The elusive samurai is a great historical retelling of the fall of the Kamakura Shogunate In the 1300s in Japan. The Kamakura shogunate was one of the most powerful shogunates in Japan’s history, as it stood tall for hundreds of years. Takauji’s massive betrayal is brought to anime with incredible visuals, fun characters and some of the most jaw-dropping set pieces on screen. Tokiyuki Hojo, the last remaining member of both the Kamakura Shogunate and his Hojo clan, is a great protagonist who is easier and easier to root for.
Tokiyuki is less than 10 years old when he watches his clan demolished. Instead of committing ritual seppuku like the rest of his people, he defiantly decided to continue living. Tokiyuki’s righteous rage leads him to meet new friends, seek important allies, and hopefully one day lead to the recapture of his home territory.
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Tokiyuki Snipes Sadamune
The heir of Hojo against the odds
Sadamune is an incredibly intelligent antagonist early in the Elusive Samurai. He strongly opposed the Kamakura Shogunate and was glad it fell. Now that Kamakura is out of the way, Sadamune has his eyes set on the Suva territory. In an attempt to get Sadamune to back down, Yorishige comes up with an idea. Sadamune is known for having the best eyes in Japan. He can see incredible distances and has the skill to send an arrow exactly where he’s looking.
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Yorishige tells Sadamune that if he beats Chojumaru, Tokiyuki’s alias, in a dog-shooting competition, he can have the Suva territory, but if he loses, he must leave. Tokiyuki uses his skills with the bow and dodge to great effect, sending an arrow straight to Sadamune’s face. It’s a great moment in the series that reminds everyone that their enemies aren’t perfect. It also shows Tokiyuki’s love for battle, Something no one would have guessed, considering how much he likes to run away.
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The Elusive Warriors were formed
Tokyuki’s Personal Warriors
Tokiyuki is nothing without his allies. When he first left Kamakura to go to Suwa, he had nothing. His family is dead, his country is taken, and Even his own name will bring him unwanted attention. Yorishige Suwa, Tokiyuki’s new caretaker, realizes this and gives him two of the strongest retainers he could ask for in Ayako and Kojiro. They are both excellent with a sword and even better to the young boy as friends.
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Down the line, Tokiyuki meets the master thief Genba and the one-man army Fubuki to add to his newly formed Elusive Warriors. The elusive warriors are one of the best reasons to watch these Elusive Samurai. Tokiyuki is a great character and his friends bring out the best in him. Their dynamic is fun, light-hearted and always a good time.
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Tokiyuki does not commit seppuku
The Hojo clan could live on
Tokiyuki Should His death According to the cultural and social norms of Shogunate-era Japan. Seppuku, or ritual suicide, was incredibly common among losing warriors. It was so common, over 800 of Tokiyuki’s clan members committed the act when they heard of Takauji’s betrayal. Instead of fighting back, Tokiyuki’s entire clan decided to surrender from life entirely. Tokiyuki didn’t. By not killing himself along with the rest of his people, the Hojo clan still lives on.
Tokiyuki desperately clinging to life is one of the best parts of The elusive samurai. Although all his men are gone, and many may consider him a coward for not joining them, Tokiyuki decides to fight. This is a great moment in the show that highlights the elusive Warrior that has always been in Tokiyuki. He is incredibly brave for surviving the fall of Kamakura and the only reason his clan may one day reemerge.
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Fubuki scares Kyohara
Fubuki made a smart move
Fubuki is one of the smartest kids in anime. When the elusive Warriors first encounter him as an adversary, he convinces the kids he protects to keep a bunch of flares in the surrounding forest to trick the Warriors into thinking they are facing a much bigger threat than they thought. He proves to be one of their greatest allies and is even strong enough to fight Ayako and Kojiro at the same time. At first, his decision to spare Kiyohara’s life seems immature, But it turns out to be genius.
By scaring Kyohara and not killing him, Fubuki left the enemy with an unstoppable leader, Which is even better than they leave no leader at all. His decision to spare his enemy proved to be the right one, giving the elusive Warriors a chance to rebel against Kyohara in the future.
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The case of Kamakura
The Kamakura Shogunate fell brutally
The case of Kamakura is one of the most brutal betrayals in anime. Takauji Ashikaga turned his back on the Hojo clan and the entire shogunate. He was Kamakura’s best warrior and led most of their troops. When the people back in Kamakura heard of this betrayal, they all committed ritual seppuku. The people who did not commit seppuku face an even worse fate They were slaughtered by the same people they once called friends.
