Shokudaikiri Mitsutada (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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fandomhigh2018-09-07 09:39 am
battlewithstyle) wrote in fandomhigh2018-09-07 09:39 am
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Japanese Blades [9/07]
The classroom today finally had an instructor. Mitsutada stood at the front of the class, dressed in his suit and his armor pieces, looking as authoritative as possible. This, however, did not make him the fanciest lad in the room. No, that was the long haired man next to him, wearing a flowing kimono and cape.
Once the class had gathered and taken seats, Mitsutada bowed to them.
"Apologies again for your wasted time last week," he said. "I was called away and could not arrange a stand-in in time. This class is to teach you about various parts of Japan's history through the stories of famous swords and other weapons. This is because I, Mitsutada Shokudaikiri, and my comrade here, are famous swords of Japan's history. We are Touken Danshi, souls of weapons summoned to take human form to fight a war against demons set on altering history. I will talk more about myself in a later class, but today we are starting a series on a specific set of Japan's history, the Shinsengumi. I shall let our guest introduce himself."
Mitsutada stepped aside, and the other man smiled to the class and spoke.
"I'm the sword famous for having been used by Toshizou Hijikata, Kanesada Izuminokami. Even so, I was created not by the highly regarded second generation Kanesada, but by the eleventh or twelfth generation. It was the beginning of the end of the samurai era," he introduced. "Hijikata was the vice-commander of the Shinsengumi, a force of swordsmen that was formed to protect the shogunate and its representatives at the end of the Tokugawa era. The end of the samurai era, really. Eventually, they also became policemen - patrolling the streets to increase stability in a time of unrest after the forced Kanagawa treaty when the United States forced Japan into opening its ports for trade."
"Hijikata stayed loyal to the Shinsengumi and the shogun even as the Imperial forces began to win the Boshin Civil War, which broke out only a few short years after the Shinsengumi were formed. He would eventually send me, and a photo, to his family on the eve of the Battle of Hakkodate, where he was shot and killed."
With that, Kanesada stopped for a moment, his strong and confident demeanor interrupted by an expression of pain and sadness. Mitsutada came up next to him and put a hand on his shoulder, and after a brief moment Kanesada looked back to the class.
"It was the end of the Shinsengumi, the end of the Tokugawa, and the end of the era of Samurai. Imperial rule under the emperor began again, shortly thereafter," he concluded.
"Thank you, Kanesada," Mitsutada said. "Now, we are happy to take questions you might have."
[ooc: Class is open and ready!]
Once the class had gathered and taken seats, Mitsutada bowed to them.
"Apologies again for your wasted time last week," he said. "I was called away and could not arrange a stand-in in time. This class is to teach you about various parts of Japan's history through the stories of famous swords and other weapons. This is because I, Mitsutada Shokudaikiri, and my comrade here, are famous swords of Japan's history. We are Touken Danshi, souls of weapons summoned to take human form to fight a war against demons set on altering history. I will talk more about myself in a later class, but today we are starting a series on a specific set of Japan's history, the Shinsengumi. I shall let our guest introduce himself."
Mitsutada stepped aside, and the other man smiled to the class and spoke.
"I'm the sword famous for having been used by Toshizou Hijikata, Kanesada Izuminokami. Even so, I was created not by the highly regarded second generation Kanesada, but by the eleventh or twelfth generation. It was the beginning of the end of the samurai era," he introduced. "Hijikata was the vice-commander of the Shinsengumi, a force of swordsmen that was formed to protect the shogunate and its representatives at the end of the Tokugawa era. The end of the samurai era, really. Eventually, they also became policemen - patrolling the streets to increase stability in a time of unrest after the forced Kanagawa treaty when the United States forced Japan into opening its ports for trade."
"Hijikata stayed loyal to the Shinsengumi and the shogun even as the Imperial forces began to win the Boshin Civil War, which broke out only a few short years after the Shinsengumi were formed. He would eventually send me, and a photo, to his family on the eve of the Battle of Hakkodate, where he was shot and killed."
With that, Kanesada stopped for a moment, his strong and confident demeanor interrupted by an expression of pain and sadness. Mitsutada came up next to him and put a hand on his shoulder, and after a brief moment Kanesada looked back to the class.
"It was the end of the Shinsengumi, the end of the Tokugawa, and the end of the era of Samurai. Imperial rule under the emperor began again, shortly thereafter," he concluded.
"Thank you, Kanesada," Mitsutada said. "Now, we are happy to take questions you might have."
[ooc: Class is open and ready!]
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Well, he was taking notes. The lessons in Japanese history as told through the eyes of the swords that had been a part of it were too fascinating not to.
He didn't ask any questions, though. The lecture had been thorough enough that the best he had was, 'Did you know your hair looks incredible?' And he was not sharing that one with the class.
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She would set aside the idea of souled weapons for now, which was odd enough. "What is samurai, and Tokugawa?"
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"For all the time that got them," Kanesada added, sounding a little embittered.
"It wasn't that long," Mitsutada admitted. "The emperor would be deposed as a head of government in less than 100 years."
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"Thank you," she said. "I still don't entirely understand, but I will research further on my own time." She had far too many questions for this class.
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Kanesada gave Mitsutada a slightly dubious look. "This is the great expedition the Saniwa has had you on all this time? Teaching aliens about Japan?"
Mitsutada looked apologetic. "I am doing my best with what I've been told to do."
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After Class
"My partner and assistant, I assume?" Kanesada asked. Mitsutada nodded.
In case anyone had more private questions, you could approach the two sword-men.
OOC