Canon Differentiations
Sep. 3rd, 2022 09:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
konpeito_ajiA backstory timeline and explicitly laying out the Ikemen Sengoku differences from history (and therefore, all other versions...)
Key:
IkeSen = Ikemen Sengoku || Includes the PSVita game, the mobile (phone) gacha game, the manga, the drama cds, AND the live action stage play drama. Oh! And the really short anime Ikemen Sengoku: Bromances Across Time Yeah.
SLBP = Samurai Love Ballad Party
Musou Series = Samurai Warriors 1-5 / SW1, SW3, SW5 etc.
TWS = Total War Sengoku -- I don't think I "use" this, but I have played the first (still getting through my entire Total War collection before I get the second), but I can't promise there's no bleeding through so I mention it here.
NoAmb = Nobunaga's Ambition (see TWS)
PoCo = Pokemon Conquest. Actually explicitly imports/translates some personalities from NoAmb like Hideyoshi's.
I have also seen Oda "Cinnamon" Nobunaga, and if he's ever turned into a dog, that would be the only way that will see some use.
Historical artifacts include but not limited to: Luis Frois' History of Japan
So many wikis. I mean so many. Just in case you're curious, have a really short list, it's generally infinite but overlaps worse than video games ofc:
https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Oda_Nobunaga
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Oda-Nobunaga
https://japanese-history.fandom.com/wiki/Oda_Nobunaga
I recommend using control + f for most of this list if you have anything specific in mind!
Parents: Nobuhide Oda & Gozen Dota
- Though there's understandable ambiguity about Nobuhide's influence on his son, he did dote considerably on Nobunaga (Kipposhi) and took him to warzones even when he was only six years old against Gozen's wishes, and taught him all things about military tactics, strategy, and being an army general to use the very small resource lacking region of Owari to its fullest. Nobunaga is a little bit of a Daddy's boy. -- Source: Documented history
- Fun fact: Gozen snuck into Nobuhide's bed when he already had a son with another woman and they had 3 children before officially marrying.
- LESS fun fact: Nobuhide also adored his oldest son, but when he was killed in battle, Gozen was delighted (Nobunaga rumored less so) because that meant Nobunaga was the oldest therefore next in line as heir, but also because Nobuhide wouldn't have the reminder of his life before Gozen around. Dark. Gives you an insight to her conqueror son: Nobunaga though. -- Source: AMBIGUOUS history, unverified (how could it be?)
- Gozen's personality after Nobuhide's death - SLBP
- IRL, Gozen is why Nobunaga is so hardcore "progressive" for women's rights (for 1582 one of the most progressive on the entire PLANET). AND generally abrasive, bold, outspoken, and has no patience for anything really. Nobuhide was pretty easy-going, and Nobunaga will straight up call him "too soft-hearted." and suggest this is what got killed him -- Nobuhide was VERY trusting. Possibly too much. (He even trust Saito Dosan who kind of tortured Nobunaga IRL)
- IkeSen Nobunaga isn't explicit about his relationship with Gozen, but he's even more open about just doing what one wants (a very Gozen thing!!) and accepting the responsibilities and consequences that come with it.
- Gozen did not take sides in the Oda clan wars immediately after Nobuhide's death, and didn't really give a fuck that Nobunaga threw a tantrum or whatever at the funeral. She did beg Nobunaga to spare Nobuyuki after the first rebellion attempt, which is why Nobunaga exiled her to a religious retreat impossible(ish) to find, and to keep her exiled away from being hurt and used as a pawn in the wars. IRL
- Gozen DID have a lot of pressure from society and Oda extended family clan about the wild insanity that was Nobunaga's youth, and many MANY people, especially his tutors, frequently complained that she should reign him. This would have been impossible for anyone, however. At best, she did impress upon him his duties as an eldest(ish) brother who is able to influence his siblings (and maybe therefore THE WORLD) so he can't just run away to join the pirates or Portuguese to be an explorer.
Childhood as "Kipposhi" and "Fool (lord) of Owari"
- Learned martial arts, ALL weapons, but also broader empire strategy about the importance of agriculture, trade, roads, geography, etc.
- Played with guns at a time when everyone saw them as a toy or at best, merely so kids (who wouldn't be as strong and accurate at archery) could go hunting. This is part of what got him called an idiot, because everyone thought he was crazy (reckless, stupid) for embracing them so eagerly.
- When Ieyasu was only 6, he was kidnapped by Nobuhide, and taken hostage. DESPITE THAT, the 6-year old's father basically said to kill him if it was necessary. That being a fucked up move even by the kidnapper's standards, Nobuhide sent him to live among his other sons (Nobunaga has 14 siblings. 14. Only two don't have Gozen as their mother, and one of them she adopted herself, it was possibly a nephew, or son of a friend, I forget which and I haven't found the source to link, I'll add it when I do.) In the Musou series, a little bit IRL, and IkeSen, Nobunaga kind of dotes on Ieyasu, he can do NO WRONG, and Ieyasu secretly (in a super tsun tsun way!) admires/respects Nobunaga right back.
- HAAAATED his tutors, talked back CONSTANTLY, all the attitude FOREVER, this is GREATLY foundational in Nobunaga's hatred of religion; but more specifically: the Japanese Buddhist caste, the way they do the teachings, and why he decided to change it.
- BFF was Hideyoshi, a "normal" peasant who hardcore threw his loyalty behind Nobunaga and one time fighting in the snow (date/fight unknown other than "early) warmed Nobunaga's sandals by holding them under his armor so - Frequently referenced in IkeSen
- As a child for all his hatred of religion, Nobunaga was by most reports open to more shinto beliefs, and met with the God of the Mountain. He didn't decide to wage war on god, but certainly on the lesser humans who destroyed the country perverting the idea of finding God -- PoCo & SLBP // VERY unverified/undocumented (rumor or MADE UP) history. "Lore." Let's call it lore.
- Suffered assassination attempts as young as 8 (history) mostly remembers the first one in IkeSen at 13. This made him just a touch paranoid. Actually, VERY paranoid. He's had (in IkeSen & SLBP) PTSD ever since, and with that comes nightmares, insomnia, and lack of real sleep.
- Got along great with Katsuie of his father's generals, who also had deep abiding love for Oichi (history, + SLBP) in SW5 his siblings all agree that if Katsuie couldn't talk sense into Nobunaga, no one could. In SLBP, Katsuie is the only one Nobunaga will let touch him for traditions and just generally lets him get away with things no one else can.
- Raised hunting hawks with Nobuhide (historical!) - continues to use them "now" in IkeSen, with Haguro specifically.
Nobuhide's death:
- Nobunaga was severely affected, depressed, and angry as anything. He didn't have time to grieve as he was now clan leader (debateably) and almost no one at all wanted him to be (including to some degree, HIMSELF) - IkeSen, SLBP, (et al.) documented history
- Nobunaga declared war on his own family members, in his own words (IkeSen, SLBP), and threw the incense at his fathers ashes as his declaration of war. -- History, IkeSen, etc. This was infamous at the time, with rumors all over the country about it, and doesn't surprise him that history still repeats it.
- His tutor Hirate Masahide, committed seppuku out of shame for being unable to reign in the unruly teenager -- History (referenced in Musou series, Sengoku Basara, and a few others)
- IkeSen Nobunaga explicitly says Nobuyuki (his brother) couldn't have been stopped from the assassination attempts when Nobunaga was 13, because his father was dead, and he was the only one who could have. SW5 plays up Nobuyuki as being the closest to Nobunaga, not in power but in trust for maximum BETRAYAL.
IkeSen vs. IRL history:
- IRL Nobuhide sent Nobunaga to serve under Saito Dosan in order to marry Kichou / Nohime and buy Owari some time & allyship, esp. against Imagawa Yoshimoto.
- In IkeSen, Nobuhide died when Nobunaga was only 13, kicking off the war between Nobunaga and Nobuyuki. Because Nobuhide was no longer around to stop the infighting, it isn't clarified if/when Nobunaga's hand was forced to kill Nobuyuki.
- IRL Nobunaga spared his Uncle and Nobuyuki after their first revolt, at his mother Gozen's behest, but after the second, was forced to have Nobuyuki commit seppuku. - SLBP & IkeSen do varying degrees of referencing this. It's extremely subtle in IkeSen with "After they've betrayed you once, there's no coming back from that. They'll do everything to betray you again."
- Without Nobuhide practically selling Nobunaga into service to Saito Dosan [IRL] - IkeSen Nobunaga still tries to create an alliance bringing Kichou (who is now {openly? - Rumored transwoman IRL} a man) to heel, and indeed, Saito tries to find a way to exert his general sadism and make Nobunagahis bitch subservient, but without family obligations out of Nobunaga's power, and instead a VERY tentative friendship/alliance with Kichou (and hinted at sexual relationship lol lmao) IkeSen Nobunaga was able to handle the situation far better.
- In IkeSen: Kichou did act as a vassal to Nobunaga until their relationship fell apart - hinted that Nobunaga got interested in a woman (much like IRL Nobunaga took Kitsuno as his favorite concubine and mother of his children) || Kichou also ends up deciding that the country is better off staying factional and separate rather than united.
- In IkeSen because Motonari Mori is still alive AND considerably younger this involves Kichou & Ranmaru
- IRL Kichou was a close cousin of Mitsuhide, considered one of the possible reasons for his betrayal of Nobunaga; because Nobunaga uses people like tools and without distinct consideration for family ties.
- In IkeSen, Mitsuhide hates Kichou far more than Nobunaga does, and while Nobunaga would give Kichou second chances he gives to no one else (Kichou believes that Nobunaga's life is required to keep the wars going to make the world better, and he wants everyone to live to the max the way Nobunaga does, but he no longer believes in unification, because he believes it's settling for less than the best!) Mitsuhide's main goal is ending the wars no matter what, so he'll kill Kichou even more ruthlessly than Nobunaga would.
- IkeSen Kichou had a twin sister who died young.
- IkeSen Kichou wanted unification as much as all of them, but fell into a wormhole to the future when Nobunaga sent him to deal with the Mt. Hiei cult. Part of what forced Nobunaga's hand to get so extreme, because he also didn't know what happened to him. When Kichou returned, he was extremely changed by the experience.
Specifically IkeSen things
-Timeline ambiguity: Nobunaga does fight Imagawa Yoshimoto, but due to complications involving the Saito Dosan "alliance," Yoshimoto gets rescued by Takeda Shingen.
- Likewise, one good turn deserves another, and Takeda Shingen ALSO survives his encounter with Nobunaga
- Rather than Kenshin and Takeda Shingen killing each other, they team up to kill Nobunaga.
- HOW MUCH Kenshin IRL was a bloodthirsty stabby stabby "God of War" brainwashed by Buddhist Monks to believing fully the God of War thing, is debatable IRL, but it's very very amped in IkeSen A LOT -- IkeSen Kenshin also collects rabbits accidentally, they follow him. (Uesagi sounds similar to Usagi = rabbit)
- Masamune Date was too young IRL to ever be under Nobunaga, but aged up becomes Nobunaga's nearest equal and frequent (playful!) romance rival. He gets a pet tiger named Shougetsu, which while IC for historical Masamune's personality, has certainly never been documented.
