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100-733: Talpa , ruler of the Dynasty, is bent on conquering the Earth. Standing against Talpa and his four Dark Warlords are the five Ronin Warriors, each in possession of mystical armor and weapons. They are assisted by Mia Koji , a young student-researcher, Ully , a child, and a mysterious warrior-mystic known only as the Ancient One . Ronin Warriors was originally licensed in the United States by Graz Entertainment and distributed by Cinar (now WildBrain ), and it

200-577: A katana . The specific term for katana in Japan is uchigatana (打刀) and the term katana (刀) often refers to single-edged swords from around the world. The word katana first appears in Japanese in the Nihon Shoki of 720. The term is a compound of kata ("one side, one-sided") + na ("blade"), in contrast to the double-sided tsurugi . The katana belongs to the nihontō family of swords, and

300-668: A nodachi , a Japanese broadsword. His surekill is the Thunderbolt Cut ( 雷光斬 , Raikōzan , lit. Thunderbolt Thrust) (Lightning Strike in the OVA), an energized thrust thunder power attack; it also appears as a burst of energy beams. Sage is captured by Shikaiden and the Mad Scientist in the OVA Gaiden . His Armor of Halo is used to kill people in New York, including Runa's brother. Sage gains

400-451: A big and sharp point, which was advantageous for stabbing in indoor battles. During the Meiji period , the samurai class was gradually disbanded, and the special privileges granted to them were taken away, including the right to carry swords in public. The Haitōrei Edict in 1876 forbade the carrying of swords in public except for certain individuals, such as former samurai lords ( daimyō ),

500-427: A billet. At this stage, it is only slightly curved or may have no curve at all. The katana 's gentle curvature is attained by a process of differential hardening or differential quenching : the smith coats the blade with several layers of a wet clay slurry, which is a special concoction unique to each sword maker, but generally composed of clay, water and any or none of ash, grinding stone powder, or rust. This process

600-428: A blade length greater than 60.6 cm (23.86 inches) (over 2 shaku). It is characterized by its distinctive appearance: a curved, slender, single-edged blade with a circular or squared guard ( tsuba ) and long grip to accommodate two hands. With a few exceptions, katana and tachi can be distinguished from each other, if signed, by the location of the signature ( mei ) on the tang ( nakago ) . In general,

700-601: A clone of himself called Red Torrent. He defeated the clone by purifying the water around himself, which strengthened him. He speaks with an English accent in the English dub. Cye is the Warrior of Water ( 水の戦士 , Sui no Senshi ) . Cye's transformation call is Armor of Torrent, Tao-Shin . In Japanese, Shin calls Busou, Suiko ( 武装、水滸 , Busō Suiko ) . His weapon is a Jūmonji yari , whose prongs can close, allowing him to grab opponents from afar or cut through obstacles. The armor

800-547: A different manner. By the 15th century, Japanese swords, including katana , had already gained international fame by being exported to China and Korea. For example, Korea learned how to make Japanese swords by sending swordsmiths to Japan and inviting Japanese swordsmiths to Korea. According to the record of June 1, 1430 in the Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty , a Korean swordsmith who went to Japan and mastered

900-509: A large section of a mountain). Other abilities include Rowen can erect protective barriers of around himself to slow his descent. Rowen gains a new suit of Armor in the third OVA, Message , but its powers are unknown although he is shown being able to fly. The English dub of the series gives him a thick Brooklyn accent, but that went missing in the OVAs. Rowen's name Hashiba is most likely from Toyotomi Hideyoshi 's original surname, Hashiba. Toyotomi

1000-478: A living. Since 1953, Japanese swordsmiths have been allowed to work, but with severe restrictions: swordsmiths must be licensed and serve a five-year apprenticeship, and only licensed swordsmiths are allowed to produce Japanese swords ( nihonto ), only two longswords per month are allowed to be produced by each swordsmith, and all swords must be registered with the Japanese Government . Outside Japan, some of

1100-446: A long time, Japanese people have developed a unique appreciation method in which the blade is regarded as the core of their aesthetic evaluation rather than the sword mountings decorated with luxurious lacquer or metal works. It is said that there are three objects that are the most noteworthy when appreciating a blade. The first is the overall shape referred to as sugata which is the curvature, length, width, tip, and shape of tang of

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1200-532: A massive earthquake-like disruption around him. Kento gains a new suit of Armor in the 3rd OVA, Message , but its powers and abilities are unknown. Kento is a descendant of a martial artist who came to Japan long ago from China. Kento's family own a Chinese restaurant in Chinatown, Yokohama. Voiced by: Daiki Nakamura (Japanese), Michael Donovan (English, TV), Matt Smith (English, OVA) Sage Date , known in Japan as Seiji Date ( 伊達征士 , Date Seiji ) , wears

1300-538: A new armor in the last OVA, Message , but its abilities are unknown. Sage's family name, Date, comes from a real-life samurai called Date Masamune . Date Masamune is famous for being blind in one eye, and has the nickname " The One-Eyed Dragon. " As an intentional nod to this, Sage's hair is styled so that his bangs always cover one eye. Voiced by: Nozomu Sasaki (Japanese), Michael Donovan (English) Cye Mori , known in Japan as Shin Mori ( 毛利 伸 , Mōri Shin ) , wears

