Sanada 10 Batch

So here's Orphan's final word on Shinshaku Sengoku Eiyuu Densetsu Sanada Juu Yuushi (Legend of the Warring States Heroes: The Ten Warriors of Sanada) aka Sanada 10: the batch torrent. It includes a revised version of the special and revised versions of five of the first six episodes, for consistency in spelling and terminology. Patches are available here. It also includes an untranslated live-action extra. Finally, the file names have been corrected. In episode 7-9, it should be (DVD) instead of [DVD]. In episodes 10-12, there's a space missing before the episode number.

Sanada 10 did not turn out to be what I expected. (That's what I get for only watching one episode, a decade ago, before starting the project.) While it's not a bad series, it's not a great one either. It's average, or what my colleagues in Inka would call "the essence of mid." The main problem is that it's incomplete; the planned second season was never made. Because the creators expected to have 24 episodes, the pacing is slack, and the plot rambles. Historical minutia. like Tokugawa Ieyasu's alleged Genji ancestry, are examined in great depth while the story stalls out. The show turns out to be about assembling the Sanada 10, rather than what they did.

This season could easily have been condensed to six episodes. For example, the Battle of Sekigahara and its aftermath really only needed two episodes, rather than four. The subplots with the pirates and with Princess Kiyo could have been omitted entirely, saving an episode and a half. And despite the leisurely pace, major plot points, such as Sasuke's extraterrestrial origins, are left undeveloped.

Sanada 10 does have its good points. As a historian by training and a battle geek, I enjoyed the episodes on Sekigahara, despite their length and over-reliance on maps (and the horrifically complicated typesetting). The camaraderie between the principal braves - Sasuke, Seizo, and Seikai - is lively and enjoyable. Sasuke's shy (but consummated) romance with Kaede is nicely done. The Sanadas, father and son, are well characterized, the elder sly, the younger righteous. Tokugawa Ieyasu is shown as a complex, ambitious, and cautious man, shaped by his era and his upbringing, rather than as just a cardboard villain; he's the most interesting character in the show. And the TV OP is a knockout.

Because this project started in DigitalPanic, continued in AonE, and finished in Orphan, the staff credits are complex. For Orphan's version:

• Translation - DigitalPanic (1-6, special), AonE (7-9), purpleparrotkin (10-12)
• Timing - ninjacloud, Collectr
• Editing and typesetting - Collectr
• QC - Nemesis and Uchuu
• Encoding - anonymous (friend on BakaBT)
  

The encodes were made from R2J DVDs that I purchased second-hand in Japan.

So in sum: Orphan completed an orphaned series, and yet the series remains an orphan, because it will be forever incomplete. (And it show the validity of Collectr's Rule: if a series is dropped by multiple groups, it's probably for a reason.) You can get the complete series, the special, and the untranslated extra from the usual torrent site or from IRC bot Orphan|Arutha in channels #nibl or #news on irc.rizon.net. Thanks for watching.

Sanada 10 - The End of the Beginning... Actually, Just "The End" (Ep10-12)

The final episodes of Sanada 10 bring the series to a close... sort of. In fact, there are so many loose ends that it's clear the creators were planning a second season. But it never happened, so the show just stops in media res. Perhaps that's why the show was never completely fansubbed: it was very dense, requiring a lot of research and effort, and it ended with kind of a damp squib.

This set of episode includes the required Trough of Despair™ for the protagonists. Tokugawa Ieyasu is named First Genji and then Shogun, achieving the pinnacle of power. Further, he marries his granddaughter to the Toyotomi heir, apparently co-opting the only remaining serious opposition. Yukimura is disheartened and stops plotting. Instead, he takes Princess Kiyo as his concubine. (He's 37, she's 16.) Only a timely visit from Kakei Juzo, bringing rumors of the long-lost treasure of the Takeda clan, resuscitates his resolve. (Sasuke speculates that bedding Kiyo was actually the decisive factor.) He sends Sasuke, Saizo, and Seikai out chasing clues to the treasure, starting with the former Sanada homeland around Ueda. After further adventures, and a last ninja battle, the series ends, but not before the tenth and last member of the Sanada 10 surfaces in the last 30 seconds.

The whole show only covers four years, starting with the Battle of Sekigahara. Would the second season have covered the next twelve, culminating in Yukimura's heroic death at the Siege of Osaka? Or would the show have focused on the treasure quest, allowing our heroes plenty of adventures without ending in tragedy? Japan Wikipedia says that the second season was to be called "Osaka Chapter." That's the only clue.

There aren't many new characters in these three episodes:

• Sugo Takayuki (Ideura Morikiyo, leader of the Sanada ninja under Sanada Nobuyuki) played Nagakura Shinpachi in Golden Kamuy, Wanyuudou in the Hell Girl franchise, Tohru's father in Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid, Sweyn in Vinland Saga, and Okita Juzou in the recent Yamato series.
• Ootsuka Houchu (Yuri Kamanovski, the tenth Sanada brave) played Lt. Tsurumi in Golden Kamuy, Abuto in Gintama, Murai in the Legend of the Galactic Heroes reboot, Yazan in Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, Talhand in Mushuko Tenshi, and the excitable announcer in Yawara!. He also appeared in Dallos, an Orphan release.

The casting of a well-known voice actor in a role that has two lines in the last thirty seconds of the show points again to the never-made second season. The concluding title is, "The legend of the Sanada Ten begins here." And it ends there too.