- Ieyasu, Hideyoshi, Mitsuhide, and Mitsunari are all extremely close to Nobunaga, work in Azuchi castle with him (Masamune still lives in Echigo very far north! Except during special occasions) and Nobunaga in turn is open with them about his intentions for Hideyoshi and Ieyasu to rule together from the two sides of Japanese culture: Hideyoshi a soldier peasant, and Ieyasu a royal member even adopted into the emperor's lineage. IRL they fought, there was a war of succession, and Mitsuhide was killed by Hideyoshi after killing Nobunaga. Being told this history factoid, doesn't and will not ever faze Nobunaga, because he knows the only way for that to happen, is for Nobunaga himself to slip up.
- Sasuke Sarutobi is a ninja. He was a physics grad studying wormholes, but his parents were huge Sengoku nerds and he named himself after the fictional Sasuke ninja and then became that ninja after landing in the Sengoku era in 1578 (4 years before Mai). He saved Kenshin on the battlefield without knowing who he was at first, just begged him to train him, and somehow(?!?!) they became "friends" or rather Kenshin employs Sasuke to ninja spy on Nobunaga, and Sasuke for some reason keeps fighting to keep Kenshin alive but also not kill literally everything and everyone. The amount of this is known by Nobunaga is very minimal, but he does hire him in a few routes, and in Bromances Across Time (the anime) he lets Sasuke play double agent and suggest sports like tennis (instead of dueling to the death) and a few other things. In Nobuanga's own route sequel, he confronts Sasuke and tries to learn EVERYTHING he can from him, both about the future and current timeline, so fuse things as best as possible.
- Mai Mizusaki saves Nobunaga from Honno-Ji's fire and assassination attempt by Kennyo (who survived Mt. Hiei and wants revenge for it.) In the manga, after mentioning she'd have him arrested for sexual harassment, she ends up showing him both her cell phone, and a mechanical pencil (and her own creation: Bearsace) and attempts to explain wormholes (badly) to him. He does absorb it very quickly though, taking to it with the IRL Nobunaga's love of new developments and logical information that explained how the world worked and how to make it better.
Kitsuno:
- IRL Kitsuno was the love of his life. Mother of his children, and losing her nearly broke him IRL
- IRL she had a lot of trouble with childbirth, nearly dying, and frequently very sick on account of it.
- THOUGH not mentioned by name in IkeSen, whatever woman after Kichou isn't named, and it's hinted heavily her death was premature and nearly broke Nobunaga, certainly adding to his hardening before Mt. Hiei.
- IkeSen Nobunaga has a very Western style haircut and shaved face, which throws off Mai expecting him to look like the reputation and drama films. TBF most of the IkeSen characters do go with the Western & clean-cut style. HOWEVER: if asked, it's specifically because Nobunaga cut his hair after Kitsuno, and didn't want to look like Nobuhide for Ieyasu. The other reason of course, it was a sign of marriage in Korea, at the time, and he wanted to look European (see Luis Frois below.)
- MY Nobuanga, will certainly recognize her name, and acknowledge any/all AUs of Kitsuno, and does have his hinted at history to rely on as his previous partner, but as he was never married in IkeSen, she also died very young, so I've put the timeline as when he was 29 instead of when she was. They had no children.
The Razing Holocaust of Mt. Hiei
- Not mincing words, it's brutal, intense, and the most extreme genocide Nobunaga did in his war against the Ikko-Ikki and Buddhist Monks. It also didn't even "work." Leading an army of "demons" and starting the fire at the base so it only built up the further higher it went, it's estimated 10,000 monks and nuns were burned, including some children -- though the archaeological excavations have said it wasn't as bad as even both sides said it was.
- Mitsuhide led the entire campaign alongside Nobunaga, (IRL) but all parties on Team Azuchi in IkeSen were involved. IRL Mitsuhide was paid a huge bounty for this, and SLBP took that as a massive insult/blood money and his reason for betraying Nobunaga.
- In IkeSen, Kennyo survived (IRL he wasn't even in danger there, and outlived Nobunaga) because Ranmaru Mori rescued him.
- This began a huge part of Nobunaga's Demon King reputation and is when he started signing his letters even sarcastically to Kenshin & Shingen, but also embracing it hardcore in IkeSen
- Fires of hell, army of demons, there's death metal songs about it, and while Nobunaga has NO regrets, and would do it all over again, he doesn't gloat about it, because he does understand it was pretty fucked up, even for him.
- IkeSen Nobunaga does have some PTSD about it, and partially feels he deserves the same burning, so if he hadn't been rescued...
Oichi:
- As said, openly Nobunaga's absolute favorite IRL historically, after Nobuhide died, Nobunaga spent the most time with Oichi he could, almost acting as her father in addition to oldest brother, and trained her frequently in tactics in strategy. - played up extra big in PoCo as Oichi is with you first and the whole game
- IRL Nobunaga said Oichi would have made a fantastic general, and he didn't want to marry her off.
- In SLBP there is a LOT of this involved as MC for that is bffs with Oichi and even while romancing Nobuanga, waffles constantly on the politics of it. Marrying her off wasn't just politics, it was her life at stake.
- IRL she had 3 children (nieces/nephews to Nobunaga), but when her husband planned an ambush on Nobunaga, she was able to send him a very coded message with a "good luck charm" (knowing full well that Nobunaga doesn't actually believe in such things -- a major detail in IkeSen that is supremely subtle. His joking about calling MC a lucky charm in full knowledge there's no such thing, but rather she rescued him and he trusts she might do so again!) with two knotted ends holding red beans. Somehow he understood right away what this meant and was able to avoid and spring the trap, turning it against them. -- Used in SLBP too.
- IRL she was in love with Katsuie her whole life, and after her husband was killed by Nobunaga, married Katsuie instead. In SLBP this is also referenced with her heavily in love with Katsuie but acknowledging her family responsibilities as a princess -- it is brought up in many many other games/media as well.
The other 13+ siblings:
It took me 2 years to remember all of the (16) Whitebeard commanders, even while playing Marco, so forgive me, I have even less reason/means to remember all of Nobunaga's siblings and their roles. I'll edit this as it becomes relevant.
- Oda Nobuhiro was a half brother older than Nobunaga, IRL died in 1574, 20+ years after Nobuhide's death. In IkeSen, definitely died before Nobuhide though the circumstances aren't specified. A Matsudaira hostage was traded for Nobuhiro's life by Nobunaga, and he did seem to have affection for Nobuhiro despite Gozen's animosity. (IRL she gloated in letters, savage...)
- Nobuyuki tried to assassinate Nobunaga frequently with ninja, politics, and led TWO rebellions against Oda, once with his Uncle, whom Nobunaga beheaded. Nobunaga spared him the first time at their mother's behest, but couldn't do it the second time, leading Nobunaga to exile his mother to a retreat to stay out of the future wars and keep her from being held and used as a hostage/pawn in the suffering. In IkeSen the first assassination by Nobuyuki was when Nobunaga was 13, after Nobuhide's death. In SLBP both attempts + Gozen's exile is blatantly referenced, as well as Nobunaga actually crying and having PTSD nightmares about it.
- Nobukane - shaved his head and became a Buddhist monk, though this was well after Nobunaga's death. He was always religious, and (my) Nobunaga will say as much.
- Nagamasu - 11th son of Nobuhide (so BABBY!!!!) and *very* doted on by Nobunaga, IRL history. As such he with Oichi are the most loyal of the siblings to Nobunaga. Whether Nobunaga encouraged him to become a master of the tea ceremony, or Nagamasu encouraged Nobunaga to become even MORE involved in tea and the process, is debatable, but they were certainly heavily intertwined and Nagamasu understanding Nobunaga's feelings about Ieyasu, AND having also been raised as BROTHERS with Ieyasu, didn't 100% take his side, (until Hideyoshi grew ill), but he acted as peacebroker between them and then did become one of Ieyasu's most loyal retainers/officers.
- Nobuharu - IRL Died in 1970 at Usayama Castle, originally held Nobu Castle.
- Nobutoki - 1/2 brother of Nobunaga, died young (1557), was hated by Gozen. She's like that. He was adopted by Nobunaga's Uncle, and Nobunaga never knew him really. Mentioned for ^ being on Nobuyuki's side.
- Oinu - The 8th eldest sibling, only other sister (than Oichi) and *actually* married Hideyoshi IRL! - She's completely missing from IkeSen and SLBP because then you might not wanna marry Hideyoshi yanno. She probably doesn't even exist in IkeSen, and she's not utilized often, so if it ever comes up I'll figure out how to roll with it. IF. lol. Being brothers-in-law doesn't mean Nobunaga's close, because well his own brothers had mixed assassination attempts (see Nobuyuki etc.) BUT it does make him happy, and Hideyoshi is closer to him than anyone ofc. Nobunaga should be so lucky or something.
- Christian converts - I had a list of which of Oda's brothers converted, and fuck if I can find it. I have a lot of Oda Nobunaga resources though, so hunting through my 200 list or whatever... It'll take time. It's just as well I keep it vague though. One of them did blah blah blah.
Luis Frois & Portuguese merchants, missionaries, & Explorers:
- IRL Nobunaga even as a child was obsessed with foreign traders & missionaries. Had it not been for family obligations, the war, etc. it's widely agreed, he would have run off to be a pirate at the first chance. In IkeSen this is highlighted by Oda's secret dream to actually LEAVE Japan once it's been unified to travel, and see the world and all its wonders.
- He's insatiably thirsty for knowledge beyond Japan, and willing to bear the consequences hence being called an idiot. - IRL, standard IkeSen
- He recognizes production from other countries, and indeed, sought to replicate this in Japan as much as possible, though almost NO ONE had the visionary for it Nobunaga did. This is cited in IkeSen as because of Luis Frois.
- SLBP Luis Frois & a few others are straight up info characters, and it's hilarious, I recommend it for dating sim fans (who don't mind otome) on ANY route, if just for them tbh. (there are also a good amount of fictional SLBP characters and you can date women if that's what's holding you back.)
- IRL Nobunaga's biography and "History of Japan" is written by Luis Frois, over the course of their MANY meetings. IRL Luis Frois also observed the fire at HonnoJi from across the Buddhist Temple in the Christian Cathedral, Nobunaga personally saw founded. In IkeSen, it's not clarified what Luis Frois did during the conflagration, or if he met with Nobunaga when Mai ran away, but it's safe to assume such.
Konpeito:
- IRL it's a Japanese translation for the Portuguese word for confetti.
- IRL History: Nobunaga loved sweets. This is well documented. In IkeSen, he sneaks sweets by going downstairs, wearing his haori over his head like it'll help, and has to practice ninja arts to avoid getting caught.