1400-400: A swordsmith signature and a file pattern engraved on tang, and a carving inscribed on the blade, which is referred to as horimono , are also the objects of appreciation. The Hon'ami clan, which was an authority of appraisal of Japanese swords, rated Japanese swords from these artistic points of view. In addition, experts of modern Japanese swords judge when and by which swordsmith school

1500-422: A three-dimensional cross-sectional shape of an elongated pentagonal to hexagonal blade called shinogi-zukuri , a style in which the blade and the tang ( nakago ) are integrated and fixed to the hilt ( tsuka ) with a pin called mekugi , and a gentle curve. When a shinogi-zukuri sword is viewed from the side, there is a ridge line of the thickest part of the blade called shinogi between the cutting-edge side and

1600-472: A word to describe a long sword that was different from a tachi , occurs as early as the Kamakura period. These references to " uchigatana " and " tsubagatana " seem to indicate a different style of sword, possibly a less costly sword for lower-ranking warriors. Starting around the year 1400, long swords signed with the katana- style mei were made. This was in response to samurai wearing their tachi in what

1700-610: Is Chū (忠, Loyalty). His weapon is a kusari-gama and his surekill is Quake With Fear ( 紅雷閃 , Kōraisen , lit. "Red Lightning Flash") , in which he sends his chain into the ground, which then bursts out into the form of several chains. Anubis' Japanese name, Shutendōji , is a reference to a demon from Japanese folklore, notable for hating beans (as did the YST version of the character). Voiced by: Yasunori Matsumoto (Japanese), Richard Newman , Peter Wilds (Episode 2 Only), Scott McNeil (Episodes 31, 32 and 35; uncredited) (English) Cale,

1800-450: Is a Japanese sword characterized by a curved, single-edged blade with a circular or squared guard and long grip to accommodate two hands. Developed later than the tachi , it was used by samurai in feudal Japan and worn with the edge facing upward. Since the Muromachi period , many old tachi were cut from the root and shortened, and the blade at the root was crushed and converted into

1900-495: Is a theory that koshigatana (腰刀), a kind of tantō which was equipped by high ranking samurai together with tachi , developed to katana through the same historical background as sasuga , and it is possible that both developed to katana . The oldest katana in existence today is called Hishizukuri uchigatana , which was forged in the Nanbokuchō period, and was dedicated to Kasuga Shrine later. The first use of katana as

2000-591: Is also equipped with a tantō dagger and a claw-like weapon on the gauntlet, but he has, apparently, never used either of those. His surekill is Super Wave Smasher ( 超流破 , Chōryūha , lit. Super Wave Crush ) , a powerful burst of water. In the 3rd OVA, Message , Cye receives a new suit of Armor, but its abilities are unknown. According to Cye, his family is said to be descendants of the real-life Japanese daimyo Mori Motonari . Voiced by: Hiroshi Takemura (Japanese), Ward Perry (English) Rowen Hashiba , known in Japan as Toma Hashiba ( 羽柴 当麻 , Hashiba Tōma ) ,

2100-467: Is because the Japanese government allowed swordsmiths to make only 24 Japanese swords per person per year in order to maintain the quality of Japanese swords. Many swordsmiths after the Edo period have tried to reproduce the sword of the Kamakura period which is considered as the best sword in the history of Japanese swords, but they have failed. Then, in 2014, Kunihira Kawachi succeeded in reproducing it and won

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2200-402: Is called tsuchioki . The edge of the blade is coated with a thinner layer than the sides and spine of the sword, heated, and then quenched in water (few sword makers use oil to quench the blade). The slurry causes only the blade's edge to be hardened and also causes the blade to curve due to the difference in densities of the micro-structures in the steel. When steel with a carbon content of 0.7%

2300-523: Is called a daishō . Only samurai could wear the daishō : it represented their social power and personal honour . Samurai could wear decorative sword mountings in their daily lives, but the Tokugawa shogunate regulated the formal sword that samurai wore when visiting a castle by regulating it as a daisho made of a black scabbard, a hilt wrapped with white ray skin and black string. Japanese swords made in this period are classified as shintō . In

2400-455: Is classified as a shinshintō . One of the most popular swordsmiths in Japan today is Minamoto Kiyomaro who was active in this shinshintō period. His popularity is due to his timeless exceptional skill, as he was nicknamed " Masamune in Yotsuya " after his disastrous life. His works were traded at high prices and exhibitions were held at museums all over Japan from 2013 to 2014. The idea that

2500-467: Is distinguished by a blade length ( nagasa ) of more than 2 shaku , approximately 60 cm (24 in). Katana can also be known as dai or daitō among Western sword enthusiasts, although daitō is a generic name for any Japanese long sword , literally meaning "big sword". As Japanese does not have separate plural and singular forms, both katanas and katana are considered acceptable forms in English. Pronounced [katana] ,

2600-621: Is divided into specific time periods: Katana originates from sasuga (刺刀), a kind of tantō (short sword or knife) used by lower-ranking samurai who fought on foot in the Kamakura period (1185–1333). Their main weapon was a long naginata and sasuga was a spare weapon. In the Nanboku-chō period (1336–1392) which corresponds to the early Muromachi period (1336–1573), long weapons such as ōdachi were popular, and along with this, sasuga lengthened and finally became katana . Also, there

