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* ThrowTheDogABone: Near the climax, Higekiri finally says Hizamaru's name clearly and without prompting after a whole show of near misses. Hizamaru's so happy tat he does an uncharacteristic fist pump before following him.
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One of [[Theater/TouStage two]] distinct stage continuities, ''[[http://musical-toukenranbu.jp/ Musical Touken Ranbu]]'' (or '''''[=TouMyu=]''''' as it's affectionately abbreviated) is a series of musicals adapted from the ''VideoGame/ToukenRanbu'' franchise. Coming months after the release of the original game in 2015, these musicals take focus on quite a few groups of Touken Danshi as they travel through time and solve their current historical conundrum. Since there's no real overarching story in the games, this particular continuity solves the problem by making up some of its own: so the characters get to tussle with some of history's most interesting characters, fight some unusual adversaries, and sing a verse or two along the way. And after the musicals end, the audience is treated to an extra performance by the cast, one involving all of them doing battle in the modern day the only way they can-- by putting on flashy and exciting idol concerts for hundreds of Saniwa!
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One of [[Theater/TouStage [[Theatre/TouStage two]] distinct stage continuities, ''[[http://musical-toukenranbu.jp/ Musical Touken Ranbu]]'' (or '''''[=TouMyu=]''''' as it's affectionately abbreviated) is a series of musicals adapted from the ''VideoGame/ToukenRanbu'' franchise. Coming months after the release of the original game in 2015, these musicals take focus on quite a few groups of Touken Danshi as they travel through time and solve their current historical conundrum. Since there's no real overarching story in the games, this particular continuity solves the problem by making up some of its own: so the characters get to tussle with some of history's most interesting characters, fight some unusual adversaries, and sing a verse or two along the way. And after the musicals end, the audience is treated to an extra performance by the cast, one involving all of them doing battle in the modern day the only way they can-- by putting on flashy and exciting idol concerts for hundreds of Saniwa!
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[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/520c083c_a293_4ecb_bca9_666b3301b672.jpeg]]
[[caption-width-right:350: [[RagtagBunchOfMisfits Team Sanjou]] with [[OnlySaneMan Kashuu Kiyomitsu]] ]]
One of [[Theater/TouStage two]] distinct stage continuities, ''[[http://musical-toukenranbu.jp/ Musical Touken Ranbu]]'' (or '''''[=TouMyu=]''''' as it's affectionately abbreviated) is a series of musicals adapted from the ''VideoGame/ToukenRanbu'' franchise. Coming months after the release of the original game in 2015, these musicals take focus on quite a few groups of Touken Danshi as they travel through time and solve their current historical conundrum. Since there's no real overarching story in the games, this particular continuity solves the problem by making up some of its own: so the characters get to tussle with some of history's most interesting characters, fight some unusual adversaries, and sing a verse or two along the way. And after the musicals end, the audience is treated to an extra performance by the cast, one involving all of them doing battle in the modern day the only way they can-- by putting on flashy and exciting idol concerts for hundreds of Saniwa!
Wait, what?
''Touken Ranbu'' and {{Idol Singer}}s mixed together? In ''canon''? It's an unusual combination, but it worked. In fact it worked so well that the series has been running successfully for four years with 6 plays and 3 concerts under its belt -- enough to even score solo concerts for its characters and produce very popular in-character singles.
The musicals have quite the international audience; performances in China are not uncommon since at least ''Bakamatsu Tenrouden'', and the cast has performed at the French Japan Expo since 2017. In July 2018, the musical franchise branched out internationally; most of the original cast came back to perform ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'' at Japan Expo for the French audience, while the [=DVDs=] for the play now come with English subtitles.
2020 finally saw to a crossover between the stage play and musical continuities. Titled ''Touken Ranbu: Daienren'', the two citadels will collide in August 2020 at Tokyo Dome.
[[folder:Performances]]
* ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'' (The Strange Tale of Mt. Atsukashi)
-->[[labelnote: +Summary]]Kashuu Kiyomitsu, after being debriefed by his Saniwa, is given leadership position on a mission. His task: lead the very oddball Sanjou school Touken Danshi to Mt. Atsukashi, 1189, in order to see about the Historical Revisionists targeting Lord Minamoto no Yoshitsune. Strange enough, when they get there, they find that both Yoshitsune and his retainer Musashibo Benkei, are alive when they're both supposed to perish following Fujiwara no Yatsuhira's ambush on his home. Although they should investigate further, Imanotsurugi is too starstruck by his former master to want to carry it out; while Iwatooshi, a relatively new Touken Danshi, is conflicted about his mission and his fellow Danshi's happiness. Meanwhile, Yoshitsune wants bloody revenge on Yoritomo, his envious brother who carried out he hit, and he and Benkei begin to rely on some dark power to achieve it...[[/labelnote]]
** Musical Touken Ranbu: Trial Performance (2015)
** ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'' (2016): Essentially, a revision of the Trial Run. It adds three new songs to the main play (Kogitsunemaru and Ishikirimaru get "Utaka no Komori Uta", Ishikirimaru and Kashuu replace their war conversation with "Mujun to iu Na no Tsubomi", and Imanotsurugi protecting Yoshitsune in the climax is turned into "Oboeteiru"), and some aesthetic changes are made.
** Atsukashiyama Ibun 2018 - A rerun of the first play for Paris Japan Expo.
* ''Bakamatsu Tenrouden'' (Tale of the Bakamatsu Dog Star) (2016)
--> [[labelnote: +Summary]] Hachisuka Kotetsu, a standoffish and serious character, is now the appointed captain of Squad 1, leading UsefulNotes/TheShinsengumi swords into the Bakamatsu era and into, surprisingly, near the entire Shinsengumi timeline from pre-formation to 1868. Here, they are to prevent the Time Retrograde Forces from killing Shinsengumi captains Kondo Isami, Hijikata Toshizo, and Okita Soji (or otherwise altering their histories) before they even have a chance to really form the infamous squad. In an effort to not only fight alongside his master but also get the chance to protect him, Yamatonokami decides to temporarily join the Shinsengumi with the risk of changing history. Hachisuka meanwhile cannot get over his discontent with Nagasone, and is still in the process of learning what it means to be a leader. With the Ikeda Inn raid looming over everyone's heads, it's up to our heroes to make sure the trio don't get killed at an inopportune time, while the Retrograde Forces quietly make their move...[[/labelnote]]
* ''Mihotose no Komoriuta'' (The Three Hundred Year Old Lullaby) (2017)
--> [[labelnote: +Summary]]Nikkari Aoe and Ookurikara are called on an expedition in Mikawa 1543, but they run into some unexpected bad luck. They answer the cries of the Matsudaira clan too late, and furthermore, they cannot return to the Citadel since they've lost all contact with their home time period. Even worse, with the Time Retrograde Forces destroying the clan near completely, nobody historically important is left to help cultivate Lord UsefulNotes/TokugawaIeyasu and groom him into the man that unifies Japan and makes the Bakufu. However, one lone child survives the massacre; and in a last ditch effort to save the clan the baby is given to the two Touken Danshi. When Ishikirimaru and the Matsudaira clan blades come in to assist them, the former suggests one daunting task--they take up the names and roles of Ieyasu's retainers and carry out the historical events as they should happen, from scratch. However, the huge timeline upset from the massacre calls forth a foe quite unlike the usual Retrograde Forces, and threatens to become more of a danger if the new timeline goes one foot out of order...[[/labelnote]]
** 2019 Rerun
* ''Tsuwamono Domo ga Yume no Ato'' (The Remains of the Warrior's Dream) (2017)
-->[[labelnote:+Summary]]Some time has passed since the Mt. Atsukashi mission. While things have settled down, the Saniwa is getting more worried over two particular swords--Imanotsurugi, who still has baggage over the mission; and Mikazuki Munechika, who has been acting out of sorts recently. To make matters worse, everyone is worried about Imanotsurugi discovering he's not a real sword, even more when the Minamoto clan treasures Higekiri and Hizamaru arrive to the Citadel. This veritable storm of problems brewing on the heroes' end only gets more exasperated when they're given their mission to go back to the late Heian/early Kamakura period...and back to the Genpei War, where the Minamoto clan's story is to be played out again. Most of the Touken Danshi are to prevent the Retrograde Forces from interfering with the Kamakura shogunate's formation; meanwhile, Higekiri and Hizamaru are to keep an eye on Munechika the whole time, but Kogitsunemaru decides to to some investigating of his own. With the Minamoto once again on the line and the rest of the gang facing some inner turmoil, will our heroes be able to keep history in check?[[/labelnote]]
* ''Musubi no Hibiki, Hajimari no Ne'' (2018)
* ''Kishou Hongi'' (2019)
* TBD (2020)
* ''Touken Ranbu Daienren'' (2020): The long awaited {{crossover}} with the stage play continuity.
[[AC: Special Performances]]
* Shinkenranbu Sai - The Concert Episode.
** Shinkenranbu Sai 2016: The casts of ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'' and ''Bakamatsu Tenrouden'' return for a whole night of dance and song!
-->[[labelnote:+Summary]] One day, Kashuu Kiyomitsu is brought to an unfamiliar place. Confused and dazed, he soon finds himself captured by the Sanjou school swords, who seek to claim Kashuu for themselves, and the Shinsengumi Team along with Hachisuka Kotetsu go off to rescue him. Their goal- climb the five hills and complete the challenges seen there before a gong sounds off for the fifth time. While they may say that, the Sanjous aren't all that malicious, and their real motives remain unclear...[[/labelnote]]
** Shinkenranbu Sai 2017: Featuring the casts of ''Mihotose'' and ''Tsuwamono''.
** Shinkenranbu Sai 2018
* ''Kashuu Kiyomitsu Tanki Shutsujin[=/=]Solo Performance''-- ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin.
** Tanki Shutsujin 2017
** Tanki Shutsujin 2018
* ''Higekiri Hizamaru Soki Shutsujin 2019'' — Similar to Kashuu's solo concerts, except the focus this time is turned to the Genji swords Higekiri and Hizamaru.
* ''Utaawase Ranbu Kyouran 2019''
[[/folder]]
----
! Tropes spanning the entire musical series:
* ActionPrologue: Many of the shows open up with a flashy battle sequence in the time period the Touken Danshi will be investigating.
* AllMusicalsAreAdaptations: You'd better believe it. But in this case, it's only loosely adapted; the basic premise and characters is all the musicals take. The rest is crafted wholesale.
* AudienceParticipationSong: Sometimes "Takaramono" is played like this.
* BackToBackBadasses: At times, the major players fight in pairs, so there are ample amounts of time when they perform this trope.
* BlowThatHorn: How announcements are made known in this Citadel.
* BraggingThemeTune: "Touken Ranbu" is pretty much this and an ExpositoryThemeTune, having each relevant sword talk about how awesome they themselves are and how they're going to keep fighting until their last breath.
* BreakoutCharacter: Kashuu by far is the most loved of the stage characters and the actors, scoring an original solo event beginning in 2017 and is thus far the only stage character to obtain one. The Genji swords are not far behind, given that they scored their own event together in 2019.
* BreakupSong: "LOVE STORY" seems to be one.
* CloseEnoughTimeline: Really, "correcting history's mistakes" just boils down to this. The good side doesn't much care ''how'' history corrected itself, it just needs to have the same events happen to co-align with current history, and they'll be fine.
** Sure, Yoshitsune and Benkei don't die in the raid by Yasuhashi, and Yoshitsune doesn't commit sepukku, but they still die [[spoiler:albeit, by Yoshitsune's hand in Benkei's case and after being possessed in Yoshitsune's case]].
** Kondo Isami still dies at Itabashi; he is not executed by the government, since [[spoiler:Soji kills his would be executioners]], but instead ''requests'' his own death [[spoiler:at the hands of the Touken Danshi]].
** Tokugawa Ieyasu does go on to conquer and unify Japan under his rule-- at least, with the help of the Touken Danshi replacing his retainers. And [[spoiler:Noboyasu still dies, in a way; while he doesn't commit seppuku, he does get "killed" trying to save Ishikirimaru, and escapes the eye of history by becoming an ordinary farmer and renaming himself Gohei]].
** After long thought, Hachisuka outright advocates for this after allowing Yamatonokami to join the Shinsengumi.
--> The flow of history is like a large river. A small ripple won't affect the greater flow. Even if it does, we'll have to keep it out of the history books.
* ContinuityNod:
** The Sanjou School swords are mentioned in the beginning of ''Tenrouden'', as Kashuu was relieved of leadership duty for that group. "Yakuwari" is also used as a motif in "Erabarenu Mono".
** In ''Mihotose'', Monoyoshi teaches a young Ieyasu "Kirakira" when they go out to play.
** Kashuu's fanservice line in Shinkenranbu Sai ("I'll love you as long as you look at me") references one of his songs from his solo concert (Mitsumekure naru/As long as you look at me).
** "Nagoritsuki" returns in ''Tsuwamono Domo'', this time sung by Imanotsurugi rather than Iwatooshi. And just like him, he sings under a moonlit night sky with a lot weighing on his mind. Munechika even listens in on it like he did with Iwatooshi.
* CulturedWarrior: The Sanjou team most definitely is this, being the oldest and most traditional of the swords. They regularly perform songs and reenactments of historical events in their downtime, Munechika being the most cultured of all of them. In fact, during the concerts, Munechika advocates for all the Touken Danshi to be this way, as he believes a proper warrior should be equal parts strong in battle and in the arts.
* DemonicPossession: Happens quite a few times:
** After the fight with Yasuhashi, contact with the Retrograde Army somehow led to Yoshitsune's sword coming to life in addition to the immeasurable power given to him, Benkei, and Yasuhira. [[spoiler:Yoshitsune's sword ends up taking over by stabbing itself into his body, killing Yoshitsune but leaving him a controllable corpse.]]
** Okita Soji's sword is possessed in the climax of ''Bakamatsu Tenrouden''.
* ExcusePlot: The reason why the Touken Danshi are suddenly singing and dancing on stage? Apparently, this is just how people battle in the 21st century since the era is so much more peaceful than others, and they need to practice their skills as performers as well as swordsmen, as is the way of a true samurai. Why they need the glowsticks and strobe lights is another matter entirely.
* FakingTheDead:
** [[spoiler:Tokugawa Nobuyasu is legally dead come the end of ''Mihotose'', and he becomes a farmer under his old friend Gohei's name.]]
** [[spoiler:''Tsuwamono Domo'''s Yoshitsune ultimately doesn't go through with his honorable suicide, instead leaving the battlefield altogether with Benkei after the Touken Danshi inform him he's as good as dead at this point.]]
* {{Fanservice}}: So very much of it in these musicals:
** In ''Atsukashiyama'' when the swords fight, and [[ClothingDamage clothes get torn up]] along the way. This is especially evident in their final fight, where Iwatooshi and Ima-no-tsurugi take the most damage and have correspondingly the most clothing torn.
** "Otokomichi" and equivalent song "Kanki no Hana" have the performing Touken Danshi throw their tops off, revealing their sweaty, slim tops and midriffs/chests to the audience.
** In the 2016 Shinkenranbu Sai version of "Tokenai Mahou", Kashuu does of a lot of hip thrusts while he's dancing, including with a backup dancer.
** ''Tanki Shutsujin'' is filled with this. One of Kashuu's songs has him bound up singing about how much he loves his master; he and the backup dancers dance more provocatively in some musical numbers, and they get to mess around with him.
** At one point in ''Musubi no Hibiki'', Horikawa is tied up by the Shinsengumi, interrogated by Hijikata himself.
* GratuitousEnglish: The concert songs in general are full of this. "Gateway" is the worst offender.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: In full effect here. From the Yoshitsune household to the Bakamatsu era, the series looks at many well known historical figures.
* IdolSinger: Surprisingly, yes. The Touken Danshi also moonlight as idol singers whenever they travel to the modern day.
* MenDontCry: Generally averted, the boys do cry often and openly here. "Otokomichi" also discusses the sentiment during the bridge:
--> ''On the night our dreams had failed and we shed tears,''\\
''The wind started blowing and spoke to us;''\\
''"Don't be afraid to cry; but if you try again,''\\
''who knows how strong you will become?''
* MythologyGag:
** You'll sometimes hear the characters' in-game quotes during the plays, especially when battle rears its head.
** ''Mihotose'' revisits Ishikirimaru and Nikkari's recollection, in which the latter laments his disqualification from being a divine sword because he killed a ghost child. In this musical, it takes a turn for the positive, as Ishikirimaru reassures him that his raising Tokugawa Ieyasu and kin more than makes up for it.
** For the ''Touken Ranbu'' franchise's third anniversary, the ''Tsuwamono Domo'' main cast took photos as their respective Touken Danshi, sitting as they do in their characters' in-game anniversary pictures.
* {{Novelization}}: Book adaptations of the first three musicals have been released, with illustrations done by Sui Ishida of ''Manga/TokyoGhoul'' fame.
* RatedMForManly: Say hello to the "Otokomichi" sequence! Not only is the sequence introduced with the very cool and manly historical figures doing a taiko drum performance, but the song itself is a love letter to the hard and arduous path of masculinity, and when performed in concert remains one of the few songs where the Toudan strip into a more revealing outfit.
* RevolvingDoorCasting: No one cast is completely consistent from play to play. There are some consistent teams (Sanjou, Shinsengumi), but even then they'll have different unrelated Touken Danshi coming along for the ride.
* RunningGag:
** Kashuu and Yamamtonokami fighting over who gets animal tending duty.
** Izuminokami's haikus.
** In the concerts, Kashuu's confusion during the "who skipped training" punishment game.
* SecondEpisodeIntroduction: Yamatonokami is first mentioned in ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'', where Kashuu asks the Saniwa to bring him on their mission (as a more competent member). He doesn't actually show up until the very next play ''Bakumatsu Tenrouden ''.
** In general, the second third of the mainstay cast (the Shinsengumi swords) doesn't appear until the second musical, and the remaining cast members (Sengo and Tonbokiri) don't appear until the third.
* SillyLoveSongs: "Your Song" is definitely a sort of platonic love song to the Danshi's masters. They sing more conventional love songs, like "Blink", "Tokenai Mahou", and "MISTAKE", in the post-play concerts.
* TheTeam: In the musical, the main characters form a group. As we see from the main website:
** Team Sanjou with Kashuu Kiyomitsu[[note]]Mikazuki Munechika, Kogitsunemaru, Iwatooshi, Ishikirimaru, Imanotsurugi,and Kashuu Kiyomitsu)[[/note]]
*** The fourth musical excises Kashuu and Mikazuki to include the Genji brothers (Higekiri and Hizamaru).
** Team Shinsengumi with Hachisuka Kotetsu [[note]]Hachisuka Kotetsu, Nagasone Kotetsu, Horikawa Kunihiro, Izuminokami Kanesada, Yamatonokami Yasusada and Kashuu Kiyomitsu[[/note]]
*** The fifth musical slightly changes this lineup to include Tomeagata Naginata and Mutsunokami Yoshiyuki, replacing Kashuu and Hachisuka.
** Team Mihotose[[note]]Sengo Muramasa, Nikkari Aoe, Ookurikara, Ishikirimaru, Monoyoshi Sadamune, and Tonbokiri[[/note]]
** 2019 team [[note]]Tonbokiri, Kotegiri Gou, Sengo Muramasa, Otegine, Akashi Kuniyuki, Tsurumaru Kuninaga[[/note]]
* TimeyWimeyBall: The fourth installment onward turns the time travel aspect into this. The course of history is described as the flow of a river multiple times; often, this means that they can afford to get away with certain historical events happening slightly differently as long as the outcome is the same, but later on the series reveals [[spoiler:every time they go back to an incident, the circumstances are slightly different already and need to be steered in a certain direction to match up with panhuman history.]] In all of these situations, there is no mention of meeting past selves from previous missions.
* AWildRapperAppears: Series staple "MISTAKE" counts on a few people to come in with their rap verses after the first chorus.
* WorldOfHam: Everyone's just as loud and passionate as the person next to them. Scenery flies off the shelves practically every second.
! Individual Tropes
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder: Atsukashiyama Ibun & Trial Run]]
* ArcWords: "Purpose" (''yakuwari'').
* AxCrazy: There's really not a scene that goes by when Yasuhira doesn't either scream or laugh maniacally.
* BetterToDieThanBeKilled: In the beginning of the play, Yoshitsune deliberately decides to burn his household down, since at least he wouldn't be dying at the enemy's hand.
* BigDamnHeroes: Imanotsurugi came at just the right time to save Yoritomo from execution, enough to have everyone talk it out for a second.
* BreakingTheFourthWall: After Ishikirimaru and Kashuu share a heart to heart about war and an ambush plan, he nods to the audience before being dragged to battle.
* BrutalHonesty: While Imanotsurugi is ecstatic to see Yoshitsune at a time when he's still alive, Iwatooshi has to give him a very painful reminder that they're only here to correct history and not to further screw up the timeline, which also means they can't let their former masters know who they are. Imanotsurugi takes it so harshly he runs away in near tears.
* CallBack: While calming Imanotsurugi down in "I Remember", Iwatooshi tells him to "remember the gift that the clouds gave us/ thousands of twinkling stars"; referencing "Kira Kira" and the ecstatic feeling Imanotsurugi had remembering his master. The same gestures are used here too.
* CharacterizationMarchesOn: You can see some definite differences in how the characters act in the Trial Run versus how they are in ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'':
** Kashuu is a little less dramatic in the beginning; instead of falling over himself when he's assigned the Sanjou swords, he's just slightly miffed. He's also less childlike than he was in the original (see: his CoyGirlishFlirtPose in the original debriefing vs. his more resigned stature in ''Ibun''), but seemingly more insecure about his breaking on the battlefield ("breaking in battle is a sword's highest honor/our worth as swords depends on how many we've killed" vs. "breaking doesn't make us any less of a sword").
** Munechika's early scene showing how he doesn't get fieldwork is replaced with him playfully using the hoe as a running springboard, better reflecting his easygoing personality.
** Yoshitsune, in the Trial Run, seemed to joke a lot more given how not seriously he enters.
* ClothingDamage: As in the game it's based on, some swords get their clothing destroyed in the heat of battle. Iwatooshi and Imanotsurugi get their clothes shredded for their Awakening attacks in the first play.
* CombinationAttack: At the climax of ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'', all of Squad 1 takes their turns whittling down [[spoiler:[=possessed!Yoshitsune=] ]], until he finally goes down to Iwatooshi and Imanotsurugi's combined Divine Death Blow.
* CueTheSun: The sun rises on our heroes just as they finish taking down [[spoiler:the possessed Yoshitsune]], right on cue.
* DoubleTake: Kashuu was fine with having Imanotsurugi on his team, but as soon as Ishikirimaru is mentioned, he starts questioning the Saniwa's choice of comrades.
* DrivingQuestion: What is your purpose? Why do you act?
* EnemyMine: After learning of their fates from the Historical Revisionists, and after learning he'd be betrayed after his death, Yoshitsune, Benkei, and Yasuhira join forces to take down Yorimoto.
* EnemyWithin: In the end, the Saniwa proposes that [[spoiler:Yoshitsune's sword]] was this for its master. It was willing to do all of the things Yoshitsune rejects in the back of his mind.
* EstablishingCharacterMoment: Each of Squad 1 has theirs in ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'':
** Munechika's first shown goofing off while doing fieldwork, showing his easygoing nature.
** Iwatooshi and Imanotsurugi spar in their first scene together, which quickly turns into a game of tag, showing off their close and brotherly relationship. Iwatooshi is also shown trying to keep Imanotsurugi's best interests in mind and making him happy. Ishikirimaru, who appears in the scene a little later, is seen blessing the Citadel (showing off how seriously he takes his duties).
** Kashuu is first seen anticipating the Saniwa's word, shuting excited at what he considered "special treatment", and moaning loudly about having to keep the Sanjou swords uner control until the Saniwa places his hopes on him.
* {{Foreshadowing}}:
** Notice how Kashuu wanted Yamatonokami on his team? Or how his issues with his breakage seem to fuel his early actions as a leader? Or how much stock he takes in the Shinsengumi code? Or how he's the only caracter disconnected from the rest of the Sanjou theme? Good thing ''that's'' not going to come up in another play...
** During the mission debriefing, Kashuu points out that most of the team (save Iwatooshi and Imanotsurugi) have been to Atsukashi before, implying that going to a specific event multiple times is normal. The latter two will have plenty of experience by the time they go back in ''Tsuwamono Domo''.
* FunnyBackgroundEvent: Notice that before the team get sent off to Atsukashi, Kogitsune runs around in circles chasing his clothes.
* FrameUp: Yorimoto was the one trying to kill Yoshitsune. Yasuhira was just called in as a fall guy, so Yorimoto could post-humously pin Yoshitsune's death on the latter man.
* HaveWeMet: After fighting againt Iwatooshi and noticing his fighting style, Benkei asks if they've interacted before. Of course, Iwatooshi declines.
* IronicEcho: "Even in death, watch over me!" has been used by Yoshitsune in the beginning of the play, and then again by Yoshitsune [[spoiler:or rather, the sword controlling him]] when he tricks Benkei [[spoiler:into letting his guard down so he can attack the man]].
* LaughingMad: Yasuhira is this on the daily. [[spoiler:Yoshitsune is only this after his sword fully possesses him.]]
* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: Just before "Takaramono" begins, Kashuu sings the final line "Arukidaseru" (i'm setting out), just before he and Kogitsunemaru leave the stage.
