The Hyougo Suigun Referral
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nintama-- a post made about those darn seafarers, for us wayfarers! With the increasing interest in this specific cast, i've decided to compile as much information as I can into this one post!
This entry is separated into:
- What is the Hyougo Suigun?
- Who is in the Hyougo Suigun?
- Jobs on the Ship
- The Recommended Watch Order
- General Episode List
- Trivia on the Hyougo Suigun!
- Final thoughts
This is a decently sized post about the Hyougo Suigun as a whole, so feel free to skip around if you only need to read certain parts(like episode numbers).In terms of references, I will mostly be pulling from the anime version, as I haven't gotten a source for certain volumes of the manga. References to the musicals, as well as semi-canon(tsudoi) is also present.
Be advised! While this is mostly a meta guide for those new to the pirates, this entry sort of started going everywhere- there is a tiny bit of squee, and the contents of this post is open for discussion and corrections(i'm running with little to no knowledge of Japanese, and im sure there are fans who've been around longer than I have).
That being said, let's begin!
What is the Hyougo Suigun?
The Hyougo Suigun is essentially a naval force often located near or in the Seto Inland Sea, between the islands of Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu. While 'Suigun' directly translates to 'Navy', it is a more archaic word closer to pirates, who are typically seen as more barbaric and cruel than the law-abiding navy. However, no need to fear! They are quite well-mannered and reliable, often patrolling the coast and aiding in transport. They are based on real Murakami Kaizoku(later known as the Murakami Suigun) during the same time period. Part of the Murakami clan, they were known for their domination over the Inland Sea, to the point where no imperial figure could knock them down and earned their living thanks to their naval competency. If need be, they're able to display incredible warfare -you can read about their battle against Oda Nobunaga(yes, that Nobunaga!) in the first battle of Kizugawaguchi, lead by Murakami Takeyoshi. Like Ninjutsu Gakuen, Dokutakejou is their enemy. You can see them reside in their sekibune, a type of warboat.
Who is in the Hyougo Suigun?
Before Season 10, the only recognizable face used to be Daisankyoueimaru, the captain of the Hyougo Suigun. The rest of the crew were background characters with unspecific roles or features. After Season 10, there are 12 specific characters not including Daisankyoueimaru that replace the old crew. (Note, there are still some background/supporting nameless pirates here and there.)
Now! From the top!
Hyougo Daisankyoueimaru(兵庫 第三協栄丸) - Captain of the Hyougo Suigun!
The ship is named after him. He has shaggy and short black hair, with a matching muttonchop beard. He also has a mole by his wide nose. Unlike the rest of his crew, he's drawn with a set of thicker lips. He has a red headband tied as a bow, wears a yellow kosode with red triangle patterns, and a forest green hakama. He is the oldest at 35.
As captain, he understands the needs of his crew and looks after them, and in turn earns massive respect. At times, he does get worried as self conscious, seeing how well the crew can do without him at times. Similarly, he has a good standing with those at Ninjutsu Gakuen, especially seen with Rantarou, Kirimaru, Shinbei, and 1-Ha.
(Manga/Anime/Musical)
Onigumomaru(鬼蜘蛛丸) - The main navigator of the crew!
He has jungle green hair with thick brows, wears a yellow bandana, a rosy kosode with yellow spider patterns, and a purple hakama. He also has 2 cross scars: one on his forehead and below his left collarbone, and a stitch scar on his left cheek.
He's reliable and a showoff at times, as seen in 24-54, but his landsickness kills the mood swiftly and often leads him severely incapacitated ashore. Whenever he gets landsick, his hair becomes wavy. Him and Yoshirou are 25.
His signature weapon is called the sodegarami(袖搦), a staff with metal spikes or barbs on one end and evolved from the yagaramogara(やがらもがら).
(Manga/Anime/Musical)
Yurashirou(由良四郎) - Daisankyoueimaru's right hand man!
He has a round face with black hair, thick brows with a faded muttonchop beard, and noticeable chest hair. He also has baggy eyes. He wears a blue bandana, a kosode with a pattern of orange diamonds in groups of three, and a green hakama. He is also noticeably shorter than the rest of the crew, and sometimes appears the shortest. He is the third oldest at 29.
Like the older members of the crew, he has a responsible attitude and can demand attention when needed.
(Manga/Anime)
Kagerou(蜉蝣) - The helmsman of the crew!
He has straight brown hair, a faded mustache and a double chin. He also has a missing left eye with a noticeable scar, covered by an eyepatch. He wears a green bandana, a kosode with peacock feather patterns, and a black hakama.
While his voice is more on the soft spoken side, he can demand attention from others almost immediately on the job. He suffers from landsickness, which can be cured by temporarily touching seawater in some form. Him and Hayate are the second oldest at 31.
His signature weapon is the koshihouchou(腰包丁). 腰(kushi) means waist or around the hip, and 包丁(houchou) means knife. It is literally a set of knives, supported by its usage in the 7th Musical.
(Manga/Anime/Musical)
Hayate(疾風) - The sail's controller!
He has black hair, a faded mustache, and a stitch scar on his right cheek. He wears a red bandana, a red kosode with a ladder pattern, and a green hakama.
He's a normal hard working crewmember, often reporting to and regarding Daisankyoueimaru highly, but is severely superstitious and gets scared easily as seen in 30-84. Him and Kagerou are the second oldest at 31.