2700-402: Is heated beyond 750 °C (1,380 °F), it enters the austenite phase. When austenite is cooled very suddenly by quenching in water, the structure changes into martensite , which is a very hard form of steel. When austenite is allowed to cool slowly, its structure changes into a mixture of ferrite and pearlite which is softer than martensite. This process also creates the line down

2800-679: Is in charge of making scabbards, nurishi is in charge of applying lacquer to scabbards, tsukamakishi is in charge of making hilt, and tsubashi is in charge of making tsuba (hand guard). Tosho use apprentice swordsmiths as assistants. Prior to the Muromachi period, tosho and kacchushi (armorer) used surplus metal to make tsuba , but from the Muromachi period onwards, specialized craftsmen began to make tsuba . Nowadays, kinkoshi sometimes serves as shiroganeshi and tsubashi . Historically, katana have been regarded not only as weapons but also as works of art, especially for high-quality ones. For

2900-424: Is now called " katana style" (cutting edge up). Japanese swords are traditionally worn with the mei facing away from the wearer. When a tachi was worn in the style of a katana , with the cutting edge up, the tachi 's signature would be facing the wrong way. The fact that swordsmiths started signing swords with a katana signature shows that some samurai of that time period had started wearing their swords in

3000-558: Is rendered as "Serenity" in the English dub. It has six Kamas on its back resembling spider legs, which he can extend to any length he sees fit. The Kamas are connected to a single handle attached to his back, which he can remove at any time. He also has a flail on his right gauntlet and a nunchaku on his left. His armor allows him to spin webs and create illusions. His surekill is Web of Deception ( 投蜘網 , Tōchimō , lit. "Spider's Webcast") , in which he throws his Kamas. Katana A katana ( 刀, かたな , lit. "one-sided blade" )

3100-520: Is the Warrior of the Sky ( 天の戦士 , Ten no Senshi ) . His weapon is a collapsible, golden bow and a small, back-mounted quiver which supplies a virtually endless amount of arrows. Rowen has demonstrated great expertise using this weapon and displayed exceptional marksmanship. His finishing move is the "Arrow Shockwave" ( 真空波 , Shinkūha , Vacuum Breaker) (Heaven's Shockwave in the OVA), an extremely powerful light arrow. (The first use of which demolished

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3200-487: Is the rational and level-headed member of the Ronin Warriors. He often acts as a voice of reason to Ryo and Kento's hotter tempers. Rowen is close friends with Sage, as they share similar interests. He and Kento are childhood friends, having met through Kento's paternal grandfather. He is said to have an IQ of 250, making him the most intelligent of the Ronin Warriors. His enemy is Anubis, the dark Warlord of Cruelty. Rowen

3300-642: Is the unofficial leader of the Ronin Warriors who is often accompanied by the large white tiger, White Blaze ( 白炎 , Byakuen ) . Known to be brash and impulsive at times, he is nonetheless goodhearted and fiercely loyal. A tenacious warrior, Ryo was the first of the five rōnin to arrive in Shinjuku to confront the forces of the Evil Dynasty during their first invasion. He was also the first to be rescued by companions Mia and Ully after their initial siege on Talpa's castle. Though they manage to regroup and defeat Talpa,

3400-533: The kun'yomi (Japanese reading) of the kanji 刀, originally meaning single edged blade (of any length) in Chinese , the word has been adopted as a loanword by the Portuguese . In Portuguese the designation (spelled catana ) means "large knife" or machete . The katana is generally defined as the standard sized, moderately curved (as opposed to the older tachi featuring more curvature) Japanese sword with

3500-675: The Bisen school and Mino school produced them by division of labor. The export of katana and tachi reached its peak during this period, from the late 15th century to early 16th century when at least 200,000 swords were shipped to Ming dynasty China in official trade in an attempt to soak up the production of Japanese weapons and make it harder for pirates in the area to arm. In the Ming dynasty of China, Japanese swords and their tactics were studied to repel pirates, and wodao and miaodao were developed based on Japanese swords. From this period,

3600-627: The Keichō period of the Azuchi–Momoyama period are classified as shintō (New swords). Japanese swords from shintō are different from kotō in forging method and steel ( tamahagane ). This is thought to be because Bizen school, which was the largest swordsmith group of Japanese swords, was destroyed by a great flood in 1590 and the mainstream shifted to Mino school, and because Toyotomi Hideyoshi virtually unified Japan, uniform steel began to be distributed throughout Japan. The kotō swords, especially

3700-519: The Sengoku period (period of warring states) in the late Muromachi period, the war became bigger and ashigaru fought in a close formation using yari (spears) lent to them. Furthermore, in the late 16th century, tanegashima (muskets) were introduced from Portugal, and Japanese swordsmiths mass-produced improved products, with ashigaru fighting with leased guns. On the battlefield in Japan, guns and spears became main weapons in addition to bows. Due to

3800-589: The Shōwa period that swords were produced on a large scale again. Japanese military swords produced between 1875 and 1945 are referred to as guntō (military swords). During the pre- World War II military buildup, and throughout the war, all Japanese officers were required to wear a sword. Traditionally made swords were produced during this period, but in order to supply such large numbers of swords, blacksmiths with little or no knowledge of traditional Japanese sword manufacture were also recruited. In addition, supplies of