* LeaveHimToMe: Whenever Benkei encounters the Touken Danshi in battle, Iwatooshi shoos them away in order to fight the man himself. Who better to fight Musashibo Benkei than his own former weapon?
* LickingTheBlade: Yoshitsune, when bloodthirsty, has this as his CharacterTic [[spoiler:which is actually just the sword possessing him]]. Used cruelly when he licks [[spoiler:Benkei's]] blood off of his sword after he kills the latter.
* MakeWrongWhatOnceWentRight: The Revisionists decide to inform Yoshitsune of Yorimoto's assassination attempt, which, along with somehow making an ally of his would-be killer Yasuhira, allows Yoshitsune and Benkei to survive their fatal final battles. The fact that they're alive at all after this point gives the Touken Danshi reason to investigate this matter and correct it.
* MeaningfulEcho:
** In the beginning of ''Atsukashi Ibun'', Yoshitsune tells the dying Benkei to "meet [him] in the next world, and the ones after next"; later on after the climax, Iwatooshi reaffirms Yoshitsune's statement to Imanotsurugi and gives him a shoulder ride as he did in the beginning of the musical.
** In the beginning of the Mt. Atsukashi mission, we see Yoshitsune disown his brother after he learns that he tried to kill him. Later on in the climax, Imanotsurugi finally finds the strength to complete his assigned mission after he disowns Yoshitsune, or rather [[spoiler:the sword possessing his corpse]].
* MutualEnvy: Yoshitsune looks at Yorimoto's political genius, envious that he has the skills to lead Japan into an era of peace. But Yorimoto doesn't see things that way; being TheUnfavorite, he looks at Yoshitsune's military genius, popularity, and how most of their acquaintances want Yoshitsune to take clan head position. Leads into CainAndAbel pretty quickly, considering how he attempts to kill Yoshitsune.
* MyMasterRightOrWrong: Benkei is compelled to follow Yoshitsune, even when he knows that [[spoiler:he's been possessed]]. Not wanting to lay arms on his young lord, he asks Iwatooshi to either kill him or stop Yoshitsune in his stead, which the Touken Danshi readily agrees to.
* NaiveNewcomer: Iwtooshi and Imanotsurugi fulfill this role. Iwatooshi because he's a relatively new Touken Danshi, and both him and Imanotsurugi because they've never been on a Mt. Atsukashi mission before and therefore can't handle themselves there like their other partners can.
%%* QuarrelingSong: ''I Remember'' takes place at the climax of the play, with Imanotsurugi blocking off his friends from killing Yoshitsune while the rest of them are telling him to move out of the way.
* RagtagBunchOfMisfits: The Sanjou+Kiyomitsu team is treated like one in the beginning. There's no real strategic advantge to putting them together besides theme; Munechika and Kogitsunemaru are too carefree, Ishikirimaru is too busy taking his priest duties seriously, Iwatooshi's completely new, and Kashuu has only just been given a leadership role for this mission. Saniwa even lampshades how unlikely the team would be on a normal basis.
* RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver: [[spoiler:Yoshitsune]]'s completely possessed form is so ObviouslyEvil it hurts. His wardrobe is black will red accents, with the top covered in a cobweb pattern.
* ResistTheBeast: Benkei certainly tries his best to do so; whenever he catches himself struggling with the dark power his weapon now wields, he bites, struggles, drops his weapon enough to return to a regular state. Yoshitsune does this as well, having to physically restrain the sword from coming out. Fortunately, the former doesn't let it win over him. [[spoiler:''Un''fortunately, the latter forcibly loses control.]]
* {{Retirony}}: All Yoshitsune wants is to know why Yoritomo tried to have him killed. Once he learns that, he mentions that he wants to retire from his position as military head and become a monk afterwards. [[spoiler:Too bad his sword doesn't feel the same way.]]
* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: By all accounts, Yoshitsune is trying to collect Yorimoto's head after his failed assassination attempt with Yasuhira.
* RuleOfSymbolism: The only times Yoshitsune ever uses his tantou in ''Atsukashi Ibun''/the Trial Run is when he performs an honorable act; the first time when he commits seppuku, and the second when he [[spoiler:frees Yorimoto and tells him to escape the mountain]]. Any time he uses his other sword is for violence or struggling with the thought of violence.
* RunningGag: Ishikirimru's slowness, a reference to his MightyGlacier status in the original game.
* SayMyName: "MY LOOOOOORD!"/"LORD YOSHITSUNEEEEE!" "BENKEIIIII!" "IWATOOSHIII!"
* SchmuckBait: During the frontal raid on Yoshitsune's castle, Ishikirimaru tosses an enemy a sword to fight with--right before Kashuu comes in to knock it out of his hands.
* SillyMeGesture: Imnotsurugi does one when he forgets his own name talking to Yoshitsune.
* StartsWithASuicide: How ''Atsukashiyama Ibun''/Trial Run opens up. After Benkei gives his life defending Yoshitsune to the last, Yoshitsune himself commits seppuku/harakiri to the confused ramblings of Imanotsurugi.
* HeroicSacrifice: In order to stop Yoshitsune once and for all, Iwatooshi holds the former back and has Munechika run through the both of them. Munechika only manages to hit Yoshitsune, excusing his oldness.
* TakingTheBullet: Before [[spoiler:possessed!Yoshitsune]] has a chance to slice through Imanotsurugi, Iwatooshi throws him out of the way to take one of his many critical injuries in the climax.
* ThisIsSomethingHesGotToDoHimself: The older swords invoke this on Iwatooshi and Kashuu as they struggle with their goals during the Mt. Atsukashi mission.
** According to Kogitsunemaru, Kashuu needs to discover the correct method of leadership by himself, as he won't just give him he answer.
** Whether or not it's right to act on their own accord or by their master's orders is up to them to decide.
* UndyingLoyalty: Imanotsurugi is hellbent on meeting and protecting his master Yoshitsune, even though that's not what he was sent there to do. The fact that he needs to correct history--which means his master needs to die again--causes him to run off to Atsukashi and try to find Yoshitsune himself, as well as [[spoiler:protect the corrupted corpse of Yoshitsune from the other Touken Danshi]] because of his love for him.
* WarriorTherapist: Munechika prefers to let fighting (or dancing) do the talking when it comes to conversation. After all, he believes that they're far most honest than words can be.
* WhamLine: While Yoshitsune is struggling with his sword, we see a glimpse of him that was much less violent than his earlier portrayals showed us:
--> "I need to ask my brother! *much softer, saner voice* For what reason did he want to kill me?"
* WellIntentionedExtremist: [[spoiler:Yoshitsune's sword]], if the Saniwa's words are anything to go by. The Saniwa muses that after the Revisionist came into contact with it, the sword gained its own will and tried to led Yoshitsune down the path it thought best for its master.
* WhatIsThisFeeling: As a new recruit, Iwatooshi isn't quite used to having emotions yet, finding himself reacting to everything most haphazardly and putting his feelings in conflict with his duty to the Saniwa. He admits he found it easier to be an inanimate object, because he didn't have to deal with such complications.
* WoundedGazelleGambit: Just as Benkei comes close to finishing off [[spoiler: the possessed Yoshitsune]], suddenly he acts as if he was freed, begging Benkei to keep protecting him. Catching him off his guard, [[spoiler:Yoshitsune]] goes in for the kill.
* YouRemindMeOfX: In the musicals, Benkei is taken aback by Imanotsurugi's personality, seeing a younger version of Yoshitsune in him.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Bakamatsu Tenrouden]]
* ApologeticAttacker: Hachisuka can only give a sad, but firm "I'm sorry!" before [[spoiler:taking Kondo Isami's head as history intended]].
* ArcSymbol: Sirius, otherwise referred to as the Dog Star. It shines down on every important historical event in the play, or at the very least is mentioned in other situations. It's ultimately also tied to the camraderie theme the musical focuses on, as Horikawa later muses on the fact that Sirius is actually two stars in close proximity, supporting each other to shine bright much like a teammate or close one would.
* AsYouKnow:
** Both Izuminokami and Horikawa muse over the Nagasone/Hachisuka rivalry, explaining to each other and the audience the fact that they're both "Kotetsu" swords, but Nagasone is a fraud.
** The Saniwa usually does this for every debriefing, talking about their battle against the Retrograde Forces and what they do to one up them. Lampshaded in the second musical, where he opens up such a speech with "I'm sure I don't need to remind you but..."
* BaitAndSwitch: From the looks of the Retrograde cat showing up where Okita usually is, you would think that the climax of the musical would be facing off against a possessed Okita much like ''Aktusashiyama Ibun'' did the same for [[spoiler:Minamoto no Yoshitsune]]. However, the climax of the story is more emotional than physical this time around; thus, [[spoiler:Soji's inevitable possession lasts only one scene until Kondo snaps him out of it, and the real emotional climax of the musical happens Revisionist-free.]]
* BigDamnHeroes: Subverted in the climax. [[spoiler:Soji going to save Kondo from his execution]] would ordinarily be a pretty BDH moment, but not when it's prompted by the Retrograde Forces for the sole purpose of changing history for their own ends and undermining Kondo's own sacrifice.
* BookEnds: The play begins and ends on the Touken Danshi sparring with one another. Yamatonokami and Kashuu get their licks in first, followed by Nagasone and Hachisuka. Izuminokami and Horikawa don't get in on it, but they do muse about certain aspects of the story.
* CallBack: At the beginning of the play, Hijikata advertises his Ishida Powder product as a medicine able to cure all ills, and jokes about using it on Soji after beating him thoroughly in training. The joke comes back in a much sadder way later; first when Okita jokingly asks for it following his collapse at the Ikeda Inn, and later when Hijikata brings multiple packets to encourage Soji's health after the latter's untimely retirement from the Shinsengumi. Also counts as a CerebusCallBack.
* CatsAreMean: At parts in the story, a Retrograde Force in the form of a cat will come whenever it concerns Soji's illness. The cat comes back in the climax of Yamatonokami's arc, tempting himinto giving Pkita medicine to withstand sickness; but although Yamatonokami doesn't give in, [[spoiler:it preys upon a weakened Soji before Kondo's execution at Itabashi, possessing his sword to go rescue him.]]
* CruelToBeKind: Kashuu my be harsh on Yamatonokami for wanting to be with Soji at the raid, but he only does it because he doesn't want anyone, least of all him, to learn about the pain of seeing their master in danger and not being able to do anything about it. That said, he ultimately lets Yamatonokami go, trusting him not to give in to temptation.
* DarkReprise: "Erabarenu Mono" plays again in the climax when Nagasone looks at Kondo's soon to be execution. It plays more triumphantly after [[spoiler:Hachisuka executes Kondo]], but it's still underscored with a melancholy air given [[spoiler:they just killed one of the team's master]].
* DealWithTheDevil: [[spoiler:The Retrograde cat gives Soji strength enough to save Kondo near the climax, in exchange for possessing his body.]]
* DramaticIrony: Every time Soji talks about his recklessness or not wasting the one life you have, Yamatonokami shrinks, knowing that his master will one day succumb to his illness and die in his prime.
* DrinkingContest: As part of the pre-mission party Horikawa hosts, Squad 1 has a small drinking contest. Hchisuka, by virtue of having the biggest glass and finishing it in two gulps, ends up the undisputed winner.
* EmpathicEnvironment: A heavy rainstorm occurs just as Kondo's execution at Itabashi begins. Thunder pervades the area while they fight the Retrograde Forces, and the scene lets up just as they're done fighting.
* EndOfAnAge: A running theme in the musical. The Shinsengumi swords hold their masters in high esteem mostly because of the trope; they continued to be the WeaponOfChoice to their masters even as war and weapons changed around them, which reinforces the BloodBrothers theme surrounding the group and their strong bonds. "Riyuu no Arika" has Horikawa explain this in song to Hachisuka.
* EstablishingCharacterMoment:
** Nagasone when we first see him is looked up to by Yamatonokami and Kashuu, tells them and Izuminokami to mind their duties, and in general acts as their older mentor figure.
** Izuminokami first arrives on the scene itching for a fight, loud, brash, and in general acting immature (i.e. shirking off duty, getting upset when Nagasone has to make time for other engagements, pouting), but still very understanding. Horikawa in the same scene tries to act as TheHeart, getting worried over Hachisuka and Nagasone's fighting as well as trying to make Izuminokami look at his doings.
** Yamatonokami began the play on decent terms with Kashuu, but also half-jokingly sparring to win over the Saniwa's love. That latter point, focusing on his master, fuels a lot of his arc going forwards in the play.
** When we first meet Hachisuka, he's collected, composed, and refuses to make banter with Nagasone unlike all of the main swords. As soon as their sparring session is over, he cuts off any attempt to bond and leaves straight away.
* FantasticRacism: Hachisuka's distaste for counterfeit swords drives his subplot with Nagasone, and is the basis of their constant butting heads. He's perfectly fine with the other swords though, because he both respects them and knows they're authentic. However, his prejudice is also a mask for his envy and confusion towards Nagasone, hating how he shoulders his burdens and never lets anyone really support him. The end of the play only changes this slightly; while he is now able to respect Nagasone as a member of the team, Hachisuka is still far and away from seeing him as a "brother" sword in his own right.
* GetAHoldOfYourselfMan: In the climax, Hachisuka punches Nagasone right before [[spoiler:he's supposed to behead Kondo]], chastising him for adding one more major event to take on by his lonesome where he has multiple people that are willing to support him.
* GoryDiscretionShot: Right before [[spoiler:Hachisuka beheads Kondo]], the stage immediately cuts to black.
* IHaveNoSon: I have no brother more like it, which is how Hachisuka dismisses his FantasticRacism towards Nagasone when called out on it by Izuminokami. He still doesn't consider Nagasone blood by the end of the play, but he does have a better opinion of him.
* JerkassHasAPoint: Hachisuka does bring up a good point-- he, as the odd man out of Squad 1 lacking their shared Shinsengumi and Bakamatsu era heritage, wouldn't be able to get the job done as leader as efficiently as someone who does. Then he dashes his perfectly good criticism with his anger over being put on the same team as [[CloningBlues Nagasone]].
* ItWillNeverCatchOn: Kondo laughs off the idea of Hijikata becoming a "demon vice-commander", seeing him as the hotheaded and good hearted youth he really is at the moment.
%%* {{Foreshadowing}}:
* HeldGaze: Both Kondo and Hijikata give Soji one before they set out to Nagareyama in 1868. They want more than anything for Soji to get better, and Soji wants the same, but all three of them look like they're trying to convince each other that they'll have time enough to reunite again.
* HypocrisyNod: Yamatonokami knows that if he gives the medicine over to Soji, he'd be changing history and put himself on the same level as the Retrograde forces. Still, he decides to do it anyway.
* IncurableCoughOfDeath: Soji, as usual.
* InnocentlyInsensitive: While Yamatonokami gives off his reasons to join the Shinsengumi during the mission, his answer to the question of breaking on the job is "I'm not that weak!". He says this right in front of Kashuu, who is the only one of the swords that ''did'' break on the battlefield. You can see he's upset when he goes to the wall after that statement.
* ItWasAGift: The reason Nagasone gives Haachisuka for continuing to fight under the Kotetsu name, knowing he is not a Kotetsu himself. It's a precious alias Kondo gave to his sword, and for that reason alone he bears the name with dignity.
* IWantSong: "Te o Nobaseba" is all about Yamatonokami's desire to get emotionally and physically closer to his former master.
* KillTheOnesYouLove: Only barely averted in the end. [[spoiler:Kondo, with his execution botched, asks Nagasone to complete the job instead; the guy almost goes through with it, if not for Hachisuka backhanding him and taking on that burden himself.]]
* MeaningfulEcho:
** "This is how the Shinsengumi fights"; first said by Soji while they were having a triumphant battle in the prologue, then said by Kondo to emphasize the sacrifice and loyalty the organization's leaders have for their men.
** Nagasone saves Hachisuka from an enemy attack at the Ikeda Inn. In the climax, Hachisuka does the same for Nagasone during an enemy swarm, in the exact same pose and position, which helps emphasize his coming to understand Nagasone's mindset.
* ManlyTears: Yamtonokami cries as he watches his master's illness get worse, while he can do nothing to stop it. Nagasone also cries near the end of the play, when he's finally told he can rely on others instead of shouldering his burdens and feelings alone, on top of being resolved of the duty of [[spoiler:executing his master]]. Averted with Hijikata, though; there is nothing mature about his crying when he learns of [[spoiler:Kondo's plans to surrender]]; more than anything, he looks like a guy who just lost his big brother.
* OffWithHisHead: [[spoiler:The mission ultimately ends at Kondo's execution, where he's beheaded as part of the capital punishment. Of course, he's not executed as the timeline intended here, so Hachisuka beheads him instead.]]
* SueDonym: Yamatonokami goes under the pseudonym "Okizawa" when joining the Shinsengumi.
* SurvivorGuilt: A lot of Yamatonokami's decision to join the Shinsengumi is pretty much this. He feels paratially responsible for not being able to help his master when he needed it most, so he feels like he has a better chance to do so by being closer to him in his same organization.
* WhatYouAreInTheDark: After spending an entire length agonizing over whether or not to give Soji medicine for his tuberculosis, Yamatonokami ultimately shakes off temptation, stating that the Okita he knew would cease to exist provided he change circumstances in his favor.
* YourPrincessIsInAnotherCastle: Most of the Okita stuff is taken care of in 1864, where Yamatonokami's character arc with Soji comes to a head, Nagasone begins to come through to Hachisuka, and the Ikeda Inn raid built up over the first half of the musical finally comes to a head. However, this time period ''also'' isn't the Retrograde Army's last stop this turn around; [[spoiler:Itabashi, 1868 is]].
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Mihotose no Komoriuta]]
* AgeProgressionSong: "Kazaguruma" serves as this, showing the maturity of both Ieyasu and his son.
* AngerBornOfWorry: After Tonbokiri returns from the Battle of Anegawa victorious, Ieyasu [[WhatTheHellHero lays into him]] for attempting to win by himself. Above all he's just grateful that Tonbokiri made it back in one piece.
* BookEnds: At the beginning of the play, Ishikirimaru begins writing his record of the Mikawa mission, and runs into Ookurikara, trying to capture his likeness for the record and asking him to read it when it's done. By the end, Ishikirimaru has left the book while rushing for horsekeeping duty; when Ookurikara comes back, he does end up taking a quick look through the book and even smiles when he gets to his picture.
* TheBigSleep: [[spoiler:How Ieyasu's death is portrayed here. After reflecting on his victories and seeing his son one last time with what he thinks are the shades of his trusted retainers, Ieyasu passes in Monoyoshi's arms singing his childhood lullaby as he slips away.]]
--> '''Monoyoshi:''' ''You lived a good life. Sweet dreams.''
* CallBack: Right after the Battle of Okehazama, Ishikirimaru and Ookurukara get into a fight over the latter's seeming indifference towards the bloodshed of the Warring States era. When Ookurikara's on the losing end of the fight, Ishikirimaru comments that the other man's sword is "light", and that he can't cut anything like that. They later have a rematch at [[spoiler:Gohei's grave]], Ishikirimaru now commenting that his sword has become heavier with the weight of [[spoiler:an innocent life taken]].
* DarkHorseVictory: Discussed by Nikkari and Sengo. Ieyasu, of the major players during the war, was about the least remarkable outside of his going on to unify Japan. He wasn't nearly as charismatic as Nobunaga (and was under the man's thumb for a good amount of it), and not as flashy as UsefulNotes/ToyotomiHideyoshi; one has to wonder what he did to make himself the success he was.
* DoubleMeaningTitle: "Tada, Katsu Tame ni" refers not just to Tonbokiri's desire to see Ieyasu's hand in the Battle of Anegawa to completion, but also to emphasize how he's doing it to uphold the historical importance of his master (''Tadakatsu'' Tame ni).
* DiedInYourArmsTonight: [[spoiler:Gohei in Nobuyasu's arms after TakingTheBullet, and Ieyasu in Monoyoshi's arms when he died of old age.]]
* {{Foreshadowing}}: The Nobuyasu of the new timeline is a gentle boy who seeks neither war nor glory. When he's first introduced, he's very fixated on getting in the dirt and picking flowers, and is fascinated about Gohei's previous life as a farmer. [[spoiler:This is all setup for his final appearance, where he takes on Gohei's name and becomes a farmer in the peaceful era he and his father built.]]
* FramingDevice: The whole musical is the result of Ishikirimaru reminiscing on their previous mission, so that he can write a record of what happened.
* GraveMarkingScene: Some time after [[spoiler:Gohei]] dies, three people come to his grave to {{talk|ingToTheDead}}--Ishikirimaru, Ookurikara, and Nobuyasu. In Ookurikara's case, he intended to leave flowers at the grave, but [[SubvertedTrope decides against it]] until their fight for a peaceful world comes to an end.
* GriefSong: "Chikara ni Areba" has Ishikirimaru sing of his regret for being unable to save [[spoiler:Gohei]] from an ambush, and in general for his sadness over his inability to save everyone.
* HistoricalBadassUpgrade: Tonbokiri does one for the legend of Honda Tadakatsu; the original Tadakatsu's most well known feat had him up against 1,000 enemy soldiers, while Tonbokiri was said to go up against ''ten thousand'' of them.
* IWillFightNoMoreForever: [[spoiler:After seeing the war take the life of his dearest friend, alongside his own personal distaste of war, Nobuyasu decides to lay down his sword and request to be disowned on the day of his planned death. While this gets him into a skirmish with Ieyasu, he was not fully able to escape the horrors of war until he was assumed dead.]]
* IWroteOurStory: After the Mikawa mission ends, Ishikirimaru takes it upon himself to write about what happened during it in a book, since the details would be lost to time otherwise.
* {{Irony}}: Nikkari Aoe's best known legend was cutting down the ghost of an infant, which is why he thinks he isn't worthy of becoming a divine sword. However, he of all people is given baby Ieyasu (who grows up to be considered divine as Japan's ruler) in the beginning and is one of the people primarily responsible for his growth and development.
* LongestPrologueEver: Quite the big one here. We open with a Touken Danshi being newly summoned, the Matsudaira clan wiped out, the mission of the musical given shortly afterwards, and the Touken Danshi given the baby Tokugawa Ieyasu, ''all'' before "Touken Ranbu" even gets a chance to play. That's a good 25 minutes in.
* MeaningfulRename:
** Young Takechiyo Matsudaira, as in history, changes his name quite a few times. Upon hitting puberty he becomes Matsudaira Motoyasu, and finally, after joining up with Oda Nobunaga, renames himself into Tokugawa Ieyasu.
** [[spoiler:In the end, Nobuyasu renames himself Gohei after his fallen friend, taking up his life of farming as well.]]
* MortonsFork: No matter who wins Sengo's sparring match, he gets to see stripping. If he wins, the loser strips; if he loses, the winner has to strip in celebration.
* ParentsForADay: And then some, since the Touken Danshi raise Ieyasu (and his son) from the cradle on as {{Parental Substitute}}s and retainers. More specifically, Nikkari, Monoyoshi, Tonbokiri and Ishikirimaru take primary raising duty, while Muramasa and Ookurikara fight on the interim. Deconstructed, as their growing attachments to their charges prevent them from truly carrying out their mission, and they genuinely start to see them as family (and vice versa). Ishikirimaru is hit the hardest about this, but chooses to exclude his inner turmoil from the recounting.
* PlotHole: The members discuss that Ieyasu only became what he was in the books with his influences in life, such as his retainers, his family, and his historical feats. The same can be said of the people the Touken Danshi have to fill in for as well; they too had family members and people known to history who made some impact on their lives, yet because we only focus on Ieyasu's growth we never get to see what happens to the Danshi's "characters". Add that to the problem of staying for apparent ''decades'', and we have quite the puzzling situation here.
* PreAssKickingOneLiner: There are many in this musical like the rest, but Tonbokiri's during the Battle of Anegawa stands out:
--> '''Tonbokiri:''' My lord! I'm off to destroy my weak self! \\
'''Ieyasu:''' What? Where?\\
'''Tonbokiri:''' (*''gestures to the battlefield''*) over there!\\
[''cue Tonbokiri singlehandedly mowing down thousands of soldiers through song'']
* PyrrhicVictory: At the end of his life, Ieyasu looks at the peaceful, unified Japan outside his window and still curses the large amounts of blood he spilled just to get things the way they currently were. The war took civilians, his men, and even his son's retainer [[spoiler:and his son as well, or so he thinks]]; despite being the overall victor, he still held lots of regret.
* QuitYourWhining: When Nobuyasu expresses distaste for war and wishes to be disowned, Ieyasu calls the whole attitude selfish; ''nobody'' wants to be fighting right now, least of all Ieyasu, but his involvement is to be expected of an up and coming heir. [[spoiler:The speech only makes Nobuyasu want to commit honorable suicide instead to not disgrace the family name further.]]
* RecurringRiff: "Kibou no Minamoto" and "Ruri Iro no Sora" have riffs all over the musical; the first played during narrations of the mission and the latter associated with Ieyasu's growth.
* {{Seppuku}}: In the historical timeline, Nobuyasu is ordered to do so by Ieyasu, himself under the orders of Oda Nobunaga. The reasoning varies in historical accounts, but generally assumed to be because of uncooperative and unruly behavior on Nobuyasu's part. However, because of his loving and healthy upbringing in the new timeline, there is no reason for this to happen; so instead, Nobuyasu wants to do it ''himself'' because he's tired of war and feels like a disgrace to his family for feeling so. He eventually settles on asking Ishikirimaru to execute him.
