The Warrior who founded an Empire
Genji: Days of the Blade – where history meets legend
Genji™: Days of the Blade introduces the second instalment in the life of one of Japan’s greatest military heroes and finest Samurai commanders - Genkuro Yoshitsune (1159-1189). But as you take on the role of Yoshitsune in three of his most decisive battles, remember that his story is not just that of a military hero - but that of a man who has secured his own place in Japanese language, art and legend.
As well as being an inspired leader and a genius when it came to military tactics, Yoshitsune was also a more than capable archer and swordsman. Joining his older brother, head of the Genji clan, in Eastern Japan as a young man he was tasked with overcoming arch-rivals the Heishi clan.
After three great victories including the Battle of Ichinotani [1184] fought on horseback and the naval Battle of Dannoura [1185], both featured in Genji: Days of the Blade, Yoshitsune’s brother became Japan’s Shogun. Jealous of Yoshitsune’s popularity, his brother ordered his death bringing into being the phrase ‘Hougan biiki’ or sympathy for the underdog. One of the legends that was created after his death is that Yoshitsune actually escaped to Mongolia becoming Genghis Khan. Other legends based on the life of Yoshitsune include:
A lover and a fighter: Yoshitsune is said to have seduced the daughter of a famous Samurai – just so he could study a Chinese military text in her possession.
Samurai spirits and crabs: After his victory in the battle of Dannoura the spirits of the defeated samurai were believed to have inhabited the crabs of the island which to this day have a human face patterned on their shells.
Dead man fighting: When his partner, the warrior monk Benkei, held off the enemy at Koromogawa he remained standing in front of Yoshitsune for ten minutes after he was dead.
As a leading character in Japanese history Yoshitsune’s story has had a long and lasting influence on the arts – defining the ‘hougan’ genre and taken up in ‘Noh’ [dance and drama] and ‘Joruri’ [puppet play], with his legendary feats inspiring artists, filmmakers, writers and, of course, game producers.
More/…
Hougan biiki
Genji: Days of the Blade has been developed exclusively for PLAYSTATION®3 by the team at Game Republic led by action master Yoshiki Okamoto, and will be available from March 2007.
About Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd.
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE), based in London, is responsible for the distribution, marketing and sales of PlayStation®2 and PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) software and hardware in 102 territories across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Oceania. SCEE also develops, publishes, markets and distributes entertainment software for these formats, and manages the third party licensing programs for the formats in these territories. Between its European debut on 24th November 2000 and the end of September 2006, over 42 million PlayStation 2 consoles have been shipped across the SCEE territories, over 111 million worldwide, making it one of the most successful consumer electronic products in history. Between its European debut on 1st September 2005 and the end of September 2006, over 8 million PSP systems have been shipped across the SCEE territories, with over 22.9 million shipped worldwide since its Japanese launch in December 2004.
More information about PlayStation products can be found at
www.playstation.com and www.yourpsp.com or visit the Virtual Press Office at www.scee.presscentre.com.
PlayStation, PSP and the PlayStation logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. UMD (Universal Media Disc) is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
As well as being an inspired leader and a genius when it came to military tactics, Yoshitsune was also a more than capable archer and swordsman. Joining his older brother, head of the Genji clan, in Eastern Japan as a young man he was tasked with overcoming arch-rivals the Heishi clan.
After three great victories including the Battle of Ichinotani [1184] fought on horseback and the naval Battle of Dannoura [1185], both featured in Genji: Days of the Blade, Yoshitsune’s brother became Japan’s Shogun. Jealous of Yoshitsune’s popularity, his brother ordered his death bringing into being the phrase ‘Hougan biiki’ or sympathy for the underdog. One of the legends that was created after his death is that Yoshitsune actually escaped to Mongolia becoming Genghis Khan. Other legends based on the life of Yoshitsune include:
A lover and a fighter: Yoshitsune is said to have seduced the daughter of a famous Samurai – just so he could study a Chinese military text in her possession.
Samurai spirits and crabs: After his victory in the battle of Dannoura the spirits of the defeated samurai were believed to have inhabited the crabs of the island which to this day have a human face patterned on their shells.
Dead man fighting: When his partner, the warrior monk Benkei, held off the enemy at Koromogawa he remained standing in front of Yoshitsune for ten minutes after he was dead.
As a leading character in Japanese history Yoshitsune’s story has had a long and lasting influence on the arts – defining the ‘hougan’ genre and taken up in ‘Noh’ [dance and drama] and ‘Joruri’ [puppet play], with his legendary feats inspiring artists, filmmakers, writers and, of course, game producers.
More/…
Hougan biiki
Genji: Days of the Blade has been developed exclusively for PLAYSTATION®3 by the team at Game Republic led by action master Yoshiki Okamoto, and will be available from March 2007.
About Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd.
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE), based in London, is responsible for the distribution, marketing and sales of PlayStation®2 and PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) software and hardware in 102 territories across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Oceania. SCEE also develops, publishes, markets and distributes entertainment software for these formats, and manages the third party licensing programs for the formats in these territories. Between its European debut on 24th November 2000 and the end of September 2006, over 42 million PlayStation 2 consoles have been shipped across the SCEE territories, over 111 million worldwide, making it one of the most successful consumer electronic products in history. Between its European debut on 1st September 2005 and the end of September 2006, over 8 million PSP systems have been shipped across the SCEE territories, with over 22.9 million shipped worldwide since its Japanese launch in December 2004.
More information about PlayStation products can be found at
www.playstation.com and www.yourpsp.com or visit the Virtual Press Office at www.scee.presscentre.com.
PlayStation, PSP and the PlayStation logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. UMD (Universal Media Disc) is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
Games:
Genji: Days of the Blade