The Fall of the Kamakura Shogunate Set the tone for The elusive samurai. Although it is a fun, light-hearted series, it is based on brutality. Tokiyuki will need incredible strength and even better allies if he wants to reclaim his home. The elusive samurai Does a great job or portray the horror, viciousness, and corruption of the fall as well, leaving no betrayed stone unturned.
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Tokiyuki’s Victorious Retreat
Running away is what he does best
When Yorishige realized that he needed someone to help Hoshino retreat, He has the perfect guy for the job. There’s no one better to run away from than the elusive samurai himself, Tokiyuki Hojo. Yorishige ordered his young ward to go to the battlefield with one intention: complete retreat. Although it may seem like a loss, Yorischige recognized that the battle was a marathon, not a sprint. Tokiyuki took his Fubuki, Genba and Kojiro with him to help his allies escape.
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It’s not often that an anime can portray those who retreat as victors, but that’s exactly what Tokiyuki and his allies were. By retreating, they all live to fight another day. Tokiyuki even had to get a little drunk to let Hoshina know what he really thought of him In a precious yet furious moment.
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Tokiyuki vs Shokan
The first use of the elusive blade
Tokiyuki is many things, but a fighter is not one of them. When he told Fubuki that he wanted to get stronger, Fubuki didn’t believe how weak he really was. Tokiyuki swings his sword weakly, but that’s not his main strength. Tokiyuki is at his best when he’s on the back foot. He is a unique character who is at his strongest when he runs away. Fubuki understood this and Taught him a brand new ability – the Elusive Blade. Tokiyuki took on Shokan, the enemy’s commander, and used the elusive blade to land a single, bloody blow.
Tokiyuki then spent the rest of the fight running from the enemy commander. It may seem crazy, but it worked. Tokiyuki bled out Shokan while chasing him, proving that not everyone who runs away is a coward. It is a great moment that captures Tokiyuki’s patience, determination and a bit of madness.
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Kojiro vs. Yonemaru
Kojiro will be an excellent general
Kojiro is destined to be a phenomenal general. He was one of the first to join Tokiyuki’s side and Tokiyuki became a lot stronger because of it. Although Tokiyuki is at his best when he’s running away, Kojiro is a warrior at heart. Even though he is a child who fights against adults, he doesn’t care. He will do whatever it takes to reclaim Kamakura and help Tokiyuki become the shogun again.
As they go to help Hoshina retreat, Kojiro takes on one of the strongest enemy soliders in Yonemaru.
After losing to his opponent repeatedly, Kojiro’s determination pays off. Yonemaru’s guard slips, allowing Kojiro’s allies to pin him down while Kojiro delivers the final blow. Kojiro may still be a child, but his leadership, forward-thinking, and ability to survive are all key traits that will make him the best general Tokiyuki could ask for in the near future.
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Takauji is a god
A one-man-army moment unlike any other
Takauji is a character unlike any other. He is charismatic yet deadly, and he is as similar to a god as he is a demon. His soft smile hides his hidden brutality. Takauji is the sole force responsible for the fall of Kamakura and one of the greatest moments of mass destruction in anime. Not only does he kill everyone in Kamakura, But he goes on a one-man-army rampage against the Emperor’s son In an otherworldly moment.
Takauji is trying to talk to the Emperor’s son, Moriyoshi, but Moriyoshi sees through Takauji and orders his army to attack him. When Takauji talks to Moriyoshi, heads fly off his opponents. He does not swing his sword, he does not act aggressively, and everyone around him is killed. It’s a surreal moment that deserves multiple rewatchesAnd even then it is difficult to understand how he does it. Takauji’s slaughter of Moriyoshi’s forces while not even dropping his grin is one of the best moments of all The elusive samurai.
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Tokiyuki vs his uncle
An excellent show of teamwork
Kamakura’s fall left almost every hojo dead except Tokiyuki, his older brother Kunitoki, and his uncle Muneshige. Muneshige eventually sold Kunitoki to the enemy, leading to his death. When Tokiyuki hears about this, he resolves to kill his uncle. This is an interesting moment for Tokiyuki because he is not a fighter. He’s much more adept at running away, but it’s not something he can run away from. With the help of his fellow Elusive Warriors, Tokiyuki takes on his traitorous uncle in battle.
This is one of the best animated moments in the series. Tokiyuki flies through the air and lands with his sword through his uncle’s neck, decapitating him once and for all. It’s an extremely cathartic moment that proves Tokiyuki is no coward and that his new friends are more than reliable. Kunitoki’s death was brutal, however At least Tokiyuki got his revenge.