For people who don’t know anything about japanese history like me.
I really know nothing so hopefully everything’s in check.
This is Watatsumi Shrine. This is a shrine located in Kochi, which is Sakamoto Ryoma’s birthplace (Mutsunokami’s owner). Ryoma is seen has the hero of Kochi and is admired and respected by its people, which led to the construction of a bronze statue of Ryoma in 1928. It currently resides near the shrine.
Also the maple tree’s leaves can mean “precious memories” in flower language! The leaves can turn red from October to December, and Ryoma died in December.
This is the battle of Aizu. A remnant of The Shinsengumi fought in this battle in favor of the Tokugawa government. Kane-san’s and Horikawa’s owner, Hijikata Toshizou, participated in this battle. Although in the end the faction he was part of lost.
This is from the battle of Hakodate, which takes place after the battle of Aizu. Here Hijikata joins the battle too and fought long and hard, but was killed in the end. Also Hijikata was killed by a gunshot wound, maybe the hole in the Shinsengumi flag was made by a bullet?
This is the Honnouji incident. This is where Yagen’s owner, Oda Nobunaga, died by committing suicide after being surrounded by the opponent’s troops. The fire consumed the Honnouji and Yagen vanished during it, supposedly lost to the fire. (he’s prolly watching over Oda as the fire consumes him too ;_;)
This is the Ootaki castle. Tonbokiri’s owner, Honda Tadakatsu, founded and partially ruled this castle. He died during fall, and you can see it’s fall during this scene. Also these leaves are from a Ginkgo tree, in flower language they can mean “repose of souls”.
This is the Shimotsuki incident, which took place in December. One of Tsurumaru’s owners was a young boy called Sadayasu from the Adachi clan. During the incident, the Adachi clan ended up being exterminated thanks to the Hojo clan, and Sadayasu was killed. Tsurumaru was buried together with Sadayasu, but then came in Hojo Sadatoki who wanted to own Tsurumaru, so he exhumed Sadayasu’s grave and took him away. (there’s some discrepancy between the real life events and game events about this just fyi)
This is from Sakamoto Ryoma’s assassination. When Ryoma was attacked he reached for his sword, Mutsunokami, and used it to block the opponent’s attack. In the process of doing this, the sword’s scabbard broke and the opponent’s blade reached him. In the end he lost the fight and died.