Basilisk: The Kouga Ninja Scrolls

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Basilisk: The Kouga Ninja Scrolls
バジリスク甲賀忍法帖 (Basilisk - Book of the Kouga Ninja Arts)
Genre	Seinen, Action, Historical fantasy
Manga
Authored by	Masaki Segawa
Publisher	Kodansha Heyne Del Rey Manga Tanoshimi
Serialized in	Young Magazine Uppers
Original run	February 2003 – July 2004
No. of volumes	5[1]
TV anime
Directed by	Fumitomo Kizaki
Studio	GONZO
Network	Razer IFC
Original run	April 2005 – September 2005
No. of episodes	24[2]

Basilisk: The Kouga Ninja Scrolls (バジリスク甲賀忍法帖 Basilisk Kōga Ninpō Chō) is a Japanese manga and anime series. The manga was authored by Masaki Segawa and published in Japan in 2003 and 2004, based on novel The Kouga Ninja Scrolls by Futaro Yamada published in 1958. The anime, produced in 2005 by GONZO Studios closely follows the manga aside from a handful of distinctions. The manga won the 2004 Kodansha Manga Award.

The story takes place in the year 1614. Two ninja clans, Tsubagakure of the Iga and Manjidani of Kouga, battle each other to determine which grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu will become the next shogun. The deadly competition between 10 elite ninja from each clan unleashes century-old hatred and threatens to destroy all hope for peace between them.

Contents 1 Summary 2 Characters in Basilisk 2.1 Kouga Ninja 2.2 Iga Ninja 2.3 Other 3 Related historical events 4 Theme song 5 Broadcast 6 Anime episodes 7 Differences from the Manga 8 Trivia 9 References 10 External links

[edit] Summary

At the dawn of Japan's Azuchi-Momoyama period (the late 1500s) two rival clan of Ninja; the Iga Tsubagakure and Kouga Manjidani; are engaged in a bitter blood feud that has spanned for centuries. The fighting finally ends when Hattori Hanzo the 1st succeeds in forging a cease fire between the two clans by conscripting both into the service of Tokugawa Ieyasu (the man who seized power to become Shogun and form Japan's first truly stable form of centralized government). Regardless, hostilities and bad blood remain between Koga and Iga, ensuring a tenuous co-existence at best.

Fast forward to the year 1614; Ieyasu has retired from power (although he still wields considerable influence within the government) and passed the torch to his son Hidetada. Unfortunetely, a succession dispute has risen concerning which of Ieyasu's grandsons is destined to take up the reins of power when their father finally decides to step down. The various government retainers are beginning to take sides and the Tokugawa Shogunate is on the verge of tearing itselt apart.

In order to solve the problem before it spirals out of control, Ieyasu orders Kouga and Iga's treaty canceled and commands each clan to send 10 of their best ninja to enter a ruthless and bloody competition of kill or be killed.

Each clan will represent one of the two factions supporting Ieyasu's grandsons; the names of their selected fighters recorded on two identical scrolls to be marked out in blood upon their death. To the clan that successfully eliminates the chosen ten of the other; then whichever grandson of Ieyasu's they've sided with shall be pronounced the undisputed heir to the Shogunate, the clan will continue to receive the support and patronage of the Tokugawa government, while the losing clan (bereft of its government support and the protection of its strongest fighters) will find itself at the complete and utter mercy of its longtime enemy.

But not all parties involved are willing to seek blood in the name of ancient grudges. Prior to the conflicts renewal, Kouga and Iga's two young heirs (Gennosuke and Oboro respectively) were betrothed to each other in the hopes that their union would finally dispel their clan's long-seated animosity toward each other. Forced headlong onto separate sides of a conflict they want no part of, Gennosuke and Oboro must now choose whether to kill the person they love or lead their entire clan to annihilation. Against centuries-old hatred and the horrors of war, is love even capable of surviving?

