As a huge fan of this musical, I couldn’t help but gather my thoughts on this masterpiece. Beware of spoilers and of many unnecessary analysis ! Long post with screencaps !
Credits to screencaps and subs : Amaris fansub and @sohmariku
– A subtle
theme of Ruriiro no Sora begins when Ishikirimaru mentions their story for the
first time.
– Monoyoshi
happily singing Ruriiro no Sora before the mission even started, showing how
attached he is to the Tokugawas. The theme of Ruriiro no sora will become sadder
and sadder along the musical.
– Nikkari
is the first to hold 1-month-old baby Takechiyo, which is nice, when we know he
will become the closest to him with Monoyoshi.
– The
Master and Ishikirimaru know the vassals have been killed, and the only way to
get it right is to become the vassals. When they leave, Ishikirimaru is the
only one knowing it’s gonna be a long mission.
– Nikkari
to Ookurikara : “Looks like we’re fated to stay together” might be foreshadowing
– Baby
Takechiyo is laughing every time he is in Monoyoshi’s arms
– Ruriiro
no Sora sang my Monoyoshi is way more cheerful than any other versions. At
this moment he is just happy to be reunited with a Tokugawa. Ishikirimaru may
be thinking of assuming Hanzo’s role at this moment. He is observing everyone
and then the baby.
– 10-year-old Takechiyo outfit could be matching Nikkari and Monoyoshi’s color scheme (all
right, this one is certainly an overoveranalysis)
– Nikkari
learns two lessons from Monoyoshi : “You should never lose your smile”
– And the “Laugh Strategy”. Nikkari
starts to laugh, to make Ishikirimaru laugh back, and bring him good fortune
again. (also, he learns that smiles aren’t always “Nikkori”)
– Nikkari
& Monoyoshi : They are Takechiyo’s preceptors. Monoyoshi teaches him how to fight, while Nikkari supervises school. We see him teaching maybe reading, and mathematics. They are the first to come&see Ieyasu on his death bed.
– Ishikirimaru is more interested in Baby Nobuyasu than tactics useful to fulfill their mission as Touken Danshi
– Most
likely, Gohei was supposed to die by the hands of the swordsmen, or at the Fort
Marune but he didn’t, thanks to Ookurikara. Ironically, the one TouDan who has
no interest in changing history at all, is the one to create the most important
one. Indeed Nobuyasu is supposed to die from his father’s orders, but Gohei’s
presence and friendship change the balance between father and son. But fate
will catch them, as it is Gohei’s death that changes Nobuyasu’s state of mind
and eventually drives him to suicidal thoughts.
– The
whole scene where Ishikirimaru realizes he’s been killing not even Retrogrades,
but human beings, breaks my heart. We can see Nikkari above him, who stops fighting
and is watching him, concerned.
– And
just after, Ishikirimaru snaps at Ookurikara’s comment. I think he’s angry towards
himself more than anyone else.
– The
theme of Kibou no Minamoto plays when Ookurikara pledges allegiance. One more
step following the right flow of History.
– Ishi/Hanzo
and Nobuyasu’s relationship is utterly important. Even Nobuyasu’s outfit
matches the colors of Ishikirimaru. Their movements will also match during
scenes, even in the background. Ishikirimaru follows his duty and tells him to learn sword fights, as the
firstborn of a family of warriors. But he also teaches him the core of his own
personality, to love and cherish living beings.
– Nikkari
tries to talk to Ishikirimaru, to make him face his feelings. But Ishikirimaru runs away.
The next time we see a similar scene, 10 years has passed. We can assume
Nikkari tries several times. Or maybe he didn’t, out of respect for Ishikirimaru’s feelings. Nikkari
is not the type of personality to force people to act.
– Monoyoshi
was going to tell Ieyasu : “A smile will bring Good Luck” but Nobuyasu does it first.
Monoyoshi is a proud parent.
– Ieyasu
acknowledges Hanzo/Ishi heavy involvement in Nobuyasu’s education, but Nikkari worries
too much now. He is the only one to foresee Ishikirimaru’s heavy duty as Hanzo.
– Even
if Sengo seems careless, he actually cares a lot, and is very professional. He
knows he is a Muramasa, a sword family cursed for the Tokugawa family (A muramasa killed Ieyasu’s
grand-father, father, and Nobuyasu too). He stays away to be sure nothing happens
to any Tokugawa before time. Then he becomes a vassal, around the time Nobuyasu
should commit suicide. He also protects Monoyoshi, so he would remain a “lucky”
sword.
–The
theme of Touken Ranbu is playing, when Nikkari and Ookurikara discuss Ishi’s
conflict with war. A reminder they’re Touken Danshi with a duty to fulfill, with
their own share of conflict.
– Historically,
the Six vassals died before Tokugawa. Which means, the Mihotose Team fulfilled their duty
until the historical death of their role, disappearing one by one, then certainly
watching the others from afar. Naomasa (Sengo) and Tadakatsu (Tombo) are the last to die in
1610. The TouDan may have returned to the citadel but I think they stayed to
ensure Retrogrades wouldn’t come back to interfere in Ieyasu’s end of life. They
come back to witness Ieyasu’s death and say their goodbyes. The two first to
show up are Monoyoshi and Nikkari, the closest to him when he was a child. Ieyasu
thinks he’s seeing spirits. Then Nobuyasu’s real spirit shows up. He took the name
of Gohei, meaning his spirit is free from torment.
They stayed alongside Tokugawa Ieyasu for 73 years.
Bonus :
–
For
IshiKari fans like myself: In this scene, Ishi shows him Nikkari’s portrait,
without real enthusiasm from Nikkari. Then he shows him Ookurikara’s. During
Tombo and Sengo’s scene, we see IshiKari chatting, Ishi shows Nikkari’s
portrait again. I think he’s asking him what’s wrong with it! Then, after
Muramasa’s and Monoyoshi’s scene, we see Ishi with the pen in his hand, drawing
on Nikkari’s portrait again! He wants Nikkari to be proud of his drawing aren’t
they cute ??
Final fantasy XII &co 