Dissidia Sephiroth

So after playing Final Fantasy Dissidia during the past week, I finally levelled up Sephiroth to the maximum level 100 and got his Masamune :) I just want to share some of my thoughts on his playing style. Sephiroth definitely has powerful sword techniques like a great master samurai. But to make the most of his moves, you have to master his timing. Unlike some of the other characters in the game, Sephiroth's playing style emphasizes control and precise timing (that's probably why the game describes his style as the 'focused blade'). So you won't get most of Sephiroth if your just a button-masher because strategy and precision are very important to master his style. You have to anticipate when your opponent has an opening and then strike. If you guess wrong and you miss your target, then the opponent can launch a vicious counter-attack.

Sephiroth's Octaslash & Scintilla moves are only deadly if you can time them just right. These moves are definitely not intended for button-mashing as they are precise and controlled sword strokes. In the bravery department, Sephiroth has the Reaper technique. This move is really powerful as you can zap the Bravery points of your opponent three times in a row and then launch further strikes during the chase mode. This move definitely opens a lot of strategic and tactical options for Sephiroth. It's also one of the few moves in the game that always has a high chance of connecting with the enemy. But to get the most of the Reaper move, you have to time each stroke just right. If you swing too fast, the Bravery damage to your opponent will be minimized. So once again, timing is important in Sephiroth's playing style. Also in the beginning his Reaper attacks are quite weak. They don't zap that many Bravery points off your opponents. But once you get better swords for Sephiroth (such as the Masamune and the One Winged Angel), then the Reaper is more effective. When you're up close to your enemy and in the air, Sephiroth's Heaven's Light move is very effective. It's a move where Sephiroth thrusts his sword upwards into the air. It reminds me of Ryu or Ken's dragon uppercut punches in Street Fighter 2. As for projectiles, Sephiroth has the HP-damaging Black Materia and Bravery-damaging Fervant Blow. I find the Black Materia useful when the opponent is about to launch a magic attack from a distance. If you can time it just right, your Black Materia "projectile" will catch your opponent off guard before he has a chance to execute his projectile attack. The move is useful because its very unexpected. Sephiroth's Fervant Blow (a Bravery projectile) is great when your opponent is low on Bravery and you want to break him from a distance. It's the only true projectile move in Sephiroth's arsenal.

In the hands of a master tactician, I think Sephiroth is one of the best characters in the game. I'm far from mastering Sephiroth's character myself since I only started playing the game for about a week. But from what i learned and played so far, Sephiroth definitely favors the more tactical players. For fans of samurai's, I think Sephiroth in Final Fantasy Dissidia offers some of the best samurai-like action of any game. The sword fighting is as intense (and exciting) as those found in those Samurai Shodown games.

Final Fantasy Dissidia

So this weekend I picked up a Sony Playstation Portable (PSP) to get Final Fantasy Dissidia (an RPG-Fighting Game Hybrid). As a big Sephiroth fan (and a fan of RPG's in general), this game is a must-have. I've only played the game for few days but I can already tell that it is fun and addictive especially for fans of Final Fantasy. They combined all the major heroes and villains from Final Fantasy 1 to 10 into this RPG Fighting game. So for the very first time, we can actually play as those end-game bosses from the FF games like Sephiroth, Kefka, Ex-Death and Golbez. This game is like Boss battle heaven - if you like fighting rpg bosses, you'll love this game.

The game is essentially an RPG where the characters level-up their stats, but it also includes a special Arcade mode where all the stats, weapons and fighting moves are set in stone for every character. So the Arcade mode plays like a standard fighting game (albeit a more sophisticated fighting game with RPG elements like summons and magical moves). Right off the bat, you can play as any of the ten heroes or ten villains in the Arcade mode without having to unlock any of the characters. So guess who was the first character I tried out in this mode? Sephiroth :) I really like his playing style. The game developers made him into a fully-fledged samurai-like swordsman. His sword stroke animations are simply beautiful in this game. I was very happy that they made Sephiroth into a true swordsman. In Final Fantasy VII we never got a chance to fight against him as a swordsman. In this game, we get to control "samurai" Sephiroth as well as fight against him in three boss battles (in the Story mode).

So what moves does Sephiroth have in this game? He has the Octaslash and Reaper attack moves, both of which are sword strokes. He has a magical attack called Shadow Flare that's hard to dodge. When Sephiroth's EX gauge is full, he becomes the "One Winged Angel" (the Advent Children version) and can launch a powerful magical attack called Super Nova and also execute the Heartless Angel that reduces the opponent's bravery points to 1. Sephiroth is equipped with his super-long Masamune sword. The game description for Sephiroth: "Focused Blade - Uses peerless swordsmanship to deliver precise strikes". He's actually one of the few characters in the game that can launch quick bravery combos that connect to further and further sword strikes (through the chase mode). With his long masamune and refined sword techniques, Sephiroth is one of the more powerful melee characters in the game.

For anybody itching to play as the samurai-version of Sephiroth (or even fight against him as a boss), I highly recommend Final Fantasy Dissidia. I never been a portable console gamer but this game made me one. In the beginning I had trouble adjusting to the small screen since I usually play games with my PS3 and big-screen TV. But after a few hours I warmed up more and more to the smaller-sized screen. In fact I think the PSP is great for those "old-school" RPG classics. Speaking of classics, you can also download FF7 to the PSP (through the Playstation Store). Next up for me will be Final Fantasy Crisis Core :)

Seven Samurai - Greatest Movie Ever?

Seven Samurai Review

Seven Samurai is directed by Akira Kurosawa and is widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever. It is usually ranked within the Top Ten Movies of All-Time from various polls which include directors, critics and movie fans alike. Kurosawa was personally influenced by kendo and the spiritual Bushido code (as well as the paintings of Van Gogh) when he created this masterpiece. You can definitely see their influences when you watch this movie. The basic premise of the film is that farmers in a village are constantly being raided by bandits. They go out to town to hire a group of samurai to help defend their village. Seven samurai are chosen and recruited to this noble cause (hence the title of the film).



