edge of Yamato Street, near where the sword salesman was, you'll
see a man impressing women. Eventually, a merchant convinces him to go and
fight thieves in the Forest Path.
Even though he supposedly was trained at the great Yoshioka Dojo, big surprise,
he's a coward and has no skill. You'll meet up with him at the Forest Path,
being harrassed by the thieves. Choose the top choice and beat them.
He asks you to please tell everyone that it was him--not you--who defeated the
thieves. Think of his reputation! Agree (top choice).
After boasting, he'll cowtow to you and promise never to get carried away like
that again.
Reward: Oni Bone Experience: 1,500
THE DONATIONS BOX (NAGEZENI NO DERUDOKORO)
Setting: Suburbs - Any time of day.
*After defeating Shishido
Near the fortune teller's on Higashiyama, there's a group of three gossipers.
Talk to them and hear the rumors about Kouta. Seems he's quite a guy, catch-
ing thieves and all. He's handsome, too, as the old lady is quick to point
out. If only she were 50 years younger.... Anyway, off he goes to visit the
temple and pay his thanks. One of the men says, "As long as we have Kouta, the
streets are safe!"
He leaves, going off to the east. Follow him, and find him at the intersect-
ion with Hanami Street. Of he goes again, to the south. Musashi thinks some-
thing's up. Follow the guy to the south and at the next intersection (with
Ebisu), he sneaks off to the west again. Go to the temple in the middle of the
street on the south, and you'll find him at the donations box.
It seems he's been encouraging people to donate to the temple, and when they
aren't looking, he comes and takes the money out of the donations box. Musashi
confronts him, saying, "So, I gues the official is just a thief, huh?"
Well...guess you'll have to beat him up! He throws darts, but...whatever; he's
very easy.
Experience: 1,000
HINAKIKU AT AZAMIYA
Setting: Gion - Any time of day.
Romance the yuujo Hinakiku at the ageya Azamiya. See the section on romancing
pleasure district girls.
Experience: 2,000
HANAMARU AT AZAMIYA
Setting: Gion - Any time of day.
Romance the yuujo Hanamaru at the ageya Azamiya. See the section on romancing
pleasure district girls.
Experience: 2,000
SHIRAYUKI AT AZAMIYA
Setting: Gion - Any time of day.
Romance the yuujo Shirayuki at the ageya Azamiya. See the section on romancing
pleasure district girls.
Experience: 2,000
KINUYA AT YUMEJIYA
Setting: Gion - Any time of day.
Romance the yuujo Kinuya at the ageya Yumejiya. See the section on romancing
pleasure district girls.
Experience: 2,000
SUZUKAZE AT YUMEJIYA
Setting: Gion - Any time of day.
Romance the yuujo Suzukaze at the ageya Yumejiya. See the section on romancing
pleasure district girls.
Experience: 2,000
MOMOCHIKA AT YUMEJIYA
Setting: Gion - Any time of day.
Romance the yuujo Chousenka at the ageya Yumejiya. See the section on romancing
pleasure district girls.
Experience: 2,000
ASAGIRI AT YUMEJIYA
Setting: Gion - Any time of day.
*After completing other yuujo's side stories
Romance the yuujo Asagiri at the ageya Yumejiya. See the section on romancing
pleasure district girls.
Experience: 10,000
GION GUIDEBOOK (GION ANNAISHO)
Setting: Gion - Any time of day.
*After completing each yuujo's mission
After you complete each yuujo's mission, a man will appear near the gate to the
Suburbs. Talk to him and choose to hear him out with the top choice. He's
looking for information on the girl whose story you've completed. Choose to
give it to him with the top coice. Then, the answers vary from yuujo to yuujo.
You may want to come to him after each one if you can't read Japanese, so that
there's no confusion as to which one he's talking about.
If you answer him correctly, you'll get 10,000 mon, but if you mess up, you'll
only get 5,000. Once you've done all the yuujo missions and answered all of his
questions, you'll complete this mission.
Reward: 10,000 mon or 5,000 mon per yuujo Experience: 15,000
STAIRWAY TO ADULTHOOD (OTONA NO KAIDAN)
Setting: Gion - Any time of day.
*After completing favor "Gion Guidebook (Gion annaisho)"
Meet up with the man who questioned you about the yuujo after you completed
their stories in the Kadomachi (where the pawn shop is located), and talk to
him. He's standing there, looking kinda strangely at this shop, not going in.
As Kiryuu calls to him, he turns around, surprised. He can't decide whether to
go in or not. Kiryuu's figured him out. He's too shy and afraid to actually
go in these brothels himself--he just collects information on them! Inside, he
just continues to act weird. In the end, he seems loosened up, and looks for-
ward to visiting his next brothel. Way to go, champ! (thumbs up?)
Reward: Resurrection Amulet Experience: 1,000
Chapter 6
---------
THE ONE WITH THE FAIREST SKIN (SUITSUKU YOU NA HADE NO MOCHINUSHI)
Setting: Gion - Any time of day.
There's a man standing near the main drag, on the north side of Suiten Street.
Talk to him, and he'll ask you to come to his brothel. Kiryuu doesn't seem so
interested, but the guy says, "Oh, those places all have the same, old, boring
women." So, Kiryuu agrees, complaining that the guy sure is a windbag. The
man says that those who work at his brothel are all young and their skin is soft
as a baby's bottom! So, finally, you get to decide whether or not to go. Go
to his brothel (top choice).
It looks like a shack. But, the man says it's a brothel. Kiryuu notes how
messy it is. "Are you really making money?" he asks.
The guy just laughs it off. It seems he's more popular than Kiryuu would think.
He offers three types of prostitute, and it really doesn't matter which one you
choose.
Apparently, this is his #1 prostitute, O-Saki-chan. ... The sumo wrestler.
Hey, the guy never said they were *WOMEN* working at his place, now, did he?
Kiryuu tells the man he's not into it and is sorry, but he's just gonna go. Of
course, the guy wants to charge him for his time, though, and this is a problem.
Refuse to pay (top choice) and two other rikishi appear. So, beat them up!
I don't know what's wrong with this guy, but, he figured he could get more
people to come to a brothel where you hire sumo wrestlers as prostitutes. (?)
O-Saki-chan apologizes and makes Kiryuu a special offer, but, he says, "Your
apology is enough."
Reward: Tengu Stone Experience: 1,000
IZUMO NO OKUNI
Setting: Suburbs - Night
At the eastern end of Shijou, near the temple, guys suddenly recognize you as
Miyamoto Musashi and fight you. Beat them, but more will appear. Musashi runs,
and gets into a building of some sort. Here, he meets Okuni, a woman who de-
cides to help him. While she tends to you, her underlings, who are all actors,
yell "What are you doing, Okuni? Where's this 'dance nobody's seen before?'
We're about to go on!"
But, she decides to help Musashi and delay things, even if the others have
worked so hard to prepare. She's dressed Musashi up in strange clothes so that
none will recognize him, and she decides to paint his face in makeup to further
hide him.
Just a little backstory here, Izumo no Okuni is a woman who is said to have
invented kabuki. After you beat the guys on stage, you have the opportunity to
come back at any time and try to get money playing a kabuki minigame.
Experience: 10,000
WHERE'S THE PALANQUIN? (KAGOYA WA DOKO DA)
Setting: Suburbs - Any time of day.
*After using the Palanquin 30 times or more
At the palanquin near the gate to Gion, you'll notice the carrier is talking to
a guest. I guess the other carrier went off to drink. You have to talk to the
guy who's there at the gate twice, then accept when he asks you to go get the
other guy, Zennosuke, with the bottom choice. Go to the sakaya, Ikken'ya, and
talk to the guys at the table near the entrance. They point you to the udon
shop (Shirohebi Udon). Musashi explains that poor Keitarou is really struggling
without him, so, he leaves and returns to his post.
Go back to their spot and they'll be arguing. It seems they want to put a new
station there, but they're not quite sure where to put it. You now have the
choice: in front of the great temple at the east end of Shijou (top choice) or
the shopping district (bottom choice). I recommend the bottom choice.
Experience: 1,500
THE DUAL-WIELD STYLE MAN (NITOURYUU NO OTOKO)
Setting: Suburbs - Evening, Night
*After clearing mission "The Seedy Merchant Tanaka Appears (Shaba nekkyou
Tanakaya arawareru)"
There's a man selling information on Hanami--by the wooden fence on the west
side. Buy it for 10,000 mon (bottom choice). Seems some pretty-boy in the
Ikken'ya sakaya (on the south side of Shijou Street, in the east) named Sasemon
is supposed to actually use the two-swords style. Go to the sakaya and meet
him. He's with a girl named O-Kame, but he sends her away to talk with Musashi,
who brings up the two-swords style.
But Sasemon says, "I'm pretty, and I get a lot of girls...but, I'm sorry; I
don't use the two-swords style." Musashi doesn't say anything, and Sasemon
says he's too drunk and calls O-Kame to leave.
When you leave the bar, however, the owner runs out and gives you a note.
Apparently, Sasemon asks for you to meet him at the Rakugai Shrine. It's
the little Shinto shrine in the middle of the Suburbs.
When you show up, he chuckles and says, "So, I guess you also use the two-swords
style, huh?" He says it's a very rare find, and then offers you one night for
2 ryou.
Musashi is suddenly confused. "An evening with you...? What do you mean?"
Sasemon raises the price, then. when Musashi asks again what's going on, Sase-
mon suddenly ... starts.... Well, that's supposed to be dancing, or something.
Seductive?
Musashi isn't "that kind of guy," though. So, Sasemon gets mad and fights you.
Reward: Jewel of the Peaceful Spirit Experience: 1,500
THE ENCHANTED SWORD SUIKEN (YOUTOU SUIKEN)
Setting: Suburbs - Any time of day.
*After clearing "The Old Man of the Enchanted Swords (Youtou jiisan)"
On Yamato, near the alley to the Higashiyama Shopping District, there's a guy
with a sword, harrassing some other guy. His wife runs up and calls to him,
"Hikobeei! Stop!"
Hikobeei gets angry and leaves, and his wife stays behind to talk to Musashi.
Seems he has some enchanted sword that grants him greater power the more he
drinks. So, go find him up at Ikken'ya, the sakaya. It looks like he's beat a
bunch of guys down, asking the owner to bring him a drink before each match.
His wife asks you to help, but before you can, he drinks a loooot of sake. Beat
him anyway!
Reward: 20,000 mon + Enchanted Sword Suiken Experience: 1,500
THE CURSED TEA BOWL (NOROI NO CHAWAN)
Setting: Suburbs - Any time of day.
*After clearing "The Flavor of Candy 2 (Ame no aji ni)"
On the south side of Shijou, not too far west from the Gion Gate, there are a
few women gossipping. Talk to them to overhear them talking about the Yamanoi
brand tea bowl that she wanted, and how Genjirou across the street had one,
too. But, he died so mysteriously!
It seems there've been a lot of deaths lately. O-Kiku, another neighbor, was
cut down by a rascal who was testing his sword. She had a Yamanoi Tea Bowl,
too! Could it be that the tea bowls are cursed?
Somehow, you're supposed to figure out to go to the Kawara district and talk to
the man atop the bridge. He's on the south side, close to the Suburbs. He
asks if you know the Yamanoi tea bowls...say "yes" (top choice). Seems he makes
those bowls, and now, he's having a hard time because of the rumors that if you
buy one, you'll die. He asks if you'll keep watch over the lady who just got
one of the bowls...say "yes" (top choice).
Oh no; she's being harrassed by some guy! The guy recognizes the artisan who
makes the tea bowls, but, no matter--he'll kill all of you! Beat him.
He explains that he can't sell any of his tea bowls because the Yamanoi ones
are just way too popular, so, he's going around, killing people who bought
them. Hm. Yeah...I mean; he apologizes, man! It's all good. It was only
serial murder.
Reward: Yamanoi Teacup Experience: 1,500
THE GOLDEN SWORD (KIN NO KATANA)
Setting: Suburbs - Any time of day
*After completing "The Donations Box (Nagezeni no derudokoro)"
At the west end of Shijou, two men are talking about the waterfall and a legend
of a golden sword therein. Go to the blacksmith's and talk to the man there;
he'll give you a Useless Iron Sword.
In daylight, bring it to the waterfall, located in that path running off from
the Mountain Path. Choose to toss it in (with the top choice). When you start
to leave, a woman appears and asks if you threw your sword in. She first offers
the golden sword. Say "no" with the bottom choice. Next, she offers a silver
sword. Say "no" again, again with the bottom choice. She'll leave.
Next, run back to the point where the path to the waterfall diverged from the
main path and talk to the two, who are laughing it up, and having a good time.
The lady is making fun of the people who just stand there, throwin their swords
in the water over and over. She says that it just goes to show the power of
greed, since to a swordsman, his sword is his very life.
Beat the man up to get the Golden Sword and the Silver Sword.
Reward: Golden Sword, Silver Sword Experience: 1,000
A TREAT FROM THE LANDLORD (JINUSHI NO GOCHISOU)
Setting: Kawara - Night
*After completing Favor "Kennosuke"
There's a man standing right next to the bridge to the Suburbs, on the south
side, looking upset. Talk to him, and he'll ask if you're hungry. He's offer-
ing you a big meal. Accept, even though it's suspicious, with the top choice.
He'll meet you again down the road, to the west, on the south side, at his
landlord's mansion. After you eat, he'll give you 10,000 mon and an Erotic
Art of an Exquisite Beauty.
Then, he says, "Well...shall we get started?"
Musashi doesn't know what's going on and tries to leave, but the man calls his
bodyguards. Beat the bodyguards, and the man suddenly turns his butt and asks
that you beat him--he's such a dirty, bad boy! Musashi decides he'd better just
leave.
Reward: 10,000 mon + Erotic Art of an Exquisite Beauty Experience: 1,000
THE MAN WHO WANTED TO BE A ROBIN HOOD (GIZOKU NI NARITAI OTOKO)
Setting: Kawara - Night
At the south side of the western end of the main avenue in Kawara, a guy wear-
ing a strange outfit, obviously stealing something, will fall from the roof-
tops suddenly and land right on top of Musashi. He asks if you're OK. Say that
he hurt you (bottom choice) and he'll give you 10,000 mon. When he runs off,
people chasing him see you near a box he dropped and attack you. What a shock;
he was stealing. Beat them.
He returns and gives you 10,000 more mon, and takes his box, telling you he has
a good reason to steal.
Reward: 10,000 mon Experience: 1,500
THE MAN WHO COULDN'T BE LIKE ROBIN HOOD (GIZOKU NI NARENAKATTA OTOKO)
Setting: Gion - Any time of day
*After clearing "The Man Who Wanted to Be a Robin Hood (Gizoku ni naritai
otoko)"
In East Nakatsuji Street, you'll find the man who was stealing on the rooftops
in Kawara, dressed funny and talking to an unpopular yuujo. He's talking about
buying her. When Musashi realizes he knows him, select the top choice to talk
to him. Ask him how he saved his money with the top choice. Ask if it's
stolen money with the top choice again. He asks if you know him so well, what's
his name? It's Asakusa Rokuzaemon (the second choice from the bottom). He
suddenly remembers he fell on you, gives you 10,000 mon, and leaves.
Talk to the yuujo. She's really impressed that someone wants to buy her free-
dom! She says that if you're looking for that guy, he's in the Nagaya area of
the suburbs.
Go there, and he'll demand to know what you're doing there. Talk about the
stolen money twice with the bottom choice, and then defeat him. Afterwards, he
swears to buy that woman's freedom honestly, and gives you a Solid Gold Kiseru.
Now, return to that same spot in East Nakatsuji Street and talk to the two.
Reward: 10,000 mon + Solid Gold Kiseru Experience: 1,500
THE TOWN'S FAMOUS DOCTOR 1 (MACHI NO MEII ICHI)
Setting: Gion - Any time of day.
*After Musashi starts to look for training
*After clearing "The One with the Fairest Skin (Suitsuku you na hade wo
mochinushi)"
There's a sick guy lying next to the Suiten Inari Shrine. Talk to him and he'll
ask you to fetch a doctor. Talk to the big man at the southeast corner of the
crossroads (Nakatsuji) and he'll tell you there's a doctor in the Sushiya (Gin).
Go there and talk to the doctor. His name is Ken. He'll automatically be
brought back to the sick man and make him some medicine, sending the guy off
with the remainder as he feels better.
Just then, Wakamatsu, another doctor, shows up. He says he's the best doctor
in Gion, and when Ken shows him disrespect, he says, "Well, who cares what a
murderer says?"
Apparently, a patient died while Ken was giving him an operation, and so, no-
body trusts him now, and he's just known as "Murderer Ken."
Reward: 10,000 mon Experience: 1,500
DEBT COLLECTED (KAKEMAWARARE)
Setting: Gion - Any time of day.
*After Musashi starts to look for training
*After clearing "The Town's Famous Doctor 1 (Machi no meii ichi)"
There's a guy next to the Tatsuya. Talk to him. It turns out he's another
kakemawari, sent to collect 20,000 mon from you.
Seems some guy's throwing your name around town, building up debt.
He's up in the sakaya (Nakanokura). So, go up there and talk to him. But,
when you confront him, he runs away. You'll find him at the crossroads (Naka-
tsuji) right outside, on the east side of the street. Talk to him and beat him
up to get the debt back and bring it to the kakemawari.
Reward: Lump of Extremely Fine Steel Expereince: 1,000
HOW TO MAKE DELICIOUS PASTRIES (OISHII OKASHI NO TSUKURIKATA)
Setting: Gion - Any time of day.
*After Musashi starts to look for training
Talk to the man praying at the Gion Inari Shrine. This guy runs a pastry shop
called "Kanmidou." He gives you a pastry to try...tell him it was delicious
with the top choice. He seems very happy, but, he's still worried. It seems
that the local administrator is going to sample the pastries around and grant
the one he judges most delicious the local government account. You can tell
him not to worry about his competitor, Senryouya with the top chocie, but he'll
still seem upset. He then asks you to take place in the judging. Accept with
the top choice.
The judging takes place that night at the Tsuruya. The owner of Kanmidou is
waiting outside, to the east (right) of the bridge. Talk to him. The judges all
seem to like his pastries.
Then, at the end, Senryouya is up. One of the other judges says, "Oh--this
stuff's--"
He's cut off by the administrator. "Delicious! This is delicious. Senryouya
has the best pastries."
Of course, nobody wants to go against the local administrator. Well...except
for Kiryuu. He ays "This is horrible! This isn't even food!!" But, the
administrator just says tha Senryouya has such an exquisite taste that someone
like Kiryuu, who is obviously not an epicurean, can't appreciate it.
Of course, that measn that Senryouya wins. Of course, that just isn't right, so
Kiryuu tells Kanmidou's owner not to give up just yet--there's no way that his
candy would lose to Senryouya, and he's sure that there's some scheme going on.
He decides to investigate, but he'll only be able to do that at night (so go
ahead and head out there). The administrator's mansion will appear as a green
dot on your map, and is located in the Yoshioka Dojo area.
Inside, Senryouya's owner is kissing up to the administrator. "I've prepared
your 'special pastries,'" he says. "How heavy they are!" notes the admini-
strator.
Well, they ought to be; they're ryou! (gold coins)
But--that's not all! Senryouya's owner has also brought a yuujo (against her
will)! After he leaves, the adnimistrator decides "I guess I'll sample this
'pastry,' too!" So, he grabs her obi (the ash around her kimono) and pulls it,
spinning her around. "Isn't this great? Isn't this great?" He asks.
"Well, then, why don't /you/ give it a go?" asks Kiryuu, who was watching in
secrecy.
Beat his guards. Kiryuu then grabs the man by his sash and spins him around,
then throws him to the floor. He says, "I'll do anything! Please--spare me!"
"'Anything?'" asks Kiryuu. "Well, then, why don't you eat 100 of Senryouya's
pastries?" "That swill?" he asks. "No, please--not that! Anything but that!"
Experience: 10,000
AGAIN, THE SEEDY MERCHANT TANAKA (SHABA NEKKYOU TANAKAYA FUTATABI)
Setting: Suburbs - Daylight
*After Musashi starts to look for training
*After clearing "The Dual-Wield Style Man (Nitouryuu no otoko)"
Tanaka, the man who sold you the coin purse earlier, is back at the same spot on
Shijou. This time, he's selling a drinking gourd that will prevent you from
getting too fat. You're supposed to stare at it when you feel hungry, and it
will make your hunger just go away! Buy it for 500 mon with the top choice.
You'll also get the Arashi Youkan at no extra charge!
Walk away a bit, and Musashi will suddenly seem hungry. So, he thinks he might
as well look at the gourd. Well, it just seems like a normal gourd...maybe if
he looks inside? Sure enough, there's an inscription inside: "If you eat too
much, you'll become the same shape as this gourd!"
Suddenly, a fat guy shows up. He wants to trade you a Copper Plate for the
gourd, so...you might as well! (top choice)
Reward: Copper Plate Experience: 1,500
THE FATHER OF THE LITTLE GIRL SELLING TOUGARASHI (TOUGARASHIURI NO CHICHI)
Setting: Suburbs - Daylight
*After Musashi starts to look for training
*After clearing "Holes in the Paper Sliding Door (Shouji no ana)"
This one's annoying, because you actually can't complete it until Chapter7.
Talk to the little girl selling Tougarashi again. She's in the same spot, at
the north side of the street down near the eastern save point at Shijou. Talk
to her, and she'll say that she's still doing badly. Musashi asks, "Don't you
have any parents?" It turns out that her mom's dead, but her father's around--
he's just sick at the moment. She asks Musashi to please come by her house and
look in on him. Accept with the top choice, and she'll take you to her home on
Nagaya.
Talk to the father and he'll give you a Tougarashi Assortment for your troubles.
It seems he's just not getting any better...you have to return with some sort of
medicine for him.
To make it, you'll need to go to the inventor, Gyoutensai, who lives at the east
end of Tsurumachi Street in Gion. On his list, there's a medicine for injured
lower backs. To make it, you'll need a Scroll of Japanese-Style Paper (gotten
from the mission "Talent (Sainou)" in Chapter 7 and another item, an "Adhesive-
Like Item?" When prompted, what they're looking for is Dried Agar-Agar, which is
available at the turtle vendor on Shijou (the second item from the top, called
"hoshitengusa"). Use them with the Tougarashi Assortment to make the Tou-
garashi Poultice.
Bring it back to the tougarashi girl's father in his house (but not at night),
and he'll start to feel better. Afterwards, go and talk to the two as they work
together on Shijou near the save point in the east. It takes some time for
them to reappear, so you may want to advance the story.
Experience: 1,500
TODAY'S EXCUSES (KYOU NO IIWAKE)
Setting: Suburbs - Any time of day.
*After clearing "Again, the Seedy Merchant Tanaka (Shaba nekkyou Tanakaya
futatabi)"
Go by the sakaya on Shijou, the Ikken'ya. This guy runs over and asks if you
can help him out. He's really freaking out! It seems he has no time to ex-
plain, but he doesn't want his wife to find out that he was playing aroudn in
the pleasure district. He explains that he has three signals he'll give you.
First, he'll nod. Agree with his wife when he does that. He'll shake his
head when he wants you to disagree, and he'll raise his hand when he wants you
to come up with a good answer on your own.
The first question is whether you work with him or not. Answer "no" with the
top choice. Next, tell her you were at your house last night with the third
response. Third, tell her there were no women with the top choice. Next, tell
her he spent his money on sake with the top choice. Lastly, tell her that he
didn't spend his money on a yuujo with the bottom choice.
She'll tell him that she'll let him off this time, if you did well, and you'll
get a Lapis Lazuli. Otherwise, you'll get a Tortoiseshell Hairpin (and also a
"Finished" instead of a "Completed" mark on your missions list).
Reward: Lapis Lazuli or Tortoiseshell Hairpin Experience: 1,000
WATER FROM THE LADLE 2 (HISHAKU NO MIZU NI)
Setting: Suburbs - Daytime.
*After Musashi starts to look for training
*After clearing "The Pretentious Man (Mieppari)"
On Hanami, near the same spot the girl threw water on you, you'll see her throw
it on someone else, and even though she apologizes, they'll get angry. They ask
for 1,000,000 mon to pay for their kimonos. Musashi intervenes when they start
to threaten to take Miyo, the girl who threw the water, from her father. But,
they just tell him that it's none of his business and ask him to pay the fee
himself. Choose not to do so with the bottom choice and beat them.
Away they run, and Miyos' father will pay you 20,000 mon.
Reward: 20,000 mon Experience: 1,000
KINTAROU 1
Setting: Suburbs - Daytime.
*After Musashi starts to look for training
*Bring a food item with you to prevent running back to buy one
There are two peole complaining down near the save point near the exit to the
Forest Path. They notice you're a samurai and ask how strong you are. Choose
the first choice "not bad."
It seems some guy's harrassing people and nobody wants to go through the Moun-
tain Path. They ask for your help.
You'll find the guy blocking the bridge that leads to the little dead-end path,
all the way down at the southern exit from the Mountain Path (right near the
little hut you and the Mysterios Monk slept).
Choose the top choice to try and cross the bridge and beat Kintarou up. He'll
say the only reason he lost is because he was hungry, so, give him any food item
with the top choice and he'll get all excited. Seems nobody's been nice to
him--they all make fun of him! So, Musashi says that he should go back to town.
He's sure Kintarou has some special talents and that he'll find something that
only he can do, and become useful (even if he's ugly and stupid). So, he's
inspired and will try his best!
Reward: Red-Lacquered Hairpin Experience: 1,000
THE SWORD THAT GRANTS WISHES (NEGAI GA KANAU KATANA)
Setting: Suburbs - Daytime.
*After Musashi starts to look for training
*After completing "The Old Man of the Enchanted Swords (Youtou jiisan)"
Go and talk to the man with the big crowd around him on Hanami. He has a
sword he says is an enchanted sword, and you can't draw it from its sheath--just
like the sword the old man showed you earlier! Seems he's charging people
money, betting that they can't draw the weapon.
Choose the top choice to try and draw the sword. It'll cost 100 mon. Musashi
tries so danged hard that it breaks! Guess it was just one piece of wood after
all, that just looked like it could be drawn (sneaky).
Musashi confronts Zenjirou, the man who took his money. Beat him.
Seems he was trying to save up money to pay the Takeo Family of yakuza some
money he owed them. He needed 10,000 mon.
Guess who shows up! Beat them up.
Reward: Legend of the Vanquishing of the Nue and Mizuchi Experience: 1,500
THE ENCHANTED SWORD MONEY-EATER (YOUTOU KANEKUIMUSHI)
Setting: Kawara - Daytime.
*After Musashi starts to look for training
*After completing "The Old Man of the Enchanted Swords (Youtou jiisan)"
At the intersection where the main road hits the path to Kouetsu's mansion,
you'll suddenly see a crowd of people standing around. A bunch of samurai seem
to be arguing with a single man, Kichiemon. He beats them, and then stands
there, gloating about his enchanted sword and how he's invincible thanks to it.
He approaches his girl, O-Shizu, but she seems unimpressed. He seems upset by
this. "Wasn't it you who said, 'I like a strong man!'? So, I've had my
servants looking all over for an enchanted sword!" It seems that so long as he
has money, his sword renders him invincible.
But she calls him an idiot. "Don't think money can by everything!" she chides
him. "I have no need for this fake strength!"
She runs off, but then, she screams suddenly, off to the east by the bridge.
So, go over there. It seems a gang is harrassing her...but, Kichiemon has run
out of money. Musashi tries to intervene, but, Kichiemon says that it's his
responsibility to watch after his woman. Of course, he loses, and it's up to
you to beat them guys.
Shizu runs over to Kichiemon, who apologizes that he was unable to save her.
He says that he ran out of money, and though he had the courage, he couldn't
beat them. But, of course, it turns out that that's exactly what she wanted
when she was looking for a strong man.
Reward: 30,000 mon + Enchanted Sword Money-Eater Experience: 1,500
THE ENCHANTED SWORD BECKONING SWORD (YOUTOU MANEKITOU)
Setting: Kawara - Daytime.
*After Musashi starts to look for training
*After completing "The Old Man of the Enchanted Swords (Youtou jiisan)"
At the western end of the street, on its north side, talk to the man talking to
the woman. This is Keisuke, a man running that restaurant behind him. He seems
to have really bad business these days. He really has great food, but, his
neighbor, Hanaokaya, seems to have the better salesmanship.
Go and talk to that guy. He's trying to sell his wares to a girl, but an old
woman comes and tells the girl not to buy anything. It seems like he's really
got the pitch down, but, he's got such crummy product.
Start heading east along the north side of the street and some merchant will run
up, selling an enchanted sword that will supposedly help you get many customers.
He's only charging 100 mon, so, go ahead and buy it with the top choice.
You now have a choice...who to give it to? It doesn't really end up mattering.
People show up, all right--beserkers, who mean to kill the owner of the sword.
Musashi realizes that this is why the guy sold it so cheap. Beat the berserk
people.
The other merchant will run over to see if everything's OK. They'll notice the
sword and want to see it, then more berserkers will show up. The merchants
throw the sword away, sending the crowd running off, but they end up picking on
some old man. Go and save him.
In the end, the two merchants end up working side by side. Team players,
finally? Who moved my dango?
Reward: Beckoning Sword (Enchanted Sword Thousand Visitors) Experience: 1,500
REPELLING THE ONI (ONI TAIJI)
Setting: Suburbs - Daylight
*After Kouetsu has asked for kusadango
*After clearing "Homework from the Terakoya -Reading- (Terakoya no shukudai
~yomi~)"
There's a man fallen on Hanami. Talk to him, and Musashi decides to get him
some medicine. At the nearby medicine shop, you can get a hint, but, you can
just bring him a Special-Strength Health Pills without checking first.
He'll ask you to rid his house of an oni. An oni? Can such a thing really
exist? Choose the bottom choice, to accept his quest, and you'll find out!
He points the "oni" out to you...a large woman, slouching in the corner. Mu-
sashi says, "Isn't this your wife?" Nevertheless, when the "oni" looks their
way, they flee.
Press the "confirm" button to peek in and spy on her. Seems her roars are just
cries for a dango. She seems very angry, saying aloud, "Why won't my husband
listen? He broke our sacred promise--that bastard!! Ah, I want to eat dango!"
Turns out that fool did promise when he was courting to bring her a dango every
month. He's just been too busy. But, he's so hurt now from the beating his
wife dealt him earlier that he can't go and get one. He asks you to buy some
dango for him...accept with the bottom choice and return with a kusadango from
the riverside tea house. Musashi lectures the man. "You still don't get it,
do you? What made her mad was that you weren't paying enough attention to her."
The man agrees, and gives you a Large Potted Crysanthemum for your trouble.
Reward: Large Potted Crysanthemum Experience: 1,500
HOMEWORK FROM THE TERAKOYA - WRITING (TERAKOYA NO SHUKUDAI ~KAKI~)
Setting: Subrubs - Daylight
*After Kouetsu has asked for kusadango
*After clearing "Repelling the Oni (Oni taiji)"
Go back to that spot on Ebisu and you'll find Mametarou again. He still needs
help studying. This time, it's reading. Choose to help with the upper choice.
The answers are: "nice" (middle choice), "spicy" (middle choice), "vexing"
(top choice), "cheek" (bottom choice), and "to come and go" (middle choice).
Experience: 1,000
MESSENGER FROM THE OTHER WORLD (YOMI NO KUNI YORI NO SHISHA)
*After Kouetsu has asked for kusadango
*After clearing "Homework from the Terakoya - Writing (Terakoya no shukudai
~kaki~)"
At the east end of Ebisu, there's an old woman in strange clothes. This is a
seer. Even though you have to talk to her to start things, she stops you as
you pass by. She suddenly blurts out that you there is some ill omen about you.
If you continue on like this, all those around you will be sent to hell!
Musashi says that doesn't sound true. Is she for real?
She says that she is indeed, and to stop this evil from coming, you have but one
choice--to buy her magical talisman. She's only selling it for 1,000,000 mon!
Musashi hears this and says he's gonna pass. She immediately cuts her cost to
just 800,000 mon, but, Musashi feels that he has no reason to pay her. So,
guess what? Her prediction is about to come true--because the thugs she's
hired are gonna beat you up. How about beating them, instead?
Reward: Cheater's Talisman Experience: 1,000
Chapter 7
---------
USHI AND BEN OF LEGEND (UWASA NO USHIBEN)
Setting: Suburbs - Night
*After parting with Itou at the gate
*After clearing "The Man Who Couldn't Be Like Robin Hood (Gizoku ni narenakatta
otoko)"
There's a merchant at the southern side of the street near the gate to Kawara.
Talk to him, and he'll tell you that a ghost appears now on the Shijou gate and
attacks people. His problem is that he has to get something to a person in
Kawara now...but he's too afraid to go. He asks you if you'd mind deliverin
something to the man in Kawara named "Licentious Heisuke?" (note: "sukebe"
means "perverted" or "licentious," "Heisuke" is a reversal of those characters)
Agree with the top choice and go across to meet the man, who hangs out by a
lantern way down near the little path off to Kouetsu's mansion. He gives you
the money for the goods, which you should bring back to the original merchant.
But when you get there, the merchant seems very glad--there's a samurai on
the ground who was attacked by the ghosts! He doesn't want to end up like him!
He gives you 100 mon for your trouble.
Talk to the ronin, and they'll tell you that the ghosts are none other than
Musashibou Benkei and Ushiwakamaru (another name for Minamoto Yoshitsune),
famous in the Heike Monogatari and other works of historical writing about the
Heian and Kamakura periods. In the stories, Benkei is said to have claimed a
bridge as his own and was determined not to let anyone pass. But, Ushiwaka-
maru defeated him, and Benkei decided he would follow him wherever he went.
When you go to enter Kawara, someone will scream. Run across the bridge and
you'll find a samurai, bemoaning the fact that he met up with a ghost but lost.
Returning to the bridge, another ronin will run past you, screaming about a
ghost. He'll collapse before the bridge. Talk to him to hear his story.
So, go on the bridge! You'll first fight Benkei. When he attacks, he won't
react to hits (tho he takes damage), so scoot around him and hit him from be-
hind. He's pretty slow, so, it shouldn't be too big a problem. He does deal
out a lot of damage, though!
Suddenly...well, this is supposed to be a beautiful youth. This is Ushiwaka-
maru, and he fights with a "flip-around" ninja style.
Last, you gotta fight them both at once. This can be annoying, as one's
always flipping around out of your strings while the other can simply attack
right through them. I'd recommend moving away from Benkei (who can't run) and
focusing on killing Ushiwakamaru first.
Ushiwaka suddenly asks you to stop. "If this keeps up, we'll die for real!"
Guess what--they were really normal people, using the ruse of becoming Benkei
and Ushiwakamaru to steal easily from people. What a surprise, huh?
Reward: Famous Shintougo Kodachi Experience: 1,500
TALENT (SAINOU)
Setting: Forest Path - Night
*After parting with Itou at the gate
In the middle of the road, there's an assassin dressed as a komusou (a wandering
monk) attacking a man. This is a tsujigiri; a man who attacks people to test
out his sword and his technique. Kiryuu notes the scar on the man's face.
The man you saved introduces himself as Kamotarou the painter. He asks if you
wouldn't mind accompanying him on his way home to protect him. Accept with the
top choice. It seems the man has an important visitor coming to pick up a
painting--or the man's daughter. But, the Kamotarou's arm was hurt by the
tsujigiri and he can't paint! Choose the bottom choice to paint for him.
In comes the wealthy man. "Seems I'll be taking your daughter as my wife
tonight, hm..?" He tells Kamotarou to keep his promise, since he can't give him
a painting!
When presented with the painting, he's shocked. "But, I thought you couldn't
paint because of the injury to your arm!"
Well, gee...what a smart guy. He's just revealed that it was he who sent that
man with a scar. Choose the top selection to ask him how he knew about that,
and beat the man with the scar again.
Reward: Scroll of Japanese-Style Paper (x 2) Experience: 1,500
RIOT AT THE BLACKSMITH (KAJIYA SOUDOU)
Setting: Suburbs - Mid-day
*After the talk with Haruka
*After clearing "Water from the Ladle 2 (Hishaku no mizu ni)"
NOTE: There is a unique chance to get a HEAT ACTION here (completists pay
heed!) This is the one using the bellows.
There are voices coming out of the blacksmith's. Enter, and you'll find some
guy trying to get the smith to sell his place. He's been there for generations,
though! When you leave, more voices will come from inside. A bunch of thugs
suddenly appeared (from where??) and are trying to beat up the blacksmith. So,
beat them up instead! Make sure you use the Heat Action near the bellows! (go
near the fiery pit while holding a guy and hit Triangle in Heat Mode)
After that, the man who was trying to get the blacksmith out appears. Fight his
underlings, and he'll pay the blacksmith for repairs.
Reward: Yamimaro's Classic Text - Vol. 1 Experience: 1,500
YET AGAIN, THE SEEDY MERCHANT TANAKA (MATAMATA SHABA NEKKYOU TANAKAYA)
Setting: Suburbs - Daylight
*After the talk with Haruka
*After clearing "Today's Excuses (Kyou no iiwake)"
Tanaka's back again. Talk to him and buy the Telepathy Box for 500 mon with the
top choice. A Portuguese guy suddenly shows up.... His language makes no
sense, but it's actually just written backwards. Seems he has a fishbone stuck
in his throat. Use the Telepathy Box with the top choice.
It explodes (!). He's startled, and coughs up the bone. For your efforts, he
gives you a Portuguese Mirror.
Reward: Portuguese Mirror Experience: 10,000
THE FLAVOR OF CANDY 3: THE PRICE OF CANDY (AME NO AJI SAN AME NO KACHI)
Setting: Suburbs - Daylight
*After the talk with Haruka
*After clearing "The Flavor of Candy 2 (Ame no aji ni)"
At the eastern end of Higashiyama, there's a girl who wants candy. She wants
the same type as the boy she saw earlier. It's that gold candy again. Go back
to the candy seller--he's in the same spot. Buy the gold-colored candy (it's
the second from last on the list). Leave and come back (you may want to enter
a shop and come back), and you'll find the kid and an old man. Use the top
choice to tell him you're the one who gave his granddaughter some candy. He's
so thankful! He wants you to tell him where the candy vendor is. So, use the
top choice to show him. Afterwards, you can talk to the candy vendor to hear
about it, if you wish.
Reward: 50,000 Experience: 10,000
HOMEWORK FROM THE TERAKOYA - THE ABACUS (TERAKOYA NO SHUKUDAI ~SOROBAN~)
Setting: Suburbs - Daylight
*After the talk with Haruka
*After clearing "Homework From the Terakoya - Writing (Terakoya no shukudai
~kaki~)"
*After clearing "The Taste of Candy 3 (Ame no aji san)"
At that same point, the kid's back. This time, he needs help with math. Choose
the first choice again to help him (again). The answers are "6" (bottom
choice), "140" (middle choice), and "11111" (top choice).
Experience: 1,000
THE WEIGHT OF DUTY (SEKININ NO OMOSA)
Setting: Suburbs - Mid-Day
*After the talk with Haruka
*After clearing "Homework from the Terukoya - The Abacus (Terakoya no shukudai
~soroban~)"
Near the shogi parlor, on Hanami, a guy's selling newspapers. Buy one from him
for 15 mon (top choice). It turns out, it's really boring stuff in there. He
tells you he has no way to compete with Shinkichi, who sells his on Shijou,
since he only has himself to go investigate! Go up there and talk to Shinkichi.
Across from the entrance to the weapons shop, Shinkichi is crouching. He's
about to set fire to a building! What a way to make news!
Beat him up, then go and talk to the first guy.
Reward: True Rainbow Stone Experience: 1,500
HOMEWORK FROM THE TERAKOYA - THE ESSAY (TERAKOYA NO SHUKUDAI ~SAKUBUN~)
Setting: Suburbs - Mid-day
*After clearing "The Weight of Duty (Sekinin no omosa)"
On Ebisu, the kid with the homework';s back again. Talk to him and he'll be
reading his essay about you. Notice that like Mad Libs, it has your answers
filled in! Nice. ..?
After he leaves, his father, Mugitarou, shows up. He's so glad you've looked
after his son that he gives you a pipe. Nice!
Reward: Badly-Drawn Yamata no Orochi Experience: 1,500
WHITE SNAKE OF YOUR DREAMS (YUME NO SHIROHEBI)
Setting: Suburbs - Mid-day
*After the talk with Haruka
*After clearing "The Father of the Little Girl Selling Tougarashi (Tougarashi-
uri no chichi)"
Talk to the old woman standing near the Rakugai Shrine. You'll overhear her
talking of how she saw this white snake three times now in her dreams. Surely,
the townspeople decide, she must have some kind of message being sent to her
from beyond. But, they think there just couldn't be this pure white snake
really roaming around, right?
Suddenly, a young man comes up and says that he saw a white snake. It seems
that whoever catches this snake will have a great future in their business, so
all the townspeople scamper off to find it.
It's just south of the blacksmith's. Choose the top choice to catch it.
You'll be interrupted by a poor boy. He wants the snake. It seems that his
family owns a tea house, but, it's horribly unpopular.
Just then, another person shows up. This is a rich man, owner of a market. He
wants the snake, too (of course).
Choose the top choice to give it to the poor kid. This means you have to fight
the merchant. After the kid gets it, you can find him at the Riverside Path,
north of the northmost staircase along the riverbed, and get a set of three-
colored dango.
Reward: Three-Colored Dango Experience: 1,500
THE MYSTERIOUS SCRAP OF PAPER (NAZO NO KAMIGIRE)
Setting: Suburbs - Daylight
*After the talk with Haruka
Talk to the group of three men in the Sakaya (Ikken'ya). The three are talking
about how they didn't think they'd need so much money to play around in Gion.
One of the men, Nagaji, says that he found a strange scrape of paper while he
was cleaning their master, Shishido's, room. It's a very old piece of paper,
and it's got stuff written on it, but...it seems Nagaji can't read.
It's a strange message, and barely makes any sense, talking about things tying
heaven and hell together and how fire is dispatched and 1 comes flyng out.
Talk to them a second time and they'll leave.
Go to Majima's cave and talk to the man out in front of it. Say you'll go in
(with the top choice).
There's a spot right inside where light is shining down. Look at it and hit
the "confirm" button to investigate and Kiryuu will start to piece things to-
gether. Inside is a treasure box! Suddenly, you'll get attacked by members of
the gang. Beat them up! They agree, then, that you should have the treasure.
What's inside the box? Oh, Majima's eyepatch. It is his greatest treasure,
after all--in his mind!
Reward: Shishido's Eyepatch Experience: 3,000
YAMATOE PAINTER (YAMATOESHI)
Setting: Kawara - Mid-day
*After the talk with Haruka
Talk to the strangely-dressed man on the north side of the little canal running
through the main drag, near the first tree to the west of the bridge. He says
you have a great physique, and then introduces himself as the artist, Ranzan
(actually, he calls himself a "Yamatoe Painter"--but, the term "Yamatoe," which
means "Traditional Japanese Painting," hadn't been invented yet).
It seems he specializes in warrior paintings. So, he wants you to come with him
so he can use you as a subject. Choose the top choice to agree.
At his house, he asks you to take off your clothes. Accept with the top choice.
Inspecting Kiryuu clad in a fundoshi alone, the man sings more praises for his
physique. But, then, he asks Kiryuu to take the fundoshi off, too, he refuses.
This is a rare opportunity to play as Kiryuu in another character model--the one
where he's just wearing his fundoshi (undergarments). Beat Ranzan up. Ranzan
moans "Oh--! The pen is weaker than the sword...."
So, it seems he fell for Kiryuu at first sight, and wanted to see more of him.
He offers you one of three paintings: a warrior, an actor, or a landscape.
You can sell the first two for 10,000 mon, but the third choice is only worth
1 measely mon.
Reward: Painting (Warrior, Actor, or Landscape) Experience: 1,000
LIKE A CAT TO CATNIP (NEKO NI MATATABI)
Setting: Kawara - Mid-day
*After the talk with haruka
*After completing "Talent (Sainou)"
On the north side of the street, west of the path leading to Kouetsu's, you'll
find a man, surrounded by cats. Talk to him. He introduces himself as a some-
what famous person named "Tsuchiura Keibun." However, if you read his kanji a
different way, for those who can't get the joke, they can be read "do" for
"tsuchi," "e" for "kei," and "mon" for "bun" (Doraemon, cat of cartoon and manga
fame). He also usese "nya" a lot at the end of his words. "Nya" is like "mew"
or "meow" in Japanese.
He asks if you can do him a favor--unless you hate cats! Agree with the top
choice.
Basically, you're hunting down cats and bringing them to him. You can only do
them one at a time, and while you're doing this task, you won't be able to
leave the area. You might want to read over this list first, because you only
have two minutes to do the task. When you find a cat, use the "confirm" button
to interact with it, then use the top choice to continue looking. You can
choose the bottom choice to give up, if you wish, but you only get paid for how
many cats you catch (5,000 mon per cat). When you're ready, choose the top
choice to tell him you understand.
You'll find the first cat in the little garden in front of Kouetsu's.
The second is near the tree in that area running to the south right next to the
bridge.
The third is all the way at the exit to the Suburbs.
The fourth is near the tree just south of the man surrounded by cats.
The final cat is near the exit to the Yoshioka Dojo.
After you bring him the cats, Kiryuu asks which cat is his. The man says, "Hm?
Oh, um--it's this one here. I'm relieved!" Was this just a lie? Was he just
rounding up all the cats in the area for some reason?
Reward: 5,000 mon per cat Experience: 10,000
LIKE A CAT TO COINS (NEKO NI KOBAN)
Setting: Kawara - Daylight
*After the talk with Haruka
*After clearing "Like a Cat to Catnip (Neko ni matatabi)"
You may have noticed a girl appearing on the south side of the bridge during the
mission using catnip to get cats for the man in Kawara. Talk to that girl.
She says that even though it's time to feed her cat, the danged animal hasn't
shown up! His name is Tamachan, and he's a calico wearing a color that's made
of the same material as the purplish sash she's wearing. Yes, btw; I know that
calicos are almost always female, but "Tama" might be a male name, I dunno--
don't write me a thesis argument about cat breeds, please. *ahem*
Tell her you saw the cat (top choice). Then tell her you remember where with
the top choice (he's with the man collecting cats).
The kid seems to know the guy. "Did he always say 'nyaa'?" Say "yes" with the
top choice.
Guess what? That guy? He makes shamisen (sometimes spelled "samisen"), string
instruments that resemble a banjo, that use catgut for strings. She asks if you
know that they use catgut to make Shamisen (they'll say "a cat's hide," but,
I'm not 100% sure if that's correct). Again, choose the top choice, but then
choose the middle choice to select "cat hide."
Anyway, choose the top choice to agree to get the cat back for her. The man is
down at the Riverside Path, at a tea house at the north end by the riverbed.
He claims the calico is his own cat, so, use the third choice to tell him that
the collar proves it isn't his--it's got the same material as the girl's sash.
So, he agrees to give you back the cat, but, he'll charge 50,000 mon. Choose
the bottom choice not to pay and fight him (and his obligatory gang).
Reward: Dried Saury Experience: 1,500
MASTER AND APPRENTICE (SHISHOU TO DESHI)
Setting: Riverside Path - Mid-day
Near the middle of path, on the riverbed, a boy runs up to Kiryuu. "Master,"
he begs, "please, take me as your pupil!"
Kiryuu says he doesn't have time for playing around with children. Of course,
the kid says he's serious and he really wants to become strong. Answer any of
the three responses to try and distract the boy ("Look! A Kappa/Tengu/Ghost!"),
but, he won't look away. He just says, "there's no such thing!" and then begs
you to let him become your apprentice. He says he'll do anything to prove his
worth.
"Anything?" asks Kiryuu. Choose the top choice to tell him to jump off the roof
of the Kiyomizu Temple and the bottom choice to have him jump off a waterfall.
You have to actually go to those places to meet up with him again, so I'd sug-
gest the Kiyomizu Temple (it's closer).
Kiryuu is surprised the kid will actually do it...he decides he'd better go
make sure he's OK.
Run to the southern dog statue (the right one when facing the temple) and hit
the "confirm" button to look. Kiryuu sees the boy waaaaaay up on top of the
temple, and yells to him to stop. Of course, Kiryuu lets the boy off and says
he doesn't have to jump; he'll agree to take him in.
Experience: 1,000
THE MONK'S SECRET (BOUZU NO HIMITSU)
Setting: Suburbs - Daylight
*After the meeting at Kouetsu's
Just to the east of the pharmacist on Shijou, there's a monk in purple. As
you approach him, a man will run by and snatch his bag. Accept to go after
him with the top choice. He's on Hanami, just around the corner, smoking.
Talk to him, then follow him. He's right next to the shogi parlor, on the
bench, pretending to be playing with the other guy. Last, he runs down past the
Rakugai Shrine, past the little hut to the south, sandwiched between the houses.
Talk to him this last time and he'll fight you. Beat him for the bag.
As you return to the monk, Kiryuu notices that inside the bag is a wig. Talk to
him, and Kiryuu will ask if he wears a wig. But, he denies it. You can find
him at the Kamechou Street in Gion later, wearing a wig.
Reward: Sorceror's Stone Experience: 1,500
WATER FROM THE LADLE 3 (HISHAKU NO MIZU SAN)
Setting: Suburbs - Mid-Day
*After the meeting at Kouetsu's
*After clearing "Riot at the Blacksmith's (Kajiya soudou)"
At the same spot where the other "water from the ladle" events, Kiryuu accident-
ally bumps into some guy smoking a pipe, who drops an ash in you. A moment
later, Kiryuu bursts into flames! ASk him to call the fire patrol with the
bottom choice. Who should put you out but that girl who keeps throwing water on
people by accident. How nice for her--she did something right.
Reward: Gold-And-Leather Tobacco Bag Experience: 1,500
GATHERING INGREDIENTS FOR THE TOUGARASHI SELLER (TOUGARASHI URI NO ZAIRYOU
ATSUME)
Setting: Suburbs - Daylight
*After the meeting at Kouetsu's mansion
*After clearing "White Snake of Your Dreams (Yume no shirohebi)"
Talk to the tougarashi seller at the west end of Shijou (the father). Seems he
wants to make new kinds of tougarashi.
There are three types you can get him to make. Here are the ingredients you
will need and how to get them:
(note: the pharmacist may carry the Ultimate All-Purpose Drug depending on
whether or not you had Gyoutensai invent it, hence the "10th or 11th" stuff.
All items have two Chinese ideographs, so, look for those with just two kanji
for the prices listed)
Perilla (Shiso) Leaf - Etchuuya 10th/11th item (10 mon)
Japanese Pepper (Sanshou) - Etchuuya 11th/12th item (20 mon)
Ginger (Shouga) - Etchuuya 12th/13th item (25 mon)
Sesame (Goma) - Etchuuya 13th/14th item (30 mon)
Dried Seaweed (Nori) - Turtle seller 1st item (40 mon)
Mandarin Orange (Mikan) - Arigataya 8th from bottom (10 mon)
Bring these to the man selling tougarashi. You can give them in any order.
Each time you give him any two of the six ingredients listed above, he'll give
you a tougarashi blend--3, 5, and 7.
Reward: 3-Blend Tougarashi + 5-Blend Tougarashi + 7-Blend Tougarashi
Experience: 10,000
KINTAROU 2
Setting: Mountain Path - Daylight
*After the talk at Kouetsu's mansion
*After clearing "Like a Cat to Coins (Neko ni koban)"
There's a guy guarding the little bridge to the dead-end path near the southern
end of this path, just like Kintarou was. Choose the top choice to tell him
you want to pass. Of course, the bandit fights you, instead. As you cross,
the guy suddenly rushes you from behind--but, he's defeated by Kintarou. Seems
he's gonna make sure nobody else gets swindled like that.
Experience: 1,000
DIG HERE, DOGGY (KOKOHORE WANWAN)
Setting: Riverside Path - Any time of day
*After the meeting at Kouetsu's mansion
*After clearing "Master and Apprentice (Shishou to deshi)"
In the south end of the Riverside Path, two samurai are about to kill a dog to
test their swords. Choose the top choice to save the dog. They ask you what
the dog's name is when you tell them it's yours, but, it doesn't matter which
name you choose--they'll fight you just the same.
The poor thing looks really weak. Musashi decides he should give him something
to eat.
The question here is what to feed him. The best answer is the chicken you can
now get from the vendor in the north end of the Riverside Path. Buy him three
of those and bring them to him. A man smoking along the path will tell you that
dogs like meat (as a hint). Once you give the pup three things, he'll lead you
to a spot in the path. Dig there (top choice) and you'll get your prize--Joumon
Pottery.
But, if you give him other items, he'll give you other things as rewards. If
you find the woman on the path who'll give you some leftover rice and give that
to him instead, you'll get a Broken Tea Bowl. If you give him anything else,
you'll get an Old Greatsword. However, if you do get these two items, you'll
get a "finished" instead of a "completed" mark on your record ("bad ending").
If you're going for the item unlocked by completing all side missions, you won't
want that.
Reward: Joumon Pottery or Broken Tea Bowl or Old Greatsword Experience: 1,500
MURDER-SUICIDE (MURISHINJUU)
Setting: Gion - Dusk
*After asking the Madam at Tsuruya for a seat that night
There's a crowd of people asmassed just north of the restaurant, Hatsukaze.
It seems like a yuujo and a samurai are about to commit double suicide! The
yuujo screams, and a man says, "Oh--it's got to be the famous swordsman,
Kojirou! I saw him go in just now!"
Of course, Musashi wonders if it's the same Kojirou.
At any rate, choose the upper option to try and stop the murder-suicide.
Just like in the other games, with the guy who's gonna jump to his death, the
woman's name is Mizuki. Kiryuu bursts in and tells him to stop! He also has
glasses--just like the guy who was going to kill himself and the cabaret club
girl, Mizuki (yet another reference to the other games). His name is also Aki-
moto! Just...now it's Akimoto Kojirou, apparently.
First he asks who you are. Choose the bottom choice to tell him you're just
another person using the brothel. Then, choose the first choice to tell him
that whether he has a letter or not (Mizuki claims she can't even read or
write), he should be able to know how she feels. Then, when he asks why she
doesn't wear any of the things he bought her, tell him the bottom choice--not
to pry, because it'll just cause pain. Then, he asks about the man he saw her
with--was he buying her? Choose the top choice to say "it must be a case of
mistaken identity." She makes another reference to the other games here--saying
it was Yumi he saw, not Mizuki (those who played the first game might get that
one).
He starts to cry. He realizes that he's lost the path of manliness. But, then,
he suddenly says that they should die together. In rushes a Kamuro--"Daddy--
don't kill Mommy!" Suddenly, he realizes that that's their daughter. Mizuki
tells him that their daughter is a secret she's been hiding from everyone.
Choose the second choice to tell him that he's got to accept his responsibility
as a man. Then choose the bottom choice to tell him that children grow up too
quickly these days. Then, the top choice to tell him that he'd be the worst man
if he abandoned his family. Lastly, say you envy him with the top choice.
Seems he's just as much a yutz in this one as he is in the other games--and
she's just as bad a liar. Note that if you get the "bad" ending and
he kills her, you'll get a different cinema, so...if you want to complete all
the cinemas you can view, you can intentionally mess up.
Experience: 10,000
SPICES FOR THE UDON RESTAURANT (UDON'YA NO YAKUMI)
Setting: Suburbs - Daylight
*After the meeting at Kouetsu's mansion
*After clearing "The White Snake of Your Dreams (Yume no shirohebi)"
Talk to the worker in White Snake Udon. Tell him that to get more customers,
he should look for new spices for his udon (the bottom choice). Then choose
the top choice to tell him you have something for him to use.
Now, you pretty much have to have completed the "Gathering Ingredients for the
Tougarashi Seller (Tougarashi uri no zairyou atsume)" favor first. Those three
items you can get from it are the three he's looking for. In order to make the
most money, you should give him the 7-Blend Tougarashi last, because that's the
one he ends up wanting. You get 33 mon for the 3-Blend Tougarashi, 555 mon for
the 5-Blend Tougarashi, and 7777 mon for the 7-Blend.
Once you give him the 7-Blend Tougarashi, everyone in the restaurant will be
shouting things like "oohh, it's so hot!" and "this is delicious!"
Well, go and tell the tougarashi seller about this. They'll go off to meet up
with the udon restaurant's owner. Go down there, too, and talk to them, then
talk to the owner, standing outside the restaurant.
Reward: 333 mon, 555 mon, and/or 7777 mon + Copper Plate Experience: 1,500
Chapter 8
---------
THE VOW (KISHOU)
Setting: Suburbs - Any time of day
At the intersection of Ebisu and Hanami (at the southeast corner of the Zanki
Dojo), two guys are talking to each other. Talk to them.
Yosaburou, the shorter one, suddenly asks "Which is it?" Manta, the
big one, says, "Yeah--let's ask a third party's opinion!" Yosaburou says,
"'The purest in Gion'...you know what I mean, right?" Tell them "no" with the
bottom choice.
Seems they're talking about someone named Kouyou. Of course, the dispute is
over which one of them is more suited for her. It seems they've both got some
secret signal from her that means she loves them. They both see each other do
it, and then they suddenly go to fight each other and leave.
Next, you'll spot Yosaburou standing right across from the blacksmith's. Talk
to him. He'll make the signal--tell him you know what it means with the top
choice. Next, talk to Manta back at the first spot you met these guys and the
same thing will happen (answer the top choice again).
