New Touken Danshi 'Kobizen Nobufusa' Debuts in 'Touken Ranbu -ONLINE-', Igniting Fan Excitement

It has been announced that a new Touken Danshi, 'Kobizen Nobufusa' (Kobizen Nobufusa), will appear in the popular sword-training simulation game 'Touken Ranbu -ONLINE-,' drawing a huge reaction on social media. Immediately after the announcement, it climbed to the top of X (formerly Twitter) trends, indicating the high level of attention it has garnered.

'Kobizen Nobufusa' is a tachi (long sword) crafted by a swordsmith of the Kobizen school, with a history of being bestowed by Tokugawa Ieyasu upon Sakai Tadatsugu, one of the Tokugawa Shitenno (Four Heavenly Kings). Subsequently, it was handed down as a treasure of the Shonai Sakai family and is currently housed at the Chido Museum (Yamagata Prefecture), recognized as a national treasure-class master sword. The character's voice is provided by Takeo Otsuka, and fans are also expressing excitement for his captivating voice.

Of particular note is its relationship with Shinano Toushirou, another sword also passed down through the Shonai Sakai family. According to the official announcement, Kobizen Nobufusa and Shinano Toushirou share a close bond, calling each other 'Shinan-non' and 'Shin-bo.' Numerous warm comments from fans have poured in, such as 'The Shin-Shin duo is born!' and 'So they've been admiring the scenery of Shonai together!'

Furthermore, with Kobizen Nobufusa (Yellow) joining the existing Kobizen school Touken Danshi – Ookanehira (Red), Uguisumaru (Green), and Hachou Nenbutsu (Blue) – many are celebrating the birth of the 'Kobizen Sentai Kobizen-ger.' Fans are also excitedly anticipating members for the remaining colors.

Additionally, comments associating Kobizen Nobufusa with its former owner, Sakai Tadatsugu, like 'Will it perform the Ebi-sukui dance?' have surfaced. Posts also touch upon the regional specialty 'Imoni' (taro stew) debate between the 'pork and miso' faction and the 'beef and soy sauce' faction, in reference to its storage location, the Shonai region of Yamagata Prefecture, drawing attention to its regional ties. Admiration is also being expressed for the fact that not only the blade but also its koshirae (mounting) is a National Treasure. The excitement of Saniwa (the players) for the arrival of this new Touken Danshi continues to grow.

The Context

Touken Ranbu -ONLINE-: A hugely popular free-to-play browser and mobile game by Nitroplus and DMM Games. Players, known as 'Saniwa,' assume the role of a sage who brings famous historical Japanese swords to life as anthropomorphic male characters, called 'Touken Danshi,' to protect history from evil forces.

Touken Danshi: The personified Japanese swords in the game, depicted as handsome male characters.

Saniwa: The player character in 'Touken Ranbu -ONLINE-,' who serves as the master of the Touken Danshi.

Kobizen School: One of the oldest and most esteemed schools of Japanese sword-making, originating from Bizen Province (modern-day Okayama Prefecture). 'Ko' means 'old,' indicating its ancient origins.

Tachi: A type of traditional Japanese long sword, typically worn suspended from the belt with the cutting edge facing downwards.

Tokugawa Shitenno (Four Heavenly Kings): A group of four highly trusted and capable generals who served Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate (1603-1868). Sakai Tadatsugu was one of them.

Shonai Sakai Family: A prominent samurai clan that descended from Sakai Tadatsugu and ruled the Shonai Domain (part of modern-day Yamagata Prefecture) during the Edo period. Many treasures, including significant swords, were passed down through this family.

Chido Museum: A museum located in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture, known for its extensive collection of historical and cultural artifacts related to the Shonai region, including important swords like the Kobizen Nobufusa.

Shinano Toushirou: Another well-known Touken Danshi in the game, historically a tantō (short sword) also passed down through the Shonai Sakai family. His shared historical ownership with Kobizen Nobufusa forms the basis for their close in-game relationship.

Sentai: A Japanese term meaning 'squad' or 'task force,' most famously associated with the 'Super Sentai' series (known internationally as 'Power Rangers'), featuring color-coded teams of heroes.

Ebi-sukui Dance: A traditional Japanese folk dance, literally meaning 'shrimp scooping dance.' It is famously associated with Sakai Tadatsugu, who is said to have performed it to entertain his lord, Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Imoni: A popular traditional Japanese taro root stew, particularly common in the Tohoku region (which includes Yamagata Prefecture). There are notable regional variations in its preparation, such as the debate between using pork and miso versus beef and soy sauce.

Koshirae: The complete set of mountings for a Japanese sword, including the scabbard (saya), hilt (tsuka), handguard (tsuba), and other decorative fittings. High-quality koshirae often possess significant artistic and historical value independently of the blade itself.

National Treasure: The highest designation given by the Japanese government to tangible cultural properties, signifying their exceptional historical, artistic, or archaeological value.