(Manga/Anime)
Yoshimaru(義丸) - The frontliner of the crew!
He has wavy brown hair, dashed eyebrows, and a cross scar above his right eyebrow and one on the back of his right hand. He also has a mole under his right eye and has defined eyebrows. In the manga version, he has several more scars around his body. He wears a red bandana with yellow stripes, a pale blue kosode with a pattern of lighter blue rectangles in groups of four, and a purple hakama.
He is a handsome and outgoing man, and is especially kind to his juniors as seen in 20-81 to 82. During battles he has a fiery attitude, perfect for someone who initiates naval warfare. Him and Onigumomaru are 25.
His signature weapon is the sumaru(須磨留), a type of throwing hook shaped like an anchor- or a grapnel, for short. You can see him initiate attacks by throwing and attaching it onto enemy banisters, then pulling the boat closer.
(Manga/Anime/Musical)
Miyoshimaru(舳丸) - The best swimmer of the crew!
He has red hair, thin eyebrows, and a stitch scar on his left cheek with sharp eyes. He wears a green bandana, a pale pink kosode, and a blue hakama.
His expression puts off many as he has a constant look of irritation, but he’s actually very kind and a good teacher, as experienced firsthand by Saburouji(28-62). He can be seen with his junior, Shige, in training or in combat. His age is stuck as the median of the crew at 23.
His signature weapon is the nagehouroku(投げ焙烙), with 焙烙(nage) meaning to throw or fling In the 7th musical, it is shown to be bomb(?) attached to a long rope.
(Manga/Anime/Musical)
Shige(重) - The second best swimmer of the crew, beaten by Miyoshimaru!
He has loose, dark gray hair and rectangular eyebrows. He wears a gray bandana, a gray kosode, and a dark teal hakama.
He has a happy-go-lucky attitude and looks up to his senior, Miyoshimaru, in high regard. He can be seen training or in combat with Miyoshimaru. Him and Kawara are the second youngest at 17.
His signature weapon is the kaifuto(海部刀), a sword specifically from the Kaifu area of the Awa province in the Tokushima prefecture. The 刀(to) means sword. It is a special sword with a serrated spine used commonly to cut rope and other material on ships, making it valuable for Awa naval forces. Interestingly, the famous kaifuto, Iwakiri Kaifu, was owned by Miyoshi Nagayoshi during the Sengoku period. Having high praise for Miyoshimaru, this may be the reason why it was chosen to be Shige’s weapon in the 7th Musical.
(Manga/Anime/Musical)
Magiri(間切) - A deckhand of the crew! He is often seen paired up with Atoi.
He has shaggy, fluffy dirty blond hair with strands sticking out and a stitch scar on his left cheek. He wears a pale green bandana with black stripes, a pale yellow kosode with compass patterns, and a dark olive hakama.
His demeanor is very aloof and reserved, often going straight to work. He suffers from landsickness, which can be cured by temporarily touching seawater in some form. In 29-48, Atoi pours seawater onto his head from a bamboo tube. He is the third youngest at 18.
His signature weapon is the kumade(熊手), which is a rake. It can be seen in the 9th Musical and in 26-49.
(Manga/Anime/Musical)
Atoi(網問) - A deckhand of the crew! He is often seen paired up with Magiri.
He has straight, periwinkle hair with long wefts framing his face, dashed eyebrows, and dash marks on his cheeks. He wears a yellow bandana with black stripes, a pale blue kosode with a pattern of pale yellow diamonds grouped in three, and a dark blue hakama.
He’s described as a very energetic and cheery pirate in contrast to Magiri, and often praises him even during his worst moments(29-48). He’s also noticeably tall compared to his other crewmates despite being the youngest at 16. Atoi was not an original Hyougo Suigun member, and was a part of various crews beforehand.
His signature weapon is the civitski(シビッキ). Unfortunately I could not find much about it, but due to the nature of its Japanese spelling, it is likely an Ainu weapon or tool. In the 9th Musical, it appears to be two spearheads with long handles for melee combat, while in 26-49 it is attached to a rope. Its appearance is comparable to toggling harpoons.
(Manga/Anime/Musical)
Kawara(航) - A deckhand of the crew! He is often seen paired up with Yamaji.
He has black hair with a hairstyle similar to Hayate’s, with thick eyebrows, a cross scar on his right cheek and a stubble. He has a pale purple bandana, a gray kosode with net patterns, and a gray hakama.
He is very outgoing, but childish at times, as seen in 20-80. Him and Shige are the second youngest at 17.
(Manga/Anime)
Yamaji(東南風) - The ship's signaler! He is often seen paired up with Kawara.
He wears a yellow bandana, a pale teal kosode with scale patterns and a brown hakama. He also has a stubble with a matching mustache, lined eyebrows and an irritated expression, with a cross scar above his right eyebrow and below his right eye. He also has baggy eyes.
Like Miyoshimaru he looks like a moody man, but is actually open-minded when approached. However, he is a lot stricter when it comes to teaching. Him and Shirahaemaru are 19.
(Manga/Anime)
Shirahaemaru(白南風丸) - The Guard of the crew, and the most recent member of the Hyougo Suigun!
