Line #48 UsefulNotes/UesugiKenshin


1	[[quoteright:270:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/uesugi_kenshin_statue_8083.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:270:''"[[YouCantFightFate Your fortune lies with heaven]]. [[TheAnticipator Your armor lies on your chest]]. [[DareToBeBadass Your meritorious deeds lay on your feet]]."''[[labelnote:Original Japanese]]運は天にあり、鎧は胸にあり、手柄は足にあり。 (''Un wa ten ni ari, yoroi wa mune ni ari, tegara wa ashi ni ari.'')[[/labelnote]]]]
3	If you're looking for [[Manga/RurouniKenshin that other Kenshin]], you're in the wrong place.
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5	Uesugi Kenshin (February 18, 1530 – April 19, 1578) is one of the most famous [[UsefulNotes/{{Japan}} Japanese]] daimyo in the [[UsefulNotes/SengokuPeriod Warring States]] era, reigning in prominence before UsefulNotes/OdaNobunaga rose to power. He was a [[RealMenLoveJesus devout Buddhist]], praying to [[WarGod Bishamonten]] most of the time. Combined with his prowess in the battlefield, he's also often regarded as either Bishamonten's Avatar or the God of War himself. A tamer nickname for him would be the 'Dragon of Echigo.'
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7	Born to the Nagao family [[note]] the family was ''shugo-dai'', in other words ManBehindTheMan to the ruling Uesugi family in Echigo[[/note]] in 1530, he was disliked by his father and put in a Buddhist monastery [[note]]not an unusual thing for younger sons[[/note]]. His father died when he was 13. Next year he changed his name to Nagao Kagetora, and his sickly older brother recalled him and gave him a castle and his own domain. The very next year there was a rebellion against his brother. The rebels attacked Kagetora's castle, [[UnderestimatingBadassery thinking nothing of its young new owner]], and he [[CurbstompBattle crushed them]]. He was [[ImprobableAge 15]] and this was the first battle he ever participated in.
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9	He was named chief general for his brother at the [[ImprobableAge age of 16]]. His brother was a weak and sickly ruler, and Echigo province fractured. Kagetora put down rebellions left and right. He kicked so much ass that Nagao subjects [[AsskickingLeadsToLeadership begged him to take over the clan]]. This he did reluctantly [[note]]after his brother forced his hand by attacking him, and even then he asked the powerless Uesugi ''shugo'' to come up with a fair solution[[/note]]. He was 19, and finished the reunification of Echigo province at 22.
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11	Perhaps one of the things that made him famous was [[TheRival his rivalry]] with fellow warlord UsefulNotes/TakedaShingen. The conflict began soon after the reunification of Echigo when refugees from North Shinano asked Kagetora to help them take back their land from Shingen. The two reputedly clashed in the very same battlefield of Kawanakajima ''five times''... With no clear winner. A very famous, oft-re-depicted scene would be an event in the fourth battle where Kenshin managed to charge alone into Shingen's camp on his horse, ready to cut down Shingen... And Shingen grabbed a [[PaperFanOfDoom war fan]] and deflected most of Kenshin's attacks until he retreated. Despite this rivalry, when outside the battlefield, they were known to [[FriendlyEnemy be friendly with each other and exchanged gifts often]], and helped one another out against other warlords [[note]]This is likely to be fiction than actual historical fact[[/note]]. A famous anecdote is that when Shingen's other enemies cut off his salt supply [[note]]Shingen's Kai province is land-locked, and so salt had to be imported[[/note]], Kenshin provided him with salt, saying, "I do not fight with salt, but with the sword." Shingen's nickname, the 'Tiger of Kai', made their rivalry Japan's TropeCodifier for TigerVersusDragon.
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13	He was adopted into the Uesugi family and given the position of ''Kanto Kanrei'' for going to Kyoto to help out the Shogun and (temporarily) retaking land lost to Hojo Ujiyasu by the previous Uesugi ''Kanto Kanrei''. He then became a monk, with Dharma name of Kenshin. Thus Uesugi Kenshin.
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15	Once Shingen died (reportedly Kenshin wept openly at this and went into mourning for a time), along with another big rival warlord, Hojo Ujiyasu, Kenshin was free to expand his territory and make his march to the capital... And clash with good ol' Oda Nobunaga at Tedorigawa. Kenshin was utterly victorious, wiping out Nobunaga's army. It would seem that Kenshin would be the one to claim rule over the country...
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17	Then he died midway there [[note]]It's theorized he was assassinated, but it was also pretty certain he had esophageal cancer at the time of his death so whatever killed him is more of a technicality[[/note]], and Nobunaga once again seized his opportunity to reach the capital. That lucky bastard.