* SignificantDoubleCasting: The boys who play 'Takechiyo', Shuri Ayuba and Yukito Kojima, also play young Nobuyasu.
* SkywardScream: Ishikirimaru has a pretty big one when [[spoiler:Nobuyasu sacrifices himself to protect the former from the Kebiishi]].
* TeachMeHowToFight: As an unskilled farmer, he's ill-suited for fighting in war. He looks to Ookurikara for help, begging him to teach him swordsmanship.
* UnexplainedRecovery: [[spoiler:Despite being cut in the neck and shoulder, Nobuyasu apparently survived the injury and became a simple farmhand offscreen. No details are given as to how this happens.]]
* WarIsHell: Ishikirimaru, being a sword used for ceremonies and healing, isn't quite used to the horrors of the battlefield. As such, while he's initially stoic about his human kills, it took one enemy crying out for mercy for Ishikirimaru to come back to seeing the whole act as barbaric and cruel.
* WhatTheHellHero: Monoyoshi gets rather defensive about Ishikirimaru [[spoiler:preparing to kill Nobuyasu]], saying that he's taking the life of an innocent man.
* WhatWouldXDo: Tonbokiri has a pretty hard time adjusting to his own master's role in history, not knowing how to live up to his legacy. It takes a good talking to from Monoyoshi to snap him out of it, saying that Tonbo's fear of inadequately filling his shoes is the ''exact'' disgrace he was worried about, and tells him to be himself instead.
* WholeEpisodeFlashback: The whole musical was shown as a flashback to the events of the Ieyasu mission, with the exceptions of the beginning and end segments.
* WildCardExcuse: In order to make sure history goes as intended, Monoyoshi gives out strategies and advice accordingly to Ieyasu. Every time he's asked how he came to those conclusions, Monoyoshi always answers "luck".
* YouAreTooLate: The musicals' first true victory for the Retrograde Forces comes at the very beginning, where they wipe out the whole Matsudaira clan. Ookurikara and Nikkari notice Okazaki Castle burning, but arrive too late to save anything other than a single infant.
* YouWillBeBeethoven: But out of necessity; the ''entire'' Matsudaira clan was wiped out thanks to the Retrograde Forces, so all Touken Danshi available had to, at one point or another, take the place of a person who was important to Ieyasu's history.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Tsuwamono Domo ga Yume no Ato]]
* ArcSymbol: The moon, used here as a symbol of significance. The moon's light and shape is seen as a metaphor for the visible impact someone or something makes in life, with the dark parts of the moon representing the unknown or glossed over.
* CerebusCallBack: Remember that flashy action sequence at the beginning of ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'', where Yoshitsune and Benkei are making a heroic last stand against Yoritomo and Yasuhira before the former commits seppuku? It comes back again here, but it's played for a much sadder effect; [[spoiler:''neither'' of Yoshitsune's final aggressors want to assassinate him, Yasuhira in particular lacking his AxCrazy personality from the first musical and being torn up for this scene, but they do it anyway because they believe [[IDidWhatIHadToDo it needs to happen to ensure a good future]]. Both Yoshitsune and Benkei lose their heroic luster for this scene too--they're both disheveled, running around in torn clothes, and Yoshitsune's seppuku attempt looks less like an act of defiance but more like a desperate last act to keep his honor. Even the way he delivers his "I'm coming, everyone!" line is quieter.]]
* ChekhovsGun: Higekiri's ability to connect with and understand Munechika is used later by himself, in order to better communicate Munechika's feelings on why he's [[spoiler:been actively influencing historical figures]] to Kogitsunemaru.
* ComingOfAgeStory: Imanotsurugi's presence in this musical acts as his rite-of-passage, since he has to come face to face with the Mt. Atsukashi incident that's been plaguing his mind since the end of the first installment and he's finally made aware of [[spoiler:his nonexistence in history]]. Iwatooshi also has to learn to let him go and mature on his own, which leads to [[spoiler:Imanotsurugi leaving for his Kiwame training]].
%%* TheConstant: Munechika discusses this with Higekiri and Kogitsunemaru. Like with their missions, there are certain people and fixtures marked down in history that are always described a certain way. Therefore, their job is to also make sure no matter what else happens in the timeline, these key people are always made to do what they were described to do. [[spoiler:Munechika, by repeatedly going back and influencing some of the historical figures, has somehow made himself one of these constants.]]
* ContrivedCoincidence: With time being so weird and circumstances changing, no one item or person is ever present the same way in missions. [[spoiler:This also goes for swords as well. However, Higekiri was brought along for one of the iterations where his original sword was present during Munechika and Yoritomo's meetings, and receives memories of the incident where he had none before. This proves crucial in figuring out ''what'' Mikazuki plans to do.]]
* CruelToBeKind: To get through a mountain pass, Benkei and Yoshitune disguise as priests to get past the guards on lookout for the latter. When the guards don't let Yoshitsune go, Benkei beats Yoshitsune up to a limp in an effort to pretend he's just an IdenticalStranger whose face has caused him nothing but trouble from similar guards. Munechika describes this as something of a kindness; if he hadn't "snapped", they wouldn't be able to cross the mountain pass and they'd be in for a world of trouble.
* FightingYourFriend: [[spoiler:Kogitsunemaru was willing to kill Munechika after learning that he's been directly influencing historical events to happen a certain way, under the presumption that he's pulling Retrograde tactics. They have a duel near the end of the show.]]
* {{Foreshadowing}}:
** The Genji clan swords and Iwatooshi and Imanotsurugi not recognizing each other is innocuous at first glance, before you remember that they should have some memory of each other since they all were in the same household. [[spoiler:That's because in this timeline, the latter two aren't certain existences.]]
** As soon as they get to the past, Munechika cryptically mentions that no one can really tell what happened 1000 years ago. [[spoiler:This not only sets up his meddling, but also establishes that the past is very malleable with the little details changing from time to time.]]
** His conversation with Iwatooshi about how kindness can take many forms (including CruelToBeKind) is just as much a lesson to the latter as it is [[spoiler:an admission of what his intentions are by directly influencing events]].
* FullNameUltimatum: The one time Kogitsunemaru refers to Munechika as "Mikazuki Munechika" rather than "Mikazuki-dono" is when he's royally pissed at him for [[spoiler:threatening Yoritomo into killing Yoshitsune]].
* IAmGreatSong: In lieu of Yoshitsune himself singing, the Touken Danshi instead sing "Chiru wa Hi no Hana", a recounting of some of Yoshitsune's greatest feats during the Genpei War.
* IAmSong: "Futatsu no Kiseki ~kizuna~" acts as this for Higekiri and Hizamaru.
* MayflyDecemberFriendship: Between Munechika and [[spoiler:Yasuhira]]. Whenever he goes back to the Genpei War, Munechika always makes time to genuinely befriend him, [[spoiler:which also allows him to tell Yasuhira about the history situation without force.]]
* MeaningfulEcho: The scene where Yoshitsune limps to the mountain pass with Benkei is mirrored in the end, when [[spoiler:Yoshitsune and Benkei survive the Mt. Atsukashi incident and escape the eye of history, Benkei being the limp this time around]].
* PutOnABus: [[spoiler:Imanotsurugi]] goes off for his Kiwame training at the end of this installment.
* TheReveal: [[spoiler:Munechika is intentionally influencing Yasuhira and Yoritomo by telling them to do as history planned them to do. Apparently, he's been doing this ''every'' time he goes to Mt. Atsukashi.]]
* RippleEffectProofMemory: [[spoiler:Being the only sword present for Munechika's meddling and Kogitsunemaru's ambush of Yoritomo in this timeline, Higekiri obtains a flood of new memories about all of those incidents. He's still dimly aware of other things that happened in the original timeline though.]]
* TomatoInTheMirror: Imanotsurugi's subplot in the musical consists of everyone [[ElephantInTheRoom avoiding the subject]] of [[spoiler:his base tantou not being historical fact]]. Iwatooshi is also in the same boat, but he realized the truth way back in ''Atsukashiyama Ibun''. [[spoiler:Imanotsurugi learns the hard way when Yoshitsune doesn't recognize the former's name, even if he's supposed to be his treasured blade.]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Shinkenranbu Sai]]
* AllJustADream: What the 2016 performance turns out to be. Kashuu's whole dilemma was in his head; in reality, he was just waiting out the time before a festival at the Citadel.
* ArcNumber: For 2016: 5. The unique members for ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'' and ''Bakamatsu Tenrouden'' count up to that number in each group if you don't include Kashuu, the Shinsengumi need to climb five hills, and they have until the gong strikes for a fifth time to complete their task.
* ArcWords: "Are we objects? Or are we human?"
* BaitAndSwitch: Iwatooshi's challenge is one; when the Shinsengumi swords and Hachisuka arrive, he gets into a battle stance, asking for a fight... and then clarifies that it will be a liberal arts contest instead. Kashuu however [[AsYouKnow politely reminds everyone]] that Benkei was a ''Buddhist monk'', so nonviolent challenges were to be expected.
* CallBack:
** During the fieldwork segment, Ishikirimaru has Imanotsurugi pray for a good harvest just as he makes the audience do so in the Itsukishima Shrine performance.
** Munechika recites his initial speech for idol activities (as seen in ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'') as his challenge.
** Imanotsurugi mentions "until we rise above the purple clouds", just as his master did in ''Atsukashiyama Ibun''.
* ColorCodedForYourConvenience: All of the logos for the event have the short story's focus character's motif color. 2016 has red for Kashuu, 2017 has blue for Aoe, and 2018 has white for Kunihiro.
* ADayInTheLimelight: While each musical is an ensemble piece, these performances give specific focus to one particular sword every time:
** For the 2016 performance, Kashuu is the central character after playing leader and member in ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'' and ''Bakamatsu Tenrouden''. His dilemma concerns choosing between his two teams and realizing what it means to be a Touken Danshi.
* DistressedDude: Kashuu in the 2016 performance. In what seems to be an act of mere jealousy, the Sanjou swords kidnap Kashuu and keep him captive in an electrified cage. [[spoiler:Subverted in that he was in no danger at all the whole performance. The worst they do is keep him in the cage in the first scene; the rest of the time, he's able to interact with the Sanjou and Shinsengumi + Hachisuka teams freely. And then even that's less of an impact since Kashuu was dreaming anyway.]]
* EnemyMine: For this performance only, Yoritomo puts aside his rivalry with Yoshitsune to cut down the enemies in their way.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: During the cast listing for ''Mihotose'', the Saniwa deliberately leaves out Motohiro Oota's character, but gives a very distinctive "hu hu hu hu" before saying he'll save the reveal for later. As we now know, Sengo Muramasa was that final Touken Danshi, and that laugh is his signature.
* TheFourthWallWillNotProtectYou: The idols love to interact with the camera, often blowing kisses or waving/saluting. Munechika gets especially personal with it, cradling the camera while he serenades the recording viewers.
* FunnyBackgroundEvent: Watch for Ookurikara's un-amused dancing and reactions in 2017. You can tell he really doesn't want to be there.
* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: Kashuu notes how refreshing it was to duet with people outside their usual duos, which is particularly true for this musical series as they never really change them.
* IronicEchoCut: After passing Iwatooshi's challenge, the Shinsengumi swords rush off to the next hill, with Yamatonokami lagging behind crying "wait up!" Not too long after, Kondo, Hijikata, and Soji come rushing through the scene crying out "WAIT UP!"
* MoodWhiplash: Imanotsurugi's challenge changes the tone of the quest from the hot blood and fighting spirit of Ishikirimaru's challenge to a fun game of copycat with an innocent kid. Nagasone, Izuminokmi, and especially Hachisuka are hit hard by the change.
* PaperThinDisguise: The Sanjou swords don't make any attempt to hide themselves save for a mask when they capture Kashuu. However, the ''Tenrouden'' swords are thoroughly confused-- at least, all of them except Horikawa.
--> ''*AsideGlance*'' Am I the only one seeing this?
* RaceAgainstTheClock: The Sanjou swords give the Shinsengumi until the gong strikes for a fifth time to climb the five mountains and rescue Kashuu.
* SecretTestOfCharacter: All the Sanjou team wanted was to see how much either team meant to Kashuu. By choosing neither/both, Kashuu proved that he values both of his past experiences with them, which was what they wanted to see all along.
* TakeAThirdOption: [[spoiler:As it turns out, the whole trial was to get Kashuu to pick a group to bond and fight with - the Sanjou team, or the Shinsengumi and Hachisuka team. Feeling irreplaceable bonds with both, Kashuu doesn't want to pick between them, so he chooses everyone. [[SecretTestOfCharacter That was the right choice, appararently.]]]]
* VoidBetweenTheWorlds: The entire event seems to take place in one, with many historical characters appearing alongside their swords despite time travel only existing between the sword company. [[spoiler:Subverted at the end, when Kashuu is revealed to be dreaming the whole thing.]]
--> ''Festivals are the gateway between life and death''.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Other Performances]]
[[AC: Itsukushima Shrine 2016]]
* CallBack: a few to the previous stage shows; Horikawa and Izuminokami look out for Sirius after they finish "The Reason Why", and just like in ''Bakamatsu Tenrouden'', Kashuu and Yamatonokami race for the distinction of not getting animal duty (in this case, deer). Iwatooshi and Imanotsurugi play together just as they did in the beginning of ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'' before they sing "Your Song".
* MonoNoAware: During their talk after performing Nagorizuki, Munechika notes to Iwatooshi the beauty of the moon and of their surroundings, and then goes on to add that their beauty is also precisely ''because'' they're going to disappear one day.
* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: Kashuu and Yamatonokami race off the stage so that they don't get deer cleaning duty. The island Itsukushima Shrine is situated on, Miyajima Island, is known for its plentiful deer population.
* ManInWhite: All the swords for that performance don white {{Nonuniform Uniform}}s for their performance here, as their concert is a ceremony for the Shrine's verification anniversary. They only keep the outfits on until the concert's end.
* MilestoneCelebration: The performance celebrates Itsukushima's 20th year as a registered World Heritage. [[invoked]]
* SelfDeprecation: Nagasone comments on how cold the performance is, while also pointing to his lack of warm clothing.
[[/folder]]
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%% Most of the tropes cover the recorded performances. If there's a trope that could be discovered in any of the other performance nights, put them here as well.
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/520c083c_a293_4ecb_bca9_666b3301b672.jpeg]]
[[caption-width-right:350: [[RagtagBunchOfMisfits Team Sanjou]] with [[OnlySaneMan Kashuu Kiyomitsu]] ]]
One of [[Theater/TouStage two]] distinct stage continuities, ''Musical Touken Ranbu'' (or '''''[=TouMyu=]''''' as it's affectionately abbreviated) is a series of musicals adapted from the ''VideoGame/ToukenRanbu'' franchise. Coming months after the release of the original game in 2015, these musicals take focus on quite a few groups of Touken Danshi as they travel through time and solve their current historical conundrum. Since there's no real overarching story in the games, this particular continuity solves the problem by making up some of its own: so the characters get to tussle with some of history's most interesting characters, fight some unusual adversaries, and sing a verse or two along the way. And after the musicals end, the audience is treated to an extra performance by the cast, one involving all of them doing battle in the modern day the only way they can-- by putting on flashy and exciting idol concerts for hundreds of Saniwa!
Wait, what?
''Touken Ranbu'' and {{Idol Singer}}s mixed together? In ''canon''? It's an unusual combination, but it worked. In fact it worked so well that the series has been running successfully for three years with 5 plays and 3 concerts unders its belt -- enough to even score solo concerts for its characters and produce very popular in-character singles.
In July 2018, the musical franchise branched out internationally; most of the original cast came back to perform ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'' at Japan Expo for the French audience, while the [=DVDs=] for the play now come with English subtitles.
[[folder:Performances]]
* ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'' (The Strange Tale of Mt. Atsukashi)
** ''Musical Touken Ranbu: Trial Performance'' (2015)
-->[[labelnote: +Summary]]Kashuu Kiyomitsu, after being debriefed by his Saniwa, is given leadership position on a mission. His task: lead the very oddball Sanjou school Touken Danshi to Mt. Atsukashi, 1189, in order to see about the Historical Revisionists targeting Lord Minamoto no Yoshitsune. Strange enough, when they get there, they find that both Yoshitsune and his retainer, Musashibo Benkei, are alive when they're both supposed to be dead following Fujiwara no Yatsuhira's ambush on his home. Although they should investigate further, Imanotsurugi is too starstruck by his former master to want to carry it out; while Iwatooshi, a relatively new Touken Danshi, is conflicted about his mission and his fellow Danshi's happiness. Meanwhile, Yoshitsune wants bloody revenge on Yoritomo, his envious brother who carried out he hit, and he and Benkei begin to rely on some dark power to achieve it...[[/labelnote]]
** ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'' (2016): Essentially, a revision of the Trial Run. It adds three new songs to the main play (Kogitsunemaru and Ishikirimaru get "Utaka no Komori Uta", Ishikirimaru and Kashuu replace their war conversation with "Mujun to iu Na no Tsubomi", and Imanotsurugi protecting Yoshitsune in the climax is turned into "Oboeteiru"), and some aesthetic changes are made.
** Atsukashiyama Ibun 2018 - A rerun of the first play for the 2018 Paris Japan Expo.
* ''Bakamatsu Tenrouden'' (2016)
* ''Mitohose no Komoriuta'' (2017)
** 2019 rerun
* ''Tsuwamono Domo ga Yume no Ato'' (2017)
* ''Musubi no Hiki, Hajimari no Ne'' (2018)
* Shinkenranbu Sai - The Concert Episode.
** Shinkenranbu Sai 2016: The casts of ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'' and ''Bakamatsu Tenrouden'' return for a whole night of dance and song!
** Shinkenranbu Sai 2017
* ''Kashuu Kiyomitsu Tanki Shutsujin[=/=]Solo Performance''-- ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin.
** Tanki Shutsujin 2017
** Tanki Shutsujin 2018
* ''Higekiri Hizamaru Sōki Shutsujin 2019'' -- Similar to Kashuu's solo concerts, except the focus this time is turned to the Genji swords Higekiri and Hizamaru.
[[/folder]]
----
! Tropes spanning the entire musical series:
* AllMusicalsAreAdaptations: You'd better believe it. But in this case, it's only loosely adapted; the basic premise and characters is all the musicals take. The rest is crafted wholesale.
* BlowThatHorn: How announcements are made known in this Citadel.
* CanonForeigner: The musicals follow this trend, introducing characters not seen in the original game as the only seen characters in the game are Sword boys, the historical revisionists and their TeamPet Konnosuke.
* CloseEnoughTimeline: Really, "correcting history's mistakes" just boils down to this. The good side doesn't much care ''how'' history corrected itself, it just needs to have the same events happen to coalign with current history, and they'll be fine.
** Sure, Yoshitsune and Benkei don't die in the raid by Yasuhashi, and Yoshitsune doesn't commit seppuku, but they still die [[spoiler:albeit, by Yoshitsune's hand in Benkei's case and after being possessed in Yoshitsune's case]].
* ClothingDamage: As in the game it's based on, some swords get their clothing destroyed in the heat of battle. Iwatooshi and Imanotsurugi get their clothes shredded for their Awakening attacks in the first play.
* ContinuityNod: Kashuu's fanservice line in Shinkenranbu Sai ("I'll love you as long as you look at me") references one of his songs from his solo concert (Mitsumekure naru/As long as you look at me).
* {{Crossover}}: The cast had one with the Tokyo Dome in 2018, called ''1934 Tokyo''. The Touken Danshi summoned (The Genjis, Mikazuki, Iwatooshi, Imanotsurugi, and Izuminokami) were transported to the eponymous year and were able to make special comments about it.
* {{Fanservice}}: So very much of it in these musicals:
** Any time the swords fight, and [[ClothingDamage clothes get torn up]] along the way. Especially their awakenings.
** "Otokomichi" has the performing Touken Danshi throw their tops off, revealing their sweaty, slim tops and midriffs/chests to the audience.
** ''Tanki Shutsujin'' is filled with this. One of Kashuu's songs has him bound up singing about how much he loves his master; he and the backup dancers dance more provocatively in some musical numbers, and they get to mess around with him.
** At one point, Horikawa is tied up by the Shinsengumi, interrogated by Hijikata himself.
* GratuitousEnglish: The concert songs in general are full of this. "Gateway" is the worst offender.
* HandWave: The reason why the Touken Danshi are suddenly singing and dancing on stage? Apparently, this is just how people battle in the 21st century, and they need to practice their skills as performers as well as swordsmen, as is the way of a true samurai. Why they need the glowsticks and strobe lights is another matter entirely.
* IdolSinger: Surprisingly, yes. The Touken Danshi also moonlight as idol singers whenever they travel to the modern day.
* MythologyGag:
** You'll sometimes hear the characters' in-game quotes during the plays, especially when battle rears its head.
** For the ''Touken Ranbu'' franchise's third anniversary, the ''Musubi no Hiki'' main cast took photos as their respective Touken Danshi, sitting as they do in their characters' in-game anniversary pictures.
%%* PassingTheTorch: The Sanjous have to say goodbye at the end of closing night, paving the way for the Shinsengumi swords (and Hachisuka) to take stage for ''Bakumatsu Ryouden''.
* PopularHistory: In full effect here. From the Minamoto household to the Bakamatsu era, the series looks at many well known historical figures.
* RevolvingDoorCasting: No one cast is completely consistent from play to play. There are some consistent teams (Sanjou, Shinsengumi), but even then they'll have different unrelated Touken Danshi coming along for the ride.
* SecondEpisodeIntroduction: Yamatonokami is first mentioned in ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'', where Kashuu asks the Saniwa to bring him on their mission (as a more competent member). He doesn't actully show up until the very next play ''Bakumatsu Tenrouden ''.
* SillyLoveSongs: "Your Song" is definitely a sort of platonic love song to the Danshi's masters. They sing more conventional love songs, like "Blink", "Tokenai Mahou", and "MISTAKE", in the post-play concerts.
* TheTeam: In the musical, the main characters form a group. As we see from the main website:
** Squad 1: Team Sanjou with Kashuu Kiyomitsu[[note]]Mikazuki Munechika, Kogitsunemaru, Iwatooshi, Ishikirimaru, Imanotsurugi, and Kashuu Kiyomitsu[[/note]]
** Team Shinsengumi with Hachisuka Kotetsu [[note]]Hachisuka Kotetsu, Nagasone Kotetsu, Horikawa Kunihiro, Izuminokami Kanesada, Yamatonokami Yasusada and Kashuu Kiyomitsu[[/note]]
*** The fifth musical slightly changes this lineup to include Tomeagata Naginata and Mutsunokami Yoshiyuki, replacing Kashuu and Hachisuka.
** Team Mihotose[[note]]Sengo Muramasa, Nikkari Aoe, Ookurikara, Ishikirimaru, Monoyoshi Sadamune, and Tonbokiri[[/note]]
** Team Sanjou with the Genji brothers [[note]]ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin with the addition of the Genji bros rather than Kashuu this time[[/note]]
* TheVoiceless: Unlike in the game, the musicals don’t follow this, giving the Saniwa a disembodied, distinctly male voice.
* AWildRapperAppears: Series staple "MISTAKE" counts on two of the idols to come in with their rap verses after the first chorus.
* WorldOfHam: Everyone's just as loud and passionate as the person next to them. Scenery flies off the shelves practically every second.
[[folder: Atsukashiyama Ibun & Trial Run]]
* ArcWords: "Purpose" (''yakuwari'').
* AxCrazy: There's really not a scene that goes by when Yasuhira doesn't either scream or laugh maniacally.
* BigDamnHeroes: Imanotsurugi came at just the right time to save Yoritomo from execution, enough to have everyone talk it out for a second.
* BraggingThemeTune: "Touken Ranbu" is pretty much this and an ExpositoryThemeTune, having each relevant sword talk about how awesome they themselves are and how they're going to keep fighting until their last breath.
* BreakingTheFourthWall: After he and Kashuu share a heart to heart about war and an ambush plan, he nods to the audience before being dragged to battle.
* BrutalHonesty: While Imanotsurugi is ecstatic to see Yoshitsune at a time when he's still alive, Iwatooshi has to give him a very painful reminder that they're only here to correct history and not to further screw up the timeline, which also means they can't let their former masters know who they are. Imanotsurugi takes it so harshly he runs away in near tears.
* CallBack: While calming Imanotsurugi down in "I Remember", Iwatooshi tells him to "remember the gift that the clouds gave us/ thousands of twinkling stars"; referencing "Kira Kira" and the ecstatic feeling Imanotsurugi had remembering his master. The same gestures are used here too.
* CharacterizationMarchesOn: You can see some definite differences in how the characters act in the Trial Run versus how they are in ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'':
** Kashuu is a little less dramatic in the beginning; instead of falling over himself when he's assigned the Sanjou swords, he's just slightly miffed. He's also less childlike than he was in the original (see: his CoyGirlishFlirtPose in the original deriefing vs. his more resigned stature in ''Ibun''), but seemingly more insecure about his breaking on the battlefield ("breaking in battle is a sword's highest honor/our worth as swords depends on how many we've killed" vs. "breaking desn't make us any less of a sword").
** Mikazuki's early scene showing how he doesn't get fieldwork is replaced with him playfully using the hoe as a running springboard, better reflecting his easygoing personality.
