* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Nioh
仁王
An action RPG released by Koei Tecmo in 2017 featuring protagonist William, modeled after the historical English navigator William Adams (Japanese name: Miura Anjin). Set on the eve of the Battle of Sekigahara, the game earned worldwide acclaim from history and sword enthusiasts for its detailed weapon system, which authentically recreates Japanese arms including uchigatana, tachi, spears, naginata, dual blades, kusarigama, and bows.
Description
A Real-Life Adventurer as Protagonist
Nioh is an action RPG that Koei Tecmo finally released in 2017 after developing it for many years. It achieved worldwide success with its high-difficulty combat system—often called the 'Japanese Dark Souls'—and its historically rich setting on the eve of the Battle of Sekigahara during the late Sengoku period. Its greatest distinguishing feature is that the protagonist is modeled after a real foreigner: William Adams, an English navigator (Japanese name: Miura Anjin). William Adams flourished in 1600 (Keichō 5) as a diplomatic advisor and shipwright to Tokugawa Ieyasu, and is remembered in history as the first Western samurai to remain in Japan throughout the Edo period.
Authentic Recreation of Japanese Weapons
Nioh's weapon system is built on thorough research into historical Japanese arms. Each weapon type—including katana, dual swords, spears, axes, kusarigama, ōdachi, and staff—has its own unique skill system (with ninjutsu and secret techniques). For sword-based weapons in particular (uchigatana, tachi, and dual swords), there are skill sets corresponding to three different stances: upper, middle, and lower (kamae). Switching stances dynamically in response to combat situations forms the foundation of battle. This stance system directly reflects the concept of the 'five elemental stances' (jodan, chudan, gedan, hassō, and waki) used in historical kenjutsu schools, making Nioh a rare design that allows players to experience the actual logic of classical swordsmanship through gameplay.
The 'Stamina' (Ki) System and Actual Martial Arts
One of Nioh's distinctive game mechanics is the 'stamina' (ki) system. All actions—attacking, defending, and evading—consume stamina, and when stamina is depleted, effective combat actions become impossible. This corresponds directly to the concept of 'ki' (life force/spirit) in traditional martial arts and kenjutsu. Just as in kendō the state called 'kishin tai itchi' (unity of spirit, sword, and body)—where one's spirit, blade, and body become perfectly aligned—is the condition for an effective strike, Nioh's stamina system embodies the fundamental principle of Eastern martial philosophy: 'without spiritual vitality, the sword has no power.' Combat in Nioh, where skillful stamina management determines victory or defeat, resonates deeply with the spiritual essence of traditional martial arts, which emphasizes the harmony of mind and body.
Sengoku Daimyo and Authentic Legendary Blades
Nioh's story features many real Sengoku-period warlords, and the authentic swords associated with them are deeply woven into the narrative and worldbuilding. Notable generals including Tokugawa Ieyasu, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Ishida Mitsunari, and Honda Tadakatsu are portrayed as major characters, with their designs referencing actual historical portraits and armor records. The 'Tonbokiri' spear wielded by Honda Tadakatsu is counted among the 'Three Great Spears Under Heaven' and appears as an important weapon in the game. The depictions of the armor and sword fittings of the Tokugawa Four Heavenly Kings are based on detailed research of extant cultural properties, with historical accuracy that stands among the highest standards in modern gaming.
William Adams and His Encounter with the Katana
The actual history of William Adams is one of the most profound examples of a foreigner's engagement with Japanese sword culture. Favored by Tokugawa Ieyasu, Adams was granted the rank of hatamoto (bannerman) and received a fief in Miura, Sagami Province (present-day Yokosuka, Kanagawa). He wore the katana as a Japanese samurai and was the first Westerner to experience the way of bushidō. The game's protagonist William—a Westerner who masterfully wields Japanese weapons—draws inspiration from this historical reality, becoming a universal character through whom the world's players can discover 'the allure of Japanese sword culture from an outsider's perspective.' This concept resonates deeply with TOUKENZA's mission to share the beauty of the Japanese sword with the world.
Real Swords Featured
Miura Anjin (William Adams) and the Katana
William Adams (1564–1620) was an English navigator who drifted ashore in Bungo Province (present-day Ōita Prefecture) in 1600 and was favored by Tokugawa Ieyasu, eventually becoming a hatamoto with the Japanese name Miura Anjin. He was granted a fief in Miura, Sagami Province, and received the rank of samurai, becoming the only Westerner in history to wear two swords as a warrior of Japan. Adams contributed to trade diplomacy between England, the Netherlands, and the Tokugawa shogunate and also instructed Japanese shipwrights. His life represents the first recorded instance of a foreigner embracing Japanese sword culture amid cross-cultural exchange, making him an ideal model for Nioh's protagonist.
Tonbokiri (Dragonfly-Cutter Spear)
A large spear with a narrow willow-leaf blade, counted among the Three Great Spears Under Heaven. It is renowned as the beloved weapon of Honda Tadakatsu, one of the Tokugawa Four Heavenly Kings. The spear's name derives from a legendary account: a dragonfly that alighted on its blade tip was instantly split in two. The spear-fighting technique 'Hōzōin-ryū' was established by Hōzōin Inei of Kōfukuji Temple in Nara. Honda Tadakatsu, who survived the Battle of Sekigahara, is said never to have received a wound in combat. The spear is currently held on deposit at the Sano Museum and is essential viewing whenever it is displayed. In Nioh, it appears from early in the game as an important weapon deeply identified with Honda Tadakatsu's character.
Naginata and Female Warriors
The naginata is a weapon comprising a long, gently curved blade mounted on an extended wooden shaft. From the Heian through Kamakura periods, it was employed to dismount mounted warriors. After the Muromachi period, the spear assumed the primary role on the battlefield, yet the naginata continued to be wielded by women and was systematized during the Edo period as 'naginata-jutsu'—a martial art practiced by samurai women for self-defense. In Nioh, the naginata is implemented as one of the player's available weapons, and its distinctive reach and spinning attacks are clearly inspired by historical naginata-jutsu techniques.
Kusarigama (Chain-Sickle) and Ninja Weapons
The kusarigama combines a chain weighted with a metal weight (fundo) and a sickle-blade into a single weapon. It was primarily used by ninja and peasants. Its distinctive two-stage attack involves slashing with the sickle while simultaneously using the chain to trap the opponent's weapon, representing an asymmetrical tactic developed to counter sword-wielding samurai. During the Sengoku period, such diverse non-blade weapons were used widely in battlefield and street combat. Nioh's weapon system faithfully reflects this diversity of Sengoku-era warfare technology.
See authentic Japanese swords
See authentic Japanese swordsThis page is intended to introduce Japanese sword culture and is not affiliated with any of the works mentioned.