I think the strongest points of Seven Samurai are the dynamic characters and the beautiful camera work. One critic described the film's visual techniques as "pictorialism". Every scene and every shot of the film is masterfully done. Kurosawa uses something called a "deep focus" technique to keep everybody in focus, whether they are in the foreground or background. What this does is it creates a canvas that surrounds the whole scene and everybody within the scene (whether they are moving or not) ends up being part of the visual texture of this canvas. It literally feels like you are watching a painting in motion. Every single scene in this film is highly engaging because of this great visual perspective. Seven Samurai is definitely a visual masterpiece.



Another strong point of the film are its engaging characters. Since the film is approximately 3.5 hours long, we get more character development compared to most other films. The three most-developed characters amongst the seven samurai are Kambei Shimada, Kikuchiyo and Katsushiro Okamoto. Kambei Shimada (played by Takashi Shimura) is the leader of the group. He is a gentle, honorable and wise samurai and is a mentor to the young samurai Katsushiro. He is the most cultivated samurai of the group and represents the perfect ideals of Bushido and Zen. Kikuchiyo is a hybrid farmer-samurai and the comic relief of the film. His character is played by the famous actor Toshiro Mifune who brings lot of energy into his role. The scenes are never boring with him around. The last "main character" is Katsushiro played by Isao Kimura. He is a young samurai still innocent in the ways of the world. He has no battle experience but is hungry to become a first-class samurai like Kambei.



Although the film has engaging characters (who the viewers can relate to), I wouldn't say that it has deep character development. The film emphasizes the dynamic relationships between the characters rather than psychological development within. As I mentioned before, the film is like a painting in motion. All the events are constantly flowing forward and all the characters flow with it. So this visual (and structural) style lends itself well to dynamic relationships rather than introspection. It is this aspect that gives Seven Samurai its unique (and artistic) flavour.



The Criterion DVD release of the film is quite possibly my favorite movie DVD set. The visual transfer of this old 1950's film is absolutely stunning. I would say that the transfer actually lives up to the visual style of the film. Even if you're generally put off by old black and white movies, the DVD visuals of this Criterion release will change your opinion. The set also comes with a 50+ page booklet filled with highly informative essays about Seven Samurai and various pictures from the film. There is also tons of extras in this set. You get a two hour video conversation with the director Akira Kurosawa, a 50-minute making of documentary, and a "Seven Samurai: Origins and Influences" documentary that talks about Samurai culture and its influences on the film. The Criterion release is definitely one of the best DVD releases ever. It's the only release that lives up to the reputation of the film itself.

So is this movie the greatest movie ever? Does it live up to its reputation? As a huge samurai fan, I have to say it's definitely one of the greatest films (and quite possibly the greatest samurai film ever). If I had one complaint though, it would be the soundtrack. I wished that they used a more traditional Japanese soundtrack since this film is a historical piece after all. The music in this film sounds too Hollywood-ish for my tastes. Besides this minor complaint, I highly recommend Seven Samurai. It's quite possibly the most important movie in the samurai genre.



There is also an anime adaptation of this film called Samurai 7. Its a high profile anime TV show with 26 episodes. This anime is a complete re-telling of the events in Seven Samurai. The anime takes place in a futuristic sci-fi setting (instead of ancient Japan) filled with flying mecha's and battleships. It reminds me a lot of Star Wars since it combines samurai fights with futuristic technology. I find this ironic since Star Wars itself was influenced by Kurosawa's samurai films. An interesting tidbit: when Yoda rubs his hands on his head this is actually a tribute to Kambei and Seven Samurai.



If you're a fan of Seven Samurai or even Star Wars, I highly recommend this anime. It's not the artistic masterpiece that was Seven Samurai but it is a solid title in its own right.

Ukyo & Haohmaru (Samurai Shodown)

Ukyo Tachibana is one of my favorite characters in the Samurai Shodown series (2D fighting games featuring samurai warriors). His character is based off of the historical Sasaki Kojiro who was Musashi's greatest foe. Like Kojiro, his weapon in SS is the Drying Pole (a really long sword) and his special move is the Swallow Swipe. One special characteristic of Ukyo is that he always has his back towards his opponent. It was this odd but stylish mannerism that caught my eye when I first stumbled upon Samurai Shodown. He's definitely one of the most stylish samurai around.




My second favorite character in the Samurai Shodown series is Haohmaru. His character is based on the historical Miyamoto Musashi. Since Musashi and Kojiro were historic rivals, Haohmaru is Ukyo's rival in Samurai Shodown. Musashi is widely regarded as the greatest samurai of all time. He never lost a duel (won over 50 matches), he invented his own style of 2 swords, wrote the famous swordplay manual Book of Five Rings and was awarded the title Sword Saint in his later life. So as expected, Haomaru is the most well-rounded samurai in the game (and its main protagonist). He's basically the Ryu/Ken of Samurai Shodown. I like his victory animation when he launches his sword high up into the air and then having it fall neatly back into his sheath. Haohmaru (like Musashi) is the perfect ideal samurai.

Sephiroth (The Dark Samurai)

I like to dedicate this post to my favorite samurai-villain Sephiroth (from the Final Fantasy VII RPG). Armed with his long masamune and wearing a battle armor, Sephiroth is definitely one of the coolest samurai-like villains in any medium. I'm not much of a toy or model collector but this weekend i came across a Sephiroth figurine. It's the Kingdom Hearts version of Sephiroth with his single wing.


For those of you who don't know, the final boss in Final Fantasy VII was the one-winged Sephiroth (minus his legs). They basically transformed Sephiroth into some magical creature. I was so itching to fight the samurai-verison of Sephiroth... oh well. But the Kingdom Hearts version manages to keep Sephiroth's samurai-form intact and give him his magical wing. In other words, this should have been what Sephiroth looked like in FF7's final battle. Well anyway, here's the figure:



Here's another Sephiroth figure. It's from the Advent Children line. I really like this one since they keep Sephiroth's samurai-form fully intact.




Sephiroth is probably my favorite samurai villain. I haven't come across a more darker samurai. The only ones that come close are Hitokiri Battosai (from Rurouni Kenshin) and Demon Eyes Kyo (from Samurai Deeper Kyo). Actually he might even be my favorite RPG villain. He's definitely up there with Ghaleon (from Lunar series), Kefka (from Final Fantasy VI), Magus/Prophet (from Chrono Trigger) and Krelian (from Xenogears).



