Samurai Champloo, Japan and the Hidden Christians of Ikitsuki Island
This article is written by Nya Nya Plush, the number one place to buy Anime PlushiesIntroduction To Samurai Champloo
Samurai Champloo is easily one of the best Samurai-era Anime ever made. Produced and directed by the same team that blessed Anime with Cowboy Bebop, the 26 episode run of Samurai Champloo was both entertaining, educational, and deep in anachronistic themes.
The Sunflower Samurai
One of the major themes and plot lines in Samurai Champloo centered around one of the main characters, Fuu and her journey to find her missing father. Fuu’s father, Kasumi Seizō left his wife and daughter to join what is historically known as the Shimabara Rebellion, a peasant rebellion led predominantly by Christians who were upset about higher taxes in the Shimabara peninsula. Kasumi is referred to as the Sunflower Samurai because he grew a sunflower garden near his home. Interestingly enough, sunflowers are not native to Japan and were imported from the Dutch. The Anime made a point of showing that Kasumi had interest in foreign ideas and objects, alluding to his eventual belief in Christianity.
Edo Era Japan
Belief in Christianity in a Edo Era Japan was dangerous. The government had already passed a isolationist policy which barred any foreigners from entering the country and also made it illegal for any Japanese to leave the country. Christianity was seen as a foreigner’s religion and so the government put laws and practices into place that ensured Christianity would be nipped at the bud. A follower of Christianity could be killed for their beliefs, bodies put on display after a public execution(read more about public displays of execution and torture in Anime).Ikitsuki Island
The Anime Samurai Champloo followed the story of Fuu, Mugen and Jin as they followed the scent of the Sunflower Samurai. Kasumi Seizō and thousands of other Christians escaped the iron fisted persecutions of the Tokugawa government by going to Ikitsuki Island. This remote Island is very small and can be covered in a car in less than 2 hours(trust us, we tried it). It was here that the runaway Christians hid themselves from the hounds of the government. Present day Ikitsuki Island still carries the scars of persecution of Christians that was prevalent during the Tokugawa reign. The small Island is littered with Museums and restored Churches that detail the history of the Island and its struggle between retaining its uniquely Japanese identity and that of its new religious influx. Of the 8,000 or so residents of Ikitsuki Island there are roughly 1,000 that are still practicing Christians.
Anime as Entertainment and Education
Despite Samurai Champloo starting the series with “This work of fiction is not an accurate historical portrayal. Like we care. Now shut up and enjoy the show.” It’s great to really see how the Anime has integrated such important times and events in Japan’s history.
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