So, after a couple years of knowing this game existed but always passing it by, I decided to try Nightshade. I began my journey with a man I had a hunch I would enjoy. He’s kind, intelligent, strategic, charming, brave, and observant. Who is this all-around perfect guy? Meet the Sengoku Era’s own, the charming gentleman thief Arsene Lupin!
Okay. Not Lupin.
The man’s name is Ishikawa Goemon. But if you put a top hat on his head, he’s essentially the same as his Victorian Era counterpart.
And I love him.
As always, character and plot analysis and spoilers after the cut!
Sometimes you come across a route that you just know will become a comfort route. You know? Those routes you read when your house is full of stressful family members and you need some time alone. Or when your day at work has been filled with emails and emergency phone calls that completely derail your plans. Or when your adult roommate acts like an entitled 6-year-old and you’re contemplating selling your kidney so you can live alone. We all have the kind of days, I’m talking about. And we need an otome route that, if only for a short time, allows us to just enjoy the journey. I just never thought one of my top comfort routes would be about Japanese shinobis all trying to murder each other.
Sometimes the heart wants strange things.
But I found Goemon to be the perfect hero to help me through challenging times. Besides being voiced by a favorite VA, Hikaru Midorikawa (I will forever love Edgar from The Earl and The Fairy), who gives Geomon a calming, buttery smooth voice, Goemon is one of the most level-headed and dependable otome heroes I have ever come across.
And sometimes I just need that. I need a hero who will come up beside me, take my hand, and guide me through the route.
And sometimes our heroine, Enju, needs that as well.
Enju is a young shinobi, who is about to set off on her first official mission. She grew up as the Koga Village Princess. Her parent’s marriage was a political union that joined two clans. And her whole life revolved around serving Koga as a shinobi. Being a shinobi for Koga was Enju’s entire identity. She believed being a successful shinobi was the only way to bring pride to her father and her village. And her beliefs were constantly reinforced by everyone around her. All her friends were shinobis. The culture around her valued shinobis. The shinobi way of life was her everything. And Enju expected herself to live up to the expectations of her village, teacher, and friends. Enju desperately wanted to become a shinobi that could make herself and everyone in her life proud.
But she knows nothing of the outside world.
Enju has been physically training in her village for years, but lacks practical experience. Everyone around her has been trying to protect her for as long as they can, including her teacher Chojiro, who never pushed her training into life-or-death situations. So, Enju has never developed her killer instinct.
Now this doesn’t mean Enju is incompetent as a shinobi. Could Enju perform the non-violent tasks (spying, infiltrating, gathering information…) of a shinobi with relative ease? Sure! She’s excited to put her years of training to use. But her heart is not prepared to kill.
Enju is pure and open hearted.
She has never steeled her heart.
And this is something EVERYONE around her is aware of.
And I got the feeling that all the shinobis around her: Chojiro, Gekkamaru, Kuroyuki, Ennosuke, and Kyara wanted to protect that about Enju at all costs. (Gekkamaru and Kuroyuki are a special case in the shinobi world. They put protection of Enju above all else. They are the only two that have different priorities from everyone around them.) None of her friends want Enju to experience the dirty underbelly (aka the murder) of the shinobi lifestyle. So, they hide it from her and do not prepare her for that reality. At the same time, they do know her pure and open heart is a weakness for a shinobi.
So, Enju is a young woman, whose never been outside her village. She wants to be a respectable shinobi who brings honor to her teacher, her father and village, yet she is lacking a key component to success.
A heart of steel.
Now, I’m going to be honest. I can’t really relate to the shinobi lifestyle at all. There are two things I support full heartedly and would never abandon: my faith and my husband and my child. Other than that, I’m pretty flexible.
And so, as I’m reading this route, I’m constantly plagued by the question: Does Enju really need to change?
Why can’t she just stay the compassionate, loving, pure, open-hearted person she is? Why can’t she be who she is, and not have that be considered a weakness and a bad thing?
Now, I’m not saying people shouldn’t grow, change, and develop into healthier versions of themselves. I, for one, have spent YEARS slowly working through emotional and mental damage from my childhood.
What I’m saying is that it’s kind of sad constantly watching Enju stress about and chastise herself for not acting “shinobi” enough. She desperately wants the approval from Chojiro, her father, her friends, and her village and she feels the only way to earn their approval is to prove she can act like a “true” shinobi. Enju doesn’t feel like who she currently is, is good enough to deserve the approval of Chojiro and her village. She needs to be “more” like a shinobi. And these beliefs she has about herself have been reinforced by her father, Chojiro, and her village for years!
And that is the problem.
WHO SHE IS, IS BEAUTIFUL! NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO CHANGE THEMSELVES TO BE VALUED BY THOSE CLOSEST TO THEM!