He wears a cerulean headband with black stripes, a pale purple kosode with three rows of alternating ivory triangles, and a gray hakama. He has sandy blond hair with a cowlick and messy bangs similar to Hachizaemon, with a set of thick eyebrows. Has 2 scars, one on his left cheek and the other on his right bicep.
Compared to the rest of the pirates, he’s not as skilled in seafaring- in his old crew, he was the last to get his wits together. However, he has a determined and hopeful attitude, especially after getting the guard position. Ironically, he has seasickness like Daisankyoueimaru. Him and Yamaji are 19.
(Manga/Anime)
"Now that the visual descriptions are out of the way, what do they do?"
Jobs on the Ship
-- as Atoi says.
In the Hyougo Suigun Audition Arc there are important roles mentioned: Kagiyaku, Sendou, Kajitori, Tebiki, Yamadachi, and several more. To explain each briefly:
Kagiyaku(鉤役) - Translates quite literally to 'hooker', 鉤(kagi) meaning hook and 役(yaku) meaning role. Ignoring the... slang related to it, it's exactly what it says. It has relation to Master-at-arms, as this role is described to only belong to those experienced in battles. While you can also call this role a grappler, grappling is more related to wrestling and the lack of weapons entirely. The most direct term would be grapnel handler. This role is the person who hooks onto other ships for battle, and closes the distance of the two sides with their strength. This role is usually first to attack. Yoshimaru is the only person responsible for this, and can be seen hooking onto the Yakeatotsumutake ninjas’ boat with his sumaru in 10-03.
Sendou(船頭) - While directly translating to 'boatman', it’s emphasized more as the person who is the Quartermaster of the ship. This role is emphasized more on deciding and giving commands, not related to navigation. This role is given to Yurashirou. In relation to Daisankyoueimaru, he acts more like a first mate, seen directly reporting to Daisankyoueimaru in 10-02 like a first mate would.
Kajitori(舵取り) - Best translated as 'helmsman'. The kajitori has more reign on steering the ship and controlling its direction. Kagerou is given this role, and can be seen steering the ship’s rudder in 30-19. Additionally, Daisankyoueimaru describes that the person who is sendou and who is kajitori can be interchangeable- If Yurashirou is first mate, Kagerou is second mate.
Tebiki(手引) - While translated directly as 'guide', this role specifically controls the boat’s sails for controlling the wind direction and speed. It’s best described as a coxswain, or someone who takes and applies navigational directions rather than be the one to choose navigation. This role is given to Hayate, described by Daisankyoueimaru in 30-19. Perhaps he’s best described as a sail coxswain, rather than just a guide? There is a role called the rigger, however this role only maintains the unfurling of the sail and watches to make sure it doesn't get damaged- the rigger doesn't control the sail itself.
Yamadachi(山立) - Quite literally translated to 'bandit' but does not relate to the word at all! The yamadachi is the crew’s main navigator, stationed near the figurehead, and needs to have incredible knowledge of the sea and its temper- reading and graphing charts, working without charts, determining knot distances and angles, reading sea currents and weather, etc. The western term to describe this would be the Sailing Master and is an very, very, very invaluable person on every. single. ship. This role is given to Onigumomaru, and he describes himself as such in 24-54.
Mikakushi no date no yaku(身隠しの盾の役) - While I describe Shirahaemaru’s role as a 'guard', it’s more for brevity’s sake. In 20-79, the actual description Shirahaemaru gives is more particular: This role mainly works in tandem with the kagiyaku. As the kagiyaku is the first to engage and thus vulnerable, the guard protects the kagiyaku and covers them, specifically with a shield. The kanji 身隠し(mikakushi) means to cover while 盾(date) means shield and 役(yaku) means role, the same kanji in kagiyaku(鉤役). This term is mostly seen on the show and has no historical appellations.(What a mouthful to say…ill stick to saying guard)
Kako(水夫) - Translates to ‘sailor’, and is as it says. They're basically the swabbies of the ship, and is emphasized so in the arc- two sailors are set to cover the kagiyaku’s left and right, with the guard in front and sendou behind. Some of the pirates are described with this term but are more often called kaizoku(海賊), a literal one-to-one translation. The pirates with no specific role are mentioned as kaizoku.
Suiren(水練) - Not to be confused with water lily(水連). These are reserved for the best swimmers of the crew. While almost everyone on the boat can swim, these are the best of the best. This role is given to Miyoshimaru, with Shige following suit. You can see both in action in several episodes, such as 10–02, 30-19, and even in one of the OPs. Miyoshimaru can be seen handling the Etiquette Committee’s bomb in 17-08.(This term is not mentioned in the Audition arc, but in the Tomokazuki arc.)
“Alright, I know what they do now- where do I start?”
The Recommended Watch Order
Firstly, this is a personal opinion of what the best watch order is. The order is meant to generally introduce everyone to the members of the crew and how they operate. Secondly, as more episodes come out, the more we learn about the pirates and thus, this is subject to change. Hell, you don't have to follow a guide at all! I've marked the essentials(shoshinsha) and personal recommendations(droplet, in the episode list).
1. "We aren't Fishmongers!" (30-19)🔰
After seeing Rantarou, Kirimaru, and Shibei haul back fish to the school, the landlady mistakes Daisankyoueimaru and his crew for fishermen, and he tries to explain to her that that's not the case!