Here are the in-game images of Sephiroth from Final Fantasy VII I found floating on the web.



Speaking of dark samurai's, I have been itching to watch a dark samurai series for a very long time. I usually prefer my shows serious, realistic and dark. And because I'm obsessed with samurai's, a dark samurai anime would equate to heaven for me. In all of my search, i've managed to come across two anime titles that belong to this category. The first one is Shigurui which I'll post a brief review when i'm done watching it. It's adapted from the manga and novel. All i can say is that it isn't exactly what I expected or was looking for. The second title is Samurai X: Trust and Betrayal which tells the story of Hitokiri Battosai and was also adapted from the manga. This OVA was amazing and right up my alley. Now my search continues for the next dark samurai series.

Samurai Zen (Doctrine of No-Mind)

In this post I'll talk about the spiritual aspect of samurai culture that is often neglected in movies and series. Being a samurai wasn't just an occupation, it was a way of life and the way of truth. The Way of the Sword begins and ends with the mind (or the soul of the samurai).

Note: I am by no means an expert in this area. Samurai Zen literature is quite deep and it probably takes many years to penetrate its deeper meanings. I posted the books that I used at the end of this mini-essay for reference.



No-Mind (or Mushin) is a state in which highly-cultivated samurai enter during combat. So what is no-mind? And what is the mind? The mind is probably the most mysterious thing in the universe. What is it composed of? How does it work? Does it have a shape or form? In Zen Buddhist philosophy, the mind is understood as being empty in its true and natural state. In other words, the ultimate nature of the mind is emptiness and it has no form. We call this "no-mind". But when the mind has been distracted by the endless current of thoughts and emotions (that may arise during combat), it takes on myriad forms and is no longer considered empty. A samurai with a fixated and distracted mind will be at a disadvantage. And a samurai with a empty and free-flowing mind will gain the upperhand. We call the latter the "state of no-mind" and it is essentially a form-less state of awareness that trancends rationalization. At this level of awareness, the samurai isn't constrained by techniques anymore and can actually transcend them and act effortlessly.

This captures the saying: "no technique can beat any technique, no pattern beats any pattern, no mind beats any mind."



As mentioned above, the true nature of the mind is understood to be empty and without form in Buddhist philosophy. This is the concept of Sunyata (voidness or emptiness) found in the Buddhist sutras. The symbol of Zen (the Zen Circle or enso) represents the empty nature of the mind. In Zen Buddhism, the emphasis is on experiencing the state of no-mind (or emptiness) directly in all facets of life. It is this reason that Zen has spread into all the cultural arts of Japan including swordplay, calligraphy and painting. Musashi himself was a highly respected Zen painter as well as a highly-accomplished swordsman. So what exactly is meant by no-mind?



One of the greatest contributors to the doctrine of No-Mind was Hui Neng. Hui Neng was the sixth and last patriarch of Zen Buddhism and founder of the Southern School of Zen which taught Sudden Enlightenment. The philosophy of no-mind is best captured in his poem which went as follows:

"There is no Bodhi-tree,
Nor stand of mirror bright.
Since all is void,
Where can the dust alight?"

Hui-Neng's poem basically encapsulates what is meant by no-mind. Sometimes people make the mistake of giving the mind a certain form. They associate their mind with a mirror and they try to keep it clean and pure by cleaning the dust off of it. But if the mind is truly without form, then how can they even begin to contemplate it? How can they even clean it? In the ultimate reality, there is no mind and there is no mirror. So if the mirror doesn't even exist, where can dust collect? Hui Neng's teachings on no-mind can be found in his Platform Sutra. It had a huge influence on samurai zen culture (and zen culture as a whole).



Highly cultivated samurai in the past practiced zazen meditation and studied zen koans (riddles) to cultivate their state of no-mind. With this deep understanding, they can carry it to their swordplay and attain a state that transcends all the limitations of techniques and forms. In Yagyu Munenori's No-Sword scroll, he states that the mind must not be fixated on the actions of the opponent. If the mind stops and lingers somewhere, you will be defeated in combat. So to adopt a form-less sword style, the mind must be free to move effortlessly. Since the true nature of the mind has no form or shape, it is invisible. But when it clings and becomes fixated, the mind takes on a form and becomes visible to both you and the opponent. To attain the state of no-mind in combat is to practice the highest level of swordplay.

References:

1) Doctrine of No-Mind by D.T. Suzuki
2) Platform Sutra by Hui Neng
3) Soul of the Samurai by Thomas Cleary
4) Book of Family Traditions by Yagyu Munenori

The Swordsman (ATV TV Series)

The invincible Japanese Samurai travelling to China to seek out worthy challengers is a common theme found in Chinese Wuxia series and movies. In the wuxia TV series "Swordsman" made by Hong Kong ATV, Japan's #1 swordsman travels to China and easily defeats all his challengers until he comes across a legendary reclusive swordsman Yin Buk Fei. So basically we have Japan's #1 swordsman squaring off against China's top swordsman.



The Japanese samurai is played by Norman Tsui. He captured the mannerisms of the samurai perfectly in his role. Basically his character is trying to reach the highest level of swordplay and to become the #1 swordsman in all of China. To achieve this, he cuts of all emotional ties (including his wife and family) until he reaches a state of no emotion. He believes that having no emotions is the key to attain the highest level of swordsmanship. When you have no emotional distractions, you can focus all your energy into perfecting your techniques. On the other hand, his rival Yin Buk Fei (played by Damian Lau) believes that emotions such as love are important in one's swordsmanship. He claims that it is his love for his wife that gives him spiritual strength to overcome his foes. So we have a cold and emotion-less swordsman against a highly passionate one. Who's philosophy is right? Can the highest level of swordsmanship be reached when you have no emotions or can it be reached through passion? That is the entire theme of ATV's Swordsman series in a nutshell.

Gateless Gate (Koans)

I like to dedicate this post to the paradoxical koans found in Zen. Since Zen emphasizes experience (and discourages rationalization) there isn't supposed to be any intellectual answer to them as they are paradoxical in nature. They are meant to be experienced directly. They are usually short and compact (typically few lines to few paragraphs length) but contain deep spiritual insight. They kind of remind me of swordplay: simple and economical strokes that don't waste energy but powerful enough to take down the opponent. In the case of koans, the energy is the number of words (in a koan) and the opponent is the rational (discriminating) mind.