Now go back to Yosaburou. Talk to him, and choose the top choice to mention the
vow. So, go back to the same spot where you first met them and talk to them.
They confirm the signals...and run off. Are they going to attack Kouyou now??
On East Nakatsuji Street in Gion, you'll find a worker at the brothel standing
outside. Talk to him, and Kiryuu will automatically ask for Kouyou--but, those
two are already inside! Kiryuu barges in on them as they confront the girl.
Beat them up!
To reward you, Kouyou goes to give you a special signal to show her vow of love
to you. Kiryuu passes.
Reward: 30,000 mon Experience: 1,500
THE SOUL OF THE UDON RESTAURANT (UDON'YA TAMASHII)
Setting: Suburbs - Any time of day
*After talking to Yoshino
*After clearing "Spices for the Udon Restaurant (Udon'ya no yakumi)"
The owner of the udon restaurant, White Snake, seems troubled. Talk to him,
and he'll tell you he's thought of some new kinds of udon over these 10 years of
pounding udon noodles. But, nobody's been around to test it.
Until now! Three choices will appear--pick one. It's bad. Leave, come back
in, pick another one...it's bad, too. Leave, come back in, eat another
one...it's bad, too. Finally, now that you've sampled all of them, you should
eventually find the last slot is "Ultimate Fried Udon." After you choose it,
Musashi will tell the owner that it was delicious. It'll also be added to the
menu (for you completists).
Reward: 1,000 mon Experience: 3,000
LEGEND OF THE MIRACULOUS SWORDSMAN (SUGOUDE KENSHI NO UWASA)
Setting: Suburbs - Any time of day
*After talking to Yoshino
*After clearing "The Monk's Secret (Bouzu no himitsu)"
At the east end of Shijou, there's a man and a woman talking. The man mentions
that there's a famous swordsman in town--and he's blind! (Zatou-who?)
Near the weapon's shop, on Ebisu, you'll see a guy who looks suspiciously like
the man of movie legend, being accused of groping a woman. "Sorry," he ex-
plains, "I'm blind." Talk to the women, and they'll say he's that legendary
swordsman!
At the west end of Higashiyama, a guy selling apparently the largest cabbages
ever in history complains that the blind man is messing up his product. He
says he's blind again, and leaves. Talk to the vendor, and he'll say the same
thing.
In the northern part of Yamato, on the east, the man is getting ready to go
into his house. So, enter it after him (top choice).
He's staring at a picture of someone named "Hanamaru." Musashi tells him that
there's no way he's blind if he's looking at that. Refuse his bribe with the
bottom choice and fight him. Seems his skill with a sword is really lousy,
too. Turns out, that's why he made the whole thing up! What a dork.
Reward: Erotic Picture Experience: 1,500
KINTAROU 3
Setting: Suburbs - Daylight
*After talking to Yoshino
*After clearing "Kintarou 2"
On Hanami, near the palanquin and Blacksmith's, Kintarou's standing around,
being mocked by children. Talk to them. They say Kintarou's really stinky--
and they've put a tag on him that says "Bakatarou" ("Moron-tarou"). Choose the
top choice to chide them. Now, talk to Kintarou. Musashi pulls the tag off
Kintarou. Seems Kintarou thought he'd be praised by everyone for putting his
talents (if there are any?) to good use. But...he can't find anything to do!
If he's given a pot, he'll break it. A horse to take care of? He'll let it
get away. He says he's just dumb and ugly after all, and runs off (d'aww).
There's a kid lying in front of the shed across from the stables at the north
end of the Forest Path. A log has rolled onto him. Talk to the kid, and
suddenly, Kintarou shows up and lifts the log over his head (mad pressin'
skills), impressing a bunch of townspeople.
Reward: Talisman Experience: 1,500
TROUBLESOME FOREIGNER (NAYAMERU NANBANJIN)
Setting: Forest Path - Any time of day
*After talking to Yoshino
Talk to the Portoguese guy standing near the path running off to Shishido's
cave. His Japanese is horrible, so...it might not make sense.
Answer "yes" (top choice) when he asks if you understand him. Say "no" (bottom
choice) to his second question--seems he's lost and looking for the Kiyomizu
Temple. Say "yes" (top choice) to his third question to point the temple out
to him.
He'll give you a foreign coin, and says goodbye. You can find him again at the
Kiyomizu Temple.
Reward: Foreign Coin Experience: 1,000
APPRENTICE TO THE MASTER (SHISHOU NO DESHI)
Setting: Daylight
*After talking to Yoshino
*After clearing "Dig Here, Doggy! (Kokohore wanwan)"
You'll find your student there at the riverbed again. After a little training,
someone recognizes Soutarou (the kid) they come to pick on the kid. Seems he
doesn't want to go to the same famous dojo as they do.
At the south end of Yamato, near the entrance to the Riverside Path, some guy's
picking on the kid now. Beat him up.
Those other jerks show up. They want to become your student now, but, Musashi
turns them away, but tells them also that the kid is your student now, so, they
better recognize.
Reward: 1,500
O-SAKI'S SITUATION (OSAKI NO JIJOU)
Setting: Riverside Path - Daylight
*After setting out for the Houzouin
*After completing "Apprentice to the Master (Shishou no deshi)"
At the north end of the riverbed, near the first staircase, two girls are
watching another girl. They point. "Hey, isn't that O-Saki?" "--Wow, she
sure has a fine kimono." Turns out there's a weird guy hanging around her
recently.
Go after her, and she's being harrassed by a coupla jerks. Choose to fight
them off with the bottom choice. After fighting them, the two say this girl's
not so great--she still owes them 20,000 mon, apparently. Choose the bottom
choice to save her, and then the bottom choice again to pay her 20,000 mon.
Musashi tells Saki it's not such a great idea to be going around in a fine, new
kimono when you owe money. Debt collectors like that sort of thing. It seems
her dad died, and so she has nothing now. She says, "If only that person would
come back...." So, of course, Musashi asks who that is. It's a man named
Kisuke, young owner of the Fuugetsudou (hey it's one of my clients in reality)
shop. It seems he's gone to Edo, where he now has a pretty big shop.
Near the path leading to Kouetsu's in Kawara, you'll see the debt collectors
who were after Saki before. They let some guy off...go and talk to him.
It seems his shop wasn't doing so great in Edo. Musashi asks if he's Kisuke
from Fuugetsudou.
Just like Saki, he's wearing a really nice kimono. What's wrong with these
two?
So, Musashi asks him to meet him at the Rakugai Temple. Then, you have one of
these rare instances where you are actually automatically transported to your
objective, talking to Saki and telling her the same thing. For some reason,
though, you have to actually travel to the temple.
There's a gleaming thing on the ground. Both Kisuke and Saki run over, think-
ing it's money. They run right into each other! They both continue to put on
airs, pretending like they don't need the money, so Musashi has to intervene.
So now, they can finally get together. What knuckleheads!
Reward: Deer Antler Netsuke, Jade Obi Fastener Experience: 1,500
Chapter 9
---------
DIVORCE TEMPLE (ENKIRIJI)
Setting: Suburbs - Any time of day.
*After clearing "Legend of the Miraculous Swordsman (Sugoude kenshi no uwasa)"
At the temple in the middle of Ebisu (just south of where the patrolman usually
appears), there's a monk. Talk to him--seems he wants some help with something.
This is the divorce temple (Enkiriji), where women running away from their
husbands can be taken as refugees while they sort out a divorce. Accept with
the top choice.
The first girl's husband is a violent sort and she needs to get away. Of
course, he comes looking for her. Fight him off. Suddenly, his wife runs to
him to see if he's OK. He apologizes to her, and they decide to work it out.
Choose to stay with the top choice and wait to see if someone else shows up.
Another girl comes by. Seems her hubby doesn't want to work and just spends all
their money gambling. Uh-oh--here he comes! Better fight him, too. He's a
ridiculous lightweight. Again, Kiryuu acts tough, chiding the man and telling
him to stay away from her. But, again, she runs to her hubby. He apologizes
and says he's gonna work and he loves her and all this wonderful stuff.
The monk comes back. What happened while he was back? There are all these
people at the temple! Kiryuu goes to look, and sure enough, there they are,
thanking the gods. Seems they think you're the god of tying people back to-
gether. Oh well...from now on, this will be known as "Mending the Marriage
Temple" (Enmusubiji).
Not as fun as "Divorce Court."
Reward: Picture of Monk in Seated Meditation Experience: 1,500
KIRYUU'S SIGHTSEEING TOUR (KIRYUU NO KANKOU ANNAI)
Setting: Kawara - Daylight.
There's a couple on the south side of the bridge. Talk to them, and it seems
that they're visiting for a while, and since you look like a local, they ask
you about the Kiyomizu Temple. They want to know what the most beautiful sight
is there. Choose the top choice to find them a nice spot.
Go to the Kiyomizu Temple. There are different people you can talk to here, and
after each one, Kiryuu will have to decide whether that's the one to tell the
couple about or not. When you find the right one, choose the top choice.
Just so you know, the item you get does change depending on who you talk to,
but, the one you want in order to get "complete" is the guy at the south (the
one hidden away below the stairs off to the right as you look towards the
temple). This gives you the Mother of Pearl.
Reward: Mother of Pearl or Thief Netsuke or Hariti Talisman Experience: 1,500
THE MASTER IS ALSO AN APPRENTICE (SHISHOU MO DESHI)
Setting: Riverside Path - Daylight.
*After clearing "O-Saki's Situation (Osaki no jijou)"
In the northern part of the riverbed, near where En no Kozuma appears, the kid
is back. After practicing with him, Musashi tells him that he seems to have
improved. The kid is very happy. Then, Musashi asks him something he wanted to
ask before, but didn't--exactly why does Soutarou want to become strong?
Rintarou, Soutarou's younger brother, shows up. He's very hungry. So, he runs
off. Kiryuu talks to Soutarou. "So, you've got a younger brother, huh?" It
seems he wants to fight off the punks who are always picking on Rintarou.
Go south, past the little part dividing the area where you have to run up and
down again, and you'll see them, near a boat, with a samurai. They want them
to apologize for being so rude, and call Rintarou pretty stupid. so, Soutarou
jumps and hits the man with a stick. Fight them when they go to beat the two
kids.
Musashi tells Soutarou that there's nothing more for him to teach him. He's
seen now that the boy is strong and will protect his brother.
Reward: Susa-no-o Spirit Ball Experience: 10,000
INVESTMENT ADVICE (TOUSHI NO SUSUME)
Setting: Riverside Path - Any time of day
*After Haruka asks to see you that night
*After clearing "The Master is Also an Apprentice (Shishou mo deshi)"
Talk to the man at the north end of the riverbed. Choose the top choice to
hear him out. Choose the top choice to go along with his idea. Give him
10,000 mon (1 ryou--bottom choice). He'll leave with your investment.
Leave the area and return. He asks for a second choice to get you a return on
your mone...give it to him with the top choice.
Leave the area and return again. This time, he asks if you remember him.
Choose the bottom choice ("of course!"). Seems he made out like a bandit--he
gives you double your money.
Reward: 20,000 mon + Star Steel Experience: 1,000
THE WOMAN (ONNA)
Setting: Kawara - Night
*After the talk with Haruka at the Tsuruya
In West Kawara, there's a girl surrounded by ninja. Save her. Kiryuu asks if
she needs him to accompany her--they might still be around. She accepts--she's
near her house, anyway. Her name is Momiji..and you get a nice little cinema of
her taking a bath. Kiryuu looks away.
After the bath, she explains that these ninja showed up after her parents died,
leaving behind a big debt. She offers herself to him, but he refuses. Isn't
she attractive? She doesn't want to be alone! Struggling with her, he ends up
slapping her. But, he does promise to bring her back the happiness she de-
serves. He'll go and get her a job at the Kamenoya. He decides to check in on
her, too--it'll appear as a green dot on the map.
It seems she wasn't doing so well--she's apparently fled from the place. The
worker at Kamenoya asks you to go talk to her. She wrote a letter, saying that
she just can't get it together.
Kiryuu decides he should go to her house and check in on her. Go there (it's
another green dot).
Nobody's there...but, those ninja appear again! Beat them!
Suddenly, their leader appears and spits fire at you. A female ninja appears--
it's Momiji. I guess her name is really Kaede. She's supposed to kill you,
but...she just can't. Musashi tells her how much she's worried everyone, and
she gets off him, crying. Well...of course, this angers the master. He's
gonna kill both of you (oh no!!) Beat him.
So, now, this ninja gets to become a prostitute. Yeah, way to go, Kiryuu?
Experience: 10,000
THE TOWN'S FAMOUS DOCTOR 2 (MACHI NO MEII NI)
Setting: Gion - Daylight.
*After setting out for the Rendai Fields
*After clearing "The Town's Famous Doctor 1 (Machi no meii ichi)"
There are a bunch of men assembled at the east side of Nakano. Talk to one of
them, and he'll tell you that one of the yuujo at that ageya is sick. Seems
they've hired Wakamatsu, Ken's rival, but he's not doing too well.
So, look for Ken with the top choice. Start at the sushi restaurant, Gin, on
the corner of Gion and Tsuruya. Seems Ken's decided to leave Gion.
So, run off to the gate, and talk to him. Musashi leads him back to the ageya,
where Wakamatsu is struggling. A man runs in who is upset over his beloved
yuujo's illness. He turns out to be the guy that Ken saved earlier! Thanks to
his influence, Ken is allowed to treat her. He gives her some medicine, and
then she falls asleep...he says that's a good sign. It's a fairly common
condition and not really anything to worry about.
He decides he'll stay in town, and work hard at creating a new name for himself.
But, just then, Wakamatsu shows up. Guess what? It's time to beat that snot-
nosed punk down.
Reward: Fly's Anatomy Study Experience: 1,500
THE YUUJO'S REQUEST 1 (YUUJO NO NEGAI ICHI)
Setting: Gion - Mid-day.
*After setting out for the Rendai Fields
On Suiten Street, there's a yuujo standing around named Suisen. Talk to her.
She asks you to look in on her parents. Accept with the top choice.
They're in the Countryside Path. Go to the first field from the Yoshioka Dojo
(off to the right with the entrance to Yoshioka on your back) and run to its
middle. Hit the "confirm" button to see the house. They seem to be doing OK.
In fact, they just sit around drinking now that they sold her off!
Go back to her, and you can either say that they're taking life seriously (with
the top choice) or tell her that they're in a bad way (bottom choice). Either
will get you "Complete," but t he top choice gets 10,000 mon, while the bottom
gets 5,000.
Reward: 10,000 or 5,000 mon Experience: 1,500
THE RED DIARY (AKAI NIKKICHOU)
Setting: Gion - Daylight
*After setting out for the Rendai Fields
*After clearing "The Yuujo's Request 1 (Yuujo no negai ichi)"
At the Suiten Inari Shrine, right in front of the shrine, there's a red book.
Investigate it, and then choose the top choice to pick it up. Kiryuu looks
inside, and from a random entry, he deduces that it's a diary, probably of a
local yuujo. Choose the top choice to look for its owner.
First, visit Yumejiya. Talk to the girl in the little display area. It's not
hers, but, she thinks maybe it's from someone at Yoshidaya? It's up on Kame-
chou Street. It's none of theirs, either, but, perhaps someone at Waseya?
It's down the street more towards the back entrance to Tsuruya.
There's a kamuro standing around in front of the shop. Talk to her--it turns
out it's her madam's diary. The kamuro really wants to read it (even though
Kiryuu tells her it's bad to read other peoples' diaries). Choose the top
choice to let her read it. The girl says she'll raelly work hard for the sake
of her madam when she hears the entry.
Then, Kiryuu reads that tomorrow is the madam's birthday. The kamuro has been
thinking of buying her a red hairpin, but, she can't go over there. Only the
Arigataya Market in the Suburbs has it. Tell her you'll go buy it with the top
choice and you'll get the money from her. When you talk to the vendor, it's
actually the third option (usually you can buy tools or equipment items--it's
actually its own category).
As you leave, some guy apparently wants it. Beat him. Then, go talk to the
kamuro and she'll give her madam the hairpin and hooray.
Reward: Gold Plate Experienced: 1,500
THE YUUJO'S REQUEST 2 (YUUJO NO NEGAI NI)
Setting: Gion - Mid-Day
*After setting out for the Rendai Fields
*After clearing "The Red Diary (Akai nikkichou)"
On Suiten Street, there are a bunch of people outside the brothel where you met
the girl from The Yuujo's Request 1, Suisen. Investigate with the "confirm"
button. Choose the top choice to see what's the matter. It's her father and
some other guy. They're there for money. Beat them up!
As soon as he wakes up, Kiryuu chides him. "Can't you look your own daughter in
the eye?" Seems beating him up woke him up, though, and now, he's seen the
error of his ways (yeah right).
Reward: 30,000 mon Experience: 1,500
KSTAYER (KUWASUTEROYA)
Setting: Suburbs - Any time of day.
On Nagaya Street, across from Arigataya Market, you'll see a woman. Talk to
her. Seems her dad ain't doin' so well, and the doctors don't really know
what to do. Anyway, she asks what he'd like to do (before he dies, I presume)
and he says, "I want to eat something I had a long time ago called 'Kstayer.'"
She asks if you know what it is, and Kiryuu thinks it might be some foreign
food.
It is, in fact. It's a cake introduced by the Portuguese called "castella."
She asks if you know any foreigners. Say "yes" (the top choice).
Go find the guy on the Forest Path. Talk to him and you'll automatically bring
him to the woman. She can't understand what he says (who would??--his Japanese
is really messed up), so, say "yes," you understand (top choice), and then go
hunting ingredients.
You'll get the syrup from the candy vendor in the middle of Higashiyama.
The sugar comes from the man from Anmidou (the pastry maker from an earlier
mission), who is now on west Ebisuya.
"Udon powder" (probably wheat flour?), you can buy from the girl in front of
White Snake Udon for 100 mon. If you completed the udon missions, you'll get it
for free.
The eggs you get from a girl in the west part of the Countryside Path for
700 mon. She's standing right in front of a chicken.
Bring the Portuguese man and the woman the ingredients. After they make him the
castella, you and the woman go to give it to him, but he falls asleep (aw).
You'll see them across the street from the Rakugai Street. Seems the castella
did the trick! He feels great now! Umm...OK!
Reward: Castella Experience: 10,000
THE FAITHFUL OLD HOUND (OIBORE AIKEN)
Setting: Kawara - Mid-day, Night
*After setting out for the Rendai Fields
*After clearing "Kiryuu's Sightseeing Tour (Kiryuu no kankou annai)"
On the south side of the street near the middle, and he'll complain that his old
mutt isn't guarding his place well enough. He's been robbed.
Leave the area and come back. Talk to the boy sweeping, and the dog will
suddenly start barking at him. Seems he wants you to follow him (What's that,
boy? Trouble at the well?!) Choose the bottom choice to follow.
Bandits are harrassing his owner in the Countryside. Beat them!
Reward: Tiger-Skin Sash Experience: 1,500
THE EGG 1: THE THING I ALWAYS WANTED TO TRY BEFORE I DIED (TAMAGO ICHI
SHINUMADE NI TABETE MITAI MONO)
Setting: Yoshioka Dojo - Mid-day
*After setting out for the Rendai Fields
At the west end of the Yoshioka Dojo area, there's an old woman. She's dying.
She regrets that she never tasted an egg.... So, go to the Countryside Path,
and right inside the entrance, you'll find a guy with chickens. Talk to him
and he'll give you a boiled egg. Bring it back to her, and she'll feel so
alive again!
Experience: 1,000
A CAPTIVATING HOUSE (MIWAKU NO IE)
Setting: Yoshioka Dojo - Mid-day
*After setting out for the Rendai Fields
*After clearing "The Egg 1 (Tamago ichi)"
There's an old man on the north side of the street at the Yoshioka Dojo area.
Talk to him. It seems a jewel fell of of his amulet--but it's lying right next
to him. So, Kiryuu picks it up and hands it to him. He offers to buy you a
drink--accept with the bottom choice. Choose not to leave with the top choice
over and over, and suddenly, he'll tell you to live the rest of your days at
that place with his daughter, Chiyo, as your wife.
Of course, Kiryuu refuses. Fight the old man. After you beat him, his daughter
asks him to knock off this matchmaking nonsense.
Reward: 10,000 mon Experience: 1,500
THE ORACLE (OTSUGE)
Setting: Countryside Path - Mid-day.
*After setting out for the Rendai Fields
Talk to the man near the rock where the path turns to the north. He tells you
that if you offer a rice cake (o-hagi) to the jizou statues just to the east,
you'll have good luck. You can buy it at the tea house in Yoshioka for 18 mon.
Give it to the statue with the top choice, and you'll hear a mysterious voice.
It tells you to close your eyes--no peeking! Choose the top choice ("yes").
The hagi will be gone.
Go and buy some more and offer it again. This time, it asks if you want to
open your eyes. Say "yes." It's the old man--he runs off. Go to where you
met him and talk to him.
Reward: Amulet Experience: 1,500
THE BENEFITS OF A SWAMP (NUMA NO KOUYOU)
Setting: Countryside Path - Daylight
*After setting out for the Rendai Fields
*After clearing "The Oracle (Otsuge)"
Talk to the guy crouching near the bridge over the creek. As he complains, a
monk suddenly comes and says he has to eat something--he's about to pass out!
He grabs from the nearby manure bucketand eats it. Kiryuu and the man try to
stop him, but to no avail. They tell him what he ate, and he won't believe
them--it didn't smell like that, after all.
Seems the farmer nearby was keeping rice bran and letting it ferment to see if
it could be used as manure. Anyway, they sell it to a merchant and the man
seems to be having good luck now, so he pays Kiryuu 2,500 mon (for...some
reason...?)
Reward: 2,500 mon Experience: 1,000
THE OFFERING TO THE GODS (KAMISAMA HE NO SASAGEMONO)
Setting: Countryside Path - Mid-day
*After setting out for the Rendai Fields
*After obtaining "Secret Sword Wild Bull (Hiken Areushi)"
There's a pattern in the field on in the west. Talk to the country bumpkin
there. He thinks U.F.O.'s must've come by (well, he thinks it's some kind of
god named "Yuuhou").
A man named Shigeichi is watching, and says it's really quite a sight. Kiryuu
asks what this Yuuhou is. It doesn't matter what you comment about it all.
Look in the middle of the design, and press the "confirm" button to investigate,
then answer "yes" (top choice) to pick up a scrap of paper. Bring it back to
the bumpkin and he says it's a message from the gods. "Why haven't you given
us any offerings lately?"
He looks confused...he's given them all he has! What else can he do?
Shigeichi asks why he doesn't just give the gods that cow over there. The
bumpkin won't give up his Hanako! Well...it's up to him, after all.
Come back at night (you'll have to do this in Chapter 10 or later) and you'll
see the bumpkin and Shigeichi standing next to Hanako. The bumpkin just can't
let go of her. Shigeichi tries to convince him. He says that if he's really
not going to do it, then perhaps he should send Shigeichi to offer the cow,
instead. But, he won't hear it--no, no; he's got to do this himself.
Go near the temple with the jizou statues. Approach the two, and light suddenly
comes from the sky and abducts the cow (aliens?!). The man says it's "Lord
Yuuhou" (U.F.O.). He runs off, but Kiryuu stays behind. A man's voice comes
from behind a bush. There's a strange lantern and a bunch of men holding the
cow with ropes. What an elaborate plan--and an anachronistic one, at that (not
that it matters).
Beat them up.
Return and talk to the bumpkin again, and Kiryuuu will notice that everything's
been returned. The man still thinks it's "Lord Yuuhou." Oh well.
Experience: 10,000
THE TASTE OF A RICE BALL (NIGIRIMESHI NO AJI)
Setting: Countryside Path - Daylight
*After setting out for the Rendai Fields
*After clearing "The Benefits of a Swamp (Numa no Kouyou)"
Talk to the man near the stables near the Yoshioka Dojo. Agree to help him
look for his daughter, O-Kiku, with the top choice. He gives you three rice
balls.
You'll find her hanging out with some guys over near the showplace in the
Suburbs. Talk to her. The men keep making fun of her for being a country
bumpkin. Beat them!
She still seems mad that she's just some bumpkin, but, when she tastes the rice
balls, she seems to remember the beauty of it all.
Reward: Goddess Hairpin + Gold-Lacquered Comb Experience: 1,500
Chapter 10
----------
THE MAGIC FLUTE (MA NO FUE)
Setting: Riverside Tea House - Evening, Night
*After Haruka has been kidnapped
Near the teahouse are a man and a woman. They point to you and say you look
strong...should they ask you? Seems someone's been cursing them lately.
There's a komusou (wandering monk) on the bridge nearby (on the Cliffside Path).
His flute enchants people and drives them mad. So, they wonder if you can go
and defeat him? Choose the top choice to accept.
Once you find him, talk to him, and he'll ask you to listen. Choose the top
choice to accept. He asks how it was...choose the bottom choice to tell him
the truth (he stinks). Then, beat him! He's inspired to practice harder.
Go back and report this to the man and woman at the tea house.
Reward: Wizard Stone Experience: 1,000
THE YAMAUBA LEGEND (YAMAUBADENSETSU)
Setting: Cliffside Path - Night
*After Haruka has been kidnaped
*After clearing "The Magic Flute (Ma no fue)"
Near the exit to the Riverside Tea House, there are two guys bothering an old
lady. They call he the "Yamauba." Choose to help her with the top choice.
They leave, but she stay to tell you the legend. Apparently, this is a fierce
monster that takes the form of an old woman. After she leaves, start walking
north and you'll hear a scream. Run forward some more and you'll see the yama-
uba attacking an old man. Beat "her"...it's really a guy wearing a mask. He
apparently has been using the legend to steal money.
Suddenly, the old woman is behind you. "Seems you caught the Yamauba," she
says.
Reward: Mizuchi Stone Experience: 1,000
EXORCISING THE GHOST (BOUREI TAIJI)
Setting: Countryside Path - Night
*After Haruka has been kidnapped
There's a bunch of people assembled at the small hut in the west, in the middle
of the map. Talk to them. Seems there's a ghost at the shrine nearby, and
they want you to accompany that young girl to protect her from the shadows as
she prays for her sickly father. Say "yes" with the top choice.
While she stands at the steps to the temple, a man suddenly appears. He's
wearing Tokugawa armor--is he dead? Her father runs over and says "I won't give
you my daughter!"
But, before anything can happen, Kiryuu appears. Beat the fallen warrior. He's
quite easy.
Her father seems better. He was so worried about her that he just got over it.
Kiryuu then lectures the fallen warrior. He thinks that after the warring
states, warriors have been discarded. Kiryuu tells him there's still much more
for the man to do.
Reward: Tribute from the Village Experience: 1,500
WINGS FLAPPING TOWARDS THE FUTURE (MIRAI HE HABATAKU TSUBASA)
Setting: Gion - Any time of day
*After Haruka has been kidnapped
*DO NOT complete the inventions first, or this mission will not be available
*You MUST meet Gyoutensai at the Cliffside Path at Mid-Day in Chapter 11; you
CAN NOT complete this mission in Chapter 12
Enter Gyoutensai's place (in the upper right-hand corner of the map). He's
arguing with a government official. It seems people want him to stop inventing
stuff. After the man leaves, he asks what you think--wouldn't it be great if
man could fly? Use the top choice to say "That'd be amazing!"
Seems he's making some kind of flying machine.
Of course, you'll need to gather ingredients for his weird recipe.
You'll find the rake at the stables near the center of the Countryside Path.
Bring it to Gyoutensai.
You'll find the Thin Bamboo Stick south of the blacksmith's. Bring it to Gyou-
tensai.
The Japanese-Style Paper you can get either by talking to Shichigorou or by
completing the Favor "Talent (Sainou)." Bring it to Gyoutensai.
He asks Kiryuu to be the test subject. Agree with the bottom choice, and he'll
tell you to meet him in the Cliffside Path. It has to be at mid-day, however.
Talk to Gyoutensai at the southern end of the Cliffside Path. Seems a kid's
dangling off the cliff! Musashi says that Gyoutensai should use his flying
machine, and he says that he needs a lot of wind--so, you'd better go and find
a spot like that around here. Look at the west of the bridge and you'll find
such a spot.
Musashi flies. Well, he glides, but that's neither her nor there. He makes it
in time to save the boy and then glide to safety.
Return to Gyoutensai's place. He talks about the glide and saving the boy, but
is interrupted by the government official. Angry, he tells him that he won't
give up and he can just arrest him if he'd like. But, the official tells him
that he's not there to arrest him that day. He's come to thank him. Seems the
kid Musashi saved was some important person's boy, and he's decided not to
press the matter anymore and let the guy do his work.
Experience: 10,000
THE NOVICE AND THE MASTER FENCER (ANMASHI TO KENGOU)
Setting: Suburbs - Evening, Night
*After Haruka has been kidnapped
*After clearing "The Miraculous Swordsman of Legend (Sugoude kenshi no uwasa)"
On Shijou, in the east, talk to the two men to hear the legend of the miraculous
sworsdman. Then, talk to the men to the west of the Zanki Dojo sitting on the
bench. As you go to leave, someone named Iyasan shows up. He doesn't seem so
impressed about this Gozou guy everyone's so wild about. Suddenly, he and his
cohort come to harrass O-Kei, the woman standing nearby. Suddenly, Iyasan is
thrust up onto the porch they where they were lying. He yells at Gozou, but,
he claims he didn't do anything.
Angry, Iyasan grabs Kei and runs off with her. Somehow, Gozou gets lost in the
commotion, too. Talk to the nearby townspeople and they'll tell you that Iya-
san's place is in Kawara. Head over there.
It's the first house on the south past the bridge. Check it out and you'll
automatically go inside. Men are strewn about the place, defeated. Gozou is
demanding they give him back his woman. Musashi suddenly decides to lend
helping hand. Beat the ruffians. It seems he's been trying to hide his skill
since he was a bandit in the past and wants to leave that behind. So, you say
that you did all of this on your own--which, well, you did do PART of it.
Reward: Kogarasumaru Experience: 1,500
Chapter 11
----------
THE EGG 2: A FINE EGG (TAMAGO NI KOUKYUUHIN NO TAMAGO)
Setting: Yoshioka Dojo - Daylight
*After completing "The Egg 1 (Tamago Ichi)"
Looks like the old woman at the west end of the Yoshioka Dojo area is back.
This time, the guy wants money for it--500 mon. If you answer the first
choice, however, he'll drop the price. You can drop it to 200 mon with the
bottom choice, then tell him to drop it more with the top choice. Choose the
middle choice, 100 mon, and that's as low as he'll go (ya cheapskate!).
Return, and Musashi will note that the old woman is laughing it up and having a
good time with some guy. Approach and talk to her, and she'll suddenly act
sick. Choose the bottom choice to confront her about it.
She tells you that although she did just pretend this time, well, she really
was in pain before, and that egg you gave her really brightened her up.
She acts like she's in pain again, but this time, it seems different. Talk to
her and choose the top choice to give her the egg.
Reward: Ninigi Spirit Ball Experience: 1,500
A MAN'S PRIDE (OTOKO NO HOKORI)
Setting: Forest Path - Mid-day
*After setting out for the Yagyuu village
At the southern end of the Forest Path, bandits seem to be arriving from a
fight. They call to Seizou, one of their friends, who seems to be a little
late.
Looking over their haul, the leader of the group finds an old sword he thinks
is useless. He gives it to Seizou. Seeing you, they attack! Beat them.
After the battle, Kiryuu notices Seizou, hiding behind a tree with his sword.
Seizou recognizes Musashi from the wanted poster and draws his sword, looking
cowardly.
Musashi, on the other hand, recognizes the sword, and tells the man it's a great
weapon. As he leaves, Seizou tests it out, cutting a sign in half with ease.
Then, the tree behind the sign slowly slides and falls, revealing that it had
been cut in half, too. Seizou smiles, suddenly confident.
You'll find him again in front of the Yumejiya on Gion Street. Musashi recog-
nizes them from before. The other bandits are thanking him for treating them,
and note how lucky he's been. He's used the money from their heists to gala-
vant about town, earning the false name "sensei," which all pleasure district
women call their guests. One of his fellows points out that it's nothing to be
proud of; once he leaves Gion, he'll just become another useless thug again.
Suddenly, he feels like he should become a famous swordsman, by defeating Miya-
moto Musashi and collecting the bounty, striking Musashi down in the mountain
path. But, he hints that he will only do it at mid-day because he's afraid of
the dark.
Way down near that little hut you met with the mysterious monk all those chap-
ters ago, you'll see Seizou. He rushes towards you to fight. Musashi just
walks towards him, not even drawing his sword. Musashi tells him that it was
something for this man to really be proud of that he didn't simply attack him.
Seizou gets upset and calls Musashi dishonorable for not drawing his sword,
but, Musashi says he didn't draw his sword just to test the guy. Finally, he
does, slashing quickly. He says the duel is already over, and leaves. Seizou
yells at him, trying to get him to come back, but he doesn't return. Suddenly,
the tree behind Seizou starts to fall, and he runs to evade, but, his sash also
falls. he's left there, in his fundoshi.
Is that the guy from Tasogare Seibei? It kinda looked like him.
Reward: 10,000
THE NEWBORN (AKAGO)
Setting: Riverside Teahouse - Mid-day
*After setting out for the Yagyuu Village
You'll find a baby near the little hit to the west of the teahouse. Some punks
show up asking for money. They suddenly notice the baby, and get irritated,
and leave.
A woman shows up, also mistaking you for the baby's father. When you deny it,
she says that some lady left the baby there, but she's not sure if it was the
mother, or what. She's very worried about the baby, so, she'll take care of
the babe, she wonders if you could look for the babe's mother? Say "yes" with
the top choice.
Talk to the old man at the southern end of the Riverside Path. He's calling for
help--seems a woman is drowning! Choose the bottom choice to save her. She
confesses she's the babe's mother, and that she abandoned the boy to spare him
the troubles of the indebted world he was born into. The lady sighs, "If only
my debt were gone--!"
So, Kiryuu asks where this loan shark who gave her husband the loans lives.
He's in a house near the blacksmith's, so, go on up there. Kiryuu will auto-
matically knock on the door and talk to the man. They ask for money, but,
either way you answer, they'll just end up fighting you. Beat them.
Talk to the women at the place you found the infant and Musashi will hand the
destroyed contract over to the mother. You can now name the boy. It doesn't
matter what name you give him, tho'.
Reward: Traveler's God's Secret Stone Experience: 1,500
The Final Chapter
-----------------
JUSTICE FOR ALL (SOREZORE NO SEIGI)
Setting: Suburbs - Any time of day
*After completing all other Missions--all bounties, all services, and the other
99 favors, plus after defeating all 50 opponents in the Houzouin tournaments
When Musashi goes after Kuroshima Raiden for the final bounty, Kuroshima warns
him that there's a man named "Amon" going around killing strong people. Musashi
recognizes the name as a very wicked state official, Amon Jounoshin, but Kuro-
shima has no idea--he just knows that his father was killed by this man.
After finishing the bounty, go to the officer's post and he'll congratulate you
and give you your reward, then tell you that he does have one other job for you,
but it can wait until you've rested up. But, once all the other requirements
are fulfilled, the next time you come to see him, he'll mysteriously be gone.
Just as Musashi wonders what's going on, a letter arrives by carrier pigeon,
telling him that if he wants to take this last job, he should come to the Shijou
Bridge in Kawara at night.
Before you do, fill your inventory on high-powered healing items and equip
resurrection amulets. You're in for a rough fight, unless you've already un-
locked the ability to use Heat Moves regardless of your Heat Gauge.
At night, go to the bridge (you will probably have to rest at Kouetsu's to
advance the time of day). Meet the official there, and he'll reveal his true
identity--Amon Jounoshin. He even puts on sunglasses to look more sinister.
Beat him. See the section on the hidden boss for more details.
Reward: Gun Slicer Kanemitsu Experience: 15,000
5a-II. Services
----------------
These are your kakemawari jobs. You get a letter or contract from someone and
fulfill your obligations to get paid.
Chapter 5
---------
THE IMPENETRABLE BARRIER'S DEBT (TEPPEKI NO TSUKE)
Setting: Gion - Any time of day.
At Kamemachi Street, near the back entrance to the Tsuruya, you'll see a bunch
of kakemawari lying on the ground. Seems they can't defeat a guy named
Kumanosuke ("kuma" means "bear;" "nosuke" is a common ending for personal names)
and get the debt he owes. They'll give you work papers to beat the guy up.
Seems he's at the sushiya, Gin. Go there and he'll challenge you. If you beat
him up, he'll pay. Choose the top choice to accept the challenge, and beat him.
After he gives the money he has to pay his debts, he promises Kiryuu that he
will definitely pay them back--under threat of another beating.
Reward: 10,000 mon Experience: 1,000
THE MAN WHO WOULDN'T MOVE (UGOKANU OTOKO)
Setting: Gion - Any time of day.
*After talking to Yoshino and Itou at the Tsuruya's back entrance.
In front of the Tatsuya, you'll get a letter by carrier pigeon. It explains
that in a shop to the east of the gate (on Monmae Street) called Chidoriya is
being troubled by some guy who blocks the entrance and won't leave. Kiryuu asks
the guy to leave, but, he won't. It seems he won't leave until Himesuzume, a
girl at the Chidoriya brothel, realizes he loves her. So, he fights Kiryuu, but
loses, saying he's been there for three days and three nights without food or
drink. Himesuzume is there to cheer him on after he loses, so he fights again.
Beat him again. Kiryuu tells the man to gather money--not love. In this town,
you have to pay for things. The owner comes and thanks you, accompanied by
Himesuzume--who turns out to be still a kamuro (a 7-8 year old apprentice).
Creepy.
Reward: 10,000 mon Experience: 1,500
STORAGE LOCKER INSTRUCTIONS (AZUKARISHO SHINAN)
Setting: Gion - Any time of day.
*After learning about Kouetsu from Itou.
Talk to the man standing in front of the storage lockers. Seems he lost his
key--a cat apparently carried it off (why that would happen, I just could never
tell you--did he dip it in tuna or something?). He'll give you a work order to
get the key back and you can keep the item in the locker. Ask around, and you
can find out that the silly thing took it to the Suiten Inari well area. It's
left it on a roof in the northeast corner. Bring it back and the guy will let
you keep it--there's a book in there that he was gonna give to a yuujo, but, he
doesn't need it anymore
NOTE: You MUST finish this mission to ativate the storage keys strewn about the
various maps!
Reward: Storage Key I-2 Experience: 1,000
CHASING AWAY THE DOG (INUHARAI)
Setting: Gion - Any time of day.
*After learning about Kouetsu from Itou
*After completing Service "The Man Who Wouldn't Move (Ugokanu otoko)"
In front of the Tatsuya, you'll get a letter from a carrier pigeon. Read it.
Apparently, some guy's got a dog sitting on his perfume bag (aw). But, he's
afraid of dogs and can't get the danged thing to move. Go to the gambling
house and the guy will point the mutt out to you. Kiryuu thinks the dog don't
look so tough and decides to give him food. Bring two food items--any food
item will do; none will work. After you try twice, the dog's owner comes and
calls him away. Yosuke (the guy who wrote the letter) will pay you, anyway.
Reward: 5,000 mon Experience: 1,500
A CALL FOR HELP (TASUKE WO MOTOMERU KOE)
Setting: Gion - Any time of day.
*After being sent to fight Shishido in the cave.
*After clearing "Chasing Away the Dog (Inuharai)"
At Monmae Street (near the Storage Lockers), you'll get a cryptic letter, cry-
ing for help. It reads something like "Tatsuya...help...Yayoi...killed...Kado-
machi...hurry...." Kiryuu knows that Yayoi is a yuujo...is someone going to
kill her?
So, go to Kadomachi (it's where the pawnshop is). You'll find them just north
of the Inari Shrine. A samurai is with Yayoi...he comes running up to you.
You gotta beat him.
"What're you doing, Tatsuya?!" the man suddenly yells. Turns out, he wrote the
note--he thought Yayoi was gonna kill him.
Jeez.
Reward: 5,000 mon Experience: 1,000
Chapter 6
---------
BODYGUARD FOR EBISUYA (EBISUYA NO YOUJINBOU)
Setting: Gion - Any time of day
*After clearing Service "Storage Locker Instructions (Azukarisho shinan)"
A letter arrives at the Tatsuya in your mailbox. It's from the owner of the
Ebisuya Pawn Shop, asking for your help as a bodyguard. Seems some guy thought
he didn't need his sword, so he pawned it, and now wants it back for free.
After talking with the shop owner, leave the store and he'll point the man out
to you. He runs up and fights you (gee).
He was obnoxious before the fight, but, now he whines even more once he's been
beaten! Seems he was afraid to be forced to commit seppuku, a ritual suicide
where you slice your stomach open...but he didn't even have his sword!
If you choose the top selection, to offer to buy it for him, you'll get 20,000
mon.
Reward: 20,000 mon Experience: 1,500
THE IMPOVERISHED CLIENT IS A GREAT MASTER (BINBOUKYAKU WA DAISENSEI)
Setting: Gion - Any time of day
*After clearing the Service "A Call for Help (Tasuke wo motomeru koe)"
*Be sure to bring at least 5 ryou (50,000 mon)
South from the path leading to the well area and the back entrance to the
Tsuruya, in Kamechou, a coupla young guys are picking on some old guy. Seems he
owes them money. Choose to help him (top choice) then to pay the 5 ryou (top
choice). You'll get a work order--just to separate it from a Favor? He pro-
mises to give you anything you'd like from his house.
So, he takes you to his house, and Kiryuu looks around for something useful.
The old man gives you a Incomprehensible Scroll. Kiryuu thinks he should go
sell the danged thing (hint, hint). Go to the pawn shop, and the guy working
there recognizes it and will pay 10 ryou for it! So, sell it to him (top
choice) and you'll make a 50,000 mon profit.
Reward: 50,000 mon Experience: 1,000
THE TARGETED YUUJO (NERAWARETA YUUJO)
Setting: Gion - Any time of day
*After clearing the service "The Impoverished Client is a Great Master
(Binboukyaku wa daisensei)"
In front of Tatsuya, a carrier pigeon brings you a letter from the ageya, Mochi-
zukiya. Seems someone's threatened to kidnap their yuujo, Shouya.
Mochizukiya is another building you can't normally enter, located in Nakano-
machi, on a north-south street. The owner is outside--talk to him.
They want you to guard her so that the person who wrote her a threatening letter
doesn't come. Kiryuu finds out rather quickly that she wrote the letter, but,
he stays with her anyway. She leaves for a minute, but is stopped--someone
really is harassing her! Beat that guy up!
Kiryuu lies to the master to protect the yuujo. Instead of telling him that
the man is actually there to buy Shouya, he tells him that he was the one who
wrote the letter and was gonna kidnap her.
Reward: 10,000 mon Experience: 1,500
ACTING HEAD CLERK (BANGASHIRA DAIRI)
Setting: Gion - Any time of day.
*After clearing "The Impenetrable Barrier's Debt (Teppeki no tsuke)"
Go to the clerk at Tsurumachi Street (it's the guy standing in front of the
little betting table). He's sick, apparently. It seems he just ate something
bad and will get better soon. But, he asks if you'll take his place as clerk
for the time being. Accept with the bottom choice.
It's your duty to guard the Tsuruya. You have to only let the "good customers"
in.
Let the first guy in with the bottom choice.
Don't let the man with the rough voice in--choose the top choice. Then, fight
him.
Don't let the man with graying hair in--choose the top choice and fight him.
Allow the next two guests to enter (with the bottom choice) but refuse the last
guy (with the top choice). You have to refuse him again (again with the top
choice).
It seems they made a lot of money with you standing guard, so, you get 1 ryou
as a reward.
Reward: 10,000 mon Experience: 1,500
DEBT COLLECTING (SHAKKIN KAISHUU)
Setting: Gion - Any time of day.
*After clearing "Acting Head Clerk (Bangashira dairi)"
The head clerk from Azamiya is hanging around in front of the Tatsuya on the
south side. He asks you to go and collect the 1 ryou Shoukichi owes him. Shou-
kichi lives on Hanami Street in the Suburbs.
He's surrounded by guys looking for a fight. Go to the door of his house and he
argues with Kiryuu. Choose the bottom choice, not to fight him, then the bottom
choice (not to fight him) again. A third time, choose the bottom choice.
The others all start fighting. Walk north a little and you'll spot him, glad to
have started the others fighting while he can escape.
He asks you to look the other way--don't. Choose the bottom choice twice and
fight him. Go back to the Tatsuya and talk to the clerk to get your pay.
Reward: 5,000 mon Experience: 1,500
A MAN ALWAYS MOVES FORWARD (OTOKOTARU MONO MAE NI SUSUMU NOMI)
Setting: Gion - Any time of day.
*After clearing "Debt Collecting (Shakkin kaishuu)"
Huge guys are stuck in the little alley just north of the sakaya. Choose to
help them (the bottom choice) and mash on the "confirm" button to push them out.
You'll need to go to the back side and push them towards the main drag.
Reward: 10,000 mon Experience: 1,000
Chapter 7
---------
THE ACTOR IN THE SHADOWS (KAGE NO TATEYAKUSHA)
Setting: Gion - Mid-day
*After the talk with Haruka
This letter will automatically appear in your mailbox after the Haruka event.
A kamuro named "Kame" has written you saying that her elder at the ageya is
suffering because her best customer hasn't been around lately. It is one of a
kamuro's duties to procure guests for her elders, so, she's going to be the
mediary and write letters to the man--in essence, she's going to be ghost-
writing them.
She'll meet you at the Nakanokura sakaya in Gion. Just entering will make her
show up. Reportedly, you can give her any answer you'd like to advise her in
writing the letters.
After you talk to her, a man will appear, sitting at the steps at the south end
of the Gion Inari Shrine. This guy's obviously the one she's writing to. Talk
to him, and again, it reportedly doesn't matter how you answer him.
Then, return to the Tatsuya, and you'll find another letter from Kame.
Repeat this process three times and you'll get one final letter.
Reward: Woman's Perfum from Edo Experience: 1,500
APPRAISAL (KANTEI)
Setting: Gion - Mid-day
*After the talk with Haruka
*After clearing "The Targeted Yuujo (Nerawareta yuujo)"
This letter will appear automatically in your mailbox after the Haruka event.
The madam at the sakaya in Gion, Nakanokura, wants you to go and collect a debt
for her. Go to Nakanokura to find out who to collect it from.
The guy south of the blacksmith in the Suburbs owes 3 ryou. Go near the house,
and Kiryuu will recognize it. So, enter.
The guy doesn't have any money. He's not really willing to fight, either. He
says as soon as he gets money, he'll pay! Choose the bottom choice not to go
away.
Apparently, this guy deals in ceramics. He has some fine pieces. See all
those glistening things? Grab two of them. The pot is worth 10 ryou and the
hanging scroll worth 2--these are the best, so grab them.
Take them to Kouetsu, and he'll appraise them and buy them. Don't forget to
return and give 10,000 mon to the madam of the sakaya!
Reward: 120,000 mon Experience: 1,500
Chapter 8
---------
O-YOU THE MERCURIAL (IDATEN NO OYOU)
Setting: Gion - Mid-day
Read the letter in the Tatsuya. It seems that one of the girls at the brothel
Kikuya on East Nakatsuji Street is trying to run away. The clerk there asks
you to meet with him there. (It's not a building you can normally enter)
Accept the job with the bottom choice as you talk to him.
Seems her name is O-You. She's incredibly fast and as soon as you leave her
alone, she'll run off. As soon as he catches her, she runs off again. It
seems that someone's come to buy her, but, she ran off again!
She's suddenly there, in the pink kimono. She runs of to the north. You'll
find her again right near the nearby save point. She runs off along the dia-
gonal path to the little path running north from the stairs to the Gion Inari
Shrine. Talk to her again. She'll start running around the block. Talk to
her to stop her, but, she'll call for help. She seizes the opportunity to
suddenly run away from Kiryuu.
You'll find her again, just north of there, on Tsuruya Street, talking with a
man. The guy tells you to buzz off--you tell him that it's he who should be
doin the buzzing off, here (with the bottom choice). Then, beat the guy.
O-You says you're so strong, and well, I guess she's lost and--just kidding!
And then, she darts off. You gotta catch her a second time. She runs around
the block again...but, it's not very hard to catch her.
She'll reveal that at first, she ran away to get away from the brothel. But,
then, she learned to love it (yeah, right--what a great life that must be) and
now, she's running away from the guy who's buying her. Whatever.
Reward: 10,000 mon Experience: 1,500
I HATE YOU, BROTHEL MASTER (URAMARETE, ROUSHUU)
Setting: Gion - Mid-day
*After clearing "The Actor in the Shadows (Kage no tateyakusha)"
Talk to the man in front of the Tatsuya. His master, a brothel master, has
sent him to fetch you--seems he has something very important he'd like to ask
of you. You'll automatically head over there.
Seems he's got some customer who's been running up quite a tab, and the master
has decided to refuse service. He needs you to guard the place.
First, you're assaulted by a ronin. Beat him, and Kiryuu will ask for his pay.
The master says, "Hm? Who said there was just one of them?" (Japanese rarely
uses any plurals, so, without specifically saying how many there were, he could
have just left it ambiguous)
Next, beat the country bumpkin. The same thing will happen.
Finally, beat the group of samurai. Kiryuu calls him an old fox (actually, an
old man tanuki, but...you know)
Reward: 20,000 mon Experience: 10,000
Chapter 9
---------
TRUE RETIREMENT (GOINKYO NO SHOUTAI)
Setting: Suburbs - Any time of day
*After the talk at the Yoshioka Dojo
There are two men talking to the west of your stairs to Gion. They say there's
some really great customer inside Gion now. He really lives it up in there!
There's a worker inside the gate, near the Tatsuya. He asks you for help. He's
complaining about the customer, saying he ran up a big bill and left without
paying.
He's an old man with a lot of people around him. He says he's a great official,
the One Who Draws Water From the Well!
After he leaves, the owners of the brothels are talking. Just who is that guy?
They got duped (somehow). So, they give Musashi a work order to get the money
this cat owes.
You'll find him and his cronies standing to the west of White Snake Udon on
Shijou in the Suburbs. Beat them. His cronies say that they were tricked by
him--please, let them go! The old man gets mad at them. They try to give him
something weird that if people look at it, they'll laugh (I'm not 100% sure
what the joke is there), but Musashi says that's not what he's after and they
give him the money. Go back to Hanbei the clerk on West Nakatsuji Street.
Reward: 10,000 mon Experience: 1,500
THE UNSCRUPULOUS PROCURER (AKUTOKU ZEGEN)
Setting: Gion - Mid-day.
*After setting out for the Rendai Fields
Talk to the worker in front of the Tatsuya. Seems his head clerk has a job for
Kiryuu--won't he come by and talk about it? Kiryuu automatically goes to see
the man.
Looking around, Kiryuu notices head clerks of the other brothels with the man.
"This isn't going to be just any ordinary job, is it?" he asks.
Seems there's some wicked procurer about, catching girls from various villages
and bringing them to Gion to sell, against their will. So, they ask you to
take care of this guy. Accept with the top choice.
He's in the Countryside Path, past those little jizou statues (not too far past
the bridge from the Yoshioka area). Fight him off as he tries to kindap a girl.
So, he tells you to check out the Mountain Path near the Kiyomizu Temple. Be-
fore you go, talk to the girl he was harrassing and send her home to her
parents.
He and his gang will be waiting for you at the little hut you met up with the
Mysterious Monk in an earlier chapter. Beat them!
Oh noez! The evil mastermind behind it all, Minoya brothel's head clerk, shows
up with some guys to take you out. Beat them!
Reward: 50,000 mon Experience: 1,500
Chapter 10
----------
THE TRUE INTENT OF THE FLEEING GUEST (NIGETA KYAKU NO SHIN'I)
Setting: Gion - Mid-day, Night
*After talking with Yoshino at the Tatsuya
Talk to the head clerk standing near the Tatsuya. Seems a customer ran off,
saying "I can't pay!"--or something like that, according to the clerk. He's
sure the guy's over at White Snake Udon in the Suburbs. Go there!
He says he has to go to his house. Is he just making excuses? So, Kiryuu
tells the man to lead him to his house. Kiryuu keeps stopping the man as he
leads him farther and farther away from Gion and asking if they aren't there
yet?
Eventually, on the Cliffside Path, a bunch of ruffians show up. Seems they
wanted to lead him here and jump him. Beat them up!
Reward: 10,000 mon Experience: 1,500
FOOD, PLEASE (MESHI TANOMU)
Setting: Gion - Mid-day, Night
*After talking with Yoshino at the Tatsuya
*After clearing "The True Intent of the Fleeing Guest (Nigeta Kyaku no Shin'i)"
Get the letter in front of the Tatsuya by carrier pigeon or read it in
Kiryuu's mailbox. Seems someone's been locked up inside an ageya for three days
and needs something to eat. It's on Monmae, northwest of the dojo. Go to the
paper door and hit the "confirm" button. He won't tell you why he's there or
anything like that, but, he'll take the food. Bring food there and select it
to give it to him. He barely makes a sound the entire time.
Reward: 2,000 mon Experience: 1,500
GIFTS, PLEASE (ZOUTOUHIN TANOMU)
Setting: Gion - Night
*After talking with Yoshino at the Tatsuya
*After clearing "Food, Please (Meshi tanomu)"
Get the letter by pigeon in front of the Tatsuya or read it in Kiryuu's mailbox.
This time, the same guy as the mission before wants you to bring him a gift for
a woman. Bring any kind of hairpin to the same ageya. This time, there's a
note on the door. "So, Kiryuu, did you bring it? Please give it to the woman
at the entrance to the ageya right across from the dojo."
Suddenly, a yuujo appears and recognizes you. She says "Nice weather, isn't
it?" and hands you a letter. Kiryuu has no idea what's going on, so he looks it
over. It says that this person has always liked the madam of an ageya ever
since he laid eyes upon her The author also begs her to let her become his; to
be with him forever.
Go behind the Gion Inari Shrine (along its east edge) and you'll see a man.
Talk to him. Seems he was talking about a *cat.* That's right--he wanted to
take care of a cat that looked sick and he thought he might take care of for the
rest of his life. Seems he's always loved cats, but, he has trouble expressing
himself, and so everything just looked awkward.
Reward: 10,000 mon Experience: 1,500
5a-III. Bounties
-----------------
Once you talk to the Edo Period investigator (okappiki) at the northwest corner
of the Suburbs, you will be able to check the boards next to his little stand to
see if any rewards are offered to bring criminals in. After checking the board,
the description will give you a hint as to when and where you can apprehend the
guy. Once you fight the criminal, the okappiki will automatically be summoned
and you will get your reward.
Some will be marked "bring back alive," which will need you to deliver the
final blow with your fists (or a kick). You can beat 'em up with weapons, but,
when you're about to actually defeat them, switch to your unarmed style or kick
'em with circle.
Chapter 6
---------
KENZAEMON THE PEERLESS (MUSOU KENZAEMON)
Setting: Suburbs - Any time of day.
He appears on the south side of the street at Higashiyama, at an intersection
near a mahjong parlor.
Reward: 10,000 mon Experience: 1,500
YATA THE FAKE NINJA (NISENIN NO YATA)
Setting: Forest Path - Night.
Reward: 10,000 mon Experience: 1,500
UMEYASU THE GOOD-FOR-NOTHING (NAMAKURA UMEYASU)
Setting: Riverside Path - Daylight.
*After Kouetsu asks you to get him a Kusadango from the Riverside Tea House
*Choose the top choice to fight him. He wants you to fight barehanded.
Reward: 20,000 mon + Tetsugansai Instructions Experience: 1,500
Chapter 7
---------
CANNONBALL UKIMARU (TEPPOUDAMA NO UKIMARU)
Setting: Riverside Path - Night
*After parting with Itou at the gate
Defeat him with non-lethal attack for 20,000 mon.
Reward: 10,000 or 20,000 mon + Extremely Fine Lump of Steel Experience: 1,500
KODACHI HIKOZAEMON
Setting: Forest Path - Mid-day
*After the talk with Haruka
Reward: 10,000 mon Experience: 1,500
UNARMED BRAWLING KINTA (SOTEKENKA NO KINTA)
Setting: Suburbs - Any time of day
*After asking the Madam at the Tsuruya for a seat that night
He's near the Rakugai Shrine.
Defeat him with non-lethal attack for 20,000 mon.
Reward: 10,000 or 20,000 mon + Jewel of the Wild Soul
Experience: 1,500
Chapter 8
---------
MONNOSUKE OF THE SUBURBS (RAKUGAICHOU NO MONNOSUKE)
Setting: Gion - Mid-day
He's in Kamechou Street (the little alley near the back entrance to Tsuruya).
Reward: 10,000 mon Experience: 1,500
SEITAKICHI THE PALANQUIN-KILLER (KAGOGIRI NO SEITAKICHI)
Setting: Gion - Mid-day
He's in Kadomachi.
Reward: 10,000 mon Experience: 1,500
MATSU THE JUDGE (MEKIKI NO MATSU)
Setting: Kawara - Night
NOTE: You can't actually defeat him until Chapter 9
He's near the little path running off to Kouetsu's. Bump into him, and then
call him "Matsu the Judge" (bottom choice)/
Defeat him with non-lethal attack for 20,000 mon.