- IRL History: To sign deals, the Portuguese missionaries gave Nobunaga offerings of konpeito kept in flasks normally used for alcohol, but clear. -- Not specified in IkeSen, VERY CLEARLY specified in SLBP and Nobunaga tries to romance MC with them.
- In SLBP Nobunaga says konpeito can perform miracles, grant wishes, and it's how he wants to solve Japan's problems.
- In IkeSen, candy & sweets are exorbitantly rare, and indeed, the MAJORITY of the country's sweets come through by way of Motonari Mori actually conducting trade specifically to get sugar. At hearing about this, Nobunaga forbade his vassals from harming Motonari, because candy is very important.
- In SLBP, he says his dream is for Japan to be so prosperous anyone and everyone could have konpeito just because they want it. Either so that Japan has so much trade from foreigners, it's second nature how easy is to get, AND in IkeSen: would involve specifically dismantling huge chunks of the hierarchy wherein normal people aren't allowed luxuries, only the nobles and the most ruthless. He also says it has the power to heal anything. From his weary soul, to the broken country of Japan itself. When he's most depressed, he seeks konpeito.
- Nobunaga does have a special affection for Konpeito the most, as he's emotionally tied a huge part of his dream and existence into it, but since his personality is all about embracing new shiny things, (part of the reason he loves konpeito so much is that it's ridiculously colorful after all) he will certainly seek out anything/everything.
- The "sweet-tooth gene" is IRL along the same lineage as genius (glucose brainpower.) Just saying.
Akechi Mitsuhide:
- The MOST COMPLICATED of relationships ayyyyy.
- IkeSen Mitsuhide is a snarky kitsune of a person, who has a pet fox Chiamaki, and a 100% marksman ratio. He is openly Nobunaga's left-hand man. Extremely charismatic, he is also quite sneaky, and in charge of Nobunaga's Intelligence Gathering, thwarting spies, BEING a spy, double-crossing (triple crossing, quadruple-crossing), made the blueprints for Azuchi castle (where the Nobunaga allies live, with Nobunaga in the tenshu) and IRL designed Nobunaga's gun. (Though in IkeSen the matchlock Nobunaga aims at Mai he says he got from foreigners.)
- In SLBP Mitushide is 180 opposite personality. He's soft-spoken, quiet, KIND, KIND, KIND, poetic, gentle, and somehow even more Nobunaga's right-hand than Hideyoshi (on account of Hideyoshi being SOLDIER military and peasant, and SLBP emphasizes the royal court politics more) - IkeSen Mitsuhide is his "left-hand" man as the direct equal counterpart to Hideyoshi and his rivalry with Hideyoshi is played up a lot more as yaoi/bromance between equals than IRL where Mitsuhide was extremely dismissive (at least publicly???) of Hideyoshi for being peasant-born and debatably "jealous" of Nobunaga's favored status. In IkeSen, Mitsuhide is DEFINITELY relieved not to bear the brunt of all of Nobunaga's passion (ayyyyyyyyyyyyyy) because lbr, Nobunaga is a LOT to deal with, even if you have a loud brazen personality to match Nobunaga's (which Mitsuhide does NOT.)
- IRL Mitsuhide's previous employer to Nobunaga tortured him even more than Saito Dosan tortured Nobunaga (the extent of that in IkeSen is unknown, but hinted at) and threatened to punish him with starvation (actually did in IkeSen) and sent a letter to Nobunaga saying to the effect that even Nobunaga's willpower wouldn't be able to handle Mitsuhide.
- Nobunaga is unfailingly loyal to Mitsuhide, but second to the ambition and dream of overthrowing the castes oppressing Japan [IkeSen] and favors Ieyasu more (because babby.)
- IRL Threw some of Mitsuhide's antique pottery in the koi point for punishment when Ieyasu complained about the fish served to him that Mitsuhide was in charge of. // In IkeSen this might be due to Mitsuhide's inability to taste anything (see starvation.) Also Ieyasu is so tsundere, he complains about everything. // In SLBP Mitsuhide tries to get Nobunaga into wabi-sabi and Nobunaga does keep throwing it away. // IRL Nobunaga took it as a slight that Mitsuhide was being passive aggressive to Ieyasu.
- SLBP Mitsuhide is very Buddhist. IRL he was the one who led the Siege on Mt. Hiei and this led to the fight between the two of them and eventually Honno-ji in SLBP // In IkeSen, Mitsuhide is even more skeptical & atheist than Nobunaga himself, and that's really saying something!
- IkeSen Mitsuhide is good at making tea.
- Nobunaga does straight up say that if Mitsuhide ever reaches the point of actually betraying him, it's only because Nobunaga betrayed their mutual dream first.
- IkeSen Mitsuhide has a snake theme, even though everyone calls him a kitsune.
- IRL Mitsuhide reportedly had a thing for Ranmaru, asked Nobunaga to let him take the boy under his tutelage multiple times and was always refused. IkeSen doesn't have this afaict, in IkeSen, Mitsuhide knows Ranmaru has ties to Kennyo (Nobunaga does too!? He's just crazy!!!) and they have an intense rivalry over spy games.
- IRL Mitsuhide had a wife, obvs not so in IkeSen / was cousins/close with Kichou, is more just friendly banter with IkeSen Kichou and the occasional "You sure you don't want to work for him?" and Kichou more trying to convince Mitsuhide to quit working for Nobunaga.
- IRL There was a plan for Nobunaga to fake his death using Mitsuhide so he could go to sea, but ofc, if Nobunaga had actually not died, he wouldn't have let Hideyoshi kill Mitsuhide for it, and he wouldn't have let Hideyoshi and Ieyasu go to war. IkeSen Nobunaga still has that escape route planned, and IRL he might have had a kind of "blood pact" that if he ever did betray Mitsuhide to kill him for the sake of the dream etc.
The Emperor & royal lineage:
- Ogimachi was technically the Emperor of Japan, but Nobunaga will be the first to tell you how meaningless that is. The missionaries and traders from foreign lands were frequently exasperated with their inability to even conduct trade, or get permission to do anything, because even if Ogimachi himself gave them permission, it meant -nothing- to anyone. The emperor was in no position to truly defy previous edicts about religion which "sold" the rights to Japanese Buddhism, and indeed, the Ikkou-Ikki and other Buddhist monks had enough power on the ground to override the Emperor himself. Even more complicated, and more useless than the Catholic Pope.
- He came under Nobunaga's protection at the same time IRL as Mitsuhide. Nobuhide had previously been one of his father's strongest generals, which is how Nobuhide came to own the tiny fractured lands of Owari (think like... a single crossroads town. REALLY small but strategically operable!)
- Due to Nobunaga's war on religion, there are many many MANY fucking theories about Mitsuhide deciding to assassinate Nobunaga IRL because Nobunaga decided to do away with the Emperor and institute Ieyasu. It's possible. Honestly no one knows.
- MORE THAN ONCE, the Emperor tried to politically maneuver Nobunaga into becoming the Emperor himself, a King under the Emperor, or any other more official form of ruler for Japan than Nobunaga had... as himself. As Demon King of 6th Heaven. IRL Nobunaga rebuffed this easily, in IkeSen it's obviously part of his foundational lack of desire to actually actively *rule* Japan, and his desire to seek far distant shores and get the fuck AWAY from Japan instead.
- Nobunaga did pressure/encourage Ieyasu to take on the name Tokugawa Ieyasu and the Emperor's symbol and in IkeSen is very very open and obvious about his intentions for Ieyasu to take over with Hideyoshi's military aid to back up the more peaceful Ieyasu.
- Working within the confines of royal heritage, divine rune, bloodlines, "destiny," and the religiosity tied up in the Emperor being the descendants of Amaterasu (Sun-God-wolf who birthed/protected Japan) is at odds with Nobunaga's dream for Japan to be freed of the oppressive castes in IkeSen. Nevertheless, simply killing the emperor wouldn't change this, and he knows it. He has to completely not just undermine people's reasons to give them faith, but give them faith in themselves. So he does this with production. Look at what YOU'VE made, you don't need a king for that.
- This ties in heavily with his Demon King of 6th Heaven theme (see below)
DEMON KING OF 6TH HEAVEN: (Now in capslock and with metal riffs in the background ahhhhhh)
- Nobunaga hates Japanese Buddhism, he's read almost "all" of it, he knows pieces that are lost to us in history, he is a walking contradiction. For all of that, he still winds up embracing parts of it. SINGING and doing the dances (there is not enough power in the universe to make him do the mantras, or hand symbols though. Not even sarcastically.) IRL he FAMOUSLY did one of the best performances of the Amatsumori, and in IkeSen is quoted as one of the best dancers -ever- and Sasuke drags Mai to watch him perform a sword + fan dance to perfect balance before a fight - though this IS a buddhist ZEN tradition.
- He knows Taoism and Confuscianism. He hates them too. - Specifically cited in SLBP in pieces and bits here and there. Wabi-Sabi he just hates. YEET FLAWS YEET
- The Sixth Heaven in Buddhism is where someone reincarnates after ascending through the other levels. (Ie: being born nobility is a sign of this -- Nobunaga disagrees lol)
- The Demon King of Sixth Heaven is the ULTIMATE of all Demon Kings: "the most conceited, the most arrogant, the most stubborn." Think pride for Lucifer, and indeed, it's most comparable to Christianity's Satan. (See also: NUMBER 6 AHHHHH)
- 1/2 of his Demon King of 6th Heaven embrace is to also offer DIRECT AND OBVIOUS contrast to both Kenshin's "God of War" Buddhism brainwashing. IkeSen is the most obvious with this, in SLBP Kenshin isn't so crazy. IRL is debatable. The other 1/2 is direct contrast to the Emperor and the idea of royalty and lineage and birthright. If being born noble matters, then why is Nobunaga able to subvert it? Why does he hate it? This is to force people to think, or at least give them the opening. Or even just -doubts- And plus, it makes him the target, so then the REAL leaders (Ieyasu, Hideyoshi, the craftsmen) can get WORK DONE DAMN IT.
Tokugawa Ieyasu:
- IkeSen Ieyasu is the youngest of the Azuchi castle group (IRL he's only about 10 years younger than Nobunaga, and indeed, had to have met Nobunaga before he was 13 / when Nobuhide died.)
- IkeSen Ieyasu is still Nobunaga's "secret" favorite (ish) and heavily doted on, a bit like IRL, and many many other series.
- IkeSen Ieyasu is the most tsundere character I've ever seen. And I love tsunderes, so we're talking like 100+. He is even tsundere to his pet deer he named Wasabi and calls his "backup food source." IRL deer + Ieyasu is a thing, but I'm not finding links, so gimme one, and I'll add it. I just remember that tidbit lmao. // I always say Ieyasu got the tsundere from Nobunaga and just ran with it. Nobunaga is SMUG ARROGANT HAUGHTY first, but tsundere second. || SLBP and historical Ieyasu is also pretty fucking tsundere. SW5 Ieyasu isn't afaik.