The Gateless Gate

Basho's Staff:

Basho Osho said to his disciples, "If you have a staff, I will give you a staff. If you have no staff, I will take it from you."

Hoen's "Who is He?":

Hoen of Tozan said, "Even Shakya and Maitreya are servants of another. I want to ask you, who is he?"

Joshu's Oak Tree:

A monk asked JOshu, "What is the meaning of Bodhidharma's coming to China?" Joshu said, "The oak tree in the garden."

Nansen's "Reason is Not the Way":

Nansen said, "Mind is not the Buddha; reason is not the Way."

Baso's "No Mind, No Buddha":

A monk asked Baso, "What is the Buddha?" Baso answered, "No mind, no Buddha."

When the Bell Sounds:

Ummon said, "The world is vast and wide. Why do you put on your seven-piece robe at the sound of the bell?"

The Sixth Patriarch's "Your Mind Moves":

The wind was flapping a temple flag, and two monks started an argument. One said the flag moved, the other said the wind moved; they argued back and forth but could not reach a conclusion. The Sixth Patriarch said, "It is not the wind that moves, it is not the flag that moves, it is your mind that moves." The two monks were awe-struck.

Philosophy of the Sword (Bushido & Zen)

The following post is dedicated to the Way of the Sword (or Bushido). It discusses the sword philosophies of Miyamoto Musashi and Yagyu Munenori who were influenced by Zen.



I think Jin Yong (a famous martial arts fiction writer) was personally inspired by Miyamoto Musashi and Yagyu Munenori when he created his uber-powerful character Sword Demon Dugu Qiubai (who happened to be the #1 swordsman in his novels).



Sword Demon Dugu is said to have reached the highest levels of swordsmanship. His two main sword philosophies are "overcoming a sword without a sword" and "no pattern beats any pattern", both of which can also be found in the writings of Musashi and Munenori. "Overcoming a sword without a sword" is very similar to the philosophies found in Musashi's Emptiness Scroll and Munenori's No-Sword. While the "no pattern beats any pattern" is found in some of the techniques in Musashi's Water Scroll. There are many other accounts of "enlightened swordsmen" in fiction but it is Musashi and Munenori who represent the real-life spiritual warriors.



Both Musashi and Munenori combined Zen philosophy with their swordplay. The famous Zen phrase "form is emptiness, emptiness is form" rings true in their writings. The following are some of my favorite sword philosophies (and tactics) from the real-life Sword Demons Musashi and Munenori.



Miyamoto Musashi's Go Rin No Sho - Book of the Five Rings (translated by Thomas Cleary)

The following are found in The Water Scroll in the Go Rin No Sho.

"Striking down an opponent in a single beat" - among the rhythms used to strike an opponent, there is what is called a single beat. Finding a position where you can reach the opopnent, realizing when the opponent has not yet determined what to do, you strike directly, as fast as possible, wihtout moving your body or fixing your attention.

"Striking Without Thought and Without Form" - When your opponent is going to strike, and you are also going to strike, your body is on the offensive, and your mind is also on the offensive; your hands come spontaneously from space, striking with added speed and force. This is called striking without thought or form, and is the most important stroke.

"The Flowing Water Stroke" - is used when you are going toe to toe with an opponent, when the opponent tries to pull away quickly, dodge quickly, or parry your sword quickly: becoming expansive in body and mind, you swing your sword from behind you in an utterly relaxed manner, as if there were some hestitation, and strike with a large and power stroke.

"The Rhythm of the Second Spring" - when you are about to strike and the opponent quickly pulls back or parries; you feint a blow, and then strike the opponent as he relaxes after tensing.

Yagyu Munenori's Book of Family Traditions

"The Vanguard of the Moment" - The vanguard of the moment is before the opponent has begun to make a move. This first impulse of movement is the energy, feeling, or mood, held back in the chest. The dynamic of the movement is energy, feeling, or mood. To accurately see an opponents' energy, feeling, and mood, and to act accordingly in their presence, is called the vanguard of the moment. This effective action is a specialty of Zen, where it is referred to as the Zen dynamic. The energy, feeling, or mood hidden within and not revealed is called the potential of the moment. It is like a hinge, which is inside the door. To see the invisible workings hidden inside, and to act upon that, is called the art of war at the vanguard of the moment.

The Moon in the Water - There is a certain distance between an adversary and yourself at which you will not get hit by the adversary's sword. You employ martial arts from outside this space. To get close to an opponent by striding into this space or slipping into it is called "the moon in the water", being likened to the moon sending its reflection into a bod yof water. One should engage an opponent only after having set up a theoretical "moon in the water" field in one's mind before even facing off.

The Killing Sword - To think of getting rid of sickness (e.g. fear, panic) is fixation on sickness, but if you use that fixation to get rid of sickness, the fixation will not remain. To have no thought of getting rid of sickness at all is getting rid of sickness. To think of riddance is itself sickness. Letting sickness be while living in the midst of sickness is to be rid of sickness.

No-Sword - "Mind turns along with myriad situations; its turning point is truly recondite." Myriad conditions means all the actions of adversaries; the mind turns with each and every action. For example, when an opponent raises his sword, your mind turns to the sword. If he whirls to the right, your mind turns to the right; if he whrils to the left, your mind turns to the left. This is called 'turning along with myriad situations.' "The turning point is truly recondite". This is the eye of martial arts. When the mind does not leave any traces in any particular place, but turns to what lies ahead, with the past dying out like the wake of a boat, not lingering at all, this should be understood as the turning point being truly recondite. If your mind stops and stays somewhere, you will be defeated in martial arts. If you linger where you turn, you will be crushed. Since the mind has no form or shape, it is basically invisible; but when it clings and lingers, the mind is visible as such in that condition. The human mind also manifests visibly when it is attracted and fixated by things.

Rurouni Kenshin Anime & Manga Review

Rurouni Kenshin

I've always been a huge fan of samurai's and samurai fiction. The novel "Musashi" (written by Yoshikawa) remains my favorite novel of all time so it was only natural for me to stumble upon Rurouni Kenshin. Rurouni Kenshin is basically samurai fiction in the manga and anime medium. It tells a story of the invincible swordsman Rurouni Kenshin and his journey throughout ancient Japan.

