Part 182

Dive deep into the lore of Nioh's Part 182, exploring the lives and legendary battles of Otani Yoshitsugu and Shima Sakon. Learn about their loyalties and fierce fighting spirits.

Alright, let's dive into some of the fascinating characters you'll encounter in Nioh's lore. This section, Part 182, focuses on two key figures: Otani Yoshitsugu and Shima Sakon. We'll break down who they were, their relationships, and their legendary exploits.

Otani Yoshitsugu

Yoshitsugu was a loyal warrior with a calm exterior but a fiery spirit. He served Toyotomi Hideyoshi from a young age, earning the title 'Gyobu Shoyu' for his contributions to unifying Japan. Even when battling illness, he fought bravely at key battles like Shizugatake and Odawara. He was known for his martial prowess, even wading into the Negoro temple alone to defeat their leader during the Kyushu campaign. Yoshitsugu also formed a deep friendship with Ishida Mitsunari, with whom he could speak frankly.

Their friendship began during the Battle of Shizugatake, where Yoshitsugu not only convinced enemy forces to defect but also fought alongside Mitsunari in the vanguard, earning him recognition as one of the battle's 'Three Swords.' Later, despite knowing the battle against Ieyasu was likely lost, Yoshitsugu stood by Mitsunari's side out of loyalty. During the Battle of Sekigahara, he was critically wounded by Kobayakawa Hideaki's spear, which threw his forces into chaos. In his final moments, he transformed into an Oni to hold back the enemy until he ultimately faced William.

Yoshitsugu's daughter, Chikurin-in, married Sanada Yukimura, a political alliance that strengthened the bond between the Otani and Sanada clans. Yoshitsugu recognized Yukimura's potential, and Yukimura respected his intelligent and powerful father-in-law.

Shima Sakon

Shima Sakon, whose real name was Shima Kiyooki, was Ishida Mitsunari's brilliant military strategist. He tempered Mitsunari's idealism with practical advice. Hailing from a powerful Yamato province family, Sakon initially served the Tsutsui clan but became a ronin after a frank disagreement with his lord. Ishida Mitsunari, impressed by Sakon's genius, recruited him by offering half of his own domain in Sawayama. It was said that Mitsunari was fortunate to have both Sawayama Castle and Shima Sakon.

Sakon's bravery was legendary, and he had turned down many other offers before accepting Mitsunari's, deeply moved by the unprecedented offer of land. Toyotomi Hideyoshi himself was impressed and urged Sakon to serve Mitsunari faithfully.

Though Sakon served Mitsunari, he viewed him more like an older brother. Mitsunari valued Sakon's humanity, trustworthiness, and opinions, even when Sakon's bluntness could be taken as sarcastic. Sakon, however, never broke his vows and always supported his lord's ambitions.

At Sekigahara, Sakon's ferocity earned him the moniker 'Sakon the Oni' from the terrified Tokugawa troops. Kuroda Nagamasa's forces were so traumatized by facing Sakon that they reportedly suffered from nightmares afterward. Curiously, descriptions of Sakon's armor varied wildly, suggesting the sheer terror he inspired made clear memories impossible.

Although Sakon was believed to have been killed at Sekigahara, his remains were never found. Sightings in Kyoto after the battle led to speculation that he might have survived and returned to the capital.