** Yoshitsune, in the Trial Run, seemed to joke a lot more given how not seriously he enters.
* CombinationAttack: At the climax of ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'', all of Squad 1 takes their turns whittling down [[spoiler:[=possessed!Yoshitsune=] ]], until he finally goes down to Iwatooshi and Imanotsurugi's combined Divine Death Blow.
* CueTheSun: The sun rises on our heroes just as they finish taking down [[spoiler:the possessed Yoshitsune]], right on cue.
* DemonicPossession: After the fight with Yasuhashi, contact with the Retrograde Army somehow led to Yoshitsune's sword coming to life in addition to the immesurable power given to him, Benkei, and Yasuhira. [[spoiler:Yoshitsune's sword ends up taking over by stabbing itself into his body, killing Yoshitsune but leaving him a controllable corpse.]]
* DoubleTake: Kashuu was fine with having Imanotsurugi on his team, but as soon as Ishikirimaru is mentioned, he starts questioning the Saniwa's choice of comrades.
* DrivingQuestion: What is your purpose? Why do you act?
* EnemyMine: After learning of their fates from the Historical Revisionists, and after learning he'd be betrayed after his death, Yoshitsune, Benkei, and Yasuhira join forces to take down Yorimoto.
* EnemyWithin: In the end, the Saniwa figures [[spoiler:Yoshitsune's sword]] was like this. It was willing to do all of the things Yoshitsune rejects in the back of his mind.
* EstablishingCharacterMoment: Each of Squad 1 has theirs in ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'':
** Mikazuki's first shown goofing off while doing fieldwork, showing his easygoing nature.
** Iwatooshi and Imanotsurugi spar in their first scene together, which quickly turns into a game of tag, showing off their close and brotherly relationship. Iwatooshi is also shown trying to keep Imanotsurugi's best intersts in mind and making him happy. Ishikirimaru, who appears in the scene a little later, is seen blessing the Citadel (showing off how seriously he takes his duties).
** Kashuu is first seen anticipating the Saniwa's word, shuting excited at what he considered "special treatment", and moaning loudly about having to keep the Sanjou swords uner control until the Saniwa places his hopes on him.
* {{Foreshadowing}}:
** Notice how Kashuu wanted Yamatonokami on his team? Or how his issues with his breakage seem to fuel his early actions as a leader? Or how much stock he takes in the Shinsengumi code? Or how he's the only caracter disconnected from the rest of the Sanjou theme? Good thing ''that's'' not going to come up in another play...
** During the mission debriefing, Kashuu points out that most of the team (save Iwatooshi and Imanotsurugi) have been to Atsukashi before, impying that going to a specific event multiple times is normal. The latter two will have plenty of experience by the time they go back in ''Tsuwamono Domo''.
* FunnyBackgroundEvent: Notice that before the team get sent off to Atsukashi, Kogitsune runs around in circles chasing his clothes.
* FrameUp: Yorimoto was the one trying to kill Yoshitsune. Yasuhira was just called in as a fall guy, so Yorimoto could post-humously pin Yoshitsune's death on the latter man.
* HatePlague
* HaveWeMet: After fighting againt Iwatooshi and noticing his fighting style, Benkei asks if they've interacted before. Of course, Iwatooshi declines.
* IronicEcho: "Even in death, watch over me!" has been used by Yoshitsune in the beginning of the play, and then again by Yoshitsune [[spoiler:or rather, the sword controlling him]] when he tricks Benkei [[spoiler:into letting his guard down so he can attack the man]].
* LaughingMad: Yasuhira is this on the daily. [[spoiler:Yoshitsune is only this after his sword fully possesses him.]]
* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: Just before "Takaramono" begins, Kashuu sings the final line "Arukidaseru" (i'm setting out), just before he and Kogitsunemaru leave the stage.
* LeaveHimToMe: Whenever Benkei encounters the Touken Danshi in battle, Iwatooshi shoos them away in order to fight the man himself. Who better to fight Musashibo Benkei than his own former weapon?
* LickingTheBlade: Yoshitsune, when bloodthirsty, has this as his CharacterTic [[spoiler:which is actually just the sword possessing him]]. Used cruelly when he licks [[spoiler:Benkei's]] blood off of his sword after he kills the latter.
* MakeWrongWhatOnceWentRight: The Revisionists decide to inform Yoshitsune of Yorimoto's assassination attempt, which, along with somehow making an ally of his would-be killer Yasuhira, allows Yoshitsune and Benkei to survive their fatal final battles. The fact that they're alive at all after this point gives the Touken Danshi reason to investigate this matter and correct it.
* MeaningfulEcho:
** In the beginning of ''Atsukashi Ibun'', Yoshitsune tells the dying Benkei to "meet [him] in the next world, and the ones after next"; later on after the climax, Iwatooshi reaffirms Yoshitsune's statement to Imanotsurugi and gives him a shoulder ride as he did in the beginning of the musical.
** In the beginning of the Mt. Atsukashi mission, we see Yoshitsune disown his brother after he learns that he tried to kill him. Later on in the climax, Imanotsurugi finally finds the strength to complete his assigned mission after he disowns Yoshitsune, or rather [[spoiler:the sword possessing his corpse]].
%%* MercyKill:
* MutualEnvy: Yoshitsune looks at Yorimoto's political genius, envious that he has the skills to lead Japan into an era of peace. But Yorimoto doesn't see things that way; being TheUnfavorite, he looks at Yoshitsune's military genius, popularity, and how most of their acquaintances want Yoshitsune to take clan head position. Leads into CainAndAbel pretty quickly, considering how he attempts to kill Yoshitsune.
* MyMasterRightOrWrong: Benkei is compelled to follow Yoshitsune, even when he knows that [[spoiler:he's been possessed]]. Not wanting to lay arms on his young lord, he asks Iwatooshi to either kill him or stop Yoshitsune in his stead, which the Touken Danshi readily agrees to.
* NaiveNewcomer: Iwtooshi and Imanotsurugi fulfill this role. Iwatooshi because he's a relatively new Touken Danshi, and both him and Imanotsurugi because they've never been on a Mt. Atsukashi mission before and therefore can't handle themselves there like their other partners can.
* QuarrelingSong: ''I Remember'' takes place at the climax of the play, with Imanotsurugi blocking off his friends from killing Yoshitsune while the rest of them are telling him to move out of the way.
* RagtagBunchOfMisfits: The Sanjou+Kiyomitsu team is treated like one in the beginning. There's no real strategic advantge to putting them together besides theme; Mikazuki and Kogitsunemaru are too carefree, Ishikirimaru is too busy taking his priest duties seriously, Iwatooshi's completely new, and Kashuu has only just been given a leadership role for this mission. Saniwa even lampshades how unlikely the team would be on a normal basis.
* RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver: [[spoiler:Yoshitsune]]'s completely possessed form is so ObviouslyEvil it hurts. His wardrobe is black will red accents, with the top covered in a cobweb pattern.
* ResistTheBeast: Benkei certainly tries his best to do so; whenever he catches himself struggling with the dark power his weapon now wields, he bites, struggles, drops his weapon enough to return to a regular state. Yoshitsune does this as well, having to physically restrain the sword from coming out. Fortunately, the former doesn't let it win over him. [[spoiler:''Un''fortunately, the latter forcibly loses control.]]
* {{Retirony}}: All Yoshitsune wants is to know why Yoritomo tried to have him killed. Once he learns that, he mentions that he wants to retire from his position as military head and become a monk afterwards. [[spoiler:Too bad his sword doesn't feel the same way.]]
* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: By all accounts, Yoshitsune is trying to collect Yorimoto's head after his failed assassination attempt with Yasuhira.
* RuleOfSymbolism: The only times Yoshitsune ever uses his tantou in ''Atsukashi Ibun''/the Trial Run is when he performs an honorable act; the first time when he commits seppuku, and the second when he [[spoiler:frees Yorimoto and tells him to escape the mountain]]. Any time he uses his other sword is for violence or struggling with the thought of violence.
* RunningGag: Ishikirimru's slowness, a reference to his MightyGlacier status in the original game.
* SayMyName: "MY LOOOOOORD!"/"LORD YOSHITSUNEEEEE!" "BENKEIIIII!" "IWATOOSHIII!"
* SchmuckBait: During the frontal raid on Yoshitsune's castle, Ishikirimaru tosses an enemy a sword to fight with--right before Kashuu comes in to knock it out of his hands.
* SillyMeGesture: Imnotsurugi does one when he forgets his own name talking to Yoshitsune.
* StartsWithASuicide: How ''Atsukashiyama Ibun''/Trial Run opens up. After Benkei gives his life defending Yoshitsune to the last, Yoshitsune himself commits seppuku/harakiri to the confused ramblings of Imanotsurugi.
* HeroicSacrifice: In order to stop Yoshitsune once and for all, Iwatooshi holds the former back and has Munechika run through the both of them. Munechika only manages to hit Yoshitsune, excusing his oldness.
* TakingTheBullet: Before [[spoiler:possessed!Yoshitsune]] has a chance to slice through Imanotsurugi, Iwatooshi throws him out of the way to take one of his many critical injuries in the climax.
* ThisIsSomethingHesGotToDoHimself: The older swords invoke this on Iwatooshi and Kashuu as they struggle with their goals during the Mt. Atsukashi mission.
** According to Kogitsunemaru, Kashuu needs to discover the correct method of leadership by himself, as he won't just give him he answer.
** Whether or not it's right to act on their own accord or by their master's orders is up to them to decide.
* UndyingLoyalty: Imanotsurugi is hellbent on meeting and protecting his master Yoshitsune, even though that's not what he was sent there to do. The fact that he needs to correct history--which means his master needs to die again--causes him to run off to Atsukashi and try to find Yoshitsune himself, as well as [[spoiler:protect the corrupted corpse of Yoshitsune from the other Touken Danshi]] because of his love for him.
* WarriorTherapist: Mikazuki prefers to let fighting (or dancing) do the talking when it comes to conversation. After all, he believes that they're far most honest than words can be.
* WhamLine: While Yoshitsune is struggling with his sword, we see a glimpse of him that was much less violent than his earlier portrayals showed us:
--> "I need to ask my brother! *much softer, saner voice* For what reason did he want to kill me?"
* WellIntentionedExtremist: [[spoiler:Yoshitsune's sword]], oddly enough. The Saniwa muses that after the Revisionist came into contact with it, the sword gained its own will and tried to led Yoshitsune down the path it thought best for its master.
* WhatIsThisThingYouCallLove: As a new recruit, Iwatooshi isn't quite used to having emotions yet, finding himself reacting to everything most haphazardly and putting his feelings in conflict with his duty to the Saniwa. He admits he found it easier to be an inanimate object, because he didn't have to deal with such complications.
* WoundedGazelleGambit: Just as Benkei comes close to finishing off [[spoiler: the possessed Yoshitsune]], suddenly he acts as if he was freed, begging Benkei to keep protecting him. Catching him off his guard, possessed Yoshitsune goes for the kill.
* YouRemindMeOfX: In the musicals, Benkei is taken aback by Imanotsurugi's personality, seeing a younger version of Yoshitsune in him.
[[/folder]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/520c083c_a293_4ecb_bca9_666b3301b672.jpeg]]
[[caption-width-right:350: [[RagtagBunchOfMisfits Team Sanjou]] with [[OnlySaneMan Kashuu Kiyomitsu]] ]]
One of [[Theater/TouStage two]] distinct stage continuities, ''Musical Touken Ranbu'' (or '''''[=TouMyu=]''''' as it's affectionately abbreviated) is a series of musicals adapted from the ''VideoGame/ToukenRanbu'' franchise. Coming months after the release of the original game in 2015, these musicals take focus on quite a few groups of Touken Danshi as they travel through time and solve their current historical conundrum. Since there's no real overarching story in the games, this particular continuity solves the problem by making up some of its own: so the characters get to tussle with some of history's most interesting characters, fight some unusual adversaries, and sing a verse or two along the way. And after the musicals end, the audience is treated to an extra performance by the cast, one involving all of them doing battle in the modern day the only way they can-- by putting on flashy and exciting idol concerts for hundreds of Saniwa!
Wait, what?
''Touken Ranbu'' and {{Idol Singer}}s mixed together? In ''canon''? It's an unusual combination, but it worked. In fact it worked so well that the series has been running successfully for three years with 5 plays and 3 concerts unders its belt -- enough to even score solo concerts for its characters and produce very popular in-character singles.
In July 2018, the musical franchise branched out internationally; most of the original cast came back to perform ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'' at Japan Expo for the French audience, while the [=DVDs=] for the play now come with English subtitles.
[[folder:Performances]]
* ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'' (The Strange Tale of Mt. Atsukashi)
** ''Musical Touken Ranbu: Trial Performance'' (2015)
-->[[labelnote: +Summary]]Kashuu Kiyomitsu, after being debriefed by his Saniwa, is given leadership position on a mission. His task: lead the very oddball Sanjou school Touken Danshi to Mt. Atsukashi, 1189, in order to see about the Historical Revisionists targeting Lord Minamoto no Yoshitsune. Strange enough, when they get there, they find that both Yoshitsune and his retainer, Musashibo Benkei, are alive when they're both supposed to be dead following Fujiwara no Yatsuhira's ambush on his home. Although they should investigate further, Imanotsurugi is too starstruck by his former master to want to carry it out; while Iwatooshi, a relatively new Touken Danshi, is conflicted about his mission and his fellow Danshi's happiness. Meanwhile, Yoshitsune wants bloody revenge on Yoritomo, his envious brother who carried out he hit, and he and Benkei begin to rely on some dark power to achieve it...[[/labelnote]]
** ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'' (2016): Essentially, a revision of the Trial Run. It adds three new songs to the main play (Kogitsunemaru and Ishikirimaru get "Utaka no Komori Uta", Ishikirimaru and Kashuu replace their war conversation with "Mujun to iu Na no Tsubomi", and Imanotsurugi protecting Yoshitsune in the climax is turned into "Oboeteiru"), and some aesthetic changes are made.
** Atsukashiyama Ibun 2018 - A rerun of the first play for the 2018 Paris Japan Expo.
* ''Bakamatsu Tenrouden'' (2016)
* ''Mitohose no Komoriuta'' (2017)
** 2019 rerun
* ''Tsuwamono Domo ga Yume no Ato'' (2017)
* ''Musubi no Hiki, Hajimari no Ne'' (2018)
* Shinkenranbu Sai - The Concert Episode.
** Shinkenranbu Sai 2016: The casts of ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'' and ''Bakamatsu Tenrouden'' return for a whole night of dance and song!
** Shinkenranbu Sai 2017
* ''Kashuu Kiyomitsu Tanki Shutsujin[=/=]Solo Performance''-- ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin.
** Tanki Shutsujin 2017
** Tanki Shutsujin 2018
* ''Higekiri Hizamaru Sōki Shutsujin 2019'' -- Similar to Kashuu's solo concerts, except the focus this time is turned to the Genji swords Higekiri and Hizamaru.
[[/folder]]
----
! Tropes spanning the entire musical series:
* AllMusicalsAreAdaptations: You'd better believe it. But in this case, it's only loosely adapted; the basic premise and characters is all the musicals take. The rest is crafted wholesale.
* BlowThatHorn: How announcements are made known in this Citadel.
* CanonForeigner: The musicals follow this trend, introducing characters not seen in the original game as the only seen characters in the game are Sword boys, the historical revisionists and their TeamPet Konnosuke.
* CloseEnoughTimeline: Really, "correcting history's mistakes" just boils down to this. The good side doesn't much care ''how'' history corrected itself, it just needs to have the same events happen to coalign with current history, and they'll be fine.
** Sure, Yoshitsune and Benkei don't die in the raid by Yasuhashi, and Yoshitsune doesn't commit seppuku, but they still die [[spoiler:albeit, by Yoshitsune's hand in Benkei's case and after being possessed in Yoshitsune's case]].
* ClothingDamage: As in the game it's based on, some swords get their clothing destroyed in the heat of battle. Iwatooshi and Imanotsurugi get their clothes shredded for their Awakening attacks in the first play.
* ContinuityNod: Kashuu's fanservice line in Shinkenranbu Sai ("I'll love you as long as you look at me") references one of his songs from his solo concert (Mitsumekure naru/As long as you look at me).
* {{Crossover}}: The cast had one with the Tokyo Dome in 2018, called ''1934 Tokyo''. The Touken Danshi summoned (The Genjis, Mikazuki, Iwatooshi, Imanotsurugi, and Izuminokami) were transported to the eponymous year and were able to make special comments about it.
* {{Fanservice}}: So very much of it in these musicals:
** Any time the swords fight, and [[ClothingDamage clothes get torn up]] along the way. Especially their awakenings.
** "Otokomichi" has the performing Touken Danshi throw their tops off, revealing their sweaty, slim tops and midriffs/chests to the audience.
** ''Tanki Shutsujin'' is filled with this. One of Kashuu's songs has him bound up singing about how much he loves his master; he and the backup dancers dance more provocatively in some musical numbers, and they get to mess around with him.
** At one point, Horikawa is tied up by the Shinsengumi, interrogated by Hijikata himself.
* GratuitousEnglish: The concert songs in general are full of this. "Gateway" is the worst offender.
* HandWave: The reason why the Touken Danshi are suddenly singing and dancing on stage? Apparently, this is just how people battle in the 21st century, and they need to practice their skills as performers as well as swordsmen, as is the way of a true samurai. Why they need the glowsticks and strobe lights is another matter entirely.
* IdolSinger: Surprisingly, yes. The Touken Danshi also moonlight as idol singers whenever they travel to the modern day.
* MythologyGag:
** You'll sometimes hear the characters' in-game quotes during the plays, especially when battle rears its head.
** For the ''Touken Ranbu'' franchise's third anniversary, the ''Musubi no Hiki'' main cast took photos as their respective Touken Danshi, sitting as they do in their characters' in-game anniversary pictures.
%%* PassingTheTorch: The Sanjous have to say goodbye at the end of closing night, paving the way for the Shinsengumi swords (and Hachisuka) to take stage for ''Bakumatsu Ryouden''.
* PopularHistory: In full effect here. From the Minamoto household to the Bakamatsu era, the series looks at many well known historical figures.
* RevolvingDoorCasting: No one cast is completely consistent from play to play. There are some consistent teams (Sanjou, Shinsengumi), but even then they'll have different unrelated Touken Danshi coming along for the ride.
* SecondEpisodeIntroduction: Yamatonokami is first mentioned in ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'', where Kashuu asks the Saniwa to bring him on their mission (as a more competent member). He doesn't actully show up until the very next play ''Bakumatsu Tenrouden ''.
* SillyLoveSongs: "Your Song" is definitely a sort of platonic love song to the Danshi's masters. They sing more conventional love songs, like "Blink", "Tokenai Mahou", and "MISTAKE", in the post-play concerts.
* TheTeam: In the musical, the main characters form a group. As we see from the main website:
** Squad 1: Team Sanjou with Kashuu Kiyomitsu[[note]]Mikazuki Munechika, Kogitsunemaru, Iwatooshi, Ishikirimaru, Imanotsurugi, and Kashuu Kiyomitsu[[/note]]
** Team Shinsengumi with Hachisuka Kotetsu [[note]]Hachisuka Kotetsu, Nagasone Kotetsu, Horikawa Kunihiro, Izuminokami Kanesada, Yamatonokami Yasusada and Kashuu Kiyomitsu[[/note]]
*** The fifth musical slightly changes this lineup to include Tomeagata Naginata and Mutsunokami Yoshiyuki, replacing Kashuu and Hachisuka.
** Team Mihotose[[note]]Sengo Muramasa, Nikkari Aoe, Ookurikara, Ishikirimaru, Monoyoshi Sadamune, and Tonbokiri[[/note]]
** Team Sanjou with the Genji brothers [[note]]ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin with the addition of the Genji bros rather than Kashuu this time[[/note]]
* TheVoiceless: Unlike in the game, the musicals don’t follow this, giving the Saniwa a disembodied, distinctly male voice.
* AWildRapperAppears: Series staple "MISTAKE" counts on two of the idols to come in with their rap verses after the first chorus.
* WorldOfHam: Everyone's just as loud and passionate as the person next to them. Scenery flies off the shelves practically every second.
[[folder: Atsukashiyama Ibun & Trial Run]]
* ArcWords: "Purpose" (''yakuwari'').
* AxCrazy: There's really not a scene that goes by when Yasuhira doesn't either scream or laugh maniacally.
* BigDamnHeroes: Imanotsurugi came at just the right time to save Yoritomo from execution, enough to have everyone talk it out for a second.
* BraggingThemeTune: "Touken Ranbu" is pretty much this and an ExpositoryThemeTune, having each relevant sword talk about how awesome they themselves are and how they're going to keep fighting until their last breath.
* BreakingTheFourthWall: After he and Kashuu share a heart to heart about war and an ambush plan, he nods to the audience before being dragged to battle.
* BrutalHonesty: While Imanotsurugi is ecstatic to see Yoshitsune at a time when he's still alive, Iwatooshi has to give him a very painful reminder that they're only here to correct history and not to further screw up the timeline, which also means they can't let their former masters know who they are. Imanotsurugi takes it so harshly he runs away in near tears.
* CallBack: While calming Imanotsurugi down in "I Remember", Iwatooshi tells him to "remember the gift that the clouds gave us/ thousands of twinkling stars"; referencing "Kira Kira" and the ecstatic feeling Imanotsurugi had remembering his master. The same gestures are used here too.
* CharacterizationMarchesOn: You can see some definite differences in how the characters act in the Trial Run versus how they are in ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'':
** Kashuu is a little less dramatic in the beginning; instead of falling over himself when he's assigned the Sanjou swords, he's just slightly miffed. He's also less childlike than he was in the original (see: his CoyGirlishFlirtPose in the original deriefing vs. his more resigned stature in ''Ibun''), but seemingly more insecure about his breaking on the battlefield ("breaking in battle is a sword's highest honor/our worth as swords depends on how many we've killed" vs. "breaking desn't make us any less of a sword").
** Mikazuki's early scene showing how he doesn't get fieldwork is replaced with him playfully using the hoe as a running springboard, better reflecting his easygoing personality.
** Yoshitsune, in the Trial Run, seemed to joke a lot more given how not seriously he enters.
* CombinationAttack: At the climax of ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'', all of Squad 1 takes their turns whittling down [[spoiler:[=possessed!Yoshitsune=] ]], until he finally goes down to Iwatooshi and Imanotsurugi's combined Divine Death Blow.
* CueTheSun: The sun rises on our heroes just as they finish taking down [[spoiler:the possessed Yoshitsune]], right on cue.
* DemonicPossession: After the fight with Yasuhashi, contact with the Retrograde Army somehow led to Yoshitsune's sword coming to life in addition to the immesurable power given to him, Benkei, and Yasuhira. [[spoiler:Yoshitsune's sword ends up taking over by stabbing itself into his body, killing Yoshitsune but leaving him a controllable corpse.]]
* DoubleTake: Kashuu was fine with having Imanotsurugi on his team, but as soon as Ishikirimaru is mentioned, he starts questioning the Saniwa's choice of comrades.
* DrivingQuestion: What is your purpose? Why do you act?
* EnemyMine: After learning of their fates from the Historical Revisionists, and after learning he'd be betrayed after his death, Yoshitsune, Benkei, and Yasuhira join forces to take down Yorimoto.
* EnemyWithin: In the end, the Saniwa figures [[spoiler:Yoshitsune's sword]] was like this. It was willing to do all of the things Yoshitsune rejects in the back of his mind.
* EstablishingCharacterMoment: Each of Squad 1 has theirs in ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'':
** Mikazuki's first shown goofing off while doing fieldwork, showing his easygoing nature.
** Iwatooshi and Imanotsurugi spar in their first scene together, which quickly turns into a game of tag, showing off their close and brotherly relationship. Iwatooshi is also shown trying to keep Imanotsurugi's best intersts in mind and making him happy. Ishikirimaru, who appears in the scene a little later, is seen blessing the Citadel (showing off how seriously he takes his duties).
** Kashuu is first seen anticipating the Saniwa's word, shuting excited at what he considered "special treatment", and moaning loudly about having to keep the Sanjou swords uner control until the Saniwa places his hopes on him.
* {{Foreshadowing}}:
** Notice how Kashuu wanted Yamatonokami on his team? Or how his issues with his breakage seem to fuel his early actions as a leader? Or how much stock he takes in the Shinsengumi code? Or how he's the only caracter disconnected from the rest of the Sanjou theme? Good thing ''that's'' not going to come up in another play...
** During the mission debriefing, Kashuu points out that most of the team (save Iwatooshi and Imanotsurugi) have been to Atsukashi before, impying that going to a specific event multiple times is normal. The latter two will have plenty of experience by the time they go back in ''Tsuwamono Domo''.
* FunnyBackgroundEvent: Notice that before the team get sent off to Atsukashi, Kogitsune runs around in circles chasing his clothes.
* FrameUp: Yorimoto was the one trying to kill Yoshitsune. Yasuhira was just called in as a fall guy, so Yorimoto could post-humously pin Yoshitsune's death on the latter man.
* HatePlague
* HaveWeMet: After fighting againt Iwatooshi and noticing his fighting style, Benkei asks if they've interacted before. Of course, Iwatooshi declines.
* IronicEcho: "Even in death, watch over me!" has been used by Yoshitsune in the beginning of the play, and then again by Yoshitsune [[spoiler:or rather, the sword controlling him]] when he tricks Benkei [[spoiler:into letting his guard down so he can attack the man]].
* LaughingMad: Yasuhira is this on the daily. [[spoiler:Yoshitsune is only this after his sword fully possesses him.]]
* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: Just before "Takaramono" begins, Kashuu sings the final line "Arukidaseru" (i'm setting out), just before he and Kogitsunemaru leave the stage.
* LeaveHimToMe: Whenever Benkei encounters the Touken Danshi in battle, Iwatooshi shoos them away in order to fight the man himself. Who better to fight Musashibo Benkei than his own former weapon?
* LickingTheBlade: Yoshitsune, when bloodthirsty, has this as his CharacterTic [[spoiler:which is actually just the sword possessing him]]. Used cruelly when he licks [[spoiler:Benkei's]] blood off of his sword after he kills the latter.
* MakeWrongWhatOnceWentRight: The Revisionists decide to inform Yoshitsune of Yorimoto's assassination attempt, which, along with somehow making an ally of his would-be killer Yasuhira, allows Yoshitsune and Benkei to survive their fatal final battles. The fact that they're alive at all after this point gives the Touken Danshi reason to investigate this matter and correct it.
* MeaningfulEcho:
** In the beginning of ''Atsukashi Ibun'', Yoshitsune tells the dying Benkei to "meet [him] in the next world, and the ones after next"; later on after the climax, Iwatooshi reaffirms Yoshitsune's statement to Imanotsurugi and gives him a shoulder ride as he did in the beginning of the musical.
** In the beginning of the Mt. Atsukashi mission, we see Yoshitsune disown his brother after he learns that he tried to kill him. Later on in the climax, Imanotsurugi finally finds the strength to complete his assigned mission after he disowns Yoshitsune, or rather [[spoiler:the sword possessing his corpse]].
%%* MercyKill:
* MutualEnvy: Yoshitsune looks at Yorimoto's political genius, envious that he has the skills to lead Japan into an era of peace. But Yorimoto doesn't see things that way; being TheUnfavorite, he looks at Yoshitsune's military genius, popularity, and how most of their acquaintances want Yoshitsune to take clan head position. Leads into CainAndAbel pretty quickly, considering how he attempts to kill Yoshitsune.
* MyMasterRightOrWrong: Benkei is compelled to follow Yoshitsune, even when he knows that [[spoiler:he's been possessed]]. Not wanting to lay arms on his young lord, he asks Iwatooshi to either kill him or stop Yoshitsune in his stead, which the Touken Danshi readily agrees to.
* NaiveNewcomer: Iwtooshi and Imanotsurugi fulfill this role. Iwatooshi because he's a relatively new Touken Danshi, and both him and Imanotsurugi because they've never been on a Mt. Atsukashi mission before and therefore can't handle themselves there like their other partners can.
* QuarrelingSong: ''I Remember'' takes place at the climax of the play, with Imanotsurugi blocking off his friends from killing Yoshitsune while the rest of them are telling him to move out of the way.
* RagtagBunchOfMisfits: The Sanjou+Kiyomitsu team is treated like one in the beginning. There's no real strategic advantge to putting them together besides theme; Mikazuki and Kogitsunemaru are too carefree, Ishikirimaru is too busy taking his priest duties seriously, Iwatooshi's completely new, and Kashuu has only just been given a leadership role for this mission. Saniwa even lampshades how unlikely the team would be on a normal basis.
* RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver: [[spoiler:Yoshitsune]]'s completely possessed form is so ObviouslyEvil it hurts. His wardrobe is black will red accents, with the top covered in a cobweb pattern.
* ResistTheBeast: Benkei certainly tries his best to do so; whenever he catches himself struggling with the dark power his weapon now wields, he bites, struggles, drops his weapon enough to return to a regular state. Yoshitsune does this as well, having to physically restrain the sword from coming out. Fortunately, the former doesn't let it win over him. [[spoiler:''Un''fortunately, the latter forcibly loses control.]]
* {{Retirony}}: All Yoshitsune wants is to know why Yoritomo tried to have him killed. Once he learns that, he mentions that he wants to retire from his position as military head and become a monk afterwards. [[spoiler:Too bad his sword doesn't feel the same way.]]
* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: By all accounts, Yoshitsune is trying to collect Yorimoto's head after his failed assassination attempt with Yasuhira.
* RuleOfSymbolism: The only times Yoshitsune ever uses his tantou in ''Atsukashi Ibun''/the Trial Run is when he performs an honorable act; the first time when he commits seppuku, and the second when he [[spoiler:frees Yorimoto and tells him to escape the mountain]]. Any time he uses his other sword is for violence or struggling with the thought of violence.
* RunningGag: Ishikirimru's slowness, a reference to his MightyGlacier status in the original game.
* SayMyName: "MY LOOOOOORD!"/"LORD YOSHITSUNEEEEE!" "BENKEIIIII!" "IWATOOSHIII!"
* SchmuckBait: During the frontal raid on Yoshitsune's castle, Ishikirimaru tosses an enemy a sword to fight with--right before Kashuu comes in to knock it out of his hands.
* SillyMeGesture: Imnotsurugi does one when he forgets his own name talking to Yoshitsune.
* StartsWithASuicide: How ''Atsukashiyama Ibun''/Trial Run opens up. After Benkei gives his life defending Yoshitsune to the last, Yoshitsune himself commits seppuku/harakiri to the confused ramblings of Imanotsurugi.
* HeroicSacrifice: In order to stop Yoshitsune once and for all, Iwatooshi holds the former back and has Munechika run through the both of them. Munechika only manages to hit Yoshitsune, excusing his oldness.
* TakingTheBullet: Before [[spoiler:possessed!Yoshitsune]] has a chance to slice through Imanotsurugi, Iwatooshi throws him out of the way to take one of his many critical injuries in the climax.
* ThisIsSomethingHesGotToDoHimself: The older swords invoke this on Iwatooshi and Kashuu as they struggle with their goals during the Mt. Atsukashi mission.
** According to Kogitsunemaru, Kashuu needs to discover the correct method of leadership by himself, as he won't just give him he answer.
** Whether or not it's right to act on their own accord or by their master's orders is up to them to decide.
* UndyingLoyalty: Imanotsurugi is hellbent on meeting and protecting his master Yoshitsune, even though that's not what he was sent there to do. The fact that he needs to correct history--which means his master needs to die again--causes him to run off to Atsukashi and try to find Yoshitsune himself, as well as [[spoiler:protect the corrupted corpse of Yoshitsune from the other Touken Danshi]] because of his love for him.
* WarriorTherapist: Mikazuki prefers to let fighting (or dancing) do the talking when it comes to conversation. After all, he believes that they're far most honest than words can be.
* WhamLine: While Yoshitsune is struggling with his sword, we see a glimpse of him that was much less violent than his earlier portrayals showed us:
--> "I need to ask my brother! *much softer, saner voice* For what reason did he want to kill me?"
* WellIntentionedExtremist: [[spoiler:Yoshitsune's sword]], oddly enough. The Saniwa muses that after the Revisionist came into contact with it, the sword gained its own will and tried to led Yoshitsune down the path it thought best for its master.
* WhatIsThisThingYouCallLove: As a new recruit, Iwatooshi isn't quite used to having emotions yet, finding himself reacting to everything most haphazardly and putting his feelings in conflict with his duty to the Saniwa. He admits he found it easier to be an inanimate object, because he didn't have to deal with such complications.
* WoundedGazelleGambit: Just as Benkei comes close to finishing off [[spoiler: the possessed Yoshitsune]], suddenly he acts as if he was freed, begging Benkei to keep protecting him. Catching him off his guard, possessed Yoshitsune goes for the kill.
* YouRemindMeOfX: In the musicals, Benkei is taken aback by Imanotsurugi's personality, seeing a younger version of Yoshitsune in him.
[[/folder]]
to:
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/520c083c_a293_4ecb_bca9_666b3301b672.jpeg]]
[[caption-width-right:350: [[RagtagBunchOfMisfits Team Sanjou]] with [[OnlySaneMan Kashuu Kiyomitsu]] ]]
One of [[Theater/TouStage two]] distinct stage continuities, ''Musical Touken Ranbu'' (or '''''[=TouMyu=]''''' as it's affectionately abbreviated) is a series of musicals adapted from the ''VideoGame/ToukenRanbu'' franchise. Coming months after the release of the original game in 2015, these musicals take focus on quite a few groups of Touken Danshi as they travel through time and solve their current historical conundrum. Since there's no real overarching story in the games, this particular continuity solves the problem by making up some of its own: so the characters get to tussle with some of history's most interesting characters, fight some unusual adversaries, and sing a verse or two along the way. And after the musicals end, the audience is treated to an extra performance by the cast, one involving all of them doing battle in the modern day the only way they can-- by putting on flashy and exciting idol concerts for hundreds of Saniwa!
Wait, what?
''Touken Ranbu'' and {{Idol Singer}}s mixed together? In ''canon''? It's an unusual combination, but it worked. In fact it worked so well that the series has been running successfully for three years with 5 plays and 3 concerts unders its belt -- enough to even score solo concerts for its characters and produce very popular in-character singles.
In July 2018, the musical franchise branched out internationally; most of the original cast came back to perform ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'' at Japan Expo for the French audience, while the [=DVDs=] for the play now come with English subtitles.
[[folder:Performances]]
* ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'' (The Strange Tale of Mt. Atsukashi)
** ''Musical Touken Ranbu: Trial Performance'' (2015)
-->[[labelnote: +Summary]]Kashuu Kiyomitsu, after being debriefed by his Saniwa, is given leadership position on a mission. His task: lead the very oddball Sanjou school Touken Danshi to Mt. Atsukashi, 1189, in order to see about the Historical Revisionists targeting Lord Minamoto no Yoshitsune. Strange enough, when they get there, they find that both Yoshitsune and his retainer, Musashibo Benkei, are alive when they're both supposed to be dead following Fujiwara no Yatsuhira's ambush on his home. Although they should investigate further, Imanotsurugi is too starstruck by his former master to want to carry it out; while Iwatooshi, a relatively new Touken Danshi, is conflicted about his mission and his fellow Danshi's happiness. Meanwhile, Yoshitsune wants bloody revenge on Yoritomo, his envious brother who carried out he hit, and he and Benkei begin to rely on some dark power to achieve it...[[/labelnote]]
** ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'' (2016): Essentially, a revision of the Trial Run. It adds three new songs to the main play (Kogitsunemaru and Ishikirimaru get "Utaka no Komori Uta", Ishikirimaru and Kashuu replace their war conversation with "Mujun to iu Na no Tsubomi", and Imanotsurugi protecting Yoshitsune in the climax is turned into "Oboeteiru"), and some aesthetic changes are made.
** Atsukashiyama Ibun 2018 - A rerun of the first play for the 2018 Paris Japan Expo.
* ''Bakamatsu Tenrouden'' (2016)
* ''Mitohose no Komoriuta'' (2017)
** 2019 rerun
* ''Tsuwamono Domo ga Yume no Ato'' (2017)
* ''Musubi no Hiki, Hajimari no Ne'' (2018)
* Shinkenranbu Sai - The Concert Episode.
** Shinkenranbu Sai 2016: The casts of ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'' and ''Bakamatsu Tenrouden'' return for a whole night of dance and song!
** Shinkenranbu Sai 2017
* ''Kashuu Kiyomitsu Tanki Shutsujin[=/=]Solo Performance''-- ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin.
** Tanki Shutsujin 2017
** Tanki Shutsujin 2018
* ''Higekiri Hizamaru Sōki Shutsujin 2019'' -- Similar to Kashuu's solo concerts, except the focus this time is turned to the Genji swords Higekiri and Hizamaru.
[[/folder]]
----
! Tropes spanning the entire musical series:
* AllMusicalsAreAdaptations: You'd better believe it. But in this case, it's only loosely adapted; the basic premise and characters is all the musicals take. The rest is crafted wholesale.
* BlowThatHorn: How announcements are made known in this Citadel.
* CanonForeigner: The musicals follow this trend, introducing characters not seen in the original game as the only seen characters in the game are Sword boys, the historical revisionists and their TeamPet Konnosuke.
* CloseEnoughTimeline: Really, "correcting history's mistakes" just boils down to this. The good side doesn't much care ''how'' history corrected itself, it just needs to have the same events happen to coalign with current history, and they'll be fine.
** Sure, Yoshitsune and Benkei don't die in the raid by Yasuhashi, and Yoshitsune doesn't commit seppuku, but they still die [[spoiler:albeit, by Yoshitsune's hand in Benkei's case and after being possessed in Yoshitsune's case]].
* ClothingDamage: As in the game it's based on, some swords get their clothing destroyed in the heat of battle. Iwatooshi and Imanotsurugi get their clothes shredded for their Awakening attacks in the first play.
* ContinuityNod: Kashuu's fanservice line in Shinkenranbu Sai ("I'll love you as long as you look at me") references one of his songs from his solo concert (Mitsumekure naru/As long as you look at me).
* {{Crossover}}: The cast had one with the Tokyo Dome in 2018, called ''1934 Tokyo''. The Touken Danshi summoned (The Genjis, Mikazuki, Iwatooshi, Imanotsurugi, and Izuminokami) were transported to the eponymous year and were able to make special comments about it.
* {{Fanservice}}: So very much of it in these musicals:
** Any time the swords fight, and [[ClothingDamage clothes get torn up]] along the way. Especially their awakenings.
** "Otokomichi" has the performing Touken Danshi throw their tops off, revealing their sweaty, slim tops and midriffs/chests to the audience.
** ''Tanki Shutsujin'' is filled with this. One of Kashuu's songs has him bound up singing about how much he loves his master; he and the backup dancers dance more provocatively in some musical numbers, and they get to mess around with him.
** At one point, Horikawa is tied up by the Shinsengumi, interrogated by Hijikata himself.
* GratuitousEnglish: The concert songs in general are full of this. "Gateway" is the worst offender.
* HandWave: The reason why the Touken Danshi are suddenly singing and dancing on stage? Apparently, this is just how people battle in the 21st century, and they need to practice their skills as performers as well as swordsmen, as is the way of a true samurai. Why they need the glowsticks and strobe lights is another matter entirely.
* IdolSinger: Surprisingly, yes. The Touken Danshi also moonlight as idol singers whenever they travel to the modern day.
* MythologyGag:
** You'll sometimes hear the characters' in-game quotes during the plays, especially when battle rears its head.
** For the ''Touken Ranbu'' franchise's third anniversary, the ''Musubi no Hiki'' main cast took photos as their respective Touken Danshi, sitting as they do in their characters' in-game anniversary pictures.
%%* PassingTheTorch: The Sanjous have to say goodbye at the end of closing night, paving the way for the Shinsengumi swords (and Hachisuka) to take stage for ''Bakumatsu Ryouden''.
* PopularHistory: In full effect here. From the Minamoto household to the Bakamatsu era, the series looks at many well known historical figures.
* RevolvingDoorCasting: No one cast is completely consistent from play to play. There are some consistent teams (Sanjou, Shinsengumi), but even then they'll have different unrelated Touken Danshi coming along for the ride.
* SecondEpisodeIntroduction: Yamatonokami is first mentioned in ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'', where Kashuu asks the Saniwa to bring him on their mission (as a more competent member). He doesn't actully show up until the very next play ''Bakumatsu Tenrouden ''.
* SillyLoveSongs: "Your Song" is definitely a sort of platonic love song to the Danshi's masters. They sing more conventional love songs, like "Blink", "Tokenai Mahou", and "MISTAKE", in the post-play concerts.
* TheTeam: In the musical, the main characters form a group. As we see from the main website:
** Squad 1: Team Sanjou with Kashuu Kiyomitsu[[note]]Mikazuki Munechika, Kogitsunemaru, Iwatooshi, Ishikirimaru, Imanotsurugi, and Kashuu Kiyomitsu[[/note]]
** Team Shinsengumi with Hachisuka Kotetsu [[note]]Hachisuka Kotetsu, Nagasone Kotetsu, Horikawa Kunihiro, Izuminokami Kanesada, Yamatonokami Yasusada and Kashuu Kiyomitsu[[/note]]
*** The fifth musical slightly changes this lineup to include Tomeagata Naginata and Mutsunokami Yoshiyuki, replacing Kashuu and Hachisuka.
** Team Mihotose[[note]]Sengo Muramasa, Nikkari Aoe, Ookurikara, Ishikirimaru, Monoyoshi Sadamune, and Tonbokiri[[/note]]
** Team Sanjou with the Genji brothers [[note]]ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin with the addition of the Genji bros rather than Kashuu this time[[/note]]
* TheVoiceless: Unlike in the game, the musicals don’t follow this, giving the Saniwa a disembodied, distinctly male voice.
* AWildRapperAppears: Series staple "MISTAKE" counts on two of the idols to come in with their rap verses after the first chorus.
* WorldOfHam: Everyone's just as loud and passionate as the person next to them. Scenery flies off the shelves practically every second.
[[folder: Atsukashiyama Ibun & Trial Run]]
* ArcWords: "Purpose" (''yakuwari'').
* AxCrazy: There's really not a scene that goes by when Yasuhira doesn't either scream or laugh maniacally.
* BigDamnHeroes: Imanotsurugi came at just the right time to save Yoritomo from execution, enough to have everyone talk it out for a second.
* BraggingThemeTune: "Touken Ranbu" is pretty much this and an ExpositoryThemeTune, having each relevant sword talk about how awesome they themselves are and how they're going to keep fighting until their last breath.
* BreakingTheFourthWall: After he and Kashuu share a heart to heart about war and an ambush plan, he nods to the audience before being dragged to battle.
* BrutalHonesty: While Imanotsurugi is ecstatic to see Yoshitsune at a time when he's still alive, Iwatooshi has to give him a very painful reminder that they're only here to correct history and not to further screw up the timeline, which also means they can't let their former masters know who they are. Imanotsurugi takes it so harshly he runs away in near tears.
* CallBack: While calming Imanotsurugi down in "I Remember", Iwatooshi tells him to "remember the gift that the clouds gave us/ thousands of twinkling stars"; referencing "Kira Kira" and the ecstatic feeling Imanotsurugi had remembering his master. The same gestures are used here too.
* CharacterizationMarchesOn: You can see some definite differences in how the characters act in the Trial Run versus how they are in ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'':
** Kashuu is a little less dramatic in the beginning; instead of falling over himself when he's assigned the Sanjou swords, he's just slightly miffed. He's also less childlike than he was in the original (see: his CoyGirlishFlirtPose in the original deriefing vs. his more resigned stature in ''Ibun''), but seemingly more insecure about his breaking on the battlefield ("breaking in battle is a sword's highest honor/our worth as swords depends on how many we've killed" vs. "breaking desn't make us any less of a sword").
** Mikazuki's early scene showing how he doesn't get fieldwork is replaced with him playfully using the hoe as a running springboard, better reflecting his easygoing personality.
** Yoshitsune, in the Trial Run, seemed to joke a lot more given how not seriously he enters.
* CombinationAttack: At the climax of ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'', all of Squad 1 takes their turns whittling down [[spoiler:[=possessed!Yoshitsune=] ]], until he finally goes down to Iwatooshi and Imanotsurugi's combined Divine Death Blow.
* CueTheSun: The sun rises on our heroes just as they finish taking down [[spoiler:the possessed Yoshitsune]], right on cue.
* DemonicPossession: After the fight with Yasuhashi, contact with the Retrograde Army somehow led to Yoshitsune's sword coming to life in addition to the immesurable power given to him, Benkei, and Yasuhira. [[spoiler:Yoshitsune's sword ends up taking over by stabbing itself into his body, killing Yoshitsune but leaving him a controllable corpse.]]
* DoubleTake: Kashuu was fine with having Imanotsurugi on his team, but as soon as Ishikirimaru is mentioned, he starts questioning the Saniwa's choice of comrades.
* DrivingQuestion: What is your purpose? Why do you act?
* EnemyMine: After learning of their fates from the Historical Revisionists, and after learning he'd be betrayed after his death, Yoshitsune, Benkei, and Yasuhira join forces to take down Yorimoto.
* EnemyWithin: In the end, the Saniwa figures [[spoiler:Yoshitsune's sword]] was like this. It was willing to do all of the things Yoshitsune rejects in the back of his mind.
* EstablishingCharacterMoment: Each of Squad 1 has theirs in ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'':
** Mikazuki's first shown goofing off while doing fieldwork, showing his easygoing nature.
** Iwatooshi and Imanotsurugi spar in their first scene together, which quickly turns into a game of tag, showing off their close and brotherly relationship. Iwatooshi is also shown trying to keep Imanotsurugi's best intersts in mind and making him happy. Ishikirimaru, who appears in the scene a little later, is seen blessing the Citadel (showing off how seriously he takes his duties).
** Kashuu is first seen anticipating the Saniwa's word, shuting excited at what he considered "special treatment", and moaning loudly about having to keep the Sanjou swords uner control until the Saniwa places his hopes on him.
* {{Foreshadowing}}:
** Notice how Kashuu wanted Yamatonokami on his team? Or how his issues with his breakage seem to fuel his early actions as a leader? Or how much stock he takes in the Shinsengumi code? Or how he's the only caracter disconnected from the rest of the Sanjou theme? Good thing ''that's'' not going to come up in another play...
** During the mission debriefing, Kashuu points out that most of the team (save Iwatooshi and Imanotsurugi) have been to Atsukashi before, impying that going to a specific event multiple times is normal. The latter two will have plenty of experience by the time they go back in ''Tsuwamono Domo''.
* FunnyBackgroundEvent: Notice that before the team get sent off to Atsukashi, Kogitsune runs around in circles chasing his clothes.
* FrameUp: Yorimoto was the one trying to kill Yoshitsune. Yasuhira was just called in as a fall guy, so Yorimoto could post-humously pin Yoshitsune's death on the latter man.
* HatePlague
* HaveWeMet: After fighting againt Iwatooshi and noticing his fighting style, Benkei asks if they've interacted before. Of course, Iwatooshi declines.
* IronicEcho: "Even in death, watch over me!" has been used by Yoshitsune in the beginning of the play, and then again by Yoshitsune [[spoiler:or rather, the sword controlling him]] when he tricks Benkei [[spoiler:into letting his guard down so he can attack the man]].
* LaughingMad: Yasuhira is this on the daily. [[spoiler:Yoshitsune is only this after his sword fully possesses him.]]
* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: Just before "Takaramono" begins, Kashuu sings the final line "Arukidaseru" (i'm setting out), just before he and Kogitsunemaru leave the stage.
* LeaveHimToMe: Whenever Benkei encounters the Touken Danshi in battle, Iwatooshi shoos them away in order to fight the man himself. Who better to fight Musashibo Benkei than his own former weapon?
* LickingTheBlade: Yoshitsune, when bloodthirsty, has this as his CharacterTic [[spoiler:which is actually just the sword possessing him]]. Used cruelly when he licks [[spoiler:Benkei's]] blood off of his sword after he kills the latter.
* MakeWrongWhatOnceWentRight: The Revisionists decide to inform Yoshitsune of Yorimoto's assassination attempt, which, along with somehow making an ally of his would-be killer Yasuhira, allows Yoshitsune and Benkei to survive their fatal final battles. The fact that they're alive at all after this point gives the Touken Danshi reason to investigate this matter and correct it.
* MeaningfulEcho:
** In the beginning of ''Atsukashi Ibun'', Yoshitsune tells the dying Benkei to "meet [him] in the next world, and the ones after next"; later on after the climax, Iwatooshi reaffirms Yoshitsune's statement to Imanotsurugi and gives him a shoulder ride as he did in the beginning of the musical.
** In the beginning of the Mt. Atsukashi mission, we see Yoshitsune disown his brother after he learns that he tried to kill him. Later on in the climax, Imanotsurugi finally finds the strength to complete his assigned mission after he disowns Yoshitsune, or rather [[spoiler:the sword possessing his corpse]].
%%* MercyKill:
* MutualEnvy: Yoshitsune looks at Yorimoto's political genius, envious that he has the skills to lead Japan into an era of peace. But Yorimoto doesn't see things that way; being TheUnfavorite, he looks at Yoshitsune's military genius, popularity, and how most of their acquaintances want Yoshitsune to take clan head position. Leads into CainAndAbel pretty quickly, considering how he attempts to kill Yoshitsune.
* MyMasterRightOrWrong: Benkei is compelled to follow Yoshitsune, even when he knows that [[spoiler:he's been possessed]]. Not wanting to lay arms on his young lord, he asks Iwatooshi to either kill him or stop Yoshitsune in his stead, which the Touken Danshi readily agrees to.
* NaiveNewcomer: Iwtooshi and Imanotsurugi fulfill this role. Iwatooshi because he's a relatively new Touken Danshi, and both him and Imanotsurugi because they've never been on a Mt. Atsukashi mission before and therefore can't handle themselves there like their other partners can.
* QuarrelingSong: ''I Remember'' takes place at the climax of the play, with Imanotsurugi blocking off his friends from killing Yoshitsune while the rest of them are telling him to move out of the way.
* RagtagBunchOfMisfits: The Sanjou+Kiyomitsu team is treated like one in the beginning. There's no real strategic advantge to putting them together besides theme; Mikazuki and Kogitsunemaru are too carefree, Ishikirimaru is too busy taking his priest duties seriously, Iwatooshi's completely new, and Kashuu has only just been given a leadership role for this mission. Saniwa even lampshades how unlikely the team would be on a normal basis.
* RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver: [[spoiler:Yoshitsune]]'s completely possessed form is so ObviouslyEvil it hurts. His wardrobe is black will red accents, with the top covered in a cobweb pattern.