Reward: 10,000 or 20,000 mon + Star Steel Legend Experience: 1,500
Chapter 9
---------
WEIRD DONBEI (KAHATARE DONBEI)
Setting: Mountain Path - Mid-day
He's standing at the path running off to the waterfall.
Defeat him with a non-lethal attack for 20,000 mon.
Reward: 10,000 or 20,000 mon + Red Lion Hair Experience: 1,500
TATSU OF THE FUTABA CREST (FUTABAMON NO TATSU)
Setting: Suburbs - Night
*After talking with Haruka at the Tsuruya
He's in the western end of Nagaya, but, you have to have a flashing-red life
bar. Don't worry--he's not too tough; just bring healing items. You can lose
your health by eating food for the turtles. You should choose the bottom choice
when he approaches you in the beginning.
Defeat his underlings first, gathering the money they carry, to collect 20,000
mon.
Reward: 10,000 or 20,000 mon + Anger Charm Experience: 1,500
TETSUTO THE ONI-KILLER (ONIGOROSHI NO TETSUTO)
Setting: River Path - Night
*After talking with Haruka at the Tsuruya
He's in the southern part of the River Path. Dressed as a woman....
Reward: 10,000 + White Lion Hair Experience: 1,500
KAIEN THE SINFUL MONK (NAMAGUSABOUZU NO KAIEN)
Setting: Countryside Path - Night
*After setting out for the Rendai Fields
You'll find him in front of the jizou statues to the west of the bridge.
(You won't find him until Chapter 10)
Reward: 10,000 mon Experience: 1,500
FLYING KENZA (TOBASHI NO KENZA)
Setting: Mountain Path - Daylight
*After setting out for the Rendai Fields
Meet him on the Mountain Path at daytime. He says he's not the guy on the
wanted poster. So, go back to the officer eating soup next to the announces and
he'll tell you to look for the guy's mother to prove it. She's in the Country-
side Path, near the little stables and a tree, not too far from the entrance at
the Yoshioka Dojo area. Promise not to use a sword on the guy with the top
choice. You'll automatically return to him. His fellows show up--beat them.
Reward: 10,000 mon Experience: 1,500
Chapter 10
----------
TAKAKANE WITH THE GOLDEN PIPE (OUGONTSUTSU NO TAKAKANE)
Setting: Rendai Fields - Night
*After Haruka has been kidnapped
As you enter the area, Kiryuu remembers that this guy uses a harquebus. He
should be careful. Walk into the area and avoid the attack with X, then beat
him.
Reward: 10,000 mon Experience: 10,000
TOYOKICHI OF THE KUROMON FAMILY (KUROMON ICHIZOKU NO TOYOKICHI)
Setting: Sanjuusangendou - Night
Check the front door to the place, and go in with the top choice. Talk to the
yakuza inside and choose the middle choice, then choose the top choice. Beat
the guys down. After killing a bunch of them, Toyokichi will appear--beat him,
too.
Reward: 10,000 mon + Great King Talisman Experience: 10,000
ARASHIYAMA YUUZAROU
Setting: Gion - Night
Bring sake to him at the Suiten Inari Shrine in Gion. Give it to him with the
top choice.
Reward: 15,000 mon + Oni's Bone Experience: 1,500
KARASUYANO HYOUNOSUKE
Setting: Cliffside Path - Night
*After Haruka has been kidnapped
Upon entering the area, Kiryuu remembers that a tsujigiri lurks these environs.
Talk to the traveler, and as you go to walk away, be ready to hit Triangle to
avoid the coming attack. Then, beat him.
NOTE: The "Haisuimaru" is an enchanted sword needed for the mission "Collecting
the Enchanted Swords (Youtou shuushuu)"
Reward: 10,000 mon + Haisuimaru Experience: 1,500
Chapter 11
----------
NOBITAKA WHO USES THE AIR TO SLICE (KAMAITACHI NO NOBITAKA)
Setting: Cliffside Path - Mid-day
*After setting out for the Yagyuu village
In the north end, talk to the traveler. It doesn't matter what you say to him.
After you walk away, he'll attack you--hit the appropriate button to avoid his
attack and then beat him.
Reward: 10,000 mon + Twin Dragons Cloth Warrior Scroll
The Final Chapter
-----------------
KUROSHIMA RAIDEN
Setting: Forest Path - Dusk.
*After clearing mission "The Mysterious Scrap of Paper (Nazo no kamigire)"
Talk to Majima's underling near the entrance to his cave. Seems some crazy guy
has snuck in there. Go into the cave with the top choice and beat them up.
Seems Kuroshima knows who you are. He mentions Amon, the evil official. He's
not really sure if he is an official, but, there's one thing he can say about
the guy, and that's that he is an incredibly strong murdrer who's mastered all
types of swordplay. He warns you that you're a powerful warrior and this Amon
guy will seek you out.
Reward: 10,000 mon + Classical Text of the Oni God Experience: 15,000
-----------------------------
5b. Extra Skills & Power-Ups
-----------------------------
5b-I. Revelations
------------------
Most new super moves are now learned through revelations. Musashi will be
inspired and write something down on a painting or just a blank piece of paper.
Although he does this even for moves like Komaki's special techniques, here,
I'll list the ones that fit this pattern: you get a picture from someone, you
go to a certain spot, hit commands prompted on the screen during a cinema, and
then you have to say some word of wisdom you've gleened from the event.
Don't worry if you mess up. You can try again and again and again. But, if
you do mess up, you gotta go away from the event for a bit and come back. Just
go in and out of the area--walk into a nearby store or exit, then come back.
That will reset it more quickly than just waiting around for it to happen again.
You need to time the button presses with the prompt on the screen, but you
don't get penalized if you press it before the prompt. So, you can just mash
on the next button, if you know what it is.
If you didn't know, the "Secret Sword" ("Hiken") are for the single-sword
style, the "Combined Kodachi" ("Kumikodachi") are for when you only have a
kodachi equipped, the "Sure-Kill Swords" ("Hissatsuken") are for the dual-wield
style, and the "Strong Sword" ("Gouken") moves are for the greatsword style.
Secret Sword - The Cat Looking Away (Hiken - Yosomineko)
Chapter 5 - Gion, Any Time of Day
Automatically get the picture from the event with Shichigorou.
You'll find the cat in the north part of the Gion Inari Shrine.
During the cinema, hit X.
Then, choose "With its prey behind it...."
Combined Kodachi - Twin Bones (Kumikodachi - Soukotsu)
Chapter 5 - Suburbs, Daylight
At Level 15 or higher, talk to Shichigorou to get the picture.
The dog is at the intersection of Yamato and Ebisu streets.
During the cinema, hit Triangle.
Then, choose "Two are better than one...."
Secret Sword - Dancing Squirrel (Hiken - Mainezumi)
Chapter 5 - Forest Path, Daylight
After obtaining Secret Sword - The Cat Looking Away, talk to Shichigorou for
the picture.
The flying squirrel is on the Forest Path.
During the cinema, hit X, then Triangle.
Choose "Paying attention to a flying thing, ...."
True Two-Swords Dance (Shin Nitou no Mai)
Chapter 5 - Gion, Daylight
Clear Favor "Water From the Ladle 1 (Hishaku no mizu ichi)" for the picture.
The dancing yuujo is at the rear entrance to the Tsuruya.
During the cinema, hit Triangle, then Square, then Circle.
Choose "There's no room...."
Sure-Kill Swords - Dancing Cat (Hissatsuken - Odorineko)
Chapter 5 - Kiyomizu Temple, Daylight
After the greatsword style training, at Level 18 or higher, talk to Shichi-
gorou to get the picture.
There's a cat at the north end of the temple.
During the cinema, hit Triangle, Triangle.
Choose "He uses the rock to jump...."
Strong Sword - Monkey Flip (Gouken - Sarugaeshi)
Chapter 5 - Suburbs, Daylight
After the greatsword style training, at Level 17 or higher, talk to Shichi-
gorou to get the picture.
You have to watch the monkey at the showplace on Yamato. To get the bill for
that particular show, order a few times at White Snake Udon until the master
gives you the bill.
During the show, hit X, Triangle.
Choose "Even such a small monkey...."
Sure-Kill Swords - Heroic Two (Hissatsuken - Gousou)
Chapter 5 - Farmland Path, Mid-day (find the animal in Chapter 9)
After defeating Majima, talk to Shichigorou to get the picture.
You'll find the bull in the Farmland Path (from Chapter 9 on).
During the cinema, hit X, Triangle.
Choose "Becaue of his horns...."
Combined Kodachi - Illusory Wolf (Kumikodachi - Genrou)
Chapter 5 - Cliffside Path, Night (find the animal in Chapter 9)
At level 30 or higher, talk to Shichigorou for the picture.
You'll find the wolf in the cliffside path at night (easiest to find him while
running to the Sanjuusangendou to save Denshichirou)
During the cinema, hit X, X, X, X, X, X, X, X.
Choose "Such skillful movements...."
Secret Sword - Ascending Fish (Hiken - Tenshougyo)
Chapter 6 - Riverside Path, Daylight
Talk to Shichigorou for the picture.
Talk to the fisherman south of the division in the Riverside Path.
During the cinema, hit Triangle
Choose "It's not just the shining scales...."
Secret Sword - Dancing Swallow (Hiken - Tsubame Maizashi)
Chapter 6 - Kawara, Daylight
Talk to Shichigorou to get the picture.
Stand in the middle of the bridge near the girl who's watching the swallow and
hit the "Confirm" button as you are prompted. You have a very short window
for this. You may want to stand more to the southern end, near the other two
kids--that works better for me--and then just mash on the "confirm" button
until it works.
During the cinema, hit Square, Triangle, X.
Choose "Going around and around in the air...."
Strong Sword - Fine Spinning Machine (Gouken - Kikou Mawashi)
Chapter 6 - Gion, any time of day
Talk to the man in Ebisu Pawn Shop and buy the clock blueprints for 2,000 mon.
Take the blueprints to Gyoutensai.
During the cinema, hit Circle, Triangle, X, Square, Circle.
Choose "Using various powers...."
Secret Sword - Ensnaring Kite Slashes (Hiken - Maki Tonbigiri)
Chapter 7 - Mountain Path, Mid-day
Talk to Shichigorou for the painting.
Talk to the man near the bridge berfore the waterfall.
During the cinema, hit Circle, Triangle.
Choose "Circling around...."
Secret Sword - Soundless Snake (Hiken - Otonashi no Hebi)
Chapter 7 - Forest Path, Night
Talk to Shichigorou to get the painting.
Find the snake on the Forest Path at night.
During the cinema, hit Triangle, Circle.
Choose "Just when it lets its guard down..."
Sure-Kill Swords - Orochi Whirlpool (Hissatsuken - Orochi Uzu)
Chapter 7 - Suburbs, Daylight
Complete mission "Homework From the Terakoya - The Essay (Terakoya no shuku-
dai ~sakubun~)" to receive the Yamato Orochi picture.
At the east end of Shijou, on the north side of the street, go to the story-
teller entertaining children and talk to them.
During the cinema, hit X, Triangle, Circle, Triangle, X, Square
Choose "Orochi's violent...."
Combined Kodachi - Tomoe Catch (Kumikodachi - Tomoegari)
Chapter 7 - Riverside Tea House, Mid-day
Talk to the man on the bench at the Riverside Tea House to get the picture.
Hit the "Confirm" button near the fighting kids at the Riverside Tea House.
During the cinema, hit Triangle
Choose "Even if it was unintentional...."
(A "tomoe" is the shape of a comma; like a semi-circle. The "tomoenage" is a
throw in judo, which looks a lot like the one in this move)
Sure-Kill Swords - Enmyou (Hissatsuken - Enmyou)
Chapter 9 - Suburbs, Daylight.
Clear the mission "Divorce Temple (Engiriji)."
Take the picture to the western end of Ebisu, talk to the kid trying to
attract the dog's attention.
During the cinema, hit Circle, Triangle, Square, X, Circle.
Choose "Unmovable in that circle...."
("Enmyou" means "attaining enlightenment with the perfect mind," which is
called "smooth," or "round," or "a perfect sphere.")
Strong Sword - Making Flies Cry (Gouken - Hae Nakase)
Chapter 9 - Yoshioka Dojo, Mid-Day
After clearing "The Famous Doctor of the Town 2 (Machi no meii ni)"
Investigate the man on the bench, swatting flies away.
Choose "The ultra-fast flies...."
Secret Sword - Wild Bull (Hiken - Areushi)
Chapter 9 - Countryside, Daylight
After obtaining "Sure-Kill Swords - Heroic Two," talk to Shichigorou to get
the painting.
In the Countryside, approach the farmer near the bull.
During the cinema, hit Triangle, Triangle, Triangle
Choose "Charging its power...."
5b-II. Gion Mute Doujou Training
---------------------------------
Once you get back to the "present day" (1605) from all the backstory chapters,
you can start training at the dojo in the southeast corner of Gion. He asks if
you want to become his pupil. The first choice is to accept simply, but the
bottom choice is to test his skill first, then make your choice. Either way,
you get into the dojo, but if you test him, he'll fight you. Whether you win or
lose actually has no significance.
"Mute" means literally "no hands," perhaps referencing the empty-handedness of
the style or alluding to a situation where the opponent has no strategic move
they can make to defeat you ("no [winning] play").
It seems that he only offers the different trainings depending on what chapter
of the main story you are in, on what level you are, and on how many fights you
have won.
The last two choices are "Talk about the world" and "Leave without training."
Once you've finished a certain training, he says "That's enough for today."
You don't need to wait a whole day; you can jut walk out and come back in (makes
you wonder why they didn't just let you select the next training).
The last technique you learn from Komaki will be from a special event. I've
listed it last. After you've learned everything, you can fight Komaki in the
Houzouin tournaments.
I want to throw with more force 1 (Tsuyoku nagetobashitai sono ichi)
- Chapter 5, Level 10+
- Defeat Komaki's pupils using only throws.
Power: Gion Mute Style Throw Strength 1 (Gion Muteryuu - Nage no Gouriki sono
ichi) (Increases ability to throw heavy opponents)
I want to recover when I am knocked down (Taoreru koto wo kaihishitai)
- Chapter 5, 10 or more random fights
- When you are knocked down by Komaki, rapidly hit X to recover 5 times
Technique: Gion Mute Style Catflip (Gion Muteryuu Nekogaeshi)
Gion Mute-Style powerful technique exam 1 (Gion muteryuu denshu shinsa ono ichi)
- Chapter 6, Level 20+
- Defeat 3 of Komaki's students
Technique: Gion Mute Style Swordless Catch (Gion Muteryuu Mutou Tori)
I want to counterattack when grappled (Tsukamareta joutai kara hangeki ni ten-
jitai)
- Chapter 6, 20 or more random fights
- Hit Circle repeatedly when grappled 10 times
Technique: Gion Mute Style Breaking Throw (Gion Muteryuu Tokinage)
Gion Mute-Style powerful technique exam 2 (Gion muteryuu denshu shinsa sono ni)
- Chapter 7
- Defeat 5 of Komaki's students
Technique: Gion Mute Style Bowl Smasher (Gion Mute Ryuu Hachikuzushi)
I want to throw with more force 2 (Tsuyoku nagetobashitai sono ni)
- Chapter 7, Level 30+
- Defeat 6 of Komaki's pupils using only throws.
Power: Gion Mute Style Throw Strength 2 (Gion Muteryuu - Nage no Gouriki sono
ni) (Increases ability to throw heavy opponents)
I want to counterattack when knocked down (Taoresou na tokoro kara hangeki ni
tenjitai)
- Chapter 8
- Hit Triangle when knocked down to strike Komaki 10 times
Technique: Gion Mute Style Surviving Fist In Death (Shichuukatsuken)
Gion Mute-Style powerful technique exam 3 (Gion muteryuu denshu shinsa sono san)
- Chapter 9
- Defeat 7 of Komaki's pupils.
Technique: Gion Mute Style Mute Reversal (Gion Muteryuu Mutegaeshi)
Isn't there some heavy-hitting technique? (Kyouryoku na atemiwaza wa nai no ka?)
- Chapter 10
- Hold Triangle and release, landing the attack 5 times
Technique: Gion Mute Style Purgatory Palm (Gion Muteryuu Rengokushou)
Gion Mute-Style powerful technique exam 4 (Gion muteryuu denshu shinsa sono san)
- Chapter 11
- Defeat 10 of Komaki's students.
Technique: Gion Mute Style Harquebus Muffler (Gion Muteryuu Hinawafuuji)
Komaki's Revenge
Once you have learned all techniques from both Komaki and Shibusawa, talk to
Komaki about the world. Tell him you know where Shibusawa is and that he has a
dojo in the Suburbs. Tell him he's a swordsman and both dojos will close down.
In chapter 12, talk to the pupils outside the Zankiryuu Dojo. Go to the San-
juusangendou to learn the technique.
Technique: Gion Mute Style Swordless Spinning Death (Gion Muteryuu Mutou
Tensatsu)
5b-III. Zanki Doujou Training
------------------------------
Shibusawa's dojo is fairly straightforward. After chapter 6, where they intro-
duce him to you, you can go there and just buy every training you'd like. For
the last three, you'll have to choose the last option and donate a certain
amount of money to the old guy. Just like with Komaki's training, after you
learn a technique, you'll need to walk out and then come back in to learn the
next (for some reason).
"Zanki" has two meanings. The characters used for most of the techniques,
for the style's name, and for Shibusawa Zankisai's personal name all mean to
feel regret when looking back on one's actions. "Zanki" can also mean "Oni-
Killing."
Zanki Style Boulder-Splitting Sword (Zankiryuu Zanganken)
Cost: 0 mon
In single-sword style, lock on with R1 and press towards the opponent and
Triangle. Land this attack 5 times.
Zanki Style Regretful Fighter's Discipline (Zankiryuu Munenbou no Kokoroe)
Cost: 3,000 mon
Once your guard is broken, re-guard with R1 to successfully block 10 more
attacks.
Zanki Style Dashing Slice (Zankiryuu Shissouzan)
Cost: 5,300 mon
Land a Triangle attack while running 5 times.
Zanki Style Cyclone Sword (Zankiryuu Senpuuken)
Cost: 10,500 mon
In single-sword style, lock on with R1 and press away from the opponent and
Triangle. Land this attack 5 times. You may want to try and time it so he's
attacking, so you avoid the attack and then strike before he can guard.
Zanki Style Parrying Slice (Zankiryuu Hajiigiri)
Cost: 25,000 mon
Press L1 right when an opponent's attack is coming towards you from the front
or side to parry them, then press Triangle to slash. Land this 5 times.
Oni-Killing Sword First Dachi (Zankiken Ichi no Dachi)
Cost: (Donate 10,000 mon, then accept challenge)
Defeat 30 opponents.
Oni-Killing Sword Second Dachi (Zankiken Ni no Dachi)
Cost: (Donate 30,000 mon, then accept challenge)
Defeat 50 opponents.
Oni-Killing Sword Third Dachi (Zankiken San no Dachi)
Cost: (Donate 50,000 mon, then accept challenge)
Defeat 100 opponents. The final opponent to appear will be Shibusawa Zankisai
himself. Be careful--he's fairly strong. He gets stuck into doing the Oni-
Killing Sword combination, so if you can, sidetep three times and then hit
him.
5b-IV. Koetsu's Mansion Training
---------------------------------
From Chapter 6 on, you can use two different machines to train yourself at
Kouetsu's mansion. One is the Scarecrow Formations, in which scarecrows pop
up out of the ground and you have to aim for the fastest time to destroy them,
and the other is the Jiraya-Style Training Chamber, which is basically a
mechanical horse (frog) you ride while fake scenery is rolled past you, and
targets appear for you to throw shuriken at. You'll need to get high scores to
pass those.
Each course opens at a different chapter; this is independent of level or
encounters, or anything like that.
SCARECROW FORMATIONS
You're in a square room and there are four holes out of which appear scarecrows.
There are also two lines on the diagonals of the square, separating the room
into four quadrants. From these lines spring spears (which must be avoided).
Some scarecrow will attack you with arrows. Some will be armored and will
need you to hit them a bunch of times. Some spring up at weird moments just
when you were heaing across the room. The idea is to aim for the fastset time.
After you've obtained the item (which usually gives you a skill or technique)
the first time, you can still challenge again, which will give you varying
prizes depending on your time.
It should also be noted to those going after the secret boss or just trying to
complete the Houzouin tournaments that clearing this will make Tokage appear in
the tournaments.
Set One
Beginner Formation (Chapter 6)
Style: Single Sword
Time: 1:40
Prize: "Single-Sword Combination Slash" (increases weak attack string in
single-sword style by one)
Twins Formation (Chapter 7)
Style: Dual Wield
Time: 2:10
Prize: "Dual-Sword Combination Slash" (increases weak attack string in dual-
wield style by one)
Oni Formation (Chapter 7)
Style: Greatsword
Time: 2:00
Prize: "Mowing Slice" (hold Triangle, release in greatsword style)
Ninja Formation (Chapter 7)
Style: Kodachi
Time: 2:00
Prize: "Kodachi Running Stab" (while running, hit Triangle in kodachi style)
(Second choice from the bottom, once Set Two is unlocked: "Set Two")
Set Two
Single Strength Formation (Chapter 9)
Style: Single Sword
Time: 2:30
Prize: "Single-Sword Retribution Slash" (when Swaying, hit Triangle in
single-sword style)
Twin Strengths Formation (Chapter 9)
Style: Dual Wield
Time: 2:35
Prize: "Dual-Sword Combination Slash" Scroll 2 (increases weak attack string
in dual-wield style by one)
Great Strength Formation (Chapter 9)
Style: Greatsword
Time: 2:25
Prize: "Greateset Fighting Spirit" Scroll 1 (increases Heat Gauge)
Suffering Strength Formation (Chapter 9)
Style: Kodachi
Time: 2:55
Prize: "Strong Body Discipline" (makes it hard for enemies to knock Musashi
down in Heat Mode)
(Second-from-the-bottom choice: "Set One," until Set Three is unlocked, then
it becomes "Set Three")
(Bottom choice: "Quit")
Set Three
Pathfinding Formation (Chapter 10)
Style: Single Sword
Time: 2:35
Prize: "Greatest Fighting Spirit" Scroll 2 (increases Heat Gauge)
Twin Heavens Formation (Chapter 10)
Style: Dual Wield
Time: 2:55
Prize: "True Strong Body Discipline" (makes it even harder for enemies to
knock Musashi down in Heat Mode)
Great Extreme Formation (Chapter 10)
Style: Greatsword
Time: 2:35
Prize: "Greatest Fighting Spirit" Scroll 3 (increases Heat Gauge)
Purgatory Formation (Chapter 10)
Style: Kodachi
Time: 2:55
Prize: Famous Knife Masamune
(Second-from-the-bottom choice: "Set One")
(Bottom choice: "Quit")
JIRAIYA-STYLE TRAINING CHAMBER
This is basically a rail shooter. There are different objectives, such as
striking certain targets twice, shooting Fox Women while avoiding normal women--
things like that. The more you shoot without missing, the faster things go.
Get a good time and you'll get bonus targets which are worth a bunch of points.
For clearing each the first time, you'll get a dachi. These are famous swords
from Japanese history. You don't actually "power up" here; there are no skills
gained nor statistics increased. However, you do need to complete this in order
to get In'ei to show up in the Houzouin tournaments, and it's just too weird to
split the two side games at Kouetsu's into different categories in this FAQ, so
rather than putting this in the side games section, I'll list it here.
For anyone who was wondering, Jiraiya is a ninja/bandit/Robin-Hood-esque
character who appeared in Japanese popular fiction of the Edo Period. He used
"frog magic" and appeared in kabuki plays and such, often with sophisticated
special effects involving great frogs. Apparently, this came from a bandit
character in Chinese books who used to write "Ngo lai jaa" or "Wo lai ye"
("Garaiya" in Japanese reading of the characters), a phrase which means "I have
come here," or something like that, in classical Chinese. This is similar to
Zorro slashing a "Z" all the time. "Jiraiya" uses "ji" instead of "wo," which
means "self," or "child" (depending on which character they use), but that's
neither here nor there because the characters were just used to mimic this
popular Chinese story and the meaning of the characters isn't too important.
Of all the side games you have to endure to fully power Kiryuu up and to make
all the opponents appear in the Houzouin so tha you can face the final boss,
this and the horseback archery are the most frustrating. You have to score
amazingly high in both games. For some reason, it seems that the Wind Chamber
is a "sticking point;" once you get past it, the other two aren't as hard.
For most of the chambers, you'll need to collect the 2,000 point reward for
the gold, round "Kouetsu" target. This is offered when you have reached
certain points in the chamber quickly. How do you do that? Well, you have to
take out targets quickly and accurately. There are 5 levels of speed, and you
go up one level for every three consecutive hits you score. You go down one
level every time you miss.
There are also bonuses for shooting targets quickly--while they are still
popping up--and for clearing the chambers quickly. However, there is one bonus
that is simply a necessity and you will definitely need to start scoring it in
the Wind Chamber or you'll simply fail. That is the art of striking two targets
with one shot.
When a target passes behind another target, your shuriken will actualy strike
both--even if you didn't break the targets, because they required more than one
shot. LEARNING THIS IS A NECESSITY! You reap 500 points for every time you
can do this, and you'll probably end up doing it 15 or more times in the Wind
Chamber. That makes a big difference, as if you simply shot accurately and
swiftly without waiting for targets to cover each other, you'd only be able to
make about 21,000 or so, and you need 26,000 to pass.
This technique is so important, actually, that for the final chamber, I'd
suggest that you don't worry about getting the Kouetsu target to appear at all.
Whenever the speed level goes over one or two, point the cursor somewhere and
fire shots into the air, missing one or two so that it slows back down to one.
It's definitely possible to reap enough of a reward from the bonus for hitting
two targets at once to clear the final stage with the speed level at one.
There are several different targets. The standard target, a red one (which is
worth a little more than the normal one), boars, which take two hits to destroy,
bears, which take three hits two destroy, crows, of which there are different
sorts, and fox ladies (because of the Japanese legends of foxes turning into
people to deceive humans). The bears and fox ladies? They're there to confuse
you. Destroy the bears and foxes, leave the hunters and normal women alone!
Basically, I guess you should just hate nature?
First Chamber - Chapter 6
Clear score: 6,000
Reward: Juzumaru
Earth Chamber - Chapter 8
Clear score: 14,000
Reward: Mikazuki Munechika
Water Chamber - Chapter 9
Clear score: 17,000
Reward: Onimaru Kunitsuna
Fire Chamber - Chapter 10
Clear score: 16,000
Reward: Doujigiri Yasutsuna
Wind Chamber - Chapter 10
Clear score: 26,000
Reward: Ootenta
Emptiness Chamber - Chapter 11
Clear score: 26,000
Reward: Muramasa
Ultimate Chamber - Chapter 11
Clear score: 54,000
Reward: Masamune
5b-V. Waterfall Training
-------------------------
You've probably seen the waterfall at the end of the little path running off
from the Forest Path area. For the first part of the game, there's nothing so
special about it, but from Chapter 6 on, once Musashi starts looking to polish
up his skills before going to the Yoshioka Dojo, you can go there for a special
kind of training.
Apparently, this is the "Waterfall of the Eternal Dream." There's a nun
there named Sazanami who will explain this to you. "Sazanami" means "ripples,"
and it should be noted that there is a metaphor in Buddhist teachings to our
minds being like pools of water and all the karma and influences of the outside
world and our chattering brains and lusts all create ripples that must be
extinguished.
There is a spirit haunting this waterfall, and whoever sits in it in medi-
tation is subject to this spirit's effects. This spirit will call to Musashi's
lusts--the things he is clinging to in this world--and he'll have to endure
them while focusing.
Basically, it's a rhythm game. Hit the notes as they come to the little pink
circle at the right timing, and keep your meter up above the bar. Sometimes,
you will need to shake the controller by twisting it back and forth quickly to
escape certain scenes. You'll be prompted to do so (hooray, six axis?)
If you succeed, you'll see the infinite sky and a little picture of Buddha.
If you fail, you'll fall out of the waterfall.
It may seem like you're not really doing much, but, you'll get special abil-
ities this way, so, it's worth checking out. For those of you trying to get to
the secret boss or just to complete things, Kaei will not appear in the Houzouin
tournaments until you have cleared all waterfall training.
Lust: Pleasant Feeling from Beating the Stick (Bonnou - Kaikan Bouuchi)
(Chapter 6)
Reward: Red Pride (Akai no Kigurai)
When your health is low and flashing red, Heat will gradually, automatically
refill.
Lust: Stifling the Burst of Light (Bonnou - Totsushou Sokubaku)
(Chapter 6)
(After clearing Lust: Pleasant Feeling from Beating the Stick)
Reward: White Pride (Shiroi no Kigurai)
Increases the amount of Heat generated by the Zanshin technique.
Lust: Lips of Innocent Love (Bonnou - Seijunren Kuchibiru)
(Chapter 7)
(After clearing Lust: Stifling the Burst of Light)
Reward: Black Pride (Kuroi no Kigurai)
Guarding attacks will now increase your Heat Gauge.
Lust: Striding through Dreamland (Bonnou - Yumeji Kaikyaku)
(Chapter 8)
(After clearing Lust: Lips of Innocent Love)
Reward: Blue Pride (Aoi no Kigurai)
When in Heat Mode, you cannot die. In other words, if in Heat and your health
runs out, when your Heat runs out, you die.
Lust: A Lake of Drink, a Forest of Food (Bonnou - Shuchi Nikurin)
(Chapter 9)
(After clearing Lust: Striding through Dreamland)
Reward: Yellow Pride (Ki no Kigurai)
R2 can be held down to charge Heat Energy.
5b-VI. Melon Cutting
---------------------
After first meeting En no Kozuma, the Japanese ascetic monk (gyouja) at the
Houzouin, you can find him at the north end of the Riverside Path.
He pitches watermelons, iron balls, sake bottles, and kusudama (balls with
confetti inside) at you. This is much like the baseball skill games in the
other titles, except that it's quite a piece easier. There are more targets,
you're basically given a score instead of just "homerun (the perfect hit)," so
you don't have to be perfect (except for with the iron balls), and there's no
need to complete any one set with 100% perfect hits like there was in the first
game.
There are three kinds of hits: "passable," "good," and "great." You'll want
to get "great" most often (of course). You can slash more than once if you
miss and try to hit again; it won't matter so long as the target doesn't end up
passing you altogether. Your meter increases depending on what kind of hit and
upon what kind of target you hit, and decreases when you miss one. Keep it
above the line and you'll pass.
The watermelons are your basic fare, but they're also worth the least. The
sake bottles will fly straight towards Kiryuu and make you dizzy--you'll have to
quickly rotate the controller back and forth (six-axis-style) to recover. The
iron balls are worth more than melons, but you'll need to hit them with a
"great" slash. If you hit them with a "good" or "passable" hit, they won't
break and they'll count as a "miss." The kusudama are worth the most, so be
sure and hit them perfectly! Even if you hit them with a "passable" hit, they
seem to generate as much as hitting a watermelon with a "great" one.
What's the point? Well, if you clear each one, you'll learn a Heat Move that
you can use against boss-like enemies when you get their health bar down to a
certain point. When you get them down low enough, there will be a sudden, short
cinema of Kiryuu powering up. If you're not yet in Heat Mode, it will prompt
you to rapidly press R2 until you charge up to that state. You only have a
certain amount of time to do it, but, it's not hard. Once you are in Heat Mode,
hit Triangle while you're prompted to do so and you'll initiate the attack. If
you don't time it right, you'll miss the opportunity.
Also, Inshun will not appear in the Houzouin Tournaments until you have com-
pleted all melon cutting training.
Hot-Blooded Foundation Forging (Nekketsu Kiso Tanren)
(Chapter 9)
Reward: Secret Powerful Sword: One Wave (Hiougiken - Hitonagare)
Hot-Blooded Practical Forging (Nekketsu Ouyou Tanren)
(Chapter 9)
(After clearing Hot-Blooded Foundation Forging)
Reward: Secret Powerful Sword: Powerful Severing (Hiougiken - Goudan)
Hot-Blooded Development Forging (Nekketsu Hetten Tanren)
(Chapter 10)
(After clearing Hot-Blooded Practical Forging)
Reward: Secret Powerful Sword: Two Heavens (Hiougiken - Niten)
Hot-Blooded Special Training "Boar" Scroll (Nekketsu Tokkun "Inoshishi" no Maki)
(Chapter 8, at Houzouin)
Reward: Secret Powerful Sword: Pulverizing the Dry Leaf (Hiougiken - Koyou
Mijin)
Hot-Blooded Special Training "Snake" Scroll (Nekketsu Tokkun "Hebi" no Maki)
(Chapter 10, after Haruka is Kidnapped)
Reward: Secret Powerful Sword: Snare-Breaking Slash (Hiougiken - Bakukaizan)
Hot-Blooded Special Training "Asura" Scroll (Nekketsu Tokkun "Ashura" no Maki)
(The Final Chapter, after completing all other Hot-Blooded training)
Reward: Secret Powerful Sword: Swallow Drop (Hiougiken - Tsubameotoshi)
5b-VII. Fighting the Man in the Tengu Mask
-------------------------------------------
From Chapter 10 on (after you get free from running that old man around), a man
appears in the Sanjuusangendou. He's a wandering merchant, but, he's not doing
so hot. Every time you talk to him, he'll be selling one item--and it's usually
one you can find just by getting in battles and what-not about. But, he's
selling each of them for 20,000 mon! Strangely, after you buy the item he's
selling, you have to leave the area and come back to buy something else.
The first item he's selling is a Small Tengu Mask. Take it outside and you'll
get a message from a carrier pigeon. The author is unknown, but it tells you to
come at dusk to the Rendai Fields with that mask you just bought.
At the Rendai Fields, you'll meet a strange samurai, dancing around and acting
eccentric, spouting jocular dialogue and laughing aloud for very little reason.
Those who completed the mission "The Dual-Wield Style Man (Nitouryuu no otoko)"
will recognize that bizarre dance. Kiryuu at once thinks the man is Ueda. He
was, after all, last seen at these fields, wearing similar clothes, with similar
hairstyle. The man denies knowing any "Ueda," but, he says that he sure does
know you--Miyamoto Musashi, famous warrior of the Sekigahara!
He tells you that the mask was once his. So, return it to him with the bottom
choice. He tells you he'll give you something in return--but it's pretty dan-
gerous. You might die. Do you wanna go ahead with it? Choose the bottom
choice twice to say "yes." Suddenly, Kiryuu feels like a light bulb has turned
on in his head and he has learned a technique from the man simply staring at
him. The price, however, is that he must now duel the man before he can leave.
Oddly, the man uses the dual-wield style. In fact, his moves are pretty much
the same as Kiryuu's in that style (plus a few additions when you fight him
later)! I should note that you can only fight him using the dual-wield style,
and that he is a pretty tough cookie, so, be ready for a fight.
After you beat him, he just suddenly isn't there. Kiryuu is confused, but, he
can hear the man's voice, telling him he's done well and he'll give him back the
mask now. You do get the masks back.
So, keep going down to the seller and buying things until he sells you a mask.
The game has a set list of things he sells in a certain order, and when he's
ready to sell you a mask and it's too early in the game, he'll just vanish. If
this happens, don't worry; just advance the story and come back again in the
next chapter.
When you get the Great Tengu Mask, Musashi asks the masked man who, exactly,
he is. He says it's a difficult question to answer, and then says that he is
more interested in the souls each mask has than the actual masks. Once he has
the mask, he takes on a completely different persona, ceasing his joking and
becoming rather stern. When Musashi defeats him, he again gives back the mask
(which is now sans soul, apparently). "In the end," muses Musashi, "I never
found out exactly who he was."
Small Tengu Mask (Chapter 10)
Reward: Two-Swords Side-Rolling Slash (Nitou Sokutenzan)
During a sideways roll, hit Triangle.
When fighting the man in the tengu mask, just keep your guard up. He likes to
use the Tengu Ashi and cancel his attack strings with rolls and flips. Be-
ware; he has all the two-sword style moves, including the Nitou Shunzan move,
which is a reversal, so don't just throw attacks out at him willy-nilly.
Raven Tengu Mask (Chapter 10)
Reward: Two Swords Yin and Yang Slash (Nitou Onmyouzan)
Press L1 just as an attack is coming towards you, then follow with Triangle.
This time, the man in the tengu mask uses smoke bombs that generate a bunch of
clones with weak life bars. Unfortunately, they're all just as strong as he
is. If it gets too obnoxious, try and keep one of them alive, as he will only
summon a group of them after they are all dead.
Tengu Mask (Chapter 11)
Reward: Two Swords Instant Slash (Nitou Shunzan)
While locked on, hit Triangle as an enemy's attack is coming towards you.
This battle is slightly easier. The smoke bomb technique only makes him
teleport; just roll or guard as you can block attacks from all angles in the
dual-wield style.
Great Tengu Mask (Final Chapter)
Reward: Secret Technique - Tengu Step (Higi - Tengu Ashi)
During all weak attack strings, hit X (+ direction) to cancel into a Sway
sidestep (it costs Heat Energy, though).
This is definitely the hardest fight against this guy. He has a long life bar
and the ability to use the smoke bomb techniques from before. It's very
frustrating to fight what amounts to a whole bunch of this opponent at once.
Try to keep one alive, if you can, but beware--the real man in the tengu mask
will use the Shunzan to reverse you often. So, watch his attacks, as he's
very aggressive. When he's about to end a string of weak attacks with a heavy
attack, try and use the Onmyouzan.
Once he gets to aboute half of his final life bar, he gets a red aura about
him and becomes invulnerable. At this point, focus on taking out his clones.
When there are no clones about, he'll initiate an attack that is cinematic.
You are prompted to hit five commands during this, and it seems to always be
Triangle, Square, Triangle, Circle, and then X. Succeed, and Musashi will
roll behind the guy, doing an uppercut-like slash to his back and defeating
him. This is the only way to defeat this opponent.
You'll probably also want to be at least near your maximum level (50) and
carry a bunch of healing items.
5b-VIII. Horseback Archery
---------------------------
From chapter 5 on, there is a man standing near the stables right at the exit to
the Suburbs from the Forest Path during the daytime. Talk to him and he'll let
you practice horseback archery.
Targets will appear on the track. Move the cursor over them with the left
analog stick and fire at them with R1. You can hold R1 down to focus your power
and fire a strong shot. When you see three targets together, that's wha the
charged shot is for. Wait for them to line up and shoot a bullseye, and the
arrow should pass through all three.
There are two types of target: red and blue. The blue are worth more points.
You're scored on where you strike the target--on whether it's a bullseye or not.
If you're feeling frustrated, just keep trying. Even if all your shots aren't
bullseyes, you still get points just for hitting the target, so, try to at least
do that. Here is a breakdown on the scoring:
Red Target - Normal Hit - 10 points
Red Target - Bullseye - 20 points
Green Target - Normal Hit 15 points
Green Target - Bullseye - 25 points
Green Target - Bullseye (Charged Shot) - 40 points
(Note: The "green" targets actually look more blue than green)
You can see that hitting a green target with a charged shot is worth quite a
bit. So, you'd be tempted to hit all green targets with charged bullseyes and
all sets of three red targets with charged bullseyes as they line up (since
that's worth 60 points). That is a necessity, but, you'll realistically also
need to strike all the other targets and bullseye many of them, since you need
to get about 80% of the maximum points to clear each course.
The only other thing to be worried about here is that you have to sometimes
avoid hazards on the track. Pay attention and hit the appropriate buttons when
prompted. Otherwise, Musashi will be stunned and won't be able to fire for a
short while, causing him to miss targets (which is bad).
Why do this? Well, you do get items for completing each course, but you also
get scrolls the first time you clear each one that will increase your Fighting
Spirit Gauge (Heat Gauge). You also must clear these courses to make Ryuuma
Yotarou appear in the Houzouin tournaments.
I do have to warn you players out there that this is one of the two most
frustrating things you will have to do if you want to build Kiryuu up to his
maximum or if you want to face the final boss. The hardest of the courses seems
to be the Advanced Course. I think that's partly due to the fact that when you
first encounter it, you'll still just be getting used to the system.
Course Targets Clear Requirement Scroll
Beginner 30 530/660 points "Greatest Fighting Spirit" Scroll 4
Normal 30 530/660 points "Greatest Fighting Spirit" Scroll 5
Advanced 33 580/720 points "Greatest Fighting Spirit" Scroll 6
Master 40 690/860 points "Greatest Fighting Spirit" Scroll 7
-------------------------
5c. Houzouin Tournaments
-------------------------
From Chapter 9 on, you can participate in tournaments at the Houzouin part of
the Koufuku Temple complex in Nara. It's to the south of the Riverside Tea
Shop.
First, you have to talk to the clerk and register your name. They give you a
brief run-down on how the tournaments work, and then you can talk to him and
participate in a tournament whenever you'd like.
There are twelve tournaments in total. To unlock them, you'll need to ful-
fill certain requirements. They will all have three rounds to them. If you
win, you'll be given some money and a random item. Note that the money and
experience bonuses listed are only for the first completion of each tournament;
after that, the amounts are much lower.
Houzouin Practice Tournament
Chapter: 9
Requirements: (none)
You can choose any fighting style.
Reward: 5,000 mon Experience: 4,500
Items: Spirit Pills, Hariti Amulet, Red Lion Hair
Fight for the Phoenix Rank
Chapter: 9
Requirements: (none)
Single-sword style only.
Reward: 10,000 mon Experience: 5,000
Items: Health Pills, Iron Large Kiseru, Jewel of the Wild Soul, Hazy Steel
Pin-Cushion Hell Tournament
Chapter: 9
Requirements: win Houzouin Practice Tournament and Fight for the Phoenix Rank
twice each.
You can choose any fighting style. Spears come up through holes in the
ground.
Reward: 50,000 mon Experience: 5,500
Items: Health Pills, Jewel of the Peaceful Soul, Forgotten Temple Buddha
Statue Fragment
Extremely Cold Icebound Tournament
Chapter: 9
Requirements: win Pin-Cushion Hell Tournament 3 times
You can choose any fighting style. Icicles fall from the above (watch for
their shadows).
Reward: 30,000 mon Experience: 6,000
Items: Health Pills, Lightening Stone, Thousand-Year Ice Stone, Cut from the
Sacred Tree
Red-Hot Flames Tournament
Chapter: 10
Requirements: win Extremely Cold Icebound Tournament 3 times
You can choose any fighting style. Flames shoot at you from the edges.
Reward: 30,000 mon Experience: 6,500
Items: Strong Health Pills, Spirit Ball from the Futsumita, Anger Charm,
Yoichi's Charm
Backed Against a Cliff Tournament
Chapter: 10
Requirements: win Red-Hot Flames Tournament 3 times
You can choose any fighting style. Participants lose when stepping out of the
ring.
Reward: 50,000 mon Experience: 7,000
Items: The Water God's Stone, Strong Spirit Pills, Lapis Lazuli, White Lion
Hair
Fight for the Fist God Rank
Chapter: 9
Requirements: win Houzouin Practice Tournament 4 times
Unarmed fighting style only.
Reward: 30,000 mon Experience: 7,500
Items: Strong All-Purpose Pills, Temari Stone, Mother of Pearl, Healthy
Sandals
Fight for the Herculean Rank
Chapter: 10
Requirements: win Fight for the Fist God Rank 3 times
Greatsword fighting style only.
Reward: 30,000 mon Experience: 8,000
Items: Adamantine Ore, Extremely Fine Lump of Steel, Ninigi Spirit Ball,
Fruitless Talisman
Fight for the Great Phoenix Rank
Chapter: 10
Requirements: win Fight for the Phoenix Rank 4 times
Single-sword style only.
Reward: 50,000 mon Experience: 8,500
Items: Nameless Kodachi, Japanese Buddhist Mummy's Pedestal, Dragon Sarashi,
Oni's Hair
Fight for the Famous Person Rank
Chapter: 10
Requirements: win Fight for the Herculean Rank and Fight for the Great
Phoenix Rank 3 times each
You can choose any fighting style.
Reward: 50,000 mon Experience: 9,000
Items: Star Steel, Blood-Spattered Sarashi, Giant Clam Shell, Wicked Steel
Fight for the Sword Saint Rank
Chapter: 10
Requirements: win Fight for the Famous Person Rank and Backed Against a Cliff
Tournament 3 times each
You can chose any fighting style.
Reward: 80,000 mon Experience: 9,500
Items: Weak Copper Greatsword, Miraculous Fountain Kodahi, Hazy Steel, Soul-
Stealing Beads
Unrivaled in All the Realms Tournament
Chapter: 11
Requirements: win Fight for the Sword Saint Rank 4 times
You can choose any fighting style, plus there are extra weapons available.
Reward: 100,000 mon Experience: 10,000
Items: Great Tengu Fan, Splendrous Fabric, Secret Stone of the Traveler's
God, Dragon Coat
In order to get "complete" for this section, youll need to encounter and defeat
all 50 opponents who appear in the various tournaments. A few of them have
special requirements you must fulfill in order for them to appear.
Starting from the top left, going left to right, top to bottom, here are the
50 opponents:
1. Kurogawa Hannya
Appears in: Unrivaled
*Fight and defeat all other 49 opponents, plus clear all fights against the
man in the Tengu Mask
2. Komaki Souzaemon
Appears in: Sword Saint, Unrivaled
*Obtain all Gion Mute techniques (including the final one which has its own
special event--see the Gion Mute Training section), then defeat Kisaragi
Shigure in the Unrivaled in All the Realms Tournament
3. Kisaragi Shigure
Appears in: Great Phoenix, Unrivaled
4. Houzouin Inshun
Appears in: Famous, Sword Saint
*Clear all Melon Cutting training
5. Kaei
Appears in: Sword Saint, Unrivaled
*Clear all Waterfall Training
6. Kennosuke the Illusion
Appears in: Flames, Sword Saint, Unrivaled
7. Raidou the Shugenja
Appears in: Flames, Famous, Unrivaled
8. Onigashima
Appears in: Cliff, Fist God, Famous, Unrivaled
9. Tough Old Man
Appears in: Cliff, Great Phoenix, Unrivaled
10. Black Yaksha
Appears in: Flames, Herculean, Sword Saint
11. Tsujikaze
Appears in: Icebound, Great Phoenix, Sword Saint
12. Ooseto Hayato
Appears in: Cliff, Great Phoenix, Famous
13. Tokage
Appears in: Icebound, Famous, Sword Saint
*Clear all Scarecrow Formations training
14. Great Monk Ryuuzen
Appears in: Fist God, Unrivaled
15. Shadow Tengu
Appears in: Great Phoenix, Sword Saint, Unrivaled
16. Munemasa Kanemaru
Appears in: Cliff, Herculean, Sword Saint, Unrivaled
17. Matsushita Chinoshin
Appears in: Flames, Cliff, Fist God, Famous
18. Vengeful Ghost Toraiwa
Appears in: Flames, Herculean, Famous
19. Sakura Hanamaru
Appears in: Icebound, Great Phoenix, Sword Saint
20. Souchun
Appears in: Flames, Cliff, Great Phoenix, Sword Saint
21. Kouyou
Appears in: Pin-Cushion, Icebound, Great Phoenix, Unrivaled
22. Wei Ami
Appears in: Flames, Cliff, Fist God, Famous
23. Utsusemi
Appears in: Practice, Icebound, Sword Saint
24. Ujiie Nadanojou
Appears in: Phoenix, Great Phoenix
25. Houzouin In'ei
Appears in: Famous
*Clear all Jiraiya-Style Training Chamber games
26. Kumomaru
Appears in: Practice, Phoenix, Icebound, Great Phoenix, Sword Saint
27. Genbu Gan'ichi
Appears in: Flames, Herculean, Sword Saint
28. Ikusa Kiriemon
Appears in: Phoenix, Pin-Cushion, Phoenix, Famous
29. Weakling Gabriel
Appears in: Phoenix, Pin-Cushion, Great Phoenix, Famous
30. Adanohana
Appears in: Icebound, Cliff, Fist God, Famous
31. Taifuumaru
Appears in: Icebound, Cliff, Herculean, Famous
32. Rekka
Appears in: Phoenix, Flames, Great Phoenix
33. Yamato Monk Kenzen
Appears in: Icebound, Cliff
34. Tachibana Benimaru
Appears in: Phoenix
35. Kodou Eisaburou
Appears in: Practice, Pin-Cushion, Flames, Fist God
36. Ryuuma Yotarou
Appears in: Practice, Phoenix, Pin-Cushion, Cliff
*Clear all Horseback Archery courses
37. Gaian
Appears in: Practice, Pin-Cushion, Herculean
38. Kamiya Soutarou
Appears in: Phoenix, Icebound, Flames, Cliff
39. Urushibara Mantayuu
Appears in: Practice, Pin-Cushion, Flames, Fist God
40. Hagakure Shinobi
Appears in: Practice, Phoenix, Pin-Cushion, Icebound
41. Jiren
Appears in: Practice, Pin-Cushion, Icebound
42. Kotobuki Fukiyoshi
Appears in: Phoenix, Icebound
43. Kazegiri Ryuu
Appears in: Phoenix, Pin-Cushion
44. Yabuta the Famous Doctor
Appears in: Practice, Phoenix
45. Yonemaru
Appears in: Practice, Fist God
46. Kawase Ryuubei
Appears in: Practice, Pin-Cushion, Fist God
47. Mighty Kumagorou
Appears in: Practice, Icebound, Herculean
48. Wada Yuuzou
Appears in: Practice, Pin-Cushion, Flames, Fist God
49. Nagatani Takujirou
Appears in: Phoenix, Pin-Cushion
50. Sakichi the Palanquin Bearer
Appears in: Practice
------------------------------------------
5d. Romancing the Pleasure District Girls
------------------------------------------
Just like in the other two titles, you can visit the girls at two of the broth-
els in town and win them over. This is a basic dating simulator, or "ren'ai
game" or "love game" as they're sometimes called. The idea is to get the girl
up to the maximum number of hearts (20) and then go fulfill a side-story-like
event. Yes, at the end of this, you will sleep with them, and no; you won't
see the actual sex scene.
Once inside a brothel, choose the girl you'd like to start dating. She'll
either be impressed by what you're wearing or hate it. A tip is that you
should equip the "Dragon Inrou," bought from the Arigataya Market on Nagaya
in the Suburbs, because all the girls seem to like that.
First, you can choose whether or not to give her a gift. Exactly which gift
to give depends on the girl. (Note that you don't have this option the very
first time you meet the girl)
The girls then ask what you want to eat and drink. What you order will boost
their heart level or detract from it. This varies from girl to girl.
Lastly, the questions. There will be a short moment of dialogue, and then,
you will have to say the appropriate thing. I'll list these here, but, I don't
know if it will help too much if you don't know any Japanese, because they are
random questions.
With the Dragon Inrou and appropriate orders and appropriate gifts, you can
usually get their hearts up pretty high without worrying *too* much about the
responses. But, you will need to get the Sobering Pills from Gyoutensai, which
are his first item on his list, and made from Ginger (bought from the phar-
macist on Shijou in the Suburbs), a Special-Strength All-Purpose Pills (bought
from the pharmacists), and a mystery item (which is Confeito, bought from the
Arigataya Market in Gion). Why? Because the girls hate it when you're drunk.
Once you get Gyoutensai to make it, you can just go to a pharmacist and buy it.
I should note, however, that clearing this with gifts and expensive sake is a
pretty expensive way to go about it.
Anyway, after you get a girl to 10 hearts, she'll invite you to play a skill
game with her. If you don't get it at the first date, don't worry--you
can't. You actually have to be in the first part of the date, before Kiryuu
wonders if he should keep playing around or not because he's worried about his
finances.
The skill games are different from ageya to ageya. Win, and you'll unlock 5
more hearts to get. Lose, and you'll have to try again next time. I'll explain
more about the skill games in their section in the appendices.
After getting her to 15, you'll have to play a skill game again, but, if you
end a day with her at 15 hearts, she should offer to go out with you after work
that day. This is a mini-event where you take her shopping or to dinner,
depending on the girl.
If you clear that in a favorable way, there will now be 20 possible hearts on
her meter. Get her to 20, and you'll have to play a skill game yet again.
This time, if you win, you'll get to see her dance a special dance for you.
Finish the day at 20, and she'll start some special event, which is unique to
each girl and is basically the "side mission" part. Clear that successfully,
and the girl is yours. When you go home, you'll get a letter from her with her
portrait. (Don't worry; if you play the skill game at 20 hearts in the first
part of your time at the brothel, when Kiryuu asks if he should continue or not,
you can choose not to continue and it will work out just the same. You won't
offend her by going home early.) Note that you actually don't need to see the
"dance" scene; you just need her to be at 20 hearts. Also, it's possible to get
her to dance, but not quite have her at 20, and still not get the final date.
Even with appropriate accessories and presents and food and drink, and even
with a list of the questions and answers, you'll still need to pass the skill
game section. This can be quite hard, depending on the game and the girl.
Note that if you lose and you have to drink, you can become too drunk, which
will end the day and also lose you hearts. So, be careful, and remember the
Sobering Pills!
For completists, after the story with a particular girl is over, don't worry;
you can visit them again to play a skill game. But, that's all you'll end up
doing with them--no gift-giving, ordering stuff, or answering questions.
Seem like too much? It's not, really. If you can understand what they're
saying, it's kinda fun, too. If you can't, well...don't worry. I think most
importers are like you. I'll include a special code to try and choose the
correct choice. For each question, I'll make marks for what the correct choice
looks like. Each mark represents a character. Count how many characters there
are in the sentence, and you should be able to get it--at least, most of the
time. For those who can tell the difference, I'll write "-" for a kana and "*"
for a kanji (those are the really complicated, Chinese characters).
I should also note that there's a guy who'll buy information on the girls at
the gate, and I'll list the appropriate responses for him there. This is for
another mission. If he doesn't show up, don't worry; you probably just forgot
to read her letter first.
Lastly, just so you know, the last girl, Asagiri of the Yumejia, won't see
you until after you've cleared the other girls' missions.
I love how Kiryuu always has a love interest and a new life because of some-
one who depends upon him and he still always gets to waste his time on these
sex workers. Way to go, Kiryuu!
TIP - THE CHEAPSKATE METHOD
The best way to win the girls' hearts is to respond properly in their conver-
sation. Coupled with the bonus for wearing the proper equipment, responding
correctly means you don't have to give them gifts, really. You don't even need
to order their favorite food items. Keep in mind that the second time you
visit them, you won't be playing a game with them at the end of the date either
way, so, you can save money by not even continuing the visit the second time at
the halfway point. I usually wear the Dragon Inrou and answer properly, order-
ing only green tea to avoid the lengthy "smoking your kiseru" scene that plays
when you order no drink. The first day, I usually end up with two hearts or
two and a half. The second day, five. The third day, after winning the skill
game, maybe 12 or so. Then, I go on the date, come back with her at 15, and
win her over that time (it's possible). This means I only pay the fee to meet
with the girl--no money spent on gifts or food or drink.
TIP - MESSING UP
Don't worry about messing up so much. The only part of the yuujo missions
that will ruin your day if you mess it up is the final date. Here's how it
works: at 5+ hearts, she wants to play a skill game at the end of the first
half of the visit. Win and the meter goes to 15 hearts, lose, and you gotta
drink. You can just come back in and try again if you mess up. The second
obstacle is the first date. If you don't gain hearts here, she'll leave you
at the restaurant and be angry with you the next day. But, don't despair--so
long as she has more than 10 hearts at the end of a visit, she'll ask you to go
out with her again. You can keep doing that until you get it. For the last
part, you need to end the visit with her at 20 hearts. You don't need to beat
her at the skill game, so long as you get her to 20 hearts at the close of the
evening, so...don't worry so much about that.
TIP - THE FINAL DATE
If you have trouble getting a girl to ask you out on the final date, you're not
alone. Sometimes, it seems like they need to be at 20 hearts for a certain
amount of time (i.e., you need to make positive moves such as responding cor-
rectly a couple of times while they're at 20 hearts before the end of the day).
If you dated her and she was at 20 and didn't ask you out, don't despair--just
go in and do it again. You're almost there! Again, you do not need to beat her
at the skill game, nor do you need to see her dance for her to ask you on the
final date. If you're blazing through text and you're not sure if she asked you
out or not, when a girl is waiting for you, you shouldn't be able to visit any
of the girls at that brothel until you meet the one who asked you out. If
you're still not sure, just nose around Gion Gate or the Gion Inari Shrine.
5d-I. HINAKIKU AT AZAMIYA
--------------------------
DRINKS
------
Green Tea (free): +0.5
Hot Orange Sake (50 mon): +1
Black Gooseberry & Orange Sake (100 mon): 0
Malt Liquor (200 mon): -0.25
Flame Roasted Potato Liquor (800 mon): -0.5
Amber Foreign Liquor (2,000 mon): -0.25
Lady's Sweet Liquor (3,000 mon): 0
Yukikaze Clear Sake (5,000 mon): 0
Sugoroku Cloudy Sake (8,000 mon): -0.5
Celebration Sake (10,000 mon): -0.25
FOOD
----
Pickles (30 mon): -0.5
Kouhaku Manjuu (50 mon): +1
Dried Cuttlefish (80 mon): -0.5
Fresh Vegetable Bites (100 mon): -0.25
Dried Seaweed, Sea Bream, and Tea-Cooked Rice (200 mon): -0.25
Dried, Chilled Vegetables (300 mon): -0.25
Grilled Sparrow (400 mon): +0.5
Fruit Assortment (500 mon): +1
Seafood Platter (800 mon): +0.5
Grilled Tuna Head (1,000 mon): -0.25
ACCESSORIES
-----------
Foreign Men's Cologne +0.5
Dragon Inrou +0.25
GIFTS
-----
Confeito +2
Tortoise-Shell Hairpin +1
Red Hairpin +1
Dancing Crane Kimono +1
QUESTIONS
---------
For those who don't speak Japanese, count the number of "-" or "*"'s I write
and choose that response. "*" means a Chinese character (kanji) and "-" means a
kana (the simpler character from the Japanese syllabaries).