3900-416: The hamon can be seen by holding the sword in your hand and looking at it while changing the angle of the light shining on the blade. After the blade is forged, it is then sent to be polished. The polishing takes between one and three weeks. The polisher uses a series of successively finer grains of polishing stones in a process called glazing, until the blade has a mirror finish. However, the blunt edge of

4000-423: The katana is often given a matte finish to emphasize the hamon . Japanese swords are generally made by a division of labor between six and eight craftsmen. Tosho ( Toko , Katanakaji ) is in charge of forging blades, togishi is in charge of polishing blades, kinkosi ( chokinshi ) is in charge of making metal fittings for sword fittings, shiroganeshi is in charge of making habaki (blade collar), sayashi

4100-407: The mei should be carved into the side of the nakago which would face outward when the sword was worn. Since a tachi was worn with the cutting edge down, and the katana was worn with the cutting edge up, the mei would be in opposite locations on the tang. Western historians have said that katana were among the finest cutting weapons in world military history. However, the main weapons on

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4200-472: The tang ( nakago ) of many old tachi were cut and shortened into katana . This kind of remake is called suriage (磨上げ). For example, many of the tachi that Masamune forged during the Kamakura period were converted into katana , so his only existing works are katana and tantō . From around the 16th century, many Japanese swords were exported to Thailand , where katana-style swords were made and prized for battle and art work, and some of them are in

4300-463: The Ancient One intervened. He later appeared to stop Mia and Ully from saving Ryo, and then to stop Ryo from saving Rowen. When he challenged Ryo and Rowen to a battle, he defeated them but could not bring himself to destroy them. Rowen shattered his mask with an Arrow Shockwave, exposing his human face to them. Talpa sensed that Anubis was showing weakness and used Nether Spirits to turn his mind back to

4400-613: The Ancient One sends him to the Catasota Gulch Pinnacles (Akiyoshidai Plateau in Yamaguchi Prefecture in Japanese version) to unlock his armor's true power, Sage realized the armors can be used for good or evil. He speaks formally in the original "Samurai Troopers" series. Sage as Warrior of Light ( 光の戦士 , Hikari no Senshi ) . Sage's transformation call is Armor of Halo, Tao-Chi . In Japanese, Seiji called Busou, Kourin ( 武装、光輪 , Busō Kōrin ) . Sage fights with

4500-603: The Armor of Inferno for himself. He nearly succeeded in absorbing all nine armors, but was thwarted by Anubis' sacrifice. In the final battle, he overwhelmed Ryo, who wore the Armor of Inferno, but was destroyed by the Jewel of Life. Talpa's weapons are six double-edged swords formed in a circle on his back. Voiced by: Kiyoyuki Yanada (Japanese), Paul Dobson (English) Anubis, the Dark Warlord of Cruelty , known in Japan as Shutendouji,

4600-569: The Azuchi-Momoyama period to the Edo period started, katana -forging also developed into a highly intricate and well-respected art form. Lacquered saya (scabbards), ornate engraved fittings, silk handles and elegant tsuba (handguards) were popular among samurai in the Edo period, and eventually (especially when Japan was in peace time), katana became more cosmetic and ceremonial items than practical weapons. The Umetada school led by Umetada Myoju who

4700-462: The Bizen school swords made in the Kamakura period, had a midare-utsuri like a white mist between hamon and shinogi , but in the swords from shintō it has almost disappeared. In addition, the whole body of the blade became whitish and hard. Almost no one was able to reproduce midare-utsurii until Kunihira Kawachi reproduced it in 2014. As the Sengoku period (period of warring states) ended and

4800-584: The Dark Warlord of Corruption , known in Japan as Anubis, the Darkness Demon General ( 闇魔将・悪奴弥守 , Yami Mashō Anubisu ) , formerly Kujūro Sasaki ( 佐々木九十郎 , Sasaki Kujūro ) , is the third Warlord to fight the Warriors. He has powers over darkness. He primarily fights Sage of the Halo, who controls light. His armor of Darkness-Corruption/the Jackal ( 漆黒 , Shikoku , lit. "Jet-Black") represents Winter and

4900-472: The Dynasty. Anubis was saved when Kento defeated the Nether Spirits. The Ancient One then showed Anubis how Talpa regarded him as a tool. Anubis then renounced the Dynasty. Anubis disappeared after Talpa's first defeat, but he later returned to take on the Ancient One's role as protector. While the Warriors initially distrusted him, Anubis proved himself by aiding them in battle, usually by helping Ryo summon

5000-800: The Emperor of the Dynasty , known in Japan as Arago, the Sovereign Archdemon ( 妖邪帝王・阿羅醐 , Yōja Teiō Arago ) , is the central antagonist of the series. He was defeated by the Ancient One during his first attempt to conquer Earth a thousand years earlier. Talpa's spirit was banished to the Nether Realm while his armor remained on Earth. Since the armor could not be destroyed, the Ancient One split it apart into nine separate armors with their own powers and virtues. Talpa re-acquired four of them, Cruelty, Corruption, Illusion, and Venom, and gave them to four humans who became his Dark Warlords. When Talpa returns in