* ResistTheBeast: Benkei certainly tries his best to do so; whenever he catches himself struggling with the dark power his weapon now wields, he bites, struggles, drops his weapon enough to return to a regular state. Yoshitsune does this as well, having to physically restrain the sword from coming out. Fortunately, the former doesn't let it win over him. [[spoiler:''Un''fortunately, the latter forcibly loses control.]]
* {{Retirony}}: All Yoshitsune wants is to know why Yoritomo tried to have him killed. Once he learns that, he mentions that he wants to retire from his position as military head and become a monk afterwards. [[spoiler:Too bad his sword doesn't feel the same way.]]
* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: By all accounts, Yoshitsune is trying to collect Yorimoto's head after his failed assassination attempt with Yasuhira.
* RuleOfSymbolism: The only times Yoshitsune ever uses his tantou in ''Atsukashi Ibun''/the Trial Run is when he performs an honorable act; the first time when he commits seppuku, and the second when he [[spoiler:frees Yorimoto and tells him to escape the mountain]]. Any time he uses his other sword is for violence or struggling with the thought of violence.
* RunningGag: Ishikirimru's slowness, a reference to his MightyGlacier status in the original game.
* SayMyName: "MY LOOOOOORD!"/"LORD YOSHITSUNEEEEE!" "BENKEIIIII!" "IWATOOSHIII!"
* SchmuckBait: During the frontal raid on Yoshitsune's castle, Ishikirimaru tosses an enemy a sword to fight with--right before Kashuu comes in to knock it out of his hands.
* SillyMeGesture: Imnotsurugi does one when he forgets his own name talking to Yoshitsune.
* StartsWithASuicide: How ''Atsukashiyama Ibun''/Trial Run opens up. After Benkei gives his life defending Yoshitsune to the last, Yoshitsune himself commits seppuku/harakiri to the confused ramblings of Imanotsurugi.
* HeroicSacrifice: In order to stop Yoshitsune once and for all, Iwatooshi holds the former back and has Munechika run through the both of them. Munechika only manages to hit Yoshitsune, excusing his oldness.
* TakingTheBullet: Before [[spoiler:possessed!Yoshitsune]] has a chance to slice through Imanotsurugi, Iwatooshi throws him out of the way to take one of his many critical injuries in the climax.
* ThisIsSomethingHesGotToDoHimself: The older swords invoke this on Iwatooshi and Kashuu as they struggle with their goals during the Mt. Atsukashi mission.
** According to Kogitsunemaru, Kashuu needs to discover the correct method of leadership by himself, as he won't just give him he answer.
** Whether or not it's right to act on their own accord or by their master's orders is up to them to decide.
* UndyingLoyalty: Imanotsurugi is hellbent on meeting and protecting his master Yoshitsune, even though that's not what he was sent there to do. The fact that he needs to correct history--which means his master needs to die again--causes him to run off to Atsukashi and try to find Yoshitsune himself, as well as [[spoiler:protect the corrupted corpse of Yoshitsune from the other Touken Danshi]] because of his love for him.
* WarriorTherapist: Mikazuki prefers to let fighting (or dancing) do the talking when it comes to conversation. After all, he believes that they're far most honest than words can be.
* WhamLine: While Yoshitsune is struggling with his sword, we see a glimpse of him that was much less violent than his earlier portrayals showed us:
--> "I need to ask my brother! *much softer, saner voice* For what reason did he want to kill me?"
* WellIntentionedExtremist: [[spoiler:Yoshitsune's sword]], oddly enough. The Saniwa muses that after the Revisionist came into contact with it, the sword gained its own will and tried to led Yoshitsune down the path it thought best for its master.
* WhatIsThisThingYouCallLove: As a new recruit, Iwatooshi isn't quite used to having emotions yet, finding himself reacting to everything most haphazardly and putting his feelings in conflict with his duty to the Saniwa. He admits he found it easier to be an inanimate object, because he didn't have to deal with such complications.
* WoundedGazelleGambit: Just as Benkei comes close to finishing off [[spoiler: the possessed Yoshitsune]], suddenly he acts as if he was freed, begging Benkei to keep protecting him. Catching him off his guard, possessed Yoshitsune goes for the kill.
* YouRemindMeOfX: In the musicals, Benkei is taken aback by Imanotsurugi's personality, seeing a younger version of Yoshitsune in him.
[[/folder]]
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Changed some of the Munechikas to mikazuki since there is no reason to constantly call the character by their surname due to the fact that he is the only character in the franchise known as mikazuki and every other character on the page had been called by their given name. The character is also always called by his given name in canon rather than his last name. It’s a minor gripe, but I found it odd enough to edit it. Also other edits are due to typos, updated information and unrelated uninformative information to make the page appear cleaner.
* CanonForeigner: The musicals follow this trend, introducing characters not seen in the original game as the only seen characters in the game are Sword boys, the historical revisionists and their TeamPet Konnosuke.
** Team Sanjou with the Genji brothers [[note]]ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin with the addition of the Genji bros rather than Kashuu this time[[/note]]
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** Munechika's early scene showing how he doesn't get fieldwork is replaced with him playfully using the hoe as a running springboard, better reflecting his easygoing personality.
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** Munechika's Mikazuki's early scene showing how he doesn't get fieldwork is replaced with him playfully using the hoe as a running springboard, better reflecting his easygoing personality.
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** Munechika's first shown goofing off while doing fieldwork, showing his easygoing nature.
to:
** Munechika's Mikazuki's first shown goofing off while doing fieldwork, showing his easygoing nature.
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* RagtagBunchOfMisfits: The Sanjou+Kiyomitsu team is treated like one in the beginning. There's no real strategic advantge to putting them together besides theme; Munechika and Kogitsunemaru are too carefree, Ishikirimaru is too busy taking his priest duties seriously, Iwatooshi's completely new, and Kashuu has only just been given a leadership role for this mission. Saniwa even lampshades how unlikely the team would be on a normal basis.
to:
* RagtagBunchOfMisfits: The Sanjou+Kiyomitsu team is treated like one in the beginning. There's no real strategic advantge to putting them together besides theme; Munechika Mikazuki and Kogitsunemaru are too carefree, Ishikirimaru is too busy taking his priest duties seriously, Iwatooshi's completely new, and Kashuu has only just been given a leadership role for this mission. Saniwa even lampshades how unlikely the team would be on a normal basis.
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* WarriorTherapist: Munechika prefers to let fighting (or dancing) do the talking when it comes to conversation. After all, he believes that they're far most honest than words can be.
to:
* WarriorTherapist: Munechika Mikazuki prefers to let fighting (or dancing) do the talking when it comes to conversation. After all, he believes that they're far most honest than words can be.
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[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/520c083c_a293_4ecb_bca9_666b3301b672.jpeg]]
[[caption-width-right:350: [[RagtagBunchOfMisfits Team Sanjou]] with [[OnlySaneMan Kashuu Kiyomitsu]] ]]
[[caption-width-right:350: [[RagtagBunchOfMisfits Team Sanjou]] with [[OnlySaneMan Kashuu Kiyomitsu]] ]]
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* SpiritualSuccessor: Can be seen as a New Tens equivalent to the ''Theatre/ThePrinceOfTennis'' musicals, being musical adaptations of male-centric franchises which grew wildly popular.
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* AxCrazy: There's really not a scene that goes by when Yasuhira doesn't either scream or laugh maniacally. [[spoiler:How much of it is his new Revisionist-based strength is anyone's guess.]]
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* AxCrazy: There's really not a scene that goes by when Yasuhira doesn't either scream or laugh maniacally. [[spoiler:How much of it is his new Revisionist-based strength is anyone's guess.]]
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* ''Kashuu Kiyomitsu Tanki Shutsujin[=/=]Solo Performance''-- ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin. Kashuu performs by himself for thousands of admirers.
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* ''Kashuu Kiyomitsu Tanki Shutsujin[=/=]Solo Performance''-- ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin. Kashuu performs by himself for thousands of admirers.
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* TheVoiceless: Unlike in the game, the musicals don’t follow this, giving the Saniwa a disembodied, distinctly male voice.
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* BreakoutCharacter: Kashuu by far is the most loved of the stage characters and the actors, scoring an original solo event beginning in 2017 and is thus far the only stage character to obtain one.
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*** The fourth musical excises Kashuu and Mikazuki to include the Genji clan swords (Higekiri and Hizamaru).
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* ''Higekiri Hizamaru Sōki Shutsujin 2019'' -- Similar to Kashuu's solo concerts, except trhe focus this time is turned to the Genji swords Higekiri and Hizamaru.
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* ''Higekiri Hizamaru Sōki Shutsujin 2019'' -- Similar to Kashuu's solo concerts, except trhe the focus this time is turned to the Genji swords Higekiri and Hizamaru.
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*''Higekiri Hizamaru Sōki Shutsujin 2019'' -- Similar to Kashuu's solo concerts, except trhe focus this time is turned to the Genji swords Higekiri and Hizamaru.
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** Squad 1: Team Sanjou with Kashuu Kiyomitsu[[note]]Mikazuki Munechika, Kogitsunemaru, Iwatooshi, Ishikirimaru, Imanotsurugi,and Kashuu Kiyomitsu)[[/note]]
*** The fourth musical excises Kashuu and Mikazuki to include the Genji brothers (Higekiri and Hizamaru).
*** The fourth musical excises Kashuu and Mikazuki to include the Genji brothers (Higekiri and Hizamaru).
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** Squad 1: Team Sanjou with Kashuu Kiyomitsu[[note]]Mikazuki Munechika, Kogitsunemaru, Iwatooshi, Ishikirimaru, Imanotsurugi,and Imanotsurugi, and Kashuu Kiyomitsu)[[/note]]
Kiyomitsu[[/note]]
*** The fourth musical excises Kashuu and Mikazuki to include the Genjibrothers clan swords (Higekiri and Hizamaru).
*** The fourth musical excises Kashuu and Mikazuki to include the Genji
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In July 2018, the musical franchise branched out internationally; the original cast came back to perform ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'' at Japan Expo for the French audience, while the [=DVDs=] for the play now come with English subtitles.
to:
In July 2018, the musical franchise branched out internationally; most of the original cast came back to perform ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'' at Japan Expo for the French audience, while the [=DVDs=] for the play now come with English subtitles.
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In July 2017, the musical franchise branched out internationally; the original cast came back to perform ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'' at Japan Expo for the French audience, while the [=DVDs=] for the play now come with English subtitles.
to:
In July 2017, 2018, the musical franchise branched out internationally; the original cast came back to perform ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'' at Japan Expo for the French audience, while the [=DVDs=] for the play now come with English subtitles.
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* ClothingDamage: As in the game it's based on, sme swords get their clothing destroyed in the heat of battle. Iwatooshi and Imanotsurugi get their clothes shredded for their Awakening attacks in the first play.
to:
* ClothingDamage: As in the game it's based on, sme some swords get their clothing destroyed in the heat of battle. Iwatooshi and Imanotsurugi get their clothes shredded for their Awakening attacks in the first play.
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Changed line(s) 10,11 (click to see context) from:
In July 2018, the musical franchise branched out internationally; the original cast came back to perform ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'' at Japan Expo for the French audience, while the [=DVDs=] for the play now come with English subtitles.
to:
In July 2018, 2017, the musical franchise branched out internationally; the original cast came back to perform ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'' at Japan Expo for the French audience, while the [=DVDs=] for the play now come with English subtitles.
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* ''Atsukashiyama Ibun''
** Musical Touken Ranbu: Trial Performance (2015)
** Musical Touken Ranbu: Trial Performance (2015)
to:
* ''Atsukashiyama Ibun''
Ibun'' (The Strange Tale of Mt. Atsukashi)
**Musical ''Musical Touken Ranbu: Trial Performance Performance'' (2015)
**
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** ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'' (The Strange Tale of Mt. Atsukashi) (2016): Essentially, a revision of the Trial Run. It adds three new songs to the main play (Kogitsunemaru and Ishikirimaru get "Utaka no Komori Uta", Ishikirimaru and Kashuu replace their war conversation with "Mujun to iu Na no Tsubomi", and Imanotsurugi protecting Yoshitsune in the climax is turned into "Oboeteiru"), and some aesthetic changes are made.
to:
** ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'' (The Strange Tale of Mt. Atsukashi) Ibun'' (2016): Essentially, a revision of the Trial Run. It adds three new songs to the main play (Kogitsunemaru and Ishikirimaru get "Utaka no Komori Uta", Ishikirimaru and Kashuu replace their war conversation with "Mujun to iu Na no Tsubomi", and Imanotsurugi protecting Yoshitsune in the climax is turned into "Oboeteiru"), and some aesthetic changes are made.
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* Atsukashiyama Ibun 2018 - A rerun of the first play for the 2018 Paris Japan Expo.
to:
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* Musical Touken Ranbu: Trial Performance (2015)
to:
** Musical Touken Ranbu: Trial Performance (2015)
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* ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'' (The Strange Tale of Mt. Atsukashi) (2016): Essentially, a revision of the Trial Run. It adds three new songs to the main play (Kogitsunemaru and Ishikirimaru get "Utaka no Komori Uta", Ishikirimaru and Kashuu replace their war conversation with "Mujun to iu Na no Tsubomi", and Imanotsurugi protecting Yoshitsune in the climax is turned into "Oboeteiru"), and some aesthetic changes are made.
to:
* Atsukashiyama Ibun 2018 - A rerun of the first play for the 2018 Paris Japan Expo.
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* ''1932 Tokyo'' (2018)
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* Atsukashiyama Ibun 2018 ~ ~- A rerun of the first play for Paris Japan Expo.
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* {{Crossover}}: The cast had one with the Tokyo Dome in 2018, called ''1934 Tokyo''. The Touken Danshi summoned (The Genjis, Mikazuki, Iwatooshi, Imanotsurugi, and Izuminokami) were transported to the eponymous year and were able to make special comments about it.
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* PopularHistory: In full effect here. From the Yoshitsune household to the Bakamatsu era, the series looks at many well known historical figures.
to:
* PopularHistory: In full effect here. From the Yoshitsune Minamoto household to the Bakamatsu era, the series looks at many well known historical figures.
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One of [[Theater/TouStage two]] distinct stage continuities, ''Musical Touken Ranbu'' (or '''''[=TouMyu=]''''' as it's affectionately abbreviated) is a series of musicals adapted from the ''VideoGame/ToukenRanbu'' franchise. Coming months after the release of the original game in 2015, these musicals take focus on quite a few groups of Touken Danshi as they travel through time and solve their current historical conundrum. Since there's no real overarching story in the games, this particular continuity solves the problem by making up some of its own; so the characters get to tussle with some of history's most interesting characters, fight some unusual adversaries, and sing a verse or two along the way. And after the musicals end, the audience is treated to an extra performance by the cast, one involving all of them doing battle in the modern day the only way they can-- by putting on flashy and exciting idol concerts for hundreds of Saniwa!
to:
One of [[Theater/TouStage two]] distinct stage continuities, ''Musical Touken Ranbu'' (or '''''[=TouMyu=]''''' as it's affectionately abbreviated) is a series of musicals adapted from the ''VideoGame/ToukenRanbu'' franchise. Coming months after the release of the original game in 2015, these musicals take focus on quite a few groups of Touken Danshi as they travel through time and solve their current historical conundrum. Since there's no real overarching story in the games, this particular continuity solves the problem by making up some of its own; own: so the characters get to tussle with some of history's most interesting characters, fight some unusual adversaries, and sing a verse or two along the way. And after the musicals end, the audience is treated to an extra performance by the cast, one involving all of them doing battle in the modern day the only way they can-- by putting on flashy and exciting idol concerts for hundreds of Saniwa!
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''Touken Ranbu'' and {{Idol Singer}}s mixed together? In ''canon''? It's an unusual combination, but it worked. In fact it worked so well that the series has been running successfully for three years with 5 plays and 3 concerts unders its belt; enough to even score solo concerts for its characters and produce very popular in-character singles.
to:
''Touken Ranbu'' and {{Idol Singer}}s mixed together? In ''canon''? It's an unusual combination, but it worked. In fact it worked so well that the series has been running successfully for three years with 5 plays and 3 concerts unders its belt; belt -- enough to even score solo concerts for its characters and produce very popular in-character singles.
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* AWildRapperAppears: Series staple "MISTAKE" counts on Ishikirimaru and Munechika to come in with their rap verses after the first chorus.
to:
* AWildRapperAppears: Series staple "MISTAKE" counts on Ishikirimaru and Munechika two of the idols to come in with their rap verses after the first chorus.
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%% Most of the tropes cover the recorded performances. If there's a trope that could be discovered in any of the other performance nights, put them here as well.
Changed line(s) 12 (click to see context) from:
-->[[labelnote: +Summary]]Kashuu Kiyomitsu, after being debriefed by his Saniwa, is given leadership position on a mission. His task: lead the very oddball Sanjou school Touken Danshi to Mt. Atsukashi, 1189, in order to see about the Historical Revisionists targeting Lord Minamoto no Yoshitsune. Strange enough, when they get there, they find that both Yoshitsune and his retainer, Musashibo Benkei, are alive when they're both supposed to be dead following Fujiwara no Yatsuhira's ambush on his home. Although they should investigate further, Imanotsurugi is too starstruck by his former master to want to carry it out; while Iwatooshi, a relatively new Touken Danshi, is conflicted about his mission and his fellow Danshi's happiness. Meanwhile, Yoshitsune wants bloody revenge on Yoritomo, his envious brother who carried out he hit, and he and Benkei begin to rely on some dark power to achieve it...[[/labelnote]]
to:
-->[[labelnote: +Summary]]Kashuu Kiyomitsu, after being debriefed by his Saniwa, is given leadership position on a mission. His task: lead the very oddball Sanjou school Touken Danshi to Mt. Atsukashi, 1189, 1189, in order to see about the Historical Revisionists targeting Lord Minamoto no Yoshitsune. Strange enough, when they get there, they find that both Yoshitsune and his retainer, Musashibo Benkei, are alive when they're both supposed to be dead following Fujiwara no Yatsuhira's ambush on his home. Although they should investigate further, Imanotsurugi is too starstruck by his former master to want to carry it out; while Iwatooshi, a relatively new Touken Danshi, is conflicted about his mission and his fellow Danshi's happiness. Meanwhile, Yoshitsune wants bloody revenge on Yoritomo, his envious brother who carried out he hit, and he and Benkei begin to rely on some dark power to achieve it...[[/labelnote]]
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* SillyLoveSongs: "Your Song" is definitely a sort of platonic love song to the Danshi's masters. They sing more conventional love songs, like "Blink", "Tokenai Mahou", and "MISTAKE", in the post-play concerts.
to:
%%* PassingTheTorch: The Sanjous have to say goodbye at the end of closing night, paving the way for the Shinsengumi swords (and Hachisuka) to take stage for ''Bakumatsu Ryouden''.
* PopularHistory: In full effect here. From the Yoshitsune household to the Bakamatsu era, the series looks at many well known historical figures.
* RevolvingDoorCasting: No one cast is completely consistent from play to play. There are some consistent teams (Sanjou, Shinsengumi), but even then they'll have different unrelated Touken Danshi coming along for the ride.
* SecondEpisodeIntroduction: Yamatonokami is first mentioned in ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'', where Kashuu asks the Saniwa to bring him on their mission (as a more competent member). He doesn't actully show up until the very next play ''Bakumatsu Tenrouden ''.
* SillyLoveSongs: "Your Song" is definitely a sort of platonic love song to the Danshi's masters. They sing more conventional love songs, like"Blink", "Blink", "Tokenai Mahou", and "MISTAKE", in the post-play concerts.concerts.
* SpiritualSuccessor: Can be seen as a New Tens equivalent to the ''Theatre/ThePrinceOfTennis'' musicals, being musical adaptations of male-centric franchises which grew wildly popular.
* PopularHistory: In full effect here. From the Yoshitsune household to the Bakamatsu era, the series looks at many well known historical figures.
* RevolvingDoorCasting: No one cast is completely consistent from play to play. There are some consistent teams (Sanjou, Shinsengumi), but even then they'll have different unrelated Touken Danshi coming along for the ride.
* SecondEpisodeIntroduction: Yamatonokami is first mentioned in ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'', where Kashuu asks the Saniwa to bring him on their mission (as a more competent member). He doesn't actully show up until the very next play ''Bakumatsu Tenrouden ''.
* SillyLoveSongs: "Your Song" is definitely a sort of platonic love song to the Danshi's masters. They sing more conventional love songs, like
* SpiritualSuccessor: Can be seen as a New Tens equivalent to the ''Theatre/ThePrinceOfTennis'' musicals, being musical adaptations of male-centric franchises which grew wildly popular.
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* PassingTheTorch: The Sanjous have to say goodbye at the end of closing night, paving the way for the Shinsengumi swords (and Hachisuka) to take stage for ''Bakumatsu Ryouden''.
* PopularHistory: In full effect here. From the Yoshitsune household to the Bakamatsu era, the series looks at many well known historical figures.
* RevolvingDoorCasting: No one cast is completely consistent from play to play. There are some consistent teams (Sanjou, Shinsengumi), but even then they'll have different unrelated Touken Danshi coming along for the ride.
* SecondEpisodeIntroduction: Yamatonokami is first mentioned in ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'', where Kashuu asks the Saniwa to bring him on their mission (as a more competent member). He doesn't actully show up until the very next play ''Bakumatsu Tenrouden ''.
* SpiritualSuccessor: Can be seen as a New Tens equivalent to the ''Theatre/ThePrinceOfTennis'' musicals, being musical adaptations of male-centric franchises which grew wildly popular.
* PopularHistory: In full effect here. From the Yoshitsune household to the Bakamatsu era, the series looks at many well known historical figures.
* RevolvingDoorCasting: No one cast is completely consistent from play to play. There are some consistent teams (Sanjou, Shinsengumi), but even then they'll have different unrelated Touken Danshi coming along for the ride.
* SecondEpisodeIntroduction: Yamatonokami is first mentioned in ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'', where Kashuu asks the Saniwa to bring him on their mission (as a more competent member). He doesn't actully show up until the very next play ''Bakumatsu Tenrouden ''.
* SpiritualSuccessor: Can be seen as a New Tens equivalent to the ''Theatre/ThePrinceOfTennis'' musicals, being musical adaptations of male-centric franchises which grew wildly popular.
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** Kashuu is a little less dramatic in the beginning; instead of falling over himself when he's assigned the Sanjou swords, he's just slightly miffed. He's also less childlike than he was in the original (see: his CoyGirlishFlirtPose in the original deriefing vs. his more resigned stature in ''Ibun''), but seemingly more insecure about his breaking on the battlefield ("breaking in battle is a sword's highest honor/our worth as swords depends on how many we've killed" vs. "breaking desn't make us any less of a sword").
to:
** Kashuu is a little less dramatic in the beginning; instead of falling over himself when he's assigned the Sanjou swords, he's just slightly miffed. He's also less childlike than he was in the original (see: his CoyGirlishFlirtPose in the original deriefing vs. his more resigned resigned stature in ''Ibun''), but seemingly more insecure about his breaking on the battlefield ("breaking in battle is a sword's highest honor/our worth as swords depends on how many we've killed" vs. "breaking desn't make us any less of a sword").
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* EnemyWithin: In the end, the Saniwa figures [[spoiler:Yoshitsune's sword]] was like this. It was willing to do all of the things Yoshitsune rejects in the back of his mind.
to:
* EnemyWithin: In the end, the Saniwa figures [[spoiler:Yoshitsune's sword]] was like this. It was willing to do all of the things Yoshitsune rejects in the back of his mind.
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* MutualEnvy: Yoshitsune looks at Yorimoto's political genius, envious that he has the skills to lead Japan into an era of peace. But Yorimoto doesn't see things that way; being TheUnfavorite, he looks at Yoshitsune's military genius, popularity, and how most of their acquaintances want Yoshitsune to take clan head position. Leads into CainAndAbel pretty quickly, considering how he attempts to kill Yoshitsune.
to:
%%* MercyKill:
* MutualEnvy: Yoshitsune looks at Yorimoto's political genius, envious that he has the skills to lead Japan into an era of peace. But Yorimoto doesn't see things that way; being TheUnfavorite, helooks looks at Yoshitsune's military genius, popularity, and how most of their acquaintances want Yoshitsune to take clan head position. Leads into CainAndAbel pretty quickly, considering how he attempts to kill Yoshitsune.
* MutualEnvy: Yoshitsune looks at Yorimoto's political genius, envious that he has the skills to lead Japan into an era of peace. But Yorimoto doesn't see things that way; being TheUnfavorite, he
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* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: By all accounts, Yoshitsune is trying to collect Yorimoto's head after his failed assassination attempt with Yasuhira.
to:
* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: By all accounts, Yoshitsune is trying to collect Yorimoto's head head after his failed assassination attempt with Yasuhira.
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[[folder:Performances (Musical)]]
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* MercyKill:
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Main Page (Musical)
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%% Most of the tropes cover the recorded performances. If there's a trope that could be discovered in any of the other performance nights, put them here as well.
One of [[Theater/TouStage two]] distinct stage continuities, ''Musical Touken Ranbu'' (or '''''[=TouMyu=]''''' as it's affectionately abbreviated) is a series of musicals developed by (...). Coming months after the release of the original game in 2015, these musicals take focus on quite a few groups of Touken Danshi as they travel through time and solve their current historical conundrum. Since there's no real overarching story in the games, this particular continuity solves the problem by making up some of its own; so the characters get to tussle with some of history's most interesting characters, fight some unusual adversaries, and sing a verse or two along the way. And after the musicals end, the audience is treated to an extra performance by the cast, one involving all of them doing battle in the modern day the only way they can-- by putting on flashy and exciting idol concerts for hundreds of Saniwa!