Q: Special skill
A: Chugging booze (+1 but makes you drunk)
(Ikki nomi)
1. ***- +1
2. **-
3. **-
Q: I wanna see the spirit
A: Well, make an offering of fried tofu (+1)
(Aburaage wo motte ike)
1. **--*---- +1
2. *-------
3. **------
Q: My cooking is good
A: Let me try it sometime (+1)
(Kondo tabesasetekure)
1. ***------ +1
2. ---**-**---?
3. ---*----
Q: What do you like?
A: Money (+1)
(Kane ga daikoubutsu)
1. *-***
2. *-*** +1
3. *-***
Q: Are you good at holding your liquor?
A: I'm average--not so good at it, but not bad, either (+1 + gets you drunk)
(Futsuu, tsuyoku mo yowaku mo nai)
1. *-,***------
2. **,*--*---- +1
3. *-,*--**-*-
Q: I don't get enough sleep
A: Why don't you sleep here? (+1)
(Koko de netara dou da?)
1. ---*-----? +1
2. *-*-*------
3. **-*-------?
Q: I wanna be the tayuu
A: You can definitely do it (+1)
(Hinakiku nara kitto nareru)
1. --*-------- +1
2. ----*-**---
3. **-------------
Q: Can I order something?
A: Order whatever you'd like (+1)
(Suki na mono wo tanomeba ii)
1. *-----*---- +1
2. *-*-*-*----
3. ----**-----?
Q: I wanna be more grown-up
A: You're grown-up enough for me (+1)
(Juubun otona da)
1. ****- +1
2. *-*----
3. *------
Q: The other girls
A: It's a much simpler life than here (+1)
(Koko yori motto shisso na kurashi da)
1. ------*-*--
2. -------**-*--- +1
3. **-*-**----
Q: Math
A: First, you have to learn to like it (+1)
(Mazu ha suki ni naru koto da)
1. **---**--
2. *----*-**----
3. ---*------- +1
Q: Why'd you choose me?
A: I wanted a younger sister (+1)
(Imouto ga hoshikatta)
1. *--*--*--
2. *-*---- +1
3. ***-----
Q: Can you see me as an independent woman?
A: I see you as an independent woman (+1)
(Hitori no onna to shite)
1. **-*---
2. **-*--- +1
3. *-**---
Q: They hurt my finger
A: Just shine it on (+1)
(Sonna ijiwaru kurai taero)
1. ---***---*-- +1
2. ***--**----?
3. -*--*-**----
Q: I dream of a large family
A: I'm worried for your husband (+1)
(Danna ga shimpai da)
1. ----*-*--
2. **-**-
3. **-**- +1
Q: What do you think of me?
A: You really are child-like (+1)
(Yappari kodomo)
1. ----** +1
2. *-**--*-**
3. *-*--**-*
Q: I got scolded by my mistress
A: Because you stink at dancing (+1)
(Mai ga hetakuso dakara)
1. *-***--- +1
2. **-*----
3. --*-*--**----
Q: If you could be reborn
A: A woman (+1)
(Onna)
1. *
2. *
3. * +1
Q: What does "putting down the brush" mean?
A: To break in a new brush (+1)
(Shinpin no fude wo narasu)
1. **-*-*---- +1
2. **-**----
3. **--**---**
Q: I should be able to wear only juban (underwear)
A: You always have such a heavy kimono on (+1)
(Yoku sonna omoi mono wo kiteru na)
1. **-*-----**-*-
2. -----*----*--- +1
3. ---------*-
Q: My elder sister is my competitor
A: I'd like to see her (+1)
(Ichido mitemitai)
1. ****----
2. ----****-?
3. ***---- +1
Q: I hear bunnies live on the moon
A: Not bunnies; people (+1)
(Usagi ja naku, hito ga sundeiru)
1. **-
2. ---*---
2. -------*-*---- +1
Q: How could I make my breasts bigger?
A: Eat a lot (+1)
(Takusan meshi wo kueba ii)
1. *-------
2. ----*-*---- +1
3. *-***-**----*-
Q: Foreigners
A: How do they look to you? (+1)
(Mita tokoro de dou darou ka?)
1. ---**--
2. **---*---
3. *-----------? +1
DATE
----
After a while, her kamuro will wait for you near the Azamiya. She'll give you
a letter. Meet Hinakiku at the Gion Inari Shrine.
The best is the bottom choice--the Market. Buy her either a Crysanthemum
Sash (7th from the top--7500 mon) or a Portuguese Hand Mirror (10th, 5,000 mon).
+1 heart for Arigataya Market
+1 heart for Portuguese Hand Mirror or Crysanthemum Sash
FINAL STORY
-----------
Hinakiku asks to bring a sort-of picnic to the Gion Inari Shrine. Meet her
there. Kiryuu and Hinakiku stroll to the Suiten Inari area and sit on one of
the benches, but they are suddenly interrupted. An old lady recognizes her,
bringing some ruffians. They want you to hand her over. One of the men taunts
Kiryuu. "What do you find attractive in such a child-like woman?" Of course,
you'd better beat them up. The old woman goes to attack, but Kiryuu stops her.
She then explains that Hinakiku's mother, Kotokiku, has caused so much trouble
for her that she came for revenge.
ANSWERS FOR MAN AT GION GATE
----------------------------
1. Bottom choice (Dancing practice)
2. Top choice (She's an attractive, grown up woman)
3. Middle choice (Susukaze)
4. Top choice (Kotokiku)
5d-II. HANAMARU AT AZAMIYA
---------------------------
DRINKS
------
Green Tea (free): 0
Hot Orange Sake (50 mon): +0.4
Black Gooseberry & Orange Sake (100 mon): +1
Malt Liquor (200 mon): 0
Flame Roasted Potato Liquor (800 mon): -0.25
Amber Foreign Liquor (2,000 mon): 0
Lady's Sweet Liquor (3,000 mon): +0.5
Yukikaze Clear Sake (5,000 mon): -0.5
Sugoroku Cloudy Sake (8,000 mon): -0.25
Celebration Sake (10,000 mon): 0
FOOD
----
Pickles (30 mon): 0
Kouhaku Manjuu (50 mon): -0.5
Dried Cuttlefish (80 mon): +1
Fresh Vegetable Bites (100 mon): +0.5
Dried Seaweed, Sea Bream, and Tea-Cooked Rice (200 mon): +1
Dried, Chilled Vegetables (300 mon): +0.5
Grilled Sparrow (400 mon): -0.25
Fruit Assortment (500 mon): -0.25
Seafood Platter (800 mon): 0
Grilled Tuna Head (1,000 mon): -0.5
ACCESSORIES
-----------
Foreign Men's Cologne +1
Dragon Inrou +1.5
GIFTS
-----
Gold-Lacquered Comb +1
Edo-Made Women's Perfume +1
QUESTIONS
---------
For those who don't speak Japanese, count the number of "-" or "*"'s I write
and choose that response. "*" means a Chinese character (kanji) and "-" means a
kana (the simpler character from the Japanese syllabaries).
Q: Why did you choose me?
A: You looked different from the rest (+1)
(Mita me ga kawatteru kara)
1. ****-----
2. *-*-*------ +1
3. *--*-----
Q: Don't you think it's mean to call someone "pops?"
A: It's just a way to express affection (+1)
(Aijou hyougen no hitotsu)
1. ---*-*--
2. ****----- +1
3. ---**---?
Q: You've got a nosehair....
A: You do, too (+1)
(Sou iu omae mo ke ga deteru)
1. *---------?
2. -----*-*-*-- +1
3. ----*------?
Q: You can buy anything, if you got the money
A: How much are you? (+1)
(Hanamaru ha ikura ni naru n da?)
1. *----*--
2. **---------? +1
3. *----*--------
Q: What do you think my embarassing habit is?
A: You sit with your legs uncrossed (+1)
(Matagura wo kaku)
1. *-*----
2. *-----
3. *----- +1
Q: I smell blood
A: Actually, I've been wounded (+1)
(Jitsu ha ookega shiteru)
1. *-***--- +1
2. **-*----
3. *-*---**---
Q: It takes so much time to put on makeup
A: You'd look good without it (+1)
(Suppin no mama de ii)
1. ---------- +1
2. *--*-----
3. *-------
Q: What was so funny?
A: He was probably nervous around you (+1)
(Hanamaru wo mae ni kinchou shiteiru no de ha)
1. **-*--**--------?
2. **-*-**-------? +1
3. **-**--------?
Q: We should have fun when we're together
A: I'll conquer the world with a laugh (+1)
(Ore ha warai de tenka wo toru)
1. *-*---*---
2. *-*--**-*- +1
3. --*--*-*-*------
Q: We were taken in by Daddy
A: Tell me more (+1)
(Motto kuwashiku kakasete kure)
1. ---*--*----- +1
2. --*------*-
3. *-*----
Q: I always want to cuddle them
A: Cuddle me, too (+1)
(Ore mo gyuto tto shite kure)
1. *-**-**--
2. -------*---
3. *---------- +1
Q: I want to become a doctor
A: It's gonna take effort (+1)
(Sore ni ha doryoku ga hitsuyou da)
1. **-*------
2. ----**-**- +1
3. --*-*------?
Q: Don't you ever want to get married?
A: There's a woman I've got my eye on (+1)
(Ki ni naru onna ha iru)
1. *-------------
2. *---*--- +1
3. ****--------
Q: Putting my hair up....
A: That's a good wig (+1)
(Yoku dekita katsura da)
1. --------- +1
2. ----*----
3. *----------
Q: What do you think of me?
A: I think you're a fine woman (+1)
(Ii onna da to omotteru)
1. ***-----
2. --*--*--- +1
3. -*-*--*---
Q: Have you ever fallen in love at first glance?
A: It's a great feeling (+1)
(Jou mo rippa na aijou da)
1. ---**-
2. ---*-*------?
3. *-**-**- +1
Q: I want to make a brothel where men entertain women
A: That's a great idea (+1)
(Sore ha ii kangae da)
1. **---**-*-
2. -----*-- +1
3. ----**-*-*---
Q: I feel bad about the trouble we cause the doctor
A: What filial piety! (+1)
(Oyakoukou da na)
1. ***-- +1
2. **-*-----?
3. *--*---------?
Q: What tactic do you think that is?
A: Castling (Anagumakakoi) (+1)
(Anaguma kakoi)
1. ***-
2. ***- +1
3. ***-
Q: What kind of woman do you like?
A: A well-prepared woman, like you (+1)
(Hanamaru no you na ki no kiita onna)
1. **----*-*--* +1
2. **----**---*
3. **-----------*
Q: How can you see if someone's attached to you?
A: You can tell when they look at you with a teary-eyed stare (+1)
(Uronda me de mitsumerareta toki)
1. *---*----
2. *--*-*------- +1
3. **----*--------
Q: How will you profess your love?
A: I'll shout "I love you!" aloud (+1)
(Suki da to oogoe de sakebu)
1. *---**-*- +1
2. ----**-*---
3. **--*-
Q: To be frank, it's brutal to drink so much
A: That's the job, so, you've just got to get used to it (+1 + makes you drunk)
(Shigoto da kara nareru shika nai)
1. **---*------ +1
2. *-*--**-
3. *-***-
Q: You feel like there's a fight coming?
A: Not at the moment (+1)
(Mou toubun ha nai darou na)
1. --*-*-----
2. --**-*----- +1
3. *-*-*-*-**-
DATE
----
See her kamuro outside the Azamiya, and receive a letter from Hanamaru. Read it
and meet her at the Gion Gate. Choose to go to the Hatsukaze Kitchen with the
second choice. Then, order Chicken Rice Porridge for 2 (second choice for 280
mon).
FINAL STORY
-----------
Hanamaru says she has someone she'd like you to meet. So, go and meet her at
the Suiten Inari Shrine. It's her ailing father, who gets sick when you arrive.
Youhave to go to the Tenguya Pharmacist and talk to the "suspicious medicine
seller" standing outside. You'll need the fourth one from the top--the Foreign
Pills. After selectin them, choose the top choice to spend 10,000 mon and buy
them. Bring them back to Hanamaru's father. At first, it'll look like he
died--don't worry. Seems he's OK.
ANSWERS FOR MAN AT GION GATE
----------------------------
1. First choice (Spreads her legs?)
2. Second choice (Rich and fun)
3. Second choice (Shogi)
4. Third choice (Booze)
5d-III. SHIRAYUKI AT AZAMIYA
-----------------------------
DRINKS
------
Green Tea (free): -0.25
Hot Orange Sake (50 mon): 0
Black Gooseberry & Orange Sake (100 mon): +0.5
Malt Liquor (200 mon): 0
Flame Roasted Potato Liquor (800 mon): 0
Amber Foreign Liquor (2,000 mon): -0.5
Lady's Sweet Liquor (3,000 mon): +1
Yukikaze Clear Sake (5,000 mon): +0.5
Sugoroku Cloudy Sake (8,000 mon): 0
Celebration Sake (10,000 mon): +0.5
FOOD
----
Pickles (30 mon): -0.25
Kouhaku Manjuu (50 mon): 0
Dried Cuttlefish (80 mon): 0
Fresh Vegetable Bites (100 mon): 0
Dried Seaweed, Sea Bream, and Tea-Cooked Rice (200 mon): +0.5
Dried, Chilled Vegetables (300 mon): +0.5
Grilled Sparrow (400 mon): +1
Fruit Assortment (500 mon): 0
Seafood Platter (800 mon): -0.5
Grilled Tuna Head (1,000 mon): +0.5
ACCESSORIES
-----------
Dragon Inrou +1
Resurrection Amulet +1
GIFTS
-----
Gold-Lacquered Comb +1
Gold Hairpin +2
Foreign Men's Cologne -0.5
QUESTIONS
---------
For those who don't speak Japanese, count the number of "-" or "*"'s I write
and choose that response. "*" means a Chinese character (kanji) and "-" means a
kana (the simpler character from the Japanese syllabaries).
Q: What kind of pet would you have?
A: A dog (+1)
(Inu)
1. * +1
2. *
3. **
Q: "A woman should be..."
A: Personable (+2)
(Aikyou)
1. ** +2
2. **
3. ** +1 also
Q: Do you like women with big breasts?
A: It has nothing to do with the size of a woman's breasts. (+1)
(Mune no ookisa ha kankei nai)
1. *--*-*-------
2. *-*-----*-
3. *-*---**-- +1
Q: Which do you pour?
A: Tea (+1)
(Ocha wo hiku)
1. *---
2. *---
3. -*--- +1
Q: Who plays the shamisen?
A: The Tenjin (+1)
(Tenjin)
1. **
2. ** +1
3. **
Q: Do you know what I didn't like about the foreigner?
A: The smell (+1)
(Nioi ga dame)
1. *------
2. *--** +1
3. **-*-------
Q: Favorite food
A: Rice (+1)
(Gohan)
1. -**
2. ---
3. -* +1
Q: My skill at the shamisen
A: I'd like to see you even more devoted (+1)
(Sara ni shoujin shite hoshii)
1. **--------
2. **-***-
3. ---**----- +1
Q: Do you stay up late or not?
A: I can't say I do either (+1)
(Dochira to mo ienai)
1. **------
2. **,**-----
3. -----*--- +1
Q: Are you stylish or skillful?
A: Skillful (+1)
(Iki)
1. --
2. -- +1
3. [*]-**------
Q: How can I get better at holding my liquor?
A: There's no need to push yourself (+1)
(Muri ni tsuyoku naru hitsuyou ha nai)
1. *-----*---
2. *-**--*---
3. **-*---**--- +1
Q: There's something in my eye!
A: Take it out for her (+1)
(Totteyaru)
1. *---- +1
2. -------*-**-*--
3. (*--,*-*---)
Q: What'd I get as a gift from my perverted customer?
A: A wooden doll (+1)
(Kokeshi)
1. ----
2. --- +1
3. -**
Q: What kind of woman do you like?
A: A strong woman (+1)
(Takumashii onna)
1. *-*---,-*-*--*
2. **----*-*--*
3. -----* +1
Q: What would you do if I couldn't get to sleep?
A: I'd sing you a lullabye (+1)
(Ore ga komori uta wo utateyaru)
1. *-*-
2. *-*-*-*---
3. *-***-*---- +1
Q: Do you know the thistle flower?
A: It's very pretty; very cute (+1)
(Karen de kawaii)
1. *------
2. **-**- +1
3. ------*--
Q: What sort of punishment
A: Tantrum (+1)
(Buriburi)
1. ----
2. ---- +1
3. ----
Q: Which game do you like?
A: Fan Throwing (+1)
(Tousenkyou)
1. ------
2. *** +1
3. *****
Q: I have to entertain a perverted customer
A: Treat each customer as an important one (+1)
(Donna kyaku demo taisetsu ni shiro)
1. *-*------
2. ---*--**--- +1
3. -----------?
Q: What kind of fireworks do you like?
A: Incense sparklers (+1)
(Senkou hanabi)
1. *-*-**
2. **** +1
3. ---**
Q: There was an incident--what do you think it was?
A: One of the girls who came with you ran away (+1)
(Issho ni tsurete korareta musume ga hitori nigedashita)
1. **-*------*-*-*-- +1
2. **-*---
3. *-*-**--
Q: Do you have any mementos?
A: I do (+1)
(Motteiru)
1. *---- +1
2. *-----
3. *-----
Q: What should a yuujo do to be more successful?
A: Work harder at the arts (+1)
(Motto gei wo migaku)
1. ---*-*- +1
2. ---**-*-
3. ---*-*----
Q: My brother's been hurt
A: Work harder than you've worked before (+1)
(Ima made ijou ni hatarake)
1. ----*----
2. ----**-*- +1
3. ----**-*-
DATE
----
Meet her Kamuro outside the Azamiya. Read the letter and meet her at the Gion
Inari Shrine. Go to Hatsukaze Kitchen (second choice) and order the Rikyuu Eggs
for 2 (top choice).
FINAL STORY
-----------
Shirayuki asks you to meet her at the main gate. Talk to the man at the gate
and he'll tell you he's just a country boy and he's kinda overwhelmed by this
place. He asks for an "O-Myou," but, Kiryuu doesn't know who that is. The man
leaves, and Shirayuki shows up. She wants to eat, so you head over to Hatsu-
kaze. The man shows up again. His name is Yonekichi. He calls to you and
starts to talk about the place, but suddenly recognizes Shirayuki as O-Myou.
She seems confused. He insists that she's the woman he was once engaged to,
however, and wants to take her back to the country with him. Suddenly, more men
appear and pick a fight with Yonekichi. They leave, and Shirayuki suddenly asks
you to go help him. You'll find him at the east end of Tsurumachi Street, right
near Gyoutensai's place. Beat them up. Seems Yonekichi is married already,
anyway. Still, he's glad he could meet O-Myou again.
ANSWERS FOR MAN AT GION GATE
----------------------------
1. Second choice (He was wearing cologne)
2. Second choice (Her breasts aren't big enough)
3. Third choice (Shamisen)
4. Second choice (A paper doll)
5d-IV. KINUYA AT YUMEJIYA
--------------------------
DRINKS
------
Green Tea (free): 0
Hot Orange Sake (50 mon): 0
Black Gooseberry & Orange Sake (100 mon): +0.5
Malt Liquor (200 mon): -0.25
Flame Roasted Potato Liquor (800 mon): +0.5
Amber Foreign Liquor (2,000 mon): -0.5
Lady's Sweet Liquor (3,000 mon): +0.5
Yukikaze Clear Sake (5,000 mon): +0.5
Sugoroku Cloudy Sake (8,000 mon): +1
Celebration Sake (10,000 mon): +0.5
FOOD
----
Pickles (30 mon): +0.5
Kouhaku Manjuu (50 mon): 0
Dried Cuttlefish (80 mon): -0.25
Fresh Vegetable Bites (100 mon): 0
Dried Seaweed, Sea Bream, and Tea-Cooked Rice (200 mon): +1
Dried, Chilled Vegetables (300 mon): +0.5
Grilled Sparrow (400 mon): -0.5
Fruit Assortment (500 mon): 0
Seafood Platter (800 mon): 0
Grilled Tuna Head (1,000 mon): -0.25
ACCESSORIES
-----------
Yasaka Shrine Pendant +0.5
Dragon Inrou +0.5
GIFTS
-----
Gold-Lacquered Comb +1
Tortoise-Shell Hairpin +1
Red Hairpin +1
QUESTIONS
---------
For those who don't speak Japanese, count the number of "-" or "*"'s I write
and choose that response. "*" means a Chinese character (kanji) and "-" means a
kana (the simpler character from the Japanese syllabaries).
Q: How can I make men happy?
A: Learn how to listen well (+1)
(Kiki jouzu ni naru koto)
1. *--**-*----
2. *-**----- +1
3. --*-*---
Q: I just can't understand....
A: This district is like the country of dreams (+1)
(Kono machi ha yume no kuni mitai na mono da kara)
1. --*-*-*--------- +1
2. ---*-*------
3. ------*------
Q: There are younger and cuter girls around....
A: Can't you try to have more self-confidence? (+1)
(Motto jishin wo mottara dou da?)
1. ---**-*------? +1
2. **-----------
3. *--*--*-------
Q: When I see the beautiful autumn leaves, I think of my homeland
A: Don't look back to the past all the time (+1)
(Mukashi bakari wo furikaeru na)
1. **------?
2. *----*-*-- +1
3. *----------?
Q: How old am I?
A: You look like 60 from here (+1)
(Kou miete rokujuusai)
1. --*--***
2. --*--*** +1
3. *---**--
Q: I'm always picked on for having been married already
A: Don't pay attention to that kind of crud (+1)
(Sonna koto ha ki ni suru na)
1. ------*---- +1
2. *-*---*-------
3. *-***-*-*--
Q: I can't trust men....
A: It's a bit early for that kind of talk (+1)
(Zuibun ki no hayai hanashi da)
1. -----*-**-
2. ***-*-*- +1
3. --*-----*--
Q: I dunno how to use them....
A: Use strong discipline (+1)
(Shimetsuke guai wo kitaeru)
1. -*--*---
2. **--*---
3. *-*-**-*---- +1
Q: I pass out, I can't remember things the next day
A: You don't have to overdo it so much (+1)
(Betsu ni muri ni nomanakute ii)
1. *-**-*------ +1
2. -----**---?
3. ---*-----?
Q: I don't know how I should respond
A: Pretend to be happy (+1)
(Yorokonderu furi)
1. *-*-
2. *--*-
3. *----*- +1
Q: When will he get back the money he owed
A: You've been tricked, no doubt (+1)
(Sore ha kanzen ni damasareteru)
1. ---**-*---- +1
2. ----**--*---
3. ------**-*--
Q: I don't even feel alive
A: That's the fate of a yuujo (+1)
(Sore ga yuujo no shukumei)
1. **-----*---
2. ----*-*-
3. ---**-** +1
Q: What kind of girl do you like?
A: A humble woman (+1)
(Konkyo na onna)
1. **-*
2. **-* +1
3. **-*
Q: What's your favorite festival?
A: The Gion Festival (+1)
(Gion matsuri)
1. ***- +1
2. ***-
3. **-
Q: When I asked if he'd ever come back, he got angry
A: That's because it's the same as saying "Get out of here" (+1)
(Sore ha kaere to iu imi da kara)
1. -----*----
2. ---*--*-**--- +1
3. **-**-*----
Q: I was stricktly taught etiquette
A: They thought you were worthwhile
(Douri de shina ga aru to omotta)
1. **-*----*-- +1
2. ****----**-
3. **--------?
Q: He said "My wife's not good, nor bad"
A: You should forget those words (+1)
(Sono ku ha mou wasureta hou ga ii)
1. ----**-?
2. --*---*--*--- +1
3. -----*------
Q: Part of me still loves him
A: You should forget that cold-hearted man (+1)
(Sonna hakujou na otoko no koto ha wasurero)
1. ---**-*----*-- +1
2. *--*-*-*------?
3. *-*------,-*--
Q: Haven't you ever felt guilty?
A: I just want to feel excited (+1)
(Tokimeki ga hoshii dake da)
1. **-*----*--
2. ---*-**-
3. -----*----- +1
Q: I got married, just like my dad said
A: What a silly story (+3)
(Bakageta hanashi da)
1. ---*----
2. **--*- +3
3. *--**-*----
Q: How should I treat my other customers?
A: This isn't something you should ask me (+1)
(Ore ni kiku hanashi de ha nai)
1. *-*-*-----
2. ---*------
3. *-*-*---- +1
Q: I never thought I'd become a yuujo
A: That's very tragic (+1)
(Hiniku na mono da)
1. **---- +1
2. *---*-
3. *-*-
Q: There were many in my country hometown
A: The countryside is so rich in nature (+1)
(Inaka ha shizen ga yutaka da kara na)
1. *--*--
2. **-**-*----- +1
3. -*-------
Q: When you eat them, you just laugh and laugh
A: You like them, don't you? (+1)
(Hontou ni suki na n da na)
1. **-*----- +1
2. --------?
3. *---,-----
DATE
----
Meet Kinuya's kamuro outside the Yumejiya and read her letter. Meet her in
front of the gate. Choose the top choice to go to Kouyou Restaurant and order
the Mountain Pleasure for Two (top choice--2400 mon).
FINAL STORY
-----------
She asks you out again, and tells you she'll wait at the Gion Inari Shrine. She
tells you she heard that someone who looks like her ex-husband is around town.
She says that she heard it from another yuujo, and although he promised to meet
her, he never showed up. Still, she'd like to meet him one more time. She asks
you to look for him. Go to the gate and you'll see a man talking to a yuujo,
telling her to put today's visit on his tab. His name is Tsurumaru, and he
sure likes to make a big deal out of himself. Talk to him, and Kiryuu will ask
him about Kinuya. He says he doesn't know her. Go back to Kinuya at the shrine
and she'll describe her husband. Kiryuu thinks it just had to be him. So, set
back out to find him again. He's on the alley at the edge of Nakanomachi which
runs parallel to Gion Street. Talk to him and then beat him up. Kiryuu tells
him never to return, and he runs off. Go back to the Gion Inari Shrine and
talk to Kinuya again.
ANSWERS FOR MAN AT GION GATE
----------------------------
1. Third choice (Iga)
2. Third choice (She's suffering from her ex-husband)
3. Second choice (Senryuu)
4. First choice (Mushrooms)
5d-V. SUZUKAZE AT YUMEJIYA
---------------------------
DRINKS
------
Green Tea (free): -0.25
Hot Orange Sake (50 mon): 0
Black Gooseberry & Orange Sake (100 mon): +0.5
Malt Liquor (200 mon): 0
Flame Roasted Potato Liquor (800 mon): -0.5
Amber Foreign Liquor (2,000 mon): 0
Lady's Sweet Liquor (3,000 mon): 1
Yukikaze Clear Sake (5,000 mon): 0
Sugoroku Cloudy Sake (8,000 mon): 0
Celebration Sake (10,000 mon): -0.5
FOOD
----
Pickles (30 mon): 0
Kouhaku Manjuu (50 mon): +0.5
Dried Cuttlefish (80 mon): -0.25
Fresh Vegetable Bites (100 mon): 0
Dried Seaweed, Sea Bream, and Tea-Cooked Rice (200 mon): 0
Dried, Chilled Vegetables (300 mon): +0.5
Grilled Sparrow (400 mon): 0
Fruit Assortment (500 mon): +1
Seafood Platter (800 mon): -0.5
Grilled Tuna Head (1,000 mon): 0
ACCESSORIES
-----------
Yasaka Shrine Pendant +0.5
Dragon Inrou +1
Tigerskin Sash +0.5
Amulet +0.5
Deer Antler Netsuke +0.5
GIFTS
-----
Gold-Lacquered Comb +1
Tortoise-Shell Hairpin +1
Cherry Blossom Kimono +1
QUESTIONS
---------
For those who don't speak Japanese, count the number of "-" or "*"'s I write
and choose that response. "*" means a Chinese character (kanji) and "-" means a
kana (the simpler character from the Japanese syllabaries).
Q: I take a bath every morning before coming here
A: Well, it's because baths are good for your health (+1)
(Furo ha kenkou ni mo ii kara na)
1. ****-*------
2. **-**------- +1
3. ****-*-------?
Q: Are you uncomfortable?
A: I can't get used to it, but I'll try (+1)
(Narenai no de kinchou shiteiru)
1. *-----**---- +1
2. ---*-*---**-
3. *-----*-
Q: What do you do for a living?
A: Don't you know the Tatsuya? (+1)
(Tatsuya wo shiranai no ka?)
1. **--**---?
2. ***----*-?
3. **-*-----? +1
Q: What's the highest rank of the yuujo here in Gion?
A: Tayuu (+1)
(Tayuu)
1. **
2. **
3. ** +1
Q: I want to a better yuujo than my mom was
A: Refine your arts more (+1)
(Motto gei wo migaku beki da)
1. ---*-*---- +1
2. --**-*-----
3. --*-*----
Q: Do you usually visit this kind of place?
A: I'm always at one of these places (+1)
(Shotchuu kiteiru)
1. ------*--- +1
2. *-*-**----
3. *-*--*----
Q: How many cranes and tortoises were there?
A: 4 cranes and 6 tortoises (+1)
(Tsuru ga shiwa de kame ga roppiki)
1. *-**-*-**
2. *-**-*-**
3. *-**-*-** +1
Q: Do you like older women?
A: I don't pick my women by their age (+1)
(Onna ha nenrei de kimaru wake de ha nai)
1. *-**-*-------- +1
2. ---*--*-------
3. **----*----
Q: There's a bandit going around, targeting yuujo
A: So, you should just stay here, then (+1)
(Mise de otonashiku shiteta hou ga ii)
1. **-----------
2. *---------*--- +1
3. --**--*---
Q: Men always look at my body
A: I was just thinking, "What an elegant kimono...." (+1)
(Adeyaka na kimono da na to omotte)
1. *---**---*-- +1
2. -------*--
3. **------*--
Q: Do you like girls like me?
A: I like educated girls like you (+1)
(Suzukaze no you na kyouyou no aru onna)
1. **----****-*
2. **----**---* +1
3. **----*---*
Q: Are you single?
A: I'm single--and I have money, too (+1)
(Hitorimi de kane mo aru)
1. *-*-*--- +1
2. -----,------
3. *--**--
Q: What should I write?
A: "Our Eternal Bond" (+2)
(Chouun Bou)
1. **** +2
2. ****
3. ****
Q: I don't think I need that kind of art
A: I'm sure you don't have that many customers who know about the arts (+2)
(Tashika ni gei wo wakaru kyaku ga sukunai)
1. ----**-**-----
2. *--*-*--*-*-- +2
3. ----*-*-------
Q: I feel this burning deep in my heart
A: I feel the same way (+1)
(Ore mo onaji kimochi da)
1. *-*-**-- +1
2. -------*-*-
3. ---**---?
Q: Can I order a fruit assortment?
A: Let's have it next time (+1)
(Tsugi no kikai made oazuke)
1. *-----*----
2. *-**------ +1
3. *-**--**
Q: She's a yuujo named Hinakiku
A: There must be some reason (+2)
(Nanika wake ga arisou da)
1. *---------
2. ***--**--*-----
3. *-*------ +2
Q: What do you think of me?
A: You're docile, and I want to make you my woman (+1)
(Sunao ni ore no onna ni shitai)
1. **----**-*-
2. **-*-*---- +1
3. ----*----*-
Q: Would I be happy if he bought my freedom?
A: You wouldn't have to worry about it with me (+1)
(Ore nara sonna shinpai ha sasenai)
1. ---**-*-----
2. **-***-**-*---
3. *-----**----- +1
Q: I like this flower called a 'rose'
A: Its aroma is refreshing (+1)
(Ano kaori ni ha iyasareru)
1. --*---*--- +1
2. --*--**--
3. ---**-*--
Q: I've been treated horribly by the other yuujo
A: I'll try and help you (+1)
(Ore ga nan to ka shiteyaru)
1. *--------- +1
2. **-------
3. **--**----*--
Q: I want to try some red bean soup
A: I'll make some for you (+1)
(Ore ga tsukutte yaru)
1. *---*--
2. *-*---- +1
3. ---**------
Q: What would you wish for?
A: World peace (Neutral answer)
(Yo no naka ga heiwa de arimasu you ni)
1. *-*-**-------- (Neutral)
2. **--*-*------
3. **---*----
Q: I don't have any time to relax
A: Sleep here (+1)
(Koko de netereba ii)
1. **--**----
2. *--**-*-?
3. ---*----- +1
DATE
----
Meet Suzukaze's kamuro outside the Yumejiya and read her letter. Meet her at
the Gion Inari Shrine. Choose the top choice and go to the Kouyou Restaurant.
Order Mountain Pleasure for Two (top choice, 2400 mon).
FINAL STORY
-----------
Suzukaze has to head out on business. Talk to the brothel master standing off
to the south (right) of the entrance to the Yumejiya. Seems she's been acting
a little strange lately. He'll pay you 10,000 mon to investigate. Just around
the corner on East Nakatsuji Street, you'll see Suzukaze giving some man some
money. He tells her she didn't give him enough money today, but, he gives up
for now. Talk to her, and she'll explain it's about her impoverished father,
and how her sister may be in trouble if he's not paid the 1,000,000 mon.
You'll find him on West Nakatsuji Street, harassing the clerk of the Azamiya,
asking for Hinakiku. Talk to him and then beat him up.
ANSWERS FOR MAN AT GION GATE
----------------------------
1. Bottom choice (Math)
2. Top choice (Tell her she's a cultured woman)
3. Second choice (She's harassed by other yuujo)
4. Top choice (Kimono)
5d-VI. MOMOCHIKA AT YUMEJIYA
-----------------------------
DRINKS
------
Green Tea (free): -0.5
Hot Orange Sake (50 mon): -0.5
Black Gooseberry & Orange Sake (100 mon): -0.25
Malt Liquor (200 mon): 0
Flame Roasted Potato Liquor (800 mon): +1
Amber Foreign Liquor (2,000 mon): +0.5
Lady's Sweet Liquor (3,000 mon): -1
Yukikaze Clear Sake (5,000 mon): +1
Sugoroku Cloudy Sake (8,000 mon): +0.5
Celebration Sake (10,000 mon): +1
FOOD
----
Pickles (30 mon): 0
Kouhaku Manjuu (50 mon): -0.5
Dried Cuttlefish (80 mon): +0.5
Fresh Vegetable Bites (100 mon): 0
Dried Seaweed, Sea Bream, and Tea-Cooked Rice (200 mon): +05
Dried, Chilled Vegetables (300 mon): 0
Grilled Sparrow (400 mon): +0.5
Fruit Assortment (500 mon): -0.25
Seafood Platter (800 mon): +1
Grilled Tuna Head (1,000 mon): +0.5
ACCESSORIES
-----------
Foreign Men's Cologne +0.75
Hariti Amulet +0.75
Foreign Perfume +0.75
Amulet +0.75
Dragon Inrou +1.25
GIFTS
-----
Gold-Lacquered Comb +1
Cherry Blossom Kimono +0.5
QUESTIONS
---------
For those who don't speak Japanese, count the number of "-" or "*"'s I write
and choose that response. "*" means a Chinese character (kanji) and "-" means a
kana (the simpler character from the Japanese syllabaries).
Q: I like strong men
A: Strength isn't just in muscles (+1)
(Tsuyoi no ha udeppushi dake janai)
1. ----***-*---
2. -----*-**----
3. *---*-*------ +1
Q: I like gambling
2. I want some stimulus, too (+1)
(Ore mo imasugu shigeki ga hoshii)
1. ---**-**-
2. *--------
3. *-*--**-*-- +1
Q: What do you like in a woman's body?
A: Voluptuous breasts (+1)
(Houman na mune)
1. **-* +1
2. *-*---*
3. ----*--*--
Q: What do you think of cheating?
A: If you're serious about the other person, it's not even relevant (+1)
(Honki ni nareba kankei nai)
1. *---**-
2. **-------
3. **----**-- +1
Q: Are you good at staying up?
A: It depends on my partner (+1)
(Aite ni mo yoru na)
1. --*--**---
2. **----- +1
3. ---------?
Q: Where are you most sensitive?
A: The earlobes (+1)
(Mimitabu)
1. *-- +1
2. *-*
3. ----*----
Q: How do you talk to a girl who just doesn't get men?
A: I don't see the point in being nice (+1)
(Ore ni ha yosa ga wakaranai)
1. *--*--*---- +1
2. *------*----
3. ---*-------?
Q: I don't work here because of my debt
A: It's because you can't get enough of men (+1)
(Otoko ga suki de tamaranai kara)
1. -*-*----
2. ----*-*-----
3. *-*--------- +1
Q: They have a horse there
A: It's called "The wild Horse of Gion" (+1)
(Gion no abaremuma to yobareteiru)
1. **---*-
2. **-*-*-*----- +1
3. *-------**-
Q: Do you know about erotic art?
A: I'm a little jealous of what goes on in them (+1)
(Sore ha chotto yakeru)
1. ---**------
2. -------*-- +1
3. *-*------?
Q: My pulse is racing
A: Call a doctor (+1)
(Isha wo yonda hou ga ii)
1. **-*--*--- +1
2. ---*-*-
3. *-*-*--
Q: I wanna be more intelligent
A: I'll give you private lessons (+1)
(Ore ga kojin jugyou shite yaru)
1. ***--*--
2. **-**----
3. *-****---- +1
Q: I'm just a little sad
A: I'll be your shoulder to cry on (+3)
(Ore ga yoridokoro ni natte yaru)
1. *-*-*------ +3
2. ***------
3. ---*-*-------
Q: It's like we're in our own world
A: Well, I'll make you shout (+1)
(Jaa oogoe agesasete yaru)
1. **----------
2. ---***------ +1
3. *-**---?
Q: What do you think I liked to do?
A: Pine needle sumo (+1)
(Matsuba sumou)
1. -**
2. **** +1
3. ----------
Q: How do you get what you want from a girl?
A: I just push her down (+1)
(Toriaezu oshitaosu)
1. ---**--*--
2. ----*-*--- +1
3. -----*-*-
Q: Have you ever gambled?
A: I always break the bank (+1)
(Toba ni meiwaku wo kakete shimau)
1. **-*--
2. **-**------- +1
3. --**-,-----?
Q: I was attacked by a weirdo
A: I'll break that guy's face (+1)
(Ore ga soitsu wo buttobashite yaru)
1. *-------*----- +1
2. ---**-*-----*-
3. *--*-----
Q: Are you good at holding your liquor?
A: I drink it like it was water (+1)
(Mizu mitai na mono da)
1. *-------
2. ----*--*----
3. *------- +1
Q: I've been tricked by a loan shark
A: I don't mind your debt (+1)
(Shakin nante kankei nai)
1. **---**-- +1
2. **-*----
3. ----**-*----
Q: And how do you think he apologized?
A: He cut his topknot (+1)
(Magegiri)
1. ***
2. --*- +1
3. **
Q: I've got to think of my future
A: Just forget this business of selling yourself (+2)
(Miuke nante yamero)
1. *-**------*---
2. **-*----------
3. **------- +2
Q: What's your dream?
A: I want to make bushido the ultimate (+1)
(Bushidou wo kiwametai)
1. ***-*--- +1
2. ***-*---
3. **-----**
Q: I love eel
A: You're bubbling over with energy! (+1)
(Seiryoku ga ariamatteiru na)
1. --*----
2. *-*-*----
3. **-*-*---- +1
DATE
----
Meet Momochika's kamuro outside the Yumejiya and read her letter. Meet her at
the gate. Choose to go to Sushiya Gin with the third choice. Order the Shad
Sushi for two (6th from the top for 100 mon).
FINAL STORY
-----------
Momochika asks if you want to go someplace really fun, but she won't tell you
where just yet. Go meet up with her at the Gion Inari Shrine. When you get
there, she's arguing with a man who seems to have lent her some money. She
keeps on gambling her money away. She owes 1,000,000 mon. She brings you to
a hidden gambling spot where people spend huge amounts of money. She has
500,000 points there, so...you'll need to double it. Don't worry--if you lose,
you can just fight off the loan shark. That's good, because, some of us just
aren't very lucky.
ANSWERS FOR MAN AT GION GATE
----------------------------
1. Top choice (Sexy)
2. Second choice (Talk about gambling)
3. Second choice (Because she likes men)
4. Bottom choice (Eel)
5d-VII. ASAGIRI AT YUMEJIYA
----------------------------
NOTE: To get her to become available, you need to complete all other yuujo
stories. She's also very expensive, and you'll need 500,000 mon to complete
her story.
DRINKS
------
Green Tea (free): -0.5
Hot Orange Sake (50 mon): -0.5
Black Gooseberry & Orange Sake (100 mon): -0.25
Malt Liquor (200 mon): -0.25
Flame Roasted Potato Liquor (800 mon): 0
Amber Foreign Liquor (2,000 mon): 0
Lady's Sweet Liquor (3,000 mon): 0
Yukikaze Clear Sake (5,000 mon): 0
Sugoroku Cloudy Sake (8,000 mon): +0.5
Celebration Sake (10,000 mon): +1
FOOD
----
Pickles (30 mon): -0.25
Kouhaku Manjuu (50 mon): -0.25
Dried Cuttlefish (80 mon): -0.5
Fresh Vegetable Bites (100 mon): 0
Dried Seaweed, Sea Bream, and Tea-Cooked Rice (200 mon): 0
Dried, Chilled Vegetables (300 mon): -0.25
Grilled Sparrow (400 mon): +0.5
Fruit Assortment (500 mon): 0
Seafood Platter (800 mon): -0.25
Grilled Tuna Head (1,000 mon): +1
ACCESSORIES
-----------
Dragon Inrou +1
GIFTS
-----
Gold-Lacquered Comb +1
Fireworks Kimono +1
QUESTIONS
---------
For those who don't speak Japanese, count the number of "-" or "*"'s I write
and choose that response. "*" means a Chinese character (kanji) and "-" means a
kana (the simpler character from the Japanese syllabaries).
Q: What do I spend most of my time doing?
A: Dressing (+1)
(Mijitaku suru koto)
1. **-*---
2. *-*----
3. ***----- +1
Q: What's the best skill for a wife?
A: Cleaning (+1)
(Souji)
1. ** +1
2. **
3. **
Q: There's a word for it--do you know what it is?
A: "Essential" (+1)
(Kanjinkaname)
1. **-*
2. ***-
3. *** +1
Q: Do you like the theater?
A: I want to try my hand at acting (+1)
(Yakusha ni natte mitai)
1. **------- +1
2. **----,**-----------
3. **-**--****---
Q: How do you feel?
A: I get light-hearted (+1)
(Okashi na kibun ni naru)
1. ----**--- +1
2. *---**---
3. *---**---
Q: Which is the guardian of the East?
A: The Blue Dragon (+1)
(Seiryuu)
1. **
2. ** +1
3. **
Q: The kamuro won't learn
A: Be patient when teaching them (+1)
(Aserazu ni konki yoku oshieru)
1. *-*--,*-*--
2. *---**--*-- +1
3. **-*-*-*-
Q: Which game do you like the best?
A: Sake-bottle toppling (+1)
(Tokkuri taoshi)
1. *****
2. ***- +1
3. ----**
Q: I'll lend you "The Tale of Genji"--will you read it?
A: I'll have you read it for me (+2)
(Yonde morau)
1. *-
2. *---
3. *----- +2
Q: What do you think?
A: I think you were a tomboy (+1)
(Otenba datta to omou)
1. ---------*-
2. -**----*- +1
3. *-------*-
Q: Do you know where the title "tayuu" comes from?
A: In the arts of the theater, it's the principle actor (+1)
(Mai ya nou no shibai wo okonatte, sono chuushin yaku to naru kara)
1. *-*-**-*--,--***----- +1
2. -*--**--*-**-*-------
3. *--*-*----**-[**]-*--
Q: Do you know the end of the phrase?
A: "It falls on my body, in a long gaze in the deep rain...." (actually laden
with double meanings; uses subtle meanings that cannot be translated) (+1)
(Waga mi yo ni furu nagameseshi ma ni)
1. ---*-- ----*--
2. --**--- ------- +1
3. *-*--- *------
Q: Shall I brighten up the mood?
A: The Tatsuya's pretty dirty; I'd like to see it cleaned up (+1)
(Tatsuya ga kitanai kara, kirei ni shite hoshii)
1. **-**-*---*-*---?
2. *--**-*-*---
3. **-*---,--------- +1
Q: What part of the sword do you think I like the most?
A: The swordguard (+1)
(Tsuba)
1. *(--)
2. *(--)
3. *(--) +1
Q: How do you think I walk?
A: Bow-legged (+1)
(Hachimoji)
1. ***
2. *** +1
3. ***
Q: Which will bring happiness to a woman?
A: To love one man (+1)
(Hitori no otoko wo aishinuku koto)
1. **-*-*-*--- +1
2. -----*-*----
3. *-*---------
Q: This is sake I made myself
A: I'd like to try it (+1 + makes you drunk)
(Sore ha nonde mitai)
1. -----*---
2. ---*----- +1
3. ----**,*-*---
Q: They say it'll bring you good fortune
A: Aren't they just trying to unload something they couldn't sell? (+1)
(Urenokotta shinamono ga kyuu ni ureta no ka?)
1. *---**-*----?
2. **-*-*----?
3. *-*--**-*-*----? +1
Q: Do you think money buys anything?
A: You don't need money at all (+2)
(Kane nante zenzen hitsuyou nai)
1. *-*--*--
2. *-*--------
3. *---****-- +2
Q: What shape are the new bonfires?
A: The same as the Chinese character for "Morning" (+1)
("Asa" no ji)
1. [*]-*
2. [*]-* +1
3. [*]-*
Q: My kimono's become so heavy
A: I'm impressed--you make it look so light and graceful (+1)
(Yuuga ni kikonashiteiru koto ni kanshin)
1. ---**-----*-
2. *--*--**-----?
3. **-*---------** +1
Q: You want to spent New Year's with me?
A: I promise to spend it with you (+1)
(Issho ni sugosu yakusoku wo suru)
1. *---*----*-
2. **-*--**--- +1
3. *-
Q: Good fortune will come from our getting close
A: I believe it (+1)
(Shinjiru)
1. *-- +1
2. *---
3. *-*-*----
Q: What should I recommend
A: Raising kamuro (+1)
(Kamuro wo sodatete iku koto)
Q: I'll give you something good if you drink this in one gulp!
A: I'll drink it (+1 + makes you drunk)
(Nomu)
DATE
----
Talk to Asagiri's kamuro outside the Yumejiya and receive her letter. Meet her
at the Gion Inari Shrine. Choose the top choice to go to the Kouyou Restaurant
and order either the Pine for Two (fith choice, 13,600 mon) or the Supreme Meal
for two (20,000 mon, last choice).
FINAL STORY
-----------
Asagiri asks to meet you at the Gion Inari Shrine. When you go there, however,
she's nowhere to be found. The owner of the Yumejiya runs up to you. It looks
like Asagiri's being purchased away from the brothel. Return to the Yumejiya.
There's a man named Toramaro who's trying to buy her, but she's refusing. The
Yumejiya will have to close down without their famous tayuu, so, they've all
scraped some money together to match his 4,000,000, but, they only have
3,500,000 mon and need 500,000 more. That's your cue. When you have the money,
talk to Asagiri outside the Yumejiya. Choose the top choice to give 500,000 mon
back to Toramaro so he has no claim on her, but, he calls some cronies (of
course). Beat them. (Don't worry; you get your 500,000 mon back)
ANSWERS FOR MAN AT GION GATE
----------------------------
1. Top choice (cleaning)
2. Middle choice (She was a tomboy)
3. Top choice (The sword guard)
4. Bottom choice (Sake she made herself)
---------------------------
5e. Skill Games & Gambling
---------------------------
You may have noticed the prodigious amounts of extraneous material in this
title. I think this is a continuation of the long-standing tradition of RPGs
and Zelda titles, where you have to do all these weird little things to get all
the items and power-ups and such in the game.
It is a little overwhelming. But, it's also part of the charm, I suppose, so
get on out there and give these weird little games a whirl, I suppose.
I should note that there are more skill games than this in the game, but that
I've decided not to include them here but in other sections. This is partly
because the games listed here do not directly affect your statistics or special
abilities. These are purely for enjoyment, for money, or to win over the hearts
of yuujo. The only thing you will directly get by mastering all of these games
is the Skanda Shoes, which you receive by completing the "Skill Games" section
of the Completion Lists.
PLEASURE DISTRICT GAMES
Fan Tossing (Tousenkyou)
-----------
This is one of the games offered at the Azamiya brothel. If you have a choice
of playing one game or the other, I would probably recommend this game.
The basic premise is simple. There's a platform. There's some object on top.
You got a paper folding fan. Toss that fan and make it knock the thing off.
As the diagram shows, pull back on the stick and let go. This is sort-of like
the skill shot in a pinball game. Let go, but not too late or the fan will
sail far or get shot up into the air and fall all clumsily, and not too early or
it'll just fall to the ground.
Hit the side of the platform and topple your target, and you get 1 point. Hit
the target but sail past with the fan and you get 2 points. Hit the target and
land either on the platform or skim along it and fall off and you'll get 3.
It just takes a little practice. It's pretty funny to watch Kiryuu's reaction
when his fan misses. His sad face looks so pretentious! Oh well. Get more
points than the yuujo and you win.
A-B-C Cards (Iroha Carta)
-----------
This is one of the two games offered at the Azamiya brothel. If you know no
Japanese, I'd recommend against playing it. If you do know Japanese, it's still
pretty annoying.
The idea is simple. A kamuro reads famous sayings or starts to poems, and you
have to find the appropriate card that matches the first syllable of the poem.
They're scattered on the floor, in disarray, turned this way and that. You have
to select the appropriate card before the yuujo does--which is sometimes quite
impossible.
The only good thing here is that the layout of the cards seems to be the same
from play to play. It's still annoying trying to remember where the card is and
heading over there, when she can sometimes just automatically leap through time
and space and catch the card regardless of where her pointer is.
You play until one player has the number of points necessary to win. That
number varies from yuujo to yuujo. When a player only has one point left to go,
the kamuro will say so. Then, get the next point, and you win! By Milton
Bradley. Well...maybe not.
Kompira Boats (Kompira Funefune)
-------------
This is one of the games offered at the Yumejiya brothel. The name comes from
a style of folk/drinking music, "Kompirafunefune." It has been said that this
song was sang at the arrival and launching of boats that left near the Kompira
Shrine (also called the "Kotohira" Shrine).
In any event, this is a sort of rhythm game. There's a lacquered plank in
between you and the yuujo, and a red marker that is to be placed in its center.
You and the yuujo take turns reaching forward towards the plank and pulling
your hand back in rhythm with the music. If the marker is there, you can either
take it or place your palm over it as if you were going to take it, but leave it
there. If it's not there, you must ball your fist up and knock on the plank.
The idea is that the first person who knocks the marker or reaches to grab
what isn't there loses. The idea is to try to mix up grabbing the marker,
holding onto it, not grabbing it, and leaving it down to lure the opponent into
messing up.
Square makes a fist and knocks on the plank. If the marker is on the plank,
Triangle makes you touch it and leave it. Circle makes you pick it up. When
you have it, Circle lets you put it back, or Triangle lets you go to put it
back but hold onto it. You can only do that three times in a row.
The rules are actually quite simple and once you've tried it a few times,
you'll see what's going on. But, once you've gone through 10 turns, the music
speeds up. It speeds up again 10 moves later. When it's going very quickly, it
can be very easy to make a misstep.
The girls are quite good at this game, and I'd probably recommend choosing
the other one at this brothel, if you have a choice.
Sake Bottle Toppling (Tokuri Taoshi - Bowling)
--------------------
Hey, apparently, they had bowling lanes at these brothels in 17th-century
Japan. Who knew, huh?
This game is offered at the Yumejiya brothel. Ten pins are lined up in the
back--sorry; not pins, but sake bottles--and you have to hurl a bowl down a long
stretch of wooden floor and knock 'em all down. If you mess up and only knock
some of them down, you have one more chance per set to "pick up the spare"--to
knock the remaining pins down. This is, of course, worth less than a strike
(knocking down all 10). You'll get a higher bonus for keeping the strikes
coming.
The final set is a little different. You get one set, and if you get a
strike, you get another set, and a third for a second strike (otherwise you can
just try to pick up the spare). If you pick up the spare of the first part of
this final set, you get one more chance, but no chance to pick up that spare.
The perfect game would have all strikes, and three strikes in the final set.
It's less complicated than it sounds. Anyone who's been bowling will get it
right away.
Here's how it works. First, hitting left or right on the stick, you can set
your position. Hit the "confirm" button. Then, you set your power by choosing
it as the gauge fluctuates. Then, you choose the angle, picking it while the
gauge again fluctuates from the left to the right. After all that, while Kiryuu
is actually rolling the ball, you can add some spin to it to make it curve to
the left or the right with the L1 and R1 buttons.
The idea is to get the ball curving slightly inward, striking between the lead
pin and the one right behind it. This is how to get strikes. You'll see the
girls using various strategies to do so. I recommend you practice a bit and try
to get it about half speed, thrown from the center of the lane, with your shot
aimed almost halfway to the left or the right and use the L1 or R1 button to
bring it back in about 75% of the way or so. It takes a little tinkering to
find the right shot, but, once you get a feel for it, it's not really too chal-
lenging. That's why I recommend that if you are given a choice in the Yumejiya,
you choose this game.
GAMBLING
Turtle Racing
-------------
In Gion, to the west from the break in the set of torii gates leading north
from Komaki's dojo to the Gion Inari Shrine, there's a gambling house. You can
race turtles here. You can choose to either bet money on just some random
turtle, or use one of your own that you've either found lying around or bought
from the turtle vendor on Shijou in the Suburbs.
This is pretty self-explanatory. The winner is the one who makes the goal,
and you get paid accordingly.
To raise a turtle is a different story. I myself didn't spend too much time
on this, but, what you do is buy a litle bucket to keep them in at your house
from the turtle vendor and give them food. They'll run away if you don't pay
'em enough attention. You can only keep 5 in there at once and you can't put
turtles into your "items box" / storage area, so, you'll either have to let 'em
go or put 'em in your bucket. If you complete the list of yuujo, you'll get a
turtle that won't run away.
I'm not big on gambling and, like I said, I didn't invest too much time on
this, but that's a quick sketch of what to do.
Clink-Clink (Chinchirorin)
-----------
This is the dice game. Its name comes from the sound of the dice striking the
bowl you throw them into--the same sound crickets make when they chirp.
Now, I'm absolutely no good at gambling and I have very little interest in it.
So, my advice here will not be too great. Basically, you play against three
other people. You throw three dice in. You get three attempts to get a roll--
like a hand at poker. If you get two of a kind, the third die roll acts as a
"aces high" kind of thing; you get a 6, and you'll beat others who roll a pair
and any other die roll, regardless of the pair.
There are other die rolls that carry certain significance. For these, you
can use the items Gyoutensai invents, such as the "arashi youkan" ("three-of-a-
kind" sweet pastry), or the "dribble jizou" ("dribbling" means that the die
accidentally leaves the bowl). But, I won't go into great detail here on each
different one and what they all mean. It's all luck, and your main focus should
be on rolling three-of-a-kind or a pair with a high third die roll.
Hanafuda
--------
The name "Hanafuda" means "flower cards." As one might conclude from that,
this is a card game that centers around flowers. It's been around for a long
time and has had various forms, various decks, many varied rules, and so I'm
afraid I can't get into this too much, just the same as I can't describ the
games of mah jong or shogi. I'm sorry about that, but, I have very little
interest in this sort of thing.
Chouhan (Even-Odd)
-------
In this dice game, no player rolls the dice, but the house hires a roller. You
and others guess whether it will be even or odd. It's fairly straitforward.
"Chou" is "even;" "han" is odd. There are two of Gyoutensai's inventions that
correspond with these.
BOARD GAMES
Mah Jong
--------
I'm really afraid I'll be of almost no help on this or shogi. Four players are
given tiles and can make certain plays with their tiles, discarding them or
taking more, until they have certain sets that are like hands in gin. If you've
never played mah jong, and you don't already "get" it, this will probably be
very difficult to you (as it is to me).
Shogi
-----
This is sometimes called "Japanese chess." It's similar to chess, where your
objective is to destroy the enemy and you have various playing pieces with
different moves available. So, it's a lot of strategy. Unfortunately, I'm no
good at this at all. I'm not even 100% sure what all the pieces are.
So, good luck!
OTHERS
Aim for the Celebrity of the 1,000 Ryou Actor! (Kabuki)
----------------------------------------------
After the favor "Izumo no Okuni," you can visit the shrine at night get back on
the stage. As you defeat enemies or use Heat Actions, the crowd cheers and
throws coins on the stage. Gather as many coins as possible in the time limit!
If you can get 1,000, you'll get the 1,000 Ryou Actor Umbrella. Doing so is
not terribly easy, but it's not impossible. You have to pretty much let go of
the idea of using the reversal-like Heat Action that wins the audience over.