- IkeSen Ieyasu took an injury very young (possibly when he was taken hostage, though it's not specified AFAIK) and this causes him to be in charge of healing soldiers and handling the war camps, staying mostly away from direct combat. This doesn't mean he doesn't know how to fight, he frequently tries to get Mai to be able to fight if the need should arise. Also as he's tsundere, he's very acerbic biting tongue.
- IkeSen anime/BROMANCE Ieyasu paints a picture of Nobunaga, which Oda keeps in his tenshu and is very proud of :)
- IRL was hostage of the Imagawa clan at 4 years old, and taken hostage by Nobuhide who at first was trying to treat it as a normal kidnapping, only to find out Ieyasu's father was a freaking psycho who probably shouldn't get the six year old child back, so he held onto Ieyasu and raised him almost as a baby brother to Nobunaga and the others. IkeSen emphasizes this greatly with Ieyasu holding extreme loyalty and respect to Nobunaga, and Nobunaga openly doting on Ieyasu frequently despite their tsundere personalities.
- IkeSen reveals that Imagawa Yoshimoto was not killed by Nobunaga and somewhat rescued by Takeda Shingen, in part because Nobunaga was "softer" without having suffered so much cruelty under Saito Dosan, and Nobunaga tells Ieyasu it's time to show him how they've grown. When Ieyasu says it's also payback for Imagawa's past suffering to him, Nobunaga agrees it hurt both of them.
- IRL Ieyasu learned falconry both from Nobuhide, but Nobunaga as well, and IkeSen delves into Nobunaga's falconry a bit more, but it's something they clearly bond(ed) over. IkeSen Ieyasu still raises hawks and is on his 18th brood!
- SW5 Ieyasu also adores Nobunaga and calls him big brother (direct line to Nobunaga's heart strings!)
- IRL when Ieyasu's father died, he was released from Oda care to become clan leader for Matsudaira but forced to fight under the Imagawa alliance, which he was freed from instantly when Yoshimoto was killed by Nobunaga. IkeSen seems to just have Nobunaga maintain status with Ieyasu without quite so much back and forth, yet another reason Yoshimoto survived Nobunaga's first battle against them.
Ranmaru:
- Nobunaga's favorite pageboy he calls a genius (highest Nobunaga compliment, he also says it of Kichou, Mitsuhide, Ieyasu, & Oichi and no one else!!!) - IRL History etc. Less flattering in IkeSen but he trusts him highly.
- 3rd of 8 brothers IRL, all of whom ended up working for Nobunaga. (Not so in IkeSen)
- IkeSen version is very pretty, borderline girly, and one of the youngest of the characters (derp) though still aged up to 18 which is reflected in his actions and history and being able to save Kennyo etc.
- IkeSen version doesn't have a castle, and hasn't murdered any Takeda lineage (I mean even Shingen's still alive so...)
- IRL had a sexual relationship with Nobunaga. Pretty ambiguous in IkeSen, believe whatever you want. It definitely wouldn't ooc for Nobunaga lmfao
- IkeSen version saved Kennyo from Honnoji - Kennyo is Ranmaru's adopted father, but in good ending routes, Ranmaru is able to convince Kennyo to let go of the resentment and try to become more of the monk he used to be.
- BOTH Nobunaga and Ranmaru were historically world class singers and dancers. Randomly. This is maintained in IkeSen
- SLBP just uses Ranmaru as a 12 year old, 100% nonsexual, Not pretty either (randomly), doesn't sing, and is just the fetch-boy, but still genius prodigy.
Yasuke:
- Although not mentioned in IkeSen, or SLBP, Yasuke was historically the first African born samurai ever.
- Has his own anime series sometimes
- Was brought before Nobuanga for rumors of being an oni/intimidating monk / someone who tattooed their skin.
- He spoke with Nobunaga personally to explain that it's not a tattoo, it's how his skin simply is, and showed that the bottoms of his arms are lighter (which wouldn't be the case with tattoos)
- Nobunaga made him scrub down in front of the others to show them that it wasn't ink.
- But also spoke with him, Yasuke was fluent in multiple languages, and Nobunaga asked what Yasuke's ambition/dream was
- Then made Yasuke a samurai and personal weapons-bearer/bodyguard for himself
- Historically loved hearing stories about Africa, and the other cultures and languages
- Headcanon: played mancala with Nobunaga since it's like a rougher/easier form of Go that can be done out in the wild/battlefield even easier.
- Historically & in other fictional versions got along very well with Ranmaru & Ranmaru's other brothers.
- In SW5 uses most oni club style fighting
- In AC Shadows has full Oda armor and learned both ninja arts and samurai swordfighting.
Wormholes, Bearsace, Time Travel, Character Development, AU Gatcha Events & assorted silliness
- IkeSen involves WOMRHOLES. The whole plot in game, manga, and stage play drama is that Mai Mizusaki (MC) travels back in time accidentally via wormhole, arrives to see Honno-Ji on fire without knowing when or what it is, rescues Nobunaga from an assailant, and takes him to safety. At first, Nobuanga assumes her explanation of not knowing (or CARING) who he is, is just a lark. Nobunaga is internationally infamous. He's been leaning into this fact since he couldn't escape it even as a child. When she says she's time a time traveler, he thinks she's suffering smoke inhalation / just confused.
- Nobunaga starts off EXTRA tyrannical, EXTRA domineering, EXTRAevil cruel sadistic mean abusive controlling insensitive. He is not innately like this. Through the course of ANY routes, it's revealed that the choices he felt he had to make for the sake of the dream of better future, he grew ice cold, detached emotionally, hardened (PTSD). Even in the enemies' Team-Kill-Nobunaga routes, this is still pretty clearly revealed. But his reflex is to test people, and he starts with Mai. This is really hard in RP because EVERYONE is outside of that frame of context, and even if 99% get it, there's still a 1% that can set him off.
- He does get shown evidence of time travel and explained what wormholes are. Although Mai herself doesn't understand any of it, Nobunaga understands it better than her, and figures out how to help translate it back to her. This is because of his own brain that works in a pretty weird way. He can pick up vastly theoretical physical concepts excellently; but human emotions are the hardest for him. (Ofc it's vice versa for Mai)
- Sasuke Sarutobi was a physic major undergrad student who time traveled through a wormhole at the same time as Mai, but wound up in the Sengoku era 4 years prior. He saved Kenshin's life, and has been working for him as a ninja ever since. Sasuke cheerfully works as a double agent against the Azuchi castle, but he's actually a giant Ieyasu fanboy and very fond of all the warlords, and would rather they not all kill each other. He taught Nobunaga how to bro-fist/fist bump. No, I can't tell you why. Ask Sasuke. In any event, Nobunaga is very fond of him, and this plotline winds up subverting a large part of the anti-ninja history with Nobunaga IRL history (though history itself is VASTLY messed up in IkeSen from wormholes etc.)
- In Bromances (the anime) and Sasuke's own route; Sasuke occasionally drops reveals about being from a place that uses seconds to measure time, the European Gregorian calendar, and certain other modern traditions. Nobunaga is the only one of the warlords (even from Kenshin and Takeda who LIVE WITH AND HIRE Sasuke!!!) who clues into this like a shark on bloody waters. This is because Nobunaga is a novelty addict who routinely did this to all foreigners in his never-ending search for knowledge.
- Mai shows Nobunaga her cell phone, which he quickly identifies as being beyond the manufacturing capacity for anywhere in the world; and also Bearsace -- a toy stuff bear she herself created and named. He later latches onto the story of Bearsace and in a Scheherazade kind of way, demands to know more about the bear's background and other friends, in his childish way of demanding that Mai live, just so she can tell him about it.
- In Bromances without Mai, Sasuke shows Nobunaga his phone, and the camera capacity, and Nobunaga places it instantly. - This is not applied in my playing for canon point. Just making a note.
- Bromances Sasuke also teaches Nobunaga how to play tennis, but Hideyoshi teams up with Nobuanga and can't help himself always trying to defend Nobunaga and giving each lunge an exorbitant name about protecting Nobunaga even from himself. And candy. Sports duels > katana duels to the DEATH. Literally almost anyone ever can convince Nobunaga of this JUST BY SUGGESTING IT. He *hates* killing, he views it as quite nearly a failure on his own part, to not think of a better way to force others to heel.
- IkeSen Nobunaga latches onto words. IRL he was learning Portuguese & Latin, did learn a lot of foreign languages, in the Good End of his route, he does get to sail to Europe with Mai and also learns French, Spanish, Italian, and starts trying to even incorporate some German and English. He LOVES languages, this is IRL, but IkeSen Nobunaga has the added advantage of getting to latch onto futuristic words and SLANG. He is obsessive about slang. He will start copying and trying to use the words like a parrot, even if he knows he doesn't fully understand it, and will definitely ask questions about it. The others are very unlikely to do this, (to some degree Hideyoshi will use words like boyfriend and end of year exams and get it wrong/weird!) certainly not so obsessively, but Nobunaga loves words.
- Nobunaga made his own iron-clads the first in the world. They were nearly small yachts, because they simply couldn't GET enough metal, but he also designed giant freaking sea-faring castles that he really wanted to see set sail, they were just exorbitantly expensive in resource, and he had no capacity to test and prove them.
- He understands molding, manufacturing, and the rest, it's LITERALLY his thing. Even more than killing.
- In Bromances, all of the gang wind up in the modern Japan, and Nobunaga pieces out how to solve this time travel SNAFU to return them to Sengoku. This theory he has a 90/10 odds for still coming back to. Which is by drawing extreme attention, changing history in such drastic ways (such as Sasuke teaching them SPORTS like tennis and volleyball, to fight with instead of murder) then time itself will spawn womrholes to correct the situation. How much of this is "secret genius" vs. "Chaotic Demon King just wanting to have fun" is literally anyone's guess. Nobunaga himself would insist he's just trying to have fun, but also you should try it because it has the best chance of working if you don't have a better idea. TLDR: he gets the warlords to create an anachronistic time period pop band, make a lot of fans, do extremely dramatic musical routines and it does work, and they go home.
- In the IkeSen game ends, Nobunaga ALSO has the strongest chance of figuring out how the fuck to work around the wormholes and/or with them, will willingly FIGHT WORMHOLES?!?! (of course he does. OFC HE DOES) and how to send messages across time.
- AU events: In RPG Nobunaga is happily evil, but his Demon King of 6th Heaven RPG warrior is actually a paladin character. Lol. Even though he sticks with the black armor and demon horns and wings. He's the happiest sadist ever. For the future/modern AU: he is an airplane pilot, and the authors have said they wanted to see him like that. Ieyasu is a veterinarian. It's very cute. Most of the events don't happen stateside, so the translation is a thing.
- PoCo Nobunaga uses DRAGONS and even acquires/befriends BLACK SHINY RAYQUAZA AHHHHHH. You know what dragons' weakness is?Ice Fairies! Oichi uses fairy type. Cuteness is forever his weakness. He cant fight cute fairies. They're too pure or something. It is what it is. - Mitsuhide uses Ice, and Nohime/Kichou uses ghosts! Nobunaga has a thing for ghost stories (IRL) and a special love of people who can use ghosts.
