Latest news with #Sengoku
Tom's Guide
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
'Shogun' star just potentially revealed a major season 2 spoiler — here's what we know
We know some things about "Shogun" season 2: It takes place 10 years after season 1 and filming won't start until 2026. But we don't know who is starring alongside Hiroyuki Sanada as Lord Yoshii Toranaga and Cosmo Jarvis as John Blackthorne. At least, not officially. Unofficially, though, one "Shogun" star might have just spilled the beans on their season 2 involvement. In an interview with MovieWeb, show star Takehiro Hira revealed that, shockingly, they're going to be in season 2. "It's going to be shot next year," Hira told MovieWeb's George Edelman. "And I am going to be in it, I think, as far as I know." That wasn't all Hira revealed, though. After dropping that surprise, unofficial casting announcement, he followed up with an absolute bombshell. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. "And then, you know, my character, Ishido, loosely follows an actual historical figure," Hira continued. "So I know he's going to die, but, um, I guess the creators, show runners are doing something creative to shed some light on different aspect of that character later on." First of all, dropping a surprise casting announcement is a bit of a spoiler in its own right. Especially since I wasn't expecting Hira's Ishido to appear in season 2 at all (more on that in a bit). But then, casually mentioning you're going to die in season 2 is a shocking reveal, and one I'm truly stunned Hira made. The biggest reason I'm stunned? ... Ishido should already be dead. As Hira correctly points out, "Shogun" follows historical events, and his character is based on a real historical figure from the Sengoku period. But he's not the only character with a grounding in historical fact. Fan favorite Toda Marino (Anna Sawai) is also based on a historical figure, and her character's fate and the fate of Hira's Ishido should be closely intertwined. Mariko is based on Hosokawa Gracia, and like Gracia, she died rather than being used as a political hostage, and her death was a major setback for Ishida Mitsunari, the real-life figure Hira's Ishido is based on. In both the show and the movie, this event contributes to the defeat of Ishido/Ishida at the Battle of Sekigahara, which occurs mere months after Mariko/Gracia's death. In real life, that battle ends with Ishido/Ishida's death, but in the show, we only see the warlord defeated, leaving his execution implied rather than explicit. Leaving Ishido alive in general would be a surprising deviation from historical events, even for a work of historical fiction. Keeping him alive for a further 10 years would be genuinely shocking. Hira's comments indicate that showrunners Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks have a detailed plan for Ishido in season 2, which leads me to believe his comments about Ishido returning for season 2. I'm not convinced the appearances won't ultimately be as flashbacks, but it certainly seems like Ishido will make an appearance in some form in "Shogun" season 2. Malcolm has been with Tom's Guide since 2022, and has been covering the latest in streaming shows and movies since 2023. He's not one to shy away from a hot take, including that "John Wick" is one of the four greatest films ever made. Here's what he's been watching lately:
Yomiuri Shimbun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Mie: Tourists Can Experience Training As Ninja in Japan's City Said to Be Ninja Hometown
The Yomiuri Shimbun The writer tries his hand at throwing shuriken at Ninja Museum of Igaryu in Iga, Mie Prefecture. IGA, Mie — The word ninja conjures up images of people clad all in black, operating in secret. Many have envisioned them playing a significant part behind the scenes in Japanese history, but their actual activities and lives remain cloaked in mystery. Anime and movies show ninja dramatically vanquishing their enemies with shuriken ninja stars, but how did they really fight? Seeking answers to these questions, I experienced the real ninja world at Ninja Museum of Igaryu in Iga, Mie Prefecture. The Iga region is believed to be one of the birthplaces of ninja. I thought it would be better to get into the mood before entering the ninja world, so I changed into a rental costume at a kimono shop in the city. Walking along the street in my black clothes, foreign tourists shouted 'Ninja!' at me. When they turned their cameras to me, I felt a little shy but was excited. At the museum, I tried my hand at throwing shuriken stars. Curator Chiharu Koda taught me the basics. You may have seen a ninja holding a bunch of shuriken in the palm of one hand, bringing the other palm together horizontally and rubbing them quickly to perform successive shoots. She said that it is only in anime and manga. 'Actually, you have to throw them like you're flinging them down vertically,' Koda said. According to her explanation, real ninja would hold a shuriken star with the thumb and forefinger at a vertical angle, put a foot forward on the opposite side of the dominant hand, and then throw it fully snapping the wrist, like a baseball pitcher throwing a ball. From stones to shuriken Shuriken made of stainless steel are used for the museum's demonstrations. They're the same model used in shuriken throwing contests, Koda said. They were lighter and smaller than I had expected, and a lot of physical power seemed necessary to throw them a long distance. The Yomiuri Shimbun Shuriken knives stick into a wooden target. I made my first throw toward a wooden plate about five meters away. The shuriken hit the target, but didn't stick into the plate, bouncing back instead. 