The Elusive Samuraiis a great historical retelling of the fall of the Kamakura Shogunatein the 1300s in Japan. The Kamakura Shogunate was one of the strongest Shogunates in Japan’s history, having 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 that gets easier and easier to root for.
Tokiyuki is less than 10-years-old when he watches his clan get demolished.Instead of committing ritual seppuku like the rest of his people, he defiantly decided to continue living. Tokiyuki’s righteous indignation leads him to meet new friends, seek out important allies, and hopefully one day, lead to the recapture of his home territory.
10Tokiyuki Snipes Sadamune
The Heir of Hojo Against the Odds
Sadamune is an incredibly intelligent antagonist early in theElusive Samurai.He is staunchly opposed to the Kamakura Shogunate and was happy it fell. Now that Kamakura is out of the way,Sadamune has his eyes set on the Suwa territory.In an attempt to get Sadamune to back off, Yorishige comes up with an idea. Sadamune is well-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 Suwa territory, but if he loses, he has to leave. Tokiyuki then uses his skills with the bow and evasion to great effect, sending an arrow straight at 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 penchant for battle,something nobody would’ve guessed considering how much he likes running away.
9The Elusive Warriors are Formed
Tokiyuki’s Personal Warriors
Tokiyuki is nothing without his allies. When he first leaves Kamakura to head to Suwa, he has nothing. His clan is dead, his land is taken, andeven 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 can ask for in Ayako and Kojiro. They’re 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 theElusive Samurai.Tokiyuki is a great character and his friends bring the best out of him. Their dynamic is fun, light-hearted, and always a good time.
8Tokiyuki Doesn’t Commit Seppuku
The Hojo Clan May Live On
Tokiyukishouldbe deadaccording to cultural and societal 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 ofThe Elusive Samurai.Even though all of his people are gone, and many might consider him a coward for not joining them, Tokiyuki decided to fight. It’s a great moment in the show that highlights the Elusive Warrior that’s always been in Tokiyuki. He’s incredibly brave for surviving the Fall of Kamakura and the only reason his clan might one day reemerge.
7Fubuki Scares Kiyohara
Fubuki Made a Smart Move
Fubuki isone of the smartest kids in anime. When the Elusive Warriors first meet him as an adversary, he convinces the kids he’s protecting to hold up a bunch of flares in the surrounding forest to trick the Warriors into thinking they were facing a much larger 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 Kiyohara and not killing him,Fubuki left the enemy with an incredibly incompetant leader,which is even better than leaving them with 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 Kiyohara in the future.
6The Fall of Kamakura
The Kamakura Shogunate Fell Brutally
The Fall of Kamakura isone 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 didn’t commit seppuku faced even worse fates asthey were butchered by the same people they once called friends.
The Fall of the Kamakura Shogunatesets the tone forThe Elusive Samurai.While it’s a fun, light-hearted series, it’s based on brutality. Tokiyuki will need incredible strength and even better allies if he wants to reclaim his home.The Elusive Samuraidoes a great job or portraying the horror, viciousness, and depravity of the Fall as well, leaving no betrayed-stone unturned.
5Tokiyuki’s Victorious Retreat
Running Away is What He Does Best
When Yorishige found out that he needed someone to help Hoshina retreat,he had the perfect guy for the job.There’s nobody better at running away than the Elusive Samurai himself, Tokiyuki Hojo. Yorishige instructed his young ward to head to the battlefield with one intention: total retreat. While it may seem like a loss, Yorishige recognized that this battle was a marathon, not a sprint. Tokiyuki took his Fubuki, Genba, and Kojiro with him to help his allies run away.
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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’re all living to fight another day. Tokiyuki even needed to get a little drunk to let Hoshina know what he really thought of himin an adorable yet fierce moment.
4Tokiyuki vs. Shokan
The First Use of the Elusive Blade
Tokiyuki is many things, but a fighter isn’t one of them. When he told Fubuki that he wanted to get stronger, Fubuki couldn’t believe how weak he really was. Tokiyuki swings his sword weakly, but that isn’t his main strength. Tokiyuki’s at his best when he’s on his back foot. He’s a unique character that’s at his strongest when he runs away. Fubuki understood this andtaught him a brand-new ability - the Elusive Blade.Tokiyuki took on Shokan, the enemy’s commander, and used the Elusive Blade to get a single, bloody strike in.
Tokiyuki then spent the remainder of the fight running from the enemy commander. It might seem insane, but it worked. Tokiyuki made Shokan bleed out while he was chasing him, proving that not everyone who runs away is a coward. It’s a great moment that capturesTokiyuki’s patience, determination, and a little insanity.
3Kojiro 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 got a lot stronger because of it. While Tokiyuki is best when he’s running away, Kojiro is a warrior at heart. Even though he’s a child fighting against adults, he doesn’t care. He’ll do what it takes to reclaim Kamakura and help Tokiyuki become the Shogun once again.
When 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 see him become the best general Tokiyuki could ask for in the near future.
2Takauji is a God
A One-Man-Army Moment Unlike Any Other
Takauji is a character unlike any other. He’s charismatic yet lethal, and he’s as similar to a god as he is a demon. His soft smile hides his unhinged brutality. Takauji is the sole force responsible for the Fall of Kamakura and one of the singlegreatest moments of mass destruction in anime. Not only does he slay everyone in Kamakura,but he goes on a one-man-army rampage against the Emperor’s sonin an otherworldly moment.
Takauji is trying to talk to the Emperor’s son, Moriyoshi, but Moriyoshi sees through Takauji and commands his army to attack him. As Takauji speaks with Moriyoshi, heads fly off his opponents. He doesn’t swing his sword, he doesn’t act aggressive, and everyone around him is slain.It’s a surreal moment that deserves multiple rewatches, and even then it’s hard to understand how he does it. Takauji’s slaughter of Moriyoshi’s forces while he doesn’t even drop his grin is one of the best moments in allThe Elusive Samurai.
1Tokiyuki vs. His Uncle
An Excellent Showing of Teamwork
The Fall of Kamakura left nearly every Hojo dead except for Tokiyuki, his older brother Kunitoki, and his uncle Muneshige. Muneshige eventually sells Kunitoki out 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 isn’t a fighter. He’s much more adept at running away, but this isn’t something he can escape.With the help of his fellow Elusive Warriors, Tokiyuki takes on his traitorous uncle in battle.
It’s one of thebest 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, butat least Tokiyuki got his revenge.
The Elusive Samurai
Cast
The Elusive Samurai is set during the Kenmu Restoration between the Kamakura and Muromachi periods. It follows Hojo Tokiyuki, a young boy whose family is overthrown by Ashikaga Takauji. Accompanied by a priest and his followers, he seeks revenge using his extraordinary abilities to evade capture.
