Also known as: Ka-jou (霞城), Kichiji-jou (吉字城)

A castle located in the City of Yamagata, Yamagata Prefecture. Designated a historical landmark.

Built in 1357, the castle became the chief of Mogami Yoshiaki's castles when he was rewarded land for his service in the Battle of Sekigahara.

Lit.: "Mountain-shaped", the City of Yamagata is the capital of Yamagata Prefecture, founded in 1889.

Shiohara Kouzou's secretary and an eyewitness to his death. He is described as a tall man in his thirties, courteous, friendly, and concerned about Nagi.

In Mirage of Blaze: a tsukumogami version of the Battleship Yamato constructed by the Mouri Clan to battle the Oda fleet. It feeds on human life force as fuel.

A city located in Nara Prefecture, founded in 1954, with a population of around 95,000.

Vassal of the Uesugi Clan, became head of the Yamayoshi Clan in September of 1577, at the death of his brother Yamayoshi Toyomori at the age of 13 with his uncle as his guardian. According to Uesugi Clan customs, a clan's land is seized until its head reaches adulthood at the age of 15, whereupon it is returned, but taking into account the long service of the Yamayoshi Clan, only half of the Yamayoshi land was seized, and Kagenaga was transferred from Sanjou Castle to Koba Castle.

The year after he entered Koba Castle, Kenshin died and the Otate no Ran began. He held Koba Castle in Uesugi Kagekatsu's name.

He also supported Kagekatsu in the Shibata Shigeie Rebellion and thereafter fought in many of Kagekatsu's wars, including Toyotomi Hideyoshi's assault against Odawara Castle and the Imjin War.

A battle fought between Toyotomi Hideyoshi/Oda Nobutaka and Akechi Mitsuhide 13 days after Mitsuhide's forces killed Oda Nobunaga at Honnou Temple. Mitsuhide's troops were out-numbered 2 to 1 in the battle, and most of them fled. Mitsuhide retreated, but was killed en route to Sakamoto Castle at Ogurusu Village.

Head of the Yanase family, a merchant house dealing in silk threads in Nagasaki. Son of Yanase Taizou.

Patriarch of the Yanase family, a merchant house dealing in silk threads in Nagasaki. Father of Yanase Ichirou. He speaks with Naoe about the history of the weeping Kwannon statue.

The five kanshousha at the head of the Meikai Uesugi Army ordered by Uesugi Kenshin to hunt for the onshou who are disrupting the peace of modern-era Japan in a battle which has lasted four hundred years. Led by Uesugi Kagetora, with Naoe Nobutsuna, Kakizaki Haruie, Yasuda Nagahide, and Irobe Katsunaga. The name "Yasha" refers to soldiers in the army of Bishamonten, called "Yaksha".

Head of the Echigo Yasuda Clan, son of Yasuda Kagemoto. He served as a vassal of the Uesugi clan and was given Iiyama Castle in Shinano by Uesugi Kenshin for merits in the Battle of Kawanakajima. The "aki", or "existing" character in his name was also bestowed on him by Kenshin.

In 1578 during the war for succession after Kenshin's death, he and his younger brother Yasuda Yoshimoto both supported Uesugi Kagekatsu, while his relatives Kitajou Takahiro and Kitajou Kagehiro (the Kitajou Clan and Yasuda Clan were both descended from the Mouri Clan) supported Uesugi Kagetora. He wrote: "Those who abandon Lord Kagekatsu, our rightful lord, and run to everyone's Kagetora are not descended from true warriors." It is said that Kagekatsu wept tears of joy upon reading his declaration.

He worked to persuade others such as Shibata Shigeie and Ijimino Nobumune to join Kagekatsu's side. In March of 1579, when Kagetora surrendered the castle and headed for the Kantou, he convinced Horie Munechika, master of Samegao Castle, to switch to Kagekatsu's side. Kagetora was cornered and committed suicide, and Kagekatsu won as a result.

It is also said that Akimoto took pity on Uesugi Norimasa's corpse, which was left unburied after his death, and gave it a proper burial.

In order to persuade Shibata Shigeie, Ijimino Nobumune, and other commanders to join Kagekatsu, Akimoto had promised reward such as castles and territory for merit during the war, a promise backed by Kagekatsu. However, he was opposed by other commanders such as Yamazaki Hidenori and Naoe Nobutsuna, who disagreed because these commanders had not joined Kagekatsu at the beginning of the war. Unable to keep his promise, Akimoto committed seppuku.