- IkeSen Nobunaga has an added pressure to his personality about "time running out." He feels like he was able to cheat death with Mai rescuing him, but he's still in danger of dying without completing all of his desires, and this adds still more intensity to his desire to do everything, see everything, and not miss or waste a single moment. Though this intensity is universal for Nobunaga, it's a bit more actualized into an intelligible communicable reason in IkeSen rather than background noise.
Key:
IkeSen = Ikemen Sengoku || Includes the PSVita game, the mobile (phone) gacha game, the manga, the drama cds, AND the live action stage play drama. Oh! And the really short anime Ikemen Sengoku: Bromances Across Time Yeah.
SLBP = Samurai Love Ballad Party
Musou Series = Samurai Warriors 1-5 / SW1, SW3, SW5 etc.
TWS = Total War Sengoku -- I don't think I "use" this, but I have played the first (still getting through my entire Total War collection before I get the second), but I can't promise there's no bleeding through so I mention it here.
NoAmb = Nobunaga's Ambition (see TWS)
PoCo = Pokemon Conquest. Actually explicitly imports/translates some personalities from NoAmb like Hideyoshi's.
I have also seen Oda "Cinnamon" Nobunaga, and if he's ever turned into a dog, that would be the only way that will see some use.
Historical artifacts include but not limited to: Luis Frois' History of Japan
So many wikis. I mean so many. Just in case you're curious, have a really short list, it's generally infinite but overlaps worse than video games ofc:
https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Oda_Nobunaga
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Oda-Nobunaga
https://japanese-history.fandom.com/wiki/Oda_Nobunaga
I recommend using control + f for most of this list if you have anything specific in mind!
Parents: Nobuhide Oda & Gozen Dota
- Though there's understandable ambiguity about Nobuhide's influence on his son, he did dote considerably on Nobunaga (Kipposhi) and took him to warzones even when he was only six years old against Gozen's wishes, and taught him all things about military tactics, strategy, and being an army general to use the very small resource lacking region of Owari to its fullest. Nobunaga is a little bit of a Daddy's boy. -- Source: Documented history
- Fun fact: Gozen snuck into Nobuhide's bed when he already had a son with another woman and they had 3 children before officially marrying.
- LESS fun fact: Nobuhide also adored his oldest son, but when he was killed in battle, Gozen was delighted (Nobunaga rumored less so) because that meant Nobunaga was the oldest therefore next in line as heir, but also because Nobuhide wouldn't have the reminder of his life before Gozen around. Dark. Gives you an insight to her conqueror son: Nobunaga though. -- Source: AMBIGUOUS history, unverified (how could it be?)
- Gozen's personality after Nobuhide's death - SLBP
- IRL, Gozen is why Nobunaga is so hardcore "progressive" for women's rights (for 1582 one of the most progressive on the entire PLANET). AND generally abrasive, bold, outspoken, and has no patience for anything really. Nobuhide was pretty easy-going, and Nobunaga will straight up call him "too soft-hearted." and suggest this is what got killed him -- Nobuhide was VERY trusting. Possibly too much. (He even trust Saito Dosan who kind of tortured Nobunaga IRL)
- IkeSen Nobunaga isn't explicit about his relationship with Gozen, but he's even more open about just doing what one wants (a very Gozen thing!!) and accepting the responsibilities and consequences that come with it.
- Gozen did not take sides in the Oda clan wars immediately after Nobuhide's death, and didn't really give a fuck that Nobunaga threw a tantrum or whatever at the funeral. She did beg Nobunaga to spare Nobuyuki after the first rebellion attempt, which is why Nobunaga exiled her to a religious retreat impossible(ish) to find, and to keep her exiled away from being hurt and used as a pawn in the wars. IRL
- Gozen DID have a lot of pressure from society and Oda extended family clan about the wild insanity that was Nobunaga's youth, and many MANY people, especially his tutors, frequently complained that she should reign him. This would have been impossible for anyone, however. At best, she did impress upon him his duties as an eldest(ish) brother who is able to influence his siblings (and maybe therefore THE WORLD) so he can't just run away to join the pirates or Portuguese to be an explorer.
Childhood as "Kipposhi" and "Fool (lord) of Owari"
- Learned martial arts, ALL weapons, but also broader empire strategy about the importance of agriculture, trade, roads, geography, etc.
- Played with guns at a time when everyone saw them as a toy or at best, merely so kids (who wouldn't be as strong and accurate at archery) could go hunting. This is part of what got him called an idiot, because everyone thought he was crazy (reckless, stupid) for embracing them so eagerly.
- When Ieyasu was only 6, he was kidnapped by Nobuhide, and taken hostage. DESPITE THAT, the 6-year old's father basically said to kill him if it was necessary. That being a fucked up move even by the kidnapper's standards, Nobuhide sent him to live among his other sons (Nobunaga has 14 siblings. 14. Only two don't have Gozen as their mother, and one of them she adopted herself, it was possibly a nephew, or son of a friend, I forget which and I haven't found the source to link, I'll add it when I do.) In the Musou series, a little bit IRL, and IkeSen, Nobunaga kind of dotes on Ieyasu, he can do NO WRONG, and Ieyasu secretly (in a super tsun tsun way!) admires/respects Nobunaga right back.
- HAAAATED his tutors, talked back CONSTANTLY, all the attitude FOREVER, this is GREATLY foundational in Nobunaga's hatred of religion; but more specifically: the Japanese Buddhist caste, the way they do the teachings, and why he decided to change it.
- BFF was Hideyoshi, a "normal" peasant who hardcore threw his loyalty behind Nobunaga and one time fighting in the snow (date/fight unknown other than "early) warmed Nobunaga's sandals by holding them under his armor so - Frequently referenced in IkeSen
- As a child for all his hatred of religion, Nobunaga was by most reports open to more shinto beliefs, and met with the God of the Mountain. He didn't decide to wage war on god, but certainly on the lesser humans who destroyed the country perverting the idea of finding God -- PoCo & SLBP // VERY unverified/undocumented (rumor or MADE UP) history. "Lore." Let's call it lore.
- Suffered assassination attempts as young as 8 (history) mostly remembers the first one in IkeSen at 13. This made him just a touch paranoid. Actually, VERY paranoid. He's had (in IkeSen & SLBP) PTSD ever since, and with that comes nightmares, insomnia, and lack of real sleep.
- Got along great with Katsuie of his father's generals, who also had deep abiding love for Oichi (history, + SLBP) in SW5 his siblings all agree that if Katsuie couldn't talk sense into Nobunaga, no one could. In SLBP, Katsuie is the only one Nobunaga will let touch him for traditions and just generally lets him get away with things no one else can.
- Raised hunting hawks with Nobuhide (historical!) - continues to use them "now" in IkeSen, with Haguro specifically.
Nobuhide's death:
- Nobunaga was severely affected, depressed, and angry as anything. He didn't have time to grieve as he was now clan leader (debateably) and almost no one at all wanted him to be (including to some degree, HIMSELF) - IkeSen, SLBP, (et al.) documented history
- Nobunaga declared war on his own family members, in his own words (IkeSen, SLBP), and threw the incense at his fathers ashes as his declaration of war. -- History, IkeSen, etc. This was infamous at the time, with rumors all over the country about it, and doesn't surprise him that history still repeats it.
- His tutor Hirate Masahide, committed seppuku out of shame for being unable to reign in the unruly teenager -- History (referenced in Musou series, Sengoku Basara, and a few others)
- IkeSen Nobunaga explicitly says Nobuyuki (his brother) couldn't have been stopped from the assassination attempts when Nobunaga was 13, because his father was dead, and he was the only one who could have. SW5 plays up Nobuyuki as being the closest to Nobunaga, not in power but in trust for maximum BETRAYAL.
IkeSen vs. IRL history:
- IRL Nobuhide sent Nobunaga to serve under Saito Dosan in order to marry Kichou / Nohime and buy Owari some time & allyship, esp. against Imagawa Yoshimoto.
- In IkeSen, Nobuhide died when Nobunaga was only 13, kicking off the war between Nobunaga and Nobuyuki. Because Nobuhide was no longer around to stop the infighting, it isn't clarified if/when Nobunaga's hand was forced to kill Nobuyuki.
- IRL Nobunaga spared his Uncle and Nobuyuki after their first revolt, at his mother Gozen's behest, but after the second, was forced to have Nobuyuki commit seppuku. - SLBP & IkeSen do varying degrees of referencing this. It's extremely subtle in IkeSen with "After they've betrayed you once, there's no coming back from that. They'll do everything to betray you again."
- Without Nobuhide practically selling Nobunaga into service to Saito Dosan [IRL] - IkeSen Nobunaga still tries to create an alliance bringing Kichou (who is now {openly? - Rumored transwoman IRL} a man) to heel, and indeed, Saito tries to find a way to exert his general sadism and make Nobunaga
- In IkeSen: Kichou did act as a vassal to Nobunaga until their relationship fell apart - hinted that Nobunaga got interested in a woman (much like IRL Nobunaga took Kitsuno as his favorite concubine and mother of his children) || Kichou also ends up deciding that the country is better off staying factional and separate rather than united.
- In IkeSen because Motonari Mori is still alive AND considerably younger this involves Kichou & Ranmaru
- IRL Kichou was a close cousin of Mitsuhide, considered one of the possible reasons for his betrayal of Nobunaga; because Nobunaga uses people like tools and without distinct consideration for family ties.
- In IkeSen, Mitsuhide hates Kichou far more than Nobunaga does, and while Nobunaga would give Kichou second chances he gives to no one else (Kichou believes that Nobunaga's life is required to keep the wars going to make the world better, and he wants everyone to live to the max the way Nobunaga does, but he no longer believes in unification, because he believes it's settling for less than the best!) Mitsuhide's main goal is ending the wars no matter what, so he'll kill Kichou even more ruthlessly than Nobunaga would.
- IkeSen Kichou had a twin sister who died young.
- IkeSen Kichou wanted unification as much as all of them, but fell into a wormhole to the future when Nobunaga sent him to deal with the Mt. Hiei cult. Part of what forced Nobunaga's hand to get so extreme, because he also didn't know what happened to him. When Kichou returned, he was extremely changed by the experience.
Specifically IkeSen things
-Timeline ambiguity: Nobunaga does fight Imagawa Yoshimoto, but due to complications involving the Saito Dosan "alliance," Yoshimoto gets rescued by Takeda Shingen.
- Likewise, one good turn deserves another, and Takeda Shingen ALSO survives his encounter with Nobunaga
- Rather than Kenshin and Takeda Shingen killing each other, they team up to kill Nobunaga.
