Nippon Sangoku tells a story after Japan’s collapse due to “nuclear warfare, natural disasters, and widespread corruption”, that resulted in revolution. Japan enters the Sangoku period, when the country splits into three warring kingdoms, Yamato, Buo, and Seii. In Yamato, 15 year old Misumi Aoteru calls his soon to be wife, 16 year old Higashimachi Saki, ridiculous for wearing a wedding dress. He claims that it’s something from the end of “Japan Era”. Aoteru also notes that wedding dresses were worn by Christians and have “no religious significance” for the Yamato people. Saki doesn’t care about all that. The dress is “cute.”
Aoteru is outraged by this answer. Saki runs out to the rest of the party before the can conclude the conversation. Their families and friends congratulate them on their wedding. Later, Saki’s father, Nobuhito and Aoteru discuss why he allowed him to marry his daughter. He’s not very nice about but Aoteru doesn’t seem bothered. However, he’s still bothered by his wife wearing the wedding dress. He explains that Japanese people had attachments to religion but they are mostly “irreligious.” His father-in-law and the other guests mock him.
The monstrous Taira Denki
Nobuhito explains that Aoteru parents died of illness and he took him in. Learning to read in the library, Aoteru is now a low ranking officer in charge of agriculture. He thinks he and Saki are “complete opposites,” but “entrust”, Saki to him. Which was good considering he dies a few days later. Aoteru is interested in Japan’s history. He takes to map making as a hobby and means to explore Japan past further. Saki believes he can use his knowledge to unify Japan. If he can enter government service known as “Toryumon”, and work for the General Ryumon Mitsuhide he might change Japan for the better.
Aoteru run a farm that he notes is important for the war effort. Suddenly, they’re visited by the Minister of Domestic Affairs, Taira Denki. He quickly shows how monstrous he is. When a farmer drops potatoes while bowing to him, Taira slips on them. He punishes the man by having him drawn and quartered. The civilians are noticeably horrified and Saki is particularly is enraged. Denki is your typical privileged head of state. According to Aoteru, Taira Denki poisoned the Late Emperor Fuji. Due to fear the Taira Clan essentially owns Yamato.
Learn discipline, learn courage
Saki is appalled by what Aoteru is telling her. She says the only option is to “kill” Denki, who she calls “fatty”. Aoteru warns her that they would only get executed and “nothing would change”. He tells her to “learn discipline,” and she responds “learn courage”. The Taira Clans tax collector begins collecting 10 yen from everyone. If they can’t pay they can borrow money or get beaten. The tax collector is also skimming of the top taking a “commission fee”. Saki cannot tolerate this injustice and stops the violence. She insults the tax collector as he threatens her. She drives them off but at what costs.
The next day Aoteru wakes. It’s snowing and Taira Denki’s soldiers are shoving bloody snow. Aoteru notices a box and sees Taira Denki and his men standing nearby. Denki greets him kindly while reveal that Saki’s head is in the box. The tax collector mocks Saki and implies that the rest of her body are missing too. In Aoteru’s mind he goes through all the ways he’s going to kill Taira and his men. However, he calms himself down. He’s get his revenge through violence nothing changes. He use his intellect to destroy the entire system.
To change the world
Aoteru demands to know his wife’s crimes. Taira responds, she called him “fatty”, and “obstructed the tax collection.” Aoteru uses his intelligence to turn things around on the tax collector. He recalls the conversation between his wife and the collector. When she said, “are you doing this alone or did fatty order it”. The tax collector assumed correctly that when she said “fatty” she was referring to Taira. However, his assumption meant that he agreed that Minister Taira Denki was fat. Usurpingly, Denki doesn’t tolerate the insult and has the tax collector decapitated. Aoteru has begun his revenge tour. Without violence (on his part), with discipline, and courage.
Conclusion
I was pleasantly surprised by Nippon Sangoku: The Three Nations of the Crimson Sun. It a complex and dark story, with an engaging main character. The violence can be hard to watch but it’s not for violence sake but to illustrate the horrors of this world. The art style of is beautiful but haunting. The detail in the eyes and faces of the characters gives them a hyper realistic look. The color pallet is muted and it occasionally becomes black and white. This is most effective when contrast with the vivid red of the blood. I loved the first episode and highly recommend it.
