Maeda Toshiie was born the fourth son of Maeda Toshimasa in Owari Province. He served Oda Nobunaga beginning in 1551 at the age of 13. When his father died in 1560, his oldest brother Toshihisa succeeded as head of the Maeda Clan, but in 1569 Toshiie suddenly became clan head by Nobunaga's decree.

After Nobunaga's death at Honnou Temple, Toshiie battled Toyotomi Hideyoshi under Shibata Katsuie but was defeated at the Battle of Shizugatake. Thereafter he served Hideyoshi and became one of his greatest generals, eventually being named by Hideyoshi to the Council of Five to protect and guide Hideyoshi's son Toyotomi Hideyori. However, Toshiie died of illness a year after Hideyoshi.

Also known as: Dainichi-kyo

An important Buddhist sutra used in esoteric schools of Buddhism, especially the Shingon sect. This sutra is unusual in that it did not originate from Shakyamuni Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, but was said to have passed straight from Mahavairocana Buddha. It was brought to Japan by Kuukai.

In this sutra, Mahavairocana translates his teachings into ritual forms which form the basis of the rituals in the Shingon School.

Lit. "black magic", "sorcery": the magic of the Mazoku, which is primarily used in combat.

Manaduru Peninsula is a small peninsula located in Kanagawa Prefecture. At its tip is a well-known scenic spot, the Mitsu-ishi (Three Rocks). The stretch of ocean from the tip of Manaduru Peninsula to the tip of Miura Peninsula is Sagami Bay.

Legend has it Holy Priest was an ascetic monk who lived during the Nara Period. His names means "ten thousand scrolls", signifying his vow to read a sutra every day until he had read ten thousand volumes. He is said to be the founder of Hakone Shrine as well as the one who reformed the evil nine-headed dragon of Lake Ashi.

Lit.: "demon king", the king of the Mazoku. The position is neither elected nor inherited, but filled by choice of the Shinou, the first Maou.

Marunouchi, located in Tokyo between Tokyo Station and the Imperial Palace, is a commercial district and a financial center of Japan. Its name, 'within the circle,' derives from its location within the palace's outer moat.

Lit.: "Pine River"; a tributary of the Jinzuu River in Toyama Prefecture which separates from the main river near Nunose Town. A line of pine trees once stood along its banks; sakura (cherry) trees have now replaced them. Many of the surrounding areas have "sakura" in their name, such as Sakura Bridge Avenue, Sakura Town, New Sakura Town and Sakura Tree Town.

Matsuda Hideharu (or possibly Naohide (直秀)—opinions differ) was the second son of Matsuda Norihide. He served Houjou Ujinao and reported the betrayal of his father and older brother during the Siege of Odawara. He followed Ujinao to exile on Mt. Kouya after the fall of the Houjou; after Ujinao's death, he served the Kaga-Maeda Clan.

Matsuda Norihide was eldest son and heir to Matsuda Morihide and the chief vassal with the highest position in the Houjou Clan.

The Matsuda Clan, which had successively served the Houjou Clan since the time of Houjou Souun, held a vast fief of 2798-kan under the Houjou. Norihide's mother was Houjou Tsunashige's younger sister. He served Ujiyasu as a shrewd internal administrator and also fought in several of his battles, including the invasion of Suruga and the Battle of Kounodai against the Satomi Clan.

After Ujiyasu's death Norihide served Ujimasa, and in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's Siege of Odawara took the side of those in favor of resistance to the bitter end. However, he and his eldest son Kasahara Masataka were persuaded by Hori Hidemasa to switch sides, a fact discovered by his second son Matsuda Hideharu and reported to the Houjou. Houjou Ujinao placed Norihide under confinement and forced Masataka to commit suicide. It is said that this is the incident that resulted in the Houjou's surrender.

Hideyoshi, in condemnation of Norihide's disloyalty, had him commit ritual suicide. Hideharu followed Ujinao to Mt. Kouya and after his death served the Maeda Clan.

Also known as: Suzuki Sueshichi (birth), Matsuken, Ken-sama (nicknames)

An actor and singer who is known for roles in historical TV dramas. He has acted in more than 20 TV dramas, including Zatoichi, Abarenbou Shogun, Kusa Moeru, and Genroku Ryoran and released more than 10 albums.