'The knack is not to rely just on power when throwing, but to minimize the rotation and throw straight,' Koda said. I kept trying and finally made the shuriken stick into the plate. When I could hit near the center of the target, I felt like I had become a real ninja. After more practice, I became able to skillfully use my wrist and stick the shuriken into the plate more often. Once I was finished, I asked Koda about the history of shuriken. Many people likely visualize shuriken as cross-shaped, but Koda said they were not that way in the beginning. The Yomiuri Shimbun The writer passes through a dondengaeshi hidden door. Ninja originally used stones or pieces of kawara rooftiles lying on the ground as impromptu weapons during the Sengoku period, late 15th century to 16th century, she said. From the early Edo period in the 17th century, shuriken became more sophisticated in tandem with the development of martial arts, ultimately resulting in cross-shaped shuriken. 'This resulted from martial arts performers pursuing beauty and functionality in peaceful times,' Koda said. Hidden door Next, I visited the Ninja House, a re-creation of the type of house ninja are believed to have lived in. Inside, subtle tricks are installed everywhere to hide ninja's secret skills, such as methods to mix gunpowder and medicines. Kunoichi Suzu, a guide for the house, showed me around. Kunoichi means 'female ninja.' There's a sword hidden in a part of the floor. A wooden plate pops up when you stomp hard on the side of the threshold and a hidden sword appears. Suzu performed the trick, needing only one second to finish drawing the sword. 'Amazing!' I shouted. The Yomiuri Shimbun Kunoichi Suzu draws a sword which was hidden under the floor. Visitors can also experience such tricks as a dondengaeshi hidden door where part of a wall turns to reveal a secret door. I felt like I had wandered into the world of samurai dramas. 'Ninja tend to be depicted as loving battle in anime and movies, but their real duties were collecting information,' Koda said. Actual ninja are believed to have undertaken tasks of secretly collect information on enemies — castle structures, the storage of war supplies and current movements — to minimize the harm to soldiers on their side. Real images to foreigners Last fiscal year, about 115,000 people visited the ninja museum. Inbound foreign tourists numbered about 26,800, or more than 20% of the total. The Yomiuri Shimbun The writer poses riding on mizugumo, believed to have been a ninja tool used to walk on water. Many were from Taiwan, Hong Kong and the United States. Overseas broadcasts of such anime series as 'Nintama Rantaro' and 'Ninja Hattori-kun' have boosted popularity, according to the museum. 'While respecting the images that visitors have in their minds of ninja, I want to present what ninja actually were,' said Koda. I have heard that an old book on ninja skills states that ninja emphasized human relationships and psychology, saying: 'Always smile. Information will come in naturally if you do.' That seems like timeless advice, good for a news reporter too.
Japan Today
26-05-2025
- Japan Today
Kamioka is a charming Showa-era time capsule nestled in Japan Alps
By Rachel Crane Kamioka is a charming Showa-era time capsule nestled in the Japan Alps. Part of Hida City in Gifu Prefecture, Kamioka was once a mining town. While the industry and population have declined, Kamioka's old-world charm and fascinating history continue to draw visitors. The best way to experience the town is to take a guided tour. A local guide will lead guests along the river via retro shops and teahouses, while narrating stories from the town's rich history. Some guided tours specialise in sampling regional delicacies, while Nordic hiking tours take adventurous visitors out to the surrounding mountains. Kamioka's signature product is sake (alcohol), so be sure to sample the fine spirits the town has to offer. The neighboring Furukawa area of Hida City specialises in the production of traditional Japanese candles, making the area a perfect place to shop for unique handmade gifts. For nature lovers, the best time to go hiking in Kamioka is summer, when the mountain air is at its mildest. In winter, the town gets an average of three meters of snow, and is a great base for skiers looking to enjoy the powder on the Japanese Alps. History, Science and Culture Kamioka is home to a collection of interconnected museums and cultural sites that tell the story of the town's fascinating transformation through the years. The most impressive relic of the town's past is Kamioka Castle, which is in authentic Sengoku period style. A climb up to the castle's viewing platform offers views over the beautifully landscaped grounds and the rooftops of the old town below. The scenery is particularly enchanting in early April, when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. Click here to read more. External Link © GaijinPot
Yomiuri Shimbun
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Collection of Wealthy Merchant Family Exhibited in Miyagi Town; Samurai Armor, Helmet, Doll Warriors on Display