[edit] Characters in Basilisk

(Click on the highlighted text for a more detailed explanation of their personalities and techniques)

[edit] Kouga Ninja

The Kouga specialize in stealth and assassination with techniques that, for the most part, rely on subterfuge. Even abilities designed for battle, such as Gennosuke's Dojutsu, tend to be defensive in nature.

Kouga Gennosuke

Voiced by: Kosuke Toriumi (Japanese), Troy Baker (English)

The grandson of Kouga Danjo. Becomes leader of the clan after his grandfather's death. Uses the Dojutsu Eye technique and is a capable swordsman. Prior to the truce's absolvement he was engaged to the beautiful Oboro.

Kouga Danjo

Voiced by: Kiyoshi Kobayashi (Japanese), Grant James (English)

The grandfather of Gennosuke and leader of the Kouga clan; specializes in the poisonous needle arts.

Muroga Hyouma

Voiced by: Yasushi Miyabayashi (Japanese), John Gremillion (English)

Uncle and martial arts teacher to Gennosuke, to whom he passed the Dojutsu Eye Technique.

Kagerou

Voiced by: Risa Hayamizu (Japanese), Stephanie Young (English)

A beautiful, embittered young woman whose breath becomes poisonous when she's sexually aroused. Suffers an unrequited love for Gennosuke

Kisaragi Saemon

Voiced by: Yoji Ueda (Japanese), Jason Liebrecht (English)

The older brother of Okoi; he is able to assume the physical appearance of others and imitate their voice.

Kasumi Gyoubu

Voiced by: Katsuhiro Kitagawa (Japanese), Christopher Sabat (English)

Able to meld with the surface of his surroundings; he vows revenge on the Iga for killing his father.

Okoi

Voiced by: Haruka Kimura (Japanese), Monica Rial (English)

The younger sister of Kisaragi Saemon. Once in direct physical contact with the skin of another, she is able to drain their blood into herself. Due to the need of skin-to-skin contact, she is dressed in a more revealing manner than the other kunoichi.

Udono Jousuke

Voiced by: Katsui Taira (Japanese), Jeremy Inman (English)

Good-humored, lecherous, and a little dumb, his layers of fat give his body the resiliancy of rubber.

Jimushi Jubei

Voiced by: Atsushi Imaruoka (Japanese), Eric Vale (English)

Has no arms or legs, but can slide across the ground at high speed using the scales on his chest. He also has a long, prehensile tongue that can draw a sword concealed in his throat and stab an enemy to defend himself.

Kazamachi Shogen

Voiced by: Ryusaku Chidiwa (Japanese), Chris Cason (English)

Spider-like in his appearance and movements; his tongue secretes a sticky web like substance.

[edit] Iga Ninja

Rather than relying on deception, the Iga prefer more direct methods and their techniques tend to be mostly offensive to better give them an edge in close combat situations.

Oboro

Voiced by: Nana Mizuki (Japanese), Laura Bailey (English)

Ogen's granddaughter. She becomes leader after her grandmother's death but loses control over the clan due to her passive demeanor. Was born with 'Mystic Eyes' that neutralizes the technique of any ninja who meets her stare directly

Ogen

Voiced by: Hisako Kyouda (Japanese), Juli Erickson (English)

Oboro's grandmother and the leader of the Iga clan at the beginning of the series. She controls her hawk with deadly accuracy.

Yakushiji Tenzen

Voiced by: Sho Hayami (Japanese), Mark Stoddard (English)

The series' primary villain. He wrestles control away from Oboro to become the Iga's de facto leader. Possesses outstanding regenerative abilities.

Akeginu

Voiced by: Misa Watanabe (Japanese), Jennifer Seman (English)

Oboro's long-time bodyguard and confidant. She's able to control her own blood and is in love with Tenzen's apprentice Koshirou.

Chikuma Koshirou

Voiced by: Wataru Hatano (Japanese), John Burgmeier (English)

Tenzen's student. He wields two hand scythes and is also capable of creating air vacuums with his breath. Highly protective of Oboro.

