Four Masho (Dark Warlords)

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The Four Masho (Dark Warlords) are fictional characters who are the main villains in the TV anime/manga series of Yoroiden-Samurai Troopers (鎧伝サムライトルーパー) (Ronin Warriors). They are known respectively as the Oni Masho 鬼魔将(Ogre Demon General) Shutendouji 朱天童子(or Shuten for short), Yami Masho (Darkness Demon General) Anubis 悪奴弥守, Doku Masho 毒魔将 (Poison Demon General) Naaza 那唖挫, and Gen Masho (Illusion/Phantom Demon General) Rajura 螺呪羅.

They are a team of vicious warriors led by Shuten, all in their late teens, and who wear mystical armor gear like the Samurai Troopers (Ronin Warriors). They serve the Demon Emperor Arago (Talpa) as he plans on taking over the Mortal World, as he vowed to do so over a thousand years ago.

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[edit] Armors and Weapons

Unlike the Samurai Troopers' armors, the Four Masho armors represent the four seasons: Anubis for winter, Shuten for spring, Naaza for autumn, and Rajura for summer. Their weapons and attacks are much more powerful in the beginning, due to Arago's influence.

  • Shuten and Rajura's super attack moves are defensive and used to render their opponents immobile. However, their ruthlessness and various weapons make them forces to be reckoned with.
  • Anubis and Naaza's attacks are projectile and offensive.

[edit] Names

The names of the Masho are codenames that were given to them when they were first recruited by Arago centuries ago.

  • Shuten's real name is Koma Toshitada. 独楽　智忠
  • Anubis' real name is Sasaki Kujuurou. 佐々木　挧従郎
  • Naaza's real name is Yamanouchi Naotoki. 山之内　直時
  • Rajura's real name is Kuroda Jirougorou. 黒田　次郎五郎

The Masho's codenames, with the exception of Shuten, are really only a collection of seemingly random kanji to produce the sounds of their names. Their armors, however, are based on animals or animal-like creatures.

  • Shuten's armor association of the oni 鬼, or ogre, comes mainly from the red of his armor's faceplate. Otherwise his armor is more reminiscent of traditional Japanese armor, a distinction among the other heavily stylized armors his fellow Masho wear. His name is based on a Japanese myth involving a demon named Shutendouji 朱天童子 who hates beans.
  • Anubis' 悪奴弥守 armor is based on the Egyptian god of death. A literal translation of his name kanji is "evil-slave-increasing-obey". The obedience part might be connected to his armor spirit 'kou' 孝, or filial piety
  • Naaza's 那唖挫 name and armor are both based on the Naga, a serpentine race originating from India that are prevalent in many Asian myths, particularly Buddhist ones. A literal translation of his name kanji is "what-mute-crush".
  • Rajura's 螺呪羅 armor is based on a spider. This animal association stems from Rajura's illusionary powers, where he is a master at spinning lies and death, just as a spider would. A literal translation of his name kanji is "spiral-incantation-thin silk".

[edit] Three Masho and Kayura

During the second season of YST, Kayura was introduced. The North American fandom often depicted Kayura as a member of the Masho, or even as the new leader. This is incorrect, as Kayura never stated, nor did anybody else, that she was a warlord. Arago never even mentioned her existence to the Masho because he had future plans for his four warriors. Kayura was brought right before Shuten made his reappearance to Ryo, Touma, Nasuti, and Jun. She introduced herself as "Youjakai no Kayura" (Kayura of the Nether World). If she was a warlord, then she would have introduced herself as one.

In Kongo no Shu's (Kento of Hardrock) CD drama, Tsuki (Moon) the remaining Masho explained to one another that nobody could ever take Shuten's place as a warlord, as that position was strictly for themselves. For the remainder of the series, the warlords call themselves the Three Masho.

[edit] Manga

The Masho appear as the villains in the official manga based on the anime series (TV series only). Unlike the TV series, the Masho fought the Troopers more often and in different order. While Shuten remained the first of the Masho to attack, Rajura was the second to strike, followed by Naaza and then Anubis. Another difference is that each of the Masho attacked the Troopers as a group, instead of individually (i.e. Seiji versus Anubis).