This is the de-facto episode that introduces every named member of the Hyougo Suigun, and a very brief mention of what certain members do.(Thanks, landlady!)
2. "Bandit's Defeat" (20-78 to 84)🔰
Rantarou, Kirimaru, and Shinbei are used as decoys to lure out the bandits in the mountains. The bandit reveals himself to be Shirahaemaru, who wishes to be a part of the Hyougo Suigun through an audition. He was sent by Daisankyoueimaru, who recommended he seek out the trio for coaching. While discussing, Demoshika arrives with the 1-I in tow, also aiming to audition! What are they auditioning for? The position of guard!
This episode, and the rest of the arc's episodes, focuses on Shirahaemaru, a character that's not originally part of the Hyougo Suigun and tries to audition for the role of Guard. It mentions some more details about the pirates' role on the ship. Oh, and Demoshika's there too.
3. "Kameko's Consulation" (10-01 to 05) AND/OR "Kameko has Come" (17-06 to 08)🔰
In "Kameko's Consultation", the Ama are struggling to do their job due to what seems to be yokai sightings. Kameko visits Ninjutsu Gakuen and asks Rantaro, Kirimaru, and Shinbei for advice. Doi, after much thought, decides to bring the 1-Ha class to Daisankyoueimaru, who should know what to do. Daisankyoueimaru believes that the yokai Tomokazuki is behind the struggle. Doi and Yamada believe otherwise, but let the Hyougo Suigun proceed with their plans.
In “Kameko has Come”, Kameko visits the Headmaster and explains that she plans to buy whale meat from Daisankyoueimaru. The Headmaster is also interested, and sends the 1-Ha class to get some with Kameko. Upon arriving, they listen to the crew’s experiences with whale hunting, and Miyoshimaru says he’s spotted a yokai while swimming. Doi and Yamada say that it must be the Yakeatotsumutake and Dokutake ninjas behind it, as they sensed something strange earlier.
These two arcs show off the Hyougo Suigun in action. The plot beats are similar, so it isn't necessary to watch both, but I highly recommend doing so!
4. "The Pirates' Trap" (24-54)
Rantarou, Kirimaru, and Shinbei ask Daisankyoueimaru for permission to fish in their waters. With his permission, they are guided by Onigumomaru. While fishing, they catch a glimpse of the Dokutake Suigun, and Onigumomaru takes the chance to show off his naval knowledge.
6."The Dokutake Suigun's True Abilities" (26-34)
The Dokutake Suigun is tasked to steal the Hyougo Suigun’s ship, and plans to use a decoy ship to distract them. Unfortunately for them, the Hyougo Suigun manages to outsmart them with their superior naval knowledge.
7. "Cannons at Sharks" (15-22)
A shark has suddenly appeared and attacked the Hyougo Suigun, as has been a thorn at their side since. Daisankyoueimaru, fed up that no weapon has been working, asks Doi and Yamada for help. Despite his protests, it falls on Doi to teach them how to use cannons to fend the shark off.
8. ”The Small Box that Washed Ashore” (28-49)
Rantarou, Kirimaru, and Shinbei are looking for shellfish when a small box with ornate inlay washes ashore. Kirimaru immediately takes it and meets Atoi and Magiri by chance. The Dokutake Suigun also drift by, wanting the box for themselves. With Kirimaru refusing to hand over the box, the two pirates show off their Kako no Jutsu.
Continuing on, the episodes about to be listed are more focused on their personal relationships outside of the job. These don't need to be watched in any particular order!
"The Hyougo Suigun's Health Checkup" (33-17)
Rantarou and Niino visit the Hyougo Suigun for a health checkup at the behest of Daisankyoueimaru. The crew is on land, ready to check up, except Onigumomaru, Kagerou, and Magiri. While Rantarou and Niino finish up the health checkup on land, they boat over to the remaining three, who have some concerns...
"The Pirates' Hot-Pot" (24-60)
Rantarou, Kirimaru, and Shinbei get invited by Daisankyoueimaru to their hot-pot meal while delivering a package. While the four of them wait for the meal, they overhear Yurashirou and Hayate fight about something. The fights get bigger and bigger, attracting the other pirates until…
"Reasons for Fighting" (32-20)
Rantarou, Kirimaru, Shinbei listen to Daisankyoueimaru’s concerns. It turns out Yoshimaru and Onigumomaru have been fighting lately. To find out the cause, they listen to Yoshimaru and Onigumaru’s story, who ask them to keep it a secret from their captain. Daisankyoueimaru isn't convinced, catching them fighting repeatedly.
"Shibuki's Day Off" (29-48)
Shibuki and his father, Captain Tatsumaki, spend their day off together until Shibuki catches a glimpse of Atoi and Magiri. Seeing a written message in their hands, Shibuki aims to steal it off of them, as enemies of the Hyougo Suigun. What could this message be?
"The Swimmers" (31-57)
Miyoshimaru and Shige finish up their training together and decide to take a rest. Daisankyoueimaru, jealous of their camaraderie, tells Miyoshimaru that he should be stricter to his junior.
"Longing for the Man of the Sea" (28-62)
Ikeda is a good swimmer, but wishes to get better. He asks Miyoshimaru and Shige, the two best swimmers of the Hyougo Suigun, to teach him. With permission from Daisankyoueimaru, the three start their training.