Amayo Jingoro

Voiced by: Ken Uo (Japanese), J. Paul Slavens (English)

Contact with salt allows him to dissolve into a viscous liquid like form. Vulnerable to excessive dehydration while in this form.

Mino Nenki

Voiced by: Kenji Utsumi (Japanese), Jim Johnson (English)

Able to control his own hair to use as a grasping tool or even a weapon.

Hotarubi

Voiced by: Miyuki Sawashiro (Japanese), Colleen Clinkenbeard (English)

Yashamaru's lover. She summons swarms of butterflies which can distract enemies or conceal her and others when fleeing. Carries around a pet snake that acts as her bodyguard.

Yashamaru

Voiced by: Naoki Yanagi (Japanese), Justin Cook (English)

Hotarubi's lover. A master of garotte wires which are sharp enough to cut through stone.

Azuki Rousai

Voiced by: Takeshi Aono (Japanese), R. Bruce Elliott (English)

Can extend and contort his limbs to kick or punch from a distance with tremendous force. Carries around a very deep hatred towards the Kouga and has a large gourd-shaped head.

[edit] Other

Hattori Kyohachiro

Voiced by: Tomokazu Sugita (Japanese), Robert McCollum (English)

The nephew and adopted son of Hattori Hanzo the 4th. Kyohachiro was charged by Hanzo to monitor the duel between Koga and Iga and then report the results to him and Lord Ieyasu. Although he initially has his subordinates monitor the battles, following Gennosuke's victory over the Iga at Tsubagakure, Kyohachiro eventually decides that the Koga/Iga duel is something he has to see for himself personally. In the manga, he doesn't appear until volume 4 when he reports to his father that Lady Ofuku had departed in an attempt to sway victory in the Iga's favor.

Kasumi Renbu

Voiced by: Mugihito (Japanese), Daniel Penz (English)

The father of Kasumi Gyoubu who appears only in the anime. Under the command of the Koga elder, Renbu was ordered to hunt down and eliminate any Iga who escaped Nobunaga's assault but was stopped by Lord Kouga Danjo when he attempted to kill Ogen in the forests behind Tsubagakure. Despite being a ruthless combatant, Renbu's deepest desire was for his son to live a life free of conflict and bloodshed and eventually became a supporter of Danjo's desire to build a lasting peace with the Iga. Sent by Danjo to meet with them as a representative, Renbu and his companions were ambushed by an Iga squad who sought revenge for the attack he led on their clan. Renbu was mortally wounded during the fight and his final words to Gyoubu before he died was to never pity any ninja.

Ogen's Hawk

Ogen's companion and familiar. After fulfilling his master's final wish (delivering to the Iga their copy of the battle scroll) he travels alongside the Iga but for the most part remains neutral, preferring to watch the life and death battles of the 20 chosen ninja from the sidelines as an impartial observer.

The Flaustists

A father and son pair of travelling performers who appear only in the anime. Journeying aboard the same ship as the Iga; the two sought to entertain the other passengers with their music and juggling routines when they found themselves involved in the war between Koga and Iga. Seeking to avoid getting caught in Tenzen and Gyoubu's duel; the father dropped his flute as he fled which his son ran to retrieve before it could be broken. Tenzen, seeing an oppurtunity, intentionally positioned himself in front of the child and dodged as Gyoubu slashed at Tenzen with his sword. The boy was saved only when his father placed himself between his son and the feuding ninjas, taking the blow for himself and dying instantly.

Oboro's Nanny

Voiced by: Naoko Suzuki

Oboro's childhood caretaker who appears during the flashback of episode 16. The two had a close mother/daughter relationship and after she died, Oboro would frequently go to her grave to pray for guidance and strength. As she bore a strong resemblance to Akeginu, it's possible that Oboro's nanny was in some way related to Akeginu which would explain why she and Oboro are able to get along so well in the anime.