I tried to make this review as spoiler-free as possible. This review focuses on the Rurouni Kenshin TV series and its OVA prequel as well as the manga itself.

1. Introduction



Kenshin used to be a legendary cold-blooded assassin known to the world as "Hitokiri Battosai". To atone for the crimes he committed as a Hitokiri (assassin), Kenshin goes on a quest for personal redemption and becomes a Rurouni (wandering swordsman). As a Rurouni, he vows to never kill again and to make amends by helping out others. He becomes a bona-fide superhero who protects the weak and defeats the evil scum of the world. What makes the series (and manga) really interesting are the two aspects of Kenshin’s personality: his dark Hitokiri side and his gentle Rurouni side. Throughout the series, Kenshin will constantly struggle with his dark past while keeping his dark half from re-surfacing. It was really interesting to see what the other characters thought of Kenshin. On one hand he is respected for his kind and heroic acts, but on the other he is feared as the legendary "Hitokiri Battosai" who slaughtered countless men. So basically we have a gentle super-hero with a dark and bloody past trying to atone for his sins. This single premise makes the show very interesting. Joining Kenshin on his quest for redemption are the female dojo instructor Kamiya Kaoru, the famous fighter-for-hire Sagara Sanosuke and the little samurai boy Myojin Yahiko.

2. Swordplay and Bushido



The second interesting premise of the show is that Kenshin is a “superman” right from the get-go. With his Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu sword style, Kenshin is practically invincible. We get to see things from the perspective of a top-level swordsman for once. As a person who has watched lot of wuxia and samurai series, I find this perspective to be highly engaging.

Kenshin’s sword style is called Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu. This style emphasizes speed and the ability to read your opponent’s moves. When Kenshin engages his enemies, we will see him analyze his opponent’s strategy and attacks and devise an intelligent counter-attack plan. Each enemy has their own fighting style and it is up to Kenshin to find the weakness in their style. So in many ways Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu is a style designed to counter-attack all other styles.



On the offensive end, Kenshin can utilize Shinsoku (God-speed) to quickly overwhelm and overpower an opponent before he has any time to react. Kenshin can also execute the Kuzu Ryusen technique (Nine-headed Dragon Strike) which is a charging attack that is extremely difficult to dodge. The most powerful technique in Kenshin’s arsenal will be the Amakakeru Ryu No Hiramedi (Dragon Flight of Heaven). This technique is the final technique of the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu style and is designed to end the battle in one enormously powerful strike. With the vow to never kill again, Kenshin is equipped with a reversed-blade sword called a Sakabato. The Sakabato is designed to only injure an opponent and not cause a fatal blow. Armed with his Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu sword style and the Sakabato, Kenshin is truly a powerful saintly samurai.

Overall the series did a *tremendous* job with the fight scenes. Because Kenshin’s style relies on reading his opponent’s moves, we get to see what is going on in his mind in real-time as he fights his foes. This makes the fight scenes very intimate and exciting. It is this aspect that makes Rurouni Kenshin the best samurai anime out there. If you love wuxia series or samurai movies, you'll love Rurouni Kenshin.

3. Structure of the Series and the OVA



The Rurouni Kenshin TV series is adapted from the Rurouni Kenshin manga created by Nobuhiro Watsuki. This manga is one of the most beloved and popular manga series of all time (having sold over 47 million copies in Japan). The manga itself is divided into three story arcs:

1) The Tokyo Arc
2) The Kyoto Arc
3) The Jinchu Arc

The first season of Rurouni Kenshin TV series (episode 1-27) is based on the Tokyo Arc and the second season (episodes 28-62) is based on the Kyoto Arc. The final third season of the Rurouni Kenshin TV series (episodes 63-95) is not adapted from the manga but contains original stories.

The first season of the TV show basically introduces all the main characters and several recurring characters that will appear next season (the most important one being Shinomori Aoshi). There is no central story arc tying all the episodes together so you can view most of the first season as a bunch of side-adventures. The second season of the series is basically the “meat” of the series. Unlike the first season, the second season has an overarching story arc that ties all the episodes together. This season is definitely the best part of the entire series. While the first season has a bright atmosphere, the second season is more dark and intense. The fight scenes are now fierce and explosive and the characters become more complex. Kenshin struggles with his dark Hitokiri side and Kaoru becomes more emotional and somber. The final season of the series (season three) is basically filler material and isn’t part of the manga. I would recommend skipping this season entirely as it is not really canon material. The only essentials in the Rurouni Kenshin anime are the first two seasons and the Samurai X: Trust and Betrayal OVA.



The Samurai X: Trust and Betrayal OVA is an adaptation of the flashback scene depicted in the Jinchu Arc in the manga. It tells of Kenshin’s past as the deadly Hitokiri Battosai and serves as a great prequel to the series. Throughout the series we’ve always heard of the legendary Hitokiri Battosai and how his name struck fear into the hearts of men. In this prequel OVA we finally get to see this dark (and sad) past of Kenshin as the Battosai. This OVA prequel is regarded by many as one of the greatest anime titles of all time. I recommend watching the OVA after finishing the first two seasons of the series. It’s more enjoyable that way because you get to see the contrast between Kenshin’s Rurouni side and his Hitokiri side. You’ll also appreciate the appearance of Kenshin’s master (Hiko Seijuro) and his Shinsengumi nemesis (Saito Hajime) from the second season in the OVA.

4. Character Design



Another strong point of the Rurouni Kenshin anime (and manga) is the great character designs. The four main characters make the show fun and engaging with their magnetic personalities. Himura Kenshin is an invincible samurai who is gentle and kind but has a hidden dark side. Kamiya Kaoru is a strong-willed dojo instructor and possible romantic interest for Kenshin. She has a soft emotional side that is slowly revealed as the series progresses. Sagara Sanosuke is a cool and fiery fighter-for-hire that never backs down from any fight. He’s basically the #2 fighter in Team Kenshin. Myojin Yahiko is a young samurai boy who idolizes Kenshin and vows to become a great samurai. He has watched many of Kenshin’s fights and studied some of his special moves and techniques. Even when the current plot thread was boring or slow, the interactions of these four characters managed to carry the show.