These three episodes were made possible by the efforts of a new translator, purpleparrotkin. He did a lot of research to elucidate the esoteric historical details that dot the episodes. Some translation notes:

• Shugendo is an important Kami-Buddha combinatory sect that blends pre-Buddhist mountain worship, Kannabi Shinko (the idea that mountains are the home of the dead and of agricultural spirits), shamanistic beliefs, animism, ascetic practices, Chinese Yin-Yang mysticism and Taoist magic, and the rituals and spells of Esoteric (Tantric) Buddhism in the hope of achieving magical skills, medical powers, and long life.
• Hakusan Gongen is the syncretic Shinto-Buddhist deity of Mount Haru, once a great Shugendo center. Hakusan Gongen is an avatar of the Eleven-Headed Kannon, and also a representation of the Shinto creator god Izanami.
• Ushiwakamaru is another name for Minamoto no Yoshitsune, the leader of the Genji in the Genpei War.
  

ninjacloud timed. I edited and typeset. Nemesis and Uchuu QCed. The raws were encoded from R2J ISOs by an anonymous friend on BakaBT. The complicated genealogy chart is episode 10 is not typeset; no one was willing to translate all the names. There's no point, really. The exercise purported to show that Tokugawa Ieyasu was a descendant of the Genji clan, but as Ieyasu himself commented, lineage didn't really matter; accomplishments did. Further, Ieyasu claimed that connection many years earlier, in 1567, and it was acknowledged by an Imperial order. I guess it was intended to reinforce Ieyasu's methodical and thorough approach to gaining power, but it just wastes running time.

There will be a batch torrent in a few days, to correct some issues in the early episodes. Meanwhile, you can get the concluding episodes from the usual torrent site or from IRC bot Orphan|Arutha in channels #nibl or #news on irc.rizon.net.

Sanada 10 - If SIx Turned Out to Be Nine... (Ep 7-9)

At long last, Sanada 10 stops setting the stage and moves into telling a story. However, it promptly runs into a prime difficulty of historical fiction: how can you insert fictional characters into historical events as principals and let them have real impact, when the course of events, and who was involved, is already known? For example, in one of the episodes, Sasuke and his pals try to assassinate Tokugawa Ieyasu. However,  Sasuke's attempt can't succeed, because we know that Tokugawa was not assassinated. So fictional character must ultimately work around the edges of history, playing minor roles in the grand tapestry of events.

Thus, these three episodes are more about adding members to the Sanada Six than about major events. In episode seven, Sasuke and Sekai are dispatched to Kyoto to deliver a letter to the Minister of the Right. He asks them to investigate a series of burglaries at daimyo residences. This introduces Kirikagure Saizo, another ninja more interested in fame than in service.

In episode eight, Sasuke, Sekai, and Saizo return to Mount Kudo and meet Kiyohime, the daughter of former regent Higetsugu, along the way. She is escorted, from the shadows, by a mysterious Shinto priest, Kakei Juzo.

In episode nine, Sasuke, Sekai, and Saizo decide to take advantage of a tactical opportunity and assassinate Ieyasu. However, they are preempted by a masterless samurai, Anayama Kosuke, who has his own grudge against Tokugawa. Anayama's improvised attack derails Sasuke's and Saizo's more intricate plan, and Tokugawa escapes.

So not much has been accomplished, except to add three more recruits to Sanada Yokimura's ragtag band.

The new cast members include:

• Mitsuishi Kotono (Kiyohime) played the title roles in Excel Saga, Birdy the Mighty, and the Maze TV and OVAs, Mink in Dragon Half, Katsuragi Misato in the Evangelion properties, Rosalia in the Angelique franchise, Kagura in the original Fruits Basket, Eri in Love Get Chu, and of course, Sailor Moon in the Sailor Moon franchise. She played the lead in Mother Saigo no Shoujo Eve and Oshare Kozou wa Hanamaru, Oshina in Hidamari no Ki, and appeared in Blazing Transfer Student, Nagasarete Airantou, and Yamato 2520, all Orphan releases.
• Koyasu Takehito (Kirikagure Saizo) is reputed to be the most prolific voice actor currently active, with more than 365 roles under his belt. He played Doujima Gin in Shokugeki no Souma, Thirteen in Grimoire of Zero, Dio in Jojo's Bizarre Adventures, the title role in Master of Mosquitron, and Fool in Elegant Yokai Apartment Life. He starred as Izumi in Zetsuai and Bronze and appeared in Kiss wa Me ni Shite, Yamato 2520, and Yuukan Club, all Orphan releases.
• Hayami Shou (Kakei Juzo) starred as Nanjou in Zetsuai: 1989 and Bronze: Zetsuai since 1989, Aju in Hayou no Tsurugi, and Kushinige Hodaka in Oshare Kozou wa Hanamaru. He also played an angel in Tezuka Osamu's Tales of the Old Testament, Exper Kain in Exper Zenon, Iason's friend Raoul in Ai no Kusabi, Hojo in Sanctuary, Pat Leivy in Starship Troopers, Junoichi in Blazing Transfer Student, Shargan in Gude Crest, and Seichii in Mikoneko Holmes. All of these shows are Orphan releases. 
• Ookawa Tooru (Anayama Kosuke) played Sasaki Tadajirou, the Shogunate's demon hunter, in Amatsuki and Hoya Hyougo in Hidamari no Ki, both Orphan releases, Roy Mustang in Fullmetal Alchemist, Saito in the GITS SAC franchise, Noda Tatsuo (Nodame's father) in Nodame Cantabile, Gedächtnis in the Fireball series, and Jason in Ai no Kusabi (2012).
• Saka Osamu (Kikutei, the Minister of the Right) played Daisuke Aramaki in the Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex franchise and Oohara in the Oishinbo properties. He appeared in Tales from the Old Testament, Aoki Honoo, Next Senki Ehrgeiz, Fire Emblem, Kasei Yakyoku, Oz, and the third Sangokushi movie, all Orphan releases, as well as numerous other anime. 
• Sawaki Ikuya (Itakura Shirouemon, Tokugawa's enforcer in Kyoto) played Gooley in the Dirty Pair franchise. He also played Samuel Hunter in Wolf Guy, Masayoshi Hotta in Hidamari no Ki, Barry in Joker: Marginal City, Alan in Mother Saigo no Shoujo Eve, and the Kaiser in Apfelland Monogatari, as well as bit parts in Dallos and Chameleon, all Orphan releases.

The distinguished voice cast in seemingly minor roles again points at the second season that was never made.