The foes block so much, it'll probably have you gritting your teeth. You'll
want to hit them with the Triangle attack and knock them down over and over.
This seems to be the only way to stop them from just standing in your face,
guarding, while their friends sneak around behind you and make you collapse for
30 hours. Stomp on them while they're down and use the Heat Action pursuit in
particular to get high bonuses. Don't forget to pause and run around and grab
the gold from time to time, now.
The Showplace
-------------
I didn't know where else to put this. It's not a skill game, it doesn't appear
on the completion lists, and it's not something that builds you up. So, I just
threw it here.
There are seven shows to watch at the showplace on Yamato in the Suburbs. To
watch one, you'll first need the bill, which you get from the various restaur-
ants about town. Order 4 or more items and they should give it to you. You'll
need to at least get the one from the sakaya, Ikken'ya, on Shijou, to get a
certain Revelation, and the one from either White Snake Udon or Hatsukaze
Kitchen so that when the "old fox" visits you in Chapter 10 you'll have one of
the shows that he wants to see to pass that part of the story.
Here is a brief list of the shows and where to get the bills:
How Unusual! Terrifically-High Jumping Monkey!
White Snake Udon. A monkey does a pole vault.
Terrifying Devil Woman! Bizarre Woman Eats A Snake!
Sakaya Ikken'ya. A woman (Shibata Ami) bites a snake's head off.
Swoon From Excitement! Enchanting, Naked Dance!
Sushiya Gin. A weird guy dances.
Swoon From Being Bewitched! Naked Woman Dances Erotically!
Kouyourou. A naked woman dances, but, it's too crowded to see anything.
Soft-Skinned Paradise! Couple Meet in Nude Embrace!
Hatsukaze Kitchen. Sumo wrestlers grapple each other.
Fiery Hell! Man Breathes Fire!
Sakaya Nakanokura. A guy breathes fire.
Bold Bravery! The Greatest Swordsman Dance!
Either Tea House. A guy does a (rather slow) sword dance.
-----------------
5f. Storage Keys
-----------------
After the Service Mission "Storage Locker Instructions" in Chapter 5, you can
find keys to the storage lockers hidden all about the various lands visited in
Ryuu ga Gotoku Kenzan!.
Actually, in the Prologue, you will need to find one key and open a locker
with it, so you should become familiar with the location of the lockers fairly
early on. There are fifty lockers, and they are named using an old system of
counting based on a famous poem that uses all of the basic kana. The poem uses
the old way of writing, and uses various kana where they wouldn't normall be
used now--for instance, it starts out "iro wa nioedo chirinuru wo," but it's
written "iro ha nihohedo chirinuru wo...." I won't get into the specifics here
any more than I already have because you might not be looking for a Japanese
linguistics lesson, but, just so you know, there is a way of counting similar
to our alphabetical order that follows this poem. So, that's why they have
strange names like "Ho-3."
Here is what they look like when you're at the lockers. Follow the grid and
find your locker. In each one, I'll write the chapter they can be found in.
Don't worry; it doesn't look like there are ones like in the first game that
only appear for a brief moment in the game and then you don't ever have a second
chance to grab 'em.
Nu Ri Chi To He Ho Ni Ha Ro I
1 5 9 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 Prologue
2 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 9 5 5
3 5 5 6 5 5 5 6 5 5 5
4 5 5 9 5 9 5 5 9 5 5
5 8 5 6 9 5 6 5 5 5 5
I-1. Gion. Gion Inari Shrine near an Inari Statue.
ITEM: Pawn Shop Owner's Debt
I-2. Gion. On a wooden walkway in the Suiten Inari area.
ITEM: Book of the Offerings to the Water God
I-3. Gion. In front of the Tatsuya.
ITEM: Shikuyoku Waterfall Spirit Waterfall
I-4. Gion. Beside Yumejiya.
ITEM: The Water God's Stone
I-5. Suburbs. On a bench on Shijou Street near the shrine at the east.
ITEM: Forgotten Temple Buddha Statue Fragment
Ro-1. Suburbs. Inside the blacksmith's in the back.
ITEM: Dragon Whisker
Ro-2. Forest Path. At the fork in the road leading to the cave.
ITEM: Spirit Ball from the Futsumitama
Ro-3. Suburbs. Inside Arigataya Market.
ITEM: Goddess Hairpin
Ro-4. Gion. In the backstreets of Nakanomachi.
ITEM: Lump of Fine Steel
Ro-5. Gion. Right were a man is standing inside the Information Booth.
ITEM: Wrath of the Dragon
Ha-1. Kawara. At the edge of the bridge, near the entrance to the Suburbs.
ITEM: Lapis Lazuli
Ha-2. Farmland Path. Atop a bridge over a stream.
ITEM: The Strange Legend of the Tengu
Ha-3. Suburbs. Higashiyama Shopping District, near a kettle.
ITEM: Tengu Stone
Ha-4. Cliffside Path. Along the path, beside the valley.
ITEM: Yamimaro's Ancient Text, Volume 3
Ha-5. Mountain Path. Under the staircase to the little hut.
ITEM: Jewel of the Wild Soul
Ni-1. Gion. In the backstreets of Nakanomachi.
ITEM: Book of the Lionsword Chaos
Ni-2. Gion. In the small alley beside the sakaya.
ITEM: Lump of Fine Steel
Ni-3. Riverside Path. Near a small table near a tea house on the way to the
Suburbs, near a table with a small meal set out on it.
ITEM: Jewel of the Wild Soul
Ni-4. Suburbs. Shijou Street, on the bridge before the Gate to Gion.
ITEM: Cut from the Sacred Tree
Ni-5. Kawara. On the top of a lantern on the way to Kouetsu's Mansion.
ITEM: Fighting Coat
Ho-1. Mountain Path. On the dead-end path.
ITEM: Forgotten Temple Statue Fragment
Ho-2. Gion. In the little area between the sakaya and the sushi restaurant.
ITEM: Talisman from the Yasaka Shrine
Ho-3. Suburbs. Yamato Alley at the southern save point, atop a door.
ITEM: Resurrection Amulet
Ho-4. Kawara. In front of the Kouetsu Mansion.
ITEM: Vengeful Undead's Hair
Ho-5. Yoshioka Dojo. On the wall near the Jizou statue save point.
ITEM: Beautiful Sword Appraisal Guide
He-1. Forest Path. Atop a box in in the shed across from the stables.
ITEM: Temari Stone
He-2. Gion. Inside the sakaya.
ITEM: The Water God's Stone
He-3. Gion. Atop a wooden box on the east side of the well.
ITEM: Jewel of the Peaceful Soul
He-4. Countryside Path. Near the entrance to the Yoshioka Dojo.
ITEM: White Lion Hair
He-5. Kiyomizu Temple. Behind the dog statue.
ITEM: Adamantine Ore
To-1. Kawara. On a bench in the east.
ITEM: Temari Stone
To-2. Gion. Outside Arigatay Market at the left corner.
ITEM: Dragon Whisker
To-3. Forest Path. On the edge of the road near the Kiyomizu Temple.
ITEM: Oni Hair
To-4. Gion. Atop a roof near the entrance to the gambling house.
ITEM: Lump of Steel
To-5. Cliffside Path. On the path, at the wall.
ITEM: Resurrection Book
Chi-1. Suburbs. In the shrine at the donations box.
ITEM: Resurrection Amulet
Chi-2. Kawara. In the middle of the path in front of the soba restaurant.
ITEM: Jewel of the Wild Soul
Chi-3. Riverside Tea House. At the left side of the tea house.
ITEM: Book of 100 Nights and 1,000 Darknesses
Chi-4. Countryside Path. In the path between the fields in the north just
before entering the Yoshioka Dojo.
ITEM: Japanese Buddhist Mummy's Pedestal
Chi-5. Riverside Path. Beneath the staircase in the center of the map.
ITEM: Thousand-Year Ice Stone
Ri-1. Countryside Path. Left rice field.
ITEM: Hazy Steel
Ri-2. Gion. On the roof next to the Mute-ryuu Dojo.
ITEM: Jewel of the Wild Soul
Ri-3. Mountain Path. Near the Kiyomizu Temple.
ITEM: Star Steel
Ri-4. Suburbs. On a bench in Nagaya.
ITEM: Cut of an Ash Tree
Ri-5. Gion. Inside the sushi restaurant.
ITEM: Erotic Art of an Exquisite Beauty
Nu-1. Gion. The street to the west of the Red Leaf Inn.
ITEM: Lightening Stone
Nu-2. Suburbs. On the counter of the sakaya.
ITEM: Jewel of the Peaceful Mind
Nu-3. Gion. Behind the Inari Shrine.
ITEM: Gold Tortoiseshell
Nu-4. Gion. Inside the Pharmacy's entrance area.
ITEM: Brittle Steel Wakizashi
Nu-5. Houzouin. Atop the bridge.
ITEM: Yamimaro's Ancient Text, Volume 2
If you can find all 50 keys and open all the lockers, you'll get the Lucky
Beads, which will prevent random encounters from appearing on the map. This is
good for consecutive plays through, once you're already max'ed out.
---------
5g. Maps
---------
These maps aren't to scale at all. I'm sorry, but, it's very difficult to
represent things in this limited text environment. I'm also very bad at ascii
art (as you can tell from my wonderful logo at the beginning of this faq--or
lack thereof).
I will not include maps for most areas; just for the main "overworld" map and
the two big, town-like areas (Gion and the Suburbs [Rakugaichou]). That's be-
cause most of the other places are just a single path and making a map would be
more than a little pointless. I've already wasted enough time on this faq.
---------
|WORLD MAP|
---------
RENDAI FIELDS GION DISTRICT
| |
COUNTRYSIDE--YOSHIOKA--KAWARA--SUBURBS
DOJO / \
--------------- \
/ FOREST--SHISIDO'S CAVE
RIVERSIDE PATH
PATH \
| KIYOMIZU
| TEMPLE
| / \
| WATERFALL--MOUNTAIN \
| PATH YAGYUU VILLAGE
RIVERSIDE /
TEA HOUSE--CLIFFSIDE--SANJUUSANGENDOU
| PATH
HOUZOUIN
--------
|GION MAP| Legend:
-------- S = Save Point
L = Storage Lockers
.........
.........--1
Well Area
......... 2 3 4 Tsurumachi
......... -------------------------- Street
| | | | |
| 5 | | | | Kadomachi
Kamemachi S----------------------------| | | | Area
Street | |6 | | /--
| | |7 | / |
----------| | | / .....
| | | |S / .......
| | 8| |/ .........
9| |10 W.Tsujigiri |11 E.Tsujigiri| ..... Gion
/ |-----------------+----------------.....Inari
| | | | .12.Shrine
| | Nakanomachi| |13 ..........
| ------------| | |
| Area |----| | ... \
| 14 | 15|16 17......-|
---------------------------| ... /
| | | |
| | |-------------------------- Monmae
.SUITEN. | | L 18
.INARI.. | |
.SHRINE.- 19-----
20
Gion
Street
1. Back entrance to the Tsuruya Brothel
2. Tsuruya Brothel
3. Mah Jong
4. Inventor Gyoutensai's Place
5. Kamenoya Brothel
6. Sushiya Gin
7. Ebisuya Pawn Shop
8. Azamiya Brothel
9. Hatsukaze Kitchen
10. Tenguya Pharmacy
11. Sakaya Nakanokura
12. Shogi
13. Yumejiya Brothel
14. Kouyourou Restaurant
15. Arigataya Market
16. Gion Information Area
17. Gambling Area
18. Gion Mute Dojo
19. The Tatsuya (Kiryuu's base)
20. Gion Gate
-------------------------
|SUBURBS (RAKUGAICHOU) MAP|
------------------------- Legend
S = Save Point
P = Palanquin Service
1 2 3 P 4 S
<- To Shijou -------------------------------------------------5
Kawara Street S | 6 7 | 8
| 9 |
Nagaya |-----------------------|
Street | 10 11 12 | |
13| 12 14|15 |
Higashiyama |-----------------------|
Street | | P|16
| 17| 18 |
Ebisu Street S|--------+--------------|
/ ... S\
/ .19 \
Yamato Hanami
To Street Street To
Riverside Forest
Path Path
| |
v v
1. Officer's post (wanted posters)
2. Back entrance to the Tatsuya (Gion)
3. Gion Gate
4. Turtle Vendor
5. Yasaka Shrine (Kabuki performances at night)
6. White Snake Udon
7. Sakaya Ikken'ya
8. Etchuuya Pharmacy
9. Narikane Shogi Parlour
10. Chinchirorin (dice)
11. Hanafuda
12. Arigataya Market
13. Showplace
14. Rakugai Shrine
15. Mah Jong Village
16. The Blacksmith
17. The Weapons Shop
18. Zanki Dojo
19. Engiriji (Divorce Temple)
----------
5h. Shops
----------
Here is a list of what is sold at the various shops. I'll list all the items
offered at the restaurants in their own section in the Completion Lists, so
there's not too much repeated information in this FAQ.
If you can't get an item, it's probably not the right chapter. Certain shops
such as the Ebisuya Pawn Shop get more items as the story progresses. So, these
are just final lists of everything available. Also note that you must gather
the ingredients for Gyoutensai to create three of the healing items before they
will appear in shop menus.
ARIGATAYA MARKET (Gion) Price Chapter
-Items-
Strong All-Purpose Pills 350 All
Extra-Strength All-Purpose Pills 500 All
Manjuu 10 All
Grilled Dango 18 All
Mandarin Orange 10 All
Red Ore 240 8
Diamant Ore 320 8
Gold Hairpin 40,000 5
Kaguya Princess Bamboo Comb 1,000 5
Fireworks Kimono 30,000 5
Cherry Blossom Kimono 20,000 5
Crysanthemum Sash 7,500 5
Waves Sash 5,000 5
Lattice Sash 2,500 5
Portuguese Hand Mirror 5,000 5
Dutch Handbag 3,000 5
Foreign Cloth 2,000 5
-Equipment-
Kyoto-Made Women's Perfume 2,000 5
Edo-Made Women's Perfume 3,000 5
Sarashi 200 All
Oni Sarashi 4,000 8
Iron Kiseru 2,100 5
Fine Umbrella 540 6
TENGUYA PHARMACY (Gion) Price Chapter
Health Pills 100 All
Strong Health Pills 150 All
Extra-Strength Health Pills 200 All
Spirit Pills 50 All
Strong Spirit Pills 100 All
Extra-Strength Spirit Pills 150 All
All-Purpose Pills 200 All
Strong All-Purpose Pills 350 All
Extra-Strength All-Purpose Pills 500 All
Extreme All-Purpose Pills 1,000 Invent
Sobering Pills 200 Invent
Stomach-Emptying Pills 230 Invent
Perilla Leaf 10 All
Japanese Pepper 20 All
Ginger 25 All
Sesame 30 All
Agate 5,000 8
Giant Clam Shell 5,000 10
EBISUYA PAWN SHOP (Gion) Price Chapter
-Items-
Red Hairpin 800 All
Tortoise-Shell Hairpin 12,000 All
Gold-Lacquered Comb 25,000 All
Forgotten Temple Buddha Statue Fragment 600 5
Lapis Lazuli 5,000 5
Crystal 5,000 6
Goddess Hairpin 1,800 8
Goddess Headband 120 9
Susa-no-O Spirit Ball 2,500 10
Vengeful Undead's Hair 100 10
Dragon's Fang 500 11
Wrath of the Dragon 2,000 11
Unholy Otherworldly Stone 800 11
-Arms-
Sarashi 200 5
Ancient Chestplate 20,000 6
Bassarimaru 34,000 6
Old Greatsword 15,600 6
Antique Greatsword 12,500 6
Rusted Old Greatsword 18,000 6
Imitation Greatsword 2,500 6
ARIGATAYA MARKET (Suburbs) Price Chapter
-Items-
Strong All-Purpose Pills 350 5
Extra-Strength All-Purpose Pills 500 5
Manjuu 10 5
Grilled Dango 18 5
Dancing Crane Kimono 10,000 5
Confeito 500 5
Mandarin Orange 10 5
Children's Doll - Emperor 7,500 5
Children's Doll - Empress 15,000 5
Mechanical Doll 30,000 5
Gold Tortoise-Shell 500 7
Silver Steel 200 7
Temari Stone 500 7
Baleen 25 7
-Equipment-
Rising Dragon Inrou 18,000 5
Foreign-Made Men's Cologne 1,000 5
Sarashi 200 5
Fighting Sarashi 1,000 5
Manly Sarashi 2,500 5
Fine Umbrella 540 5
ETCHUUYA PHARMACY (Suburbs) Price Chapter
Health Pills 100 5
Strong Health Pills 150 5
Extra-Strength Health Pills 200 5
Spirit Pills 50 5
Strong Spirit Pills 100 5
Extra-Strength Spirit Pills 150 5
All-Purpose Pills 200 5
Strong All-Purpose Pills 350 5
Extra-Strength All-Purpose Pills 500 5
Extreme All-Purpose Pills 1,000 Invent
Sobering Pills 200 Invent
Stomach-Emptying Pills 230 Invent
Perilla Leaf 10 5
Japanese Pepper 20 5
Ginger 25 5
Sesame 30 5
Gold Tortoise-Shell 500 5
Dragon's Whiskers 1,500 7
Horse Meat 180 5
Boar Meat 200 5
WEAPON'S SHOP (Suburbs) Price Chapter
-Arms-
Fighting Coat 3,000 5
Chain Coat 5,000 7
Steel Coat 8,000 8
Wooden Chestplate 6,000 6
Iron Chestplate 8,000 7
Steel Chestplate 10,000 8
Sacred Tree Chestplate 15,000 5
Seamless Headband 5,000,000 5
Nameless Sword 2,000 5
Nameless Sword Maximum 4,000 5
Evergreen Oak Bokutou 500 5
Dark Purple Bokutou 800 5
Brittle Steel Katana 6,000 5
Tessaimaru 6,000 5
Nameless Kodachi 1,000 5
Nameless Kodachi Maximum 3,000 5
Evergreen Oak Kodachi 200 5
Brittle Steel Wakizashi 2,200 5
Iron Greatsword 13,000 6
Brittle Steel Greatsword 17,300 6
Cast-Iron Staff 16,000 7
Jutte 5,800 5
-Materials-
Lump of Steel 1,000 5
Fine Lump of Steel 2,000 6
Extremely Fine Lump of Steel 3,000 8
Mother of Pearl 200 9
Tengu Stone 400 5
The Water God's Stone 500 5
Tiger Fang 200 7
THE TURTLE VENDOR (Suburbs) Price Rank
-Turtles-
Grass Turtle 2,000 Average
Stone Turtle 2,000 Average
Stone Turtle 9,000 Komusubi
Stone Turtle 15,000 Sekiwake
-Food- Price Increased Statistics
Dried Seaweed 40 N/A
Dried Agar-Agar 200 Maximum Food Capacity
Worm (Small) 10 Stamina, Max Stamina
Worm (Medium) 50 Stamina, Max Stamina
Worm (Large) 100 Stamina, Max Stamina
Mollusk 10 Sand, Max Sand
Clam 50 Sand, Max Sand
Scallop 100 Sand, Max Sand
Small Shrimp 10 Mud, Max Mud
Prawn 50 Mud, Max Mud
Spiny Lobster 100 Mud, Max Mud
Killifish 10 Water, Max Water
Goldfish 50 Water, Max Water
Sweetfish 100 Water, Max Water
Eel Liver 30 Stamina, Max Stamina
Dried Mullet Roe 70 Stamina, Max Stamina
Salmon Roe 100 Stamina, Max Stamina
Pond Snail 30 Land, Max Land
Loach 70 Land, Max Land
Crawfish 100 Land, Max Land
MAH JONG (Gion) Points
Writ to Change 1,000 Points to Money 1,000
Writ to change 10,000 Points to Money 10,000
Nada Refined Sake 600
Nanto Sake 1,400
Scrap of Iron 500
Wrath of the Dragon 20,000
GAMBLING HOUSE (Gion) Points
Writ to Change 10,000 Points to Money 10,000
Writ to Change 100,000 Points to Money 100,000
Manjuu 10
Mandarin Orange 10
Extra-Strength All-Purpose Pills 500
Lapis Lazuli 5,000
Spirit Water from the Lust Waterfall 200
Dragon Whiskers 1,500
CHINCHIRORIN (Dice) (Suburbs) Points
Writ to Change 10,000 Points to Money 10,000
Writ to Change 100,000 Points to Money 100,000
Manjuu 10
Mandarin Orange 10
Extra-Strength All-Purpose Pills 500
Lapis Lazuli 5,000
Spirit Water from the Lust Waterfall 200
Dragon Whiskers 1,500
HANAFUDA (Suburbs) Points
Writ to Change 10,000 Points to Money 10,000
Writ to Change 100,000 Points to Money 100,000
Manjuu 10
Mandarin Orange 10
Extra-Strength All-Purpose Pills 500
Lapis Lazuli 5,000
Spirit Water from the Lust Waterfall 200
Dragon Whiskers 1,500
NARIKANE SHOGI (Suburbs) Points
Writ to Change 1,000 Points to Money 1,000
Writ to change 10,000 Points to Money 10,000
Nada Refined Sake 600
Nanto Sake 1,400
Scrap of Iron 500
Wrath of the Dragon 20,000
----------
5i. Items
----------
5i-I. Weapons
--------------
As you may have already guessed, there are four main types of weapon: dachi,
kodachi, greatswords, and miscellaneous weapons. On the completion list, they
are listed under different subcategories, one subcategory per page. You can
hit left or right to scroll through the different pages. I'll list them from
the first (normal swords), then each listing after that will come one page to
the right.
The "attack" statistic is how much damage you deal out. The "strength" stat
is for how easily you effect larger enemies or break guards, and for how well
you can guard attacks. The "speed" is, obviously, how fast your attacks will
be.
Obviously, the ones I say to temper or have forged are done at the black-
smith's. There's only one blacksmith in the game, and it's on Hanami in the
Suburbs. You'll need to temper a sword up to its maximum, typically, and then
use the materials listed to make the sword. Once a sword reaches its maximum
and you can make another sword out of it, selecting it will show you what it
can become. When there is more than one choice, hit left and right on the left
analog stick to cycle through the various new swords that can be made.
To do this, you'll need instructions, which are found throughout the game in
various ways such as the storage lockers or side missions. Here, first, is a
list of the various instructions:
BEAUTIFUL SWORD APPRAISAL GUIDE
Storage Locker Ho-5
BOOK OF 100 NIGHTS AND 1,000 DARKNESSES
Storage Locker Chi-3
BOOK OF OFFERINGS TO THE WATER GOD
Storage Locker I-2
BOOK OF THE LIONSWORD CHAOS
Storage Locker Ni-1
BOOK OF THE YATSUKA
Talk to a certain Ninja in Kouetsu's from Chapter 11 on
CLASSICAL TEXT OF THE DIVINE AGE
Talk to Gyoutensai from Chapter 9 on
CLASSICAL TEXT OF THE OLD DAYS
Talk to the blacksmith from Chapter 5 on
CLASSICAL TEXT OF THE ONI GOD
Bounty Kuroshima Raiden
CLASSICAL TEXT OF THE SOUL
Talk to a certain Ninja in Kouetsu's from Chapter 6 on
JEWELS AND STEEL HERO'S SWORD LEGEND
Talk to the monk near the bridge in Kawara, agree
LEGEND OF THE VANISHING OF THE NUE AND MIZUCHI
Favor "The Sword that Grants Wishes"
ONI BLADE FORGING GUIDE
Merchant at Sanjuusangendou
RESURRECTION BOOK
Storage Locker To-5
STAR STEEL LEGEND
Bounty Matsu the Judge
STRANGE LEGEND OF THE TENGU
Stroage Locker Ha-2
TETSUGANSAI INSTRUCTIONS
Bounty Tetsugansai the Good-for-Nothing
TREASURE SWORD LEGEND
Chapter 5 story event with blacksmith
TWIN DRAGONS CLOTH WARRIOR SCROLL
Bounty Nobitaka Who Uses the Air to Slice
WORLD OF DAZZLING HOPE SWORDS
Talk to the old man in the Kiyomizu Temple from Chapter 8, say "yes," then
"a blade"
YAMIMARO'S ANCIENT TEXT, VOLUME 1
Favor "Riot at the Blacksmith's"
YAMIMARO'S ANCIENT TEXT, VOLUME 2
Storage Locker Nu-5
YAMIMARO'S ANCIENT TEXT, VOLUME 3
Storage Locker Ha-4
Now, here is a list of the weapons:
-DACHI (NORMAL SWORDS)-
SAKUSHUU KATANA
Attack: 10 Strength: 10 Speed: Fast
(You start with this sword)
SAKUSHUU KATANA 2
Attack: 11 Strength: 11 Speed: Fast
Temper for 500
SAKUSHUU KATANA 3
Attack: 12 Strength: 12 Speed: Fast
Temper for 500
SAKUSHUU KATANA MAXIMUM
Attack: 13 Strength: 13 Speed: Very Fast
Temper for 1,000
NAMELESS KATANA
Attack: 15 Strength: 20 Speed: Fast
Weapons Shop: 2,000
NAMELESS KATANA 2
Attack: 16 Strength: 21 Speed: Fast
Temper for 500
NAMELESS KATANA MAXIMUM
Attack: 17 Strength: 22 Speed: Fast
Temper for 500
Weapons Shop: 4,000
BRITTLE STEEL KATANA
Attack: 20 Strength: 30 Speed: Fast
Weapons Shop: 6,000
BRITTLE STEEL KATANA MAXIMUM
Attack: 21 Strength: 35 Speed: Fast
Temper for 1,000
EVERGREEN OAK BOKUTOU
Attack: 10 Strength: 10 Speed: Very Fast
Weapons Shop: 500
DARK PURPLE BOKUTOU
Attack: 11 Strength: 10 Speed: Very Fast
Weapons Shop: 800
-DACHI (FAMOUS SWORDS)-
JUZUMARU
Attack: 25 Strength: 45 Speed: Very Fast
Jiraiya training
MIKAZUKI MUNECHIKA
Attack: 30 Strength: 55 Speed: Very Fast
Jiraiya training
ONIMARU KUNITSUNE
Attack: 35 Strength: 60 Speed: Very Fast
Jiraiya training
TOUJIGIRI YASUTSUNA
Attack: 50 Strength: 115 Speed: Fast
Jiraiya training
OOTENTA
Attack: 70 Strength: 120 Speed: Very Fast
Jiraiya training
MASAMUNE
Attack: 90 Strength: 130 Speed: Fast
Jiraiya training
MURAMASA
Attack: 100 Strength: 1 Speed: Very Fast
Jiraiya training
KUJI KANESADA
Attack: 90 Strength: 95 Speed: Fast
(Obtain in Chapter 12's story--Ittousai's sword)
GUN SLICER KANEMITSU
Attack: 110 Strength: 200 Speed: Fast
Favor "Justice For All"
THE BEST DACHI IN THE REALMS
Attack: 150 Strength: 160 Speed: Very Fast
Complete Skills list
-DACHI (ENCHANTED SWORDS)-
THOUSAND VISITORS
Attack: 60 Strength: 100 Speed: Very Fast
Makes it easier to attrack enemies
Favor: "Enchanted Sword Beckoning Sword"
SUIKEN
Attack: 60 Strength: 20 Speed: Slow
You become stronger the more drunk you are
Favor: "Enchanted Sword Suiken"
MONEY-EATER
Attack: 70 Strength: 100 Speed: Normal
BASSARIMARU
Attack: ?? Strength: ?? Speed: ??
You cannot guard or sidestep with this equipped
Ebisuya Pawn Shop: 34,000
HAISUIMARU
Attack: 80 Strength: 60 Speed: Fast
Power increases when health gauge is flashing red
Bounty Karasuyano Hyounosuke
CHIFUBUKIMARU
Attack: 30 Strength: 80 Speed: Very Fast
Allows Musashi to steal enemy's health with Zanshin
Favor: "Collecting the Enchanted Swords"
NUE KILLER
Attack: 105 Strength: 130 Speed: Normal
Forge: Nameless Sword Maximum + Japanese Buddhist Mummy's Pedestal + Vengeful
Undead's Hair + 10,000 mon
(Legend of the Vanquishing of the Nue and Mizuchi)
-DACHI (TREASURE SWORDS)-
STEEL TREASURE SWORD
Attack: 30 Strength: 30 Speed: Slow
Forge: Brittle Steel Katana Maximum + Lump of Steel + Lapis Lazuli + 5,000 mon
(Treasure Sword Legend)
STEEL TREASURE SWORD 2
Attack: 31 Strength: 31 Speed: Slow
Temper for 1,000
STEEL TREASURE SWORD MAXIMUM
Attack: 32 Strength: 32 Speed: Slow
Temper for 1,000
FINE STEEL TREASURE SWORD
Attack: 40 Strength: 40 Speed: Normal
Forge: Steel Treasure Sword Maximum + Fine Lump of Steel + Crystal +
15,000 mon
(Treasure Sword Legend)
FINE STEEL TREASURE SWORD 2
Attack: 41 Strength: 41 Speed: Normal
Temper for 5,000
FINE STEEL TREASURE SWORD 3
Attack: 42 Strength: 42 Speed: Normal
Temper for 5,000
FINE STEEL TREASURE SWORD MAXIMUM
Attack: 43 Strength: 43 Speed: Normal
Temper for 5,000
EXTREMELY FINE STEEL TREASURE SWORD
Attack: 70 Strength: 70 Speed: Fast
Forge: Fine Steel Treasure Sword Maximum + Extremely Fine Lump of Steel +
Agate + 20,000 mon
(Treasure Sword Legend)
EXTREMELY FINE STEEL TREASURE SWORD 2
Attack: 72 Strength: 72 Speed: Fast
Temper for 7,000
EXTREMELY FINE STEEL TREASURE SWORD 3
Attack: 74 Strength: 74 Speed: Fast
Temper for 7,000
EXTREMELY FINE STEEL TREASURE SWORD 4
Attack: 76 Strength: 76 Speed: Fast
Temper for 7,000
EXTREMELY FINE STEEL TREASURE SWORD MAXIMUM
Attack: 80 Strength: 80 Speed: Fast
Temper for 7,000
KACHOU FUUGETSU
Attack: 100 Strength: 100 Speed: Very Fast
Forge: Extremely Fine Steel Treasure Sword Maximum + Mother of Pearl + Giant
Clam Shell + 50,000 mon
(Treasure Sword Legend)
-DACHI (BEAUTIFUL SWORDS)-
NISHIKINAGESHI
Attack: 30 Strength: 15 Speed: Normal
Forge: Nameless Sword Maximum + Lump of Steel + Forgotten Temple Buddha
Statue Fragment + 8,000 mon
(Beautiful Sword Appraisal Guide)
Found in Tsuruya action stage
NISHIKINAGESHI 2
Attack: 31 Strength: 15 Speed: Fast
Temper for 1,000
NISHIKINAGESHI MAXIMUM
Attack: 32 Strength: 15 Speed: Very Fast
Temper for 1,000
SILHOUETTE
Attack: 50 Strength: 25 Speed: Normal
Forge: Nishikinageshi Maximum + Lump of Steel + Jewel of the Wild Soul +
8,000 mon
(Beautiful Sword Appraisal Guide)
SILHOUETTE 2
Attack: 51 Strength: 25 Speed: Normal
Temper for 2,000
SILHOUETTE MAXIMUM
Attack: 52 Strength: 25 Speed: Normal
Temper for 2,000
SAKURAFUBUKI
Attack: 60 Strength: 30 Speed: Normal
Forge: Silhouette Maximum + Lump of Steel + Jewel of the Peaceful Soul +
10,000 mon
(Beautiful Sword Appraisal Guide)
SAKURAFUBUKI 2
Attack: 65 Strength: 30 Speed: Fast
Temper for 3,000
SAKURAFUBUKI MAXIMUM
Attack: 70 Strength: 30 Speed: Very Fast
Temper for 3,000
-DACHI (IRREGULAR)-
BAT
Attack: 27 Strength: 100 Speed: Very Fast
Gyoutensai invention
RED BAT
Attack: 47 Strength: 120 Speed: Fast
Gyoutensai invention
HERCULEAN BAT
Attack: 67 Strength: 150 Speed: Fast
TESSAIMARU
Attack: 30 Strength: 60 Speed: Normal
Weapons Store: 6,000
GOUSAIMARU
Attack: 40 Strength: 70 Speed: Fast
Forge: Tessaimaru + Lump of Steel (x 2) + 3,000 mon
(Tetsugansai Instructions)
HAKUGINMARU
Attack: 50 Strength: 90 Speed: Fast
Forge: Gousaimaru + Fine Lump of Steel + Silver Steel + 6,000 mon
(Tetsugansai Instructions)
KONGOUMARU
Attack: 60 Strength: 120 Speed: Normal
Forge: Hakuginmaru + Extremely Fine Lump of Steel + Adamantine Ore +
10,000 mon
(Tetsugansai Instructions)
-DACHI (SPIRIT SWORDS)-
VIDROMARU
Attack: 20 Strength: 30 Speed: Very Fast
Forge: Nameless Sword Maximum + Gold Tortoise-Shell + Tengu Stone + 3,000 mon
(Book of Offerings to the Water God)
VIDROMARU 2
Attack: 21 Strength: 32 Speed: Very Fast
Temper for 500
VIDROMARU 3
Attack: 22 Strength: 34 Speed: Very Fast
Temper for 600
VIDROMARU 4
Attack: 23 Strength: 36 Speed: Very Fast
Temper for 700
VIDROMARU MAXIMUM
Attack: 24 Strength: 40 Speed: Very Fast
Temper for 800
WATER GOD'S DACHI
Attack: 30 Strength: 50 Speed: Very Fast
Forge: Vidromaru Maximum + The Water God's Stone + Dragon's Whiskers +
5,000 mon
(Book of Offerings to the Water God)
WATER GOD'S DACHI MAXIMUM
Attack: 35 Strength: 60 Speed: Very Fast
Temper for 1,000 mon
WHITE LION DACHI
Attack: 80 Strength: 110 Speed: Normal
Forge: Brittle Steel Katana Maximum + Mother of Pearl + White Lion Hair +
6,000 mon
(Book of the Lionsword Chaos)
WHITE LION DACHI 2
Attack: 82 Strength: 110 Speed: Fast
Temper for 1,000
WHITE LION DACHI MAXIMUM
Attack: 85 Strength: 110 Speed: Very Fast
Temper for 1,000
SILVER DACHI
Attack: 20 Strength: 80 Speed: Normal
Favor: "The Golden Sword"
(use to make a kodachi)
GOLDEN DACHI
Attack: 10 Strength: 110 Speed: Slow
Favor: "The Golden Sword"
SENKIMARU
Attack: 45 Strength: 80 Speed: Normal
Forge: Golden Dachi + Extremely Fine Lump of Steel + Mother of Pearl +
10,000 mon
(Book of 100 Nights and 10,000 Darknesses)
SENKIMARU 2
Attack: 50 Strength: 85 Speed: Normal
Temper for 5,000 mon
SENKIMARU MAXIMUM
Attack: 60 Strength: 90 Speed: Fast
Temper for 5,000 mon
SOUL DACHI
Attack: 55 Strength: 45 Speed: Fast
Forge: Brittle Steel Sword + Jewel of the Wild Soul + Jewel of the Peaceful
Soul + 15,000 mon
(Classical Text of the Soul)
Find in the Ganryuu Island Fortress action stage
(sell for 100,000!)
SOUL DACHI 2
Attack: 56 Strength: 46 Speed: Fast
Temper for 1,000
SOUL DACHI 3
Attack: 57 Strength: 47 Speed: Fast
Temper for 2,000
SOUL DACHI 4
Attack: 58 Strength: 48 Speed: Fast
Temper for 3,000
SOUL DACHI MAXIMUM
Attack: 60 Strength: 50 Speed: Fast
Temper for 5,000
ONI'S FANG
Attack: 90 Strength: 200 Speed: Slow
Forge: Nameless Sword Maximum + Tiger Fang + Oni Hair + 150,000 mon
(Oni Sword Forging Guide)
ONI'S FANG 2
Attack: 95 Strength: 210 Speed: Slow
Temper for 5,000
ONI'S FANG 3
Attack: 100 Strength: 220 Speed: Slow
Temper for 10,000
ONI'S FANG 4
Attack: 105 Strength: 240 Speed: Slow
Temper for 15,000
ONI'S FANG MAXIMUM
Attack: 110 Strength: 250 Speed: Slow
Temper for 20,000
TWIN DRAGONS DACHI
Attack: 100 Strength: 140 Speed: Fast
Forge: Nameless Sword Maximum + Dragon Fang + Wrath of the Dragon +
200,000 mon
(Twin Dragons Cloth Warrior Scroll)
TWIN DRAGONS DACHI MAXIMUM
Attack: 130 Strength: 150 Speed: Fast
Temper for 30,000 mon
-KODACHI (NORMAL SWORDS)-
SAKUSHUU KODACHI
Attack: 5 Strength: 1 Speed: Fast
(You start with this sword)
SAKUSHUU KODACHI 2
Attack: 5 Strength: 2 Speed: Fast
Temper for 500
SAKUSHUU KODACHI MAXIMUM
Attack: 6 Strength: 3 Speed: Fast
Temper for 500
NAMELESS KODACHI
Attack: 5 Strength: 1 Speed: Fast
Weapons Shop: 1,000
NAMELESS KODACHI 2
Attack: 5 Strength: 2 Speed: Fast
Temper for 500
NAMELESS KODACHI 3
Attack: 5 Strength: 3 Speed: Fast
Temper for 500
NAMELESS KODACHI MAXIMUM
Attack: 5 Strength: 4 Speed: Fast
Temper for 500
Weapons Shop: 3,000
BRITTLE STEEL WAKIZASHI
Attack: 10 Strength: 3 Speed: Fast
Weapons Shop: 2,200
BRITTLE STEEL WAKIZASHI MAXIMUM
Attack: 11 Strength: 4 Speed: Fast
Temper for 500
EVERGREEN OAK KODACHI
Attack: 5 Strength: 1 Speed: Very Fast
Weapons Shop: 200
-KODACHI (FAMOUS SWORDS)-
FAMOUS SHINTOUGO
Attack: 29 Strength: 7 Speed: Fast
Favor: "Ushi and Ben of Legend"
KOGARASUMARU
Attack: 39 Strength: 17 Speed: Fast
Favor: "The Novice and the Master Fencer"
FAMOUS KNIFE MASAMUNE
Attack: 37 Strength: 15 Speed: Very Fast
Scarecrow Formations
PEERLESS WAKIZASHI
Attack: 40 Strength: 20 Speed: Very Fast
Complete the Memo Pad (side missions)
Equip with the Best Dachi in the Realms for attack bonus
-KODACHI (FORGED)-
STEEL WAKIZASHI
Attack: 20 Strength: 5 Speed: Fast
Forge: Brittle Steel Wakizashi Maximum + Lump of Steel + 800 mon
(Treasure Sword Legend)
STEEL WAKIZASHI 2
Attack: 21 Strength: 6 Speed: Fast
Temper for 500
STEEL WAKIZASHI MAXIMUM
Attack: 22 Strength: 7 Speed: Fast
Temper for 500
FINE STEEL WAKIZASHI
Attack: 23 Strength: 8 Speed: Fast
Forge: Steel Wakizashi Maximum + Fine Lump of Steel + 1,000 mon
(Treasure Sword Legend)
FINE STEEL WAKIZASHI 2
Attack: 24 Strength: 9 Speed: Fast
Temper for 700
FINE STEEL WAKIZASHI MAXIMUM
Attack: 25 Strength: 10 Speed: Fast
Temper for 700
EXTREMELY FINE STEEL WAKIZASHI
Attack: 26 Strength: 11 Speed: Fast
Forge: Fine Steel Wakizashi Maximum + Extremely Fine Steel Wakizashi +
1,500 mon
(Treasure Sword Legend)
EXTREMELY FINE STEEL WAKIZASHI 2
Attack: 27 Strength: 12 Speed: Fast
Temper for 1,000
EXTREMELY FINE STEEL WAKIZASHI 3
Attack: 28 Strength: 13 Speed: Fast
Temper for 1,000
EXTREMELY FINE STEEL WAKIZASHI MAXIMUM
Attack: 35 Strength: 15 Speed: Fast
Temper for 1,000
MATUSKIRI BOTAN
Attack: 40 Strength: 16 Speed: Fast
Forge: Extremely Fine Steel Wakizashi Maximum + Adamantine Ore + True Rainbow
Stone + 3,000 mon
(Treasure Sword Legend)
UMEARASHI
Attack: 15 Strength: 4 Speed: Fast
Forge: Nameless Kodachi Maximum + Fine Lump of Steel + Jewel of the Wild
Soul + 15,000 mon
(Beautiful Swords Appraisal Guide)
UMEARASHI 2
Attack: 16 Strength: 5 Speed: Fast
Temper for 1,000
UMEARASHI 3
Attack: 17 Strength: 6 Speed: Fast
Temper for 1,000
UMEARASHI 4
Attack: 18 Strength: 7 Speed: Fast
Temper for 1,000
UMEARASHI MAXIMUM
Attack: 20 Strength: 10 Speed: Fast
Temper for 1,000
MIRACULOUS FOUNTAIN KODACHI
Attack: 25 Strength: 6 Speed: Fast
Forge: Nameless Kodachi Maximum + Tengu Stone + Spirit Water from the Lust
Waterfall + 3,000 mon
(Book of Offerings to the Water Good)
MIRACULOUS FOUNTAIN KODACHI MAXIMUM
Attack: 26 Strength: 10 Speed: Fast
Temper for 1,200
RED LION KODACHI
Attack: 33 Strength: 11 Speed: Fast
Forge: Brittle Steel Wakizashi Maximum + Mother of Pearl + White Lion Hair +
5,000 mon
(Book of the Lionsword Chaos)
RED LION KODACHI 2
Attack: 35 Strength: 12 Speed: Fast
Temper for 2,000
RED LION KODACHI MAXIMUM
Attack: 40 Strength: 15 Speed: Very Fast
Temper for 2,000
THICK STEEL OOWAKIZASHI
Attack: 40 Strength: 40 Speed: Slow
Forge: Nameless Kodachi Maximum + Star Steel + 10,000 mon
(Star Steel Legend)
THICK STEEL OOWAKIZASHI 2
Attack: 45 Strength: 40 Speed: Slow
Temper for 5,000
THICK STEEL OOWAKIZASHI 3
Attack: 50 Strength: 40 Speed: Slow
Temper for 5,000
THICK STEEL OOWAKIZASHI 4
Attack: 55 Strength: 40 Speed: Slow
Temper for 5,000
THICK STEEL OOWAKIZASHI MAXIMUM
Attack: 60 Strength: 40 Speed: Normal
HYAKKOUMARU
Attack: 31 Strength: 9 Speed: Fast
Forge: Silver Dachi + Fine Lump of Steel + Mother of Pearl + 10,000 mon
(Book of 100 Nights and 1,000 Darknesses)
HYAKKOUMARU 2
Attack: 32 Strength: 10 Speed: Fast
Temper for 2,000
HYAKKOUMARU MAXIMUM
Attack: 35 Strength: 10 Speed: Fast
Temper for 2,000
ONI'S CLAW
Attack: 35 Strength: 10 Speed: Fast
Forge: Nameless Kodachi Maximum + Tiger Fang + Oni Bone + 60,000 mon
(Oni Blade Forging Guide)
ONI'S CLAW 2
Attack: 35 Strength: 15 Speed: Fast
Temper for 6,000
ONI'S CLAW 3
Attack: 35 Strength: 20 Speed: Fast
Temper for 6,000
ONI'S CLAW 4
Attack: 35 Strength: 25 Speed: Fast
Temper for 6,000
ONI'S CLAW MAXIMUM
Attack: 35 Strength: 30 Speed: Fast
Temper for 6,000
TWIN DRAGONS KODACHI
Attack: 36 Strength: 14 Speed: Fast
Forge: Nameless Kodachi Maximum + Dragon Entrails + Dragon Whiskers +
100,000 mon
(Twin Dragons Cloth Warrior Scroll)
TWIN DRAGONS KODACHI 2
Attack: 37 Strength: 15 Speed: Fast
Temper for 10,000
TWIN DRAGONS KODACHI 3
Attack: 38 Strength: 16 Speed: Fast
Temper for 10,000
TWIN DRAGONS KODACHI 4
Attack: 39 Strength: 17 Speed: Fast
Temper for 10,000
TWIN DRAGONS KODACHI MAXIMUM
Attack: 40 Strength: 20 Speed: Fast
Temper for 10,000
MIZUCHI CUTTER
Attack: 34 Strength: 12 Speed: Very Fast
Forge: Nameless Kodachi Maximum + Mizuchi Stone + Cut of the Sacred Tree +
70,000 mon
(Legend of the Vanquishing of the Nue and Mizuchi)
-GREATSWORDS-
IRON GREATSWORD
Attack: 30 Strength: 50 Speed: Fast
Blacksmith event in Chapter 5
Weapons Shop: 13,000
IRON GREATSWORD 2
Attack: 31 Strength: 51 Speed: Fast
Temper for 600
IRON GREATSWORD 3
Attack: 32 Strength: 52 Speed: Fast
Temper for 600
IRON GREATSWORD 4
Attack: 33 Strength: 53 Speed: Fast
Temper for 600
IRON GREATSWORD MAXIMUM
Attack: 34 Strength: 55 Speed: Fast
Temper for 600
OLD GREATSWORD
Attack: 20 Strength: 70 Speed: Fast
Ebisuya Pawn Shop: 15,600
ANTIQUE GREATSWORD
Attack: 30 Strength: 100 Speed: Normal
Ebisuya Pawn Shop: 12,500
RUSTED OLD GREATSWORD
Attack: 10 Strength: 120 Speed: Fast
Ebisuya Pawn Shop: 18,000
BRITTLE STEEL GREATSWORD
Attack: 35 Strength: 80 Speed: Fast
Weapons Shop: 17,300
BRITTLE STEEL GREATSWORD 2
Attack: 36 Strength: 81 Speed: Fast
Temper for 1,500
BRITTLE STEEL GREATSWORD 3
Attack: 37 Strength: 82 Speed: Fast
Temper for 1,500
BRITTLE STEEL GREATSWORD MAXIMUM
Attack: 38 Strength: 83 Speed: Fast
Temper for 1,500
STEEL GREATSWORD
Attack: 40 Strength: 130 Speed: Fast
Forge: Brittle Steel Greatsword Maximum + Lump of Steel + Forgotten Temple
Buddha Statue Fragment + 10,000 mon
(Jewels and Steel Hero's Sword Legend)
STEEL GREATSWORD 2
Attack: 41 Strength: 131 Speed: Fast
Temper for 3,000
STEEL GREATSWORD 3
Attack: 42 Strength: 132 Speed: Fast
Temper for 3,000
STEEL GREATSWORD MAXIMUM
Attack: 43 Strength: 133 Speed: Fast
Temper for 3,000
FINE STEEL GREATSWORD
Attack: 60 Strength: 100 Speed: Fast
Forge: Steel Greatsword Maximum + Lump of Fine Steel + Tiger Fang + 50,000 mon
(Jewels and Steel Hero's Sword Legend)
FINE STEEL GREATSWORD 2
Attack: 61 Strength: 101 Speed: Fast
Temper for 2,000
FINE STEEL GREATSWORD 3
Attack: 62 Strength: 102 Speed: Fast
Temper for 2,000
FINE STEEL GREATSWORD 4
Attack: 63 Strength: 103 Speed: Fast
Temper for 2,000
FINE STEEL GREATSWORD MAXIMUM
Attack: 64 Strength: 104 Speed: Fast
Temper for 2,000
EXTREMELY FINE STEEL GREATSWORD
Attack: 80 Strength: 150 Speed: Fast
Forge: Fine Steel Greatsword Maximum + Extremely Fine Lump of Steel + Oni
Bone + 100,000 mon
(Jewels and Steel Hero's Sword Legend)
EXTREMELY FINE STEEL GREATSWORD 2
Attack: 81 Strength: 151 Speed: Fast
Temper for 5,000
EXTREMELY FINE STEEL GREATSWORD 3
Attack: 82 Strength: 152 Speed: Fast
Temper for 5,000
EXTREMELY FINE STEEL GREATSWORD 4
Attack: 83 Strength: 153 Speed: Fast
Temper for 5,000
EXTREMELY FINE STEEL GREATSWORD MAXIMUM
Attack: 84 Strength: 155 Speed: Fast
Temper for 5,000
WICKED RAKSASA
Attack: 120 Strength: 160 Speed: Normal
Forge: Extremely Fine Steel Greatsword Maximum + Lightening Stone + Jet-Black
Magic Stone + 200,000 mon
(Jewel and Steel Hero's Sword Legend)
WICKED RAKSASA MAXIMUM
Attack: 140 Strength: 180 Speed: Fast
Temper for 50,000
GANRYUU BOKUTOU
Attack: 120 Strength: 130 Speed: Very Fast
Defeat all opponents in the Houzouin
-THE THREE SWORDS OF THE DIVINE AGE-
FUTSUMITAMA SWORD
Attack: 40 Strength: 80 Speed: Fast
Forge: Old Greatsword + Futsumitama Spirit Stome + Extremely Fine Lump of
Steel + 80,000 mon
(Yamimaro's Ancient Text, Volume 1)
FUTSUMITAMA SWORD 2
Attack: 50 Strength: 80 Speed: Fast
Temper for 10,000
FUTSUMITAMA SWORD MAXIMUM
Attack: 60 Strength: 90 Speed: Very Fast
Temper for 10,000
AMANOHABAGIRI
Attack: 70 Strength: 100 Speed: Normal
Forge: Antique Greatsword + Susa-no-O Spirit Ball + Extremely Fine Lump of
Steel + 90,000 mon
(Yamimaro's Ancient Text, Volume 2)
AMANOHABAGIRI 2
Attack: 75 Strength: 100 Speed: Normal
Temper for 10,000
AMANOHABAGIRI 3
Attack: 80 Strength: 100 Speed: Normal
Temper for 10,000
AMANOHABAGIRI MAXIMUM
Attack: 85 Strength: 110 Speed: Fast
Temper for 10,000
AMANOMURAKUMO NO TSURUGI
Attack: 60 Strength: 120 Speed: Fast
Forge: Rusted Old Greatsword + Ninigi Spirit Ball + Extremely Fine Lump of
Steel + 100,000 mon
(Yamimaro's Ancient Text, Volume 3)
AMANOMURAKUMO NO TSURUGI 2
Attack: 80 Strength: 125 Speed: Fast
Temper for 10,000
AMANOMURAKUMO NO TSURUGI 3
Attack: 100 Strength: 130 Speed: Fast
Temper for 10,000
AMANOMURAKUMO NO TSURUGI 4
Attack: 120 Strength: 135 Speed: Fast
Temper for 10,000
AMANOMURAKUMO NO TSURUGI MAXIMUM
Attack: 140 Strength: 140 Speed: Fast
Temper for 10,000
-GREATSWORDS (IRREGULAR)-
ADAMANTINE GREATSWORD
Attack: 70 Strength: 170 Speed: Fast
Forge: Iron Greatsword Maximum + Adamantine Ore + Goddess Headband +
30,000 mon
(Star Steel Legend)
ADAMANTINE GREATSWORD 2
Attack: 75 Strength: 170 Speed: Fast
Temper for 10,000
ADAMANTINE GREATSWORD MAXIMUM
attack: 80 Strength: 170 Speed: Fast
Temper for 10,000
STAR STEEL GREATSWORD
Attack: 85 Strength: 175 Speed: Fast
Forge: Adamantine Greatsword Maximum + Star Steel + Tengu Stone + 70,000 mon
(Star Steel Legend)
STAR STEEL GREATSWORD 2
Attack: 90 Strength: 180 Speed: Fast
Temper for 15,000
STAR STEEL GREATSWORD 3
Attack: 95 Strength: 185 Speed: Fast
Temper for 15,000
STAR STEEL GREATSWORD MAXIMUM
Attack: 100 Strength: 190 Speed: Fast
IMITATION GREATSWORD
Attack: 40 Strength: 40 Speed: Slow
Ebisuya Pawn Shop: 2,500
IMITATION GREATSWORD 2
Attack: 41 Strength: 35 Speed: Slow
Temper for 1,000
IMITATION GREATSWORD 3
Attack: 42 Strength: 30 Speed: Slow
Temper for 1,000
IMITATION GREATSWORD 4
Attack: 43 Strength: 25 Speed: Slow
Temper for 1,000
IMITATION GREATSWORD MAXIMUM
Attack: 45 Strength: 20 Speed: Slow
Temper for 1,000
DRAGON-SPLITTER GREATSWORD
Attack: 50 Strength: 20 Speed: Fast
Forge: Imitation Greatsword Maximum + Wizard Stone + Wrath of the Dragon +
50,000 mon
(World of Dazzling Hope Swords)
DRAGON-SPLITTER GREATSWORD 2
Attack: 60 Strength: 20 Speed: Fast
Temper for 3,000
DRAGON-SPLITTER GREATSWORD 3
Attack: 70 Strength: 20 Speed: Very Fast
Temper for 3,000
NON-LETHAL GREATSWORD
Attack: 1 Strength: 200 Speed: Very Fast
Forge: Iron Greatsword Maximum + Goddess Hairpin + Jewel of the Peaceful
Soul + 30,000 mon
(World of Dazzling Hope Swords)
HANE YUMIMARU
Attack: 5 Strength: 30 Speed: Very Fast
Gyoutensai invention
THUNDER GOD HANE YUMIMARU
Attack: 1 Strength: 1 Speed: Very Fast
Gyoutensai invention
-SHICHISHITOU-
ANCIENT SHICHISHITOU
Attack: 10 Strength: 150 Speed: Normal
Find during the Tsuruya action stage
SHICHISHITOU OF THE DIVINE AGE
Attack: 70 Strength: 120 Speed: Fast
Forge: Ancient Shichishitou + Fine Lump of Steel + Hazy Steel + 50,000 mon
(Classical Text of the Divine Age)
SHICHISHITOU OF THE DIVINE AGE 2
Attack: 75 Strength: 120 Speed: Fast
Temper for 1,000
SHICHISHITOU OF THE DIVINE AGE 3
Attack: 80 Strength: 120 Speed: Fast
Temper for 1,000
SHICHISHITOU OF THE DIVINE AGE MAXIMUM
Attack: 85 Strength: 120 Speed: Fast
Temper for 1,000
YATSUKA SWORD
Attack: 90 Strength: 80 Speed: Fast
Forge: Shichishitou of the Divine Age Maximum + Extremely Fine Lump of
Steel + Brittle Steel + 300,000 mon
(Book of the Yatsuka)
YATSUKA SWORD 2
Attack: 95 Strength: 80 Speed: Fast
Temper for 50,000
YATSUKA SWORD 3
Attack: 100 Strength: 80 Speed: Fast
Temper for 50,000
YATSUKA SWORD 4
Attack: 105 Strength: 80 Speed: Fast
Temper for 50,000
YATSUKA SWORD MAXIMUM
Attack: 110 Strength: 80 Speed: Very Fast
Temper for 50,000
-CURSED SWORDS-
FIREDRINKER TENJIROU
Attack: 90 Strength: 110 Speed: Normal
Forge: Iron Greatsword Maximum + Fine Lump of Steel + Thousand-Year Ice
Stone + 80,000 mon
(World of Dazzling Hope Swords)
GREAT CURSED SWORD - RESURRECTION
Attack: 120 Strength: 180 Speed: Slow
Forge: Cast-Iron Kanabou Maximum + Fine Lump of Steel + Wicked Otherworldly
Stone + 200,000
(Resurrection Book)
-KANABOU-
CAST-IRON KANABOU
Attack: 35 Strength: 100 Speed: Slow
Find in Shishido's cave action stage
Weapons Shop: 16,000
CAST-IRON KANABOU 2
Attack: 40 Strength: 110 Speed: Slow
Temper for 1,000
CAST-IRON KANABOU 3
Attack: 45 Strength: 120 Speed: Slow
Temper for 1,000
CAST-IRON KANABOU 4
Attack: 50 Strength: 130 Speed: Slow
Temper for 1,000
CAST-IRON KANABOU MAXIMUM
Attack: 55 Strength: 140 Speed: Slow
Temper for 1,000
GREAT KANABOU
Attack: 80 Strength: 150 Speed: Normal
Forge: Cast-Iron Kanabou Maximum + Fine Lump of Steel (x2) + 50,000 mon
GREAT KANABOU 2
Attack: 85 Strength: 155 Speed: Normal
Temper for 4,000
GREAT KANABOU 3
Attack: 90 Strength: 160 Speed: Normal
Temper for 4,000
GREAT KANABOU 4
Attack: 95 Strength: 165 Speed: Normal
Temper for 4,000
GREAT KANABOU MAXIMUM
Attack: 100 Strength: 170 Speed: Normal
Temper for 4,000
ONI GOD'S KANABOU
Attack: 160 Strength: 200 Speed: Slow
Forge: Great Kanabou Maximum + Traveler's God's Secret Stone + Oni Bone +
250,000 mon
(Classical Text of the Oni God)
-OTHERS-
TENGU STAFF
Attack: 30 Strength: 180 Speed: Very Fast
Find in Ganryuu Island Fortress action stage
JUTTE
Attack: 20 Strength: 15 Speed: Fast
Weapons Shop: 5,800
PURE GOLD KISERU
Attack: 15 Strength: 25 Speed: Very Fast
Favor: "The Man Who Couldn't Be Like Robin Hood"
IRON KISERU
Attack: 10 Strength: 5 Speed: Very Fast
Gion Arigataya Market: 2,100
FINE KISERU
Attack: 25 Strength: 30 Speed: Fast
Gion Arigataya Market: 7,800
FINE UMBRELLA
Attack: 10 Strength: 10 Speed: Very Fast
1,000 RYOU ACTOR UMBRELLA
Attack: 30 Strength: 50 Speed: Very Fast
Get 1,000 ryou in the kabuki mini-game
5i-II. Armors
--------------
You can only equip one main armor at a time; the other two slots are for your
accessories.
