This work tells the story of Hojo Tokiyuki, the sole surviving heir to the collapsed Kamakura shogunate, who uses his talent for “hiding” to throw himself into difficult trials and battles in order to retake Kamakura.
In this article, we will provide you with all the information about Ogasawara Sadamune, the guardian of Shinano Province and an expert archer! In addition to his strength, we will also explain his character, personality, and relationship with Tokiyuki.
*This article contains spoilers.
After the fall of the Kamakura Shogunate, he was ordered by the emperor to become the guardian of Shinano. He is one of the leading warriors in the world, with exceptional eyesight and skill with the bow, and he also has a keen sense for battle. He is in an antagonistic relationship with Suwa Taisha Shrine over territory.
Sadamune was a master archer known throughout the country. He was so highly praised by the Emperor, Godaigo, that the character “King” (king) was included in his family crest as proof of the Emperor’s approval. His archery style has been passed down to the present day as the “Ogasawara Style.”
The key to his outstanding archery skills is his outstanding eyesight. In addition to being able to see up to 100 meters ahead, he also has excellent observation skills, and never misses even the slightest emotional disturbance or a momentary gap.
His only weakness is that he is not good at rapid-fire. To maintain high accuracy, Sadamune must concentrate all his energy on each shot, and he dislikes firing arrows in rapid succession.
He also has a wealth of battle experience and displays keen intuition in battle. His judgments about attacking and retreating and his reading of the battle situation are accurate and swift, and Tokiyuki and Suwa Yorishige often have trouble with his skills.
Sadamune was known for his nasty nature towards his enemies, Yorishige and Tokiyuki. When he first visited Suwa Taisha after becoming the governor of Shinano, he started a quarrel with the shrine by shooting a defenseless shrine maiden in the ear with a bow, an inhuman act.
On the other hand, he also showed generosity towards his family. Instead of punishing his subordinates and traitors who made mistakes and failed, he gave them a small chance to make a comeback in his territory.
Sadamune was also known for his good manners, and the modern culture of sitting formally is based on the “Ogasawara-ryu etiquette” that he compiled. There is a scene in which he points out to his enemy Tokiyuki that he should show respect because they are enemies who will take each other’s lives, so he can be said to be a very polite person.
Sadamune and Tokiyuki become enemies after a dog-chasing contest in episodes 4-5 of the anime (episodes 8-10 of the manga). Sadamune is searching for the remnants of the Hojo clan within his territory, and is suspicious of Tokiyuki, who appears to have a personality that is out of keeping with his age, but is unable to find any conclusive evidence.
Since the dog chase, his plans have been thwarted everywhere, so although he dislikes Tokiyuki, he appreciates his honesty and politeness, and treats him as an equal, without looking down on or belittling him just because he is a child.
For this reason, Tokiyuki finds him a formidable opponent. Although he has a hard time fighting Sadamune, who always goes all out, for the young Tokiyuki, all of these experiences become an experience that helps him grow.
In particular, he models his archery on Sadamune, learning from his skills during dog chases and on the battlefield. To Tokiyuki, Sadamune is both his enemy and his archery teacher.
Tokiyuki, who raised an army together with Yorishige, was ready to announce his name to all the allies and enemies in the country. Sadamune, who had been watching the whole thing from the shadows, changed color as soon as he heard the name “Hojo Tokiyuki”, and rode his horse towards Tokiyuki, aiming to kill him.
Tokiyuki escapes on horseback after being attacked by a single horseman, and his face is filled with excitement. He is about to say his final game of tag and farewell to Sadamune, who he fought many times with during his two years in Shinano, despite being an enemy general and who helped him grow.
Just like in their first dog chase, Sadamune fires his bow while chasing Tokiyuki, but Sadamune is so engrossed in taking aim at Tokiyuki that he doesn’t notice a branch in front of him, hits his head with all his might, and falls off his horse.
Tokiyuki says his final goodbye to the fallen Sadamune, “I’m off to challenge the world!” and sets off from Shinano. Sadamune is angry and frustrated. However, deep down he is a little envious of Tokiyuki’s growth over the past two years and his agility to aim for the world while fleeing. He sees off his rival as he sets off, vowing to shoot him down someday.
Two years have passed since the war he started with Yorishige. Having become independent and led the Towakutō, Tokiyuki joins the Southern Court and takes part in the battle against the Ashikaga forces of the Northern Court alongside the warlord Kitabatake Akiie.
5つの軍に分かれて攻撃を仕掛けてくる足利軍に対し、顕家軍も手分けして各敵軍を迎撃することに。西からの敵を迎え撃つことになった時行の前に現れたのは、因縁の相手・小笠原貞宗でした。
時行を討ち取るチャンスに喜ぶ貞宗は、2年間で大将として成長した時行の姿を認めつつも、当然攻撃の手は緩めません。一方の時行は、相変わらずの逃げ上手を発揮し、貞宗の矢をかわしながら、その弓術を見て学びます。
すっかり乱世に適応した姿を見た貞宗はついに奥義を繰り出します。時行に向かって真っすぐ馬を走らせながら至近距離で身体の中心である鳩尾を狙い矢を放ったのです。
時行は馬を盾にして急所を隠しますが、馬の速度を乗せた貞宗の弓は馬を貫き時行へ到達してしまいます。射貫かれてしまったかに見えましたが、郎党・亜也子が矢を食い止め、時行はかろうじて死を回避。そうして真正面から最強の技を受けたことで時行は貞宗の奥義を学んだのです。
貞宗が時行に集中している隙に、時行軍が貞宗軍の後衛を少数精鋭に奇襲させたため、貞宗は退却を余儀なくされます。ところが敗れた貞宗の顔はどこか満足げ。因縁の少年の成長に密かに喜びを感じているのでした。
小笠原貞宗を演じるのは青山穣さん。1月30日生まれ、愛知県出身。『かぐや様は告らせたい～天才たちの恋愛頭脳戦～』のナレーションをはじめ、『NARUTO -ナルト- 疾風伝』のサソリ役など、数々の人気キャラクターを演じています。
時行の手強い敵将である小笠原貞宗。物語序盤では強敵ながらユニークな印象の強い人物ですが、ストーリーが進むにつれて時行との関係性や人物像に奥行きが出て、とても魅力的なキャラクターとなっていきます。その活躍にもぜひ注目してください！
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