Part 185

Learn about John Dee's use of Amrita to create yokai, Matsunaga Hisahide's betrayals, and Senji Muramasa's legendary swordsmithing in Nioh.

John Dee was the son of a courtier who studied alchemy, astrology, and mathematics. He became deeply involved in the occult, meeting Edward Kelley through scrying with crystal balls. After years of research, he discovered a method to use Amrita (a mystical substance) to transform soldiers into yokai (supernatural beings). He secretly employed this technique during the English army's conflict with the Spanish Armada, resulting in a significant victory. Despite the affected soldiers suffering from a slow, fatal rotting, Dee, driven by ambition for global hegemony, traveled to Japan to acquire more Amrita. In Japan, Dee planned to prolong the chaos of war to create a factory for Amrita production, collecting it from around the world. In his final confrontation with William, he absorbed all the Amrita and transformed into a horrifying Hyakume, or "Hundred Eyes." William destroyed his Amrita eye, causing Dee to lose his precognition and be defeated.

CHARACTER ENTRY: MATSUNAGA HISAHIDE

Matsunaga Hisahide, also known as "Danjo," was a brutal general from Yamato province who gained control of central Japan. He killed the head of the Miyoshi clan he served and drove the Ashikaga shogunate from Kyoto. After Oda Nobunaga took Kyoto, Hisahide joined his service, using his influence to eliminate enemies during Nobunaga's westward expansion. Despite repeated betrayals, he often escaped punishment until Nobunaga attacked his stronghold. Hisahide was a ruthless schemer but also a devotee of the tea ceremony, amassing a collection of valuable utensils. Nobunaga, despite Hisahide's betrayals, respected his skill in castle building and shared an interest in the tea ceremony. After Hisahide's third betrayal, Nobunaga offered to spare his life in exchange for the legendary Hiragumo kettle. Hisahide refused and is said to have detonated gunpowder, destroying the kettle and himself.

Hisahide's early career saw him rise in influence within the Miyoshi clan, eventually seizing control after the death of Miyoshi Nagayoshi, who had shown him affection. To eliminate powerful Miyoshi generals, Hisahide set fire to Todaiji temple, burning down the Hall of the Great Buddha, though the Shosoin and its treasures were spared. As a tea ceremony enthusiast, he also rescued valuable items from the Juko Zashiki tea room before his forces advanced.

CHARACTER ENTRY: SENJI MURAMASA

Senji Muramasa was a legendary swordsmith from Ise province. The name "Muramasa" was passed down through generations of blacksmiths, with each head of the lineage adopting it. Muramasa blades were famous, including Honda Tadakatsu's spear Tonbo-kiri and the sword used for Tokugawa Nobuyasu's execution. The current Muramasa, an elderly man, entrusted his smithy to his granddaughter Tome before disappearing. The first Muramasa lived in the early 14th century (Muromachi period). His descendants preserved his techniques, developing a form of blacksmithing that incorporated Amrita over a century. These teachings were highly secret, only shared with a select few within the family, as handling Amrita could cause wasting away of body and soul for those without the talent.