"Secret Meeting" (18-62)
Daisankyoueimaru visits Ninjutsu Gakuen, seeking for advice- the crew seems to be distancing themselves from him. Unfortunately, all of the staff are busy, and he decides to return home. Rantarou, Kirimaru, and Shinbei aim to help ease his worries, trying to figure out what they're doing behind Daisankyoueimaru's back.
This is the Honorable Mentions section where I couldn't fit the episodes in a specific catagory, but i recommend watching anyway:
"Where is The Field Trip?" (17-49)
Yamada and Doi plan to bring the class of 1-Ha somewhere for a class field trip, and Shozaemon overhears them thinking about choosing the beach, with the Hyougo Suigun. After relaying it to the rest of the class, they all slump dejectedly, remembering the time they folk danced with the crew and had all their feet stepped on, including the teachers!
"Cafeteria Lady's Gratitude" (12-65)
Rantarou, Kirimaru, and Shinbei visit the Hyougo Suigun with the Cafeteria Lady, who has cooked up a special meal for the crew. With excitement in their veins, the crew hurries up cleaning the deck of their ship, and rushes down to relish in the meal. After the meal, Daisankyoueimaru overhears the crew discussing the Cafeteria Lady, and discovers they plan to take her from Ninjutsu Gakuen.
"The Pirates' Purchase" (15-35)
Yurashirou, Onigumomaru, and Hayate go into town to run some errands for the crew. When it’s time to pay, Onigumomaru, who was tasked to keep hold of the money, can’t seem to find it on his person. To avoid the wrath of Daisankyoueimaru, they ask Rantarou, Kirimaru, and Shinbei for help.
"Finding Daisankyoueimaru" (15-47)
With a weary look, Hayate tells Rantarou, Kirimaru, and Shinbei that he caught his captain practicing his swimming, who got embarrassed and ran away. Since then, Daisankyoueimaru hasn’t been found since, causing worry for the crew. Shinbei takes up the mantle to look for him, but…
“I want to watch more!”
General Episode List
Below is a list of (almost)every single episode where a member(or all of them) of the Hyougo Suigun is involved. The majority of the episodes might only have Daisankyoeimaru, or other certain characters. I've gone ahead and written what pirate is notably included, as well as other non-pirate characters, but plot-importance mileage may vary. This list may be updated from time to time to include missing episodes or correct certain errors.
Anime Episode List
//(Tomokazuki arc START)
10-01 | Kameko's Consultation | Doi, Yamada, 1-Ha, Kameko, Hyougo Suigun
10-02 | The Sea Yokai Tomokazuki | Miyoshimaru, Shige
10-03 | Tomokazuki's Identity | Onigumomaru, Yoshimaru
10-04 | The Yokai Nureonago | Daiyonkyoueimaru
10-05 | Headmaster's Figures |*Only the first half relates to the Tomokazuki arc
//(Tomokazuki arc END)
11-02 | Offshore Fishing | Hyougo Suigun(Less emphasis)
11-60 | Onigumomaru's Constitution | Onigumomaru
12-65 | Cafeteria Lady's Gratitude | Cafeteria Lady, Hyougo Suigun
12-76 | Dokutake Suigun's Coach | Dokutake Suigun, Daisankyoueimaru, Hayate
13-33 | Daisankyoueimaru Gets Scouted | Daisankyoueimaru
14-18 | Daisankyoueimaru's Worries | Daisankyoueimaru
14-26 | MISSING
14-41 | Ridiculous Seasickness | Fuuki
15-22 | Cannon at Sharks | Daisankyoueimaru, Doi, Hyougo Suigun
15-35 | The Pirates' Purchase | Yurashirou, Hayate, Onigumomaru💧
15-47 | Finding Daisankyoeuimaru | Hayate, Daisankyoueimaru
//(Taiko Signaling arc START)
16-16 | The Weird Dokutama | Atoi, Magiri, Doi, Yamada, 1-Ha
16-17 | The Seaside School | Dokutake, Miyoshimaru, Makaino, Senzou
16-18 | Navy Etiquette | Yamaji, Onigumomaru
//(Taiko Signaling arc END)
16-72 | Captain's Troubles | Kirimaru, Doi, Daisankyoueimaru, Hyougo Suigun
//(Whale Hunting arc START)
17-06 | Kameko has Come | 1-Ha, Kameko, Doi, Yamada, Hyougo Suigun, Dokutake Suigun
17-07 | Whale Hunting |
17-08 | The Strange Whale | Etiquette Committee
//(Whale Hunting arc END)
17-49 | Where's the field trip? | 1-Ha, Doi, Yamada, Hyougo Suigun(Less emphasis)
17-56 | Dokutake Suigun's Study | Dokutake Suigun, Daisankyoueimaru, Miyoshimaru
17-73 | I am a Happy Person | Daisankyoueimaru
18-62 | The Secret Meeting | Daisankyoueimaru, Hyougo Suigun💧
19-09 | A New Leader | Daisankyoueimaru, Some Ninjutsu Gakuen Staff
//(Hyougo Suigun Audition arc START)
20-78 | Bandit's Defeat | Shirahaemaru
20-79 | The Position of Guard | Demoshika, 1-I
20-80 | Pain in the Back | 1-Ha, Daisankyoueimaru, Hayate, Kagerou, Doi, Yamada, Isaku
20-81 | Who Did This? | Health Committee, Equipment Committee
20-82 | The Hyougo Suigun's Audition | Yoshimaru, Literally everyone at this point
20-83 | The Flying Duck Boat |
20-84 | Don't Give Up! |
//(Hyougo Suigun Audition arc END)
21-24 | A Coach for Swimming | Daisankyoueimaru, Miyoshimaru
22-58 | Happousai is Different than Usual | Happousai, Daisankyoueimaru