One of [[Theater/TouStage two]] distinct stage continuities, ''Musical Touken Ranbu'' (or '''''[=TouMyu=]''''' as it's affectionately abbreviated) is a series of musicals developed by (...). Coming months after the release of the original game in 2015, these musicals take focus on quite a few groups of Touken Danshi as they travel through time and solve their current historical conundrum. Since there's no real overarching story in the games, this particular continuity solves the problem by making up some of its own; so the characters get to tussle with some of history's most interesting characters, fight some unusual adversaries, and sing a verse or two along the way. And after the musicals end, the audience is treated to an extra performance by the cast, one involving all of them doing battle in the modern day the only way they can-- by putting on flashy and exciting idol concerts for hundreds of Saniwa!
to:
Changed line(s) 8,9 (click to see context) from:
''Touken Ranbu'' and {{Idol Singer}}s mixed together? In ''canon''? It's an unusual combination, but it worked. In fact it worked so well that the series has been running successfully for three years with 5 plays and 3 concerts unders its belt; enough to score even a whole solo concert for none other than Kashuu Kiyomitsu.
to:
''Touken Ranbu'' and {{Idol Singer}}s mixed together? In ''canon''? It's an unusual combination, but it worked. In fact it worked so well that the series has been running successfully for three years with 5 plays and 3 concerts unders its belt; enough to even score even a whole solo concert concerts for none other than Kashuu Kiyomitsu.
its characters and produce very popular in-character singles.
Changed line(s) 15 (click to see context) from:
-->[[labelnote: +Summary]]Kashuu Kiyomitsu, after being debriefed by his Saniwa, is given leadership position on a mission. His task: lead the very oddball Sanjou school Touken Danshi to Mt. Atsukashi, 1189, in order to see about the Historical Revisionists targeting Lord Minamoto no Yoshitsune. Strange enough, when they get there, they find that both Yoshitsune and his retainer, Musashibo Benkei, are alive when they're both supposed to be dead following Fujiwara no Yatsuhira's ambush on his home. Although they should investigate further, Imanotsurugi is too starstruck by his former master to want to carry it out; while Iwatooshi, a relatively new Touken Danshi, is conflicted about his mission and his fellow Danshi's happiness. Meanwhile, Yoshitsune wants bloody revenge on Yoritomo, his envious brother who carried out he hit, and he and Benkei begin to rely on some dark power to achieve it...[[/labelnote]]
to:
-->[[labelnote: +Summary]]Kashuu Kiyomitsu, after being debriefed by his Saniwa, is given leadership position on a mission. His task: lead the very oddball Sanjou school Touken Danshi to Mt. Atsukashi, 1189, 1189, in order to see about the Historical Revisionists targeting Lord Minamoto no Yoshitsune. Strange enough, when they get there, they find that both Yoshitsune and his retainer, Musashibo Benkei, are alive when they're both supposed to be dead following Fujiwara no Yatsuhira's ambush on his home. Although they should investigate further, Imanotsurugi is too starstruck by his former master to want to carry it out; while Iwatooshi, a relatively new Touken Danshi, is conflicted about his mission and his fellow Danshi's happiness. Meanwhile, Yoshitsune wants bloody revenge on Yoritomo, his envious brother who carried out he hit, and he and Benkei begin to rely on some dark power to achieve it...[[/labelnote]]
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* ''Kashuu Kiyomitsu Tanki Shutsujin/ Solo Performance''-- ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin. Kashuu performs by himself for thousands of admirers.
to:
* ''Kashuu Kiyomitsu Tanki Shutsujin/ Solo Shutsujin[=/=]Solo Performance''-- ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin. Kashuu performs by himself for thousands of admirers.
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** Tanki Shutsujin 2018
* Atsukashiyama Ibun 2018-- A rerun of the first play for Paris Japan Expo.
* Atsukashiyama Ibun 2018-- A rerun of the first play for Paris Japan Expo.
to:
* Atsukashiyama Ibun
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Main Page (Musical)
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* SillyLoveSongs: "Your Song" is definitely a sort of platonic love song to the Danshi's masters. They sing more conventional love songs, like "Blink", "Tokenai Mahou", and "MISTAKE", in the post-play concerts.
to:
* SillyLoveSongs: "Your Song" is definitely a sort of platonic love song to the Danshi's masters. They sing more conventional love songs, like "Blink", "Blink", "Tokenai Mahou", and "MISTAKE", in the post-play concerts.
Changed line(s) 59 (click to see context) from:
* PopularHistory: In full effect here. First Squad is taken to the Mt. Atsukashi battle, where Benkei and Yoshitsune are killed in battle and dead from suicide repeatedly. They're there to investigate why they're ''not'' dead yet.
to:
* PopularHistory: In full effect here. First Squad is taken to From the Mt. Atsukashi battle, where Benkei and Yoshitsune are killed in battle and dead from suicide repeatedly. They're there household to investigate why they're ''not'' dead yet.the Bakamatsu era, the series looks at many well known historical figures.
Changed line(s) 76 (click to see context) from:
** Kashuu is a little less dramatic in the beginning; instead of falling over himself when he's assigned the Sanjou swords, he's just slightly miffed. He's also less childlike than he was in the original (see: his CoyGirlishFlirtPose in the original deriefing vs. his more resigned stature in ''Ibun''), but seemingly more insecure about his breaking on the battlefield ("breaking in battle is a sword's highest honor/our worth as swords depends on how many we've killed" vs. "breaking desn't make us any less of a sword").
to:
** Kashuu is a little less dramatic in the beginning; instead of falling over himself when he's assigned the Sanjou swords, he's just slightly miffed. He's also less childlike than he was in the original (see: his CoyGirlishFlirtPose in the original deriefing vs. his more resigned resigned stature in ''Ibun''), but seemingly more insecure about his breaking on the battlefield ("breaking in battle is a sword's highest honor/our worth as swords depends on how many we've killed" vs. "breaking desn't make us any less of a sword").
Changed line(s) 85 (click to see context) from:
* EnemyWithin: In the end, the Saniwa figures [[spoiler:Yoshitsune's sword]] was like this. It was willing to do all of the things Yoshitsune rejects in the back of his mind.
to:
* EnemyWithin: In the end, the Saniwa figures [[spoiler:Yoshitsune's sword]] was like this. It was willing to do all of the things Yoshitsune rejects in the back of his mind.
Changed line(s) 107 (click to see context) from:
* MutualEnvy: Yoshitsune looks at Yorimoto's political genius, envious that he has the skills to lead Japan into an era of peace. But Yorimoto doesn't see things that way; being TheUnfavorite, he looks at Yoshitsune's military genius, popularity, and how most of their acquaintances want Yoshitsune to take clan head position. Leads into CainAndAbel pretty quickly, considering how he attempts to kill Yoshitsune.
to:
* MutualEnvy: Yoshitsune looks at Yorimoto's political genius, envious that he has the skills to lead Japan into an era of peace. But Yorimoto doesn't see things that way; being TheUnfavorite, he looks looks at Yoshitsune's military genius, popularity, and how most of their acquaintances want Yoshitsune to take clan head position. Leads into CainAndAbel pretty quickly, considering how he attempts to kill Yoshitsune.
Changed line(s) 115 (click to see context) from:
* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: By all accounts, Yoshitsune is trying to collect Yorimoto's head after his failed assassination attempt with Yasuhira.
to:
* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: By all accounts, Yoshitsune is trying to collect Yorimoto's head head after his failed assassination attempt with Yasuhira.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
%% Most of the tropes cover the recorded performances. If there's a trope that could be discovered in any of the other performance nights, put them here as well.
One of [[Theater/TouStage two]] distinct stage continuities, ''Musical Touken Ranbu'' (or '''''[=TouMyu=]''''' as it's affectionately abbreviated) is a series of musicals developed by (...). Coming months after the release of the original game in 2015, these musicals take focus on quite a few groups of Touken Danshi as they travel through time and solve their current historical conundrum. Since there's no real overarching story in the games, this particular continuity solves the problem by making up some of its own; so the characters get to tussle with some of history's most interesting characters, fight some unusual adversaries, and sing a verse or two along the way. And after the musicals end, the audience is treated to an extra performance by the cast, one involving all of them doing battle in the modern day the only way they can-- by putting on flashy and exciting idol concerts for hundreds of Saniwa!
Wait, what?
''Touken Ranbu'' and {{Idol Singer}}s mixed together? In ''canon''? It's an unusual combination, but it worked. In fact it worked so well that the series has been running successfully for three years with 5 plays and 3 concerts unders its belt; enough to score even a whole solo concert for none other than Kashuu Kiyomitsu.
In July 2018, the musical franchise branched out internationally; the original cast came back to perform ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'' at Japan Expo for the French audience, while the [=DVDs=] for the play now come with English subtitles.
[[folder:Performances (Musical)]]
* Musical Touken Ranbu: Trial Performance (2015)
-->[[labelnote: +Summary]]Kashuu Kiyomitsu, after being debriefed by his Saniwa, is given leadership position on a mission. His task: lead the very oddball Sanjou school Touken Danshi to Mt. Atsukashi, 1189, in order to see about the Historical Revisionists targeting Lord Minamoto no Yoshitsune. Strange enough, when they get there, they find that both Yoshitsune and his retainer, Musashibo Benkei, are alive when they're both supposed to be dead following Fujiwara no Yatsuhira's ambush on his home. Although they should investigate further, Imanotsurugi is too starstruck by his former master to want to carry it out; while Iwatooshi, a relatively new Touken Danshi, is conflicted about his mission and his fellow Danshi's happiness. Meanwhile, Yoshitsune wants bloody revenge on Yoritomo, his envious brother who carried out he hit, and he and Benkei begin to rely on some dark power to achieve it...[[/labelnote]]
* ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'' (The Strange Tale of Mt. Atsukashi) (2016): Essentially, a revision of the Trial Run. It adds three new songs to the main play (Kogitsunemaru and Ishikirimaru get "Utaka no Komori Uta", Ishikirimaru and Kashuu replace their war conversation with "Mujun to iu Na no Tsubomi", and Imanotsurugi protecting Yoshitsune in the climax is turned into "Oboeteiru"), and some aesthetic changes are made.
* ''Bakamatsu Tenrouden'' (2016)
* ''Mitohose no Komoriuta'' (2017)
* ''Tsuwamono Domo ga Yume no Ato'' (2017)
* ''Musubi no Hiki, Hajimari no Ne'' (2018)
* Shinkenranbu Sai - The Concert Episode.
** Shinkenranbu Sai 2016: The casts of ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'' and ''Bakamatsu Tenrouden'' return for a whole night of dance and song!
** Shinkenranbu Sai 2017
* ''Kashuu Kiyomitsu Tanki Shutsujin/ Solo Performance''-- ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin. Kashuu performs by himself for thousands of admirers.
** Tanki Shutsujin 2017
** Tanki Shutsujin 2018
* Atsukashiyama Ibun 2018-- A rerun of the first play for Paris Japan Expo.
[[/folder]]
----
! Tropes spanning the entire musical series:
* AllMusicalsAreAdaptations: You'd better believe it. But in this case, it's only loosely adapted; the basic premise and characters is all the musicals take. The rest is crafted wholesale.
* BlowThatHorn: How announcements are made known in this Citadel.
* BreakoutCharacter: Kashuu by far is the most loved of the stage characters and the actors, scoring an original solo event beginning in 2017 and is thus far the only stage character to obtain one.
* CloseEnoughTimeline: Really, "correcting history's mistakes" just boils down to this. The good side doesn't much care ''how'' history corrected itself, it just needs to have the same events happen to coalign with current history, and they'll be fine.
** Sure, Yoshitsune and Benkei don't die in the raid by Yasuhashi, and Yoshitsune doesn't commit seppuku, but they still die [[spoiler:albeit, by Yoshitsune's hand in Benkei's case and after being possessed in Yoshitsune's case]].
* ClothingDamage: As in the game it's based on, sme swords get their clothing destroyed in the heat of battle. Iwatooshi and Imanotsurugi get their clothes shredded for their Awakening attacks in the first play.
* ContinuityNod: Kashuu's fanservice line in Shinkenranbu Sai ("I'll love you as long as you look at me") references one of his songs from his solo concert (Mitsumekure naru/As long as you look at me).
* {{Fanservice}}: So very much of it in these musicals:
** Any time the swords fight, and [[ClothingDamage clothes get torn up]] along the way. Especially their awakenings.
** "Otokomichi" has the performing Touken Danshi throw their tops off, revealing their sweaty, slim tops and midriffs/chests to the audience.
** ''Tanki Shutsujin'' is filled with this. One of Kashuu's songs has him bound up singing about how much he loves his master; he and the backup dancers dance more provocatively in some musical numbers, and they get to mess around with him.
** At one point, Horikawa is tied up by the Shinsengumi, interrogated by Hijikata himself.
* GratuitousEnglish: The concert songs in general are full of this. "Gateway" is the worst offender.
* HandWave: The reason why the Touken Danshi are suddenly singing and dancing on stage? Apparently, this is just how people battle in the 21st century, and they need to practice their skills as performers as well as swordsmen, as is the way of a true samurai. Why they need the glowsticks and strobe lights is another matter entirely.
* IdolSinger: Surprisingly, yes. The Touken Danshi also moonlight as idol singers whenever they travel to the modern day.
* MythologyGag:
** You'll sometimes hear the characters' in-game quotes during the plays, especially when battle rears its head.
** For the ''Touken Ranbu'' franchise's third anniversary, the ''Musubi no Hiki'' main cast took photos as their respective Touken Danshi, sitting as they do in their characters' in-game anniversary pictures.
* SillyLoveSongs: "Your Song" is definitely a sort of platonic love song to the Danshi's masters. They sing more conventional love songs, like "Blink", "Tokenai Mahou", and "MISTAKE", in the post-play concerts.
* TheTeam: In the musical, the main characters form a group. As we see from the main website:
** Squad 1: Team Sanjou with Kashuu Kiyomitsu[[note]]Mikazuki Munechika, Kogitsunemaru, Iwatooshi, Ishikirimaru, Imanotsurugi,and Kashuu Kiyomitsu)[[/note]]
*** The fourth musical excises Kashuu and Mikazuki to include the Genji brothers (Higekiri and Hizamaru).
** Team Shinsengumi with Hachisuka Kotetsu [[note]]Hachisuka Kotetsu, Nagasone Kotetsu, Horikawa Kunihiro, Izuminokami Kanesada, Yamatonokami Yasusada and Kashuu Kiyomitsu[[/note]]
*** The fifth musical slightly changes this lineup to include Tomeagata Naginata and Mutsunokami Yoshiyuki, replacing Kashuu and Hachisuka.
** Team Mihotose[[note]]Sengo Muramasa, Nikkari Aoe, Ookurikara, Ishikirimaru, Monoyoshi Sadamune, and Tonbokiri[[/note]]
* PassingTheTorch: The Sanjous have to say goodbye at the end of closing night, paving the way for the Shinsengumi swords (and Hachisuka) to take stage for ''Bakumatsu Ryouden''.
* PopularHistory: In full effect here. First Squad is taken to the Mt. Atsukashi battle, where Benkei and Yoshitsune are killed in battle and dead from suicide repeatedly. They're there to investigate why they're ''not'' dead yet.
* RevolvingDoorCasting: No one cast is completely consistent from play to play. There are some consistent teams (Sanjou, Shinsengumi), but even then they'll have different unrelated Touken Danshi coming along for the ride.
* SecondEpisodeIntroduction: Yamatonokami is first mentioned in ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'', where Kashuu asks the Saniwa to bring him on their mission (as a more competent member). He doesn't actully show up until the very next play ''Bakumatsu Tenrouden ''.
* SpiritualSuccessor: Can be seen as a New Tens equivalent to the ''Theatre/ThePrinceOfTennis'' musicals, being musical adaptations of male-centric franchises which grew wildly popular.
* AWildRapperAppears: Series staple "MISTAKE" counts on Ishikirimaru and Munechika to come in with their rap verses after the first chorus.
* WorldOfHam: Everyone's just as loud and passionate as the person next to them. Scenery flies off the shelves practically every second.
[[folder: Atsukashiyama Ibun & Trial Run]]
* ArcWords: "Purpose" (''yakuwari'').
* AxCrazy: There's really not a scene that goes by when Yasuhira doesn't either scream or laugh maniacally. [[spoiler:How much of it is his new Revisionist-based strength is anyone's guess.]]
* BigDamnHeroes: Imanotsurugi came at just the right time to save Yoritomo from execution, enough to have everyone talk it out for a second.
* BraggingThemeTune: "Touken Ranbu" is pretty much this and an ExpositoryThemeTune, having each relevant sword talk about how awesome they themselves are and how they're going to keep fighting until their last breath.
* BreakingTheFourthWall: After he and Kashuu share a heart to heart about war and an ambush plan, he nods to the audience before being dragged to battle.
* BrutalHonesty: While Imanotsurugi is ecstatic to see Yoshitsune at a time when he's still alive, Iwatooshi has to give him a very painful reminder that they're only here to correct history and not to further screw up the timeline, which also means they can't let their former masters know who they are. Imanotsurugi takes it so harshly he runs away in near tears.
* CallBack: While calming Imanotsurugi down in "I Remember", Iwatooshi tells him to "remember the gift that the clouds gave us/ thousands of twinkling stars"; referencing "Kira Kira" and the ecstatic feeling Imanotsurugi had remembering his master. The same gestures are used here too.
* CharacterizationMarchesOn: You can see some definite differences in how the characters act in the Trial Run versus how they are in ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'':
** Kashuu is a little less dramatic in the beginning; instead of falling over himself when he's assigned the Sanjou swords, he's just slightly miffed. He's also less childlike than he was in the original (see: his CoyGirlishFlirtPose in the original deriefing vs. his more resigned stature in ''Ibun''), but seemingly more insecure about his breaking on the battlefield ("breaking in battle is a sword's highest honor/our worth as swords depends on how many we've killed" vs. "breaking desn't make us any less of a sword").
** Munechika's early scene showing how he doesn't get fieldwork is replaced with him playfully using the hoe as a running springboard, better reflecting his easygoing personality.
** Yoshitsune, in the Trial Run, seemed to joke a lot more given how not seriously he enters.
* CombinationAttack: At the climax of ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'', all of Squad 1 takes their turns whittling down [[spoiler:[=possessed!Yoshitsune=] ]], until he finally goes down to Iwatooshi and Imanotsurugi's combined Divine Death Blow.
* CueTheSun: The sun rises on our heroes just as they finish taking down [[spoiler:the possessed Yoshitsune]], right on cue.
* DemonicPossession: After the fight with Yasuhashi, contact with the Retrograde Army somehow led to Yoshitsune's sword coming to life in addition to the immesurable power given to him, Benkei, and Yasuhira. [[spoiler:Yoshitsune's sword ends up taking over by stabbing itself into his body, killing Yoshitsune but leaving him a controllable corpse.]]
* DoubleTake: Kashuu was fine with having Imanotsurugi on his team, but as soon as Ishikirimaru is mentioned, he starts questioning the Saniwa's choice of comrades.
* DrivingQuestion: What is your purpose? Why do you act?
* EnemyMine: After learning of their fates from the Historical Revisionists, and after learning he'd be betrayed after his death, Yoshitsune, Benkei, and Yasuhira join forces to take down Yorimoto.
* EnemyWithin: In the end, the Saniwa figures [[spoiler:Yoshitsune's sword]] was like this. It was willing to do all of the things Yoshitsune rejects in the back of his mind.
* EstablishingCharacterMoment: Each of Squad 1 has theirs in ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'':
** Munechika's first shown goofing off while doing fieldwork, showing his easygoing nature.
** Iwatooshi and Imanotsurugi spar in their first scene together, which quickly turns into a game of tag, showing off their close and brotherly relationship. Iwatooshi is also shown trying to keep Imanotsurugi's best intersts in mind and making him happy. Ishikirimaru, who appears in the scene a little later, is seen blessing the Citadel (showing off how seriously he takes his duties).
** Kashuu is first seen anticipating the Saniwa's word, shuting excited at what he considered "special treatment", and moaning loudly about having to keep the Sanjou swords uner control until the Saniwa places his hopes on him.
* {{Foreshadowing}}:
** Notice how Kashuu wanted Yamatonokami on his team? Or how his issues with his breakage seem to fuel his early actions as a leader? Or how much stock he takes in the Shinsengumi code? Or how he's the only caracter disconnected from the rest of the Sanjou theme? Good thing ''that's'' not going to come up in another play...
** During the mission debriefing, Kashuu points out that most of the team (save Iwatooshi and Imanotsurugi) have been to Atsukashi before, impying that going to a specific event multiple times is normal. The latter two will have plenty of experience by the time they go back in ''Tsuwamono Domo''.
* FunnyBackgroundEvent: Notice that before the team get sent off to Atsukashi, Kogitsune runs around in circles chasing his clothes.
* FrameUp: Yorimoto was the one trying to kill Yoshitsune. Yasuhira was just called in as a fall guy, so Yorimoto could post-humously pin Yoshitsune's death on the latter man.
* HatePlague
* HaveWeMet: After fighting againt Iwatooshi and noticing his fighting style, Benkei asks if they've interacted before. Of course, Iwatooshi declines.
* IronicEcho: "Even in death, watch over me!" has been used by Yoshitsune in the beginning of the play, and then again by Yoshitsune [[spoiler:or rather, the sword controlling him]] when he tricks Benkei [[spoiler:into letting his guard down so he can attack the man]].
* LaughingMad: Yasuhira is this on the daily. [[spoiler:Yoshitsune is only this after his sword fully possesses him.]]
* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: Just before "Takaramono" begins, Kashuu sings the final line "Arukidaseru" (i'm setting out), just before he and Kogitsunemaru leave the stage.
* LeaveHimToMe: Whenever Benkei encounters the Touken Danshi in battle, Iwatooshi shoos them away in order to fight the man himself. Who better to fight Musashibo Benkei than his own former weapon?
* LickingTheBlade: Yoshitsune, when bloodthirsty, has this as his CharacterTic [[spoiler:which is actually just the sword possessing him]]. Used cruelly when he licks [[spoiler:Benkei's]] blood off of his sword after he kills the latter.
* MakeWrongWhatOnceWentRight: The Revisionists decide to inform Yoshitsune of Yorimoto's assassination attempt, which, along with somehow making an ally of his would-be killer Yasuhira, allows Yoshitsune and Benkei to survive their fatal final battles. The fact that they're alive at all after this point gives the Touken Danshi reason to investigate this matter and correct it.
* MeaningfulEcho:
** In the beginning of ''Atsukashi Ibun'', Yoshitsune tells the dying Benkei to "meet [him] in the next world, and the ones after next"; later on after the climax, Iwatooshi reaffirms Yoshitsune's statement to Imanotsurugi and gives him a shoulder ride as he did in the beginning of the musical.
** In the beginning of the Mt. Atsukashi mission, we see Yoshitsune disown his brother after he learns that he tried to kill him. Later on in the climax, Imanotsurugi finally finds the strength to complete his assigned mission after he disowns Yoshitsune, or rather [[spoiler:the sword possessing his corpse]].
* MercyKill:
* MutualEnvy: Yoshitsune looks at Yorimoto's political genius, envious that he has the skills to lead Japan into an era of peace. But Yorimoto doesn't see things that way; being TheUnfavorite, he looks at Yoshitsune's military genius, popularity, and how most of their acquaintances want Yoshitsune to take clan head position. Leads into CainAndAbel pretty quickly, considering how he attempts to kill Yoshitsune.
* MyMasterRightOrWrong: Benkei is compelled to follow Yoshitsune, even when he knows that [[spoiler:he's been possessed]]. Not wanting to lay arms on his young lord, he asks Iwatooshi to either kill him or stop Yoshitsune in his stead, which the Touken Danshi readily agrees to.
* NaiveNewcomer: Iwtooshi and Imanotsurugi fulfill this role. Iwatooshi because he's a relatively new Touken Danshi, and both him and Imanotsurugi because they've never been on a Mt. Atsukashi mission before and therefore can't handle themselves there like their other partners can.
* QuarrelingSong: ''I Remember'' takes place at the climax of the play, with Imanotsurugi blocking off his friends from killing Yoshitsune while the rest of them are telling him to move out of the way.
* RagtagBunchOfMisfits: The Sanjou+Kiyomitsu team is treated like one in the beginning. There's no real strategic advantge to putting them together besides theme; Munechika and Kogitsunemaru are too carefree, Ishikirimaru is too busy taking his priest duties seriously, Iwatooshi's completely new, and Kashuu has only just been given a leadership role for this mission. Saniwa even lampshades how unlikely the team would be on a normal basis.
* RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver: [[spoiler:Yoshitsune]]'s completely possessed form is so ObviouslyEvil it hurts. His wardrobe is black will red accents, with the top covered in a cobweb pattern.
* ResistTheBeast: Benkei certainly tries his best to do so; whenever he catches himself struggling with the dark power his weapon now wields, he bites, struggles, drops his weapon enough to return to a regular state. Yoshitsune does this as well, having to physically restrain the sword from coming out. Fortunately, the former doesn't let it win over him. [[spoiler:''Un''fortunately, the latter forcibly loses control.]]