5100-538: The Evil Dynasty resurfaced and captured Ryo's fellow rōnin Sage, Kento and Cye. With his only remaining comrade, Rowen, Ryo ventures into the Nether Realm with Mia and Ully to rescue their fellow warriors, ultimately vanquishing Talpa in one final battle. Guided by the virtue of "Jin" ( 仁 , benevolence, righteousness ) , Ryo commands the red Armor of Wildfire ( 烈火の鎧 , Rekka no Yoroi ) , which draws power from fire, heat and flames. As owner of this armor, Ryo inherits

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5200-595: The Four Dark Warlords and the fourth Warlord to confront the Warriors. His main opponent is Kento Rei-Faung. Dais was the first of the Warlords to confront Anubis when he re-emerged. Anubis tried to sway Dais from evil, but Dais stayed with the Dynasty until Talpa was destroyed for good. His Armor of Illusion/the Spider ( 夢幻 , Mugen , lit. Infinity ) represents Summer and the guiding virtue Nin (忍, lit. "to endure"), which

5300-665: The Inferno Armor, Ryo uses these swords to unleash the "Rage of Inferno" ( 超弾動閃煌斬 , Chōdandō Senkōzan , lit. Ultra-Ballistic Flash Cut ) , which releases the armor's power as rays of light and flame. Ryo's transformation call is Armor of Wildfire, Tao-Jin . In Japanese, Ryo called Busou, Rekka ( 武装、烈火 , Busō Rekka ) . Following the battle with Mukala and the Black Inferno Armor, the White Inferno and Wildfire armors were destroyed. Ryo would later acquire new armor from

5400-498: The Inferno Armor. He also met Lady Kayura, whom he recognized as the last living member of the Ancient One's clan and sought to redeem her. He sacrifices himself to free her from the control of Lord Badamon; before his death, he passed on his armor and the Ancient One's staff to her. Anubis wears the Armor of Cruelty, also known as the Armor of the Ogre - Bear ( 貴力 , Riki , lit. '"Noble Power") , which represents Spring. Its guiding virtue

5500-603: The Japanese government started requiring the use of special stamps on the tang ( nakago ) to distinguish these swords from traditionally made swords. During this period of war, older antique swords were remounted for use in military mounts. Presently, in Japan, shōwatō are not considered to be "true" Japanese swords, and they can be confiscated. Outside Japan, however, they are collected as historical artifacts. Between 1945 and 1953, sword manufacture and sword-related martial arts were banned in Japan. Many swords were confiscated and destroyed, and swordsmiths were not able to make

5600-463: The Japanese steel ( tamahagane ) used for swordmaking were limited, so several other types of steel were also used. Quicker methods of forging were also used, such as the use of power hammers , and quenching the blade in oil, rather than hand forging and water. The non-traditionally made swords from this period are called shōwatō , after the regnal name of the Emperor Hirohito , and in 1937,

5700-573: The Masamune Prize, the highest honor as a swordsmith. No one could win the Masamune Prize unless he made an extraordinary achievement, and in the section of tachi and katana , no one had won for 18 years before Kawauchi. Katana are distinguished by their type of blade: In addition to these, there are various other types of blades with different shapes, such as Osoraku-zukuri , Unokubi-zukuri , and Kammuri-otoshi-zukuri . Typical features of Japanese swords represented by katana and tachi are

5800-559: The OVA), which creates a giant column of white-hot energy. Ryo later acquires the white Armor of Inferno ( 白い輝煌帝 , Shiroi Kikotei , lit. White Robes of the Sun Emperor) , which requires the additional energies of four other armors to summon. Wielding this armor proved a great challenge for Ryo until he acquired the twin Swords of Fervor ( 剛烈剣 , Gōretsuken , lit. Fierce Blades) from the Nether Realm warlord, Lord Sabrestryke. Together with

5900-475: The Ogre Demon General ( 鬼魔将・朱天童子 , Oni Mashō Shutendōji ) , was the leader of the Four Dark Warlords at the beginning of the series. Four hundred years ago, he was a warrior named Toshitada Koma ( 狛 俊忠 , Koma Toshitada ) , whose ambition and blood-lust made him susceptible to Talpa's influence. He was the first of the Warlords to fight the Warriors in modern times. He nearly defeated them until

6000-503: The Sand Strikers. Kento defeated them by learning to focus his power. Kento's transformation call is Armor of Hardrock, Tao-Gi . In Japanese, Xiu called Busou, Kongou ( 武装、金剛 , Busō Kongō ) . His weapon is a combination of a three-section staff and a naginata which he sometimes wields like a pair of nunchakus in close combat. The armor's surekill is Iron Rock Crusher ( 岩鉄砕 , Gantessai , lit. Iron Rock Smash) which causes

6100-592: The authority of the rating is still valid today. In 1719, Tokugawa Yoshimune , the 8th shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate , ordered Hon'ami Kōchū, who was an authority of sword appraisal, to record swords possessed by daimyo all over Japan in books. In the completed " Kyōhō Meibutsu Chō " (享保名物帳) 249 precious swords were described, and additional 25 swords were described later. The list also includes 81 swords that had been destroyed in previous fires. The precious swords described in this book were called " Meibutsu " (名物) and