22-72 | Kirimaru's Survival Instincts | RanKiriShin(mostly), Daisankyoueimaru
23-05 | Save Onigumomaru! | Daisankyoueimaru, Rikichi, Onigumomaru💧
23-57 | Sparkling Ghost Ship | Isuke, Daisankyoueimaru
24-54 | The Pirates' Trap | Onigumomaru
24-60 | The Pirates' Nabe | Daisankyoueimaru, Hyogou Suigun💧
25-47 | A Swimmer's Worry | Shige, Miyoshimaru, Daisankyoueimaru
26-34 | Dokutake Suigun's True Abilities | Dokutake Suigun, Hyougo Suigun
26-38 | Daisankyoueimaru's Special Class | Daisankyoueimaru, 1-I
26-49 | The Small Box that Washed Ashore | Atoi, Magiri, Dokutake Suigun
27-28 | Daisankyoueimaru's Laugh | Danzou, Kingo, Daisankyoueimaru
27-63 | Daisankyoueimaru and Matsuchiyo-sensei | Daisankyoueimaru, Kyuusaku, Matsuchiyo
27-66 | Men of the Sea | Onigumomaru, Kagerou, Dokutake Suigun
28-62 | Longing for the Man of the Sea | Ikeda, Miyoshimaru, Shige💧
28-27 | Younger Brother Daiyonkyoueimaru | Daisankyoueimaru
29-48 | Shibuki's Day Off | Shibuki, Cpt.Tatsumaki, Atoi, Magiri💧
30-19 | We're not Fishmongers | Daisankyoueimaru
31-57 | The Swimmers | Miyoshimaru, Shige, Daisankyoueimaru💧
31-70 | A Person's Effort | Daisankyoueimaru
32-20 | Reasons for Fighting | Onigumomaru, Yoshimaru, Daisankyoueimaru💧
32-40 | Daisankyouemaru Goes to Land | Daisankyoueimaru, Ooki-Sensei💧
33-17 | Hyougo Suigun's Health Checkup | Rantarou, Niino, Onigumomaru, Kagerou, Magiri💧
Have fun watching!
Trivia on the Hyougo Suigun!
This section is dedicated for features and facts on the members of the Hyougo Suigun and related topics in regards to the crew's line of work. I've looked at canon and historical sources for support, but some of the actual statements themselves are pulled from semi-canon, so please be wary!
Daisankyoueimaru can't Swim!
As it says on the tin. Surprising, isn't it? He's seen struggling to swim at sea from even the earliest seasons, before our current crew was introduced. He's even seen nearly drowning in small pools of water(24-60)! Shirahaemaru, an inexperienced pirate, does not suffer this either. But even with this huge detriment, he's still an extremely capable captain! Miyoshimaru, the crew's best swimmer, never makes fun of him for his skill issue.
Daisankyoueimaru's Little Brother
If you've skimmed through the episode list, you may have seen that his name is listed twice- except it isn't! Daisankyoueimaru has a younger brother named Daiyonkyoueimaru, first introduced in the Yokai Tomokazuki arc. It's a joke based on the pronunciation and written kanji in Daisankyoueimaru's name: the 'san' part of his name sounds like the number 3, and the kanji 三 can be read the same way. Changing the number to 4, you get Daiyonkyoueimaru! Running a little deeper, they hammer it in that he's the younger brother with otouto, despite the increase in number. Funny, no?(Rantarou, Kirimaru, Shinbei, and the 1-Ha class don't seem to think so...)
Seasickness and... Landsickness?
It's well known that Daisankyoueimaru has prominent bouts of seasickness, as he can be seen at sea gagging with a bweh~ sound. You'd think some of the other pirates would have the same issue, but not a single one of them do! Actually, it's quite the opposite- certain characters have landsickness. The pirates Kagerou, Onigumomaru, and Magiri have bouts of landsickness, almost at a worse rate than Daisankyoueimaru. This is a real world occurrence called Mal de debarquement syndrome which is often experienced by sailors. However, it can be experienced after other forms of travel such as planes, cars, or even elevators!
Where are you from, Atoi?
During the tsudoi talk Atoi, the youngest of the crew, is said to be Gilyak. Gilyak, or more commonly known as Nivkh, is an indigenous ethnic group from the northern area of the Sakhalin Island and by the lower Amur River, right by the Russian mainland. This origin is used as an explanation for why he's a lot taller than most people(you can sometimes see the height difference in various shots, if animation inconsistency isn't at play). Bouncing off of this, his name is based on the Ainu word 'atuy', which means 'sea'. The kanji of his name 網問, don't have a particular meaning together. In Japanese, the Ainu language is written in katakana, so the kanji is more for phonetics (網(a)問(toi)). As mentioned earlier on, the weapon he uses in the 7th Musical is also spelled entirely in katakana. And again as I said earlier, Atoi did not originally belong to the Hyougo Suigun, instead hopping around various crews until he settled. The Ainu are another indigenous ethnic group in northern Hokkaido(known as Nanbu during the Sengoku period), and can extend to the Sakhalin Island and other regions around the Sea of Okhotsk such as the Kuril Islands, the Kamchatka Peninsula, etc. You've probably heard of them thanks to the hit series, Golden Kamuy?