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19	Another wild, popular rumor is that Kenshin was actually a woman, all based on the rumor that he never married and had no children on his own, thus popularizing either androgynous depictions in other media, or flat out giving him a GenderFlip. All his children were adopted, his successor Kagekatsu, who claimed the position after emerging victorious from an infamous power struggle against his adoptive brother Kagetora (son of the aforementioned Hojo Ujiyasu), being the son of Kenshin's older sister. Due to clever political maneuvering, the Uesugi clan continued to exist well into the UsefulNotes/MeijiRestoration (having acquired a noble title) and even into the present day.
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21	%%!!Tropes as portrayed in fiction:
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23	!!Works referencing him:
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25	* The Uesugi is a playable clan in ''[[VideoGame/ShogunTotalWar Shogun: Total War]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/TotalWarShogun2 Total War: Shogun 2]]''. The clan specializes in Warrior Monks.
26	* Uesugi Kenshin is playable in ''VideoGame/SamuraiWarriors'' and for once, isn't such a {{bishonen}} like most other depictions, in addition of being voiced by [[Creator/JojiNakata Jouji Nakata]] (along with UsefulNotes/TokugawaIeyasu) which makes his his face is kind of scary. As usual, his rivalry with Shingen exists and plays part in his series. The 3rd game includes his sister Aya Gozen, and the fourth game, his adopted son and clan successor Uesugi Kagekatsu. Kenshin's never seen with his hair on display (it's always covered with turban or some form of headwear).
27	** The fifth game, being a SoftReboot, features a younger Kenshin, with a change of voice actor into Creator/KazuyukiOkitsu as well as some of his hair being more visible underneath his head wear: Turns out he's a LongHairedPrettyBoy with white hair.
28	** Kenshin also appears in ''Kessen III'' as one of Nobunaga's oppositions, and is a seriously dangerous enemy.
29	** In ''VideoGame/NobunagasAmbition'', Kenshin also is one of the generals available there. One of the titles also offers a WhatIf story which confirms the rumor that Kenshin is actually a woman, thus gives a female-Kenshin as a character (in addition to male-Kenshin).
30	*** Crossover-slash-spinoff ''VideoGame/PokemonConquest'' features Kenshin as warlord of Psychic-type nation Illusion, and pairs him up with Gallade [[spoiler: and later Mewtwo]]. His friendly rivalry with Shingen is featured as well.
31	* Uesugi Kenshin in ''VideoGame/SengokuBasara'' is [[AnIcePerson An Ice]] IaijutsuPractitioner with SuperSpeed, complete with the androgynous appearance and the voice of [[Creator/RomiPark Romi Paku]]. And a tendency to make dramatic (elegant) poses, to match with his battle prowess. He's accompanied with an original character, a kunoichi named Kasuga, who is madly in love with him and has a tendency to orgasm whenever he compliments her (and Kenshin does this a lot). And yes, Shingen's there as his rival too.
32	** The LiveActionAdaptation ''Sengoku Basara Moonlight Party'' acknowledges this by actually casting a woman (Mayuko Arisue aka [[Series/KamenRiderOOO Ms Satonaka]]) as Uesugi.
33	* ''Anime/BattleGirlsTimeParadox'' features a GenderFlip Kenshin. Still duking it out with Shingen, this Kenshin's swinging a spear, all ShockAndAwe SpamAttack. The TigerVersusDragon motif isn't mentioned, though; in fact, ''Shingen's'' the one who gets to throw a big dragon.
34	* Another Gender-flipped Kenshin can be found in ''VideoGame/SengokuRance'', being a LadyOfWar per excellence and one of the romanceable characters in the game, and proved so popular that she's often considered one of the best H-Game heroines ever.
35	* Kenshin also appears in the NHK drama named ''Fuurin Kazan'' portrayed by Creator/{{Gackt}}. Yes. That Gackt. Unlike most romanticized portrayals of the Takeda-Uesugi rivalry, Kagetora (as he is known for most of the series until taking on his iconic name) is openly disgusted by Shingen's reputation as a RapePillageAndBurn kind of warlord (mostly a) because his allies/retainers were enemies Shingen defeated or forced to flee; and b) for most of the middle of the series, Shingen was somewhat SlowlySlippingIntoEvil due to his victories). He would only get a [[WorthyOpponent proper measure of Shingen's character]] when they finally clash personally at Kawanakajima. It would be Shingen's strategist, Yamamoto Kansuke, who would have a more direct engagement and battle of wits with him.
36	** He was also voiced by Gackt in ''Manga/TonoToIssho'', as an alcoholic with a Manga/{{Doraemon}} fetish.
