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 bring you all the information about Kojiro, the swordsman who serves Tokiyuki! In addition to his strength, we will also explain his personality, character, and relationship with Tokiyuki.
*This article contains some spoilers.
Although he is the same age as Tokiyuki, he is the best swordsman of his generation, surpassing even adults. He is not only skilled in swordsmanship, but also in analyzing the state of battle, and is able to move around skillfully while encouraging his comrades in battle, so he is expected to be the future vice-commander of the “Touwaka-to”.
Although he is only eight years old, Kojiro is a swordsman who can hold his own against adults. Although he is still small and not as strong as an adult, he uses his solid sword skills, speed, and agility as his weapons, and can easily defeat average samurai on his own.
Kojiro’s abilities are the result of not only talent, but also extraordinary rigorous training. Even now that he has become Tokiyuki’s retainer, he continues to train daily with his companion Ayako, and the two often show off their perfect teamwork.
Furthermore, he is skilled at calmly analyzing the state of the battlefield, and he moves freely around the battlefield while encouraging his comrades, and his devoted fighting spirit turns the tide of battle in his favor. Despite his young age, Kojiro is a worthy vice-commander of the “Runaways.”
Kojiro is friendly and fearless. He speaks his mind even to adults, and faces enemies who are much larger than him with confidence. However, he is not arrogant, and he is humble and does not overestimate himself, and is kind to his comrades, which is why he is well-liked by those around him.
In particular, his fighting style earned him the deep trust of the samurai who fought alongside him, and every time he participated in a battle as Tokiyuki’s retainer, he built strong relationships with his fellow samurai.
Not only is Kojiro strong as a samurai, but his likeable personality is undoubtedly one of his strengths, and it is what supports Tokiyuki.
Kojiro is a descendant of the Nezu clan, a retainer of the Suwa Taisha Shrine, but he does not know the faces of his parents. His mother is the sister of the current head of the Nezu clan, and was forcibly married to a man who was a direct vassal of the Hojo clan under the Kamakura Shogunate, and gave birth to Kojiro.
However, Kojiro’s father was already married and took advantage of the power of the Hojo clan to not take any responsibility. Kojiro’s mother, wounded and weak both physically and mentally, dies in childbirth.
The orphaned Kojiro bore a striking resemblance to Kojiro, the sickly eldest son of the head of the Nezu family, and so he was given the role of making a name for himself as his double. He honed his swordsmanship through daily, blood-curdling training.
Although they are in a master-servant relationship, Kojiro and Tokiyuki have built a friendly relationship like friends. During his lonely childhood without parents, Kojiro was trained in martial arts and killing techniques in order to become a body double. The Towakutou was the first place Kojiro found himself in his life.
Tokiyuki is a kind and caring man who also treats Kojiro as a friend, making him the best lord possible. For Tokiyuki’s sake, he trains every day to become the strongest warrior.
On the other hand, Tokiyuki has a strong trust in Kojiro, and sometimes expects results beyond his abilities. While Tokiyuki’s pure and unclouded expectations weigh heavily on Kojiro, his personality makes him want to live up to them, which makes Kojiro even stronger.
Unable to bear the oppression of the kokushi, Hoshina, a military commander of the Suwajin Party, raises his troops and starts a rebellion. However, due to the difference in military strength, there is no chance of victory, and furthermore, Suwa Taisha cannot send reinforcements, so the Towaku Party is given the mission of stopping the fighting and helping Hoshina and the people living there to escape safely.
As the Hoshina forces retreat, they intercept the pursuing enemy forces in order to allow the women and children of their territory to escape to safety. As Kojiro is providing support for his allies, the enemy’s general appears before him. Kojiro is young and small in stature, while his opponent is a well-built adult. Kojiro is overwhelmed by the difference in strength and weight.
With each exchange of swords, Kojiro grows increasingly exhausted, and so as not to bring shame upon his master, he swings his sword with all his might, but his attack is unavoidably dodged. While Kojiro is already exhausted, his opponent seems to have no problems at all.
Just when it seemed the battle would end like this, the opposing general let his guard down and stopped his horse, but his allies managed to drag him off, and the situation changed dramatically. Kojiro mustered his last bit of strength, finishing off the enemy general and achieving a brilliant military feat.
Finally, Tokiyuki and the Suwa Taisha army reveal their true identities and raise an army to retake Kamakura. They leave Shinano for Kamakura. They advance smoothly and finally clash with the main Ashikaga army. The enemy general, Shibukawa Yoshisue, wields a large sword and is a much stronger foe than the enemies they have faced so far.
難敵・渋川に対し、時行と弧次郎は2人で勝負を挑みます。2人の策は逃げ上手の時行がとことん攻撃をかわして渋川を疲弊させ、そこを弧次郎が叩くというもの。
時行は鋭い攻撃を間一髪でかわしながら言葉で相手を煽ります。怒りが極限に達し、激情に任せて全力で刀を振る渋川。疲労が目に見えるようになったところで、いよいよ時行の首を懸けた弧次郎との一騎打ちが始まります。
疲労が極限に達している渋川を押す弧次郎ですが、渋川も一筋縄ではいかない豪傑。蹴りを交えて弧次郎を攻めます。しかし、強敵を前に弧次郎の闘志はどんどん燃え上がるばかり。
渋川に蹴り上げられた弧次郎は、自分に向かってきた高速の斬撃の速度を利用し、身を回転させ、勢いそのままに頭上から渋川を一刀両断。ついに一騎打ちは決着し、大将が討ち破れた足利軍はそのまま撤退を余儀なくされ、時行軍は勝利を収めたのでした。
弧次郎を演じるのは日野まりさん。5月22日生まれ、北海道出身。出演作品は『とある魔術の禁書目録Ⅲ』のリメエア役をはじめ、『『ふらいんぐうぃっち』の犬養役など、数々の人気キャラクターを演じています。
8歳にして抜群の剣技と闘志、そして人から慕われる人柄を持つ弧次郎。友として郎党として時行を支える「逃若党」の副将です。曇りなき忠義心で技を磨き、時行一行の鎌倉への道を斬り開きます！
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