| “ | Focus your mind. If you falter, my blade will seal your fate. | „ |
| ~ Jubei's pre-battle quote. |
Jubei Yagyu is one of the playable heroes from Samurai Shodown. A seasoned warrior, he is the one-eyed master of Yagyū Shinkage-ryū, and a close friend of Hanzo Hattori. He is a fictionalized interpretation of the real-life samurai and folk hero, Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi, the son of the originator of the real life kenjutsu martial arts style Yagyu Shinkage-ryu, Yagyū Tajima no Kami Munenori, who personally taught the style both to the Tokugawa Shogunate, including the Tokugawa's personal shinobi squadron, the Oniwabanshu, and is often romanticized to have wandered throughout Japan as a free spirit like Miyamoto Musashi or deployed on secret missions by the Shogunate.
In the video games, he was voiced by Takayuki Sakai in 1993 of Samurai Shodown, the late Kiyoshi Kobayashi in Samurai Shodown II, Samurai Shodown IV, Samurai Shodown V and Samurai Shodown Sen, Tōru Ōkawa in Samurai Shodown VI and Hiroshi Naka in Samurai Shodown (2019). In the movie, he was voiced by Takeo Chii in the Japanese version, and by Brian Matthews in the English version.
History[]
In Samurai Shodown V, Jubei teaches the Tokugawa clan swordsmanship, and Yoshitora Tokugawa is his last disciple. After Yoshitora's father (indicating Tokugawa Ieharu) death, he went through to find the arrears heirs. At Samurai Shodown, he can decide to become a ronin (a lordless samurai), abandon the strict and regulated life of the dojo and the Japanese aristocracy, and pursue personal enlightenment. Throughout the series, Jubei was hired by the shogunate to kill demons and other threats that might wander around Japan.
His role in Shinsetsu Samurai Spirits: Bushoudou Retsuden is a feeling for his own dojo and the agent of the then bakufu (the Japanese government). When he asked the party to continue his investigation, because he must teach the Lord's sons swordsmanship. In the second chapter, he let us suffer a fatal blow from A servant of Mizuki Rashojin, whose spirit was sucked into an evil bell.
Jubei is also the protagonist of Yagyu Kachou, an official story. In another reality, the Samurai Shodown characters are placed in the modern world. In this story, he is a struggling salary man (standard Japanese businessman), he is already in trouble. He is often selected by various roles in the series, although Hanzo and Tam Tam are his closest friends.
Personality[]
Jubei is a hardened and experienced warrior who is loyal to the Tokugawa shogunate even as a ronin. He can also likes to see potential in younger warriors and encourages them to one day overcome him. Unlike his comrade in arms, Hanzo, Jubei is a more care-free man when off duty who enjoys times of peace with a hearty laugh.
Fighting Style[]
Yagyū Shinkage-ryū is an actual form of Japanese swordsmanship, of which the historical Jubei was a prominent practitioner. In-game, Jubei employs the nitō (two-sword) form of the art. He wields his katana and wakizashi simultaneously, making use of slow, powerful strikes.
Early in the series, he became well known by players for his armed parrying move, a command that could counter certain strikes from his foes if timed correctly. He has three other special commands that follow him in later appearances: Nikkaku Ratō (二ッ角羅刀, lit. Double-Edged Silk Blade) – a rushing uppercut, Kattotsu Suigetsutō (喝咄水月刀, lit. Scolding Speech Water Moon Blade) – a ground projectile used from the energy gathered from the moon's reflection, and Hassō Happa (八相発破, lit. Eight Aspects Explosive Blast) – a consecutive-thrusting technique. In Samurai Shodown IV, his "Shura/Slash" form retains most of his old moveset. His "Rasetsu/Bust" form's moveset, however, centers around parrying his opponents' attacks and breaking their guard, via his signature Yagyū Shingan Tō (Yagyū Mind Eye Blade) techniques. Due to the down-to-earth principles in most of his attacks, Jubei is best used by players who can easily predict their challenger's attacks.
Gallery[]