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6200-404: The back side. This shinogi contributes to lightening and toughening of the blade and high cutting ability. Katana are traditionally made from a specialized Japanese steel called tamahagane , which is created from a traditional smelting process that results in several, layered steels with different carbon concentrations. This process helps remove impurities and even out the carbon content of

6300-425: The battlefield in the Sengoku period in the 16th century were yumi (bow) , yari (spear) , and tanegashima (gun) , and katana and tachi were used only for close combat . During this period, the tactics changed to a group battle by ashigaru (foot soldiers) mobilized in large numbers, so naginata and tachi became obsolete as weapons on the battlefield and were replaced by yari and katana . In

6400-408: The blade of a sword in the Kamakura period is the best has been continued until now, and as of the 21st century, 80% of Japanese swords designated as National treasure in Japan were made in the Kamakura period, and 70% of them were tachi . The arrival of Matthew Perry in 1853 and the subsequent Convention of Kanagawa caused chaos in Japanese society. Conflicts began to occur frequently between

6500-437: The bodies of the episodes and the episodes retained most of the original music. A line of action figures based on the anime was released by Playmates Toys in 1999, with a limited rerelease by Re:Play in 2001. Three OVA sequels were produced: Gaiden ( Side Story ), The Legend of the Inferno Armor , and Message . There are numerous novels and audio dramas based on the anime. While all the sequels have been released on DVD,

6600-403: The changes in fighting styles in these wars, the tachi and naginata became obsolete among samurai, and the katana , which was easy to carry, became the mainstream. The dazzling looking tachi gradually became a symbol of the authority of high-ranking samurai. On the other hand, kenjutsu (swordsmanship) that makes use of the characteristics of katana was invented. The quicker draw of

6700-451: The collections of the Thai royal family. From the late Muromachi period (Sengoku period) to the early Edo period , samurai were sometimes equipped with a katana blade pointing downwards like a tachi . This style of sword is called handachi , "half tachi ". In handachi , both styles were often mixed, for example, fastening to the obi was katana style, but metalworking of the scabbard

6800-413: The crystal particles formed at the boundary of hamon. Depending on the size of the particles, they can be divided into two types, a nie and a nioi , which makes them look like stars or mist. The pattern, nie and nioi of the hamon are generally difficult to see, and the viewer usually holds the sword in his hand, changing the angle of the light as it hits the blade. In addition to these three objects,

6900-470: The darkness. No matter how powerful his enemies may be, he will be persistent and continue to fight. Voiced by: Jūrōta Kosugi (Japanese), Matt Smith and Peter Wilds (Episode 2 Only) (English) Dais, the Dark Warlord of Illusion , known in Japan as Rajula, the Phantom Demon General ( 幻魔将・螺呪羅 , Gen Mashō Rajura ) , formerly Gorō Kurodajirō ( 黒田次郎五郎 , Kurodajirō Gorō ) , is the oldest of

7000-472: The disc. On September 4, 2014, North American anime licensor Discotek Media announced their license of the original Japanese anime ( Yoroiden Samurai Troopers ), and planned to release the series on DVD in 2015. Discotek has said that on their Facebook page that they have no plans to release Ronin Warriors until they clear issues with the dub. Discotek has also licensed the OVAs and includes both Japanese and English audio as well as English subtitles. By 2021,

7100-701: The family symbol of the Takeda clan . In a Newtype poll, Ryo ranked #17 for the top 30 most popular male anime character from the 1980s. In the English dub of the original 39 episodes, his name is pronounced "RYE-oh." But in the dub of the OVA episodes, it is pronounced "REE-oh" which is closer to the original Japanese, though inconsistent with earlier dub episodes. Voiced by: Tomohiro Nishimura (Japanese), Jason Gray-Stanford (English, TV), Andrew Francis (English, OVA) Kento Rei Faung , known in Japan as Xiu Lihuang ( 秀 麗黄 , jp: Shū Reifuan , ch: Xiù Lì Huáng ) , wears

7200-500: The forces of sonnō jōi (尊王攘夷派), who wanted to overthrow the Tokugawa Shogunate and rule by the Emperor, and the forces of sabaku (佐幕派), who wanted the Tokugawa Shogunate to continue. These political activists, called the shishi (志士), fought using a practical katana , called the kinnōtō (勤皇刀) or the bakumatsut ō (幕末刀). Their katana were often longer than 90 cm (35.43 in) in blade length, less curved, and had

7300-411: The green Armor of Halo ( 光輪の鎧 , Kōrin no Yoroi , lit. Armor of Nimbus ) , which represents the element of Light and the guiding virtue of Rei ( 礼 , Rei , lit. Courtesy , translated as Grace in the OVA) . In the English dub of the series, his guiding virtue is Chi (Wisdom). His rival is Cale, the Dark Warlord of Corruption. He is considered the most mature and aloof member of the team. When

7400-471: The guiding virtue Kou (考, filial piety), which is changed to Tei (Obedience) in the English dub. His weapons are a Nodachi and claw-like armor spikes. His surekill is Black Lightning Slash ( 暗黒跳飛斬り , Ankoku Chohigiri , lit. "Darkness Leaping Slash") , where he fires a number of black lasers. According to The Encyclopedia of YST , if Cale was to use his powers for good, he would be the Eyes for people lost in