Some translation notes: 

• Miyoshi Sekai, the pugnacious monk, is frequently referred to as "Benkei", who was  a legendary fighting monk during the Genpei War in early Heian times. In folk tales, Sasuke, Saizo, and Sekai are the most popular of the Sanada Ten and tend to get the most airtime. That's true in this show as well.
• The mysterious burglar in Kyoto is referred to as the ghost of Ishikawa Goemon. Goemon was a legendary ninja executed for trying to assassinate Toyotomi Hideyoshi. 
• During their first battle, Saizo calls Sasuke a "Kouga," meaning a Kouga ninja.
  

Also, I must mention the opening theme, a shamisen instrumental composed and played by Agatsuma Hiromitsu. His Tsugaru-shamisenI, an oversided instrument accompanied only by drum, provides an propulsive and compelling opening to the show. The ending theme is a tranquil (and rather boring) ballad extolling the nobility of the Sanada 10.

This set of episodes was translated by AonE, although the filename credits DigitalPanic as well, and the conventions changed in subtle ways. For example, the AonE team assumed (incorrectly) that the dates were Western calendar dates and changed "10th month" to October, etc. I've tried to bring these three episodes in line with the first six. The translation of episodes seven and eight is credited to cazoo; I don't know who translated episode nine. I retimed to the new raws, edited, and typeset. Nemesis and Uchuu QCed. The raws were encoded from R2J DVDs by an anonymous friend.

This is the last of the reworked episodes. The concluding episodes will have new translations. You can get these episodes from the usual torrent site or from IRC bot Orphan|Arutha in channels #nibl or #news on irc.rizon.net.

Late breaking news: Humbug. Fumble fingered the file names, so please change {DVD} to (DVD) in all three episodes.

Sanada 10 - The Sanada Six (Ep 4-6)

Although the series title (and the folk-tales on which it is based) refer to ten brave Sanada warriors, at this point, we've only met six, all of them retainers of Sanada Yukimura:

• Sarutobi Sasuke, a ninja, possibly of extra-terrestrial origin
• Miyoshi Sekai, a warrior monk
• Miyoshi Isa, his brother, also a warrior monk
• Mochizuri Rokuro, a martial arts specialist
• Unno Rokuro, a strategist
  
• Nezu Shinbachi, a sailor

They are the nucleus of a force that Sanada Nobushige, soon given the name that history remembers him by, Sanada Yukimura, intends to use to thwart Tokugawa Ieyesu's seemingly inevitable takeover of Japan. But to understand events, we need to take a brief detour into the years preceding Sekigahara.

As the Sengoku (Warring States) period drew to a close, the famous warlord Oda Nobunaga came very close to unifying Japan under his person rule. When Nobunaga was trapped by an opponent and committed suicide in 1582, his place was taken by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who succeeded where Nobunaga had failed and unified Japan under his rule. He was a ruthless man. To avoid a succession fight between his designated heir, his nephew Hidetsugu, and his young son, Hideyori, Hideyoshi exiled Hidetsugu to Mount Koya, ordered him to commit suicide, and then murdered 31 of Hidetsugu's family members. However, Hideyoshi died in 1598, when his son was only seven. Control passed to a Council of Elders who acted as regents for Hideyori. This fell apart quickly, and at Sekigahara, Tokugawa vanquished the Elders who sided against him. Yet he was nominally acting on behalf of the young Hideyori, and the power of the Toyotami clan remained intact.

These three episodes pick up the story after the Battle of Sekigahara. In the aftermath of the battle, the prospects for the rebel Sanada clan look bleak. But thanks to the intervention of his elder brother Nobuyuki, who had fought for Tokugawa, Yukimura and his father are spared execution. However, they are stripped of their lands and exiled to the monastery at Mount Koya. There, Sanada Yukimura forms a plan to fight the Tokugawas when the power struggle with the Toyotamis resumes. Starting with his six retainers, he forms a secret team of agents, who will recruit allies, look for new weapons, and keep the flame of resistance alive. Yukimura must also attend to the demands of daily life, including the birth of his first son, but he always puts the demands of resistance first. Sasuke has doubts and might prefer to enjoy the ways of peace and his newfound domestic comforts:

but he is loyal to his lord and sets out on his next mission. But meanwhile, where are the remaining four braves?

As I've worked through the DigitalPanic scripts (and the three AonE scripts that follow), I've been making changes to the conventions used in the early episodes. This means, unfortunately, that there will be script revisions to the first three episodes and the special when the series is complete. Fear not, though: patches will be provided to update initial release to final. And better still, the series is now completely translated, so it will get finished provided (as used to be said) the corn don't die and the creek don't run dry.

There are a few new characters, notably Yukimura's wife:

• Ohara Sayaka (Akihime) placed Titania in The Ancient Magus' Bride, Alicia in the Aria franchise, Milly Ashford in the Lelouch franchise, Elsie in Edens Zero, Scarlet in the Fairy Tail franchise, Ozen in Made in Abyss, Kaede in Please Teacher and Please Twins, Yuuko in xxxHOLiC, and numerous other roles.

Although I continue to be surprised at the leisurely pace (kids, be sure and get your second season commitment in writing before setting out at a 24-episode pace), Sanada 10 is moving the story along, albeit slowly. You can get this mini-batch from the usual torrent site or from IRC bot Orphan|Arutha in channels #nibl or #news.

Sanada 10 - The Battle of Sekigahara (Ep 1-3)

Sanada 10 - more formally, Shinshaku Sengoku Eiyuu Densetsu Sanada Juu Yuushi (New Legend of the Warring States Heroes: The Ten Warriors of Sanada) - has an interesting history. First, the story of Sarutobi Sasuke and the Sanada Ten Braves is a well-known folktale that has been made into movies, manga, and anime several times, including the series Brave 10 just three years later. Second, the series was planned for two seasons (24 episodes) in three chapters: Ueda Hen (the special), Kudoyama Hen (this series), and Osaka Hen (the second series, never made). Because the show was planned for 24 episodes, it takes its time getting started, with three episodes devoted to another "prologue," the Battle of Sekigahara. For now, there is no sign of the Sanada Ten Braves, and even Sasuke has only a peripheral role.