A samurai series wouldn’t be complete without great villains or antagonists. First we have Shinomoro Aoshi who is the leader of ninja group called the Oniwabanshu introduced in the first season. With his handsome looks and deadly double Kodachi style, Aoshi is a fan favorite amongst female fans. Aoshi is able to utilize a nifty Sword-Dance move that allows him to circle around an opponent while creating mirror copies of himself. The second season introduces Kenshin’s long-time nemesis Saito Hajime, the ex-leader of the third squad of the Shinsengumi (a special samurai police force). Hajime utilizes the Gatotsu technique that allows him to overwhelm his foes with blistering offensive thrusts. Next we have Shishio Makoto who is the primary villain of the second season. During the revolution in Japan more than a decade ago, Shishio was the successor of the Hitokiri Battosai. After Kenshin retired from his assassin duties, it was Shishio who succeeded him as the next assassin. Shishio is the only villain who can match the fearsome reputation of Hitokiri Battosai. Working under Shishio, we have a powerful blind samurai named Uonuma Usui. Due to his blind sight, Usui has gained the Shingan (Eye of Heart) which gives him superhuman hearing. This power enables him to hear all his opponent’s attacks and detect their emotions all with great precision. Shishio’s right-hand-man is an extremely powerful samurai named Seta Sojiro. His special abilities include his blistering speed (he can even surpass Kenshin in this category) and his lack of emotions (this makes him hard to read). Sojiro’s prowess with the sword earns him the nickname “Heaven’s Sword”.



My favorite non-major character in the anime (and manga) is Kenshin’s master Hiko Seijuro. He was the one who taught Kenshin the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu sword style. Hiko has an extremely powerful aura and practically steals every scene he’s in.



However my favorite character overall in the entire series and manga has to be Hitokiri Battosai (Kenshin’s dark older self). Kenshin was absolutely *badass* when he was Hitokiri Battosai. With his dark and icy-cool personality (mixed with a touch of sadness), Hitokiri Battosai is one of the coolest samurai characters in all of anime. In the TV series we only get to see Battosai in short flashbacks. But in the OVA prequel we see him in his full glory.

5. Manga Comparisons



Let me begin by saying that the Rurouni Kenshin manga is my personal all-time favorite manga. If you enjoyed the Rurouni Kenshin anime I highly recommend reading the entire manga as it gives you the complete Rurouni Kenshin experience. You haven't truly grasped Kenshin's character until you read the manga.

The manga is divided into three story arcs:

1) The Tokyo Arc (volumes 1-6)
2) The Kyoto Arc (volumes 7-18)
3) The Jinchu Arc (volumes 19-28)

The manga has a total of 28 volumes. The first season of the anime series is based on the first 6 volumes of the manga called the Tokyo Arc. While the anime series adapts these volumes accurately, it also adds lot of extra material not found in the manga. This may explain why the first season is more than 20 episodes in length and the plot not feeling as tight as the manga. The second season (the Kyoto Arc) follows the manga very closely (volumes 7-18). It is probably 95-100% accurate with only few minor deviations. The third season does not follow the manga at all.



The Samurai X: Trust and Betrayal OVA is adapted from volumes 19-21 of the manga called the Remembrance Arc (which is part of the Jinchu Arc). The Remembrance Arc is actually my favorite arc in the manga as it tells of Kenshin's past as Hitokiri Battosai. While the drawing style has changed in the OVA prequel (with a more realistic-look), the plot and the characters themselves are pretty close to the manga. I would say that the OVA prequel series is around 75-80% accurate. Currently there is no anime adaptation of the entire Jinchu Arc.

The only weakness in the anime is that it doesn't portray the transition from Hitokiri Battosai to Rurouni Kenshin as smoothly as the manga. When you read the manga you have a better understanding of Kenshin's transformation and personal motivations in his journey for redemption.

6. Conclusions

If you’re a fan of samurai anime, I highly recommend watching the Rurouni Kenshin anime and then reading the manga. You should check out the first two seasons of Rurouni Kenshin and the Samurai X: Trust and Betrayal OVA as those are the only material that are adapted from the manga.

There is no doubt in my mind that Rurouni Kenshin is the #1 samurai anime (and manga) of all time. I give it 5/5 stars.

Musashi TV series Review (NHK 2003)

Musashi

Genre: Swordplay Drama, Samurai Drama
2003 NHK Taiga Drama - 49 episodes

1. INTRODUCTION

Musashi is often regarded as the greatest samurai of all time. He was undefeated in over 60 duels and has attained the legendary status of Sword Saint ("kensei"). Aside from being an undefeated swordsman, Musashi was also a respected painter and calligrapher. It seems like he applied his Way of the Sword to all walks of life. His written masterpiece is the Book of Five Rings ("Gorin No Sho") which is a tactical and philosophical swordplay manual that he compiled near his death. It is still studied today by martial art students and spiritual seekers for its philosophical truths and insights.

The 2003 Musashi drama is adapted from Eiji Yoshikawa's famous biographical novel "Musashi", often considered as the "Gone with the Wind of Japan". Yoshikawa's novel is my favorite novel of all time and I've read quite a few novels. So I was quite excited when I heard NHK produced a TV serial adaptation of this masterpiece. Being able to see my favorite novel on screen in a long epic TV series was a “dream come true”. Yoshikawa's Musashi has been adapted into several movies and TV series. The Samurai Trilogy starring Toshiro Mifune is the most well-known movie adaptation of the novel. The first movie of this trilogy actually won an Oscar award for Best Foreign Picture. NHK has also produced a TV series adaptation in 1984 that is considered a classic by many. This review is focused on the most recent TV serial adaptation which is the 2003 version.

