Tale of Ronin

History

Storytelling in Tale of Ronin

Tale of Ronin will immerse gamers in the world of a ronin in 1637 Japan. The Edo period has just begun and the great battles of the Warring States period are still in living memory. The Tokugawa regime is propping up specific sects of Buddhism as a political power play. Christianity is persecuted as harshly …

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The Battle of Sekigahara: How Japan’s Greatest Battle Added to the Ronin Problem

The Battle of Sekigahara was the greatest battle in Japanese history. It took place in the village of Sekigahara, which was located in a mountain valley. There, two coalition forces led by two great daimyo, Ishida Mitsunari and Tokugawa Ieyasu, clashed violently over who would have the right to rule a unified Japan. Ieyasu and …

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Artwork done in an inky style, showing the silhouette of a samurai pointing a katana at a piece of paper.

Haiku and Samurai Death Poems

The haiku is one of the most recognizable poetry forms in the world. It consists of seventeen syllables arranged in three lines: five syllables, seven syllables, and five syllables again. Many people, poetry enthusiasts and laypersons alike, know that haiku is a Japanese form of poetry. However, the history and cultural legacy of haiku are …

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Concept artwork for the Tale of Ronin game showing three Ashigaru foot soldiers from Edo period Japan. They are wearing light armor, hats, and are carrying weapons.

Ashigaru: the Backbone of the Army

When thinking of warfare in medieval Japan, the image of the samurai quickly comes to mind. However, the role of the common foot soldier, known as the ashigaru, should not be understated. Ashigaru began as conscripted farmers and rose through the ranks to become the backbone of daimyo lords’ armies in the Warring States period. …

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A stylized artwork showing an inky silhouette of a ronin samurai.

Ronin: the Unemployed Samurai

The samurai is one of the most iconic figures in Japanese history, but the ronin is one of his only rivals. Ronin, meaning “wave man,” refers to masterless samurai who were no longer retainers serving a daimyo. Although warriors had served daimyo — and lost them — during most of Japanese history, ronin were especially …

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On Ronin and Zen

The human side of the masterless Samurai is very much based on a main conflict between ninjo and giri. Their conscience and their duty. Their compassion side and the right way set by Bushido. A Ronin is faced with such struggles daily as he has a new life now, a life as free as the …

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