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Shugen Naokage Kokonoe (九重舟元尚陰, Kokonoe Shūgen Naokage), also goes by Shugen Tomiya (遠宮舟元), Tōmiya Shūgen), was a fictional character in the Soul series of games. He was the master and father figure of Setsuka.

History[]

Without a family to turn to and exposed to hate and violence, a woman ran away from her home. Young and alone, she wandered to a city where a man took her in, and named the woman "Setsuka" (Snow Flower).

Her caretaker worked as a bodyguard in the region. He taught Setsuka the technique he used to protect his patrons, and it would eventually become the way she protected herself, but it was the joy she felt when he praised her that made her devote to the training. Time passed, and Setsuka grew into a beautiful woman. She learned to ignore those who still looked her with disdain, letting nothing trouble her.

One day, her master entrusted her with a note, whose destination was far away. It would take her many months to travel there and back. Her master saw her uneasy look, and reassured her that her home will be always there for her. Setsuka left and, after a long journey, found the man to whom the letter was addressed. The old martial artist ran a dojo in a small village, and asked Setsuka many times to stay and train there, but she refused his invitation and started her long way home.

Upon her return, she found him lying on the floor injured. Although he would not reveal how he received the wounds, she was certain that he lost a duel. The injuries he received would prevent him from wielding a sword ever again. But still, the man tried to behave as always, even if Setsuka couldn't hide her concern. His lessons become more strict and demanding, but he also showered her with overwhelming love, something new to her. Even if their modest lifestyle couldn't afford luxuries, he bought her an elegant long-sleeved kimono. As she blushed under the man's smile, her feelings for him grow stronger than ever.

It was not fondness as a father nor reverence as her master. It would not be until after his death that she would come to recognize those feelings as love. Visiting his grave, she recalled the words he had spoken on his deathbed..."I did not teach you this art for the purpose of revenge...One who lives by the sword harbors no regret." That fateful fight had been the most exciting moment of his life. He taught her his fighting style so she can carry on the art, as he wanted her to live freely, unbound of hate or fear. Before dying, he told her his enemy's name: Heishiro Mitsurugi.

She shed no tears when her master died. Only later she realized her feelings and finally understand what it meant to fall in love. Her master didn't want her to live bound to feelings of revenge, but she was decided. With undying love in her heart, she went on a lone journey with a target in mind: a wandering swordsman who challenged swordsmen throughout the land, which no one saw him after he crossed the sea several years later in search of a swordsman named Nightmare. With few clues, she decided to track down Nightmare, believing it would lead her to Mitsurugi.

Profile[]

Soulcalibur VI[]

Shugen Tomiya[]

Setsuka's adoptive father and master of the blade. On a snowy day in early spring, he found a young Setsuka collapsed on the ground. He later took her in and made her his disciple.

Most days, he was a man of refinement and a lover of classic poetry, often with his head in the clouds. Yet, when acting as Setsuka's master, he always had a sharp and commanding aura about him. He learned Shinden Tsushima-Ryu Battoujyutsu while in the famous Kokonoe warrior clan, and he used those skills to make a living as a bodyguard.

Perhaps he was simply few of words, or perhaps he was being considerate of Setsuka's past, but Shugen never spoke to her of his younger days or of the Kokonoe clan. He would give her a father's kindness whenever she was troubled and a friend's company whenever she felt down... and he never pried. It was his way of showing his love.

Shugen tried his best to teach Setsuka as much as he could. To expand her technical ability, he taught her how to build stamina, how to time her breathing, and how to correct her form. He taught her both the mental strength it takes to cut an opponent down, and the skill to simply repel them without drawing a sword. These swordfighting skills were to train her body and help her survive by her own strength.

Shugen also taught her what things to look out for and how to think critically, allowing her to see through lies; she also learned how to predict what others were thinking, and the self-discipline needed to use that information effectively. This knowledge was to train her mind and help her avoid being led astray by others.