ANCIENT CHESTPLATE
Physical: 25 Bladed: 20 Shot: 0 Fire: 1
Ebisuya Pawn Shop: 20,000
BLOOD-SPATTERED SARASHI
Physical: -30 Bladed: -30 Shot: -30 Fire: -30
Triples Heat gain
Houzouin - Famous
CHAIN COAT
Physical: 5 Bladed: 15 Shot: 5 Fire: 0
Weapons Shop: 5,000
DRAGON CHESTPLATE
Physical: 25 Bladed: 25 Shot: 20 Fire: 25
Complete Weapons
DRAGON COAT
Physical: 5 Bladed: 30 Shot: 5 Fire: 0
Houzouin - Unrivaled
DRAGON SARASHI
Physical: 15 Bladed: 15 Shot: 15 Fire: 15
Houzouin - Great Phoenix
FIGHTING COAT
Physical: 5 Bladed: 10 Shot: 5 Fire: 0
Weapons Shop: 3,000
FIGHTING SARASHI
Physical: 5 Bladed: 5 Shot: 5 Fire: 5
Suburbs Arigataya Market: 1,000
IRON CHESTPLATE
Physical: 10 Bladed: 5 Shot: 5 Fire: 0
Weapons Shop: 8,000
MANLY SARASHI
Physical: 7 Bladed: 7 Shot: 7 Fire: 7
Suburbs Arigataya Market: 2,500
ONI SARASHI
Physical: 10 Bladed: 10 Shot: 10 Fire: 10
Gion Arigataya Market: 4,000
SACRED TREE CHESTPLATE
Physical: 15 Bladed: 15 Shot: 25 Fire: -10
Weapons Shop: 15,000
SARASHI
Physical: 3 Bladed: 3 Shot: 3 Fire: 3
Gion Arigataya Market: 200
SEAMLESS HEADBAND
Physical: 5 Bladed: 5 Shot: 5 Fire: 5
Makes bullets have no effect on Musashi
Weapons Shop: 5,000,000
SEVEN LUCK DIETIES SARASHI
Physical: 0 Bladed: 0 Shot: 0 Fire: 0
Grants money (slowly) when walking
Complete Restaurant Menu Items
STEEL CHESTPLATE
Physical: 15 Bladed: 10 Shot: 5 Fire: 0
Weapons Shop: 10,000
STEEL COAT
Physical: 5 Bladed: 25 Shot: 5 Fire: 0
Weapons Shop: 8,000
WOODEN CHESTPLATE
Physical: 7 Bladed: 5 Shot: 5 Fire: 0
Weapons Shop: 6,000
5i-III. Accessories
--------------------
You can equip two accessories at a time. Here is a list of their effects and
some of the ways to get them:
AMULET
Physical: 3 Bladed: 0 Shot: 3 Fire: 0
Favors: "Kintarou 3," "The Oracle"
ANGER CHARM
Physical: 0 Bladed: 0 Shot: 5 Fire: 0
Increases rate at which you gain Heat
Bounty: Tatsu of the Futaba Crest
BRAWLING GOD AMULET
Physical: 0 Bladed: 0 Shot: 10 Fire: 0
Grants infinite Heat Gauge
Finish Story Mode on Expert
CHAIN MAIL SHINGUARDS
Physical: 5 Bladed: 0 Shot: 0 Fire: 0
Makes sweep attacks unable to knock Musashi off his feet
Scarecrow Formations
DEER ANTLER NETSUKE
Physical: 0 Bladed: 0 Shot: 0 Fire: 0
Favor: "O-Saki's Situation"
EDO-MADE WOMEN'S PERFUME
Physical: 0 Bladed: 0 Shot: 0 Fire: 0
Gion Arigataya Market: 3,000
EROTIC ART OF AN EXQUISITE BEAUTY
Physical: 5 Bladed: 0 Shot: 0 Fire: 0
Makes more random encounters on the map
Storage Lockers, Favor "A Treat from the Landlord"
FANNY PINCUSHION
Physical: 5 Bladed: 0 Shot: 3 Fire: 0
If hit with a knock-down (besides throws), Musashi won't fall, but take damage
Invention
FOREIGN MEN'S COLOGNE
Physical: 0 Bladed: 0 Shot: 0 Fire: 0
Suburbs Arigataya Market: 1,000
FRUITLESS TALISMAN
Physical: 0 Bladed: 3 Shot: 0 Fire: 10
Makes it impossible to gain experience
Houzouin - Herculean
GION INARI TALISMAN
Physical: 0 Bladed: 0 Shot: 3 Fire: 10
Random encounters
GREAT KING TALISMAN
Physical: 0 Bladed: 0 Shot: 0 Fire: 5
Makes enemies attack more frequently
Bounty: Toyokichi of the Kuromon Family
GREAT TENGU FAN
Physical: 3 Bladed: 3 Shot: 0 Fire: 0
Houzouin - Unrivaled
HARITI AMULET
Physical: 5 Bladed: 0 Shot: 0 Fire: 0
Enemies attack less frequently
Houzouin - Practice
HEALTHY SANDALS
Physical: 0 Bladed: 0 Shot: 5 Fire: 0
Health refills as you walk
Houzouin - Fist God
KYOTO-MADE WOMEN'S PERFUME
Physical: 0 Bladed: 0 Shot: 0 Fire: 0
Gion Arigataya Market: 2,000
LUCKY BEADS
Physical: 0 Bladed: 0 Shot: 0 Fire: 5
Makes random encounters cease appearing
Complete Storage Lockers
MEOW SHOES
Physical: 0 Bladed: 3 Shot: 0 Fire: 0
Makes "meow" sounds as you step
Complete Inventions
RESURRECTION AMULET
Physical: 0 Bladed: 5 Shot: 0 Fire: 0
Brings Musashi back when defeated (vanishes after 1 use)
Storage Lockers, Favors, Scarecrow Formations
RISING DRAGON INROU
Physical: 1 Bladed: 1 Shot: 1 Fire: 1
Suburbs Arigataya Market: 18,000
SKANDA SHOES
Physical: 0 Bladed: 2 Shot: 0 Fire: 10
Makes Musashi run quickly in non-battle areas
Complete Side Games
SOUL-STEALING BEADS
Physical: 3 Bladed: 5 Shot: 0 Fire: 0
Health refills as you defeat enemies
Houzouin - Sword Saint
SOUNDLESS SHOES
Physical: 0 Bladed: 3 Shot: 0 Fire: 0
Makes it harder for the official in the Suburbs to notice Musashi
Invention
THIEF NETSUKE
Physical: 0 Bladed: 0 Shot: 3 Fire: 3
When you grapple enemies with items from behind, they drop the items
Favor: "Kiryuu's Sightseeing Tour"
TIGERSKIN SASH
Physical: 3 Bladed: 3 Shot: 3 Fire: 3
Favor: "The Faithful Old Hound"
TRUE BRAWLING GOD AMULET
Physical: 0 Bladed: 0 Shot: 5 Fire: 0
Musashi learns all Heat Actions automatically
Ultimate Fighting - clear all missions with "S"
YASAKA SHRINE TALISMAN
Physical: 5 Bladed: 0 Shot: 3 Fire: 0
Storage Lockers
YOICHI'S CHARM
Physical: 0 Bladed: 0 Shot: 15 Fire: 0
Houzoin - Flames
5i-IV. Healing Items
---------------------
Here is a list of healing items and their effects. I won't include all of them,
because the various and sundry foods about town are technically healing items,
too.
Health Pills - Small Life replenishment
Strong Health Pills - Medium Life replenishment
Extra-Strength Health Pills - Large Life replenishment
Spirit Pills - Small Heat Gauge replenishment
Strong Spirit Pills - Medium Heat Gauge replenishment
Extra-Strength Spirit Pills - Large Heat Gauge replenishment
All-Purpose Pills - Small Life and Heat replenishment
Strong All-Purpose Pills - Medium Life and Heat replenishment
Extra-Strength All-Purpose Pills - Large Life and Heat replenishment
Extreme All-Purpose Pills - Full Life and Heat replenishment
*Have Gyoutensai invent this first (see the section in the "completion lists")
Sobering Pills - Gets rid of drunkenness--about half of how drunk Kiryuu can get
*Have Gyoutensai invent this first (see the section in the "completion lists")
Stomach-Emptying Medicine - Does 1/2 a lifebar's damage (use for completing the
food and drink list, but, note that you can just buy turtle food and eat that
instead)
*Have Gyoutensai invent this first (see the section in the "completion lists")
5i-V. Materials
----------------
Here is a list of the items you will need to make certain weapons at the black-
smith's and for Gyoutensai's inventions:
Admantine Ore
Gion Arigataya Market (8th Chapter), Storage Lockers, Houzouin
Agate
Tenguya Pharmacy (Chapter 8)
Baleen
Suburbs Arigataya Market (7th Chapter)
Crystal
Ebisuya Pawn Shop
Cut of an Ash Tree
Storage Lockers, Melon Cutting
Cut of an Evergreen Oak
Melon Cutting
Cut of the Sacred Tree
Storage Lockers, Melon Cutting, Houzouin
Dragon Entrails
Sanjuusangendou Merchant
Dragon Fang
Ebisuya Pawn Shop (Chapter 11)
Dragon Whiskers
Etchuuya Pharmacy (Chapter 7), Gion Gambling Hall, Storage Lockers
Extremely Fine Lump of Steel
Weapons Store (8th Chapter), Houzouin
Fine Lump of Steel
Weapons Store (6th Chapter), Storage Lockers, Jiraiya-Style Training
Forgotten Temple Buddha Statue Fragment
Ebisuya Pawn Shop
Fresh Cloth
Favor "The Seedy Merchant Tanaka Appears"
Futsumitama Spirit Ball
Houzouin, Storage Lockers
Giant Clam Shell
Tenguya Pharmacy (Chapter 10), Houzouin
Goddess Hairpin
Ebisuya Pawn Shop (Chapter 8), Storage Lockers
Goddess Headband
Ebisuya Pawn Shop (Chapter 9)
Gold Tortoise-Shell
Etchuuya Pharmacy, Suburbs Arigataya Market
Hazy Steel
Houzouin, Storage Lockers
Japanese-Style Paper
Favor "Talent"
Japanese Buddhist Mummy's Pedestal
Houzouin, Storage Lockers
Jet-Black Magic Stone
From a Ninja at Kouetsu's (Chapter 12)
Jewel of the Peaceful Soul
Houzouin, Storage Lockers
Jewel of the Wild Soul
Bounty: Unarmed Brawling Kinta, Storage Lockers, Houzouin
Lapis Lazuli
Ebisuya Pawn Shop
Lightening Stone
Houzouin, Storage Lockers
Lump of Steel
Weapons Store (5th Chapter), Storage Lockers, Jiraiya-Style Training
Mizuchi Stone
Favor "The Yamauba Legend"
Mother of Pearl
Weapons Store (9th Chapter), Houzouin, Favor "Kiryuu's Sightseeing Tour"
Ninigi Spirit Ball
Favor "The Egg 2," Houzouin
Oni Bone
Favor "The Pretentious Man," Bounty: Arashiyama Yuuzarou
Oni Hair
Houzouin, Storage Lockers, Sanjuusangendou Merchant
Red Lion Hair
Bounty: Weird Donbei, Houzouin, Sanjuusangendou Merchant
Red Ore
Gion Arigataya Market (8th Chapter)
Scrap of Iron
Mah Jong, enemy drop
Silver Steel
Suburbs Arigataya Market (7th Chapter)
Spirit Water from the Lust Waterfall
Storage Lockers, Gion Gambling Hall
Star Steel
Houzouin, Storage Lockers, Favor "Investment Advice"
Susa-no-O Spirit Ball
Ebisuya Pawn Shop (10th Chapter), Favor "Master and Apprentice"
Temari Stone
Suburbs Arigataya Market (7th Chapter)
Tengu Stone
Weapons Store (5th Chapter), enemy drop
Thousand-Year Ice Stone
7th chapter battle stage, Houzouin, Storage Lockers
Tiger Fang
Weapons Store (Chapter 7)
Traveler's God's Stone
Favor "The Newborn," Houzouin
True Rainbow Stone
Favor "The Weight of Duty"
Unholy Otherworldly Stone
Ebisuya Pawn Shop (11th Chapter)
Vengeful Undead's Hair
Ebisuya Pawn Shop (Chapter 10), Storage Lockers
Water God's Stone
Weapons Store (5th Chapter)
White Lion Hair
Bounty: Tetsuto the Oni-Killer, Houzouin, Storage Lockers
Wicked Steel
Houzouin
Wizard Stone
Favor "The Magic Flute"
Wrath of the Dragon
Ebisuya Pawn Shop (Chapter 11), Mah Jong
-------------------------
5j. Main Characters List
-------------------------
I'll list the character by their family name, when appropriate. If characters
have a strange nickname, I'll list it under that--for instance, "Mammoth" Tatsu
would be listed under "M," not "T." I'll also write their family name in all
caps.
A
-
Ageha
Aliases: YOSHINO Tayuu (note: "Tayuu" is more of a title; the name given to
a "top girl" at a yuujo brothel)
Role: Story character
Appears in: Many chapters
Voice Actor: Hisakawa Aya
Aa megami-sama (anime): Skuld
Azumanga daiou (anime): Kurosawa Minamo
Abenobashi mahou * shoutengai (anime): Munemune
SD Gundam Force (anime): Keiko
X (anime): Hinoto
Card Captor Sakura (anime): Kero-chan
Juuni Kokki (anime): Nakajima Youko
Tenjho Tenge (anime): Matsume Maya
Nintama Rantarou (anime): Kaede
Noir (anime): Chloe
Sailor Moon (anime): Mizuno Ami / Sailor Mercury
Fruit(s) Basket (anime): Souma Yuki
Ace Combat 6 (game): Melissa
Grandia (game): Mio
Kessen III (game): Kichou
Shining Force Ikusa (game): Mabel
Jojo no kimyounabouken: Phantom Blood (game): Erina Pendleton
Soul Calibur (game): Chai Xianghua
AYA (CD)
Hi-Ka-Ri (CD)
Description: Ageha is the top girl, or "Tayuu," of the most popular, top-rate
yuujo brothel in the pleasure district of Gion in Kyoto.
She is the sister of Ukiyo, a girl Musashi ended up living with in an
attempt to protect her in order to fulfill a promise to his comrade-at-arms,
Majima Gorohachi. In the end, Musashi was unable to protect Ukiyo, but left
her with renewed spirit as a swordsman--with resolve to use his sword to
protect those weaker than him.
Upon reaching Gion, Musashi spies Ageha walking about and immediately sees
her resemblance to Ukiyo. However, he fails to broach the subject. When he
first visits her brothel, the Tsuruya, to see her, she cautions him that all
yuujo have a secret past they don't talk about.
This is the stereotypical image of the sex worker in old Japan. Yuujo and
geisha were not normally looked down upon. Rather, they were generally seen
as someone with a very sad life. Normally, a woman would be used to marry a
wealthy member of society or something like this, but, many women of the day
were sold to brothels as part of their duty to their parents. So, they were
seen as heroines who gave up their very bodies for the family (which was a
very noble aim in those days).
Ageha conspires with the clandestine forces at work to change the govern-
ment. She sets fire to the Tsuruya, allowing the assassination of an
official, who came to take Haruka from Gion. At first, she offers the
auspicious intentions of wanting to keep Kiryuu in town so that she could one
day reap vengance upon the man who (as rumor had it) had killed her sister,
Ukiyo. Later, she admits it was really because she had feelings for Kiryuu
and could not let him leave Gion.
However, her assumption of a new name has nothing to do with the political
or clandestine plots afoot in the game. It was simply the practice of yuujo
and geisha to adopt fake names. Obviously, this is for their protection as
well as to remove them from the "real" world and make them seem more like a
fantasy.
And yes, by the way, Musashi's such a badass? He hooks up with both sis-
ters. That's just nuts.
AMON Jounoshin
Role: Secret boss
Appears in: Chapter 12
Voice Actor: Unknown
Description: This is the hidden boss. He is the strongest character you will
face in the game. To get to him, you have to complete all 20 of the Services,
all 20 of the Bounties, and do 99 of the 100 Favors (defeating him counts as
the final one). You also will need to have defeated all 50 opponents at the
Houzouin tournaments.
"Amon" means "Amen." The root word of "Amen" comes from Greek and Hebrew,
which literally was an affirmation of something being true. But, many times
in Japanese historic texts, the word is transcribed as "Amon," just like the
Egyptian sun god Amon Ra. In this case, rather than making it sound holy or
like someone is shouting a chorus of "amen" to their preacher, this is meant
to convey an ominous tone; it evokes the forboding idea of a funeral or of the
final word of a prayer. The kanji used are for sound only.
When this particular "Jou" appears in a male name it means "respect" or
"honor." The "noshin" is like "nosuke" or "ichi" and has little signific-
ance; rather, it means "first son." It's an old way of naming children and
not very prevalent anymore.
In the first two titles, Amon Jou shows up once the requirements were ful-
filled, suddenly appearing as if from out of nowhere. The second game gives a
little more of a story to it, but, nevertheless, he just shows up in the
final chapter.
In this game, Amon is actually there the whole time--well, from Chapter 6
on. You want to see what he looks like? Go and talk to the official inspect-
or eating ramen in the little stand at the west end of Shijou in the Suburbs
(where you can get the wanted posters). Now put sunglasses on him (with gold
bands--pretty much gold-rimmed sunglasses) and give him some swords.
When Musashi kills Kuroshima Raiden, defeating him for his bounty, Kuroshima
suddenly warns Musashi to watch out. Kuroshima's father had been defeated by
some beast of a man called Amon Jounoshin, who Musashi knows as some wicked
official. Amon aggressively seeks strong people and murders them in order to
prove his strength, and Kuroshima's father was a very powerful man who had
defeated many opponents.
After that incident, when Musashi talks to the inspector, he tells him that
he has one last job for him, but, it'll wait until later. Musashi shouldn't
worry; once the time comes, he'll ask him--he should just rest for now.
Once all other side missions in the "Memo Pad" section are completed and all
50 opponents fought and defeated in the Houzouin tournaments, the inspector
will suddenly withdraw from his post. Musashi gets a letter by carrier pigeon
from the man, telling him that if he wants to undertake that last little task
for him, he'll meet him at the Shijou Bridge in Kawara at night.
Once there, he reveals his identity and puts on sunglasses. He has a dachi
and wakizashi in his belt, and a long sword like Kojirou uses on his back,
and he can use all three styles. He even can throw bombs at Musashi.
Amon is an extremely hard opponent. Consider the hardest fight you've had
in the game (outside this battle of course), then create a whole new level of
difficulty above that. Amon is above that level. Seriously, the disparity
between the ease of the rest of the game and how hard he can be is notable,
and the fight against this hidden boss may seem impossible. It can be done,
however. Refer to the section on the hidden boss in the "extras" to read
more.
B
-
C
-
D
-
E
-
En no Kozuma
Role: Story character
Appears in: Chapters 8-12
Voice Actor: Unknown
Description: This is an ascetic monk, presumably a gyouja or a practitioner of
some sort of Shugendou sect. His name likens him to "En no Gyouja," the semi-
mythical founder of Shugendou religions based on Tendai Buddhism.
Kozuma first encounters Musashi at the Houzouin in the Koufuku Temple Com-
plex, host of fighting tournaments. Through training with him, Musashi gets
inspiration--in fact, he'll have Revelations and learn new Super Moves.
The method of training is fairly odd. Basically, you're playing baseball;
Kozuma stands far away and lobs melons, iron balls, sake bottles, and kusudama
at Musashi, who then has to time his attacks properly to cleave them in half.
After his first appearance, Kozuma goes to the north end of the Riverside
Path, where he can be approached for training more as the story progresses.
F
-
G
-
GION Touji
Role: Story character, boss
Appears in: Chapter 6, Chapter 9
Voice Actor: Tsukamoto Takashi
Kisarazu Cat's Eye (drama): Sasaki Kizashi
Chotto matte, Kamisama (drama): Kurume Haruo
Fire Boys -Megumi no daigo- (drama): Amakasu Shirou
Description: This is one of the star pupils at the Yoshioka school of fencing.
Itou suggests that Musashi talk to Touji in hopes that he can help him get
the chance to enter the Yoshioka school. There has been a rumor about that
a man calling himself Miyamoto Musashi was going to appear and challenge the
masters of the school, Seijuurou and Denshichirou, to a duel, and Musashi
decides to enter the dojo under his assumed name (Kiryuu Kazumanosuke) in
order to investigate this impostor.
When Kiryuu shows up at the dojo and led to duel its star pupil, Ueda Ryou-
hei, Touji says, "Let's see some of that skill you used in the Sekigahara."
This is a hint that he knows that Kiryuu is really Musashi, so they talk about
it outside.
It turns out that Touji does, indeed, know Musashi's true identity. He was
there, that night, apparently, when Musashi was tricked into killing Tokugawa
Ieyasu's eldest living son, Yuuki Hideyasu, but he mentions that he knew some-
thing was "fishy" and fled before the operation. This implies that the other
soldiers, who were just supposed to distract the troops at the entrance to
Yuuki's residence, were killed, because otherwise, he would not have to ex-
plain how he survived that night.
When the rumored duel approaches, Yoshioka Seijuurou says that he refueses
to fight Musashi. This could partly be because dueling was actually against
shogunal law, and it could also be that Yoshioka feels a criminal like Musashi
isn't worth his time.
However, Touji knows that Yoshioka has agreed to meet with Musashi at a
place named earlier for the duel. So, he tells Musashi to go there, and that
Musashi will find out who the impostor is.
When Musashi reaches the spot, he finds only Seijuurou. "So, you really
are Miyamoto Musashi," Seijuurou tells him. It seems Touji manufactured the
plot and has set up the duel--there was no impostor. It was all a plot so
that Seijuurou's unskilled brother would be left alone, and so that someone
would betray the Yoshioka family.
Touji's plan was that Seijuurou would die by Musashi's hands, and then he
could kill Denshichirou, and he would become head of the Yoshioka Dojo. Ueda
and others seem to be following Touji's lead, and try to hold Musashi back
after the duel.
But Touji's plans are foiled, of course, by Musashi stepping up and taking
his place in history. He ends up defeated at Musashi's hands.
Whether or not Gion Touji is a real person is questionable. He appears in
Yoshikawa Eiji's book Miyamoto Musashi (simply "Musashi" in the U.S.), but not
too much in actual historical accounts. It has been said that he was a great
student of the Yoshikawa school who used the famous "tsubamegaeshi" attack.
The manga "Vagabond" also features Touji as a fierce, ambitious warrior.
GYOUTENSAI
Role: Story character
Appears in: Chapters 5-12
Voice Actor: None?
Description: This is the inventor who lives up in the northeast corner of the
Gion map. "Gyouten" means "surprising" or "startling," and "tensai" can mean
"genius"--although the Chinese characters would actually be different in that
case.
The government responds to complaints about the man's wacky experiments, and
tell him to shut down, or else. He stands his ground, however, and uses
Musashi's help to gather the necessary materials to build a hanglider, which
he claims will help people fly. He asks Musashi to help him test it, and he
does, jumping off a cliff and swooping down to save a boy dangling from a
tree root.
Little does Gyoutensai realize that the boy is actually the son of an
aristocrat. The next time the official comes around to Gyoutensai, instead of
arresting the inventor, he praises him.
His contribution to the game is that he has many things he'd like to try and
make, but, he doesn't have the materials. So, Musashi can gather the mater-
ials for him and create extra items. Most of them are fairly useless, but
there are certain medicines he can create that will become available at the
pharmacies after he's made them. Two of these are particularly noteworthy:
the most powerful healing item in the game, which refills both Life and Heat
Gauges completely, called Extreme All-Purpose Pills, and Sobering Pills, which
will get rid of the "drunk" status you will probably have to endure while
romancing the yuujo.
H
-
Haruka
Aliases: O-Haru
Role: Story character
Appears in: Many chapters
Voice Actor: Kugimiya Rie
Shin megami tensei Devil Children (anime): Metty
Juunikokki (anime): Taiki
Choujuushin Gravion (anime): Brigitta
Pitaten (anime): Uematsu Koboshi
Konjiki no Gashbel!! (anime): Tio
Hagane no renkinjutsushi (Full-Metal Alchemist anime): Alphonse Elrich
Bleach (anime): Kurosaki Karin
Yakitate!! Japan (anime): Monica Adenauer
Okusama ha Mahoushoujo (anime): Kiyomizu Mika
Kidousenshi Gundam 00 (anime): Neena Trinity
Crimson Tears (game): Kaede
Samurai Spirits tenka ichi kenkakuden (game): Rimururu, Champloo
Zenosaga (game): Mary Godwin
Riviera -Yakusoku no chi Riviera- (game): Excel
Ryuu ga gotoku (game): Sawamura Haruka
Description: A lone girl appears in the Gion district, carrying a sword, and
asks for Kiryuu Kazumanosuke.
Kiryuu is actually Miyamoto Musashi, gone into hiding. The arrival of such
a strange guest does interest Musashi at first, but he can see no profit from
her appearance, and turns to go away. When he sees her sword, however, all
of that changes.
It's a wakazashi with a bell tied around its guard--the same kind of bell in
the same fashion as the ones Musashi had received earlier from Ukiyo, a lady
whom he failed to protect. An old man saw Musashi holding the slain Ukiyo
and immediately assumed he was responsible. Later, Haruka would find out from
this man that the sword she was holding belonged to Miyamoto Musashi.
So, she sells her body in Gion to become a kamuro (a sort of apprentice) at
the ageya (an old style of brothel in pleasure districts), Tsuruya. This way,
she can have some money to pay Musashi, known to her as Kiryuu, and hire him
to avenge her family's death. She believes that her family was killed by
none other than Miyamoto Musashi, Kiryuu's true identity, because of the
sword.
It turns out that her family was actually killed by Marume Nagayoshi in one
of the secret missions Tenkai and Kojirou were carrying out in Japan. Years
earlier, the rightful heir to the Tokugawa shogunate's thrown had fallen out
with his father. So, Tenkai had him killed, so that he could remain the chief
advisor to Tokugawa's other son, Hidetada.
Unfortunately, this left his daughter, Haruka, to still be around to
(theoretically) dispute the lineage. So, Tenkai orders her death and the
deaths of her adoptive family.
When Marume confronts her, she is unable to see his face because he is wear-
ing a traveler's hat, with a very long brim, obscuring him from her. She
grabs his wakizashi and flees, but Marume stops troops from pursuing.
And so, she has sold her body for 1 ryou. 1 ryou was really a lot of money
in those days--about the same as a year's salary for much of the realm. It's
not a lot of money to sell your daughter for, however, and the characters
talk about it as though it was an extremely low amount. However, for this
fee, Kiryuu agrees to set out and find the man who killed Haruka's family,
bringing them to justice (in other words, killing them).
Of course, this sets up a situation in which Haruka will discover things
about Kiryuu's past that will lead her to lose faith in him. He is, after
all, the "real" Miyamoto Musashi.
Musashi is told by Marume in a surprise meeting at the Houzouin part of the
Koufuku Temple that he must protect Haruka at all costs. Earlier, there was
an event where Haruka was grabbed by a seemingly-licentious official at the
Tsuruya ageya and dragged around by the arm. It is later revealed that he
went there with the intention of kidnapping the girl. Later, it will be
revealed by none other than the man who instigated the bakufu government that
would last for 268 years, Tokugawa Ieyasu, himself, that Haruka was his grand-
daughter, and daughter of his estranged son, Yuuki Hideyasu.
On one hand, this does mean that Musashi killed Haruka's family. Her father
did actually die by his hand at a secret mission during the Battle at Seki-
gahara. However, it was really Tenkai who was behind it all. Tenkai had
manipulated the scenes--and the Tokugawa themselves--in order to create a new
world in which he was in control. Somehow, he gets his hands on Haruka near
the end of the game, and is holding her there to further manipulate the Toku-
gawa. So, Musashi is pitted against the most powerful adversary of the time
by fate, and tells Haruka that she bought him a new life with that one ryou
she paid him at the pleasure districts.
Of course, historically, this doesn't really seem to add up. A daughter in
the lineage of any ruler just doesn't seem to mean too much. In old Japan,
a young man would typically be adopted into a household in preparation of
taking their daughter's hand, so, in that light, she may actually hold the
key to the succession of power, but it's very unlikely. Just like in the
West's Medieval times, there would be a lot of concern over the sons of a
ruler, not over the daughters. Another reason is that Yuuki Hideyasu was
already officially out of the Tokugawa bloodline, having been given over to
the Yuuki house. Although the idea of him later demanding the seat of power
be handed to him is, of course, not entirely unheard of, it would probably
have been very unlikely for him to have found support as this practice of
adoption was already fairly common. Even if he had been killed, which it
looks like he was just two years after his brother succeeded him, Hideyasu's
descendants would almost assuredly have been considered Yuuki and not Toku-
gawa.
If Ieyasu's love for Haruka is what Tenkai is using as leverage, even that
doesn't make much sense since he already has the current kubou under his
thumb. Munenori hints that Tenkai's hold on Hidetada cannot last long because
Hidetada is older now, but if that is the case, why doesn't Hidetada order
troops to go against Tenkai? Overall, it's a pretty weak case.
HON'AMI Kouetsu
Role: Story character
Appears in: Many chapters
Voice Actor: Fujiwara Yoshiaki
Power-move using professional wrestler
Ryu ga gotoku (game): Sai no Hanaya
Description: Kouetsu was a very important figure in the arts of the early days
of the Tokugawa Period. He was born into a house of warriors, but became a
great artisan, whose calligraphy, lacquer works, publishing, and tea cere-
mony traditions became noted by even the kubou, Tokugawa Ieyasu. He became
known as one of the "Three Brushes of Kan'ei."
He became so well known that he could found his own artistic community known
as Kouetsu Village. After his death in 1637, his mansion was converted to a
temple of Nichiren Buddhism called the Kouetsu Temple.
In the game, not only is he a strong force in the artistic world, but also a
powerful informant. Just like Hanaya in previous titles, he seems to have
hints on every little thing going on in the world, and is willing to part with
that information, for a price. Just like Hanaya, he also admits that besides
being a way to make money, it's just a fun hobby of his.
Musashi is introduced to Kouetsu by Itou, who has been using him to track
the man responsible for the deaths of his family and students. To Musashi's
surprise, Kouetsu's room is an elevator, leading to a secret, hidden level.
There, a host of ninja await. These are Kouetsu's spies, and the source of
his information.
Kouetsu proves invaluable to Musashi, helping him throughout the entire
game, much like the Hanaya character.
Houzouin In'ei (In'ei, the Kakuzen Monk of the Houzouin Temple)
Role: Sub-boss, story character
Appears in: Chapter 8
Voice Actor: Unknown
Description: This old man is credited with founding the Houzouin-Style Polearms
Art. He is said to have studied under many different masters--he is even
said to have studied the Shinkage-ryuu style of weapons arts taught by Yagyuu
Muneyoshi (Sekishuusai).
In the game, his pupil, Inshun, has become too proud because he has gone
undefeated for so long in the fighting competitions at the Koufuku Temple.
Marume Nagayoshi starts a rumor that Musashi will come to face Inshun in an
obvious attempt to lure the real Musashi out of hiding to investigate. He's
got a message for him about Haruka and cautions about things that are yet to
come.
In'ei also seems to know what's going on. He mentions that "that Old Fox
should be making his move pretty soon," alluding to the impending intervention
of Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Houzouin Inshun (Inshun, the Kakuzen Monk of the Houzouin Temple)
Role: Story character, boss
Appears in: Chapter 8
Voice Actor: Kamiya Hiroshi
Chibi Marukochan (anime): Hiroshikun
Trigun (anime): Zaji The beast
Jibakukun (anime): Kai
Noir (anime): Dominix
Konjiki no Gashbell (anime): Kubozuka Eita
SD Gundam Force (anime): Captain Gundam
Tsukuyomi Moon Phase (anime): Morioka Kouhei
One Piece (anime): Eddie
Nodame Cantabile (anime): Kimura Tomohito
Macross F (anime): Mikhail Braun
Castlevania (game, PS2 title): Joachim Almstar
Kessen III (game): Azai Nagamasa
Sengoku Musou 2 (game): Azai Nagamasa
Zenosaga (game): Canaan
Final Fantasy X (game): Gatta
Description: This brash, arrogant youth is the pupil of In'ei, founder of the
Houzouin Style of Polearm Arts. The style uses a cross-shaped polearm, which
looks like a trident.
Various accounts have him fighting with Musashi, but, mostly that seems to
come from modern popular fiction. It is no surprise, then, that Inshun is
pitted against Musashi in this game. Musashi has been asked by In'ei to knock
the young man off his high horse. He does so, but when his name is announced
as Kiryuu Kazumanosuke and not Miyamoto Musashi, Inshun refuses to fight him.
Musashi taunts Inshun, saying that he should humbly bear in mind that there
are others better than him all over the world. "And you would be one of those
'others?'" Inshun asks. Then, he agrees to fight. Upon losing, he goes wild,
throwing a tantrum, falling to the floor, and punching and kicking at nothing.
I
-
ITOU Ittousai
Role: Ally, boss, story character
Appears in: Most of the game
Voice Actor: Terajima Susumu
Ryuu ga Gotoku 2 (game): Kawara Shirou
Dead or Alive (Dead or Alive: Hanzaisha) (movie): Inoue Akira
Hana-Bi (movie): Nakamura
Description: Itou is a bodyguard for the Tsuruya brothel. He is also a friend
and ally to Musashi--or, Kiryuu, as he knows him.
When Haruka suddenly appears before Kiryuu and asks him to kill Miyamoto
Musashi, Itou helps his friend by introducing him to an informant, Hon'ami
Kouetsu (who just also happens to be a famous artist). It seems that Itou has
been using Kouetsu's network of informants for his own purposes, unbeknownst
to Kiryuu.
One day, Itou calls Kiryuu to the beach and attacks him. When Kiryuu de-
fends with Musashi's signature two-swords style, Itou recognises him
immediately. Eventually, he relents, and explains his backstory to Kiryuu.
It seems that one of the men responsible for smearing Kiryuu's name, Sasaki
Kojirou, is Itou's nemesis. He has been hunting this man for a long time.
Itou was famous during the Sengoku era as a skilled swordsman, but, his
family and students were all killed at Kojirou's hands. Learning through
Kouetsu that Musashi also bears a grudge against Kojirou, he figured that the
two of them should duel to see who had the right to take Kojirou's head.
Itou Ittousai was another real person. He was born around 1550, but his
death is unknown. Some accounts have him dying in his 70s, but others in his
90s. He established the "Swingle-Sword Style" ("Ittou-ryuu"), or "Unrivalled
Sword Style" and took that as his name. He may have done so before the Edo
Period in the Sengoku, as there is evidence of him working for the Houjou,
mentioned as Toda Ittousai. He is said to have defeated a Chinese swordmaster
while there.
In the game, he pretty much takes on the role of Date Makoto (from the
previous games). He has a semi-official post and helps Kiryuu in any way that
he can--even if his superiors wouldn't like that so much.
J
-
K
-
KOMAKI Souzaemon
Role: Story character, boss
Appears in: Most chapters
Voice Actor: Unknown
Description: Those who have played the previous Ryuu ga Gotoku games will, no
doubt, remember Komaki Soutarou, the old wanderer who taught Kiryuu techniques
(and a real pain when you could actually fight him in the colisseum).
So, it might not be a surprise to find a clone of this character, presumably
his ancestor. He has a dojo in the Gion area where he teaches his Gion Mute
Ryuu martial arts. He also appears in the Houzouin area of the Koufuku Temple
complex, in the fighting competitions.
Komaki used to have a thriving school in the Kawachi area, but something
happened in his past that he seems to avoid talking about with Musashi.
At the end of the story, once Musashi has mastered the skills at Komaki's
dojo and at Zankisai's swordsmanship dojo in the Suburbs, Komaki tells him
about his past at long last.
It seems that one of his students took and read his scrolls containing his
higher techniques, then took up the sword and cut down almost all of his
students. So, he was forced to close down the dojo in Kawachi, but he's spent
his time following this student and now has opened his dojo in Gion so that he
would be close to the man, who also had a dojo in Kyoto.
He's talking about Shibusawa Zankisai, the man from whom Musashi learns most
of his single-sword style basic techniques. In the final chapter, Komaki sets
out to seek revenge upon this man in a duel. That night, Musashi finds out
from one of the students where Zankisai has gone to--the Sanjuusangendou, and
so, he goes to see their duel.
Komaki uses a powerful technique, disarming Zankisai and stabbing him in
the stomach with his own sword. As Zankisai lay dying, he expresses his re-
gret for his past. Komaki is saddened to realize that his former pupil
actually meant to die in that duel. Of course, being his killer, he is unable
to attend Zankisai's funeral, but Musashi tells him it was a good one.
Then, Komaki decides to leave Gion. He's closing down his dojo and heading
out to Edo, where one of his students live, which is probably meant to explain
why Komaki's descendant is found in Tokyo in the other games (Edo is the old
name for Tokyo). But, before he goes, he's going to stop by the Houzouin and
see what all this tournament hub-bub is about (hint, hint).
He was a monster in the first game's tournament, and much easier in the
second game's, since he was so aggressive it was very easy to simply use a
reversal on him. In this game, once you get to the point where you're fight-
ing him in the Houzouin, he's very easy. His life bar is relatively short and
it's possible to just avoid his attacks and answer them with attack strings of
your own, although he can instantly throw you, zip around with crazy fast
sidesteps, and guard sword attacks while unarmed.
L
-
M
-
Madam of Tsuruya, The: --> see "Okami of Tsuruya, The"
MAJIMA Gorohachi
Aliases: SHISHIDO Baiken
Role: Boss character
Appears in: Chapter 2, Chapter 5
Voice Actor: Ugaki Hidenari
King of Bandits Jin (Ou dorobou Jing) (anime): Cube de Ice
Naruto (anime): Fuujin
One Piece (anime): Yama
Nintama Rantarou: Oozuki
Tekken 5 (game): Ganryuu
Ryuu ga Gotoku (game series): Majima Gorou
Description: Shishido Baiken was an original character developed by Yoshikawa
Eiji when he wrote the famous book "Miyamoto Musashi," upon which many modern
popular accounts of Musashi's life are based.
Musashi and Majima meet up in the home base of the task force Marume has
been leading, and they fight almost immediately when Kiryuu refuses to drink
Majima's sake. However, he quickly realises how skillful Musashi is and
becomes his friend. The two then volunteer for the critical role in the
secret mission.
It was all a set-up, and Majima and Musashi have to flee for their lives.
However, while running away, Majima has no choice but to cut a suspension
bridge the pursuing troops are standing on, and falls to his (presumed) death.
His last wish was for Musashi to bring his sword to his younger sister,
Ukiyo, who refuses it. It turns out Majima had been taking care of Ukiyo and
only considered her his younger sister; she was really only related by the
fact that it was Majima who killed her father. And so, Ukiyo refuses to
accept Majima's sword.
After coming to Gion, Kiryuu is asked to retrieve a treasure for Hon'ami
Kouetsu that has been stolen by bandits. When he enters the inner sanctum of
their cavernous lair, he is assaulted by their leader, Shishido Baiken, only
to find that it is actually Majima.
It seems that Majima lost his memory after the fall. He was taken in by the
previous head of the Shishido bandits, and at the death of that man, became
head of them, himself.
Obviously, this is basically the same Majima Gorou character you encounter
in the other two titles. Of coures, things are slightly different, but he's
pretty much the same.
MARUME Nagayoshi
Role: Story character, boss
Appears in: Chapter 2, Chapter 7, Chapter 8
Voice Actor: Takenaka Naoto
Merci Boku (CD)
Eraserhead (CD)
Gegege no Kitarou (drama): Nezumio (Mouse Man)
Okusama wa majo ("Bewitched in Tokyo" drama): Suzuki Kazuo
Sengoku jieitai - Sekigahara no tatakai (drama): Ishida Mitsunari
Teki wa Honnouji ni ari (drama): Hashiba (Toyotomi) Hideyoshi
Shall We Dance? (movie): Aoki Tomio
Azumi (movie): Katou Kiyomasa
Description: Marume Nagayoshi is known as the man who created the Taisha-ryuu
(or Taisha Style) of swordsmanship. Born in 1540, he had various exploits
about Japan during the Sengoku and early Edo periods. He would later retire,
and become a teacher of the arts--reading, poetry, etc.
In this game, Marume is working for the Tokugawa forces as a swordsmanship
instructor. When he meets Musashi, he is recruiting men for a secret mission.
He is impressed with Musashi, who is teaching students, and who is showing
them a way to use both swords at once. Musashi tells them that this is only
for show; just something to help get your mind focused. But, Marume believes
that Musashi actually believes this could be a real fighting style.
Marume convinces Musashi to join, and allows him to volunteer for a key
role in the secret mission. He does, however, pause to ask Musashi to sur-
vive the ordeal.
It turns out that it was a set-up, designed by the advisor, Tenkai, and that
the two would be hunted down and killed at the meeting point as if they were
murderers. Presumably, the rest of Marume's team was sent somewhere else or
killed, too.
Marume is defeated by Musashi in the battle at the temple they were supposed
to meet up at, but another key figure in the treachery at hand, Sasaki
Kojirou, shows up to ensure his capture (death). Musashi tells Marume that
he will take his advice and survive, and flees.
However, Marume is not completely an evil figure. He aids Musashi, luring
him to compete in the tournaments at the Houzouin Temple (really the Koufuku
Temple in Nara) by spreading a rumor that an imposter would compete under
Musashi's name. When Musashi meets Marume at the temple, he alludes to the
fact that there are other, more sinister forces at work, and that he is on
the same side as Musashi in that he, too, wants to see Haruka protected.
When Musashi later visits the Yagyuu village to meet with their patriarch,
Sekishuusai, he finds that Marume has been watching him. Although Marume has
followed some of Tenkai's and Kojirou's orders, he hasn't been 100% faithful
to them. He was sent to kill Musashi when the bounty hunters came to Ukiyo's
house, but, just took his sword instead. Later, when he is sent to kill
Haruka's adoptive family, he spares her life, allowing her to escape.
Marume and Sekishuusai have been planning to stop Tenkai and to thwart
Kojirou's blind ambitions. To do so, they needed a strong warrior like
Musashi. Marume also obviously feels responsible for Musashi's position and
seems to express regret over the treachery that left him a wanted man. In
the end, Marume shows Musashi how to overcome the Shinkage-ryuu style of
swordplay used by Kojirou in hopes that he will defeat him.
MIYAMOTO Musashi
Aliases: KIRYUU Kazumanosuke
Role: Main character
Appears in: The entire game
Voice Actor: Kuroda Takaya
Wolf's Rain (anime): Darcia
Sakigake!! Chromartie High School (anime): Masked Takenouchi
Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo (anime): Hargen
One Piece (anime): Bogard
Transformers Galaxy Force (anime): Starscream
Bleach (anime): Baura
Sengoku Musou (game series): Hattori Hanzou
The King of Fighters 2000, 2001 (games): Rin, Long
Shinibidou Imashime (game): Gamuran
Ryuu ga Gotoku (game series): Kiryuu Kazuma
Description: This is a swordsman of the samurai caste in the Edo Period, whose
name has risen above all others. It has been said that Miyamoto Musashi was
the greatest swordsman who ever lived. In his twilight years, as many others
did, he wrote an autobiographical work, "Gorin no sho" ("The Book of Five
Rings"), which has been translated over and over in many different languages
and is, most likely, available at a bookstore near you.
Much of the legend of his life, however, derives from Yoshikawa Eiji's
"Miyamoto Musashi" (released in English-speaking areas as simply "Musashi").
In this book appear many of the characters in this game.
However, not much is known about the "real" Musashi. Historians seem fairly
convinced that he actually did appear in a few registries, under different
names. It is believed he was born in 1584 in what is now the Hyougo Pre-
fecture in Japan (in the Kinki region; just to the West of Kyoto). He then
began training, according to his own accounts, by the time he was 13, and
defeated a strong soldier named Akiyama when he was 16 (which would be around
the time of the Sekigahara Battle). He may have possibly fought in these
battles in under Kuroda Yoshikata, but there is little evidence as to exactly
what was going on in his youth.
It is said that Miyamoto became famous in 1604 with the incidents involving
the Yoshioka family. These characters do appear in the game, and he does, in
fact, duel with them. There are many historical accounts to verify this, but
they offer varied information (sometimes conflicting).
There was another major duel in Musashi's life, offered by historical
accounts written a century or so later. This was his duel against a man known
as either Sasaki Ganryuu, Ganryuu Kojirou, or other such variations, at a
place that apparently was known as Funashima, but later was renamed because of
the duel there to Ganryuu Island. Obviously, there is even less historical
accuracy in the accounts of this duel--especially because Musashi himself left
no mention of it. In some histories, Musashi was avenging his father's death
at Kojirou's hands. Others have him killing his opponent with bare hands
after he was disarmed and others have troops appearing to stop the duel before
a victor was chosen. So, this other major duel has become quite a legendary
battle, and has become a popular part of the telling of his story.
This game will focus on these three major events in the rise of Musashi to
legend: his role at the time of one of the most important battles in Japanese
history (the Sekigahara), his duel against the Yoshiokas, and his duel against
Sasaki Kojirou.
The inventor of the dual-wield or "two-swords" style, Miyamoto Musashi is
recruited by Marume Nagayoshi, working as the head swordsmanship instructor to
Tokugawa Ieyasu's forces, to partake in a secret mission just before the
Battle at Sekigahara.
The operation turns out to be a secret assassination brewed up by the monk
Tenkai, chief advisor to Tokugawa Ieyasu. Unfrotunately for Musashi, it was
all a set-up for Tokugawa forces to kill a man and make it look like they had
not. They arrive at the meeting point to arrest (kill) Musashi, the only man
alive who still knew the secret besides the ones who had dreamed up the plot.
It is there where he met Sasaki Kojirou, a powerful swordsman. Using his
very long weapon, he showed Musashi that he would easily defeat him. With no
alternative, Musashi decides to take advice Marume had offered him at the
beginning of the operation, and survive this thing. So, he runs away.
His trials and tribulations have led him to the pleasure district, Gion, of
Kyoto. Here, he now works as a "kakemawari;" a sort-of "Jack of all trades."
At times, he's a bodyguard, and at others, he goes and collects payment of
debts for the Tsuruya brothel, the most prominent brothel in town.
To disguise himself, he chooses the name "Kiryuu Kazumanosuke." "Kiryuu" is
an old name for an area in the Kinki region of Japan--presumably, the place
Musashi is supposed to have come from. "Kazuma" has the idea of a horse
galloping swiftly. "-No-suke" is an old way to end names, and means something
like "son."
One day, a young girl suddenly shows up in Gion, asking to see Kiryuu. She
holds in her hands one of Musashi's wakizashi. Recognizing it, Kiryuu allows
her to see him. She has a favor to ask, but she has no money. Kiryuu tells
her that he only does work for money, and that he'll do anything--so long as
she pays.
So, she sells herself to the Tsuruya brothel for 1 ryou, and comes back,
paying Kiryuu the 1 ryou...for him to kill Miyamoto Musashi. Her family was
killed by a man named "Miyamoto Musashi," it seems.
Hiding from the law, doing odd jobs to get by, solving people's problems in
an unfair world--this is the heart of detective fiction. It is Kiryuu's
humble identity, but one jaded with knowledge of secret pasts and shady
goings-on that makes him the same as the Kiryuu Kazuma in the other games.
N
-
Nankoubou Tenkai ("The Nankou [or 'Light from the South'] Monk, Tenkai")
Role: Story character
Appears in: Chapter 2, Chapter 12
Voice Actor: Utsumi Kenji
Cat's Eye (anime) - The Captain
Gegege no Kitarou (anime) - La Seine the Vampire
Cyborg 009 (anime) - 004
Jinzouningen Casshern (anime) - Black King Boss
Street Fighter II V - Vega (aka M.Bison in the US)
Saint Seiya (anime) - Odin
Dr. Slump (anime) - Normaki Senbei
Hagane no renkinjutsushi (anime) - Alex Louis Armstrong, Philippe Gargantus
Armstrong
Hajime no Ippo (anime) - Kamogawa Genji
Description: Tenkai was a powerful advisor to the Tokugawas. A monk of the
Tendai school of Buddhism in Japan, it is said that he gained notice from
Tokugawa Ieyasu and became his chief advisor around the time of the Sekigahara
Battle.
However, much of his life is a mystery, and, because of his known conviction
to defeat the enemy families of the Tokugawa such as the Toyotomi and Honda
clans, he has often been portrayed as a scheming, clandestine, vicious sort.
This game is no exception. When Majima fights with Musashi while the troops
were drinking before their secret operation, Tenkai approaches to examine the
two. He two-facedly praises Musashi, a man who has no lord and belongs to no
school of fencing (although this is most likely false about the real Musashi),
he brings Marume aside and questions whether it was a good choice to bring
Musashi along.
The operation is actually a set-up, and Tenkai is the brains behind the
operation. He wishes for solid control over the lands, and needs to secure
the Tokugawa bloodline's support. Yuuki Hideyasu, the eldest living son of
Tokugawa Ieyasu, is estranged from his father for some reason. The reason
still is not entirely clear in historical accounts, but, it is clear to Tenkai
(at least in this game) that he must kill the man in order to prevent quarrels
over the lineage later, and in order to keep the line of the kubou stay with
someone who supported him.
Musashi is told that he is going to secretly steal into the residence of a
man who betrayed the Tokugawa and must be punished. When he reaches the man's
chambers, he finds it is Yuuki Hideyasu, Tokugawa's own son. He kills him
easily, but the man bemoans the fact that he was unable to protect his younger
brother from Tenkai's clutches.
For some reason, Musashi and his partner fail to realize that they've been
trapped and that they need to escape. They wait for their commanders to re-
turn, only to be confronted by them as if they were criminals who had killed a
member of the Tokugawa family. Thus, with the Tokugawa now controlling all
the realms, they have become outlaws.
Tenkai sends forces to dispatch with the remaining members of Hideyasu's
family to prevent uprisings later. One of these members is his daughter, a
young girl named Haruka. Haruka is allowed to escape by Marume, and flees to
the Gion pleasure district, where her paths cross with Musashi's. In order to
get rid of her, Tenkai again sends troops to intercept an official on a
mission to retrieve Ieyasu's relative, but those troops fail.
However, after all is revealed, Tenkai realizes that he can kidnap the youth
and keep her to further manipulate the ruling family. He does so, spreading
the false story that Haruka had had enough of the pleasure district now that
Musashi has decided to be with Ageha--she didn't want to be the "third wheel"
in the relationship.
Musashi confronts Tenkai on Ganryuu Island, the site of the famous duel with
Sasaki Kojirou, and defeats many of his troops in order to get to the old
monk and rescue Haruka from his grasp. But, before Musashi can land the death
blow, the current kubou, Tokugawa Hidetada, shows up, saying that it is his
duty to kill the traitor. It is Kojirou, however, who lands the final blow.
Of course, this does not match up with history. There is a large amount of
credible, historical evidence that suggests that Tenkai died some 37 years
after the events in the game. However, since he was a chief advisor to the
Tokugawa, he is often portrayed as a scheming man of questionable morality.
He has appeared as a boss character in many games and the villain in many
manga and other such works of popular fiction about the Tokugawa Era.
Plus, the very first time you lay eyes on him in the game, you'll pretty
much figure he's the last boss.
O
-
Okami of Tsuruya, The (The Madam of the Tsuruya Brothel)
Role: Story character
Appears in: Many chapters
Voice Actor: Fujita Toshiko
Ikkyuusan (anime): Ikkyuu
Cat's Eye (anime): Kisugi Hitomi
Jigoku sensei Nu~be~ (anime): Tateno Hiroshi
Konjiki no Gashbell (anime): Zofis
Hokuto no Ken (anime): Mamiya
Ashita no Joe 2 (anime): Hayashi Noriko
Saint Seiya Jashin Eris (anime): Eris
Shining Force Neo (game): Maria
Abarenbou Princess (game): Jasmine
Tengaimakyou II Manjimaru (game): Manjimaru's Mother
Description: It's strange that a character as important as the madam of the
Tsuruya ageya is never given a proper name. It probably doesn't really
matter; in this kind of life, where all the girls have fake names to hide
their identities, there's certainly no reason to delve deeply into one's
character or background.
The madam is a shrewd businesswoman who seems willing to do anything for a
profit--and profit she does. She has a stern, disapproving attitude towards
Musashi, but, she's not exactly unwilling to cooperate with him.
When the Tsuruya is burned down, she is clearly in on the plot. She has
been paid--no doubt by the Tokugawa bakufu running Japan--for the use of her
establishment. She also shows her secret, crafty side in the way she pro-
cures new girls. When a batch of girls arrives at Gion, she has Yoshino
parade about and show off her appearance, so that all girls will think that
they can be made that beautiful by her training and technique, and so, they
are willing to take her low payments for their bodies.
An important an powerful figure about town, everyone seems to know and
respect her.
P
-
Q
-
R
-
S
-
Sasaki Kojirou -> see "Yagyuu Munenori"
SHIBUSAWA Zankisai
Role: Story character, boss
Appears in: Many chapters
Voice Actor: Unknown
Description: This guy's got an old dojo in the suburbs area of Kyoto.
When Musashi first encounters him, he has no students and is in pretty bad
shape financially. Besides paying him to teach Musashi more moves, you can
donate money to the dojo. The more you donate, the more you will raise him up
from obscurity.
When Musashi trains with a heavy bokutou, Zankisai doesn't even bother
raising his sword to defend. Musashi thinks to himself, "What's with this old
man--he's not bothered at all by being hit with this wooden sword??"
If you undertake the final training to learn the Zankiken 3 no Dachi, you'll
see why.
Zankisai originally used the "Oni Killer" characters to write his name, as
you can see by learning the Zankiken (Oni Killer) combination. However, he
now writes it with different characters--the same he uses for the name of his
dojo, which is a Buddhist term meaning to look back on events in your life
and feel shame and regret.
Once Musashi learns all of Zankisai's moves and all the moves from Komaki,
Komaki will reveal exactly what it is that Zakisai regrets. In the past, he
was a student of Komaki's, but he turned to the sword, abandoned Komaki's
ways, and even killed most of his students. Komaki built his dojo in Gion so
he would be close to Zankisai's dojo, so that he could one day take his
revenge.
Zankisai wanted to become as great as Yagyuu Sekishuusai (Muneyoshi). He
thought that the only way for him to do that was to start his own brand of
swordsmanship, so, he broke into Komaki's place and read his secret scrolls.
He felt that Komaki's students did not possess the necessary soul to have a
real fight, so he defeated them and killed them. He says that all young
warriors go through a period where they want to become the best and cut every-
thing down, an age he calls the "oni period."
Komaki challenges Zankisai to a duel and quickly defeats him by catching his
arm when he attacks with his sword, throwing him to the ground, and stabbing
him in the gut. Mortally wounded, Zankisai admits that he now writes his name
with the Chinese characters meaning "regret," because he actually regrets his
decisions now. Before he was killed, he wrote certificates for all of his
students, declaring that they had passed his training, but he signed it with
his new name. He felt that once Komaki told them his story, they would just
discard their certificates anyway. He accepted Komaki's duel thinking that he
would die, after living what he thought was a self-serving life.
But, Musashi points out that there is no selfishness in teaching his skills
to so many people. He and Komaki stand over the man and pay him respect as he
dies, finally free from his long nightmare of self-hatred.
Shishido Baiken -> see "Majima Gorohachi"
T
-
Tayuu -> see "Yoshino Tayuu"
Tenkai -> see "Nankoubou Tenkai"
TOKUGAWA Hidetada
Role: Story character
Appears in: The final chapter
Voice Actor: Unknown
Description: Hidetada was Ieyasu's successor as the second kubou of Japan in
the days of the bakufu--he was the second lord of Japan in the Edo Period.
The third son of Ieyasu, Hidetada became the successor after his eldest
brother died and his second older brother was adopted by the Yuuki family.
Although he did enjoy military success before the Battle at Sekigahara, which
pretty much settled disputes over the succession of Toyotomi Hideyoshi's post
as kubou or daishougun, Hidetada was unable to make it to the battlefield in
time and was absent in the great battle.
His father abdicated in 1605 and he became the second kubou in the Tokugawa
Era of Japan.
In the game, when Yuuki Hideyasu is killed under commands from Tenkai, he
expresses regret over the fact that he was unable to protect his younger
brother, Hidetada, from Tenkai's clutches. It seems that he wanted Hidetada
to help the world live in a peaceful era, free from these power struggles and
secret goings-on.