The Battle of Sekigahara (1600) was the culmination of the Warring States period in Japan. After decades of indecisive warfare among warlords, two dominant coalitions emerged: the "Western" daimyos, led by Ishida Mitsunari and centered around Osaka and the imperial capital of Kyoto; and the Eastern daimyos, led by Tokugawa Ieyusu and centered around Edo (now Tokyo). The two camps fought it out at Sekigahara. It was a decisive and bloody affair. It established Tokugawa dominance over feudal Japan and led to the establishment of the Tokugawa Shogunate, which would last without interruption until the Meiji Restoration in1868. When the battle started, Tokugawa's Eastern Army army was almost surrounded by the forces of the Western Army. However, thanks to fog that covered the battlefield, the inactivity of the Western Army's eastern detachments, and the timely defection of critical elements of the Western Army, Tokugawa was able to concentrate his forces and smash his foes.

The opposing armies consisted of many quasi-independent commands. Between the dozens of commanders and the additional heroic vassals who played a role in the fighting, there are an inordinate number of names to keep track of. In addition, unless you're a cinematic genius like Akira Kurosawa, or have a super-widescreen canvas and the services of tens of thousands of extras (as in the film Gettysburg), it's very difficult to portray the ebb and flow of a battle that involved 200,000 men. So the anime resorts to maps - lots of maps. The maps have lots of names on them, representing the various commanders. The maps move, scale, fade, and are overlayed by pictures of fighting to convey some sense of the battle. And did I mention there are lots of them?

When DigitalPanic did the series back in the 'noughts, they rightly concluded that the maps were too difficult for then-current technology and didn't subtitle them. However, I felt that without labels, the maps didn't help very much. To see why, here's a professional map of the start of the battle, from the Museum at Gettysburg:

Now, here's the same map, more or less, in the anime, without the eastern detachments:

The first episode wasn't too bad - only four map styles and 4400 lines of typesetting - but the second episode was a nightmare - eight map styles and close to 40,000 lines of typesetting. The third episode fell in between - about 20,000 lines of typesetting. To put it in context, the third Sangokushi movie, my previous reference point for over-the-top typesetting, is twice as long as these three episodes combined and has about one-third as much typesetting.

Despite the over-reliance on maps, the three episodes provide a good sense of the course of the battle - from Ishida's overconfidence in his numerical superiority, to the back-and-forth nature of the battle during the first few hours, to the overwhelming impact of the betrayal by the Western Army's southernmost forces.

The original DigitalPanic releases were hardsubbed. Fortunately, I had access to a project script archive, so I had at least late-stage, if not necessarily final, scripts for each episode. After verifying the script against the actual release, I shifted the subs over to a new R2J DVD encode. Then the fun began.There were significant timing discrepancies between the TV broadcast that DigitalPanic used and the DVDs. I fine-timed the first two episodes myself before I remembered that I was no damned good at it; ninjacloud fine-timed the third. Then came the endless, or so it seemed, typesetting. Next, editing. As with the Sanada 10 Special, the translation was very stilted, with too many impersonal and passive constructs. I needed multiple passes to make things flow better. Nemesis and Uchuu QCed. The encode was done by an anonymous friend from R2J DVDs.

A few notes:

• Otani Gyobu, perhaps the most level-headed commander in the Western Army, had contracted leprosy and always wore a mask over his face. He was dying as the battle commenced.
• Circumlocutions like "11th day, 9th month" have to be used, rather than "September 11", because at the time, Japan was using the Chinese calendar, and the year started three to seven weeks later than the Western calendar.

As with the Sanada 10 Special, I excised all of DigitalPanic's notes that weren't hardsubbed. They mostly explained the offices that functioned as the middle names for many of the characters. I've reproduced them here:

• Naidaijin: Prime Minister of the Interior Cabinet
• Kozukenosuke: -suke is a prefectoral rank lower than that of -kami.
• Nakatsukasataifu: An official in the Ministry of Internal Affairs which deals with the administration of the royal palace.
• Hyobushoyu: An official in the Ministry of Military Manpower which oversees the recruitment and assignment of soldiers in the capital and non-autonomous prefectures.
• Tokugawa Ieyasu's former name is Matsudaira Motoyasu. It is not uncommon for sons to use the name of an extended clan.
• Gyobushoyu: An official in the Ministry of Punishment, which oversees the judgement, sentencing and punishment of convicted criminals.
• Okurashoyu: An official in the Ministry of Finance, which oversees monetary and currency matters and the collection of taxes.
• Augustinus is Konishi's Christian name. Christianity was introduced by Portuguese missionaries in the late 16th century.
• Akashi is a devout Christian and was baptised as Joao. His other known Christian name is Giovanni Juste.
• Kamonnokami: The head of the Kamon division of the Imperial household, which oversees maintenance and cleanliness.
• Kanpaku: The Imperial Regent. Also known as Sesshou when addressed by members of the royal family.
• Enriedo Gongujodo: A line of Buddhist scripture that means, "Leaving this tainted world, striving for the purer heavens."
• Jiju: The Chamberlain for the Emperor.
• Samanosuke: A secondary official in the Imperial Stable.
• Kurandonotou: Head of the Secretarial Division to the Emperor.
• Kunaishoyu: An official in the Ministry of Palace Affairs, which sees to the running of the palace and also manages tribute from the various prefectures.