* {{Retirony}}: All Yoshitsune wants is to know why Yoritomo tried to have him killed. Once he learns that, he mentions that he wants to retire from his position as military head and become a monk afterwards. [[spoiler:Too bad his sword doesn't feel the same way.]]
* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: By all accounts, Yoshitsune is trying to collect Yorimoto's head after his failed assassination attempt with Yasuhira.
* RuleOfSymbolism: The only times Yoshitsune ever uses his tantou in ''Atsukashi Ibun''/the Trial Run is when he performs an honorable act; the first time when he commits seppuku, and the second when he [[spoiler:frees Yorimoto and tells him to escape the mountain]]. Any time he uses his other sword is for violence or struggling with the thought of violence.
* RunningGag: Ishikirimru's slowness, a reference to his MightyGlacier status in the original game.
* SayMyName: "MY LOOOOOORD!"/"LORD YOSHITSUNEEEEE!" "BENKEIIIII!" "IWATOOSHIII!"
* SchmuckBait: During the frontal raid on Yoshitsune's castle, Ishikirimaru tosses an enemy a sword to fight with--right before Kashuu comes in to knock it out of his hands.
* SillyMeGesture: Imnotsurugi does one when he forgets his own name talking to Yoshitsune.
* StartsWithASuicide: How ''Atsukashiyama Ibun''/Trial Run opens up. After Benkei gives his life defending Yoshitsune to the last, Yoshitsune himself commits seppuku/harakiri to the confused ramblings of Imanotsurugi.
* HeroicSacrifice: In order to stop Yoshitsune once and for all, Iwatooshi holds the former back and has Munechika run through the both of them. Munechika only manages to hit Yoshitsune, excusing his oldness.
* TakingTheBullet: Before [[spoiler:possessed!Yoshitsune]] has a chance to slice through Imanotsurugi, Iwatooshi throws him out of the way to take one of his many critical injuries in the climax.
* ThisIsSomethingHesGotToDoHimself: The older swords invoke this on Iwatooshi and Kashuu as they struggle with their goals during the Mt. Atsukashi mission.
** According to Kogitsunemaru, Kashuu needs to discover the correct method of leadership by himself, as he won't just give him he answer.
** Whether or not it's right to act on their own accord or by their master's orders is up to them to decide.
* UndyingLoyalty: Imanotsurugi is hellbent on meeting and protecting his master Yoshitsune, even though that's not what he was sent there to do. The fact that he needs to correct history--which means his master needs to die again--causes him to run off to Atsukashi and try to find Yoshitsune himself, as well as [[spoiler:protect the corrupted corpse of Yoshitsune from the other Touken Danshi]] because of his love for him.
* WarriorTherapist: Munechika prefers to let fighting (or dancing) do the talking when it comes to conversation. After all, he believes that they're far most honest than words can be.
* WhamLine: While Yoshitsune is struggling with his sword, we see a glimpse of him that was much less violent than his earlier portrayals showed us:
--> "I need to ask my brother! *much softer, saner voice* For what reason did he want to kill me?"
* WellIntentionedExtremist: [[spoiler:Yoshitsune's sword]], oddly enough. The Saniwa muses that after the Revisionist came into contact with it, the sword gained its own will and tried to led Yoshitsune down the path it thought best for its master.
* WhatIsThisThingYouCallLove: As a new recruit, Iwatooshi isn't quite used to having emotions yet, finding himself reacting to everything most haphazardly and putting his feelings in conflict with his duty to the Saniwa. He admits he found it easier to be an inanimate object, because he didn't have to deal with such complications.
* WoundedGazelleGambit: Just as Benkei comes close to finishing off [[spoiler: the possessed Yoshitsune]], suddenly he acts as if he was freed, begging Benkei to keep protecting him. Catching him off his guard, possessed Yoshitsune goes for the kill.
* YouRemindMeOfX: In the musicals, Benkei is taken aback by Imanotsurugi's personality, seeing a younger version of Yoshitsune in him.
[[/folder]]
One of [[Theater/TouStage two]] distinct stage continuities, ''Musical Touken Ranbu'' (or '''''[=TouMyu=]''''' as it's affectionately abbreviated) is a series of musicals developed by (...). Coming months after the release of the original game in 2015, these musicals take focus on quite a few groups of Touken Danshi as they travel through time and solve their current historical conundrum. Since there's no real overarching story in the games, this particular continuity solves the problem by making up some of its own; so the characters get to tussle with some of history's most interesting characters, fight some unusual adversaries, and sing a verse or two along the way. And after the musicals end, the audience is treated to an extra performance by the cast, one involving all of them doing battle in the modern day the only way they can-- by putting on flashy and exciting idol concerts for hundreds of Saniwa!
Wait, what?
''Touken Ranbu'' and {{Idol Singer}}s mixed together? In ''canon''? It's an unusual combination, but it worked. In fact it worked so well that the series has been running successfully for three years with 5 plays and 3 concerts unders its belt; enough to score even a whole solo concert for none other than Kashuu Kiyomitsu.
In July 2018, the musical franchise branched out internationally; the original cast came back to perform ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'' at Japan Expo for the French audience, while the [=DVDs=] for the play now come with English subtitles.
[[folder:Performances (Musical)]]
* Musical Touken Ranbu: Trial Performance (2015)
-->[[labelnote: +Summary]]Kashuu Kiyomitsu, after being debriefed by his Saniwa, is given leadership position on a mission. His task: lead the very oddball Sanjou school Touken Danshi to Mt. Atsukashi, 1189, in order to see about the Historical Revisionists targeting Lord Minamoto no Yoshitsune. Strange enough, when they get there, they find that both Yoshitsune and his retainer, Musashibo Benkei, are alive when they're both supposed to be dead following Fujiwara no Yatsuhira's ambush on his home. Although they should investigate further, Imanotsurugi is too starstruck by his former master to want to carry it out; while Iwatooshi, a relatively new Touken Danshi, is conflicted about his mission and his fellow Danshi's happiness. Meanwhile, Yoshitsune wants bloody revenge on Yoritomo, his envious brother who carried out he hit, and he and Benkei begin to rely on some dark power to achieve it...[[/labelnote]]
* ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'' (The Strange Tale of Mt. Atsukashi) (2016): Essentially, a revision of the Trial Run. It adds three new songs to the main play (Kogitsunemaru and Ishikirimaru get "Utaka no Komori Uta", Ishikirimaru and Kashuu replace their war conversation with "Mujun to iu Na no Tsubomi", and Imanotsurugi protecting Yoshitsune in the climax is turned into "Oboeteiru"), and some aesthetic changes are made.
* ''Bakamatsu Tenrouden'' (2016)
* ''Mitohose no Komoriuta'' (2017)
* ''Tsuwamono Domo ga Yume no Ato'' (2017)
* ''Musubi no Hiki, Hajimari no Ne'' (2018)
* Shinkenranbu Sai - The Concert Episode.
** Shinkenranbu Sai 2016: The casts of ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'' and ''Bakamatsu Tenrouden'' return for a whole night of dance and song!
** Shinkenranbu Sai 2017
* ''Kashuu Kiyomitsu Tanki Shutsujin/ Solo Performance''-- ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin. Kashuu performs by himself for thousands of admirers.
** Tanki Shutsujin 2017
** Tanki Shutsujin 2018
* Atsukashiyama Ibun 2018-- A rerun of the first play for Paris Japan Expo.
[[/folder]]
----
! Tropes spanning the entire musical series:
* AllMusicalsAreAdaptations: You'd better believe it. But in this case, it's only loosely adapted; the basic premise and characters is all the musicals take. The rest is crafted wholesale.
* BlowThatHorn: How announcements are made known in this Citadel.
* BreakoutCharacter: Kashuu by far is the most loved of the stage characters and the actors, scoring an original solo event beginning in 2017 and is thus far the only stage character to obtain one.
* CloseEnoughTimeline: Really, "correcting history's mistakes" just boils down to this. The good side doesn't much care ''how'' history corrected itself, it just needs to have the same events happen to coalign with current history, and they'll be fine.
** Sure, Yoshitsune and Benkei don't die in the raid by Yasuhashi, and Yoshitsune doesn't commit seppuku, but they still die [[spoiler:albeit, by Yoshitsune's hand in Benkei's case and after being possessed in Yoshitsune's case]].
* ClothingDamage: As in the game it's based on, sme swords get their clothing destroyed in the heat of battle. Iwatooshi and Imanotsurugi get their clothes shredded for their Awakening attacks in the first play.
* ContinuityNod: Kashuu's fanservice line in Shinkenranbu Sai ("I'll love you as long as you look at me") references one of his songs from his solo concert (Mitsumekure naru/As long as you look at me).
* {{Fanservice}}: So very much of it in these musicals:
** Any time the swords fight, and [[ClothingDamage clothes get torn up]] along the way. Especially their awakenings.
** "Otokomichi" has the performing Touken Danshi throw their tops off, revealing their sweaty, slim tops and midriffs/chests to the audience.
** ''Tanki Shutsujin'' is filled with this. One of Kashuu's songs has him bound up singing about how much he loves his master; he and the backup dancers dance more provocatively in some musical numbers, and they get to mess around with him.
** At one point, Horikawa is tied up by the Shinsengumi, interrogated by Hijikata himself.
* GratuitousEnglish: The concert songs in general are full of this. "Gateway" is the worst offender.
* HandWave: The reason why the Touken Danshi are suddenly singing and dancing on stage? Apparently, this is just how people battle in the 21st century, and they need to practice their skills as performers as well as swordsmen, as is the way of a true samurai. Why they need the glowsticks and strobe lights is another matter entirely.
* IdolSinger: Surprisingly, yes. The Touken Danshi also moonlight as idol singers whenever they travel to the modern day.
* MythologyGag:
** You'll sometimes hear the characters' in-game quotes during the plays, especially when battle rears its head.
** For the ''Touken Ranbu'' franchise's third anniversary, the ''Musubi no Hiki'' main cast took photos as their respective Touken Danshi, sitting as they do in their characters' in-game anniversary pictures.
* SillyLoveSongs: "Your Song" is definitely a sort of platonic love song to the Danshi's masters. They sing more conventional love songs, like "Blink", "Tokenai Mahou", and "MISTAKE", in the post-play concerts.
* TheTeam: In the musical, the main characters form a group. As we see from the main website:
** Squad 1: Team Sanjou with Kashuu Kiyomitsu[[note]]Mikazuki Munechika, Kogitsunemaru, Iwatooshi, Ishikirimaru, Imanotsurugi,and Kashuu Kiyomitsu)[[/note]]
*** The fourth musical excises Kashuu and Mikazuki to include the Genji brothers (Higekiri and Hizamaru).
** Team Shinsengumi with Hachisuka Kotetsu [[note]]Hachisuka Kotetsu, Nagasone Kotetsu, Horikawa Kunihiro, Izuminokami Kanesada, Yamatonokami Yasusada and Kashuu Kiyomitsu[[/note]]
*** The fifth musical slightly changes this lineup to include Tomeagata Naginata and Mutsunokami Yoshiyuki, replacing Kashuu and Hachisuka.
** Team Mihotose[[note]]Sengo Muramasa, Nikkari Aoe, Ookurikara, Ishikirimaru, Monoyoshi Sadamune, and Tonbokiri[[/note]]
* PassingTheTorch: The Sanjous have to say goodbye at the end of closing night, paving the way for the Shinsengumi swords (and Hachisuka) to take stage for ''Bakumatsu Ryouden''.
* PopularHistory: In full effect here. First Squad is taken to the Mt. Atsukashi battle, where Benkei and Yoshitsune are killed in battle and dead from suicide repeatedly. They're there to investigate why they're ''not'' dead yet.
* RevolvingDoorCasting: No one cast is completely consistent from play to play. There are some consistent teams (Sanjou, Shinsengumi), but even then they'll have different unrelated Touken Danshi coming along for the ride.
* SecondEpisodeIntroduction: Yamatonokami is first mentioned in ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'', where Kashuu asks the Saniwa to bring him on their mission (as a more competent member). He doesn't actully show up until the very next play ''Bakumatsu Tenrouden ''.
* SpiritualSuccessor: Can be seen as a New Tens equivalent to the ''Theatre/ThePrinceOfTennis'' musicals, being musical adaptations of male-centric franchises which grew wildly popular.
* AWildRapperAppears: Series staple "MISTAKE" counts on Ishikirimaru and Munechika to come in with their rap verses after the first chorus.
* WorldOfHam: Everyone's just as loud and passionate as the person next to them. Scenery flies off the shelves practically every second.
[[folder: Atsukashiyama Ibun & Trial Run]]
* ArcWords: "Purpose" (''yakuwari'').
* AxCrazy: There's really not a scene that goes by when Yasuhira doesn't either scream or laugh maniacally. [[spoiler:How much of it is his new Revisionist-based strength is anyone's guess.]]
* BigDamnHeroes: Imanotsurugi came at just the right time to save Yoritomo from execution, enough to have everyone talk it out for a second.
* BraggingThemeTune: "Touken Ranbu" is pretty much this and an ExpositoryThemeTune, having each relevant sword talk about how awesome they themselves are and how they're going to keep fighting until their last breath.
* BreakingTheFourthWall: After he and Kashuu share a heart to heart about war and an ambush plan, he nods to the audience before being dragged to battle.
* BrutalHonesty: While Imanotsurugi is ecstatic to see Yoshitsune at a time when he's still alive, Iwatooshi has to give him a very painful reminder that they're only here to correct history and not to further screw up the timeline, which also means they can't let their former masters know who they are. Imanotsurugi takes it so harshly he runs away in near tears.
* CallBack: While calming Imanotsurugi down in "I Remember", Iwatooshi tells him to "remember the gift that the clouds gave us/ thousands of twinkling stars"; referencing "Kira Kira" and the ecstatic feeling Imanotsurugi had remembering his master. The same gestures are used here too.
* CharacterizationMarchesOn: You can see some definite differences in how the characters act in the Trial Run versus how they are in ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'':
** Kashuu is a little less dramatic in the beginning; instead of falling over himself when he's assigned the Sanjou swords, he's just slightly miffed. He's also less childlike than he was in the original (see: his CoyGirlishFlirtPose in the original deriefing vs. his more resigned stature in ''Ibun''), but seemingly more insecure about his breaking on the battlefield ("breaking in battle is a sword's highest honor/our worth as swords depends on how many we've killed" vs. "breaking desn't make us any less of a sword").
** Munechika's early scene showing how he doesn't get fieldwork is replaced with him playfully using the hoe as a running springboard, better reflecting his easygoing personality.
** Yoshitsune, in the Trial Run, seemed to joke a lot more given how not seriously he enters.
* CombinationAttack: At the climax of ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'', all of Squad 1 takes their turns whittling down [[spoiler:[=possessed!Yoshitsune=] ]], until he finally goes down to Iwatooshi and Imanotsurugi's combined Divine Death Blow.
* CueTheSun: The sun rises on our heroes just as they finish taking down [[spoiler:the possessed Yoshitsune]], right on cue.
* DemonicPossession: After the fight with Yasuhashi, contact with the Retrograde Army somehow led to Yoshitsune's sword coming to life in addition to the immesurable power given to him, Benkei, and Yasuhira. [[spoiler:Yoshitsune's sword ends up taking over by stabbing itself into his body, killing Yoshitsune but leaving him a controllable corpse.]]
* DoubleTake: Kashuu was fine with having Imanotsurugi on his team, but as soon as Ishikirimaru is mentioned, he starts questioning the Saniwa's choice of comrades.
* DrivingQuestion: What is your purpose? Why do you act?
* EnemyMine: After learning of their fates from the Historical Revisionists, and after learning he'd be betrayed after his death, Yoshitsune, Benkei, and Yasuhira join forces to take down Yorimoto.
* EnemyWithin: In the end, the Saniwa figures [[spoiler:Yoshitsune's sword]] was like this. It was willing to do all of the things Yoshitsune rejects in the back of his mind.
* EstablishingCharacterMoment: Each of Squad 1 has theirs in ''Atsukashiyama Ibun'':
** Munechika's first shown goofing off while doing fieldwork, showing his easygoing nature.
** Iwatooshi and Imanotsurugi spar in their first scene together, which quickly turns into a game of tag, showing off their close and brotherly relationship. Iwatooshi is also shown trying to keep Imanotsurugi's best intersts in mind and making him happy. Ishikirimaru, who appears in the scene a little later, is seen blessing the Citadel (showing off how seriously he takes his duties).
** Kashuu is first seen anticipating the Saniwa's word, shuting excited at what he considered "special treatment", and moaning loudly about having to keep the Sanjou swords uner control until the Saniwa places his hopes on him.
* {{Foreshadowing}}:
** Notice how Kashuu wanted Yamatonokami on his team? Or how his issues with his breakage seem to fuel his early actions as a leader? Or how much stock he takes in the Shinsengumi code? Or how he's the only caracter disconnected from the rest of the Sanjou theme? Good thing ''that's'' not going to come up in another play...
** During the mission debriefing, Kashuu points out that most of the team (save Iwatooshi and Imanotsurugi) have been to Atsukashi before, impying that going to a specific event multiple times is normal. The latter two will have plenty of experience by the time they go back in ''Tsuwamono Domo''.
* FunnyBackgroundEvent: Notice that before the team get sent off to Atsukashi, Kogitsune runs around in circles chasing his clothes.
* FrameUp: Yorimoto was the one trying to kill Yoshitsune. Yasuhira was just called in as a fall guy, so Yorimoto could post-humously pin Yoshitsune's death on the latter man.
* HatePlague
* HaveWeMet: After fighting againt Iwatooshi and noticing his fighting style, Benkei asks if they've interacted before. Of course, Iwatooshi declines.
* IronicEcho: "Even in death, watch over me!" has been used by Yoshitsune in the beginning of the play, and then again by Yoshitsune [[spoiler:or rather, the sword controlling him]] when he tricks Benkei [[spoiler:into letting his guard down so he can attack the man]].
* LaughingMad: Yasuhira is this on the daily. [[spoiler:Yoshitsune is only this after his sword fully possesses him.]]
* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: Just before "Takaramono" begins, Kashuu sings the final line "Arukidaseru" (i'm setting out), just before he and Kogitsunemaru leave the stage.
* LeaveHimToMe: Whenever Benkei encounters the Touken Danshi in battle, Iwatooshi shoos them away in order to fight the man himself. Who better to fight Musashibo Benkei than his own former weapon?
* LickingTheBlade: Yoshitsune, when bloodthirsty, has this as his CharacterTic [[spoiler:which is actually just the sword possessing him]]. Used cruelly when he licks [[spoiler:Benkei's]] blood off of his sword after he kills the latter.
* MakeWrongWhatOnceWentRight: The Revisionists decide to inform Yoshitsune of Yorimoto's assassination attempt, which, along with somehow making an ally of his would-be killer Yasuhira, allows Yoshitsune and Benkei to survive their fatal final battles. The fact that they're alive at all after this point gives the Touken Danshi reason to investigate this matter and correct it.
* MeaningfulEcho:
** In the beginning of ''Atsukashi Ibun'', Yoshitsune tells the dying Benkei to "meet [him] in the next world, and the ones after next"; later on after the climax, Iwatooshi reaffirms Yoshitsune's statement to Imanotsurugi and gives him a shoulder ride as he did in the beginning of the musical.
** In the beginning of the Mt. Atsukashi mission, we see Yoshitsune disown his brother after he learns that he tried to kill him. Later on in the climax, Imanotsurugi finally finds the strength to complete his assigned mission after he disowns Yoshitsune, or rather [[spoiler:the sword possessing his corpse]].
* MercyKill:
* MutualEnvy: Yoshitsune looks at Yorimoto's political genius, envious that he has the skills to lead Japan into an era of peace. But Yorimoto doesn't see things that way; being TheUnfavorite, he looks at Yoshitsune's military genius, popularity, and how most of their acquaintances want Yoshitsune to take clan head position. Leads into CainAndAbel pretty quickly, considering how he attempts to kill Yoshitsune.
* MyMasterRightOrWrong: Benkei is compelled to follow Yoshitsune, even when he knows that [[spoiler:he's been possessed]]. Not wanting to lay arms on his young lord, he asks Iwatooshi to either kill him or stop Yoshitsune in his stead, which the Touken Danshi readily agrees to.
* NaiveNewcomer: Iwtooshi and Imanotsurugi fulfill this role. Iwatooshi because he's a relatively new Touken Danshi, and both him and Imanotsurugi because they've never been on a Mt. Atsukashi mission before and therefore can't handle themselves there like their other partners can.
* QuarrelingSong: ''I Remember'' takes place at the climax of the play, with Imanotsurugi blocking off his friends from killing Yoshitsune while the rest of them are telling him to move out of the way.
* RagtagBunchOfMisfits: The Sanjou+Kiyomitsu team is treated like one in the beginning. There's no real strategic advantge to putting them together besides theme; Munechika and Kogitsunemaru are too carefree, Ishikirimaru is too busy taking his priest duties seriously, Iwatooshi's completely new, and Kashuu has only just been given a leadership role for this mission. Saniwa even lampshades how unlikely the team would be on a normal basis.
* RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver: [[spoiler:Yoshitsune]]'s completely possessed form is so ObviouslyEvil it hurts. His wardrobe is black will red accents, with the top covered in a cobweb pattern.
* ResistTheBeast: Benkei certainly tries his best to do so; whenever he catches himself struggling with the dark power his weapon now wields, he bites, struggles, drops his weapon enough to return to a regular state. Yoshitsune does this as well, having to physically restrain the sword from coming out. Fortunately, the former doesn't let it win over him. [[spoiler:''Un''fortunately, the latter forcibly loses control.]]
* {{Retirony}}: All Yoshitsune wants is to know why Yoritomo tried to have him killed. Once he learns that, he mentions that he wants to retire from his position as military head and become a monk afterwards. [[spoiler:Too bad his sword doesn't feel the same way.]]
* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: By all accounts, Yoshitsune is trying to collect Yorimoto's head after his failed assassination attempt with Yasuhira.
* RuleOfSymbolism: The only times Yoshitsune ever uses his tantou in ''Atsukashi Ibun''/the Trial Run is when he performs an honorable act; the first time when he commits seppuku, and the second when he [[spoiler:frees Yorimoto and tells him to escape the mountain]]. Any time he uses his other sword is for violence or struggling with the thought of violence.
* RunningGag: Ishikirimru's slowness, a reference to his MightyGlacier status in the original game.
* SayMyName: "MY LOOOOOORD!"/"LORD YOSHITSUNEEEEE!" "BENKEIIIII!" "IWATOOSHIII!"
* SchmuckBait: During the frontal raid on Yoshitsune's castle, Ishikirimaru tosses an enemy a sword to fight with--right before Kashuu comes in to knock it out of his hands.
* SillyMeGesture: Imnotsurugi does one when he forgets his own name talking to Yoshitsune.
* StartsWithASuicide: How ''Atsukashiyama Ibun''/Trial Run opens up. After Benkei gives his life defending Yoshitsune to the last, Yoshitsune himself commits seppuku/harakiri to the confused ramblings of Imanotsurugi.
* HeroicSacrifice: In order to stop Yoshitsune once and for all, Iwatooshi holds the former back and has Munechika run through the both of them. Munechika only manages to hit Yoshitsune, excusing his oldness.
* TakingTheBullet: Before [[spoiler:possessed!Yoshitsune]] has a chance to slice through Imanotsurugi, Iwatooshi throws him out of the way to take one of his many critical injuries in the climax.
* ThisIsSomethingHesGotToDoHimself: The older swords invoke this on Iwatooshi and Kashuu as they struggle with their goals during the Mt. Atsukashi mission.
** According to Kogitsunemaru, Kashuu needs to discover the correct method of leadership by himself, as he won't just give him he answer.
** Whether or not it's right to act on their own accord or by their master's orders is up to them to decide.
* UndyingLoyalty: Imanotsurugi is hellbent on meeting and protecting his master Yoshitsune, even though that's not what he was sent there to do. The fact that he needs to correct history--which means his master needs to die again--causes him to run off to Atsukashi and try to find Yoshitsune himself, as well as [[spoiler:protect the corrupted corpse of Yoshitsune from the other Touken Danshi]] because of his love for him.
* WarriorTherapist: Munechika prefers to let fighting (or dancing) do the talking when it comes to conversation. After all, he believes that they're far most honest than words can be.
* WhamLine: While Yoshitsune is struggling with his sword, we see a glimpse of him that was much less violent than his earlier portrayals showed us:
--> "I need to ask my brother! *much softer, saner voice* For what reason did he want to kill me?"
* WellIntentionedExtremist: [[spoiler:Yoshitsune's sword]], oddly enough. The Saniwa muses that after the Revisionist came into contact with it, the sword gained its own will and tried to led Yoshitsune down the path it thought best for its master.
* WhatIsThisThingYouCallLove: As a new recruit, Iwatooshi isn't quite used to having emotions yet, finding himself reacting to everything most haphazardly and putting his feelings in conflict with his duty to the Saniwa. He admits he found it easier to be an inanimate object, because he didn't have to deal with such complications.
* WoundedGazelleGambit: Just as Benkei comes close to finishing off [[spoiler: the possessed Yoshitsune]], suddenly he acts as if he was freed, begging Benkei to keep protecting him. Catching him off his guard, possessed Yoshitsune goes for the kill.
* YouRemindMeOfX: In the musicals, Benkei is taken aback by Imanotsurugi's personality, seeing a younger version of Yoshitsune in him.
[[/folder]]