- HOW MUCH Kenshin IRL was a bloodthirsty stabby stabby "God of War" brainwashed by Buddhist Monks to believing fully the God of War thing, is debatable IRL, but it's very very amped in IkeSen A LOT -- IkeSen Kenshin also collects rabbits accidentally, they follow him. (Uesagi sounds similar to Usagi = rabbit)
- Masamune Date was too young IRL to ever be under Nobunaga, but aged up becomes Nobunaga's nearest equal and frequent (playful!) romance rival. He gets a pet tiger named Shougetsu, which while IC for historical Masamune's personality, has certainly never been documented.
- Ieyasu, Hideyoshi, Mitsuhide, and Mitsunari are all extremely close to Nobunaga, work in Azuchi castle with him (Masamune still lives in Echigo very far north! Except during special occasions) and Nobunaga in turn is open with them about his intentions for Hideyoshi and Ieyasu to rule together from the two sides of Japanese culture: Hideyoshi a soldier peasant, and Ieyasu a royal member even adopted into the emperor's lineage. IRL they fought, there was a war of succession, and Mitsuhide was killed by Hideyoshi after killing Nobunaga. Being told this history factoid, doesn't and will not ever faze Nobunaga, because he knows the only way for that to happen, is for Nobunaga himself to slip up.
- Sasuke Sarutobi is a ninja. He was a physics grad studying wormholes, but his parents were huge Sengoku nerds and he named himself after the fictional Sasuke ninja and then became that ninja after landing in the Sengoku era in 1578 (4 years before Mai). He saved Kenshin on the battlefield without knowing who he was at first, just begged him to train him, and somehow(?!?!) they became "friends" or rather Kenshin employs Sasuke to ninja spy on Nobunaga, and Sasuke for some reason keeps fighting to keep Kenshin alive but also not kill literally everything and everyone. The amount of this is known by Nobunaga is very minimal, but he does hire him in a few routes, and in Bromances Across Time (the anime) he lets Sasuke play double agent and suggest sports like tennis (instead of dueling to the death) and a few other things. In Nobuanga's own route sequel, he confronts Sasuke and tries to learn EVERYTHING he can from him, both about the future and current timeline, so fuse things as best as possible.
- Mai Mizusaki saves Nobunaga from Honno-Ji's fire and assassination attempt by Kennyo (who survived Mt. Hiei and wants revenge for it.) In the manga, after mentioning she'd have him arrested for sexual harassment, she ends up showing him both her cell phone, and a mechanical pencil (and her own creation: Bearsace) and attempts to explain wormholes (badly) to him. He does absorb it very quickly though, taking to it with the IRL Nobunaga's love of new developments and logical information that explained how the world worked and how to make it better.
Kitsuno:
- IRL Kitsuno was the love of his life. Mother of his children, and losing her nearly broke him IRL
- IRL she had a lot of trouble with childbirth, nearly dying, and frequently very sick on account of it.
- THOUGH not mentioned by name in IkeSen, whatever woman after Kichou isn't named, and it's hinted heavily her death was premature and nearly broke Nobunaga, certainly adding to his hardening before Mt. Hiei.
- IkeSen Nobunaga has a very Western style haircut and shaved face, which throws off Mai expecting him to look like the reputation and drama films. TBF most of the IkeSen characters do go with the Western & clean-cut style. HOWEVER: if asked, it's specifically because Nobunaga cut his hair after Kitsuno, and didn't want to look like Nobuhide for Ieyasu. The other reason of course, it was a sign of marriage in Korea, at the time, and he wanted to look European (see Luis Frois below.)
- MY Nobuanga, will certainly recognize her name, and acknowledge any/all AUs of Kitsuno, and does have his hinted at history to rely on as his previous partner, but as he was never married in IkeSen, she also died very young, so I've put the timeline as when he was 29 instead of when she was. They had no children.
The Razing Holocaust of Mt. Hiei
- Not mincing words, it's brutal, intense, and the most extreme genocide Nobunaga did in his war against the Ikko-Ikki and Buddhist Monks. It also didn't even "work." Leading an army of "demons" and starting the fire at the base so it only built up the further higher it went, it's estimated 10,000 monks and nuns were burned, including some children -- though the archaeological excavations have said it wasn't as bad as even both sides said it was.
- Mitsuhide led the entire campaign alongside Nobunaga, (IRL) but all parties on Team Azuchi in IkeSen were involved. IRL Mitsuhide was paid a huge bounty for this, and SLBP took that as a massive insult/blood money and his reason for betraying Nobunaga.
- In IkeSen, Kennyo survived (IRL he wasn't even in danger there, and outlived Nobunaga) because Ranmaru Mori rescued him.
- This began a huge part of Nobunaga's Demon King reputation and is when he started signing his letters even sarcastically to Kenshin & Shingen, but also embracing it hardcore in IkeSen
- Fires of hell, army of demons, there's death metal songs about it, and while Nobunaga has NO regrets, and would do it all over again, he doesn't gloat about it, because he does understand it was pretty fucked up, even for him.
- IkeSen Nobunaga does have some PTSD about it, and partially feels he deserves the same burning, so if he hadn't been rescued...
Oichi:
- As said, openly Nobunaga's absolute favorite IRL historically, after Nobuhide died, Nobunaga spent the most time with Oichi he could, almost acting as her father in addition to oldest brother, and trained her frequently in tactics in strategy. - played up extra big in PoCo as Oichi is with you first and the whole game
- IRL Nobunaga said Oichi would have made a fantastic general, and he didn't want to marry her off.
- In SLBP there is a LOT of this involved as MC for that is bffs with Oichi and even while romancing Nobuanga, waffles constantly on the politics of it. Marrying her off wasn't just politics, it was her life at stake.
- IRL she had 3 children (nieces/nephews to Nobunaga), but when her husband planned an ambush on Nobunaga, she was able to send him a very coded message with a "good luck charm" (knowing full well that Nobunaga doesn't actually believe in such things -- a major detail in IkeSen that is supremely subtle. His joking about calling MC a lucky charm in full knowledge there's no such thing, but rather she rescued him and he trusts she might do so again!) with two knotted ends holding red beans. Somehow he understood right away what this meant and was able to avoid and spring the trap, turning it against them. -- Used in SLBP too.
- IRL she was in love with Katsuie her whole life, and after her husband was killed by Nobunaga, married Katsuie instead. In SLBP this is also referenced with her heavily in love with Katsuie but acknowledging her family responsibilities as a princess -- it is brought up in many many other games/media as well.
The other 13+ siblings:
It took me 2 years to remember all of the (16) Whitebeard commanders, even while playing Marco, so forgive me, I have even less reason/means to remember all of Nobunaga's siblings and their roles. I'll edit this as it becomes relevant.
- Oda Nobuhiro was a half brother older than Nobunaga, IRL died in 1574, 20+ years after Nobuhide's death. In IkeSen, definitely died before Nobuhide though the circumstances aren't specified. A Matsudaira hostage was traded for Nobuhiro's life by Nobunaga, and he did seem to have affection for Nobuhiro despite Gozen's animosity. (IRL she gloated in letters, savage...)
- Nobuyuki tried to assassinate Nobunaga frequently with ninja, politics, and led TWO rebellions against Oda, once with his Uncle, whom Nobunaga beheaded. Nobunaga spared him the first time at their mother's behest, but couldn't do it the second time, leading Nobunaga to exile his mother to a retreat to stay out of the future wars and keep her from being held and used as a hostage/pawn in the suffering. In IkeSen the first assassination by Nobuyuki was when Nobunaga was 13, after Nobuhide's death. In SLBP both attempts + Gozen's exile is blatantly referenced, as well as Nobunaga actually crying and having PTSD nightmares about it.
- Nobukane - shaved his head and became a Buddhist monk, though this was well after Nobunaga's death. He was always religious, and (my) Nobunaga will say as much.
- Nagamasu - 11th son of Nobuhide (so BABBY!!!!) and *very* doted on by Nobunaga, IRL history. As such he with Oichi are the most loyal of the siblings to Nobunaga. Whether Nobunaga encouraged him to become a master of the tea ceremony, or Nagamasu encouraged Nobunaga to become even MORE involved in tea and the process, is debatable, but they were certainly heavily intertwined and Nagamasu understanding Nobunaga's feelings about Ieyasu, AND having also been raised as BROTHERS with Ieyasu, didn't 100% take his side, (until Hideyoshi grew ill), but he acted as peacebroker between them and then did become one of Ieyasu's most loyal retainers/officers.
- Nobuharu - IRL Died in 1970 at Usayama Castle, originally held Nobu Castle.
- Nobutoki - 1/2 brother of Nobunaga, died young (1557), was hated by Gozen. She's like that. He was adopted by Nobunaga's Uncle, and Nobunaga never knew him really. Mentioned for ^ being on Nobuyuki's side.
- Oinu - The 8th eldest sibling, only other sister (than Oichi) and *actually* married Hideyoshi IRL! - She's completely missing from IkeSen and SLBP because then you might not wanna marry Hideyoshi yanno. She probably doesn't even exist in IkeSen, and she's not utilized often, so if it ever comes up I'll figure out how to roll with it. IF. lol. Being brothers-in-law doesn't mean Nobunaga's close, because well his own brothers had mixed assassination attempts (see Nobuyuki etc.) BUT it does make him happy, and Hideyoshi is closer to him than anyone ofc. Nobunaga should be so lucky or something.
- Christian converts - I had a list of which of Oda's brothers converted, and fuck if I can find it. I have a lot of Oda Nobunaga resources though, so hunting through my 200 list or whatever... It'll take time. It's just as well I keep it vague though. One of them did blah blah blah.
Luis Frois & Portuguese merchants, missionaries, & Explorers:
- IRL Nobunaga even as a child was obsessed with foreign traders & missionaries. Had it not been for family obligations, the war, etc. it's widely agreed, he would have run off to be a pirate at the first chance. In IkeSen this is highlighted by Oda's secret dream to actually LEAVE Japan once it's been unified to travel, and see the world and all its wonders.
- He's insatiably thirsty for knowledge beyond Japan, and willing to bear the consequences hence being called an idiot. - IRL, standard IkeSen
- He recognizes production from other countries, and indeed, sought to replicate this in Japan as much as possible, though almost NO ONE had the visionary for it Nobunaga did. This is cited in IkeSen as because of Luis Frois.
- SLBP Luis Frois & a few others are straight up info characters, and it's hilarious, I recommend it for dating sim fans (who don't mind otome) on ANY route, if just for them tbh. (there are also a good amount of fictional SLBP characters and you can date women if that's what's holding you back.)
- IRL Nobunaga's biography and "History of Japan" is written by Luis Frois, over the course of their MANY meetings. IRL Luis Frois also observed the fire at HonnoJi from across the Buddhist Temple in the Christian Cathedral, Nobunaga personally saw founded. In IkeSen, it's not clarified what Luis Frois did during the conflagration, or if he met with Nobunaga when Mai ran away, but it's safe to assume such.
Konpeito:
- IRL it's a Japanese translation for the Portuguese word for confetti.