There are also several historical personages who make an appearance in the series:

Tokugawa Ieyasu

Voiced by: Toru Ohira (Japanese), Brice Armstrong (English)

The elderly former Shogun, who appears to be suffering from some sort of throat cancer as evidenced by the bulbous growth beneath his chin. Although retired, he still possesses enough influence within the government to revoke the Hattori truce in order to resolve the succession dispute. Historically, Ieyasu is regarded as an efficient yet extremely merciless ruler. Basilisk maintains this image of him as he clearly considers both Kouga and Iga expendable in the face of ensuring political stability and his family's grip on power.

Hattori Hanzo (the 1st) Masanari

Voiced by: Fumihiko Tachiki (Japanese), Kyle Hebert (English)

The head of a prominent ninja family from Iga Province who would later become supreme commander of the Shogun's ninja. In the anime, he helped the people of Tsubagakure escape from Oda's attack. The peace treaty between Iga Tsubagakure and Kouga Manjidani was originally implemented by him.

Hattori Hanzo (the 2nd) Masanari

Voiced by: Fumihiko Tachiki

The first son of Hanzo the 1st who appears only during the flashback of episode 16 of the anime. He met Gennosuke and Oboro at his estate when they were both children and was the one who originally negotiated the arranged marriage between them as a means of finally dispelling the animosity between their two clans.

Hattori Hanzo (the 4th) Masahiro

Voiced by: Fumihiko Tachiki

The third son of Hanzo the 1st and the current leader of the Shogunate's ninja. He nullified the peace treaty between the Iga and Kouga per orders of Lord Ieyasu and was among the audience that witnessed the duel between Yashamaru and Kazamachi Shogen at Sunpu Castle. Due to their barely-checked hostility toward each other and the awesome power of their techniques, he views the Iga Tsukagakure and Kouga Manjidani sects as being more akin to demons than humans.

Nankoubou Tenkai

Voiced by: Mugihito (Japanese), Andy Mullins (English)

A Tendai Buddhist monk and political adviser for the Shogunate. Tenkai was the one who suggested to Ieyasu that since the Tokugawas are a military family, the succession dispute should be settled though some sort of organized duel between ninja instead of valued samurai. As the duel between the Koga and Iga rages on, Ieyasu sends him into the inner castle to keep the peace between Ofuku and Oeyu.

Yagyu Munenori

Voiced by: Norio Wakamoto (Japanese), Ed Blaylock (English)

A Kenjutsu instructor of the Yagyū Shinkage-ryū school of which the Tokugawa shogunate was a loyal patron. He was in the audience at Sunpu during Yashamaru and Shogen's duel and is both awed and terrified by the power and ruthlessness displayed by Koga and Iga.

Takechiyo (later Tokugawa Iemitsu)

Voiced by: Tomato Akai

The second (eldest surviving) of Ieyasu's grandsons; apparently somewhat of a dimwit. Represented by Iga Tsubagakure.

Kunichiyo (later Tokugawa Tadanaga)

Voiced by: Izumi Koike

The third of Ieyasu's grandsons. Though younger, it's clear he inherited his family's intelligence over his older brother. Represented by Kouga Manjidani.

Ofuku (later Lady Kasuga)

Voiced by: Kimiko Saito

The wet nurse of Takechiyo and leader of the faction supporting his claim to the Shogunate. A cold and heartless woman who killed her husband's mistress and illegitimate child, Ofuku's only redeeming grace is her devotion to her protegé Takechiyo whom she sees as a surrogate son, even risking her own life to save him after the Kunichiyo faction poisoned his tea. Toward the end of the series, she decides to interfere personally with the war between Iga and Koga to better ensure her faction's victory.