He was succeeded by his brother Yoshimoto.

A comical folk song and 'dance for fertile ground' which originated in Yasugi City, Shimane Prefecture.

Youtube video

The period of Japanese history from 400 B.C. to 250 A.D. which followed the Jomon Period, characterized by new styles of pottery and the extensive cultivation of rice paddy fields.

Lit.: "Four Pillars Shrine"; a Shinto shrine located in Matsumoto, built in 1872, dedicated to the four gods Amenominakanushinokami, Takamimusubi, Kamimusubi, and Amaterasu Oomikami.

A professional baseball team in Japan's Central League, founded in 1950 and located in Yokohama. Their ballpark is the Yokohama Stadium.

A student at Fukashi Junior High School one year older than Takaya, who fawns over Mitsui and resents the fact that Takaya was allowed to join his gang while he was not. Friends with Ichinose.

A professional baseball team in the Japanese Central League based in Bunkyou, Tokyo. It was founded in 1934, the oldest among the current professional teams, and owned by the Yomiuri Group. They are the richest team and have won more pennants and Japan Series than any other team in both leagues. Their main rival is the Hanshin Tigers. Their ballpark is the Tokyo Dome.

Son of Yoshie Munenobu and trusted vassal of Uesugi Kenshin. He served as keeper of Kasugayama Castle when Kenshin was absent during his battles. He also fought in many of Kenshin's wars.

He supported Uesugi Kagekatsu in the Otate no Ran after Kenshin's death along with his son Nakajou Kageyasu and his father Yoshie Munenobu. He committed suicide at Uozu Castle along with his father and two eldest sons when it fell to Oda Nobunaga in 1582.

Also known as: Yoshie Sukekata (吉江資堅)

Head of the Yoshie Clan, a vassal of Uesugi Kenshin and a close aide to him in his later years. He supported Uesugi Kagekatsu in the Otate no Ran. He died in 1582 in the Battle of Uozu Castle along with twelve other Uesugi commanders.

Also known as: Ohigashi-no-Kata (お東の方), nickname—Demon Princess of the Ouu (奥羽の鬼姫), Hoshunin (保春院).

Mother of Date Masamune, daughter of Mogami Yoshimori and younger sister of Mogami Yoshiaki, Yoshihime was born in Yamagata Castle in Dewa. She was given in marriage at the age of 19 to Date Terumune and bore him two sons, Date Masamune and Date Kojirou. She hated her first-born, Masamune, due to his one-eyed state, and favored his younger brother Kojirou. There was additional tension between them due to Yoshihime leaking information to her relatives in the Mogami Clan even while they were fighting with the Date Clan. In 1585, upon Terumune's death, she decided to have Masamune killed to allow Kojirou to become head of the Date clan.

In 1590, when Masamune was participating in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's campaign against Odawara Castle, Yoshihime personally brought Masamune a meal laced with poison. Though Masamune consumed the poison, he was able to counteract it with the antidote. He then had Kojirou commit seppuku. Afterwards, Yoshihime returned to the Mogami Clan.

In 1614, upon Mogami Yoshiaki's death, internal strife split the Mogami Clan. In 1622, Yoshihime could no longer sustain her status in the Mogami Clan, and asked Masamune to return, which he allowed. She went to live in Sendai Castle and died there a year later at the age of 76.

It was thought from the contents of the letters and poems mother and son exchanged that Yoshihime was reconciliated with Masamune in her latter years.

The new Math teacher at Takaya's school whom Yuzuru claims Takaya bullies and drives to truancy. He retaliates by assigning Takaya extra work when Takaya misses class.

A friend of Morino Saori, whom she calls 'Ton-chan." She collapsed during the mass-fainting on their third year field trip at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. They roomed together during the field trip along with a third girl, Kosaka, whom Saori calls 'Nao-chan."

"Yotsubashi-suji," or "Four Bridges Boulevard," is a nickname for the Osaka North-South Road. It is a major street running north-south through central Osaka.

In Japanese folklore, a youkai is a monster, spirit, or demon who range from malevolent to mischievous to benevolent. They can take various shapes, some human- or animal like, or appear to be or possess inanimate objects. Some are shapeless, and others shape-shifters. They usually have spiritual or supernatural abilities.