The voice cast is stupendously long, with many featured actors only having a line or two. I don't have time or space for my usual capsule filmographies, so I've just included a list of some lead or featured roles:

• Utsumi Kenji (Narrator) - Roah in Fist of the North Star, Kaioh in Fist of the North Star 2, and Senbei Norimaki in Dr. Slump and Arale-chan. Orphan releaes: Nora, Bavi Stock, Stop!! Hibari-kun!, Techno Police 21C, Don Dracula (title role), 15 Shounen Hyouruuki.
• Wakamoto Norio (Sakakibara Shikibutaifu Yasumasa) - title role in The Gargoyle of the Yoshinagas, Cell in Dragonball, Katakuriko in Gintama, Oda Nobunaga in Sengoku Basara. Orphan releases: Apfelland Monogatari, Yamato 2520, Amon Saga, Joker: Marginal City.
• Yamada Keaton (Ishida Jibushoyu Mitsunari) - Orphan releases: Karuizawa Syndrome,  Boyfriend, and Sangokushi 1 and 2. 
• Ogawa Shinji (Tokugawa Naidaijin Ieyasu) - Maestro Stresemann in Nodame Cantabile. Orphan releases:Kasei Yakyoku, Starship Troopers, Junod.
• Nakamura Daiki (Honda Kozukenosuke Masazumi) - the title roles in Dangerous Jii-san Ja and Demon Beast Resurrection, Dayakka in Gurren Lagann, Seiji Date in Ronin Warriors, and Liu Bei in Yokoyama Mitsuteru Sangokushi. Orphan releases: Mikeneko Holmes, Condition Green, AWOL Compression Remix. 
• Yanada Kiyoyuki (Yagyu Mataemon Munenor) - Takenori in Slam Dunk, Gateau Mocha in Bakuretsu Hunter, and Kuroinu the black cat in Chii's Sweet Home. Orphan releases: Nanatoshi Monogatari. Hidamari no Ki, Hayou no Tsurugi, Exper Zenon, Akai Hayate, Nozomi Witches,  Ai no Kusabi.
• Aona Takeshi (Honda Nakatsukasataifu Tadakatsu) - Nurarihyon in GeGeGe no Kitarou through 2007, Billy Bones in Treasure Island, Bookman in D.grayman, Dracule in One Piece, Katsuhiko Masaki in Tenchi Muyo, and Shiro Sanada in Yamato. Orphan releases: A Penguin's Memories, Ginga Tansa 2100: Border-nen, Fire Emblem, Grimm Douwa: Kin no Tori, Hashire Melos!, the three Sangokushi movies,Tales of the Old Testament, Rain Boy.
• Mori Katsuji (Ii Hyobushoyu Naomasa ) - Astro Boy (1980), Cutie Honey, Real Drive, Rose of Versailles.Orphan releases: Cool Cool Bye, Amon Saga, Bagi, Stop!! Hibari-kun!
• Hiyama Noboyuki (Tokugawa Chunagon Hidetada, Matsudaira Shimotsukenokami Tadayoshi) - Madarame in Genshiken;Viral in Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, Date in Lime-iro Senkitan, Murata in Gundam Seed, Kouyuu Li in Saiunkoku Monogatari, Shin in Cowboy Bebop, and Kiei in Yu Yu Hakusho. Orphan releases: Fire Emblem,Next Senki Ehrgeiz, Shirokuma Cafe.
• Hashi Takaya (Otani Gyobushoyu Yoshitsugu) - Orphan releases: Tales from the Old Testament, Sanctuary, Oedo ga Nemurenai!, Yuukan Club.
• Horikawa Jin (Ukita Chunagon Hideie) - Bt'x; Musashi TV; Wangan Midnight; Zoids.
• Tomomichi Nishimuri (Natsuka Okurashoyu Masaie) - Yu Yu Hakusho, Slam Dunk, Mobile Suit Z Gundam. Orphan releases: Tales from the Old Testament, Bremen 4, Aoki Honoo, Eguchi Hisashi no Kotobuki Goro Show, Eguchi Hisashi no Nantoka Naru Desho!, Fire Tripper, Fumoon, Hi-Speed Jecy, Prime Rose, Wild 7, Wolf Guy, Yamataro Comes Back.
• Kashi Shouto (Ankokuji Choro Ekei) - REC, Kekkaishi, Monkey Turn, Gunparade March. Orphan releases: Ultra Nyan 2.
• Tahara Aruno (Konishi Settsunokami Yukinaga) - Orphan releases: Apfelland Monogotari, Bremen 4, Chiisai Sensuikau ni Koi wo Shita Dekasugira Kojira no Hanashi. 
• Tachiki Fumihiko (Shima Sakon Kiyooki) - Gintama, Golden Kamuy, High School DxD, Nana, Evangelion. Orphan releases: Jikuu Bouken.
• Nakata Jouji (Akashi Kamonnokami Teruzumi) - Alucard in Hellsing and and the Count of Monte Christo in Gankuutsuou. Orphan releases: Tales of the Old Testament, AWOL Compression Remix, Amatsuki.
• Ebara Masashi (Kuroda Kainokami Nagamasa) - Shakugan no Shana, Nodame Cantabile, Metropolis. Orphan releases: Blazing Transfer Student, Akai Hayate, Eiyuu Banka Koushi-den, Mikeneko Holmes, Apfelland Monogatari.
• Fujimoto Yuzuru (Shimazu Hyogonyudo Ishin - Orphan releases: Al Caral no Isan.
• Matsuo Matsuo (Shimazu Jiju Toyohisa (Nephew of Ishin)) - Dog of Flanders; Read or Die TV; Ryokunohara Labyrinth. Orphan releases: Exper Zenon.
• Fujiwara Keiji (Hattori Hanzo Masanari) - Antique Bakery, Shingeki no Kyojin;Kekkai Sensen. Blue Exorcist, Karas, Magi. Ushio to Tora TV.
• Egawa Hisao (Kani Saizo Yoshinaga) - Banner of the Stars, Fairy Gone, Ghost Sweeper Mikami, Haikyuu!!, Kaiba, LOGH Die Neue Theses. Orphan releases: Sangokushi movie 3, Doukyuusei 2.
• Watabe Takeshi (Fukushima Kiyosu Jijyu Masanori) - Gunparade Orchestra, Maze, Ninku, Oishinbo, Wrath of the Ninja, You're Under Arrest. Orphan releases: Tales from The Old Testament, Condition Green, Twinkle Nora Rock Me!, Sanctuary.
• Ginga Banjo (Goto Matabe Mototsugu (Vassal of Nagamasa)) - the title role in 80 Days Around the World with Willy Fog, Baloo in The Jungle Book, and chairman Nakiri Senzaemon in Shokugeki no Souma. Orphan releases: Gude Crest,Oruorane the Cat Player, Amon Saga, Ipponbouchou Mantarou, What's Michael? OVAs.
• Hirano Masato (Ohashi Kamon (Vassal of Mitsunari)) - Aterui, Dog of Flanders, Peter Pan, Slayers. Orphan releases: Blue Sonnet, Sangokushi movies 2 and 3.
  