7500-437: The issues were resolved and the series' English dub had a Blu-ray release on December 28, 2021. Crunchyroll later added the anime series for its streaming. The English dub was legally available on streaming services such Amazon Prime Video , RetroCrush , and Tubi . The opening and ending sequences and the eyecatches were replaced with new ones, and the Japanese title cards were removed; there were no substantial cuts to

7600-465: The late 14th and early 15th centuries, katana blades tended to have lengths between 70 and 73 centimetres (28 and 29 in). During the early 16th century, the average length dropped about 10 centimetres (3.9 in), approaching closer to 60 centimetres (24 in). By the late 16th century, the average length had increased again by about 13 centimetres (5.1 in), returning to approximately 73 centimetres (29 in). Swords forged after 1596 in

7700-405: The late 18th century, swordsmith Suishinshi Masahide criticized that the present katana blades only emphasized decoration and had a problem with their toughness. He insisted that the bold and strong kotō blade from the Kamakura period to the Nanboku-chō period was the ideal Japanese sword, and started a movement to restore the production method and apply it to Katana . Katana made after this

7800-487: The light blue Armor of Torrent ( 水滸の鎧 , Suiko no Yoroi ) , which represents the element of Water and the guiding virtue Shin ( 信 , Trust ) . In OVA, Shin as Trust, or a Faith. His rival is Sekhmet, the Dark Warlord of Venom. He is the oldest member of the Warriors and one of the calmest. When the Ancient One sent him to the Sea of Toyama (Naruto Strait in Japanese version) to unlock his armor's true power, he encountered

7900-474: The manga and audio dramas have not been made available in English. In July 2020, a crossover with Ragnarok Mobile was launched. List of Ronin Warriors characters#Talpa The following is a list of characters in the Ronin Warriors manga and anime series authored by Hajime Yatate . Voiced by Takeshi Kusao (Japanese), Matt Hill (English) Ryo Sanada ( 真田 遼 , Sanada Ryō )

8000-571: The market. These types of swords are typically mass-produced and made with a wide variety of steels and methods. According to the Parliamentary Association for the Preservation and Promotion of Japanese Swords, organized by Japanese Diet members, many katana distributed around the world as of the 21st century are fake Japanese swords made in China. The Sankei Shimbun analyzed that this

8100-656: The method of making Japanese swords presented a Japanese sword to the King of Korea and was rewarded for the excellent work which was no different from the swords made by the Japanese. Traditionally, yumi (bows) were the main weapon of war in Japan, and tachi and naginata were used only for close combat. The Ōnin War in the late 15th century in the Muromachi period expanded into a large-scale domestic war, in which employed farmers called ashigaru were mobilized in large numbers. They fought on foot using katana shorter than tachi . In

8200-565: The military, and the police. Skilled swordsmiths had trouble making a living during this period as Japan modernized its military, and many swordsmiths started making other items, such as farm equipment, tools, and cutlery. The craft of making swords was kept alive through the efforts of some individuals, notably Miyamoto Kanenori (宮本包則, 1830–1926) and Gassan Sadakazu (月山貞一, 1836–1918), who were appointed Imperial Household Artist . The businessman Mitsumura Toshimo (光村利藻, 1877－1955) tried to preserve their skills by ordering swords and sword mountings from

8300-415: The modern katanas being produced by western swordsmiths use modern steel alloys, such as L6 and A2 . These modern swords replicate the size and shape of the Japanese katana and are used by martial artists for iaidō and even for cutting practice ( tameshigiri ). Mass-produced swords including iaitō and shinken in the shape of katana are available from many countries, though China dominates

8400-488: The modern era, he takes over the city of Tokyo and captures its citizens. Initially appearing as a giant ghostly helmet, Talpa sent the Dark Warlords to do his bidding. He eventually confronts the Warriors and absorbs them along with the Warlords to regain his physical form. He was vanquished by the newly created Armor of Inferno and was assumed to be destroyed. He later returned, along with his trump-card, Lady Kayura, to gain

8500-492: The orange and brown Armor of Hardrock ( 金剛の鎧 , Kongō no Yoroi , lit. Armor of Diamond ) , which represents the element of Earth and the guiding virtue Gi ( 義 , Gi , lit. Justice ) . It is said to be the most violent of the armors. His rival is Dais, the Dark Warlord of Illusion. Kento is the Warrior of Earth ( 地の戦士 , Chi no Senshi ) . When the Ancient One sent Kento to Mt. Aso (Mt Daisetsu in Japanese version) to unlock his Armor's true power, Dais followed him with

8600-504: The relatively peaceful Edo period , katana increased in importance as a weapon, and at the end of the Edo period, shishi (political activists) fought many battles using katana as their main weapon. Katana and tachi were often used as gifts between daimyo (feudal lord) and samurai, or as offerings to the kami enshrined in Shinto shrines , and symbols of authority and spirituality of samurai. The production of swords in Japan

8700-411: The sides of the blade called the hamon , which is made distinct by polishing. Each hamon and each smith's style of hamon is distinct. Hamon does not refer to the white area on the side of the blade. The white part is the part that is whitened by a polishing process called hadori to make it easier to see the hamon , and the actual hamon is a fuzzy line within the white part. The actual line of