2. CAST

Ichikawa Shinnosuke as Miyamoto Musashi Tsutsumi Shinichi as Honiden Matahachi Yonekura Ryoko as Otsu Matsuoka Masahiro as Sasaki Kojiro Miyazawa Rie as Oshino Nakai Kiichi as Yagyu Munenori Wakui Emi as Orin Uchiyama Rina as Akemi Kitano Takeshi as Shinmen Munisai Katase Rino as Oko Nakama Yukie as Yae / Koto Watase Tsunehiko as Takuan Takashima Masanobu as Yagyu Hyougonosuke Terajima Shinobu as Aya Kitamura Kazuo as Tokugawa Ieyasu Fujita Makoto as Yagyu Sekishusai Enoki Takaaki as Seijuro Emori Toru as Akaneya Genzo Abe Hiroshi as Gion Touji Miura Haruma as Jotaro

3. PLOT

I will just give a brief summary of the plot as I don't want to give away any spoilers. The story begins just after the great Battle of Sekigahara. Musashi and his childhood friend Matahachi participated in this battle but were on the losing side. Musashi joined the battle because he always dreamed of becoming a strong samurai. His father Shinmen Munisai had abused him when he was a child, constantly lauding him as a useless weakling. This has instilled in him a strong will to become strong and powerful to surpass his father and prove to him that he was no weakling. His great desire to be strong eventually leads Musashi to become a samurai and to follow the Way of the Sword. In the beginning he was fueled by rage, leading a path filled with bloodshed and carnage. However, he later learns that following the Way of the Sword is not simply a matter of raw brute strength. It is a spiritual path that involves the perfection of his sword techniques as well as the mind. He will travel across the country challenging many fighters and their unique styles of fighting and undergo the rigorous training to become one with his sword. Joining Musashi in his travels are his childhood friend Matahachi, his romantic lover Otsu and the wise Zen monk Takuan.

We will later discover that Musashi's greatest opponent in swordplay is Sasaki Kojiro, another young promising samurai. Kojiro is the master of the Ganryu sword style and like Musashi is undefeated in many duels. During the course of the series we see the parallel developments of both Musashi and Kojiro as they strive for perfection in their swordplay. Who will win in the clash between these two undefeated samurai?

Aside from the swordplay plot, the Musashi series also has several love stories. It wouldn't be called "Gone with the Wind of Japan" for nothing. Musashi's childhood friend and the love of his life is Otsu. Aside from his desire to become a powerful swordsman, it is his love for Otsu that really motivates him to live. The love story between the two is filled with many obstacles and it would seem that fate itself wants them apart. Can Musashi and Otsu overcome them and lead a happy romantic life? The second love story of interest is between Kojiro and Koto. Kojiro is a pretty cool character with an arrogant icy personality and a cold heart. Koto on the other hand is a sensitive girl who longs to be loved. Can Koto warm his icy cold heart? The relationship between the two is quite interesting. It should be mentioned that apart from being Musashi's equal in swordplay, Kojiro is also a good-looking samurai hunk and quite a few ladies in the series fall for him.

There is also political aspect to the series, namely the struggle of power between the Tokugawa and Toyotomi clans. If you ever watched the TV miniseries "Shogun" or read James Clavell's novel, you may have heard of Tokugawa Ieyasu. He was the first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan and ruled since the Battle of Sekigahara. One issue constantly brought up throughout the series is the samurai way of life v.s. the political life. These two sides of the coin are represented by Musashi and Yagyu Munenori (another famous samurai). Musashi chooses a spiritual reclusive life free of politics to follow the Way of the Sword and to gain true spiritual strength. Yagyu Munenori on the other hand leads a political and worldly life serving the shogun to gain power, rank and respect. Which way of life leads to true strength? We shall see how these two lifestyles play out during the series.

4. Fight Scenes



The samurai fight scenes in the series are top-notch. They are very realistic with excellent choreography and hardly any computer graphic effects. We are talking about real and *authentic* samurai fight scenes. I wouldn't be surprised if they hired a real Kendo master to help with these scenes.

If you’ve ever played the video game Samurai Shodown, you’ll know what to expect from the samurai fight scenes in Musashi. As a side note, the Samurai Shodown character Haohmaru is actually based on Musashi. The Samurai Shodown characters Ukyo Tachibana is based on Sasaki Kojiro and Yagyu Jubei on Yagyu Munenori’s son.

Almost all of the fight scenes in the novel are portrayed here including the infamous Snow of Thirty Three Halls and the Ganryu Island Duel. Both of which are done perfectly! As this is a samurai drama you will get to see plenty of fight scenes, probably even more so than an average wuxia (martial arts) series.

5. Musashi and the Way of the Sword

At the start of the series, Musashi is a rookie samurai who relies solely on brute strength. As he progresses through the Way of the Sword, Musashi’s skills and abilities begin to improve. Musashi’s first real encounter with a high-level adept on the path is with the “Sword God” Yagyu Sekishusai. This legendary “Sword God” teaches Musashi about the "true" Way of the Sword and the highest level of swordplay. It is said (by many samurai and kendo masters) that the highest level of swordplay is "No-Sword", being able to overcome the sword without the sword. This is the highest level of achievement amongst samurai's and Kendo-zen practitioners today. Yagyu Sekishusai demonstrates the essence of "No-Sword" when he thwarts Musashi’s sword strikes effortlessly without having to rely on any weapon. Later on in the series, we will see Musashi grasping the notion of "No-Sword" by being able to beat his katana-wielding opponents without unsheathing his own sword. Sometimes his mere presence and aura is enough to frighten away opponents. Musashi also develops a sixth sense, being able to sense danger without actually physically sensing it (in the novel this was shown in the chapter called The Four Sages and the Light but this series omits that scene and instead creates their own one). Musashi has achieved all these abilities through his rigorous training in the Way of the Sword. Throughout the course of the series Musashi strives to reach the level of Yagyu Sekishusai who he thinks is still light years ahead of him. However Musashi will indeed attain the status of Sword Saint in his later life.

So who are the top samurai in the series (and novel)? They are Yagyu Sekishusai, Yagyu Munenori, Yagyu Hyogonosuke, Gonnosuke, Sasaki Kojiro and of course Musashi. Keep an eye out on these individuals when you watch the series as they are based on real legendary historical figures (e.g. the Gonnosuke in the series is the real-life inventor of Jodo).