• Inada Tetsu (Ban Danemon Naoyuki (Vassal of Yoshiaki)) - Shirokuma Cafe, Appare-Ranman, Babylon, Coicent, Gangsta, Kengan Ashur,; Kiddy Grade, LOGH Die Neue Theses, Made in Abyss, Boku no Hero Academa, REC.
• Kawashima Tokuyoshi (Mori Akijijyu (Saishou) Hidemoto) - Shirokuma Cafe, Concrete Revolutio, Emma, Giant Killing, LOGH Die Neue Theses, Monkey Turn, Boku no Hero Academa, Oh! Edo Rocke,; Tetsuko no Tabi.
• Sakaguchi Daisuke (Kobayakawa Chunagon Hideaki) - Ginpachi, Kamen no Maid Guy, Moyashimon, Tokimeki Memorial 4, Welcome to the NHK, Yoiko, Maburaho, Aoyama-kun. Orphan releases: Tales from the Old Testament.
  
• Ogata Mitsuru (Kikkawa Kurandonotou Hiroie) - Chihayafuru, Death Note, High School DxD, Miami Guns. Orphan releases: AWOLCompression  Remix; Nanatoshi Monogatari; Nozomi Witches; Wild 7;.
  
• Houki Katsuhisa (Gamo Bicchunokami Yorisato) - Hand Maid Ma,; Tiger & Bunny, Babylon, Burst Angel, Fire Force, Ghost Talker's Daydream, House of Five Leaves.
• Tsujitani Kouji (Otani Daigakunosuke Yoshiharu) - played the lead role in the Captain Tylor franchise and 3x3 Eyes. Orphan releases Ai no Kusabi, Okane ga Nai, Condition Green, Kasei Yakyoku, Yuukan Club, Sotsugyou: Graduation, Shiratori Reiko de Gozaimasu!
• Kayumi Iemasa (Oda Urakusai Nagamasu) -  Ghost in the Shell. Orphan releases: Condition Green, Bander Book, Sangokushi movie 1.
• Muramatsu Yasuo (Ata Chojuin Moriatsu) - Miss Machiko, Orguss, Christopher Columbus..Orphan releases: Dallos, Hidamari no Ki.
  
• Akagi Susumu (Hosokawa Jiju Tadaoki) - Blue Dragon, Ikkitousen, Musashi.
• Hoki Katsutoshi (Yuasa Gosuke Takasada) - no information.
  

The director, Shimizu Keizou, also did the special.

So here is the first (and hardest) part of the Sanada 10 TV series, covering the Battle of Sekigahara. You can get the episodes from the usual torrent site or from IRC bot Orphan|Arutha in channels #nibl or #news on irc.rizon.net.

 

 

Sanada 10 Special

Once upon a time, in the ancient days of the mid-oughts, there was a TV series with the rather long title of Shinshaku Sengoku Eiyuu Densetsu Sanada Juu Yuushi (New Legend of the Warring States Heroes: The Ten Warriors of Sanada), mercifully abbreviated to Sanada 10. A group called DigitalPanic, well known back in the day, picked it up and began subbing it, but they ran out of steam and stopped in 2008. Another well-known group, AonE, picked up the project in 2011, but they disbanded in 2013. The show has been an orphan ever since.

Sanada 10 has been on my Orphan's Dashboard since I started keeping a list, for a very simple reason: I was the last editor on the project, brought in by Daemon404 of AonE to help finish episode 9 before everyone involved turned into pumpkins. That experience left me not only with a strong desire to finish the show but also with the script archive for the first nine episodes - an invaluable asset. In the following decade, I kept trying to get a project off the ground. I even bought the Sanada 10 R2J DVDs. But there were Problems™. 

First, the source was a mess. It had interlacing at fades, 29.97 fps and 23.976 fps material intermixed, and other issues. Daemon404 had overcome the obstacles, but he had retired, and no other encoder would touch it. Second, I had no translator for the last three episodes, and no one was really interested. It's not some lost gem. Rather, it's a routine Sengoku-era drama, with the Sanada clan as the good guys and the Tokugawa as the bad guys. And if you remember your history, the Tokugawa win.

Last fall, the stars finally aligned. Through BakaBT, I found an encoder willing to try his hand at encoding the show. The results aren't perfect, but they're more than good enough. And through Discord, I found a translator willing to do the last three episodes. I was in business.

But how deep in business? Should Orphan just finish the last three episodes? Should the team redo the hardsubbed episodes (1-4 and the special)? Or everything? To get a sense of what was needed, I decided to redo the introductory special. This release is the result.

The nominal hero of the show is Sarutobi Sasuke. He's a foundling, rescued (apparently) from a crashed spaceship and raised by the Sanada clan as one of their ninja.

But he's just one character in an enormous sea of names, places, and events. The show reminds me of the Sangokushi movies, right down to the frequent signs for identifying the "cast of thousands" and the complex maps for the geography.