8800-471: The spirit Suzunagi; though the nature and abilities of this new armor were never explored. Ryo comes from the ninja school of the Sanada Ten Braves , a legendary band of ninja who were believed to have assisted Sanada Yukimura , a real samurai who died in 1615. He is frequently depicted as wearing red armor, and is widely considered a hero. The crest on Ryo's armor is actually a slightly stylized version

8900-415: The steel. The age of the steel plays a role in the ability to remove impurities, with older steel having a higher oxygen concentration, being more easily stretched and rid of impurities during hammering, resulting in a stronger blade. The smith begins by folding and welding pieces of the steel several times to work out most of the differences in the steel. The resulting block of steel is then drawn out to form

9000-450: The sword and strike the enemy in a single motion. Previously, the curved tachi had been worn with the edge of the blade facing down and suspended from a belt. From the 15th century, low-quality swords were mass-produced under the influence of the large-scale war. These swords, along with spears, were lent to recruited farmers called ashigaru and swords were exported. Such mass-produced swords are called kazuuchimono , and swordsmiths of

9100-556: The sword was made from these artistic points of view. Generally, the blade and the sword mounting of Japanese swords are displayed separately in museums, and this tendency is remarkable in Japan. For example, the Nagoya Japanese Sword Museum "Nagoya Touken World", one of Japan's largest sword museums, posts separate videos of the blade and the sword mounting on its official website and YouTube. In Japan, Japanese swords are rated by authorities of each period, and some of

9200-429: The sword was well suited to combat where victory depended heavily on short response times. (The practice and martial art for drawing the sword quickly and responding to a sudden attack was called battōjutsu , which is still kept alive through the teaching of iaido .) The katana further facilitated this by being worn thrust through a belt-like sash ( obi ) with the sharpened edge facing up. Ideally, samurai could draw

9300-417: The sword. The second is a fine pattern on the surface of the blade, which is referred to as hada or jigane . By repeatedly folding and forging the blade, fine patterns such as fingerprints, tree rings and bark are formed on its surface. The third is hamon . Hamon is a fuzzy line in the white pattern of the cutting edge produced by quenching and tempering. The object of appreciation is the shape of hamon and

9400-509: The swordsmiths and craftsmen. He was especially enthusiastic about collecting sword mountings, and he collected about 3,000 precious sword mountings from the end of the Edo period to the Meiji period. About 1,200 items from a part of his collection are now in the Nezu Museum . Military action by Japan in China and Russia during the Meiji period helped revive interest in swords, but it was not until

9500-491: The title "Warrior of Flames" ( 炎の戦士 , Honō no Senshi ) . When equipped, Ryo becomes immune to the effects of extreme heat and flames. Ryo's weapon is a pair of katana called the Swords of Wildfire ( 烈火剣 , Rekkaken , lit. Wildfire Blades) which can connect at the kashira to form a double-bladed sword style weapon. Ryo's finishing move is "Flare Up Now" ( 双炎斬 , Sōenzan , lit. Twin Fire Cut) ("Fury of Wildfire" in

9600-461: Was Oda Nobunaga 's successor, and unified Japan under his rule for a short while. This can be backed up by Rowen's claim that he follows the way of the Taiko Kampaku school. A retired Kampaku (which is both a first secretary and regent to an adult Emperor) was called a taiko and this usually referred to Toyotomi Hideyoshi Voiced by: Shigezō Sasaoka (Japanese), Mina E. Mina (English) Talpa,

9700-452: Was tachi style. In the Muromachi period, especially the Sengoku period, people such as farmers, townspeople, and monks could have a sword. However, in 1588 Toyotomi Hideyoshi banned farmers from owning weapons and conducted a sword hunt to forcibly remove swords from anyone identifying as a farmer. The length of the katana blade varied considerably during the course of its history. In

9800-556: Was considered to be the founder of shinto led the improvement of the artistry of Japanese swords in this period. They were both swordsmiths and metalsmiths, and were famous for carving the blade, making metal accouterments such as tsuba (handguard), remodeling from tachi to katana ( suriage ), and inscriptions inlaid with gold. During this period, the Tokugawa shogunate required samurai to wear katana and shorter swords in pairs. These short swords were wakizashi and tantō , and wakizashi were mainly selected. This set of two

9900-520: Was recorded by the Vancouver -based Ocean Productions cast. Ronin Warriors first aired on American television during the summer of 1995 and subsequently appeared through syndication, as well as the USA Network (1995), Sci-Fi Channel (1996) and later on Cartoon Network (1999). The series was released on DVD in 2002, including the original Japanese version with English subtitles on the reverse side of

10000-523: Was the only Ronin not found in a Japanese landmark, but in space instead. Guided by the virtue of Chi ( 智 , Wisdom ) (originally Inochi ( 命 , Life ) in the original dub), Rowen commands the indigo Armor of Strata ( 天空の鎧 , Tenkū no Yoroi , Armor of the Heavens) , which draws its power from the air, wind and sky. Rowen's transformation call is Armor of Strata, Tao-Inochi . In Japanese, Touma calls Busou, Tenkuu ( 武装、天空 , Busō Tenkū ) . Rowen

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