Oeyo

Voiced by: Hikari Yono

The consort to Ieyasu's son Hitetada, the current reigning shogun. Although she gave birth to both Takechiyo and Kunichiyo, she favors Kunichiyo and leads the faction supporting his claim to the Shogunate. Oeyo is just as heartless and manipulative as Ofuku and in the anime, is suggested that she or one of her supporters even attempted to poison Takechiyo's tea.

Oda Nobunaga

In the anime, Nobunaga makes a cameo appearance during the flashback of episode 1 as he leads the surprise attack on Tsubagakure. His appearance is similar to his depictions in the Onimusha and Samurai Warriors video game series with thin features, ghostly white skin, elegantly groomed mustache and goatee, and a western-style cape draped over his shoulders.

[edit] Related historical events

• 1579: Oda Nobukatsu (the son of Oda Nobunaga) attaked Iga Province and was beaten off.
• 1581: Oda Nobunaga attacked and destroyed Iga Province.
• 1582: Incident at Honnōji - Oda Nobunaga died.
• 1603: Edo period started. Tokugawa Ieyasu established the shogunate and became the first shogun.
• 1605: Tokugawa Hidetada became the second shogun.
• 1614: Winter Campaign of the Siege of Osaka - Tokugawa attacked Toyotomi Hideyori.
• 1615: Summer Campaign of the Siege of Osaka - Toyotomi clan perished.
• 1616: Tokugawa Ieyasu died.
• 1623: Tokugawa Iemitsu became the third shogun.

[edit] Theme song

Opening

Kouga Ninpouchou by Onmyouza, available on the CD Single of the same name. The single was published on 27-4 2005

Ending theme

1. "Hime Murasaki" by Nana Mizuki (eps 1,9,11-12)
2. "WILD EYES" by Nana Mizuki (eps 2-8,10,13-14)

Both songs are published on the single "Wild Eyes", on 05 May 2005.

[edit] Broadcast

Basilisk is currently running on Canadian specialty station Razer Thursdays at 5:30pm EST and 12:30am EST, Fridays at 1:00pm EST, Saturdays at 10:00pm EST and 1:00am EST, and Sundays at 11:00am EST

Basilisk began its preview run on IFC on Friday, October 6, 2006 and aired on every Friday at 11:00 p.m. EST and again on Saturday at 2:00 a.m. and 8:55 a.m. EST. Its real run will begin on January 5, 2007 every Friday at 11:30 p.m. EST, after Gunslinger Girl.

[edit] Anime episodes

#	FUNimation's English title (not literal translation) (top) Japanese title Romaji - Kanji (bottom)	Original air date
1	"Destiny" "Sōshi Sōsatsu" (相思相殺)	April 12, 2005
2	"Last Rendezvous" "Taidō Niba" (胎動弐場)	April 19, 2005
3	"The Onslaught of War" "Kyōchū Muzan" (凶蟲無惨)	April 26, 2005
4	"The Horned Owl" "Yōkaku Yakō" (妖郭夜行)	May 3, 2005
5	"The Surprise Attack" "Shinobi no Rikugi" (忍者六儀)	May 10, 2005
6	"Longing in the Rain" "Kōrui Renbo" (降涙恋慕)	May 17, 2005
7	"The Bloodsucking Seductress" "Hitohada Jigoku" (人肌地獄)	May 24, 2005
8	"Cage of Blood" "Chikemuri Mujō" (血煙無情)	May 31, 2005
9	"Farewell" "Aizetsu Rin'u" (哀絶霖雨)	June 7, 2005
10	"Divine Mandate" "Shinso Gojō" (神祖御諚)	June 14, 2005
11	"On Their Own" "Sekireki Mukoku" (石礫無告)	June 21, 2005
12	"Remembrance" "Tsuisō Gentō" (追想幻燈)	June 28, 2005
13	"A Swarm of Butterflies" "Kochō Ranbu" (胡蝶乱舞)	July 5, 2005
14	"Fallen Flower" "Sange Kaikyō" (散花海峡)	July 12, 2005
15	"Reckoning" "Hatō Gokumon" (波涛獄門)	July 19, 2005
16	"First Impressions" "Kaihō Tanga" (懐抱淡画)	July 26, 2005
17	"Wandering Hearts" "Konmei Rubō" (昏冥流亡)	August 2, 2005
18	"A Dawn Without Light" "Mumyō Futsugyō" (無明払暁)	August 9, 2005
19	"Conspiracy" "Mōjo Kanbō" (猛女姦謀)	August 16, 2005
20	"River of Mercy" "Jinji Ryūryū" (仁慈流々)	August 23, 2005
21	"With All Her Heart" "Misatsu no Kagerō" (魅殺陽炎)	August 30, 2005
22	"The Haunted" "Kikoku Shūshū" (鬼哭啾々)	September 6, 2005
23	"Emancipation" "Mugen Hōyō" (夢幻泡影)	September 13, 2005
24	"Requiem" "Raise Kaikō" (来世邂逅)	September 20, 2005