The special takes place in the days leading up to the Battle of Sekigahara, which secured Tokugawa Ieyasu's mastery over feudal Japan. Tokugawa's son, Hidetada, is charged with securing Ueda Castle before joining his father for the decisive battle. Opposing Hidetada are the much smaller army of the Sanada clan, led by master strategist Sanada Masayuki, prefect of Awa province, and his son, Sanada Nobushige. Can father and son outwit the Tokugawas, save their castle, and delay the opposing army long enough to keep them out of the forthcoming battle? It's a game of cat and mouse, a battle of numbers versus wits, with the fate of Japan riding on the outcome... perhaps.

(By the way, the beige blobs are boiling-hot porridge, in case you were having other thoughts.)

DigitalPanic's subtitles are typical mid-oughts fansubbing: most Japanese terms untranslated, a plethora of translation notes, and inadequate margins on the dialog. I've translated some (but not all) of the terms and excised the on-screen notes, except for the ones representing actual on-screen signs. Some notes on terminology:

• Tozama Daimyo: Non-hereditary feudal lord in Japan during the Tokugawa period. Often regarded as external elements. Translated as "non-hereditary daimyo."
• Awanokami: Prefect of Awa. The "-nokami" suffix denotes that the person holds a rank of Prefect.
• Nyudo: Suffix denoting a Buddhist priest.
• Chunagon: An intermediary official who acts as a bridge between the high court and the other ranks.
• Jibushoyu: An official from the Ministry of Administration, which handles diplomatic affairs, matters relating to the Imperial Tomb, and the refined musical arts.
• Zushu: A shortened form of address for Izunokami.
• Takasago: A Noh-related festive dance of longevity and blessings.
• Shikibutaifu: A senior official from the Ministry of Ceremony, which handles ceremonial rites, court examinations, and the appointment of officials.
• Karita Obiki: Cutting the grain as a goad.
• Hatabugyo: Bearer of the flag. Translated as "flag bearer."
  
• Itto-ryu: A sword style founded by Ito Ittosai Kagehisa.
  

DigitalPanic truncated long vowels to their underlying short vowel, e.g., hatabugyo instead of hatabugyou. This hasn't been changed.

The cast is enormous:

