The Elusive Samurai is a unique cartoon recounts the fall of the Kamakura Shogunate with humor, brutality, and style. It focuses on the sole survivor of the Hojo clan, Tokiyuki Hojo and the journey of revenge. The series did a great job of incorporating the real history of the fall of the Kamakura Shogunate while adding unique plot details to further emphasize the show's themes.
Elusive Samurai takes place in Japan in 1333 between the late Kamakura period and the early Muromachi period. These are tough, harsh times for most people and the film does a great job of portraying that. While The Elusive Samurai has plenty of fun moments, It focuses on one of the greatest betrayals in Japanese history.Overall, this is a story of revenge rooted in a real rebellion that took place over 600 years ago, which makes The Elusive Samurai even more interesting.
History of Japan in 1333
The Real Fall of the Kamakura Shogunate
The Kamakura Shogunate is one of the most interesting periods in Japanese history, without even mentioning its fall. It began in 1192 when Minamoto no Yoritomo of the famous Minamoto clan defeated the Taira clan in the Genpei War, declaring himself the first Shogun of Japan. He was married to Masako Hojo of the Hojo clan, and while he was dead, she acted as his shikken, or regent. After Yorimoto's death, the Hojo clan began to act as the de facto rulers of the country, eventually leading to take over the entire Shogunate regime.
Although the chapter doesn't delve into Kamakura's backstory, It's interesting to see that the main character Tokiyuki Hojo became the heir to Japan from the very beginning. However, before the events of The Elusive Samurai took place, the Kamakura Shogunate was busy defending Japan from Mongol invaders, quelling internal rebellions, and more.
The actual fall of the Kamakura Shogunate was as devastating as the series portrays. Takauji Ashikaga was a retainer of the Hojo clan, fighting for them with courage and bravery. He was sent to put down a rebellion started by the former Emperor Go-Daigo. Instead of putting down the rebellion, he betrayed the Hojo clan, slaughtering all the warriors he was sent to fight alongside and swearing his newfound loyalty to the Emperor. When the Hojo clan heard of his betrayal, they knew their chances were slim. Over 800 clan members committed seppuku in response, completing the fall of Kamakura.
The heir should not be alive.
It's cowardly not to commit suicide.
Ritual suicide, or seppuku, was practiced by every member of the Hojo clan except a few. One of those Hojo was Tokiyuki, the heir to the Kamakura Shogunate and the only one who could muster an army large enough to take down Takauji. By all accounts, he was supposed to die along with his family. They all sacrificed their lives without a fight, and if Tokiyuki had done the same, Japanese history would have been very different.
Tokiyuki not committing suicide is the reason he eventually returns to Kamakura, where he regains his home, if only a little. Without him, the Ashikaga Shogunate rising from the ashes of the Kamakura Shogunate would not have any real opposition. He fled to the Suwa territory and reshaped the entire history of Japan.
The Elusive Samurai's Story of the Fall of Kamakura
Takiyuki Hojo May Not Be a Noble God of Avoidance
In real life, Takiyuki Hojo was certainly a samurai who fought in many battles for his clan and country. Some sources say he was only 8 years old when Kamakura fell, others say he was 11, but either way, he was not old enough to fight. He then spent the rest of his life fighting against the Imperial Court that had taken over his homeland and the Ashikaga Shogunate that ruled it.
Elusive Samurai made sure to include Takiyuki's samurai status, but they also added a new, interesting element to the story. He is the god of evasion in The Elusive Samurai, which explains how he survived the fall of his clan. This is a fun addition that gives Takiyuki's character something interesting to look forward to when he appears on screen without taking away too much from the truth of the story.