6. Character Portrayals



Ichikawa Shinnosuke as Miyamoto Musashi
Ichikawa Shinnosuke does an absolutely fantastic job as Musashi. His rugged looks are exactly how I pictured him when I read the novel. In the beginning, Musashi is full of rage and anger. He shouts when he talks and always looks pissed off. In his early sword duels you can tell he is tapping into this rage. As the story progresses however, Musashi slowly matures as he follows the Way of the Sword. His entire demeanor and attitude towards life changes and we gradually see a more spiritual Musashi. Ichikawa Shinnosuke does a great job in this transition from an angry rage demon to enlightened samurai. His role of Musashi definitely carries the series throughout all 49 episodes. Even during some of the slower scenes, Ichikawa Shinnosuke's mere presence gives the show a much-needed jolt.
Of all the Musashi roles I've seen, I'll have to say that this one is the best.
Rating - 5/5

Tsutsumi Shinichi as Honiden Matahachi
Matahachi is the childhood friend of Musashi and provides a comic relief to the otherwise serious plot. While Musashi is concerned with the sword, Matahachi is concerned with money matters. In the course of the series we get to see him grow as a businessman. Matahachi also provides a unique perspective into Musashi's personality. Being childhood friends, Matahachi is familiar with Musashi's soft boyish-side whereas the rest of the world only knows Musashi as the Fierce Undefeated Samurai. Overall Tsutsumi Shinichi does a decent job as Matahachi.
Rating - 4/5

Yonekura Ryoko as Otsu
The flute wielding Otsu is the romantic lover of Musashi. She is portrayed by Yonekura Ryoko. To be honest, the Otsu I imagined in the novel is nothing like the Otsu portrayed in the series. Yonekura Ryoko doesn't have the graceful innocence and elegance in the looks and acting department necessary to portray Otsu properly. Yonekura gave Otsu a more worldly-intelligent and convicted aspect that was a little off compared to the more innocent Otsu in the novel. I also found the chemistry between Yonekura and Ichikawa rather lacking. In the novel the love between Musashi and Otsu is the driving force behind many of the events but the chemistry between the two in the series did not live up to my expectations. If you haven't read the novel then Yonekura Ryoko gets a passing performance as Otsu.
Rating - 3/5

Matsuoka Masahiro as Sasaki Kojiro
Kojiro is the master of the Ganryu style of swordplay and is Musashi's greatest opponent. Matsuoka Masahiro gives a fantastic performance as Kojiro. He pulled off the arrogant and cold aspect of Kojiro very well and is practically oozing with style in almost every scene he is in. Matsuoka Masahiro's Kojiro is definitely the coolest samurai in the series plus he has the looks to physically portray this handsome samurai. A minor difference between the novel and series is that in the novel Kojiro is more rude and arrogant, often criticizing Musashi’s skills and accomplishments. The series portrays him as more respectful and honorable, showing great respect for Musashi and even helping him out a few times.
Rating - 5/5

Nakai Kiichi as Yagyu Munenori
Yagyu Munenori is the son of the enlightened sword master Yagyu Sekishusai. He is a highly skilled and famous samurai who is on par with both Musashi and Kojiro. Unlike Musashi who lives his life for the moment, Munenori is involved heavily with politics and power. The series makes Munenori a major character (and villain) whereas in the novel he is only mentioned few times. Nakai Kiichi does a great job portraying the ruthless and aristocratic Munenori but it should be noted that the Munenori in the novel is vastly different than the one portrayed in the series.
Historically Yagyu Munenori was a famous and accomplished samurai very much like Musashi. He wrote the famous Book of Family Traditions which is a tactical and philosophical swordplay manual similar to the Book of Five Rings of Musashi.
Rating - 4/5

Uchiyama Rina as Akemi
Uchiyama Rina does a fantastic job portraying Akemi. She is exactly like how I pictured her when I read the novel. She is a fun and engaging character who eventually becomes the romantic partner of Matahachi. Like Matahachi, she gives the series a fun undertone which is a great relief from the heavy plot.
Rating - 5/5

Watase Tsunehiko as Takuan
Takuan is an enlightened old Zen monk. He often gives spiritual insights to help Musashi overcome personal obstacles. Not only is Takuan spiritually wise, he also has a humble and down to earth individual which makes him very well-liked. There is no bigger influence in Musashi's spiritual life than Takuan. Watase Tsunehiko plays this role to perfection.
Rating - 5/5

7. Novel Comparisons

This series actually goes beyond the novel portraying the battle between the Tokugawa and Toyotomi clans and extending Yagyu Munenori's involvement. The storyline in the novel ends at episode 38 (there are a total of 49 episodes in the series).

For the first 38 episodes, the series is about 60% accurate to the novel. It does follow the general trend of the novel and many of the characters and events are indeed portrayed. But the events in the novel are not exactly like the scenes portrayed in the series. There are notable differences: some scenes are re-arranged in different order, some are omitted and some are also added. The characters are also given extended roles to give some of the actor and actresses more screen time. Sasaki Kojiro is more fleshed out and we get to see more of his personal romantic relationships. Yagyu Munenori, a relatively minor character in the novel, is transformed into a major one.

Having said all that, the series does capture the spirit of the novel and we get to see the gradual spiritual transformation of Musashi into an enlightened warrior. For those who haven't read the novel, I suggest picking up the english translation. It is definitely one of the greatest novels ever. If you are into swordplay or samurai literature, Yoshikawa's Musashi is a must-read.

As a nice treat for Musashi fans, the very final episode (#49) "Musashi Forever" shows some brief scenes depicting Musashi in his late life composing the Go Rin No Sho and perfecting his technique of two swords. At this point, he has clearly attained the level of a Sword Saint.



8. Atmosphere

Being a Taiga drama (a Japanese Ancient serial), we get to see ancient Japan in all its glory. The authentic samurai sword duels, the ancient Japanese costumes, the Japanese architecture of the Tokugawa period, the Kabuki dancers and the Japanese flute all adds to an authentic ancient Japanese experience. The series does a great job bringing Yoshikawa's novel to life visually on screen.

9. Conclusion

As an adaptation of Yoshikawa's Musashi, this series was not bad. It would have been nice if they followed the novel 100% but this is the closest adaptation to the novel we're going to get. As a swordplay drama, it is definitely one of the best out there. Musashi is based on a real historical figure so there is a pervading sense of realism not found in other swordplay dramas (particular of the wuxia variety). For those of you curious about the life of the greatest swordsman ever (historically speaking), check out Musashi. At 49 episodes, it is the most epic swordplay drama yet. I give this 5/5 stars as a swordplay drama and 4/5 stars as an adaptation of the novel.