The Yomiuri Shimbun Suits of armor, helmets and other items displayed at a special exhibition in Marumori, Miyagi Prefecture, on April 17. MARUMORI, Miyagi — To coincide with Children's Day on May 5, an annual special exhibition featuring the Tango no Sekku (Boy's Festival) is being held at the Kura no Kyodokan Sairi Yashiki museum, a registered national tangible cultural property in the town of Marumori, Miyagi Prefecture, until May 25. About 50 items are displayed at the exhibition, including a suit of armor and helmet made during the late Sengoku period (late 15th century to late 16th century), a 5-meter-long banner emblazoned with a samurai and about 20-centimeter-tall doll warriors modeled after famous samurai such as Minamoto no Yoshitsune and his trusted subordinate Benkei. All of these items were collected by the Saito family, a wealthy merchant family active in the town from the Edo period (1603-1867) to the early Showa era (1926-89). A 43-year-old self-employed business owner in the town, observing the items carefully, said in a satisfied tone, 'I was impressed by these heroic items.' The exhibition is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Mainichi
04-05-2025
- Science
- The Mainichi
AI helping researchers, laypeople discover archaeological sites in Japan mountains
KOBE -- Traces of a small mountain castle dating to medieval times were discovered in the hills of Tatsuno, Hyogo Prefecture, this March, thanks to advances in surveying powered by artificial intelligence (AI). Are new methods ushering in a new era of discoveries? What led to the find was highly precise 3D map data published by Hyogo Prefecture. The hill castle ruins' location was confirmed when a research team from the Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (Nabunken) found distinctive landforms at the site which were first seen in an AI-driven map analysis during other research. The ruins were found near a peak about an hour's walk from a road. One of its slopes is flattened, and landform features such as traces of a moat and a bridge were seen there. The height from the bottom of the moat to the flattened area is estimated to have reached 5 meters. Since remnants of roads were also found nearby, it was concluded to be highly probable the castle was a lookout. Since it is not built robustly enough as a base for battle, as those in the Sengoku (Warring States) period (1467-1615), the site is thought to date back to the 14th century Nanbokucho period (1336-1392) when mountain fortresses were still developing. Four kilometers northeast, the Kinoyama Castle Ruins sit where the Akamatsu clan, a powerful family in Harima Province at the time, had their base of operations. Lead researcher Yuichi Takata, a Nabunken historian who made the discovery, said, "Many distinctive landforms were also found in the surrounding area that could have been mountain castle sites. If these are connected, it may help to map out the possible power relationships of the time." Use of aerial lasers Takata and the others utilized 3D map data covering all of Hyogo Prefecture, which the prefectural government began releasing to the public in stages in 2020. The data, measured by aerial laser scanning, provides elevation in square areas 1 meter on each side in flat areas and square areas 50 centimeters on a side in mountainous regions. They used AI to analyze the data as part of research to locate ancient Japanese burial mounds known as kofun. At least 1,300 locations with land features that could indicate ancient burial mounds were found, and on-site surveys in locations in the cities of Toyooka and Tatsuno confirmed 34 as burial mounds and temple ruins. This was reportedly when the unusual landform was observed, which was later determined to be the site of a mountain castle. Ancient sites found in the mountains one after another Under the Act on Protection of Cultural Properties, development projects near previously discovered sites must be reported as the surrounding areas are designated as "areas containing cultural properties." The Agency for Cultural Affairs says there are about 460,000 such sites nationwide, with around 9,000 excavations conducted annually. However, most of these surveys are linked to development, and are therefore concentrated in urban areas. Mountainous areas can be seen as a void for archaeological excavation, but in recent years, the trend is changing as governments successively make map data available to the public and archaeology fans are starting to use it to make discoveries. In Hida, Gifu Prefecture, the city government started utilizing map data in fiscal 2019. Thanks to suggestions from archaeology fans, burial mounds, mountain fortresses and other structures have been discovered, and inspired city staff analyzed the data and newly registered 71 archaeological sites. The Geospatial Information Authority of Japan has been publicly releasing map data since 2023. At the end of this past March, the data covered around 40% of the entire country. Also in 2023, the Hyogo Prefectural Government released geodata with a resolution of 50 centimeters on each side. The high accuracy makes it possible to spot ruins not only using AI, but also with the naked eye. "Ruins are often located deep in the mountains, and it's difficult to find them by raw effort alone. If they can be identified in advance using 3D maps, that makes it an order of magnitude more efficient," said Takata. Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Archaeology curator Hirokazu Nagae, who worked on the findings with Takata, commented, "Searching for archaeological sites from 3D maps is becoming popular overseas. It looks like it can be used effectively not only for research and as a hobby, but also for surveys associated with development." (Japanese original by Akira Inoh, Kobe Bureau)
