Ayakashi 01: Terms and History

As the show takes place during the Edo period, some terms are fairly hard to equate to modern terms. This .pdf serves as a
guide for these terms, as well as to provide some background information regarding certain aspects of the show.
Edo Period
The Edo period, also known as the Tokugawa period, lasted from February 12
th
, 1603 to November 15
th
, 1867. The period
was established by the first shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu. During this period, Japan had limited trade with foreign countries
and thus, traditional Japanese entertainment, such as Kabuki, flourished.
For more information about the Edo Period and Kabuki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edo_period
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabuki
Bunsei
Bunsei is the name of a Japanese Era. The 8
th
Bunsei refers to the year 1825.
For more information about Bunsei:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunsei
Tsuruya Nanboku the Fourth
As explained in the anime, Tsuruya Nanboku the Fourth is the author of the Kabuki play, Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan. He was
born in 1755 and died on December 22
nd
, 1829. His original name was Katsu Hyozo and he succeeded the name Tsuruya
Nanboku from his father-in-law. He was the fourth person to succeed the name. He is hailed as the creator of the
Kizewamono (raw domestic play) genre of Kabuki plays.
For more information about Tsuruya Nanboku:
http://jtrad.columbia.jp/eng/history04.htm
http://www.goethe.de/kug/kue/the/prj/ghost/isz/en966044.htm
Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan
Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan is the name of the play that the first part of the anime is based on. It was first staged in July 1825
at the Nakamuraza. Originally, it consisted of 5 acts, divided into 11 scenes. Nowadays, it is made up of 5 acts, divided into
14 scenes. Yotsuya Kaidan is based on a real event about Oiwa-san, and there have been some mysteries surrounding it to
this day.
For more information about the mysteries surrounding Oiwa-san:
http://www.shejapan.com/jtyeholder/jtye/living/ghost/ghost1.html
http://www.tokyoclassified.com/tokyofeaturestoriesarchive249/240/tokyofeaturestoriesinc.htm
Female Names
The various female characters in the anime have O as a prefix for their name. It has been customary up to the early 20
th
century to prefix womans names with the honorific, O.
For more information about Japanese female names:
http://www.issendai.com/rpgs/japanese-girls-names.shtml
Untranslated Terms
We have opted to leave honorifics untranslated.
Term Meaning
(O)nee Sister
(O)shuto Father-in-Law
(O)jou Mistress, Miss, Madam
(O)tou Father (More honorable form)
Oyaji Father (Casual form)
Danna Master
Ako-han
Ako-han is a small piece of land in Honshu, the largest island of Japan, that was assigned by the shogun to be under the
care of Asano Takumi-no-Kami.
For more information about Ako-han:
http://www.117.ne.jp/~akorosi/english/eigosiseki03.htm
Ronin
When the lord of a Bushi is slain or the Bushi loses the favor of his lord, the Bushi will become a Ronin (masterless
samurai). Bushi, which literally translates to warrior, is a term used to describe warriors. In the 12th centuary, Bushi and
samurai became synonymous, and are both used to describe warriors, though there are some subtle differences.
For more about Bushi and samurai, please refer to:
http://hackvan.com/pub/stig/spirit/bushido-and-samurai.htm
Genchuu
Genchuu is the name of a Japanese Era. It started in 1384 and ended in 1392.
For more information about Genchuu:
http://www.meijigakuin.ac.jp/~watson/ref/nengo.html
Chusingura
Chusingura is the name of the play that tells the story of the 47 Ronin. The conflict between Kira Kozuke-no-Suke and
Asano Takimi-no-Kami forms the plot of the story. Asano Takimi-no-Kami was ordered to commit seppuku, or ritual
suicide, for attempting to kill the shoguns head steward, Kira Kozuke-no-Suke, after being maliciously insulted by Kira
Kozuke-no-Suke.
Out of the 300 Bushi that were under Asano, 47 of them plotted a long and slow revenge, eventually heading to Kira's
residence in Edo to kill him. Afterwards, they brought his head back to Ako-han as an offering to Asano's grave. The Ronin
then turned themselves in, and were ordered to commit seppuku.
In the show, Tamiya Iemon, Yotsuya Samon and Satou Yomoshichi all previously served under Asano, hence the
explanation about the Bushi in Ako-han.
For more information about the 47 Ronin:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/47_Ronin
http://victorian.fortunecity.com/duchamp/410/47ronin.html#
http://www.japantimes.com/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?ft20040818a2.htm
Jigokuya
In the anime, Jigokuya is a Yojiya, or a shop that provides leisure. Opium smoking and other vices were common in these
shops. This is why the owner asks Naosuke if he wants a big or small tube.
Asakusa
Asakusa is a part of Shitamachi, an old town of Tokyo.

For more information about Asakusa:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3001.html
Maki's Gift
The red container that was presented as a gift to Iemon is called an Iremomo, which means container. Typically, food or
other small gifts are placed inside of it.
Full Ending Credits
Due to the small amount of space in the ending animation, we've put all of the credits here.
Voice Actors
Tamiya Iemon Hirata Hiroki
Tamiya Oiwa Koyama Mami
Tsuruya Nanboku Saka Osamu
Yotsuya Osode Nagashima Yuuko
Itou Oume Hirohashi Ryou
Satou Yomoshichi Takagi Wataru
Naosuke Gonbei Sonobe Keiichi
Takuetsu Inaba Minoru
Akiyama Choubee Kenichi Morozui
Kobotoke Kohei Matsuno Taiki
Omaki Saitou Kimiko
Ito Kihee Kusumi Naomi
Yotsuya Samon Hirano Masato
(In collaboration with Aoni Production)
Because she is a servant, the O suffix given to women is dropped in Maki's name when she introduces herself in the
episode, but it is written Omaki.
Original Picture Anime Support
Sanbon Megumi Noda Michiko
Kawabara Yuki Nakazawa Hirokazu
Ichii Ippei Fushida Kazuyuki
Kani Satomi Iwai oNobuyuki
Meguro Tadaharu Hokoma Makoto
Kobayashi Toshimitsu Hashimoto Hideki
Katama Hitoshi Azuma Miho
Itou Shuichi Shigeta Toru
Yamamoto Mika
Color Assignment Toyonaga Shinichi
Animation-Digital Coloring TAP Kagura
Background Works Kushida Tatsuya Mizushima Shinichi
Ono Yukiko Narita Yumiko
Ono Kumiko Sanda Shinya
Digital Photography ACC Production
Okano Yuuichirou Takagi Masato
Theme Song
Haru no Katami
Lyrics: Matsutouya Yumi
Composition: Matsutouya Yumi
Arrangement: Matsutouya Masataka
Singer: Hajime Chitose
(Epic Record Japan)
Compilation Katase Kenta
Recording Watanabe Enari
Recording Assistance Sato Naoya
Song Selection Nishikawa Kousuke
Sound Effects Itou Hiromichi (Fuji Television)
Recording Ogawa Mamiko
Music Studio TAVAC
Online Compilation TOVIC
Director Assistant Nobukage Kimura
Production Implementer Kuroki Koujirou
End Product Implementer Kuroda Shin
Art Implementer Honma Osamu
Producer Aide Kouhei Obara
Publicity Masaoka Takako (Fuji Television)
Collaboration Oiwa Inari Tamiya Shrine
Music Collaboration Sony Music Entertainment
Fuji Pacific Music Publishing
Toei Animation Music Publishing
Art Katou Osamu
Art Director Abe Masami
Director Imazawa Tetsuo
Production Ayakashi Production Commitee