• Takase Akimitsu (Sanada Izunokami Nobuyuki/Genzaburou) appeared in Next Senki Ehrgeiz, AWOL Compression Remix, Shirokuma Cafe, and Hidamari no Ki, all Orphan releases, as well as Natsume Yuujinchou and Hikaru no Go.
• Gouda Hozumi (Sanada Saemonnosuke Nobushige/Genjirou) played Cuvie in the Votoms franchise, Gouza in Hunter x Hunter (1999), and Satomi in Akai Hayate, an Orphan release.
• Hiyama Nobuyuki (Tokugawa Chuunagon Hidetada) played Madarame in the Genshiken franchise, Viral in Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, Date in Lime-iro Senkitan, Murata in the Gundam Seed series, Kouyuu Li in Saiunkoku Monogatari, Shin in Cowboy Bebop, and Kiei in the Yu Yu Hakusho franchise. He also played Kain in Fire Emblem, Roddy in Next Senki Ehrgeiz, and King Penguin in Shirokuma Cafe, all Orphan releases.
• Hoshi Souichirou (Sarutobi Sasuke) played Kira Yamato in the Gundam Seed series, Sanada Yukimura in the Sengoku Basara franchise, Eisen in Haruka Naru Toki no Nake de: Hachiyoushou, Kei in Onegai Teacher, Maebera in the Higurashi franchise, Tomoki in the Soro no Otoshimoto franchise, Son Goku in the Saiyuki franchise, Shinji in the Symphogear franchise, Nagi in Tenjou Tenge, Minamoto no Motomi in Haruka Naru Toki no Nake de 2, and Taira no Atsumori in Haruka Naru Toki no Nake de 3. The last two are Orphan releases.
• Taniguchi Takashi (Sanada Awano-kami Masayuki) played God in the Yondemasu Yo, Azazel-san series and Kouchin, the final boss, in Ninku. He appeared in The Green Cat, an Orphan release.
• Genda Tesshou (Miyoshi Harumi Nyudo) played Colonel Muto in Joker Game, Moloch in Yondemasu Azazel-san, Rei in the Urusei Yatsura franchise, Moguro Fukuzou in New Laughing Salesman,  and "Oyaji" in Mitsuboshi Colors. He also played Akauma in Fire Tripper, Jin Kiryu in Blue Sonnet, Zigong in Eiyuu Banka Koushi-den, Paul Rusch in Yume Kakeru Kougen, Jim Hyatt in AWOL Compression Remix, the loyal lieutenant Galbreath in Next Senki Ehrgeiz, the dragonman Baguda in Greed, the narrator in Akai Hayate and Meisou-ou Border, Dog McCoy in Dallos, Hebopi in Wild 7, rebel leader Oosukune in Izumo, and Rikiishi's trainer Kuroki and Kirishima in Eguchi Hisashi no Kotobuki Gorou Show, all Orphan releases.
• Chafurin (Yazawa Tajimano-kami Yoriyuki) played the title role in Barbapapa Around the World, Inspector Megure in the Detective Conan franchise, Scotch Jii-san in the Hello Kitty franchise, Isono in Sazae-san (since 2014), and Kamoda in Yawara! He also appeared in B.B. Fish, Coluboccoro (2019), Jikuu Bouken Nuumamonjaa, Yamato 2520, Ohoshi-sama no Rail, and Izumo (1991), all Orphan releases.
• Orikasa Fumiko (Kaede) played Oseki in Hidamari no Ki and the narrator in Sensou Douwa: Chiisai Sensuikau ni Koi wo Shita Dekasugira Kojira no Hanashi, both Orphan releases, Kuchiki Rukia in all the Bleach properties, Mikan in Atashinchi, Yuzuki in Chobits, Karin in the Stratos 4 properties, Ikuku in the Massagu ni Ikou OVAs, Aoba in Jinki Extend, Seras Victoria in both versions of Hellsing, Nicoletta in Restaurant Paradisio, Riza Hawkeye in the original Full Metal Alchemist, Lotte Yanson in Little Witch Academia, and the heroine Okonogi Yuuko in Dennou Coil.
• Tanaka Hideyuki (Unno Rokurou) played Terryman in the Kinnikuman franchise and Rayearth in Magic Knight Rayearth. He also played Harmer in Al Caral no Isan, Sammy in Bavi Stock, Sawamura in Nozomi Witches, Ronron in Greed, Aoto in Oedo ga Nemurenai!, Katze in Ai no Kusabi, Minowa Takanari in Karuizawa Syndrome, Kazuhiko, Chiko's father in Ohoshi-sama no Rail, and Ma Su, Fengji's lover, in Sangokushi movie 3, all Orphan releases.
• Kosugi Jurouta (Mochizuki Rokurou) played Utsubushi in Amatsuki, Aizman in Bavi Stock, Takanesawa in Hiatari Ryouko, Daisuke in Sei Michaela Gakuen Hyouryuuki, Gisuke in Shadow, Dr. Bayfam in Joker, and a bit part in Hi-Speed Jecy, all Orphan releases, as well as Krest in Ariel, Fernand in Gankuutsou, Hertz in Marie and Gali, and Touji in Ninku.
• Inoue Kazuhiko (Jinpachi Nezu) starred as Yamaoka Shirou in Oishinbo, Yuki Eiri in Gravitation, the title role in Cyborg 009, Tachibana no Tomomasa in Haruka Naru Toki no Nake de: Hachyoushou, and my favorite role, the irascible, sake-swilling Nyanko-sensei in the Natsume Yuujichou franchise. He also played Saiki Haruka in Tobira o Akate, Iori in Tomoe's Run!, Kanuma Hayate in Akai Hayate, Ryousuke in Daishizen no Majuu Bagi, Kitten Smith in Starship Troopers, Liu Bei Xuande in both Sangokushi TV specials, Ayako in Lunn Flies into the Wind, Nakatsugawa in Boyfriend, Hisui in Haruka Naru Toki no Nake de 2, and Kajiwara Kagetoki in Haruka Naru Toki no Nake de 3, all Orphan releases.
• Kitamura Koichi (Honda Sadonokami Masanobu) played Paolon, the intelligent spaceship in Hi-Speed Jecy, Professor, the wise old cat in the Ultra Nyan OVAs, and Coach Naoko in Nine and its sequels, and he appeared in Hidamari no Ki and Dokushin Apartment Dokudami-sou, all Orphan releases. 
• Ishii Kouji (Miyoshi Isannyudo) played Fujisawa in the El Hazard franchise, Taiga in the GaoGaiGar franchise, Mitsukake in the Fushigi Yuugi franchise, John Blade in Sin: The Movie, Tanaka in Kachou Ouji: Hard Rock Save the Space, and Garterbelt in Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt. He also appeared as Henry Hellgate in Alice in Cyberland, Hyman in Fire Emblem, and Minamoto no Tokitomo in Haruka Naru Toki no Nake de 2, all Orphan release.
• Wakamoto Norio (Sakakibara Shikibu-naifu Yasumasa) played the title role in The Gargoyle of the Yoshinagas, Vicious in Cowboy Bebop, Cell in the Dragonball franchise, Katakuriko in the Gintama franchise, Oda Nobunaga in the Sengoku Basara franchise, Guren in Ushio to Tora TV, Shining Saotome in the Uta no Prince-sama franchise, and Oskar von Reuenthal in Legend of the Galactic Heroes. He also appeared as Noa in Choujikuu Romanesque Samy: MISSING 99, York Denman in Apfelland Monogatari, Major Thrauza in Yamato 2520, Denon in Amon Saga, and the Narrator in Joker: Marginal City, all Orphan releases.
• Tarusuke Shingaki (Honda Minonokami Tadamasa) played Abraham Fran in Big Order, Nathaniel H in the Bungo Stray Dogs franchise, Kariya Matou in Fate/Zero, Togusa in the Ghost in the Shell franchise, Shinichi in Love All Play, Mirio in Boku no Hero Academia, Eishiro in the Prince of Tennis franchise, and Raymond Hardy in AMAIM: Warrior at the Borderline.
• Akimoto Yousuke (Ookubo Sagaminokami Tadachika) appeared in Apfelland Monogatari and Wild 7, both Orphan releases, as well as Stratos 4, Sisters of Wellber, Princess Lover, The Sacred Blacksmith, and Black Summoner.
• Kenji Utsumi (Narrator) is best known for his roles as Roah in Fist of the North Star, Kaioh in Fist of the North Star 2, and Senbei Norimaki in the Dr. Slump and Arale-chan franchise. He appeared as the village chief in Watt Poe and Alex Louis Armstrong in both versions of Full Metal Alchemist. He played the title role in Don Dracula and appeared in Nora, Bavi Stock, Stop!! Hibari-kun!, Techno Police 21C, and 15 Shounen Hyouruuki, all Orphan releases.

The voice cast for the series is even larger. The director, Simizu Keizou, mostly did character design, but he also directed Cobra the Animation.

The original translation was by CelesAurivern of DigitalPanic. Yogicat transcribed the hardsubs, and ninjacloud timed them. Iri translated all the maps. I edited and typeset. Like Sangokushi, it's very sign-heavy, but the signs are straightforward except for the damned maps. Nemesis, Topper3000, and Uchuu did QC. An anonymous friend encoded from R2J DVDs.

The Sanada 10 special is a necessary introduction to the series. (Whether the series itself is necessary is tbd.) It provides background on the main non-historical characters, namely Sasuke. This version has better video, softsubs, more typesetting, new styling - in short, everything one would expect of an update to a 18-year old fansub release. If you liked Sangokushi, you might like this, but if you didn't, you definitely won't. You can get the release from the usual torrent site for from IRC bot Orphan|Arutha in channels #nibl or #new on irc.rizon.net.

Late breaking news. Wrong script muxed; fixed in v2 with this patch. Sorry.