TV-Series
Description
Date Masamune in Sengoku Basara: End of Judgement is adapted from his original appearance in the Capcom video game franchise, and this series follows the storyline of Sengoku Basara: Samurai Heroes. Visually, Masamune retains his iconic and flamboyant design, featuring medium-length brown hair, a black eyepatch covering his right eye, and a helmet adorned with a distinctive golden crescent moon. He typically wears an azure-colored outfit that signifies his clan. His mount is highly unconventional, resembling a motorcycle with modern handlebars emerging from its mane and an exhaust pipe at the rear, which he rides with his arms crossed in a relaxed posture.
Masamune is the young and fearless chief of the Date clan from the Oshu region, famously known as the One-Eyed Dragon. His personality is a study in contrasts. On the battlefield, he is energetic, cocky, ambitious, and prone to rash behavior, often treating combat like a celebration and declaring, "Let's party!" before engaging a formidable opponent. He speaks in a unique, flamboyant manner, casually mixing English words and phrases into his Japanese dialogue, a trait that reflects his characterization as a warlord fascinated by foreign culture. Despite this wild exterior, he possesses a quiet, thoughtful, and reserved side when away from the fighting. He is known to discuss his strategies openly with his men and carefully considers the advice of his trusted retainer, showing a depth of character beyond his impulsive nature. He values his pride highly and, while sometimes appearing arrogant, maintains a strong sense of self-control and rationality, seldom revealing his true feelings even to those closest to him.
The driving force behind Masamune’s ambition to unify the war-torn country is his desire to create a peaceful world where people no longer have to suffer. His primary motivation in End of Judgement is directly tied to a humiliating defeat he suffered at the hands of Ishida Mitsunari at the Battle of Odawara. This event not only severely wounded his pride but also resulted in the loss of many of his soldiers and weakened his territory. His journey in the series is focused on hunting down Mitsunari to restore his lost honor and prove his strength, viewing the enemy general not merely as a target for revenge but as a stepping stone on his path to conquest. As the series begins, Masamune heads towards the besieged Odawara Castle seeking battle, a decision others consider reckless, which draws his long-time rival, Sanada Yukimura of the Takeda clan, to the same battlefield.
Key relationships define Masamune's role in the story. His most significant bond is with his loyal second-in-command, Katakura Kojuro. Kojuro acts as his right eye, trusted advisor, and closest friend, often acting as a grounding force who nags Masamune about his recklessness but trusts him implicitly. Another defining relationship is his fierce and fateful rivalry with Sanada Yukimura. The two share a deep mutual respect for each other's combat abilities and passion, and their contrasting colors of blue and red emphasize their mirrored natures. While they are often opponents, they have been known to set aside their differences to unite against a greater threat, such as the demonic Oda Nobunaga. His antagonistic pursuit of Ishida Mitsunari is the central driver of his personal storyline in this series, marked by frustration as Mitsunari often fails to remember their significant previous encounter.
In terms of abilities, Masamune is a master swordsman who wields a unique six-sword style he calls the Dragon's Claws. He typically holds three katanas in each hand, between his fingers, unleashing rapid and devastating attacks. When fighting seriously, he uses all six swords to overwhelm his enemies. He is also known to manipulate lightning in his attacks, adding an elemental power to his already formidable prowess. Perhaps the most notable departure in End of Judgement is the negative fan reception to his character portrayal. Many critics and fans felt that his screen time was drastically reduced and that his core personality from the original games and previous anime adaptations was severely compromised. This was attributed to the production team's perceived favoritism towards Ishida Mitsunari, for whom Masamune was said to be "cut down" as a supporting character, leading to accusations that his identity was fundamentally destroyed and that he was reduced to a shallow version of his original self.
Masamune is the young and fearless chief of the Date clan from the Oshu region, famously known as the One-Eyed Dragon. His personality is a study in contrasts. On the battlefield, he is energetic, cocky, ambitious, and prone to rash behavior, often treating combat like a celebration and declaring, "Let's party!" before engaging a formidable opponent. He speaks in a unique, flamboyant manner, casually mixing English words and phrases into his Japanese dialogue, a trait that reflects his characterization as a warlord fascinated by foreign culture. Despite this wild exterior, he possesses a quiet, thoughtful, and reserved side when away from the fighting. He is known to discuss his strategies openly with his men and carefully considers the advice of his trusted retainer, showing a depth of character beyond his impulsive nature. He values his pride highly and, while sometimes appearing arrogant, maintains a strong sense of self-control and rationality, seldom revealing his true feelings even to those closest to him.
The driving force behind Masamune’s ambition to unify the war-torn country is his desire to create a peaceful world where people no longer have to suffer. His primary motivation in End of Judgement is directly tied to a humiliating defeat he suffered at the hands of Ishida Mitsunari at the Battle of Odawara. This event not only severely wounded his pride but also resulted in the loss of many of his soldiers and weakened his territory. His journey in the series is focused on hunting down Mitsunari to restore his lost honor and prove his strength, viewing the enemy general not merely as a target for revenge but as a stepping stone on his path to conquest. As the series begins, Masamune heads towards the besieged Odawara Castle seeking battle, a decision others consider reckless, which draws his long-time rival, Sanada Yukimura of the Takeda clan, to the same battlefield.
Key relationships define Masamune's role in the story. His most significant bond is with his loyal second-in-command, Katakura Kojuro. Kojuro acts as his right eye, trusted advisor, and closest friend, often acting as a grounding force who nags Masamune about his recklessness but trusts him implicitly. Another defining relationship is his fierce and fateful rivalry with Sanada Yukimura. The two share a deep mutual respect for each other's combat abilities and passion, and their contrasting colors of blue and red emphasize their mirrored natures. While they are often opponents, they have been known to set aside their differences to unite against a greater threat, such as the demonic Oda Nobunaga. His antagonistic pursuit of Ishida Mitsunari is the central driver of his personal storyline in this series, marked by frustration as Mitsunari often fails to remember their significant previous encounter.
In terms of abilities, Masamune is a master swordsman who wields a unique six-sword style he calls the Dragon's Claws. He typically holds three katanas in each hand, between his fingers, unleashing rapid and devastating attacks. When fighting seriously, he uses all six swords to overwhelm his enemies. He is also known to manipulate lightning in his attacks, adding an elemental power to his already formidable prowess. Perhaps the most notable departure in End of Judgement is the negative fan reception to his character portrayal. Many critics and fans felt that his screen time was drastically reduced and that his core personality from the original games and previous anime adaptations was severely compromised. This was attributed to the production team's perceived favoritism towards Ishida Mitsunari, for whom Masamune was said to be "cut down" as a supporting character, leading to accusations that his identity was fundamentally destroyed and that he was reduced to a shallow version of his original self.