So, when Hidetada appears to deal the deathblow to Tenkai, Musashi tells him
about his brother's wishes. Hidetada cries and agrees to lead Japan peace-
fully.
Of course, "peace" is a relative term, and in reality, Hidetada was not
exactly a soft-hearted ruler, but a mindful defender of the realms. He
enforced isolationist rules and kept outside influence such as Christianity
at bay.
In the end of the game, Hidetada, Haruka, and Yagyuu Munenori (a.k.a.
Sasaki Kojirou) escape together from Ganryuu Island while Tenkai's forces
close in on the island. Musashi holds the soldiers off so that the three can
escape.
TOKUGAWA Ieyasu
Aliases: Mysterious Old Man, Old Fox (Tanuki Jiji)
Role: Story character
Appears in: The last few chapters
Voice Actor: Saka Osamu
Patlabor (anime): Sakaki Seitarou
Koukaku kidoutai Stand Alone Complex (anime): Aramaki Daisuke
Uchuu senkan Yamato (anime): Gale
Saint Seiya (anime): Poseidon
Yattodetaman (anime): Tooyama Kingorou
Choujikuu yosai Macross (anime): Hayase Takashi
Testujin 28 gou (anime): Gaban
Tenkuu no Escaflowne (anime): Maiden Fassa
Dragonball (anime): Son Gohan
Blackjack (anime): Honma Joutarou
One Piece (anime): Zenny
Kishin Heidan (anime): Captain Nakajima
3x3 Eyes (anime): Professor Fujii
Beni no Buta ("Porco Rosso" anime): Sky Pirate
Anubis Zone of the Enders (game): Lloyd
Kessen (game): Kuroda Jousui
Jojo no kimyou na bouken Phantom Blood (game): Tompetty
Metal Gear Solid 2 (game): Sergei Gurlukovich
Description: One of the most important figures in Japanese history, Tokugawa
Ieyasu is one of the "three great unifiers" of Japan. First, Oda Nobunaga is
said to have unified it with his military might, then Toyotomi Hideyoshi is
said to have brought it prosperity, and Tokugawa Ieyasu is said to have
brought law to the land.
After the Battle at Sekigahara, the Japanese world was divided into han, or
domains. Ieyasu's new government, called the bakufu, was based in Edo, which
is now Tokyo. Domainal lords were required to attend court for alternating
years in Edo Castle, and then to spend the other years ruling in their home
domains. This system ensured loyalty, partly because there would be about
half the other warlords and their troops there to defend Edo Castle in an
uprising, and partly because the subdued warlords would have to spend most of
their funds on the upkeep of their extra residences and the bothersome task
of travelling about the lands with their huge entourages, rendering them
simply without the resources for war.
In the game, Musashi is tricked through a plot devised by Tenkai, a monk
who was chief advisor to Ieyasu, into unknowingly assassinating Ieyasu's heir,
Yuuki Hideyasu. He is then unknowingly led through what seems like seren-
dipitous circumstances by Marume Nagayoshi and Yagyuu Sekishuusai to the Gion
pleasure districts to protect Haruka, who turns out to be Hideyasu's daughter
and Ieyasu's granddaughter.
During his travels, Musashi is told to keep Haruka safe. He is cautioned
by the monk In'ei at the Houzouin part of the Koufuku Temple complex not to
worry, for all will be revealed once that "Old Fox" makes his move. The term
used is "tanuki jiji," which means "old man tanuki." Tanuki are raccoon-like
creatures in Japan who are said to disguise themselves as humble, bumbling
types in order to deceive and fleece people.
The old man does show up and hires Musashi to take him about town. He then
asks him to take him to Tsuruya, the ageya where Haruka works, and reveals
that he's there to meet Haruka. He then buys her freedom from the brothel.
Majima Gorohachi kidnaps Haruka, though, in order to force a fight between
himself and Musashi. He sees Ageha at the brothel and mistakes her for the
woman he's called his "younger sister," Ukiyo, whom he had asked Musashi to
protect. He therefore mistakingly believes that Musashi had sold Ukiyo to a
life of prostitution and means to take his revenge.
Kojirou also shows up, and would kill Haruka, but Ieyasu intervenes, send-
ing Kojirou away with mere words. Stunned, Musashi demands the Old Fox reveal
his true identity. He finally does the next day, coming to take Haruka from
the pleasure districts back to Edo Castle. However, she refuses, saying she
would like to stay with Musashi.
U
-
UEDA Ryouhei
Role: Story character, sub-boss
Appears in: Chapter 6, Chapter 9
Voice Actor: Unknown
Description: The most skillful apprentice at the Yoshioka Dojo, Ueda is first
seen beating other students down. Musashi enters the scene in cognito as
Kiryuu Kazumanosuke, seeking enrollment in the school. But, in order to get
the attention of the teachers, he will have to first fight this brute.
It turns out that Ueda and Gion Touji are preparing to overthrow the current
heads of the dojo, Yoshioka Denshichirou and Yoshioka Seijuurou. They hatch a
plan to pit Seijuurou, the skilled brother, against Miyamoto Musashi and kill
the survivor of the duel. At the same time, they will kill the brother who
can't use a sword, Denshichirou, at another location.
It is Ueda who waits in the fields where Musashi and Seijuurou have their
duel. Before Musashi can get to the place where Touji has gone to kill Den-
shichirou, he will have to defeat Ueda and the other students of the Yoshioka
Dojo.
Ueda is another character who appears in the book "Miyamoto Musashi" by
Yoshikawa Eiji, and again in certain retellings of the tale (including the
manga "Vagabond"). But, there is little evidence to suggest that Ueda actual-
ly existed.
Ukiyo
Role: Story character
Appears in: Chapter 3
Voice Actor: Unknown (Hisakawa Aya?)
Description: When Musashi flees with Majima after being deceived in the secret
mission, Majima tells him he fears he doesn't have much time left. He asks
that he bring his sword to his younger sister. After that, Majima falls,
cutting a bridge across a deep chasm to prevent the soldiers chasing the two.
Musashi returns to the village to find Ukiyo and bring her her brother's
sword, only to find that she was, in fact, not really Majima's sister. In an
earlier scene, Majima alluded to some kind of murderous past for which he
expressed regret. In that past, Majima had killed Ukiyo's father.
Ukiyo won't accept the sword. It's not so much that she hates Majima for
what he did; it was really also her father's fault for dueling with the man.
But, she won't accept it, no matter how hard Musashi tries. He stays with her
there, trying to get her to accept the sword, but fails.
She doesn't seem to hate the way of the sword, however. She ties bells to
Musashi's weapons, on the sword guards, and tells him to return to his swords-
man life.
But Musashi refuses. He'd rather help her plant rice in her rural village.
Unfortunately, men appear, seeking the bounty on Majima's head. They fight
Musashi, who also has a bounty on his head, and in the struggle end up killing
Ukiyo. Fatally wounded, Ukiyo tells Musashi that someone strong at swords,
like him, has an onus to protect those who need him.
Of course, the old cliche' of someone racing to the scene and immediately
assuming the man trying to help was the murderer arises. Musashi will always
be blamed for Ukiyo's death, although he was trying to protect her from the
inevitable people who would come looking for Majima. But, the key point here
is that Musashi now has a reason to wield his swords.
V
-
W
-
X
-
Y
-
YAGYUU Munenori
Aliases: SASAKI Kojirou
Role: Boss character
Appears in: Chapter 3, Chapter 12
Voice Actor: Matsuda Shouta
Hana yori dango (series): Nishikado Soujirou
Bara no nai hanaya (series): Kudou Naoya
Description: Sasaki Kojirou is usually the character portrayed as Musashi's
greatest rival.
This may be because very little is known about him. Historical accounts
often mention a duel between a man and Musashi on an island now known as
Ganryuu Island. It was originally named "Funashima," but may have been
renamed because of the duel. Different accounts give different versions of
Kojirou's name, and some call him Sasaki Ganryuu or Ganryuu Kojirou. Musashi
himself does not mention Kojirou, and it can be assumed he never really spoke
of the duel, though other historical sources have mentioned it.
In film, he has been portrayed as a man wielding a very long
sword and using its reach advantage to defeat his opponents. He has often
been portrayed as cool and collecting.
In the game, a man shows up to defeat Musashi when he is trying to flee
from the treachery at the temple after the Sekigahara incident in which he
was tricked into killing Tokugawa Ieyasu's son, Yuuki Hideyasu. This man
gives the name Sasaki Kojirou. With his long dachi and Shinkage-ryuu attacks,
Musashi finds in Kojirou an opponent he cannot defeat. He decides to live to
see another day and flees, but will always wait for a chance to fight this
fierce rival again.
Later, Kojirou appears in the Gion district in which Musashi is hiding under
the assumed name, Kiryuu Kazumanosuke. More treachery seems at hand, and
Kojirou's appearances are brief but seem to revolve around the young girl,
Haruka, who hired Kiryuu to get revenge on the man who killed her family.
When Kiryuu faces off against Kojirou at last at Kiyomizu Temple as Kojirou
holds a sword against Haruka's neck, Tokugawa Ieyasu intervenes. Kojirou
cannot go against his old lord, and withdraws. Ieyasu points Kiryuu to the
village of the Yagyuu family, telling him to ask for Sekishuusai, who will
explain everything to him.
Indeed, he does. It turns out that Yagyuu Muneyoshi, also known as Seki-
shuusai, patriarch of the Yagyuu clan, is Kojirou's father. Munenori is his
real name.
Munenori has forsaken the way of the swordsman, leaving his village with the
Shinkage-ryuu skill taught to him by his father. In order to build a han for
the clan (a domain recognized by the Tokugawa bakufu--quite a powerful asset),
he has decided that he would need to become part of the forces conspiring to
change the world. Namely, he decided to join up with Tenkai, chief advisor to
Tokugawa Ieyasu.
But, as his father has noticed, Munenori has become a mere puppet in the
hands of Tenkai and now struggles, carrying out assassinations about the land.
Kojirou has decided that he needs to become a strong oni, and that he needs to
destroy the swordsman identity named Yagyuu Munenori and become the man named
Sasaki Kojirou. He intends to do this by fulfilling his last wishes as a
swordsman and defeating the legendary Miyamoto Musashi.
And so, he tells Musashi of a plot by Tenkai to hold Haruka, a member of the
Tokugawa family, so that he hold the bakufu in his hands. It seems she is at
the now-famous Ganryuu Island, and that Kojirou has told Musashi this in hopes
that he would come for their duel.
In the end, Munenori realises his place as a swordsman when he is defeated
by Musashi. He becomes a swordmaster for the Tokugawa forces.
Munenori really was the sword instructor for Tokugawa Hidetada, and again
for the third kubou, Tokugawa Iemitsu. He was admired greatly by Katsu Kai-
shuu, a very important figure in the events of 19th-century Japan. It is
known that he fought in the Battle at Sekigahara. His exploits did actually
gain him a han, the Yagyuu Han, in what is now Nara Ken.
YAGYUU Sekishuusai
Aliases: Mysterious Monk, YAGYUU Muneyoshi
Role: Story character
Appears in: Chapter 3, Chapter 11
Voice Actor: Matsukata Hiroki
893 ("yakuza") Guurentai (movie)
Jingi naki tatakai (movie): Sakai Tetsuya
Okinawa yakuza sensou (movie)
Yagyuu ichizoku no inbou (movie): Tokugawa Iemitsu
Shuura no mure (movie): Inahara Ryuuji
Okite yakuza no uta (movie)
Sengoku jieitai Sekigahara no tatakai (drama): Shima Sakon
Tokugawa fuunroku hachidaishougun Munenori (drama): Tokugawa Mitsusada
Description: Yagyuu Muneyoshi (who was called "Sekishuusai" by those who
showed respect to him as elder in the family ruling the Yagyuu Domain) was a
swordsman who died just one year after the game takes place. In his youth, it
is said that he studied under Itou Ittousai, but was defeated by Kamiizumi
Nobutsuna, practitionare of the Shinkage-ryuu sword style, and his disciples.
Muneyoshi became a student of the style, and eventually would master it
himself. He would call his particular style "Yagyuu Shinkage-ryuu." His
sons, Munenori and Muneaki, would become swordmasters for the shogunate.
In the game, Musashi first encounters Sekishuusai as he flees from the
Tokugawa forces after the treachery of the Battle at Sekigahara. Sekishuusai
is disguised as a monk, and protects the exhausted Muashi from the pursuing
soldiers. He then leads Musashi to the Gion district and to Ageha, sister of
Ukiyo, the woman Musashi had failed to protect but who inspired him to again
take up the sword to protect others. He also offers a new personal name for
Musashi.
Much later, Musashi is told by the retired kubou, Tokugawa Ieyasu, to visit
the Yagyuu domain and ask to see Sekishuusai. When Musashi finally does, he
is shocked to find the old monk who helped him out years earlier. It turns
out that Sekishuusai and Marume have been watching Musashi and trying to lead
him to protect Haruka.
Sekishuusai has one other request he makes of Musashi--to defeat his own
son, Munenori, who has assumed the name Sasaki Kojirou, in combat and awaken
him to his swordsman life.
Yoshino Tayuu -> see "Ageha"
YOSHIOKA Denshichirou
Role: Story character
Appears in: Chapter 6, Chapter 9
Voice Actor: Matsuno Taiki
Inuyasha (anime): Kouga
Kindaichi shounen no jikenbo (anime): Kindaiichi Hajime
Kochira Katsushikaku Kameari Kouenmae hashutsujo (anime): Kameda Norimasa
Hajime no ippou (anime): Kobashi Kenta
Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo (anime): Tsuru Tusururiina 4th
One Piece (anime): Lafitte
Venus & Braves -Majo to megami to horobi no yogen- (game): Free
Shin sangoku musou 4 (game): Ling Tong
Zenosaga (game): Hammer
Tales of Destiny (game): Igtenos
Bakumatsu renka Shinsengumi (game): Toudou Heisuke
Kessen (game): Toyotomi Hideyori, Ukita Hideie
Description: The younger brother of Yoshioka Seijuurou is also considered head
of the Yoshioka Dojo. However, he is not adroit at the blade and is not the
fearsome opponent his brother is.
Their pupils, Ueda and Gion Touji, wish to overthrow the Yoshioka clan and
take control of the dojo. Gion crafts a plan: he would start the rumor that
Miyamoto Musashi, who, he knows, is in hiding after the Sekigahara troubles.
When Musashi shows up to find his impostor, he will have no choice but to
simply duel with Seijuurou. Gion is counting on Seijuurou's wish to prove his
might as a swordsman.
After the duel, Ueda and his men will kill the winner. At the same time,
however, Gion will have to take care of the other brother.
And so, Denshichirou is cornered at the Sanjuusangendou, a Tendai temple in
the Kyoto region. Musashi shows up and does battle with Gion, who tries to
stop him, telling him that if he just leaves, nobody will ever need to find
out his secret identity, but, if he killed him, there would be no way to
escape everyone finding out.
Musashi chooses to drop his Kiryuu persona, at least for the time being, and
to use his skill to protect those in need. So, he defeats Gion. Although he
killed Denshichirou's older brother in a duel and is a wanted criminal, Den-
shichirou claps and praises Musashi.
This is another man who is mentioned in a few histories and in retellings in
popular fiction such as Yoshikawa Eiji's book, but, little is known about him
because his name does not exactly match others on record. He may have been
Yoshioka Naoshige. This is not entirely unheard of, as people used to have
many different names in days of old.
YOSHIOKA Seijuurou
Role: Story character, boss
Appears in: Chapter 6, Chapter 9
Voice Actor: Katou Masaya
Crying Freeman (film): Hanada Ryuuji
Brother (film): Shirase
Okite Yakuza no uta (film)
Yurusarezu mono (film): Himself
Nobunaga King of Zipangu (drama): Soukichi
Satousan (drama): Yanagawa Masayoshi
Description: This is the older of the Yoshioka brothers, heads of the famous
Yoshioka Dojo. He is a master of the sword, while his younger brother is
simply better at his public image.
His students conspire against him. A rumor is started in which Miyamoto
Musashi, known as a criminal and one of the best swordsmen alive, will come to
challenge the dojo. Musashi, living in cognito as a jack-of-all-trades named
Kiryuu Kazumanosuke, decides he needs to investigate to find out information
about the impostor in order to fulfill his obligations to his client, a young
girl named Haruka.
However, it is Seijuurou's student, Gion Touji, who has orchestrated the
duel, and uses it as a trap for Musashi, luring him out of hiding and forcing
him to face Seijuurou. At the same time that Seijuurou will be fighting
Musashi, the traitor will go to kill Seijuurou's older brother, Denshichirou.
Seijuurou knows what's going on, but can't resist the duel because he wants
to face a stronger opponent as a swordsman. When he is bested, he tells
Musashi that only a person who knew the location of the duel could have
tricked him into meeting him there, so that person is the traitor--Gion Touji.
Various histories have various accounts of the incident between Musashi and
the Yoshioka family. One of them mentions him mortally wounding a man named
Yoshioka Seijuurou, but, it is unclear as to exactly who that is. There is a
fencing instructor at that time, in 1604, named Yoshioka Naotsuna, but there
is never a concrete link between that person and the one named in the histor-
ies. He has also appeared in Miyamaoto Musashi by Yoshikawa Eiji.
YUUKI Hideyasu
Role: Story character
Appears in: Chapter 2
Voice Actor: Unknown
Description: Hideyasu was the second son of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the
bakufu in Japan.
Oda Nobunaga ordered Hideyasu's older brother, Nobuyasu, to commit suicide
in 1579. Thus, Hideyasu would have been poised to inherit the head of the
Tokugawa household. However, as part of a peace accord between Tokugawa
Ieyasu and Hashiba (Toyotomi) Hideyoshi, he was forced from his home and
adopted by Hideyoshi. Thus, he is known to have adopted the name "Hashiba
Hideyasu," taking the "Hide" from "Hideyoshi" and the "yasu" from "Ieyasu."
He would later be adopted into the Yuuki family. It was common for a man
to be adopted into a family for an arranged marriage. Thus, his name changed
again, and he is now known as Yuuki Hideyasu.
After the Battle at Sekigahara, he was made the first lord of the Kita-no-
Shou Han, now part of the Fukui Ken. He died in 1607, presumably from being
poisoned.
In the game, Hideyasu dies at the time of the Battle at Sekigahara. Musashi
and Majima are enlisted by Marume to assassinate him in a secret plot designed
by Tenkai, a monk and chief advisor to Tokugawa Ieyasu. Because Hideyas is
Ieyasu's son and heir, even though he apparently was at odds with Ieyasu, he
could not kill him directly. So, Tenkai decided to send troops to kill Hide-
yasu, and then kill those troops to avenge the death of the heir to his lord.
This is a common strategy. This way, you could assassinate someone, and
then make it look like you were defending them by bringing their murderers to
justice.
In his final moments, Hideyasu tells Musashi he regrets that he was unable
to keep his younger brother from Tenkai's clutches.
Z
-
---------------------
5k. Completion Lists
---------------------
From the start button menu, there are two choices that contain checklists of
things you have accomplished. The first is the "completion lists" section and
the second is the "memo pad." I'll list both here, just because.
If you complete a category, you'll get a special reward (an item). For more
information, check the "extras" section.
Food and Drink (Restaurant Items)
---------------------------------
I'll list these the same way they appear on the list from the start menu. They
are divided by restaurant, and you toggle from shop to shop by pressing right
or left. I'll start with the default restaurant and then progress to the right.
What's wrong? Oh, you can't get the one item at White Snake Udon? Uh-oh...
sounds like a bug. You should return your PS3.
No; just kidding--the problem is that you haven't yet done the side mission
"The Soul of the Udon Restaurant." The trouble with that mission is quite
plainly that it all hinges upon you having first done all the other missions
before it involving White Snake and the Tougarashi Seller. To finish the second
mission for the Tougarashi Seller, you'll need to get an item from Gyoutensai,
the inventor, that uses Japanese-Style Paper, which you'll need to get from the
mission "Talent." So, you have to do seven or so other missions beforehand.
Fun, huh?
Anyway, the sakaya have the option to buy the liquor and take it with you.
This does not count for the completion list, but, I'll list it here so that I
don't have to list the restaurants twice to cover it. Also note that they have
similar menus. For the sakaya and tea houses, you only have to order the item
at one spot; you don't have to order one tea house's menu and then order all the
same items that were offered there at the other tea house. You still have to
order the items that aren't repeated, of course.
SUSHIYA GIN (Gion)
Thick Roll 50
Pressed Mackerel Sushi 80
Rib-Meat Sushi 100
Grilled Pike Eel Rice Bowl 130
Jack Sushi 80
Shad Sushi 50
Steamed Sushi 70
Sweetfish Sushi 100
Seaweed Roll 80
SAKAYA IKKEN'YA (Suburbs) Dine In Take Out
Nada Refined Sake 45 60
Satsuma Fried Potato Liquor 75 85
Cloudy Sake 30 40
Potato Liquor 60 65
Sobagaki 40 N/A
Pickles 30 N/A
Tea Rice 50 N/A
Fried Pike Eel 60 N/A
Thunder Tofu 60 N/A
Octopus Shiraae 60 N/A
SAKAYA NAKANOKURA (Gion) Dine In Take Out
Nada Refined Sake 45 60
Satsuma Fried Potato Liquor 75 85
Sweet Sake 50 65
Itami Sake 56 70
Itami Refined Sake 40 50
Potato Liquor 60 65
Nanto Sake 130 140
Tea Rice 50 N/A
Fried Pike Eel 60 N/A
Miso-Flavored Tofu 50 N/A
Octopus Shiraae 60 N/A
Steamed Tofu 50 N/A
Skewered Eggplant 55 N/A
WHITE SNAKE UDON (Suburbs)
Udon in Hot Broth 30
Kamaage Udon 40
Shippoku Udon 80
Anbei Udon 90
Chicken Egg Udon 120
Odamaki Udon 110
Nabeyaki Udon 80
Kishimen 60
Somen 60
Uncut Udon 80
Tempura Udon 150
Ultimate Fried Udon 120*
*Does not appear until after completing "The Soul of the Udon Restaurant
(Udon'ya Tamashii)"
COUNTRYSIDE TEA HOUSE (Yoshioka Dojo) Dine In Take Out
Strong All-Purpose Pills N/A 350
Extra-Strength All-Purpose Pills N/A 500
Manjuu N/A 10
Ohagi N/A 18
Sweet Sake 25 N/A
Cloudy Sake 30 40
Grilled Dango 15 15
Tea Dango 16 15
Three-Colored Dango 15 15
RIVERSIDE TEA HOUSE Dine In Take Out
Strong All-Purpose Pills N/A 350
Extra-Strength All-Purpose Pills N/A 500
Manjuu N/A 10
Ohagi N/A 18
Tea Rice Porridge 20 N/A
Sweet Bean Soup 18 N/A
Sweet Sake 25 N/A
Cloudy Sake 30 40
Nada Refined Sake 45 60
Mugwort Dango 15 15
Cool Jelly N/A 10
Kujou Onion N/A 10
Horigawa Burdock N/A 10
HATSUKAZE KITCHEN (Gion)
Rikyuu Egg 120
Sparrow Rice Porridge 140
Egg with Katsuo 100
Mullosk Rice 150
Oyster Rice 180
Azu Rice 90
Boiled Tofu 130
Grilled Eel Skewers 250
Turtle Soup 300
KOUYOUROU RESTAURANT (Gion)
Mountain Pleasure Banquet 1,200
Sea Pleasure Banquet 1,200
Plum Banquet 2,500
Bamboo Banquet 4,500
Pine Banquet 6,800
Supreme Banquet 10,000
Storage Keys
------------
-> See section in appendices
Arena
-----
-> See Houzouin Tournaments section
Heat Actions
------------
This is not just a list of super moves; you need to actually land each specific
one against an enemy in order to have it appear on this list (besides just a
"????"). Perhaps that's why they let this roll over on New Game+ replays--be-
cause some of these happen only in specific instances in the story, and one of
them actually can only be used in the final action stage.
There certainly are a lot of moves here. Learning them is a pain in itself,
but actually landing each move is a little difficult. At least this time, we
don't need to do each specific instance. In the last game, you had to do the
environment attacks from both the front and back, the pursuits from when they
were face-up or face-down...it was a little more annoying.
As with the other lists, I'm going to put these in the order they appear on
the menu, starting with the first list that appears and then scrolling right
through the various types of Heat Actions.
Note that the item you get for completing this list actually grants you yet
another Heat Action. That's sort-of an "extra" move, so I've listed it at the
end in parantheses. It actually appears on no list in the game, so you don't
need to first perform it to complete either this or the skills list (as that
would technically be impossible anyway). It's also useless.
Oh yeah--these ALL NEED TO BE DONE IN HEAT MODE (of course).
BRAWLING SURE-KILL POWERFUL TECHNIQUES
Wall Attack Mastery
Drag an opponent near a wall and hit Triangle
Pedestal Attack Mastery
Drag an opponent near a table or counter or such that's about waist-high and
hit Triangle
Pillar Attack Mastery
Drag an opponent to a tree or pole and hit Triangle
Dancing to the Kamogawa
Drag an opponent to the edge of Shijou Bridge in Kawara and hit Triangle
Throwing Down Mastery
Drag an opponent to the edge of the Cliffside Path suspension bridge (which
also appears when running away from Sekigahara with Majima)
Stairway Mastery
Drag an opponent to the top of the stairs and hit Triangle (easiest to do at
the Riverside Path)
Dropping a Heavy Thing Mastery
Drag an opponent near a stone lantern and hit Triangle (easiest to do at the
Gion Inari Shrine)
Bellows Mastery
Drag an opponent near the bellows and hit Triangle, repeatedly tap Square
(only at the Blacksmith's; do this during the mission "Riot at the Black-
smith's")
LETHAL WEAPON SURE-KILL POWERFUL TECHNIQUES
Jutte Drop Mastery
Wielding a jutte, approach sword-wielding foe and hit Triangle
(opponent must have a sword)
Ensnaring Umbrella Mastery
Wielding an umbrella, as sword-wielding foe attacks from the front, hit
Triangle
Kabuki Actor Mastery
During the side mission Izumo no Okuni and the Kabuki Actor side games, when
a sword-wielding foe attacks from the front, hit Triangle
Tobacco Smoke Mastery
Wielding a kiseru, approach foe and hit Triangle
Repeated Strikes Mastery
Holding a small weapon (i.e. a small pot), approach foe and hit Triangle, then
repeatedly tap Square
Cane Strikes Mastery
Wielding a bokutou or an opponent's sword stolen from the Swordless Catch
move, approach foe and hit Triangle, then tap Square
Karate Chops Mastery
Holding a two-handed weapon like a large pot or wooden box, approach foe and
hit Triangle, then tap Square, tap Square, tap Square, tap X, tap X, tap X
Smashing Fists Mastery
Holding a two-handed weapon such as a rock, approach foe and hit Triangle,
then tap Circle
Farm Implement Mastery
Holding a hoe or tree branch or other such long item, approach foe and hit
Triangle
Thrusting Throw Mastery
Holding a spear, approach foe and hit Triangle
Herculean Drop Mastery
Holding a large, heavy object such as a log, approach enemy and hit Triangle
PURSUIT SURE-KILL POWERFUL TECHNIQUES
Pursuit Mastery
In unarmed style (or holding a weapon or Kodachi), approach downed foe and hit
Triangle
Sword Pursuit Mastery
In single-sword or dual-wield style, approach downed foe and hit Triangle
Greatsword Pursuit Mastery
In greatsword style, approach downed foe and hit Triangle
SECRET SWORDS (Note: these are all from single-sword style)
Secret Sword - Shadow Stab
With enemy at the other side of a paper sliding door, hit Triangle
Secret Sword - The Cat Looking Away
When enemy attacks from behind, hit Triangle
Secret Sword - Dancing Squirrel
(Lock) from a distance, hit Triangle
Secret Sword - Ascending Fish
During Forward Roll (any direction + X, Forward + X), hit Triangle
Secret Sword - Soundless Snake
From a distance, as opponent rises from being knocked down or versus a dizzy
opponent, press Triangle
Secret Sword - Dancing Swallow
Jump off from a ledge above the opponent and hit Triangle in the air (best
place is to jump off the platform at the top of the stairs at the Riverside
Path when foes are down below)
Secret Sword - Ensnaring Kite Slashes
When attacked from the front by a sword-wielding foe, hit Triangle
Secret Sword - Wild Bull
With Heat Gauge at Maximum, from a far distance, hit Triangle (seems to only
work when drunk), then tap Square repeatedly
SURE-KILL SWORDS (Note: these are all from dual-wield style)
Sure-Kill Swords - Tatami Flip
When enemy attacks while Musashi is standing on Tatami, hit Triangle
Sure-Kill Swords - True Two-Swords Dance
With enemies to the left and right of Musashi or to one side and in front of
Musashi, hit Triangle
Sure-Kill Swords - Heroic Two
Near an opponent with his back against a wall, hit Triangle
Sure-Kill Swords - Dancing Cat
While running towards an opponent, hit Triangle
Sure-Kill Swords - Orochi Whirlpool
Near an opponent, hit Triangle
Sure-Kill Swords - Enmyou
(Lock) With Heat Gauge at Maximum, hit Triangle, then X, Square, Triangle,
Circle, X
STRONG SWORD (Note: these are all from greatsword style)
Strong Sword - Fine Spinning Machine
With Heat Gauge at Maximum, approach foe and hit Triangle
Strong Sword - Making Flies Cry
Near opponent with his back against a wall, hit Triangle
Strong Sword - Monkey Flip
When a sword-wielding opponent attacks from the front, hit Triangle
COMBINED KODACHI (Note: these are all from kodachi style)
Combined Kodachi - Twin Bones
When a sword-wielding opponent attacks Musashi from the front, hit Triangle
Combined Kodachi - Tomoe Catch
With an opponent guarding attacks, hit Triangle
Combined Kodachi - Illusory Wolf
With four or more opponents in front of Musashi, hit Triangle, then Square,
Triangle, Square
SECRET POWERFUL SWORDS
Secret Powerful Sword: One Wave
In single-sword style, when a boss character's life is reduced to a certain
point, repeatedly tap R2 to charge Heat Energy and hit Triangle when in Heat
Mode (follow on-screen prompts)
Secret Powerful Sword: Powerful Severing
In greatsword style, when a boss character's life is reduced to a certain
point, repeatedly tap R2 to charge Heat Energy and hit Triangle when in Heat
Mode (follow on-screen prompts)
Secret Powerful Sword: Two Heavens
In dual-wield style, when a boss character's life is reduced to a certain
point, repeatedly tap R2 to charge Heat Energy and hit Triangle when in Heat
Mode (follow on-screen prompts)
Secret Powerful Sword: Pulverizing the Dry Leaf
In single-sword style, when Houzouin Inshun's life is reduced to a certain
point, repeatedly tap R2 to charge Heat Energy and hit Triangle when in Heat
Mode (follow on-screen prompts)
Secret Powerful Sword: Snare-Breaking Slash
In dual-wield style, when Shishido Baiken's life is reduced to a certain
point, repeatedly tap R2 to charge Heat Energy and hit Triangle when in Heat
Mode (follow on-screen prompts)
Secret Powerful Sword: Swallow Drop
In dual-wield style, when Sasaki Kojirou's life is reduced to a certain point,
repeatedly tap R2 to charge Heat Energy and hit Triangle when in Heat Mode
(follow on-screen prompts)
GION MUTE-STYLE POWERFUL ATTACKS (Note: these are all from unarmed style)
Gion Mute Style Swordless Catch
(Lock) When a sword-wielding opponent attacks from the front, hit Triangle
Gion Mute Style Bowl Smasher
With a small rise in the floor behind you and an enemy in front, hit Triangle
(best place to do this is near the little benches and tables at the Riverside
Path)
Gion Mute Style Mute Reversal - Genbu
When an opponent attacks from the front, Triangle
Gion Mute Style Mute Reversal - Suzaku
When an opponent attacks from the back, Triangle
Gion Mute Style Mute Reversal - Seiryuu
When an opponent attacks from Musashi's right side, Triangle
Gion Mute Style Mute Reversal - Byakko
When an opponent attacks from Musashi's left side, Triangle
Gion Mute Style Harquebus Muffler
Near a foe armed with a rifle, hit Triangle
Gion Mute Style Swordless Spinning Death
With Life Bar flashing red (low), when a sword-wielding foe attacks from the
front, Triangle
(Infinite Hopeless Wasteland)
(Near a dizzied opponent, hit Triangle)
(listed in parentheses because it's not even listed in the game, nor do you
have any requirement to do it--you actually get it from completing this list)
Techniques
----------
Not all of these are techniques, actually; some are like special powers. But,
nevertheless, they're all filed under this heading in the completion lists. I
will place them here, with each category listed from the first one as you enter
this section, then followed by the others as you scroll to the right.
HEAT GAUGE SKILLS
Iron-Body Discipline - Scarecrow Formations
Makes it difficult for enemies to knock you down in Heat Mode
True Iron-Body Discipline - Scarecrow Formations
Makes it even more difficult for enemies to knock you down in Heat Mode
Red Pride - Waterfall Training
When life bar flashes red (when it's low), you gain Heat Energy automatically
White Pride - Waterfall Training
Increases Heat Energy gained from the Zanshin technique
Black Pride - Waterfall Training
Guarding attacks grants Heat Energy
Blue Pride - Waterfall Training
When in Heat Mode, Musashi cannot die
Yellow Pride - Waterfall Training
When unarmed, holding R2 charges Heat Energy
ALL-PURPOSE TECHNIQUES
Gion Mute Style Catflip - Komaki
Tap X while landing from a knockdown to recover (ukemi)
Zanki Style Regretful Fighter's Discipline - Shibusawa
When guard is broken, you can release L1 and press again to guard the next
attack (re-guard)
Secret Technique Tengu Step - Tengu
During weak attack strings with unarmed, single-sword, and greatsword styles,
hit X and a direction to cancel into a sway (uses Heat Energy)
UNARMED TECHNIQUES
Gion Mute Style Breaking Throw - Komaki
Tap Circle when grappled to reverse and throw opponent
Gion Mute Style Surviving Fist in Death - Komaki
Tap Triangle when landing from a knockdown to recover and retaliate
Gion Mute Style Purgatory Palm
Hold Triangle and release
Gion Mute Style Herculean Throw Strength 1 - Komaki
Less tapping of Circle is needed to throw large opponents
Gion Mute Style Herculean Throw Strength 2 - Komaki
Even less tapping of Circle is needed to throw large opponents
SINGLE-SWORD TECHNIQUES
Single Sword Punishment Slash - Scarecrow Formations
During sways, hit Triangle
Single Sword Combination Slashes - Scarecrow Formations
Extends weak attack string by 1
Zanki Style Boulder-Splitting Sword - Shibusawa
While holding R1, hit forward + Triangle
Zanki Style Dashing Slice - Shibusawa
While running, hit Triangle
Zanki Style Gale Sword - Shibusawa
While holding R1, hit back + Triangle
Zanki Style Parrying Slash - Shibusawa
Tap L1 when an opponent's attack is about to hit you, then Triangle
Oni Killing Sword 1 - Shibusawa
Hold Triangle, release
Oni Killing Sword 2 - Shibusawa
Hold Triangle, release, Triangle
Oni Killing Sword 3 - Shibusawa
Hold Triangle, release, Triangle, Triangle
DUAL-WIELD TECHNIQUES
Dual-Wield Combination Slashes 1 - Scarecrow Formations
Extends weak attack string by 1
Dual-Wield Combination Slashes 2 - Scarecrow Formations
Extends weak attack string by 1
Two Swords Side-Rolling Slash - Tengu
During side roll, hit Triangle
Two Swords Yin and Yang Slashes - Tengu
Tap L1 when an attack is about to hit you, then Triangle
Two Swords Instant Slash - Tengu
While holding R1, when the opponent attacks from the front, hit Triangle
GREATSWORD TECHNIQUE
Greatsword Technique Mowing Slice - Scarecrow Formations
Hold Triangle, release
KODACHI TECHNIQUE
Kodachi Running Thrust - Scarecrow Formations
While running, Triangle
Weapons
-------
-> See section in appendices
Yuujo
-----
-> See section in appendices
Inventions
----------
After you get control of Musashi back in the Gion in Chapter 5, one of the many
places that has now been opened for you is a laboratory in the northeast corner
of the map (near the waterwheel), in which works the peculiar inventor, Gyouten-
sai. After certain points in the game's story, he will get more ideas for more
inventions, but he won't have the ingredients. So, if you run around and gather
them for him, he'll give you the prototype and you'll get it marked off in your
completion list.
Three of the items are drugs and will appear at the pharmacists in both Gion
and the Suburbs. The rest of the items, however, are one-time-only deals.
I must caution you before you do this whole thing that you CANNOT get the
mission "Wings Flapping Towards the Future" if you complete these. In other
words, FINISH THIS AFTER COMPLETING THAT MISSION!
Sobering Pills (Chapter 5)
Ginger
Special Strength All-Purpose Pills
A Prickly Food (<- Confeito)
Stomach-Emptying Medicine (Chapter 5)
Eel Liver
Crawfish
Tea Dumpling
Super-Powered Worm
Worm (Large)
Dried Agar-Agar
Horikawa Burdock
Medicine for the Lower Back (Tougarashi Poultice) (During mission "The Father of
the Little Girl Selling Tougarashi")
Tougarashi Assortment
Japanese-Style Paper
An Adhesive (<- Dried Agar-Agar)
Extreme All-Purpose Pills (Chapter 7)
Extra-Strength Health Pills
Extra-Strength Spirit Pills
Extra-Strength All-Purpose Pills
Noiseless Sandals (Chapter 7)
Manly Sarashi
Vengeful Undead's Hair
Fanny Pincushion (Chapter 7)
Vengeful Undead's Hair
Imitation Greatsword
Bat (Chapter 7)
Evergreen Oak Bokutou
Scrap of Iron
Cut of an Ash Tree
Red Bat (After creating "Bat")
Evergreen Oak Bokutou
Scrap of Iron
Cut of an Evergreen Oak
Strong Bat (After creating "Red Bat")
Evergreen Oak Bokutou
Srap of Iron
Cut of the Sacred Tree
Hane Yumimaru (Chapter 7)
Jutte
Temari Stone
Baleen
Thunder God Hane Yumimaru (After creating "Hane Yumimaru")
Hane Yumimaru
Lightening Stone
Red Ore
4-5-6 Die (for the dice game) (Chapter 8)
Tengu Stone
Lump of Steel
Cheater's Die (for the dice game) (Chapter 8)
Tengu Stone
Scrap of Iron
3-4-5 Tobacco (for the dice game) (Chapter 8)
Diamant Kiseru
Lapis Lazuli
Triple-Roll Youkan (for the dice game) (Chapter 8)
Manjuu
Star Steel
Dribbled Jizou (for the dice game) (Chapter 8)
Traveler's God's Secret Stone
Stomach-Emptying Medicine
Hanshirou's Amulet (for the chou-han game) (Chapter 8)
Hariti Amulet
Tea Dumpling
Chougoro's Beads (for the chou-han game) (Chapter 8)
Ninigi Spirit Ball
Futsumitama Spirit Ball
Susan-no-O Spirit Ball
Cheater's Seal (for the dice game) (Chapter 8)
Cut from an Evergreen Oak
Cut from the Sacred Tree
Duelist's Tobacco (Chapter 8)
Fresh Cloth
Sesame
Skill Games
-----------
I'm afraid I haven't completed this section. When you have gotten a high
enough score or defeated the appropriate foes at the games available, the
data on that particlar game will be displayed in red, rather than white.
You'll have to do well on everything. Perfect games at horseback archery,
defeating all yuujo at both games available at their respective ageya, getting
high scores in Jiraiya training, Scarecrow Formations, Melon Cutting, Turtle
Racing, Clink-Clink (Chinchirorin--the dice game), Chouhan, the waterfall mini-
game, and defeating all opponents in Mah Jong and Shogi are all necessary to
complete this list. There may even be something I'm just not thinking of at
the moment.
I can't play shogi or mah jong, nor do I 100% grasp what's going on at the
gambling games. So, I'm really afraid I've honestly yet to finish this list.
MEMO PAD
--------
The next three lists you'll want to complete are not found in the same option
from the start menu. They have their own category--the "Memo Pad." These are
your side-story missions. There are 140 in total, and they're divided into
three categories. Basically, the "favors" (irai) are things you do without a
contract, which usually take place outside of Gion (but not always). The
"services" are jobs you take--usually inside Gion. Perhaps that's the distinc-
tion they wanted to make? Anyway, the third is actually quite different from
the other two. You can check posts for wanted criminals on Shijou in the
Suburbs from a man who seems quite normal, but a man you'll learn to hate
later. These are similar to the "Encounter Bosses" in the second game--but a
little different in that you actually have them pointed out to you.
What's frustrating about these is that nothing shows up on the list if you
haven't already initiated the mission. So, it's extremely difficult to figure
out exactly which ones you haven't done. This section might help you if you
can at least read some of the kana on the screen. I'll copy down the exact list
as they appear when you have completed all missions, so that you can see which
ones you have yet to do or finish. Good luck.
Favors
------
Dig Here, Doggy (Kokohore wanwan)
The White Snake of Your Dreams (Yume no shirohebi)
Homework from the Terakoya - Reading (Terakoya no shukudai ~yomi~)
Homework from the Terakoya - Writing (Terakoya no shukudai ~kaki~)
Homework from the Terakoya - The Abacus (Terakoya no shukudai ~soroban)
Homework from the Terakoya - The Essay (Terakoya no shukudai ~sakubun~)
The Cursed Tea Bowl (Noroi no chawan)
Today's Excuses (Kyou no iiwake)
Repelling the Oni (Oni taiji)
The Town's Famous Doctor 1 (Machi no meii ichi)
The Town's Famous Doctor 2 (Machi no meii ni)
Yamatoe Painter (Yamatoeshi)
The Fiance' (Iinazuke no otoko)
The Flavor of Candy 1: The Candy of Memory (Ame no aji ichi Omoide no ame)
The Flavor of Candy 2: The Candy Seller's Secret (Ame no aji ni Ameuri no
himitsu)
The Flavor of Candy 3: The Price of Candy (Ame no aji san Ame no kachi)
Exorcising the Ghost (Bourei taiji)
The Oracle (Otsuge)
The Seedy Merchant Tanaka Appears (Shabanekkyou Tanakaya arawareru)
Again, the Seedy Merchant Tanaka (Shabanekkyou Tanakaya futatabi)
Yet Again, the Seedy Merchant Tanaka (Matamata Shabanekkyou Tanakaya)
Ushi and Ben of Legend (Uwasa no Ushiben)
The Vow (Kishou)
O-Saki's Situation (Osaki no jijou)
The Faithful Old Hound (Oibore aiken)
The Taste of a Rice Ball (Nigirimeshi no aji)
Kiryuu's Sightseeing Tour (Kiryuu no kankou annai)
Kennosuke
Investment Advice (Toushi no susume)
The Mysterious Scrap of Paper (Nazo no kamigire)
Messenger from the Other World (Yomi no kuni yori no shisha)
A Treat from the Landlord (Jinushi no gochisou)
The Yamauba Legend (Yamauba densetsu)
The One with the Fairest Skin (Suitsuku you na hade no mochinushi)
Divorce Temple (Engiriji)
Legend of the Miraculous Swordsman (Sugoude kenshi no uwasa)
The Novice and the Master Fencer (Anmashi to kengou)
The Donations Box (Nagesen no derudokoro)
The Monk's Secret (Bouzu no himitsu)
A Captivating House (Miwaku no ie)
The Golden Sword (Kin no katana)
Holes in the Paper Sliding Door (Shouji no ana)
The Red Diary (Akai nikkichou)
Gion Guidebook (Gion annaisho)
Stairway to Adulthood (Otona no kaidan)
Kintarou 1
Kintarou 2
Kintarou 3
Debt Collected (Kakimawarare)
Water from the Ladle 1 (Hishaku no mizu ichi)
Water from the Ladle 2 (Hishaku no mizu ni)
Water from the Ladle 3 (Hishaku no mizu san)
The Dual-Wield Style Man (Nitouryuu no otoko)
The Newborn (Akago)
The Benefits of a Swamp (Numa no kouyou)
Talent (Sainou)
The Magic Flute (Ma no fue)
The Old Man of the Enchanted Swords (Youtou jiisan)
The Enchanted Sword Suiken (Youtou Suiken)
The Enchanted Sword Beckoning Sword (Youtou Manekitou)
The Enchanted Sword Money-Eater (Youtou Kanekuimushi)
The Sword that Grants Wishes (Negai ga kanau katana)
Collecting the Enchanted Swords (Youtou shuushuu)
The Yuujo's Request 1 (Yuujo no negai ichi)
The Yuujo's Request 2 (Yuujo no negai ni)
The Weight of Duty (Sekinin no omosa)
The Pretentious Man (Mieppari)
Riot at the Blacksmith's (Kajiya soudou)
The Man Who Wanted to Be a Robin Hood (Gizoku ni naritai otoko)
The Man Who Couldn't Be Like Robin Hood (Gizoku ni narenakatta otoko)
Where's the Palanquin? (Kagoya ha doko da)
Troublesome Foreigner (Nayameru nanbanjin)
Kstayer (Kuwasuteroya)
The Egg 1: The Thing I Always Wanted to Try Before I Died (Tamago ichi Shinu
made ni tabetemitai mono
The Egg 2: A Fine Egg (Tamago ni Koukyuuhin no tamago)
Master and Apprentice (Shishou to deshi)
Apprentice to the Master (Shishou no deshi)
The Master is Also an Apprentice Shishou mo deshi)
The Little Girl Selling Tougarashi (Tougarashiuri no shoujo)
The Father of the Little Girl Selling Tougarashi (Tougarashiuri no chichi)
Gathering Ingredients forh the Tougarashi Seller (Tougarashiuri no zairyou
atsume)
Spices for the Udon Restaurant (Udon'ya no yakumi)
The Soul of the Udon Restaurant (Udon'ya tamashii)
Like a Cat to Catnip (Neko ni matatabi)
Like a Cat to Coins (Neko ni kobun)
Izumo no Okuni
Murder-Suicide (Murishinjuu)
How to Make Delicious Pastries (Oishii okashi no tsukurikata)
The Offering to the Gods (Kamisama he no sasagemono)
A Man's Pride (Otoko no hokori)
Wings Flapping Towards the Future (Mirai he habataku tsubasa)
The Woman (Onna)
Justice for All (Sorezore no seigi)
Suzukaze at Yumejiya (Yumejiya no Suzukaze)
Momojika at Yumejiya (Yumejiya no Momojika)
Kinuya at Yumejiya (Yumejiya no Kinuya)
Hinakiku at Azamiya (Azamiya no Hinakiku)
Hanamaru at Azamiya (Azamiya no Hanamaru)
Shirokaze at Azamiya (Azamiya no Shirokaze)
Asagiri at Yumejiya (Yumejiya no Asagiri)
Services
--------
Debt Collecting (Shakkin kaishuu)
The Appraisal (Kantei)
The Impoverished Guest Is a Great Master (Binboukyaku ha daisensei)
True Retirement (Goinkyo no shoutai)
The Actor in the Shadows (Kage no tateyakusha)
Acting Head Clerk (Bangashira dairi)
The Unscrupulous Procurer (Akutoku zegen)
O-You the Mercurial (Idaten no Oyou)
The Impenetrable Barrier's Debt (Teppeki no tsuke)
Storage Locker Instructions (Azukarisho shinan)
Food, Please (Meshi tanomu)
Gifts, Please (Zoutouhin tanomu)
Bodyguard for Ebisuya (Ebisuya no youjinbou)
Chasing Away the Dog (Inuharai)
The Man Who Wouldn't Move (Ugokanu otoko)
A Man Always Moves Forward (Otokotaru mono mae ni susumu nomi)
The Targeted Yuujo (Nerawareta yuujo)
I Hate You, Brothel Master (Uramarete, roushu)
A Call for Help (Tasuke wo motomeru koe)
Bounties
--------
Kuroshima Raiden
Takakane With the Golden Pipe (Ougontsutsu no Takakane)
Nobitaka Who Uses the Air to Slice (Kamaitachi no Nobitaka)
Toyokichi of the Kuromon Family (Kuromon ichizoku no Toyokichi)
Arashiyama Yuuzarou
Karasuya no Hyounosuke
Tatsu of the Futaba Crest (Futabamon no Tatsu)
Weird Donbei (Kahatare Donbei)
Kaien the Sinful Monk (Namagusa bouzu no Kaien)
Matsu the Judge (Mekiki no Matsu)
Monnosuke of the Suburbs (Rakugaichou no Monnosuke)
Tetsuto the Oni-Killer (Onigoroshi no Tetsuto)
Seitakichi the Palanquin-Killer (Kagogiri no Seitakichi)
Kodachi no Hikozaemon
Unarmed Brawling Kinta (Sote kenka no Kinta)
Cannonbal Ukimaru (Teppoudama no Ukimaru)
Flying Kenza (Tobashi no Kenza)
Umeyasu the Good-for-Nothing (Namakura Umeyasu)
Yata the Fake Ninja (Niseshinobi no Yata)
Kenzaemon the Peerless (Musou Kenzaemon)
----------
6. EXTRAS
----------
----------------
6a. Unlockables
----------------
First off, just so you know, when you beat the game, you'll unlock a few op-
tions. You can now start a new game with the old save data (similar to a "New
Game+" option--thanks, Chrono Trigger!), which carries over your level and
experience, your items (in the items-box-like area) and equipment (though you'll
have to re-equip your weapons), your money, what turtles you've rescued, what
Heat Actions you've performed on your completion list (though the actual skills
WILL NOT CARRY OVER), and what weapons you have on your completion list.
You'll also get a certain bonus for what difficulty level you play. Just so
you know, there's a harder difficulty than "Hard;" it's "Expert," but to unlock
it, you need to beat "Hard." I also know that the word isn't "hard" in Japanese
but "joukyuu," but, I won't get into that here.
Here's what you unlock for beating the game on each level:
Beginner: 300,000 mon (30 ryou)
Normal: 500,000 mon (50 ryou)
Hard: 1,000,000 mon (100 ryou) + Expert Difficulty option
Expert: Brawling God Amulet
You will also unlock the option to play the "Ultimate Fighting" missions,
which are similar to the Battle Missions in the first game, in which you play
through a fight with certain parameters and are given a grade at the end.
Just like the other two games, you'll also unlock the option to run around in
a town that has all the Storage Keys and missions available, but none of the
main story stuff. This time, it's called "Galavanting in Kyoto." There's no
end to this game, but, you can try to complete things, I suppose. You can also
use it to create a save file to start a new game from.
6a-I. Unlockable Items
-----------------------
First of all, you've probably noticed that when you beat the game on Expert, you
get the Brawling God Amulet. This is an extremely powerful item, which makes
Musashi's Heat Gauge always full. After a Heat Action or the Tengu Ashi is
used and that amount of Heat is taken off, the gauge refills instantly. Once
you've learned the Blue Pride ability, with this item on, you cannot die--in
theory. It is possible to have no health left and use a Heat Action that pushes
you down out of Heat Mode and die that way, and at least one of the secret
boss's moves (the fire breath, when guarded) can actually drain almost all of
your Heat Gauge and kill you in that state.
Besides that, there are items you can receive on the other difficulties. When
you first get the ability to read letters, the post service tells you that they
can even deliver items to you. If you're like me, you probably forgot about
that. Well, if you complete one of your completion lists, you'll see why that
was there! After completing a list, go to the Tatsuya, and you'll see a
courier come running up. He'll give you a letter. Read the letter, and you'll
see there's an item attached.
Here is a list of those items:
Restuarant Items: Seven Luck Deities Sarashi
Storage Lockers: Lucky Beads
Arena: Ganryuu Bokutou (NOTE: The clerk at the Arena gives you the item)
Heat Actions: Ultimate Badge (grants the "Mumyou Arano" Heat Action)
Skills: The Best Dachi in the Realms
Weapons: Dragon Chestplate
Yuujo: Eternal Turtle (doesn't run away, reportedly)
Inventions: Meow Shoes (NOTE: Gyoutensai gives you the item)
Side Games: Skanda Shoes
Missions: Peerless Wakizashi
There is one final item you can get when completing the game. To get it,
you'll have to complete the Ultimate Fighting bonus game with all missions at
"S" ranking. That's a pretty hard thing to do, but, it will give you the True
Brawling God Amulet, which will instantly give you all Heat Actions. This isn't
so bad, considering that they don't normally carry over! Teamed with the
Brawling God Amulet, you can be extremely powerful at the start of a new game,
but...it's kinda something you won't need at that point, much like the infinite
rocket launcher in Biohazard/Resident Evil.
6a-II. Ultimate Fighting
-------------------------
After completing story mode, this option becomes available at the top menu.
There are 33 battle missions, divided into 5 categories. After you clear a
mission, you'll be graded on how well you did using criterea such as your
remaining health, remaining time, etc. The highest grade is "S," and if you get
"S" in all 33 missions, you'll get the "True Brawling God Amulet."
You'll have to clear the stage before the next one to unlock it, except for
the last two categories. I'll note what you need to clear to unlock those.
Note that the "Rebirth Fighting" missions give you control of some of the boss
characters (finally!). Hit the Start Button when playing these missions to see
the new character's move list.
CHAOTIC BATTLE FIGHTING
1. Defeat the enemies in 5:00. S Rank: 2:30.
2. Defeat the officer and his men in 5:00. S Rank: 2:30.
3. Defeat the 100-man battle in Shibusawa's dojo in 5:00. S Rank: 2:30.
4. Defeat the yakuza with the "Kongoumaru" Bokutou in 5:00. S Rank: 2:30.
5. Reach the Rendai gate in 30 seconds. S Rank: 0:13.
6. Clear the Tsuruya action stage using the Dual-Wield style with "Senkimaru"
and "Hyakkoumaru." S Rank: 6:00.
7. Clear the Yuuki Mansion action stage using the "Kongoumaru" Bokutou.
S Rank: 5:30.
8. Defeat the gun-wielding enemies using an umbrella. S Rank: 2:00.
9. Defeat the two armored warriors with the "Kongoumaru" Bokutuou. S Rank:
Take little or no damage.
10. Defeat the enemies naked. S Rank: 1:00.
DUEL FIGHTING
1. Defeat Shishido Baiken with the Greatsword "Shinnou's Hoe." S Rank: 80% or
more remaining health.
2. Defeat Houzouin Inshun with the Dual-Wield style with "Senkimaru" and
"Hyakkoumaru." S Rank: 80% or more remaining health.
3. Defeat Majima Gorohachi with the Bokutou "Kongoumaru." S Rank: 88% or more
remaining health.
4. Defeat Yoshioka Seijuurou with an umbrella. S Rank: 49% or more remaining
health.
5. Defeat Sasaki Kojirou naked. S Rank: (clear the mission)
TRIAL FIGHTING
1. Knock the opponents off the stage. S Rank: 0:07.
2. Reach the staircase in the Kiyomizu action stage naked. S Rank: (clear the
mission)
3. Win 400 ryou or more in the kabuki mini-game. S Rank: 1,000 ryou.
4. Save the yuujo in the Tsuruya action stage. S Rank: 3:30.
5. Using only sheathing and unsheathing the "Shinnou's Hoe" Greatsword, defeat
all the enemies (note that drawing and sheathing a greatsword actually hits
foes at close range). S Rank: 0:45.
6. Using randomly-changing weapons, defeat all the enemies. S Rank: 4:50.
7. Ascend the spiral staircase naked. S Rank: 1:00
8. Attack the target and amass as much damage as you can in the time limit.
S Rank: 10,500 points.
9. Using a harquebus, defeat all enemies. S Rank: 0:35.
10. Naked, defeat the ninja and pick up the money they drop. Get one ryou
(10,000 mon). S Rank: 5:00 or more remaining.
REBIRTH FIGHTING
1. Defeat all the mountain bandits using Shishido Baiken. S Rank: (clear the
mission).
*Clear all Chaotic Battle Fighting to unlock.
2. Defeat Ueda and the Yoshioka students using Itou Ittousai. S Rank: 2:00.
*Clear all Duel Fighting to unlock.
3. Defeat all the opponents who've come to destroy the Yoshioka dojo using
Gion Touji. S Rank: 6:00.
*Clear all Trial Fighting to unlock.
4. Defeat your nemesis, Miyamoto Musashi using Sasaki Kojirou. S Rank: (clear
the mission).
*Clear all Ultimate Fighting (the missions in the sub category "Ultimate
Fighting." Obviously, you can't complete the entire side game of the same
name without completing this very mission.)
ULTIMATE FIGHTING (the sub-category with the same name as the side game)
1. Defeat the ninja assassins, then Gion Touji, then Houzouin Insun. S Rank:
6:00.
*Clear all Chaotic Battle Fighting, Duel Fighting, and Trial Fighting to
unlock.
2. Defeat Shishido Baiken, then Yoshioka Seijuurou, then Sasaki Kojirou.
S Rank: 6:00.
3. Defeat Shibusawa Zankisai, then Komaki Souzaemon, then the Sword Saint of
the Fields (the man in the Tengu mask). S Rank: 6:00
4. Defeat all bosses (Majima, then Itou, then the ninja assasins, the Inshun,
then Seijuurou, then Touji, then Shishido Baiken, then the Yagyuu disciples,
then Kojirou, then Shibusawa Zankisai, then Komaki Souzaemon, then the man in
the Tengu mask). S Rank: (clear the mission)
6a-III. Galavanting in Kyoto
-----------------------------
This is basically the story-less story mode. Just like in the other two titles,
you can unlock this mode, in which you just run around town without the main
story hampering you down. You can do all the missions regardless of chapter
(since there are no "chapters" to begin with) and you can do all the skill
games and side games and complete almost everything in the completion lists to
your heart's content.