Also known as: 深志城 (Fukashi-jou), 鴉城 (Karasu-jou)

A castle in Matsumoto which was built by the Ogasawara Clan during the Sengoku Period (then called Fukashi-jou). It was captured by Takeda Shingen in 1550 and recaptured by Ogasawara Sadayoshi in 1582, who changed the castle's name to Matsumoto Castle. Later it came under the rule of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Hideyoshi appointed Ishikawa Kazumasa the new lord of Matsumoto Castle, and he and his son, Ishikawa Yasunaga, maintained the castle and town. Yasunaga greatly expanded the castle probably around the years 1593-1594, adding the three towers tenshu (danjon tower), inui-kotenshu (small tower in the northwest), and watari-yagura (connecting scaffold), as well as the goten (residence), taikomon (drum gate), kuromon (black gate), yagura (scaffold), hori (trench), honmaru (the main wing), ninomaru (the second wing), and sannomaru (the third wing).

Matsumoto Castle is one of the best-preserved castles in Japan and is one of the designated national treasures. It is also called "Crow Castle (Karasu-jou)" for its black walls.

A prefectural high school located in Matsumoto, attended by Ougi Miya and her friend Kitahara Madoka. Its policy forbids students from getting part-time jobs unless given express permission.

The abbe of Uragami Cathedral, who is described as a man around forty years of age with a calm, gentle countenance. He is introduced to Naoe by Yanase Riho, and accepts the Maria Kwannon for the cathedral.

A third-year at Hanayama Girls' School whose class field trip coincides with Takaya's at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. She believes her friend Hokamura Narumi was kidnapped and asks Takaya and company's help to find her.

Takaya's homeroom teacher for Year Two Class 3 at Jouhoku High.

Also known as: Yoshihime, Youtokuin (陽徳院)

Only daughter of Tamura Kiyoaki who married Date Masamune in 1579 at the age of 12. An assassination attempt against Masamune caused him to suspect the Tamura clan, and he ordered the executions of Megohime's nurse and several of her attendants. Their marital relations became strained by these events, but were eventually mended, and Megohime gave Masamune four children, including his heir Date Tadamune.

She lived at the Date mansion in the court of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and acted as her husband's diplomat to the court. In 1636, at the death of Masamune, Megohime became a nun and took the Buddhist name of Youtokuin.

Tokyo's oldest professional baseball park which opened in 1926 and is home to the Yakult Swallows. Located in Shinjuku, Tokyo.

meditation

Wife of Aida Kengo.

Also known as: Mifunedai no Tatakai (三船台の戦)

The Battle of Mt. Mifune/Mifunedai was fought between Satomi Yoshihiro and Houjou Ujimasa on Sept. 25, 1567, in Kazusa, Kimitsu-gun, Mifunedai (present-day Kimitsu City in Chiba Prefecture.

The battle took place after a heavy defeat suffered by Satomi Yoshihiro at the hand of the Houjou Clan in the 2nd Battle of Kounodai (1564), in which Yoshihiro lost the northern part of Kazusa and the western part of the Satomi territory. The Houjou was in the process of building a fortress at Mifunedai, the base of Mt. Mifune, in order to take Yoshihiro's main fortress of Sanuki Castle. Knowing that once the Houjou fortress was completed, Sanuki Castle, located only a kilometer to the south, would be in great danger, Yoshihiro attacked the Houjou troops stationed at Mifunedai.

Upon learning of the attack, Houjou Ujimasa lead his troops across Edo Bay while sending Houjou Ujiteru with a detached force toward Kururi Castle, Satomi Yoshitaka (Yoshihiro's father)'s main fortress.

In response, Yoshihiro rallied from Sanuki Castle and met Ujimasa's troops in a fierce battle. The Satomi army tore the Houjou army apart, killing one of its chief commanders, Oota Ujisuke. Fearing a pincer attack from land and water, the entire Houjou army retreated back to Sagami.

Miike Tetsuya's uncle (older brother of Tetsuya's father), who is current head of the Miike family, the Spirit-Protector.

He is in his mid-forties. Chiaki describes him as looking like an intellectual who is endowed with a special kind of dignity and looks stylish in a kimono.

Twin sister of Miike Tetsuya who went missing a year ago. She was the Bonfire Maiden five years ago, when strange things happened during the festival. Afterwards the Miike family began calling her Asara and treated her like royalty.

Miike Tetsuya's granduncle, who took him and his sister Miike Hokage in after their father died and their mother left. He lives in Yakuin Field with his wife, Tetsuya's (unnamed) grandaunt.

He is a Miike Celebrant.

After leaving to live by himself in Kumamoto, Tetsuya never contacts them unless necessary.