37	* In ''Literature/MirageOfBlaze'' he became the actual Bishamonten after his death and established the Underworld Uesugi Army made up of reincarnating spirits of his once-retainers, to protect Japan from vengeful spirits of other Sengoku era generals. The commander of this army is Uesugi Kagetora, one of Kenshin's adopted sons who, in the Sengoku period, was defeated by his older brother Uesugi Kagekatsu in the civil war that erupted over succession of the clan after Kenshin's death, and consequently committed suicide.
38	* In ''VideoGame/OnimushaSoul'', Kenshin Uesugi will be one of the playable characters, as a Daimyo sided with the [[DarkIsNotEvil Oni]]. To contrast, his rival Shingen is sided with the Genma. This time, Kenshin [[GenderFlip really is]] a woman in disguise, fights with a longsword and has a Oni Gauntlet.
39	* Though ''Manga/RurouniKenshin'' isn't about him, Himura Kenshin is named after him, and even sends rice to his enemies as an act of mercy at one point. An author's note hangs a lampshade on it: "Kenshin speaks of Kenshin."
40	* In the ''Franchise/AssassinsCreed'' universe, Kenshin is given a HistoricalVillainUpgrade as a member of the [[KnightTemplar Templar Order]]. Besides his Templar membership, he also possessed a Sword of Eden from his deceased rival Takeda Shingen and was later assassinated by Hattori Hanzo in 1578.
41	* In ''VisualNovel/IkemenSengoku'', Kenshin is a BloodKnight who has lived longer than his real-life counterpart due to the intervention of [[UsefulNotes/SarutobiSasuke Sasuke Sarutobi]] (a modern-day man who inadvertently traveled through time and became Kenshin's loyal ninja here) and become [[TeethClenchedTeamwork grudging allies]] with Shingen Takeda to take down their mutual enemy Nobunaga Oda.
42	* In ''VideoGame/FateGrandOrder'', Kenshin has two appearances and an indirect mention:
43	** During the first GUDAGUDA event, which lampooned the UsefulNotes/SengokuPeriod, Kenshin was represented by [[VisualNovel/FateStayNight Artoria]] (her name being Uesugi Artoria), being late to the showdown between Oda/Shinsengumi vs Takeda.
44	** During the third GUDAGUDA event, Nobunaga briefly references Kenshin by her title as the Dragon of Echigo and alludes to [[UndignifiedDeath her death by esophageal cancer while on the toilet]] while talking about [[ItMakesSenseInContext how "beautiful Warring States maidens" do in fact use the bathroom]].
45	** Kenshin got the typical GenderFlip referencing the popular idea of him actually being a woman and became a Servant for the fourth GUDAGUDA event, using her childhood name Nagao Kagetora. She's a Lancer-class Servant capable of riding a horse and striking at her enemy with ''eight'' different weapons for her Noble Phantasm and is voiced by Creator/NanaMizuki. Kenshin is depicted as [[MoralSociopathy a fundamentally amoral and insane person relentlessly drilled in Buddhist ethics so that she could properly function]], this primarily manifests as being absolutely unable to show any other expression except smiling, even when she's about to dangerously wreck someone's shit. Her own family were terrified by her, and even after she earned the awe and admiration of her followers with her skill in battle and tactics there was always some fear in it; ''Fate'' often stresses that it's not nice, normal people who get referred to as living gods. [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking And yes, the fact that she "croaked on the crapper" comes up yet again]]; fitting to her sociopathic and easygoing nature Nagao laughs it off. She later gets a Ruler-class alt with the name Uesugi Kenshin during the eighth GUDAGUDA event.
46	* ''Franchise/SDGundam BB Senshi'' had a model series titled ''SD Sengokuden Ten to Chi To'', which focused on making Gunpla based on figures in Japanese history. However it only released two models, with one of them being Kenshin Gundam. This concept was later revisited in ''Toys/SDSengokudenBushinKourinHen'', which while also short-lived had more models, including Uesugi Kenshin Gundam.
47	* In ''VideoGame/SamuraiMaiden'', Uesugi Kenshin appears as a HistoricalGenderFlip antagonist. Kenshin was a man in real life, but a [[https://youtu.be/T-jmdxacY3w promotional trailer]] (jokingly) states that this game is actually the accurate representation of the warlord.
48	* The ''TabletopGame/MutantsAndMasterminds'' fan setting ''[[https://www.echoesofthemultiverse.com/viewtopic.php?t=1631 A World Less Magical (But No Less Fantastic)]]'' zig-zags the HistoricalGenderFlip Kenshin often receives by mentioning the theories that Kenshin was a woman, and saying that conventional historians are right to dismiss them; Kenshin was a man. [[https://www.echoesofthemultiverse.com/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=1631&p=165969#p165969 A transgender man who was assigned female at birth.]]
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Context UsefulNotes / UesugiKenshin