- IRL History: Nobunaga loved sweets. This is well documented. In IkeSen, he sneaks sweets by going downstairs, wearing his haori over his head like it'll help, and has to practice ninja arts to avoid getting caught.
- IRL History: To sign deals, the Portuguese missionaries gave Nobunaga offerings of konpeito kept in flasks normally used for alcohol, but clear. -- Not specified in IkeSen, VERY CLEARLY specified in SLBP and Nobunaga tries to romance MC with them.
- In SLBP Nobunaga says konpeito can perform miracles, grant wishes, and it's how he wants to solve Japan's problems.
- In IkeSen, candy & sweets are exorbitantly rare, and indeed, the MAJORITY of the country's sweets come through by way of Motonari Mori actually conducting trade specifically to get sugar. At hearing about this, Nobunaga forbade his vassals from harming Motonari, because candy is very important.
- In SLBP, he says his dream is for Japan to be so prosperous anyone and everyone could have konpeito just because they want it. Either so that Japan has so much trade from foreigners, it's second nature how easy is to get, AND in IkeSen: would involve specifically dismantling huge chunks of the hierarchy wherein normal people aren't allowed luxuries, only the nobles and the most ruthless. He also says it has the power to heal anything. From his weary soul, to the broken country of Japan itself. When he's most depressed, he seeks konpeito.
- Nobunaga does have a special affection for Konpeito the most, as he's emotionally tied a huge part of his dream and existence into it, but since his personality is all about embracing new shiny things, (part of the reason he loves konpeito so much is that it's ridiculously colorful after all) he will certainly seek out anything/everything.
- The "sweet-tooth gene" is IRL along the same lineage as genius (glucose brainpower.) Just saying.
Akechi Mitsuhide:
- The MOST COMPLICATED of relationships ayyyyy.
- IkeSen Mitsuhide is a snarky kitsune of a person, who has a pet fox Chiamaki, and a 100% marksman ratio. He is openly Nobunaga's left-hand man. Extremely charismatic, he is also quite sneaky, and in charge of Nobunaga's Intelligence Gathering, thwarting spies, BEING a spy, double-crossing (triple crossing, quadruple-crossing), made the blueprints for Azuchi castle (where the Nobunaga allies live, with Nobunaga in the tenshu) and IRL designed Nobunaga's gun. (Though in IkeSen the matchlock Nobunaga aims at Mai he says he got from foreigners.)
- In SLBP Mitushide is 180 opposite personality. He's soft-spoken, quiet, KIND, KIND, KIND, poetic, gentle, and somehow even more Nobunaga's right-hand than Hideyoshi (on account of Hideyoshi being SOLDIER military and peasant, and SLBP emphasizes the royal court politics more) - IkeSen Mitsuhide is his "left-hand" man as the direct equal counterpart to Hideyoshi and his rivalry with Hideyoshi is played up a lot more as yaoi/bromance between equals than IRL where Mitsuhide was extremely dismissive (at least publicly???) of Hideyoshi for being peasant-born and debatably "jealous" of Nobunaga's favored status. In IkeSen, Mitsuhide is DEFINITELY relieved not to bear the brunt of all of Nobunaga's passion (ayyyyyyyyyyyyyy) because lbr, Nobunaga is a LOT to deal with, even if you have a loud brazen personality to match Nobunaga's (which Mitsuhide does NOT.)
- IRL Mitsuhide's previous employer to Nobunaga tortured him even more than Saito Dosan tortured Nobunaga (the extent of that in IkeSen is unknown, but hinted at) and threatened to punish him with starvation (actually did in IkeSen) and sent a letter to Nobunaga saying to the effect that even Nobunaga's willpower wouldn't be able to handle Mitsuhide.
- Nobunaga is unfailingly loyal to Mitsuhide, but second to the ambition and dream of overthrowing the castes oppressing Japan [IkeSen] and favors Ieyasu more (because babby.)
- IRL Threw some of Mitsuhide's antique pottery in the koi point for punishment when Ieyasu complained about the fish served to him that Mitsuhide was in charge of. // In IkeSen this might be due to Mitsuhide's inability to taste anything (see starvation.) Also Ieyasu is so tsundere, he complains about everything. // In SLBP Mitsuhide tries to get Nobunaga into wabi-sabi and Nobunaga does keep throwing it away. // IRL Nobunaga took it as a slight that Mitsuhide was being passive aggressive to Ieyasu.
- SLBP Mitsuhide is very Buddhist. IRL he was the one who led the Siege on Mt. Hiei and this led to the fight between the two of them and eventually Honno-ji in SLBP // In IkeSen, Mitsuhide is even more skeptical & atheist than Nobunaga himself, and that's really saying something!
- IkeSen Mitsuhide is good at making tea.
- Nobunaga does straight up say that if Mitsuhide ever reaches the point of actually betraying him, it's only because Nobunaga betrayed their mutual dream first.
- IkeSen Mitsuhide has a snake theme, even though everyone calls him a kitsune.
- IRL Mitsuhide reportedly had a thing for Ranmaru, asked Nobunaga to let him take the boy under his tutelage multiple times and was always refused. IkeSen doesn't have this afaict, in IkeSen, Mitsuhide knows Ranmaru has ties to Kennyo (Nobunaga does too!? He's just crazy!!!) and they have an intense rivalry over spy games.
- IRL Mitsuhide had a wife, obvs not so in IkeSen / was cousins/close with Kichou, is more just friendly banter with IkeSen Kichou and the occasional "You sure you don't want to work for him?" and Kichou more trying to convince Mitsuhide to quit working for Nobunaga.
- IRL There was a plan for Nobunaga to fake his death using Mitsuhide so he could go to sea, but ofc, if Nobunaga had actually not died, he wouldn't have let Hideyoshi kill Mitsuhide for it, and he wouldn't have let Hideyoshi and Ieyasu go to war. IkeSen Nobunaga still has that escape route planned, and IRL he might have had a kind of "blood pact" that if he ever did betray Mitsuhide to kill him for the sake of the dream etc.
The Emperor & royal lineage:
- Ogimachi was technically the Emperor of Japan, but Nobunaga will be the first to tell you how meaningless that is. The missionaries and traders from foreign lands were frequently exasperated with their inability to even conduct trade, or get permission to do anything, because even if Ogimachi himself gave them permission, it meant -nothing- to anyone. The emperor was in no position to truly defy previous edicts about religion which "sold" the rights to Japanese Buddhism, and indeed, the Ikkou-Ikki and other Buddhist monks had enough power on the ground to override the Emperor himself. Even more complicated, and more useless than the Catholic Pope.
- He came under Nobunaga's protection at the same time IRL as Mitsuhide. Nobuhide had previously been one of his father's strongest generals, which is how Nobuhide came to own the tiny fractured lands of Owari (think like... a single crossroads town. REALLY small but strategically operable!)
- Due to Nobunaga's war on religion, there are many many MANY fucking theories about Mitsuhide deciding to assassinate Nobunaga IRL because Nobunaga decided to do away with the Emperor and institute Ieyasu. It's possible. Honestly no one knows.
- MORE THAN ONCE, the Emperor tried to politically maneuver Nobunaga into becoming the Emperor himself, a King under the Emperor, or any other more official form of ruler for Japan than Nobunaga had... as himself. As Demon King of 6th Heaven. IRL Nobunaga rebuffed this easily, in IkeSen it's obviously part of his foundational lack of desire to actually actively *rule* Japan, and his desire to seek far distant shores and get the fuck AWAY from Japan instead.
- Nobunaga did pressure/encourage Ieyasu to take on the name Tokugawa Ieyasu and the Emperor's symbol and in IkeSen is very very open and obvious about his intentions for Ieyasu to take over with Hideyoshi's military aid to back up the more peaceful Ieyasu.
- Working within the confines of royal heritage, divine rune, bloodlines, "destiny," and the religiosity tied up in the Emperor being the descendants of Amaterasu (Sun-God-wolf who birthed/protected Japan) is at odds with Nobunaga's dream for Japan to be freed of the oppressive castes in IkeSen. Nevertheless, simply killing the emperor wouldn't change this, and he knows it. He has to completely not just undermine people's reasons to give them faith, but give them faith in themselves. So he does this with production. Look at what YOU'VE made, you don't need a king for that.
- This ties in heavily with his Demon King of 6th Heaven theme (see below)
DEMON KING OF 6TH HEAVEN: (Now in capslock and with metal riffs in the background ahhhhhh)
- Nobunaga hates Japanese Buddhism, he's read almost "all" of it, he knows pieces that are lost to us in history, he is a walking contradiction. For all of that, he still winds up embracing parts of it. SINGING and doing the dances (there is not enough power in the universe to make him do the mantras, or hand symbols though. Not even sarcastically.) IRL he FAMOUSLY did one of the best performances of the Amatsumori, and in IkeSen is quoted as one of the best dancers -ever- and Sasuke drags Mai to watch him perform a sword + fan dance to perfect balance before a fight - though this IS a buddhist ZEN tradition.
- He knows Taoism and Confuscianism. He hates them too. - Specifically cited in SLBP in pieces and bits here and there. Wabi-Sabi he just hates. YEET FLAWS YEET
- The Sixth Heaven in Buddhism is where someone reincarnates after ascending through the other levels. (Ie: being born nobility is a sign of this -- Nobunaga disagrees lol)
- The Demon King of Sixth Heaven is the ULTIMATE of all Demon Kings: "the most conceited, the most arrogant, the most stubborn." Think pride for Lucifer, and indeed, it's most comparable to Christianity's Satan. (See also: NUMBER 6 AHHHHH)
- 1/2 of his Demon King of 6th Heaven embrace is to also offer DIRECT AND OBVIOUS contrast to both Kenshin's "God of War" Buddhism brainwashing. IkeSen is the most obvious with this, in SLBP Kenshin isn't so crazy. IRL is debatable. The other 1/2 is direct contrast to the Emperor and the idea of royalty and lineage and birthright. If being born noble matters, then why is Nobunaga able to subvert it? Why does he hate it? This is to force people to think, or at least give them the opening. Or even just -doubts- And plus, it makes him the target, so then the REAL leaders (Ieyasu, Hideyoshi, the craftsmen) can get WORK DONE DAMN IT.
Tokugawa Ieyasu:
- IkeSen Ieyasu is the youngest of the Azuchi castle group (IRL he's only about 10 years younger than Nobunaga, and indeed, had to have met Nobunaga before he was 13 / when Nobuhide died.)
- IkeSen Ieyasu is still Nobunaga's "secret" favorite (ish) and heavily doted on, a bit like IRL, and many many other series.
- IkeSen Ieyasu is the most tsundere character I've ever seen. And I love tsunderes, so we're talking like 100+. He is even tsundere to his pet deer he named Wasabi and calls his "backup food source." IRL deer + Ieyasu is a thing, but I'm not finding links, so gimme one, and I'll add it. I just remember that tidbit lmao. // I always say Ieyasu got the tsundere from Nobunaga and just ran with it. Nobunaga is SMUG ARROGANT HAUGHTY first, but tsundere second. || SLBP and historical Ieyasu is also pretty fucking tsundere. SW5 Ieyasu isn't afaik.