Talking to Ageha at the Tatsuya or Kouetsu standing outside his mansion will
give you the option to rest and to advance the time of day from Mid-Day to Dusk
to Night. You can use the bedroom in the Tatsuya to check your completion
status.
This mode will load your clear data, so you keep your items and level and
money--as well as the having the Weapons and Heat Actions lists marked off with
the items you've already accomplished. Basically, it's like starting a story
mode game from Clear Data, except there's no ending.
You can, however, use your efforts in this mode to create a new clear data.
Talk to Itou in front of the Tatsuya and he can create the save for you.
Oh, one last thing--you may be wondering what happened to the one storage key
you get in the Prologue (the one that's part of a main story event). This is
now found in Gyoutensai's laboratory, and contains not the debt, but an Ancient
Shichishitou. Usually, you can only find this weapon in the Tsuruya during the
action scene there.
--------------------
6b. The Hidden Boss
--------------------
Yes; there is a hidden boss in this game--like an "Ultimate Weapon," for you
Final Fantasy types. Those of you who played the previous games or read all
about the side missions in this and other titles in the series may already know
that there was a character, Amon Jou, in the other titles, who appeared as the
final side mission once you completed almost everything else in the game. This
game's no exception--except that now he's called "Amon Jounoshin." "-No-shin"
is an old way of ending male names (just like how they called Kiryuu Kazuma
"Kiryuu Kazumanosuke" in this title).
Getting to him entails more than it would seem at a cursory glance. You have
to do all other "request" ("favor") missions (99/100), all the "services"
(20/20), and all bounties (20/20), plus you have to defeat all 50 opponents in
the Houzouin tournaments.
Piece of cake, right? Well...no. Don't forget that certain opponents won't
even appear in the Houzouin unless you've completed other side games first.
For instance, Ryuuma Yotarou will only appear once you have gotten high scores
in the Horseback Archery side game (high enough to get the scrolls for each
course). Houzouin In'ei will only appear once you've completed all the Jiraiya-
style training chambers. Inshun only appears once you've completed all the
watermelon-cutting training offered by En no Kozuma. Kaei appears after you've
done the waterfall training. Tokage only appears if you've completed the Scare-
crow Formations. Komaki only becomes available once you've learned all the
Gion Mute Style techniques--which includes learning all the Zanki techniques and
going through the side-mission-like episode where he seeks revenge on Shibusawa.
The last opponent to be unlocked, Kurogawa Hannya, only appears after you've
defeated all other opponents, including Komaki, and completed the Tengu train-
ing.
So, in other words, all you have to do to get this mission with the hidden
boss available is to complete all 139 other missions (including romancing the
yuujo), defeat everyone at the Houzouin tournaments, do all the scarecrow form-
ations, Jiraiya training, fight the man in the Tengu mask, learn all the Gion
Mute and Zanki techniques, learn all the techniques from melon cutting, and get
all the scrolls from the horseback archery side game.
That's all!
Pretty much, you have to do everything except for getting high scores in
gambling, ordering all the various and sundry foods and drinks at the various
restaurants, getting all the weapons, getting and performing all the Heat
Actions, and gathering the ingredients for all the inventions.
After you've defeated Kuroshima Raiden, he'll hint that there's a guy going
around beating up famous criminals, and that Musashi should watch his back.
After talking to the investigator who mans the post where the wanted posters
are displayed (at the west end of Shijou), he'll mention that he has one more
task for you, but, it can wait--you're probably tired from going after all those
criminals. Visit again, with all requirements fulfilled, and he won't be there,
but a note will come by carrier pigeon, telling you to go to Shijou Bridge in
Kawara at night when you're ready.
Well...by "ready," I'd suggest that you first level up to the max (Lvl. 50).
Since you've done all those side games and such to acquire all techniques, at
level 50, you'll have the maximum Heat Gauge, Health Gauge, and all the various
techniques offered in the game (not necessarily the Heat Actions, but I'd
recommend you at least get some very important ones such as the Tenshougyo
"Ascending Fish"). You'll want the best armor and sword available to you--I'd
recommend the the Best Dachi in the Realms (Tenka no Dachi), but if you haven't
completed that lists, you should at least first make the Twin Dragons Dachi and
buy the Sacred Tree or Ancient Chestplate. You can use the Dragon Chestplate,
but not the first time you fight him--you'll need all the weapons to get it, and
beating him gives you two of the weapons.
You'll also want to equip at least one Resurrection Amulet. If at any time
you die with this equipped, it'll vanish, but you'll get back up and gain most
of your health back. If that does happen, you'll want to pause and equip
another Resurrection Amulet. You can have a mess of them by the time you get to
him--especially if you keep doing the Purgatory Formation in the Scarecrow
Formations. Do beware, however--you must place highly in the Purgatory For-
mation to get this item, and so, after a few times, you probably won't be able
to get it anymore because you'll have to beat your old times.
You'll also want to have Gyoutensai invent the Extreme All-Purpose Pills and
fill your inventory up on them (15 total).
Once you get to the bridge, you'll find the investigator there. It turns out
that he is really Amon Jounoshin. He's got his dachi and wakizashi, plus a
nodachi/greatsword-esque sword that Kojirou might use on his back.
And sunglasses (of course!).
Here's how it's gonna go down: just like Itou in Chapter 7 and just like the
previous games' Amon fights (and just like in Final Fantasy games, again), he's
got different forms. In other words, once you whittle that huge lifebar of his
down to nothing, don't celebrate--he's gonna get right back up and have another
huge life bar.
He has four forms: single-sword, in which he fights a lot like Marume or
Seijuurou, dual-wield, in which...well, he fights like a more powerful Kiryuu,
longsword, in which he fights a lot like Kojirou, and a final form, in which he
cycles between single-sword and a pistol-wielding form where he throws grenades
at you. In all four forms, he can parry and reverse your attacks, and should
you get caught in an attack string guarding, you'll most likely have your guard
immediately broken and the rest of the combo will land.
So, how do you beat him? Well, there are certain key strategies to bear in
mind. First of all, for all but the last form, when he's in his pistol-and-
bombs mode, you'll want to stay a certain distance away so that you don't get
caught guarding his attacks. I'd suggest staying locked on and backstepping as
he attacks. If he gets too close too quickly, roll to the side or some such
thing, avoiding him. If you back up and find him in the middle of a string or
something slow, start to hit him, but only hit him once or so. You can try for
a long string and use the Tengu Ashi to get away so his parries will miss you--
I've done that a lot on him and it's very effective. Unless he's completely
back-turned, don't really expect a full combo to strike so much.
Use the single-sword style. Why? Because then, when you have a full Heat
Gauge, you can roll towards him and do the Tenshougyo. In fact, here is an
overview of my suggested fighting style against this guy: expend your Heat
Gauge with Tenshougyo, stay a little bit away, sidestepping his attacks and
hitting him when he's open to whittle him down a little, and then when your
health is low, use an Extreme All-Purpose Pills. Now that your Heat Gauge is
back up, roll towards him and do the Tenshougyo a bunch of times until you're
out of Heat energy (this is your chance to actually do sizeable damage to the
guy). Don't worry--at max, you should have enough medicine to last the entire
fight and then some.
The last stage is slightly different. Should he draw his pistol, you need to
close in as quickly as possible. Those are bombs he's lobbing at you, so, roll
through them and get in there. Should you get knocked down by one, don't use
the Catflip and recover--you'll just get hit by all the explosions and you may
actually take an entire lifebar of damage (!). If you are getting up from being
knocked down, be ready to immediately sway in one direction or another--he'll
time a shot so that it knocks you right back down. Some people suggest using
the Seamless Headband for this fight, but, it's not actually too useful as it
doesn't protect from the bombs he throws.
Once you beat him, he says he doesn't understand--he had justice on his side,
after all. But, he dies nonetheless, and you'll complete your Memo Pad plus
get a sword. When you go to the next screen, you'll get the Peerless Wakizashi
for completing the Memo Pad.
If you revisit the post where Amon dispensed wanted posters, there's a new guy
there, eating soup, just like Amon. But, he looks a lot different, and when
Musashi asks him about the man who was there before, he answers brusquely that
the station was empty until he showed up. So...was Amon employed by the bakufu,
or not? Hmmmmn.... I'll chalk it up to *shrug*.
I know what you're thinking..."So, Patrick, where's the easy way to beat this
guy??" In the last game, you could equip some accessories and just grab, do the
3-hit combo grab, stomp, etc, etc, etc until he died. In the first game, you
could just equip a certain weapon and use its "shock" effect over and over, not
allowing him to ever stand up. This time? Well...I'm afraid to tell you that
it looks like the only way to defeat him easily is to have first cleared the
story mode on Expert and gotten the item that grants you infinite usage of Heat
Actions. Then, just Tenshougyo, Tenshougyo, Tenshougyo, etc. You can even do
a Tenshougyo, back up as he gets up, do a Otonashi no Hebi, Otonashi no Hebi,
etc, etc, as you'll be at the perfect distance to just keep mashing on Triangle
and it'll work.
But, I do recommend you fight him normally. The first time you fight him,
you'll think he's impossible. But, he definitely is possible and you don't
really need any extra help.
The only thing I can really say about fighting him normally is that he can be
fought and defeated in Normal and Hard without the infite Heat Gauge item, and I
do believe it's POSSIBLE in Expert without it, but it'll be very, very tough and
not worth it. I think the recipe of damage adjustments plus his increased
aggressiveness just make it very hard, and you'll probably even end up using all
of your Resurrection Amulets before dying. His second and fourth forms seem
almost impossible at this level. In the two-swords style, he can actually just
attack ad infinitum. Since his hits don't knock you down, he has to actually
choose to stop comboing you. I've had him do almost 2 lifebars damage in one
string. Even guarding with the greatsword, you won't ever have time to respond
with an attack of your own--not even a reversal. There's simply no way to break
combos, so...that's the first mud trap in the road to beatin him. For his
final form, he just shoots too quickly in Expert, so even if you can avoid his
bombs and close in on him, before you can attack, he'll shoot you and knock you
down--so, you'll pretty much need the Seamless Headband.
So, what do you do in Expert?? Well...I guess you'll just have to take the
easy way out and finish the game on that difficulty first, then come back and
fight him with the infinite Heat Gauge item.
-----------
6c. Trivia
-----------
There sure are a lot of weird things packed into this game. I guess it's the
humor that makes it, really, so, that's cool. As could be expected, Nagoshi and
Hase and the team sure put a lot of references to other things in pop culture
into it.
Here, I'll attempt to list some of those reference, and other strange things
that show up.
RYUU GA GOTOKU SERIES REFERENCES
The weird thing about this game is that they basically took the Ryuu ga Gotoku
world and just threw it into the 17th century. It's almost as if the characters
of the other games were suddenly hired to be actors in a play about Miyamoto
Musashi, or something.
Here are the repeating characters:
Miyamoto Musashi (a.k.a. Kiryuu Kazumanosuke) = Kiryuu Kazuma (of course)
Haruka = Haruka (of course)
Majima Gorohachi (a.k.a. Shishido Baiken) = Majima Gorou
Hon'ami Kouetsu = Sai no Hanaya (a.k.a. "Kage" in the U.S. release)
Itou Ittousai = Almost a combination of Date and Kawara (from Ryuu ga Gotoku
2); he fills the Date Makoto role, but is modeled after and voiced by the
actor who played Kawara Shirou. It may not sound like it, but "Date" and
"Itou" are both written with the same initial Chinese character.
Komaki Souzaemon = Komaki Soutarou
Amon Jounoshin = Amon Jou
Akimoto Kojirou (from side mission "Murder-Suicide (Murishinjuu)" = Akimoto
(from similar side missions in the other two games)
Mizuki (from side mission "Murder-Suicide (Murishinjuu)" = Mizuki (from
similar side missions in the other two games)
Here are some other references to the series:
- Komaki mentions that he once taught in the Kawachi region. In Ryuu ga Gotoku
2, there is a side mission involving Kawachi and the Kawachi martial art,
whichi is said to have come from Komaki's tradition.
- Yoshino tells Kiryuu that Haruka is a feisty girl. She said "I'm not 'hey,
you--!' I'm 'Haruka!'" This is a famous quote from the first game, which is
even found in the opening cinema.
- In the previous games, Majima calls Kiryuu "Kiryuu-chan." In this title, he
first calls him Musashi-chan, then Kiryuu-chan when he meets him again after
losing his memory.
- In the first game, there's a crucial point in the story when you have to find
food for a dog. This is even referenced in the film. In this game, there is
a Service mission "Chasing Away the Dog (Inuharai)" in which you need to try
and find food the mutt will eat. This is obviously meant to make you run
around, searching for dog food again (which doesn't really exist).
You also need to feed a dog in "Dig Here, Doggy (Kokohore wanwan)."
- Ebisuya Pawn Shop is also found in the previous games
- Sushi Gin is also found in Ryuu ga Gotoku 2
- White Snake Udon is also found in Ryuu ga Gotoku 2
- "Murder-Suicide (Murishinjuu)" is, obviously, a reference to "The Man Who
Wanted to Die (Shinitagaru otoko)" from the first game and "The Man Who Just
Wouldn't Learn (Korinai otoko)" from the second. The Favor "The Woman
(Onna)" may be the new version of the "The Price of an F-Cup (F-cup no
nedan)" mission from the first game--it's not exactly the same but it does
involve a sexy woman coming on to Kiryuu with ulterior motives, and it has
its own, special cinemas. The mission "The One With the Fairest Skin (Sui-
tsuku you na hade no mochinushi)" is this game's "Be My Baby" from Ryuu ga
Gotoku 2.
- In "Murder-Suicide (Murishinjuu)," the yuujo, Mizuki, tells Akimoto that the
yuujo he saw about town with another man was actually Yumi. In the first
game, Kiryuu spends a long time looking for Haruka's mother, Mizuki, who
turns out to be Yumi, his childhood friend, hiding her identity.
- Toramaro, the rich man who shows up to buy Asagiri from the Yumejiya, bears a
striking resemblance to Sengoku Toranosuke, a boss character from Ryuu ga
Gotoku 2.
OTHER REFERENCES
Here are the references that don't necessarily have anything to do with the
earlier titles:
- The man rounding up the neighborhood cats in the missions "Like A Cat to
Catnip (Neko ni matatabi)" and "Like A Cat to Coins (Neko ni kobun)" gives
the name "Tsuchiura Kenmon," but another way to read these four characters
together is "Doraemon." Doraemon is a blue cat...creature of Japanese pop
culture. He's hugely popular--as famous as Mickey Mouse is in the U.S.
- The man who pretends to be blind in the mission "Legend of the Miraculous
Swordsman (Sugoude no kenshi no uwasa)" looks and acts like Zatouichi, hero
of many films in Japan and sometimes dubbed the Japanese James Bond (for
whatever reason). He was popularized by Katsu Shintarou, who supposedly
worked for a blind man and thus learned how to pretend to be one, but in the
latest Zatouichi film was portrayed by Kitano "Beat" Takeshi. In Takeshi's
film, in the end, it seems like Zatouichi was faking being blind all along,
but it's still ambiguous. The story the character comes from (found in the
short story collection "Futokoro techou" ("Nostalgic Notebook"), doesn't
even really question whether or not he's supposed to be blind. It sure seems
like he is in the Katsu Shintarou films, too.
- Izumo-no-Okuni, of the side mission with the same name, is (supposedly) a
woman who invented kabuki sometime at the start of the 17th century. So, the
mission is actually a joke about history, like someone appearing to Benjamin
Franklin and showing him the key and the kite, or dropping an apple on Sir
Isaac Newton's head, something like that. You know, "Bewitched" fare.
- Kintarou is a famous character from historical fictions about the Heian era.
He was a boy who was orphaned and raised in the mountains, becoming friends
with the animals, etc. Supposedly, he was of extraordinary strength at that
age. There are dolls with his likeness, usually wearing the red thing that
Kintarou has on. The difference? Well...it's much later than the Heian, and
he has the wrong "kin." The "real" Kintarou's "kin" is written with the
character for "gold," whereas this guy's is written with the one for
"muscles."
- Musashibou Benkei ("The Monk from Musashi, Benkei") and Ushiwakamaru are
characters from The Tale of the Heike (Heike monogatari) and other such works
of early histories from Japan. Ushiwakamaru is the young name for Minamoto
no Yoshitsune. There are many references to these two in both literature and
pop culture (you may know them as the main characters in the Genji games).
In the story, Benkei is first mentioned as he guards a bridge, not letting
anyone pass. Ushiwakamaru defeats him, and Benkei swears loyalty from then
on. In the game, charlatans dress up as them in the legend "Ushi and Ben of
Legend (Uwasa no ushiben)."
- In the Waterfall of the Eternal Dream, where you can meditate (actually the
place where you can play rhythm games), the character portrayed in erotic
(well, soft-core) situations behind you is called "Inrin of Joytoy."
Joytoy is a sort of a modeling agency, and "Inrin" comes from her real name.
She's Taiwanese, so her name is really "Yan Yingling," but she goes by the
Japanese pronounciation. She is a celebrity in Japan, after all.
She's a "talent"--a celebrity that seems to show up all over the place in
Japanese media, including the various variety shows in Japan. She even made
appearances in professional wrestling.
- The manga artist, Shibata Ami, who created "Papua-kun of the South Seas"
("Nankoku shounen Papuakun") and other such gag comics in the tradition of
her mentor, Toriyama Akira, makes an appearance in this game. For some
reason, she's the girl who eats the head off the snake in the theater. I'm
not sure why...perhaps it's a reference to a gag of hers in her comics?
WEIRDNESS
This is the "others" category.
- Musashi was born in 1584, according to historical accounts. If this is true,
then, he's only 16 at the time he is inscripted by Marume. That's not un-
heard of, it's just a bit strange. Stranger still is the fact that he would
be running a dojo at that age. But that's all neither here nor there. The
problem is that the "Kiryuu Kazuma" persona uses language (and a voice actor)
someone much older than 20 would use, and it does sound out of place.
- Although historical texts are sometimes suspect, many reliable sources state
that Tenkai died in 1643 in reality, some 38 years after he dies in this
game.
- Yuuki Hideyasu, the man Musashi kills in the secret mission in 1600 in the
game, actually survived past the Battle at Sekigahara. He was given his own
domain after the battle, and many historical accounts have him dying some
7 years after he dies in the game. It seems he was, however, assassinated.
- Musashi's fate is ambiguous at the end of the game, but it really seems like-
ly that he is meant to have not survived at Ganryuu. In reality, of course,
he did survive past 1605; he went on to write Gorin no sho ("The Book of Five
Rings") much later, before his death in 1643. Oddly enough, that's the same
year Tenkai died in reality--only Tenkai died some five months later.
- You can meet up with the monk from "The Monk's Secret (Bouzu no himitsu)"
after the mission in Gion near a brothel. He's using the wig, after all, but
there doesn't seem to be any point to this. Is it just like a punchline to
the joke? It wasn't a very good joke to begin with.
- Miyamoto Musashi wasn't the only guy who used two swords; this is part of
many different styles. However, his style, the "Two Heavens United Style"
(Niten'ichi-ryuu) is probably the most famous, because of his celebrity. It
is unknown who first used two swords in Japan, mostly because all records of
martial arts are simply related by oral tradition.
- The Portuguese did trade with Japan in the year 1605; that's true. However,
they were pretty strictly confined to the port of Nagasaki, which is almost
500km or 300 miles to the west of Kyoto. It's extremely unlikely that the
Portuguese man found in many side missions would be able to visit Kyoto.
- The area I refer to as "The Suburbs" is, in fact, a real town in Kyoto called
"Rakugaichou." "Rakugai" means "outside the canals," and refers to an area
of all old Japanese cities. Canals separated the various districts, and in
which areas of the city one was allowed depended on his or her birth status.
So, every town had a "rakugai." I've decided to leave it as "Suburbs," but,
this is an actual area name.
- All of the important spots in the game really exist. Kawara-chou, the Rendai
Temple (and its fields), the Kiyomizu Temple, the Gion Pleasure District, the
"Suburbs" area (Rakugai-chou), the Houzouin (which is part of the Koufuku
Temple Complex in Nara), and the Sanjuusangendou are all real places.
- All of your opponents are men. In the first Ryuu ga Gotoku title, you fought
one female, who was very masculine and actually had a male character model.
You fought two female character models, but they were male transvestites.
In this game, you fight one transvestite--Tetsuto the Oni-Killer, a bounty
who appears from Chapter 9 on at night in the Riverside Path.
- The term "yamatoe" meaning "Japanese-Style Painting" did not appear in Japan
until the 19th century. Although the emperor did name a "daishougun," that
term was not very widely used, either, until the 19th century. The Tokugawa
government head was referred to as a "kubou," or "leader," until things came
to a head in the 19th century after a series of disasters and heavy influence
from foreign nations. Then, the kubou was referred to as "taikun" (which is
the origin of the English word "tycoon"), which meant "great local lord," or
as "shougun" (shogun), which simply means "general." However, one must note
that this is juts a game and shouldn't be taken too seriously.
- You can't knock down the people who are "mapped" to stand in a certain spot,
but you can make them react by running into them. You can't knock down the
lantern-bearing people or the man on Shijou carrying baskets on his shoulder.
It's probably because they didn't want to make more animations, such as drop-
ping their lanterns, or whatever.
However, sometimes, at night, Kawara loads in such a way that you can't
interact with even the normal passersby. I'm still not sure why that is.
- There's another glitch in Kawara. During the mission "The Enchanted Sword
Beckoning Sword (Youtou Manekitou)," after talking to the two merchants,
there's a point in the middle of the road in between them near the lantern
where the "Talk" symbol appears in the upper-right-hand corner of the screen,
but there's no-one to talk to. Hitting the "Confirm" button won't do any-
thing.
- If you spend all the time to complete everything and get (arguably) the most
powerful swords in the game, the "Best Dachi of the Realms" and the "Peer-
less Wakizashi," you'll...get the swords Musashi has in all the cinemas
already. Why did you have to go through all that to get swords Musashi
already has? Because that's awesome. By the way, the Japanese names are
"Tenka no Dachi" and "Musou no Wakizashi." If you put the first word of each
sword together, you get "tenka musou," which means "unrivalled in all the
realms," and is a common phrase in pop culture representations of samurai
history. It's also a little strange that the wakizashi is the harder of the
two to get....
- All the dogs in the game are male. How can I tell? Well...do the "Combined
Kodachi - Twin Bones (Kumikodachi - Soukotsu)" revelation to find out.
Graphics that include anatomically correct dogs complete with rear ends?
$millions. Seeing their players all get uncomfortble? Priceless.
- Nintendo is for breakfast now. It's a cereal--wow!
---------------------------------------
6d. Edo and Sengoku Period History 101
---------------------------------------
A long time ago, there were peoples living in the islands off of Korea, Kam-
chatka, and the Ryukyu kingdom leading down to Taiwan and mainland China. The
Chinese gave them the name "wa" or "wo," which had a pictograph of a person and
"to crouch." This could have either meant that these peoples seemed very small
in stature or importance; they may have been seen either as dwarfs or subser-
vient. Others suggest a neutral reading of the word, and others say it was
meant to match some sound these peoples gave to signify their own name.
In the 500s or so, once Chinese writing and envoys had reached these islands
and their people were made as sort-of vassals to the Chinese emperor--which was
a very common practice in those days, for each country to regard trade partners
or allies as vassals to their own leaders--these people sent envoys to China to
show their power and legitimacy. A message was sent, according to both Chinese
and Japanese histories, from the empress of Japan to the emperor of China saying
rather poetically that the empress from the area the sun arose (the East) was
just sending a greeting to the emperor of the West (China).
These are some of the earliest tales we have now of the King of Wa, the ruler
of the area now known as Japan. How much of these accounts is true is, of
course, up to debate. In fact, a great deal of it is pretty mythical, but it is
important to understand the mindset and relationships of the various peoples in
the area at the time.
What is clear is that there were indigenous peoples in the Japanese region and
a ruler who, at least, had something to do with China. Most likely, they were
settlers on the islands, probably from Korea--or, at least, very close cousins
of the Korean peoples.
But the aristocratic family of were surely not the only leaders in the area,
nor were they in firm control of the entire state of what is now modern Japan.
In fact, after the courtly Heian days, in which Buddhism and writing became
widespread, the emperor took a proverbial back seat in the government of the
region.
By the end of the Kamakura period in Japan, the various states of the area,
with their various warlord rulers, were vying to gain the support of the emperor
in order to gain legitimacy of rule of the land. This period was known as the
Warring States, or "Sengoku."
THE SENGOKU
To understand this game's story, one only needs to really have cursory knowledge
of the Sengoku Era, since the game actually takes place in the aftermath of the
final battle, which ended the era. It is important to understand that what had
happened in the Sengoku was that the states were, more or less, unified under
one ruler, the kubou, or Great General, or "Daishougun" ("Shogun").
And how was such rule solidified? Why, through battle, of course!
The first powerful warlord to be very successful was Oda Nobunaga. He was a
vicious sort, whose actions and demeanor were frowned upon by most of the people
at the court. Nearly all accounts portray him as a tough, volatile man who
lived life the "hard way;" he seemed to take things to extremes.
However, he did enjoy military success. There have been several different
opinions offered as to why he was able to unify things with his militaristic
conquests, but, through most histories there is talk of him using firearms in
different ways than others had before him. This is definitely not to say that
no other warlords employed musketeers--far from it; in fact, the gun had been
around for a while before Oda was born. The image of the noble, sword-wielding
samurai standing ground in hopeless battles against the cold, impersonal gun
would come hundreds of years later in the end of the Edo period.
Nobunaga despised those who did not offer him total allegiance. He is said to
have massacred enclaves of Buddhists at massive temple complexes. This type of
action may sound barbaric--and it was, to an extent--but it remains true that
the monks at these temples refused to recognize Nobunaga's authority. They did
keep arms and there were many warrior monks in those days who controlled their
own, sacred land. This was definitely contrary to the idea of a totalitarian
ruler.
One of his closest retainers was a man named Toyotomi Hideyoshi (also known by
other names he took before then, such as Shibata Hideyoshi). It has been sug-
gested that this man actually may have set things in motion to overthrow Nobu-
naga, although he appeared his most loyal supporter. Whatever the case, a
general named Akechi Mitsuhide led troops to take Nobunaga's head, killing him
at the Honnouji Temple. Afterwards, Hideyoshi did battle with Mitsuhide for
killing his lord, and defeated him. Mitsuhide is said to have been hunted down
and killed, but, as with all history of the age, what exactly happened is not
entirely certain.
After the revolt at the Honnouji, Mitsuhide was named the next leader by the
emperor. He was able to amass a great deal of wealth, even gathering the other
warlords up to make raids on Korea. Again, this was a harsh and bloody thing,
but it was successful in gathering moneys for the military campaigns of the
time.
Raiding Korea was also, most likely, a mistake. It is true that there was
unrest among the warlords, and that the realms of Japan were not truly united.
Ruling such a mess was almost impossible, and a solution had to be found to the
problem of the clans' struggles. Perhaps, Hideyoshi decided that giving the
warlords something to do would help them--this seemed to be a common decision
in Japanese history. Yet, even if that was the idea, the fact seems to be that
suddenly engaging in a long, exhaustive military campaign does nothing for the
local interests of what amounts to many small kingdoms acting in unison. The
fact that Hideyoshi died while these expeditions were taking place left his five
top advisors, who were really running the country, alone to face the problems of
what to do to unify the various heads of state.
Of course, this led to battle. The very opening scene of this game shows the
battle of the Sekigahara, which was a decisive victory for one of Hideyoshi's
top men, Tokugawa Ieyasu. Histories suggest that it was his victory here that
would gain him the political prestige necessary to gain title of "great shogun"
or "kubou" and start the lengthy, peaceful, rather orderly reign of a unified
state of Japan in the Tokugawa Period.
For the sake of understanding the game, it is important to note that the end
of this Era was a time full of treachery and betrayal. It was an age when
military might made right. This, we are to believe, was the day of the swords-
man, or "kenshi," which is one of the main themes in the game. This is the age
of the character Tenkai, who is supposed to be the man behind betrayal and
almost-Macchiavellian tactics. In reality, the extent of Tenkai's involvemtent
are unknown. He may have even taken an active role in the creation of the new
system that would hold Japan in place, rather than the villainous, power-hungry
schemer the game would have us believe.
THE EDO PERIOD
The game takes place in the time when Tokugawa Ieyasu had secured his position
of power and the government he established was just taking form. This was a
very different world than the one Nobunaga had seen, in which clever government
tactics kept the local warlords in check under the kubou's command.
This new government found its seat of power in Edo, a port city that is now
called Tokyo. Called the bakufu, it demanded attendance of its vassals, the
lords of each domain. This was, of course, to show loyalty to their kubou.
It had other functions as well. Perhaps the most important thing to note
about the bakufu's rule was this law of alternating attendances to the capital
at Edo. Each warlord was required to spend one year in Edo, defending the kubou
from attack and deliberating in the courtly life there. Then, they were allowed
to return to their homelands and rule for the other year. Of course, this also
allowed them free reign in their homelands, and they routinely broke certain
laws the kubou had imposed. For instance, local worship systems (shinto) were
allowed, but, the samurai of the area were not allowed to indulge in them nor
were the rulers of the area to be revered in any capacity. Yet, each warlord
wanted to show their clan's pride, and in order to show legitimacy, were revered
locally at shinto shrines.
But, this demand to return to Edo year after year also taxed them of most of
their resources. It left the court very well defended and it left the warlords
rather poor. It was simply too much money to travel with many retainers and to
keep a residence in both cities for the warlords to gather enough resources to
rebel.
Clever devices such as the alternate attendance system led to the creation of
an interesting dichotomy in the land where the sun rose. At home, warlords were
still very much like kings. Yet, they were forced to attend court and become
bureaucrats who bowed down to their leaders. For good or for bad, the uneasy,
bloody times of the Sengoku were now over, and a much more orderly system was in
place. This age of order is the new era we are to believe Hidetada will see
firmly taking shape after the events in the game.
GAME VS. REALITY
There were many times writing this FAQ in which I pointed out things that don't
seem to "jive" 100% with our current understanding of the histories of the
time. This was pretty much anecdotal, and I would suggest that my appraisal of
historical documents and the veracity of this game be both taken with a grain of
salt.
I'm sure that many players already have a fair amount of knowledge of old
Japan and what makes a samurai a samurai and all this. But, I also know that
there are many things that are outside the general Western perception of Japan
and the samurai. For instance, samurai are often seen as extremely loyal,
stern, serious folk and I believe there is a tendency to look at these times as
rigid, surpressed times of absolute law. That's simply not the case. If things
don't seem to make sense (outside the fact that there was bowling or sunglasses
in the early Edo period--which no, by the way; there wasn't), it's probably the
case that the stereotypical image of samurai Japan is a bit skewed.
For the purists, who think that either my arguments or the apparent mis-
representations of the game actually miss the mark of true samurai history, I
might suggest that they bear the simple fact in mind that histories (and stor-
ies) are always going to be told from a certain perspective. These are not
absolute facts. Actually, there is no way to know exactly what happened in
Musashi's life. We can't even know what happened with exact certainty in a
single event such as the JFK assassination, which only happened fourty years or
so ago. Why? Because every historical account is coming from someone's mouth,
and that person has no choice but to interpret things. It is impossible to
offer a strictly empirical view on anything simply because in order to relate
what data was taken into your mind, you will have to perceive it and then try to
interpret it before you can say anything.
Historical accounts of the day are prime examples. There is a great deal of
record-keeping during the Edo Period and there are many historical tales of the
battles of Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, and Ieyasu. But, there is almost nothing on
Miyamoto Musashi. Verbal accounts of local histories and histories of various
dojos have reports of the man, but they are all varied and mention is still
scarce. He only wrote one document in his life, the Gorin no Sho ("Book of Five
Rings)." What was he like? When did he live? Did he live at all?
I'm afraid there's no easy, concrete answer to any of these questions. But,
I do caution you that there is almost no concrete answer to anything in our
lives, from a philosophical point of view. Why, then, do I even bother mention-
ing history or the fact that any of these characters really existed? Simply
because not thinking about things is a crime that goes on much too often. Even
if there is no answer or the claims I've made or the game makes seem incredul-
ous, it's still worth raising questions and thinking about the way things are
perceived.
So, in other words, if this interests you, please do further reading and
research. If not, please, don't worry about it and just play the game. Either
way, there is a lot to enjoy in here.
------------
7. GLOSSARY
------------
I know, I know...this is really an appendix and should be in that section, but,
it just seems to fit more at the end.
ACALA: This is a Buddhist deity, sometimes called the ruler of fire. He pro-
tects the world from demons, principally, and is usually shown looking very
fierce and holding a sword and a rope.
In Japan, he is known as "Fudou," because "Fudou" means something like "un-
bending; obsinate; lit. 'not moving'." That's a close translation from the
Sanskrit.
He is most often called by his title, "Myou'ou," which literally means some-
thing like "king of clarity," but is used to mean something like "Divine
King."
Coincidentally, that "Myou" is also read "Akira," and can be a person's name.
One of the most popular anime/manga serieses from Japan was called Devilman
and featured a man named Fudou Akira, who is killed and/or possessed (the
story has been 'reconned' and changed a few times) by the demon Amon.
Could Nagoshi be a Devilman fan...?
Yeah; I'm pretty sure he is.
AGEYA: This is a type of brothel found in pleasure districts in which yuujo
would be solicited to meet and entertain guests. This is much different from
a modern Western concept of a brothel, but similar to the tea houses found in
old China. The yuujo would dance and sing for guests and serve them sake.
The guests would revel and eat dinner and have a good time, and not necess-
arily buy the woman's body. However, sex was definitely on the menu.
AVALOKITESVARA: This is the Bodhisattva of Compassion in Buddhism. His name
literally means "He who observes the sounds of the world." In other words,
this is the one to pray to when you're desperate or sad.
Avalokitesvara is most often worshipped as a female diety outside India,
known in China as "Guan Yin" (short for "Guan Shih Yin"), Kannon (short for
"Kanseon") in Japan, and Guaneum or Guanse'eum in Korean.
The origin of th female Avalokitesvara is a little fuzzy, but most point to a
legend about a princess whose wicked father was mean to her and tried to force
her to marry. She later had to give up her eyes to save her father when he
was very ill, and so he regretted being so mean to someone who would give so
much to him. Other accounts have her being whisked away by tigers and by
Ksitagarbha to become a goddess-like figure in the heavens.
BAKUFU: This is the unified government of Japan in the Edo Period (also called
the "Tokugawa Period" because control of the bakufu was inherited within the
Tokugawa family). In the Edo Period, Japan was a collective of various
states called "han" or "domains." This was an era which enjoyed peace for
about 250 years.
Because of the modern term "shogun" for the kubou of Japan during the Edo
Period, this master government unifying the various countries that made up
Japan is often called the "shogunate" or the "shogunal government."
BOKUTOU: From the Sino-Japanese ("on'youmi") readings of the words "wood" and
"sword," this word refers to a wooden practice sword.
CHOUHAN: An old gambling game in Japan, where a dealer rolls two dice and the
players bet on whether it will be "chou" (even) or "han" (odd). You'll see
this in many samurai flicks such as the Zatou'ichi films starring Katsu
Shintarou.
DANGO: A small Japanese cake, round and made with rice flour, usually sweet and
served on skewers.
DACHI: A Japanese sword. The word "katana" is a general term, and what is
usually referred to as "katana" in English is actually a "dachi." Sometimes,
these are called "Japanese longswords." They are the standard-length sword,
usually worn in the belt with a wakizashi or kodachi.
DOMAIN --> see "Han"
DOSU: This is a Japanese word, referring to specifically one of those knives
used primarily by sushi chefs that look like thin French vegetable knives and
are usually quite sharp and expensive. The word also more broadly can be
used to just mean "knife."
FUDOU or FUDOU MYOU'OU --> see "Acala"
FUGU: A pufferfish. A particular variety is famously eaten in Japan, although
people reportedly die every now and then from its venom. The trick is to
slice the fish so that none of the bile of the liver is released (and to
discard said liver). A tiny amount of the venomous body part is often added
to the meat to provide a "buzz."
FUNDOSHI: Sometimes called a "Japanese loincloth," this is a piece of cloth
that is wrapped around the hips and groin, worn as underwear. Though still
very popular in the '40s and '50s, this garment has its roots way back in
the days of the Heian aristocracy, perhaps earlier. A favorite of the
warrior class, this is a very manly, "tough guy" thing to wear. In fact,
the Chinese character used (tho' it holds a different meaning in Chinese,
actually) has the symbol for "clothes" on the left and the symbol for "army"
on the right.
GEISHA: This is a woman employed to liven up parties, keep conversation moving,
and add "color" to meetings and such. They are trained strictly in the
traditional arts--hence the name "geisha;" "gei" means "arts" and "sha" means
"person."
Although they are there to lend their attractive side as a woman, in the
perfect model, a geisha would not indulge in actual sexual activities for
money. They might have a certain chemistry with a guest and be asked to
spend the night or something (and they would, often, if it involved finding a
sponsor to pay for all their expensive clothes and such), but the idea is
that they could decline. They should, therefore, not be confused with the
prostitutes or "yuujo" of the era, who wore flashier, more revealing clothes
and definitely were employed for sexual activities.
Of course, it should be noted that there were definitely geisha who took to
prostitution as times got rough.
GOKU: This is a Chinese character (pronounced "gik" or "ji" in Chinese) that
means "extreme." In Japanese, it can also be read "kiwameru" and means "to
master." In the game, the kanji will flash in red with the word "Special"
attached to it to tell you when you can perform a Heat Action.
--> "GOKU" ATTACK: Because of the "goku" kanji, I sometimes call the Heat
Action moves "Goku" attacks. (see "Heat Action")
GUAN YIN: --> see "Avalokitesvara"
GUMBAI: Literally "army fan," this is a traditional object used by strategists
and commanders to lead armies around. Usually fine, lacquered wood, they
sport a guitar-like "pear" shape, are flat, and bear symbols and insignias for
their particular lord.
These are also wielded by gyouji, judges of sumo tournaments.
GYOUJA: Literally meaning "one who goes; one who travels; one who moves; one
who does," this is a term for the mountain ascetic monks who practice the
tradition of Shugendou. The term "yamabushi" ("one who hides away in the
mountains") is also used.
HAN: In the time of the bakufu (the Tokugawa Period of Japan), the place now
known as "Japan" was divided into many different domains, called "han" in
Japanese. This was the Tokugawa solution to the problem of warlords control-
ling what amounted to many separate realms--the problem that caused the wars
in the Sengoku (or "Warring States") Period in which Tokugawa Ieyasu had
participated.
Each han was definitely its own country. The daimyou was revered as a lord,
and pretty much as the king of their domain. Indifference or disobedience of
certain shogunal laws was rampant--in regard to the way cultural affairs such
as ancestral worship and worship of local deities were carried out in the
various han. Still, it was a unified time of relative peace, because the
daimyou would leave their han and spend alternating years in servitude at the
palace in Edo.
There were many samurai houses with different duties and different salaries
(represented by the amount of rice harvested from the fields in the han) with-
in the han, but the daimyou was the major ruler. This is why the Yagyuu
family in the game would fight so hard for their han--it was quite a prominent
position to have.
HANNYA: This is a type of evil, mythological creature from Japan, taken from a
frightful mask of an envious woman with horns on her head. The word "Hannya"
comes from the Buddhist term "prajna" ("pranna" in Paali). The similarity is
quite coincidental. In Buddhism, prajna is a sort of wisdom found from
attaining enlightenment. The exact connection to the mask is unknown, but
several theories have been made. It has been suggested that the mask is named
after a vengeful spirit said to have been dispelled by reading the Prajna
Heart Sutra aloud.
HARITI: A Buddhist deity called upon to protect children. In the game, she is
refered to by the name "Kishimojin." This is the translation of her name into
Sino-Japanese, meaning something like "Ogre-Child Mother Goddess."
HEAT ACTION: A special attack you can perform when in "Heat Mode" (when your
Heat Gauge is full). The official name seems to be "Heat Action" sometimes,
but the word "Special" appears in the upper right-hand corner with the kanji
"goku" when you can perform the action, so there seem to be different names
that can be associated with these moves.
HEAT GAUGE: This is thin, light blue gauge that appears below your Life Gauge
and tells you when you can enter Heat Mode and perform Heat Actions.
HEAT MODE: Your Heat Gauge is divided into two segments, at first. When it
builds up to or beyond the break between the segments, you have entered Heat
Mode. In this mode, Heat Actions will be available and any conditions that
have been gained through character build-up will apply such as resistance to
being knocked down, extra damage, and improved guard.
Each time you improve your Heat Gauge, you will add one more segment to the
end. Once the meter falls below that second segment and back to that long,
first part, you are no longer in Heat Mode.
INROU: These were small boxes used mostly for carrying herbs, medicine, snuff,
or even tobacco around. The true meaning is "seal box," and the word once
referred to all manners of small items such as seals or make-up, but even-
tually became specialized to mean a certain kind of box that carried mostly
herbs (which should really be called a "yakurou").
Since there were no pockets in Japanese dress of the Heian and Edo Periods,
people carried things tied to their belts in small containers. These inrou
were popularly embroidered with fine designs and many are now considered
valuable works of art.
JIZOU: --> see "Ksitigarbha"
KAMURO: This was a kind of hairstyle worn by women in old Japan. In the Edo
Period, it also referred to girls working at ageya brothels to learn the ways
of the yuujo, a type of sex entertainer. In this stage, they would learn how
to dress, act, dance, and sing in order to fit into their future roll--this
was a sort of apprenticeship.
KANJI: The Japanese had no writing system early on, and in the 600s or so,
along with Buddhism and such things, the Chinese writings were imported to
the islands. Like nearly all other East Asian countries, Chinese was the
only way to write for a long time. This was in the Han dynasty, so the
characters used are called "hanzi" in Mandarin Chinese, meaning "characters
from the Han era." In Japanese, the characters "han" and "zi" are pro-
nounced "kan" and "ji" (hence the word "kanji").
Unfortunately, the Japanese language actually is nothing like Chinese; it
belongs to a family more like Mongolian and Korean and Turkish. So, the
Japanese had to adopt ways of reading the Chinese script in their own
language, called "kanbun" ("literature in Han-era characters") and "kundoku"
("practical reading"). The text was annotated with markers and with certain
"helper" characters to know how to pronounce the characters and conjugate
the nouns, based largely on shorthand versions of the characters themselves.
This is a pretty much where the syllabaries for the Japanese writing system
(katakana and hiragana) came from, too.
There are two ways to pronounce these characters: one that mimics the Han-
era pronounciation from China, for phonetic purposes, and one that gives the
Japanese word that corresponds to the meaning of the character. These are
called "on'yomi" ("sound reading") and "kun'yomi" ("practical reading")
respectively.
This is what most Westerners find frustrating about learning Japanese, but I
think it's one of the most interesting things about the language, to be
honest.
KANNON: --> see "Avalokitesvara"
KATANA: The sword wielded in Edo and Heian period Japan, supposed preferred
weapon of the warrior ("samurai") class (tho it was really the spear). This
word also is used in a more broad sense to simply mean "sword."
KISERU: This is an old-fashioned tabacco pipe used in Japan. There have been
a few different suggestions for its etymology, both that it comes from a Khmer
word "ksher," and that it comes from a Portuguese term meaning "(a thing) that
inhales," "que sorver." I personally would believe the latter, since the
Japanese most likely received this product from trade with the Portuguese
rather than with Cambodia. There is also little evidence of such a term in
Khmer being specifically applied to tobacco.
KISHIMOJIN: see "Hariti."
KODACHI: Often called the "Japanese short sword," this is the smaller,
companion piece to the dachi.
KOI: Usually called a Japanese carp, this is a big fish that has many different
color variations and can be quite expensive. It's usually used in decorative
ponds. Don't confuse this term with "koi" (different Chinese character, of
course) meaning "(sexual) love" or the other common one, "koi" (another
character), the command form of "kuru" ("to come").
KSITIGARBHA: One of the Buddhist deities imported to Japan from India (via
China), Ksitigarbha is the faithful defender of the sutras and of Buddhism.
In some legends, he is said to have been a faithful companion to the princess
now revered as Guan Yin or Kan'non or Avalokitesvara, the bodhisattva of
compassion. He knew he was not as pure as this woman, but yet he devoted
himself to her and now appears as a deity to protect her (and Buddhism in
general).
In Japan, he is known as Jizou, and is usually depicted as a monk. He is the
protector of the Buddhist faith and also of children and of travelers, because
it is said that he finds children who have not yet heard the sutras in the
Sanzu Riverbed and hides them in his clothes so that he can read the sutras
to them and guide them secretly across to salvation.
KUBOU: see "shogun"
KUSUDAMA: This is a round ball, usually ung from the ceiling, which bursts in
two halves, dropping confetti. It's common to see these in Japanese parties
and such.
LIFE GAUGE: When this runs out, you're dead. This is the big orange bar in
the upper left-hand corner of the screen. When it gets low, it'll start to
flash red and will change the gameplay slightly depending on how you've built
up your main character.
MAHJONG: Sometimes spelled "Mah Jongg," this is a game involving tiles that
was brought to Japan from China. In Mandarin, it's called "maxiang," and in
Cantonese, it's called "maajeung."
MAKUNO'UCHI: The highest "tier" of sumo wrestling.
NETSUKE: In the old fashion of Japan, kimono and hakama (pants) had no real
pockets, so items were carried around, attached to the person's sash or belt
by chords. Netsuke were the small items used to hold the looped chords to-
gether. Often ornate carvings, many of them are considered valuable works of
art.
NINJA: This word actually refers to any partaking in clandestine activities,
such as spies or guerilla fighters. But, in modern Japan, it has come to be
used much the same as it has been here in the West: to describe a certain
kind of mystic warrior who would swoop in and exact justice or assassinate
because of orders from his lord or the laws of the land.
Ninja didn't exist the way popular culture now has them--there is pretty
much no evidence of popular tales of ninja ever having occured (especially in
the case of assassinations). The modern outfit for a ninja is assumed to find
its roots in the outfits worn by kuroku, men wearing black in traditional
puppet theater of Japan who are supposed to be ignored by the audience.
Appearance of ninja can be very rarely seen in reference to kabuki, the
popular theater of the day, in the late Edo Period. There are also many tales
of schools of ninja found operating in the Koga and Iga Valleys in Japan and
documents of ideologies and techniques such as the Bansenshuukai, which is
said to have been written in the late nineteenth century in the Iga Valley.
However, actual proof of the schools having operated or of ninja having
existed is very sparse and often misleading or incredulous.
The modern idea of ninja might also have its roots in Shugendou, which had
many monks following spiritual paths through peregrinations in the wilderness
and fierce training. These and other members of secret societies on the
fringe of Japanese civilization were often employed in military endeavors in
the Sengoku period, and possibly for missions in the Edo Period.
This modern conception of ninja is someone who is enshrouded in a sort of
an acrobatic uniform (usually black), wearing a mask. They can leap and
tumble and flip about acrobatically, and throw smoke bombs at their feet or
simply turn invisible. Their cheif weapon is a straight-edged kodachi called
a "ninjatou" ("ninja sword"), and they often also use caltrops or shuriken
(small blades that can be palmed and presumably thrown at an opponent). They
also often chant the mantra "rin pyou tou sha kai jin retsu zai zen" and
invoke magic powers that can involve flying, teleporting, or mind control.
ODEN: A soup in a light broth with bonito flavoring, containing warm and
rather bland materials such as boiled eggs and fish cake.
OKAMI (or "O-Kami"): The word "kami" can mean many things in Japanese, but in
this case, it means "top" or "up." In particular, the word is used in this
game to refer to the madame of an ageya, a brothel in the pleasure districts
of old Japan. The "o" is an honorific marker.
ONI: A warlike, thick-headed, thick-skinned creature of Japanese lore, often
translated as "ogre" or "devil" or "demon." The kanji used for "oni" means
something like "an evil ghost," so it's often used as "demon," but I shy away
from this translation as it evokes a Christian feeling.
ONIGIRI: Rice balls; "sticky" or "sushi" rice and vinegar are formed around
a filling (usually meat), topped sometimes with roasted sesame seeds and
seaweed.
RIKISHI: Literally "strength scholar," this is a practitioner of sumou (com-
monly Romanized as "sumo"). A sumo wrestler.
SAKAYA: A traditional, Japanese-style bar.
SAKE: Japanese rice wine--it's "sah-keh," not "sah-kee."
SAMURAI: Literally meaning "one who serves," this is the name of a caste of
warrior people in Japan. As one would expect, the status of a samurai was
inherited. This was the ruling caste of Japan for a few hundred years, most
notably when the country was unified under the bakufu from 1600 to 1868.
Although samurai were warriors, in the Edo Period, there was mostly peace,
and the samurai were simply a ruling class of bureaucrats and local despots.
The legitimacy of their rule was justified by the fact that they would aus-
piciously give their life gladly at their lord's whim, so, they assumedly do
so for the good of the country.
SARASHI: A bolt of cloth (almost always white) that was used as a sort of sash
in the Edo period by men, worn around their waist beneath the coat of their
kimono. Yakuza and other tough guys are often shown wearing this as it makes
one look very manly.
SHIFT MOTION: Holding down R1, you can keep Kiryuu looking in the same
direction and locking onto the nearest enemy (unless said enemy sidesteps and
gets away from you).
SHINGON: Literally "True Word," Shingon is one of the main (if not the most
popular) branches of Buddhism in Japan, based mostly upon sutras brought by
the monk Kuukai from a visit to China in the ninth century.
SHOGI: Actually "shougi," but commonly written "shogi," this is a form of
chess brought to Japan from China. Chess is said to have originated in
India, and inspired many forms. Hence, Shogi is sometimes called "Japanese
Chess."
SHOGUN: This word is actually "shougun," but has been commonly transliterated
as simply "shogun." Literally, it means "commander of the army" or "general."
This term is now widely used in reference to the Tokugawa family member who
was in control of the bakufu government that controlled and unified Japan from
1600 to 1868.
The use of "shogun" to refer to this leader is a modern invention, mostly
adopted by the West because of Western dealings with the supporters of restor-
ing the emperor of Japan to power. The emperor was around in the days of the
shogunate, but the leadership of the shogun was supposed to be in support of
that noble family, so all decisions were pretty much carried out by the shogun
himself.
The reason that word was adopted was to make the Tokugawa leader seem more
like simply a general rather than a leader. This is the same reason why the
word "tycoon" exists in English--the word "taikun," meaning "powerful, local
lord" was also used to denegrate Tokugawa's position.
In the days of the bakufu, the Tokugawa used the word "kubou" instead of
"shogun." This word literally means "leader." The word "shougun" (or simply
"shou") would be used for a general in an army during a military campaign.
SHOGUNATE: see "bakufu"
SHUGENDOU: This is a religious practice in Japan that could be best described
as "mountain asceticism." A mystic form of religion that incorporated local
worship systems referred to as "Shintou" (or "Shinto") into Buddhist doctrine,
Shugendou involves mostly mountain peregrinations from mountaintop to moun-
taintop. Most of a practitioner's time would be spent in monastic tradition
purifying the mind and body in preparation for these journeys.
Often seen as a fearsome lot, the monks, known as "gyouja" or "yamabushi,"
would protect their sacred sites at almost any cost. Many of them were fierce
and skilled warriors. There were various boundaries marked along sacred
mountains beyond which those who were not purified could not pass--including
lay people and women.
SPECIAL ATTACK or SPECIAL MOVE: see "Heat Action."
SUPER ATTACK or SUPER MOVE or SUPER: see "Heat Action."
SWAY: In this instance, swaying means to dodge out of the way of attacks.
You do this by hitting "X" while moving around in "Shift Motion."
TAYUU: This is the name given to the highest-ranked yuujo prostitute at her
ageya brothel.
TENDAI: A form of Buddhism that reached Japan in the Heian Period (probably
around 700 A.D.) from China, where it is known as "Tientai." Part of Maha-
yana Buddhism, and focusing on the Lotus Sutra, Tendai doctrine in Japan was
the root of a group of religious sects known collectively as "Shugendou"
(commonly transliterated wihtout a long "o"; "Shugendo"), in which the wor-
ship of the various local gods (or "kami") present in the systems collectively
known as "Shintou" (again commonly transliterated "Shinto") is viewed as an
appropriate path to enlightenment. Indeed, in many old temples, where there
are charts depicting the various Buddhas and Bodhisattvahs, both the Buddhist
names and the names of the various kami could be found, and there was a
clear tendency to link each Buddhist figure with a local kami.
This sort of practice was made illegal in 1868 when Emperor Meiji was
restored to power as ruler of Japan. It would remain illegal until after the
second World War. Tendai Buddhism, however, was not explictly outlawed.
TENGU: This is a Japanese mythological creature, usually depicted wearing the
outfit of a yamabushi (an ascetic monk), sometimes with wings, and with a
very long nose and red, wild face.
The name means "dog of the heavens," because the name comes from a Chinese
mythological creature (called the "Tiangou" or "Tingau"), which represents the
tail of a comet or a shooting star. Usually, it is depicted more like a dog.
It appears in the Shanhaijing, an ancient text that deals mostly with mythol-
ogical beasts.
The name may have come to Japan through the introduction of Chinese trans-
lations of Buddhist sutras. Although the word actually does not appear in
Buddhist cannon and is not a Buddhist figure, there is at least one instance
of the word "comet" being translated into Chinese as "tiangou."
The reason the tengu wear eccentric, exaggerated outfits of Shugendou is
because they represent a magical force in nature from which it is often said
that the gyouja draw their mystic powers.
UDON: A thick, soft noodle made of rice (and the soup associated with it).
WAKIZASHI: This is a short sword wielded in the Sengoku and Edo Periods in
Japan. It was traditionally worn together with the Dachi, and worn in the
belt. The name means something like "drawn from the waist" or "held at the
side (of the body)."
The kodachi is actually about the same length of what would be called a
"daiwakazashi" (a "large wakizashi"). This implies that the wakizashi is
actually a smaller weapon than a kodachi. Usually, a wakizashi is somewhere
between 12" and 24" long, and a kodachi is usually 24" long.
YAKUZA: There have been several different etymologies suggested for the word
"yakuza." In modern day, these are organized crime syndicates with long
histories, many claiming they were founded in the 17th century, and the idea
of "yakuza" is sometimes written out "he who takes a role," or something like
that, meaning that they serve their group--and, supposedly, the community
around them.
Actually, in the 17th century, "yakuza" were just street thugs and the like,
and didn't quite have the same position they have now. In those days, a bad
roll at dice would be called "yakuza," which is a way of reading 8, 9, and 3
("ya" is the kunyomi of 8, "ku" is an onyomi of 9, and "za" comes from the
onyomi "san" for 3). So, as you can expect, these were the "rubbish" that
just didn't quite fit in with society or just had been dealt a losing hand by
fate (i.e. they weren't born into good families).
The allusion to gambling is no accident, as most people called "yakuza" were
gamblers and thieves. Just like the U.S.'s appraisal of the gunslingers of
old, there wre some wily ones who almost became folk heroes.
In fact, by the 19th century, there is evidence to suggest that they were far
more popular than the samurai, who were viewed as part of a tired, old,
bureaucratic system that didn't serve the people. Popular paintings depicted
tattooed men (yakuza) standing next to large objects used to signal alarm
when a fire broke out. Many fire brigades in the late Edo Period consisted of
yakuza, not samurai, and it was clear that the idea of the man of lowly birth
who was breaking the law (but breaking an archaic, unnatural law for the good
of the people) became a very romantic image in that time.
YAMABUSHI: see "gyouja"
YUUJO: Literally "playing women," these were basically women in the sexual
entertainment industry in old Japan. Although their stories are very roman-
ticized, and a lot more happened in brothels than simply sex, it is true that
they were prostitutes. These are not to be confused with geisha, who are a
different type of sex worker, strong in their own right and selling their
services as companions and people to liven up parties without (usually)
offering actual sexual acts.
-----------------
8. "THANK-YOU"'S
-----------------
NOBODY. So there. NOBODY deserves my gratitude.
Except all you readers and Ryu ga Gotoku-heads and whoever invented hummus and
Lau Karleung movies and Edan the Humble Magnificent and Gil Scott-Heron and
Charles Mingus and Busdriver and Dan the Automator and Tom Ze' and all the guys
and gals at the GameFAQs message boards and all the guys and gals over at the
Japanese boards like ryuken.gwiki2.com and Ma and all the other great teachers
I've had over the years like John Nathan, Luke Roberts, and Alain Grappard, my
family and friends for supporting me, lazy afternoons, and teh internets....
Take and the other guys (and gal!) at Hyper Game (hypergameaction.com)....
OK, so a lot of people deserve gratitude. I lied.
© Web Media Network Limited, 1999 - 2024 This site is not affiliated in any way with Microsoft, Sony, Sega, Nintendo or any video game publishers.
Privacy Policy | Terms of Service.
Super Cheats is an unofficial resource with submissions provided by members of the public. These are not usually tested by us (because there are so many), so please use them at your own risk.
