Monday, August 2, 2010
The Historical Okita Soji in Japanese Animation
Japanese manga and animation, having loved his own historical figures, and would often contain real life characters in their fictional works. One of their favorite historical figure, the legendary Okita Soji.
Okita Soji was captain of the first unit Shinsengumi. Shinsengumi were a special police force in Kyoto during the Bakumatsu (also known as the Late Tokugawa Shogunate), in recent years of the Edo period, which ended the Tokugawa shogunate and the Meiji government began. He was popularly known as a great fighter, along with Saito Hajime, captain of the Shinsengumi third unit, and Nagakura Shinpachi, who was captain of the second drive.
Okita was a miracle. He was famous for his ability in the shinai, bokken and katana. His signature technique was appointed Mumy-ken (no light blade or blade uninformed). Its technology can engage the enemy on his neck, left shoulder and right in one attack. It was said that this is his own invention. Although he was a genius in military combat, Okita died at an early age from tuberculosis.
Because the stories of his bravery, manga artists and animators would often base like some of their characters from it. But some makers would create a fictional and non-fictional stories about him in his work. Indeed, Okita has made several appearances in these works:
• Peacemaker Kurogane
Manga about a boy who wants to join the Shinsengumi. Okita makes an appearance as a member of the Shinsengumi
• Rurouni Kenshin
This manga is a wandering swordsman Kenshin name. Soy makes an appearance as a member of the Shinsengumi. Seta Sojiro, one of the villains in the manga and anime was also formed on the darker Okita.
Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto •
Supernatural sword adventure where the protagonist, Akizuki Yojiro, is friends with Okita.
Ghost Sweeper Mikami •
Okita makes a brief appearance in one of the adventure as Reiko Mikami Ghost Hunter. He is portrayed as a crazy guy who just wants to kill people.
• Kaze Hikaru
This is a manga about Shinsengumi, and focuses on a young girl dressed as a boy. She is training under the guidance of Okita.
There are several types of media, where it was shown Okita or characters were loosely based on him. But so far, it is the most famous work, featuring the legendary swordsman. Japanese kids can easily get to know their history, because their view of historical figures in the written media.