- IkeSen Ieyasu took an injury very young (possibly when he was taken hostage, though it's not specified AFAIK) and this causes him to be in charge of healing soldiers and handling the war camps, staying mostly away from direct combat. This doesn't mean he doesn't know how to fight, he frequently tries to get Mai to be able to fight if the need should arise. Also as he's tsundere, he's very acerbic biting tongue.
- IkeSen anime/BROMANCE Ieyasu paints a picture of Nobunaga, which Oda keeps in his tenshu and is very proud of :)
- IRL was hostage of the Imagawa clan at 4 years old, and taken hostage by Nobuhide who at first was trying to treat it as a normal kidnapping, only to find out Ieyasu's father was a freaking psycho who probably shouldn't get the six year old child back, so he held onto Ieyasu and raised him almost as a baby brother to Nobunaga and the others. IkeSen emphasizes this greatly with Ieyasu holding extreme loyalty and respect to Nobunaga, and Nobunaga openly doting on Ieyasu frequently despite their tsundere personalities.
- IkeSen reveals that Imagawa Yoshimoto was not killed by Nobunaga and somewhat rescued by Takeda Shingen, in part because Nobunaga was "softer" without having suffered so much cruelty under Saito Dosan, and Nobunaga tells Ieyasu it's time to show him how they've grown. When Ieyasu says it's also payback for Imagawa's past suffering to him, Nobunaga agrees it hurt both of them.
- IRL Ieyasu learned falconry both from Nobuhide, but Nobunaga as well, and IkeSen delves into Nobunaga's falconry a bit more, but it's something they clearly bond(ed) over. IkeSen Ieyasu still raises hawks and is on his 18th brood!
- SW5 Ieyasu also adores Nobunaga and calls him big brother (direct line to Nobunaga's heart strings!)
- IRL when Ieyasu's father died, he was released from Oda care to become clan leader for Matsudaira but forced to fight under the Imagawa alliance, which he was freed from instantly when Yoshimoto was killed by Nobunaga. IkeSen seems to just have Nobunaga maintain status with Ieyasu without quite so much back and forth, yet another reason Yoshimoto survived Nobunaga's first battle against them.
Ranmaru:
- Nobunaga's favorite pageboy he calls a genius (highest Nobunaga compliment, he also says it of Kichou, Mitsuhide, Ieyasu, & Oichi and no one else!!!) - IRL History etc. Less flattering in IkeSen but he trusts him highly.
- 3rd of 8 brothers IRL, all of whom ended up working for Nobunaga. (Not so in IkeSen)
- IkeSen version is very pretty, borderline girly, and one of the youngest of the characters (derp) though still aged up to 18 which is reflected in his actions and history and being able to save Kennyo etc.
- IkeSen version doesn't have a castle, and hasn't murdered any Takeda lineage (I mean even Shingen's still alive so...)
- IRL had a sexual relationship with Nobunaga. Pretty ambiguous in IkeSen, believe whatever you want. It definitely wouldn't ooc for Nobunaga lmfao
- IkeSen version saved Kennyo from Honnoji - Kennyo is Ranmaru's adopted father, but in good ending routes, Ranmaru is able to convince Kennyo to let go of the resentment and try to become more of the monk he used to be.
- BOTH Nobunaga and Ranmaru were historically world class singers and dancers. Randomly. This is maintained in IkeSen
- SLBP just uses Ranmaru as a 12 year old, 100% nonsexual, Not pretty either (randomly), doesn't sing, and is just the fetch-boy, but still genius prodigy.
Yasuke:
- Although not mentioned in IkeSen, or SLBP, Yasuke was historically the first African born samurai ever.
- Has his own anime series sometimes
- Was brought before Nobuanga for rumors of being an oni/intimidating monk / someone who tattooed their skin.
- He spoke with Nobunaga personally to explain that it's not a tattoo, it's how his skin simply is, and showed that the bottoms of his arms are lighter (which wouldn't be the case with tattoos)
- Nobunaga made him scrub down in front of the others to show them that it wasn't ink.
- But also spoke with him, Yasuke was fluent in multiple languages, and Nobunaga asked what Yasuke's ambition/dream was
- Then made Yasuke a samurai and personal weapons-bearer/bodyguard for himself
- Historically loved hearing stories about Africa, and the other cultures and languages
- Headcanon: played mancala with Nobunaga since it's like a rougher/easier form of Go that can be done out in the wild/battlefield even easier.
- Historically & in other fictional versions got along very well with Ranmaru & Ranmaru's other brothers.
- In SW5 uses most oni club style fighting
- In AC Shadows has full Oda armor and learned both ninja arts and samurai swordfighting.
Wormholes, Bearsace, Time Travel, Character Development, AU Gatcha Events & assorted silliness
- IkeSen involves WOMRHOLES. The whole plot in game, manga, and stage play drama is that Mai Mizusaki (MC) travels back in time accidentally via wormhole, arrives to see Honno-Ji on fire without knowing when or what it is, rescues Nobunaga from an assailant, and takes him to safety. At first, Nobuanga assumes her explanation of not knowing (or CARING) who he is, is just a lark. Nobunaga is internationally infamous. He's been leaning into this fact since he couldn't escape it even as a child. When she says she's time a time traveler, he thinks she's suffering smoke inhalation / just confused.
- Nobunaga starts off EXTRA tyrannical, EXTRA domineering, EXTRA
- He does get shown evidence of time travel and explained what wormholes are. Although Mai herself doesn't understand any of it, Nobunaga understands it better than her, and figures out how to help translate it back to her. This is because of his own brain that works in a pretty weird way. He can pick up vastly theoretical physical concepts excellently; but human emotions are the hardest for him. (Ofc it's vice versa for Mai)
- Sasuke Sarutobi was a physic major undergrad student who time traveled through a wormhole at the same time as Mai, but wound up in the Sengoku era 4 years prior. He saved Kenshin's life, and has been working for him as a ninja ever since. Sasuke cheerfully works as a double agent against the Azuchi castle, but he's actually a giant Ieyasu fanboy and very fond of all the warlords, and would rather they not all kill each other. He taught Nobunaga how to bro-fist/fist bump. No, I can't tell you why. Ask Sasuke. In any event, Nobunaga is very fond of him, and this plotline winds up subverting a large part of the anti-ninja history with Nobunaga IRL history (though history itself is VASTLY messed up in IkeSen from wormholes etc.)
- In Bromances (the anime) and Sasuke's own route; Sasuke occasionally drops reveals about being from a place that uses seconds to measure time, the European Gregorian calendar, and certain other modern traditions. Nobunaga is the only one of the warlords (even from Kenshin and Takeda who LIVE WITH AND HIRE Sasuke!!!) who clues into this like a shark on bloody waters. This is because Nobunaga is a novelty addict who routinely did this to all foreigners in his never-ending search for knowledge.
- Mai shows Nobunaga her cell phone, which he quickly identifies as being beyond the manufacturing capacity for anywhere in the world; and also Bearsace -- a toy stuff bear she herself created and named. He later latches onto the story of Bearsace and in a Scheherazade kind of way, demands to know more about the bear's background and other friends, in his childish way of demanding that Mai live, just so she can tell him about it.
- In Bromances without Mai, Sasuke shows Nobunaga his phone, and the camera capacity, and Nobunaga places it instantly. - This is not applied in my playing for canon point. Just making a note.
- Bromances Sasuke also teaches Nobunaga how to play tennis, but Hideyoshi teams up with Nobuanga and can't help himself always trying to defend Nobunaga and giving each lunge an exorbitant name about protecting Nobunaga even from himself. And candy. Sports duels > katana duels to the DEATH. Literally almost anyone ever can convince Nobunaga of this JUST BY SUGGESTING IT. He *hates* killing, he views it as quite nearly a failure on his own part, to not think of a better way to force others to heel.
- IkeSen Nobunaga latches onto words. IRL he was learning Portuguese & Latin, did learn a lot of foreign languages, in the Good End of his route, he does get to sail to Europe with Mai and also learns French, Spanish, Italian, and starts trying to even incorporate some German and English. He LOVES languages, this is IRL, but IkeSen Nobunaga has the added advantage of getting to latch onto futuristic words and SLANG. He is obsessive about slang. He will start copying and trying to use the words like a parrot, even if he knows he doesn't fully understand it, and will definitely ask questions about it. The others are very unlikely to do this, (to some degree Hideyoshi will use words like boyfriend and end of year exams and get it wrong/weird!) certainly not so obsessively, but Nobunaga loves words.
- Nobunaga made his own iron-clads the first in the world. They were nearly small yachts, because they simply couldn't GET enough metal, but he also designed giant freaking sea-faring castles that he really wanted to see set sail, they were just exorbitantly expensive in resource, and he had no capacity to test and prove them.
- He understands molding, manufacturing, and the rest, it's LITERALLY his thing. Even more than killing.
- In Bromances, all of the gang wind up in the modern Japan, and Nobunaga pieces out how to solve this time travel SNAFU to return them to Sengoku. This theory he has a 90/10 odds for still coming back to. Which is by drawing extreme attention, changing history in such drastic ways (such as Sasuke teaching them SPORTS like tennis and volleyball, to fight with instead of murder) then time itself will spawn womrholes to correct the situation. How much of this is "secret genius" vs. "Chaotic Demon King just wanting to have fun" is literally anyone's guess. Nobunaga himself would insist he's just trying to have fun, but also you should try it because it has the best chance of working if you don't have a better idea. TLDR: he gets the warlords to create an anachronistic time period pop band, make a lot of fans, do extremely dramatic musical routines and it does work, and they go home.
- In the IkeSen game ends, Nobunaga ALSO has the strongest chance of figuring out how the fuck to work around the wormholes and/or with them, will willingly FIGHT WORMHOLES?!?! (of course he does. OFC HE DOES) and how to send messages across time.
- AU events: In RPG Nobunaga is happily evil, but his Demon King of 6th Heaven RPG warrior is actually a paladin character. Lol. Even though he sticks with the black armor and demon horns and wings. He's the happiest sadist ever. For the future/modern AU: he is an airplane pilot, and the authors have said they wanted to see him like that. Ieyasu is a veterinarian. It's very cute. Most of the events don't happen stateside, so the translation is a thing.
- PoCo Nobunaga uses DRAGONS and even acquires/befriends BLACK SHINY RAYQUAZA AHHHHHH. You know what dragons' weakness is?
- IkeSen Nobunaga has an added pressure to his personality about "time running out." He feels like he was able to cheat death with Mai rescuing him, but he's still in danger of dying without completing all of his desires, and this adds still more intensity to his desire to do everything, see everything, and not miss or waste a single moment. Though this intensity is universal for Nobunaga, it's a bit more actualized into an intelligible communicable reason in IkeSen rather than background noise.