Time passed, and at last, Setsuka became an accomplished warrior acknowledged by Shugen himself. She was now able to discern a warrior's strength simply from the way they carried themselves, be they a peerless master of arts or merely a passing swordsman in the marketplace. It meant that she herself already had the sharp eyes and the skilled arm of a master of her style. Yet, there was one person whose skill she could never gauge: Shugen himself.

Shugen Kokonoe[]

Shugen Kokonoe, also known as "Narukami-maru" in his youth or "Naokage" to close relations, is the true identity of Shugen Tomiya, Setsuka's master.

He was a member of the main branch of the Kokonoe clan, known all throughout Hizen Province for their swordsmanship. As the former greatest assassin of the Hidden Kokonoe, the mysterious underground faction of the Kokonoe clan, he took many lives and came to be feared as the "Demon of Hi Province" (later Hizen Province). In his youth, he showed exceptional natural talent far above that of his peers, and was able to survive the grueling training regimen known as "the curse of the Hidden Kokonoe." He was then taken in by the head of the clan, Danjo Kokonoe, and inherited the name of "Shugen," granted only to the greatest warrior of the clan.

The name "Shugen" is a name of legend. It is said that the founding father of Shinden Tsushima-Ryu, Atsukage Kokonoe, exorcised demons by holy mandate and in return received nine divine names of celebration; these were called the "Shugen." No warrior in the clan had inherited this name for one hundred years.

Though his work was mainly in secret operations, Shugen's prowess became widely known during the "Sanjo Surprise Attack" against Sumitada Omura, the provincial lord, in the third year of Genki (1572). Sensing danger approaching the lord, Shugen was the first to arrive at his estate and cut down a whole team of assassins and rogues that had been secretly sent out to kill him. Sumitada's sworn enemy, Hoki-no-Kami Goto, had to give up on the surprise attack, and Sumitada was able to survive until reinforcements arrived to protect him. However, despite this incredible display of loyalty to the provincial lord, it took less than half a year before Shugen turned his back on his own clan and disappeared. The reason for this is yet unknown.

Over ten years later, Shugen was spending his days with Setsuka, his past long behind him. Though his sword skills were as incredible as ever, he was no longer the "Demon Assassin" he once was. However, his reputation would eventually catch up with him. A chance meeting and Gyobu Kokonoe's sinister plans led to a duel to the death between Shugen and Heishiro Mitsurugi. It ended in Shugen's defeat, and though he managed to cling to life, his wounds were severe. No longer able to use his sword as he wished, the weakened Shugen eventually fell victim to disease and passed away under Setsuka's care.

In his final moments, Shugen entrusted his blade, Ugetsu Kageuchi, to his disciple. It was the very weapon he had used when he was still part of the Hidden Kokonoe. Perhaps he had some sort of deep intention in handing over the symbol of his former self to Setsuka... but the truth is now buried with him.

Etymology[]

  • The name Shugen means "boat, ship" (舟) (shu) and "origin, beginning" (元) (gen).
  • Shugen's middle name Naokage means "esteem" (尚) (nao) and "shadow, shade, hidden" (陰) (kage).
  • Shugen's surname Kokonoe means "ninefold, imperial palace, court" (九重).

Alias[]

  • Shugen's surname Tomiya means "distant" (遠) and "shrine" (宮).

Gallery[]

New Timeline Characters
Playable Characters AmyAstarothAzwelCassandraCervantesGrøhHildeHwangInfernoIvyKilikMaxiMitsurugiNightmareRaphaelSeong Mi-naSetsukaSiegfriedSophitiaTakiTalimTiraVoldoXianghuaYoshimitsuZasalamel
Other Notable Characters BoltaCurtisDanielDionGeorge von KroneGerhildeIska AchtKunpaetkuKyamLingyuLuciusLylaNatalieOrzalPlataRothionSeong Han-myeongShugen KokonoeValtroVercciWilhelm von KroneWon GabokXiangfeiXianglianXiuqiang
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