With both ethnic groups being extremely far out from where Nintama Rantarou takes place, being kept to themselves from the rest of Japan until the Meiji period, Atoi's described experiences, there's a lot of things pointing to him being of indigenous descent and I thought that was an interesting!(I also just really like him. Hard to NOT figure that out.)
Kagero...gero...gero...
Kagerou's name can be a pun with ka(okayoi, meaning landsick) and gero(gerogero, the onomatopeia of vomitting). Comepletely unrelated, Did you know Kagerou lost his eye via an arrow? Lodged in his socket, he managed to pull it out- but ripped his eye out with it. Depending on how clean(or unclean)he did it, it would explain the stitches underneath the eyepatch. Now, usually in this time period, a shot to a sensitive area such as the eye would cause lethal damage- If you didn't die from the shot and the subsequent bloodloss, it would commonly get infected. However, there are rare instances of survival. The discussion around King Harold's injury(and possible cause of death) could be comparable to Kagerous own.
Wailing for Whales
Whales were hunted often during this time, and have a large spot in Japanese culture. It's said that whaling was first done near Aichi, as there are records of Oda Nobunaga gifting whale meat to the imperial court. However, the boom in whaling can be accredited to the Taiji region instead, where various techniques were developed and popularized. Shown in 17-06 to 8, the Hyougo Suigun follows a seemingly real whale, and chucks tons of harpoons at it. This is a part of real process- majority of ships would encircle and strand whales onto shore, and essentially beach them, rather than hunt them directly in deep water. With the tons of ropes attached to the whale, it would tire out faster and give up, running into nets near the shoreline. Chaser boats called sekobune were created specifically for whaling. A variety of products were created off of the catches such as oil, fertilizer, meat, and more! In the current day, the rate of commercial whaling has reduced significantly and is still an ongoing debate, due to various environmental groups' opposition, the lack of government support, and even safety concerns with whale consumption.
Aquatic Yokaidex
The first instance we see of the current Hyougo Suigun is in 10-01 to 05. This set of episodes are centered around Tomokazuki, a yokai that's been haunting the coast. The yokai Tomokazuki is an orally passed folklore around the Tobe and Shima region near Kyoto. The tale was spread by Ama, or female freedivers, who claimed to have seen doppelgangers of themselves at depths at 45 meters. The Tomokazuki can be seen offering something, typically abalone, and if the person takes it they'll be dragged below, sealing their fate. Others take the Tomokazuki sighting as a signal to immediately stop diving, and in some cases stop diving for several days. A lot of the medical discussions around the Tomokazuki legend can be accredited to its relation with issues like Panic Disorder, Decompression Illness, Hypothermia, and more, as traditional Ama did not use specialized equipment when diving.
In the third episode of the arc, Yoshirou hooks the enemy boat closer, showing off a group of Yakeatotsumutake ninjas dressed as ghouls. This is reminiscent of the yokai Funayurei. Funayurei are vengeful spirits of drowned sailors who seek to take down other living sailors with them, and appear as dead bodies dressed in funerary clothing. They can be seen during bad weather, or during Obon.
Near the end another yokai is seen, the Nure-onago. The Nure-onago is a less violent spirit, said to be widows who are heartbroken from their deceased lovers lost at sea. The grief builds up and as such, they seek attention from unknowing passerbys. Found in swamps, lakes, and other bodies of water, they are covered in dirt and debris from being constantly soaked to the bone. When a person sees them and mistakes them for a distressed woman, they smile at the person concerned. If the person smiles back, they stick to them forever, following the person while still smelling like mildew and leaving water behind them eternally.
In 17-08, we see Yamada Denzo dress up as a ghastly looking woman, moaning uminyobo~. The Uminyobo is another yokai folklore spread around various coastal villages in Japan, but is said to originate from the Izumo region of Shimane prefecture. They look like human women, but are covered in scales and have webbed hands and feet and boast a set of incredibly sharp teeth. They are said to be the reincarnated spirit of women drowned at sea or the wives of Umibozu, another yokai. The gag played in the episode reflects the Iwate version of the folktale, where the Uminyobo discovers two dead fishermen. The Uminyobo, disguised as a woman, visits the wives of the two fishermen who are worried about their husbands as they have not returned from sea. It leaves after delivering a package to the wives. When the two wives open the package, they find the severed head of their husbands and grieve.
In 20-84, we see Hayate tremble over two different yokai: the Nure-onna and the Nurarihyon. The Nure-onna is a violent counterpart of the Nure-onago, and has a snakelike body with a human torso. Sometimes they skip the human torso and just have the head, looking even closer to an actual snake. They act similar to western sirens with an air of trickery. When someone passes by, the Nure-onna will beg for their aid with a false bundled baby, which will turn as heavy as a boulder when taken. The Nure-onna then takes advantage of the helpless victim, draining their blood. The Nurarihyon seen in the episode seems to be closer to the Okayama version, and relates to the Umibozu. The Nurarihyon are globe-shaped sea creatures, similar to a man’s head, which float in the Inland Sea. It is said that some of these creatures migrate to land, where they gradually gain power and become an elite yokai.