[edit] Differences from the Manga

Although the anime follows the original manga almost exactly in storyline, there are a few slight differences. The most notable being flashbacks (such as the one in episode 1 as to how Ogen and Danjou's love came to an end) as well as addional scenes which occur only in the anime; both of which serve to expand on the characters and the backstory.

Other differences include fight scenes happening in a different order (IE-In the manga, Oboro uncovers Jingoro's attempt to assassinate Gennosuke before stopping Akeginu and Jousuke's duel whereas in the anime the situation is reversed), and exposed breasts being obscured in the anime by some form of covering whereas the manga tends to be less censored.

[edit] Trivia

• The Kouga Ninja Scrolls (Kouga Ninpōchō) is the first book in author Futaro Yamada's "Ninpōchō series of novels. His work also served as the inspiration for the 1993 hit anime movie Ninja Scroll (Jūbei Ninpūchō) and both it and Basilisk feature similar and occasionally matching characters. For instance; both feature a character named Kagerou, a female ninja from the Kouga Clan whose ability is to poison those in sexual contact with her, and who is in love with the main character. Basilisk's antagonist Yakushiji Tenzen is similar to the villain of Ninja Scroll Himura Genma in that both possess powers of regeneration and pursue their own objectives outside of their superior's knowledge. And Rousai's ability to stretch and contort his arms is replicated by Ninja Scroll's Dakuan. However, Ninja Scroll didn't credit Yamada.
• The anime/manga's title is a reference to the basilisk; a mythological dragon whose gaze was said to cause death. Likewise, both Gennosuke and Oboro possess the deadliest techniques in the series which are exercised through their eyes.
• Some characters are designed around concepts of animals. Rousai's large, gourd-like head and lengthy limbs are meant to evoke an octopus. Similarly, Shogen has six red dots on his forehead, meant to evoke the multiple eyes of a spider. Most obviously, Jubei's prehensile tongue and limbless body are meant to evoke a snake. A less obvious example is Hotarubi who controls clouds of glowing butterflys; a possible reference to how her name is the Japanese word for firefly.
• In addition to the Basilisk anime and manga, Futaro Yamada's book has been adapted for the live action film, Shinobi: Heart Under Blade which was released on DVD for American audiences in February 2007 by Funimation, the same company that distributed the dubbed version of Basilisk.
• Del Rey Books, the company that publishes the Basilisk Manga in English, released an English language version of the original Kouga Ninpocho novel in late December 2006, shortly after releasing English volume 3 of the manga.
• The Funimation English dub of the anime keeps many of the original Japanese honorifics.
• The Funimation English sub of the anime uses the original credits written in Japanese honorifics when played.
• The Basilisk manga is printed using a method unique among other titles in that very little of the background is actually drawn. Instead, roughly 90% of the manga is comprised of the various characters superimposed over black and white photographs of real world landscapes.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official FUNimation website
• Official Japanese website (Japanese)
• Official Basilisk broadband site (Japanese)
• Basilisk episode summaries