Part 186

Explore the lore of Nioh's Part 186, detailing the backgrounds of blacksmith Senji Tome, tactician Marume Nagayoshi, and swordsman Yagyu Sekishusai.

This section delves into the lore and character backgrounds relevant to Nioh, focusing on Senji Tome, Marume Nagayoshi, and Yagyu Sekishusai.

Senji Tome

Senji Tome is the granddaughter of the legendary swordsmith Senji Muramasa. She is a skilled blacksmith and appraiser, continuing the Muramasa tradition of crafting fine blades in her grandfather's absence. Despite the traditional exclusion of women from forges due to the goddess Kanayago-kami, the Muramasa family has unique Amrita-based techniques and rules, allowing Tome to work alongside men. She lost an eye at the forge at a young age, a fate shared by the one-eyed forge gods Amatsumara and Ame-no-mahitotsu-no-kami in Japanese mythology. Tome's genius for blacksmithing is evident, and she is expected to surpass her grandfather, having mastered Amrita techniques like reforging and soul-matching. However, her grandfather is reluctant to fully acknowledge her mastery of the family's teachings.

Marume Nagayoshi

Marume Nagayoshi, also known as "Marume Kurando" and "Tessai," was a military tactician from Kyushu. He learned swordsmanship from Kamiizumi Nobutsuna, master of the Shinkage style, and even assisted in demonstrating it before the shogun. Nagayoshi later developed his own Taisha school of swordsmanship, a practical style that doesn't rely on fixed forms and includes weapons, horseriding, stealth, and wrestling. This highly regarded style has attracted many adherents across Kyushu, including Tachibana Muneshige. The Taisha school is particularly popular among generals in Bizen province, where Nagayoshi taught, and its broad appeal extends to townspeople and farmers. Nagayoshi was uninterested in power or advancement, focusing solely on his swordsmanship. He was open-minded and curious, taking an interest in activities like the tea ceremony and traditional dance, and treated William without prejudice due to his intrigue with foreign cultures.

Yagyu Sekishusai

Yagyu Sekishusai, born Muneyoshi, is a swordsman from Yamato province. A disciple of Kamiizumi Nobutsuna, he is skilled in various schools, including Toda and Shinto, and became the sole heir to the Shinkage style in his province. Sekishusai is dedicated to the sword, undergoing rigorous nightly training, even sparring with Tengu. This intense practice has reportedly enabled him to face opponents unarmed, disarm them, and defeat them. He entered the service of Matsunaga Hisahide, acting as his advisor.