The Future of the Fukutomi
In semicanon it is said that Onigumomaru and Kameko will marry, with Kameko inheriting the Fukutomi business instead of Shinbei. Shinbei was originally expected to drop out during his 4th year to do so, but was retconned to graduate with the rest of 1-Ha. As of now, the specifics of Shinbei's future are unknown. While Kameko has eyes on Chouji and admires him(30-33), she does not pursue this feeling. Kameko will continue business on land, while Onigumomaru will manage and oversee trade at sea. There are several moments of Kameko and Onigumaru being in the same shot together, with few other characters in the same scene, almost supporting this? During this time marriages were more for political and economic stability and power, rather than a concern between individuals' feelings, and with a rich family such as the Fukutomi it makes sense.
Final Thoughts
Hah... after a couple allnighters and hours of sifting through episodes, manga volumes, blogposts... it's done! If you've read this far, thank you, I really do appreciate it! I really did mean for this to be a guide specifically for episodes and character descriptions... but it became a lot longer than i thought... This is also my first dreamwidth post... ever! So I apologize if things look a little messy or I did something wrong. Fun fact, this entire post runs up to about 6.5k words!
If you couldn't tell by the amount of effort this post exudes, I really, really, REALLY, like the pirates. They're a neat side of the series that deserves to be examined especially with how kind they are to Ninjutsu Gakuen, and even their supposed enemy, Dokutake Suigun. However I do have a hint of bias, as I'm inclined to focus on subjects related to the sea- oceanography, biology, folklore, you name it! I’m glad the anime shows them more in comparison to the manga(if they can spare some episodes for Demoshika, they can spare some for the pirates, hehe). When I was sitting down I thought oh, they'll be more responsible than the Nintama, and they probably won't show them how they are off of work, but it turns out... they have their own childish side too! It caught me off guard watching these guys time and time again! Onigumomaru and Yoshirou arguing honestly for such a sentimental reason, Miyoshimaru and Shige’s senior-junior relationship with Shige’s pure admiration from afar, Atoi and Magiri’s young blooming friendship… all of that and more riding parallel to their naval skills at work!
Speaking of, their relationship with Ninjutsu Gakuen is quite charming, in a way they do remind me of the nintamas, like the 5th and 6th years and how they can whip up to shape during a serious moment, and squabble during the next! They’re basically the coastal version of them, haha. I think what really cemented my comparison was the teachers having more direct roles whenever the 1-Ha visit, and it feels like one big field trip. But it was 15-22 that got me; Doi having been given the role to teach the pirates on how to use cannons at the beach felt the same as him teaching the kids back at the school, even giving supporting words to Daisankyoueimaru. Though, Doi just might have an infectious aura of guiding warmth and kindness that seeps through everyone even if they aren't a kid.(Not that i'm complaining!)
I hope to manifest another movie, one that features the pirates- all three movies were incredibly fun and well written with various references to munch on. The third movie, saikyou no gunshi, was especially incredible and blew the last two out of the water despite being based on a prior existing work! Perhaps they could do something based on the Urashima legend? Or Tsuruhime? Maybe show off how the nintamas are able to work alongside people that aren’t their classmates and colleagues, on top of discovering new territory- well, in this case, literally geography?
But what about you? What are your thoughts on the Hyougo Suigun?
Special thanks to: ArmaWeapon, the Tasogaredokijou members and their discord members, the wiki mods, and others for providing excellent resources and translations, as well as inspiring me to make my own guide! And of course, Amako Sensei for creating Nintama Rantarou and the fans who support the series dearly!
That's all for now!
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Date: 2025-05-05 04:02 pm (UTC)The mention of the Nivkh also threw me for a loop, I thought Atoi was more Ainu from what I've gathered so far. While I would say it was a shoehorned attempt at adding an interesting fact to a character, I don't think Amako-sensei is someone to haphazardly mix up the Nivkh and Ainu, especially when she's been pretty accurate at displaying non-Japanese culture(though it could be an honest mistake, Japan still mistreats various ethnic groups to this day). I agree that it's the downside of tsudoi- when it comes to more sensitive info like this it seems... odd at a first glance. It doesn't come off as wrong per se, just vastly different from the other tsudoi facts stated. When I mapped out all of Atoi's info, I had a brief thought of him being mixed descent with the two groups rather than be one or the other. For all of history they've essentially have been neighbors, and have historically acted as intermediaries for Russia and Japan(and China, when interacting with the Manchu peoples). I read somewhere from tsudoi that Chouji knew how to read Indonesian, so I have hopes that this sort of melting-pot viewpoint would make my mixed Atoi vision reasonable.
Regardless, I didn't write this in because 1)I was just spitballing and 2)Maybe this is way too much detail for a minor character in the series- I don't think even Doi has that much history! Maybe I should add that in anyway? And that's a good idea, I'll have to review the episodes again to pick which ones or else I'll mark all of them lol