At least, that’s what I think.
Enju constantly puts pressure on herself to become something that she sees as her only way to bring “honor to us all” ….is this sounding like Mulan to anyone else? I mean…it really is similar. And the problematic nature of this situation is exacerbated by the fact that Enju doesn’t know any other way of life. She has been completely isolated and taught that being a shinobi is the only way for her to live.
But, if aware and given options, is the shinobi lifestyle one that Enju would choose for herself? Or is she pursuing being a shinobi because she believes it’s the only way to gain approval from the people who mean the most to her?
And I almost think this is the question that Enju has to determine the answer to in each route.
Enju is framed for the death of the emperor. Her shinobi friends are ordered to abandon her (by her father, no less) to the discretion of the authorities. To protect the village, her father (again, that asshole) disowns her, so the village will be spared any retribution. This means she can never again return home. Enju is disgraced, sitting in prison, and waiting for her likely execution for a crime she never committed. The people who she counted on the most, are shinobi. They refuse to question orders. They refuse to disobey orders. And even though they are her “friends” (though truthfully, they are more like family to her), they abandoned her to her fate. Because this is what “good” shinobi do.
Enju has nothing. Her identity has been completely shattered. Every person she wanted approval from, now wants nothing to do with her. Everything she was fighting for (prosperity for her village), has been stripped away. Enju feels hopeless.
And even in her darkest moments, our sweet girl is concerned for her village. Yes, concerned for the people who disowned her and turned their backs on her. Really. This sweet girl is too good for this world.
Yet there is a ray of hope in the prison cell next door.
And that hope comes in the form of Ishikawa Goemon.
Goemon is a retired shinobi living incognito in Kyo as Goro, the local libertine (read into that what you will). He’s kind, level-headed, easy going, and charming. When he’s not busy flirting with and seducing women, he uses his extraordinary, well-honed shinobi skills to steal from the samurai nobles and give to the poor. He doesn’t like killing, and will use every tool in his arsenal to avoid violence against people. Goemon is exceptionally sharp and observant. Nothing gets past him.
So, earlier in the route, when he sees Enju helping a young woman whose purse has been stolen by chasing down the thief and sneakily stealing the purse back, Goemon is impressed and immediately knows Enju is not the usual town civilian. She sparks his interest, and he strikes up a conversation and flirts with her, giving her his fake name, Goro.
Enju works around town, gathering information for a wealthy client about who is worried about being robbed by…guess who?
HA. You’re right! Ishikawa Goemon,
Enju and Goemon (disguised as Goro) continually bump into each other around town. Our charming man wants nothing more than to take Enju on dates! Enju thinks she being sneaky and gathering information by asking “Goro” for information on Goemon. Of course, Goemon easily side-steps her questions and always redirects the conversations. And Goemon takes the opportunity to gather information on the woman who captured his attention.
Goemon knows that Enju is inexperienced in a lot of ways, but he never looks down on her or takes advantage of her naivety. In fact, he finds her innocence and open-heartedness endearing. He goes out of his way to help her and make sure she stays safe in Kyo. He doesn’t stop her from experience new things. He takes her hand and explores with her.
Through these times together, Enju makes her first friend outside of the village where she grew up. Goemon expresses genuine concern for her, and continues to assure her she can come to him if she experiences any trouble. Goemon praises Enju for her kindness and her honesty, and says that she is very genuine. She tries new desserts, looks at make-up cosmetics, speaks with all different kinds of people and for the first time can envision a life outside of her shinobi-centric village.
Goemon treats Enju like a regular person. He doesn’t put any expectations of behavior upon her. My favorite part was when he tells her she is easy to read and means it as a compliment. It means she honest. And he LIKES that about her. He likes her pure and open heartedness. And, most importantly, he doesn’t see it as a weakness. He sees it as her strengths.
As Enju experiences this kind of life for the first time, she likes it. When she’s with Goemon, she finds herself forgetting she’s a shinobi. She admits she did not know there was a lifestyle like the one Goemon showed her in Kyo. Even though she tells herself she is dedicated to the life of a shinobi, Enju cannot deny the charms of a simpler life.
LIKE GIRL! THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO LIVE YOUR LIFE AND THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH ENJOYING IT!
Now. Back to Prison.
Enju learned that her friend, Goro, was truly Ishikawa Goemon. But she didn’t let that stop herself from capturing him on the roof of the emperor’s mansion (In an impressive way, may I add!). From the cell next door, Goemon strikes up a conversation with her. He’s not mad at her for getting him captured, in fact he blames himself for underestimating her. And in fact, he was always planning on escaping anyways! HAHA!
Goemon coaxes Enju to tell him why she is there. When she says she’s been framed for murdering the emperor, Goemon immediately believes her. Through their time together Goemon knows that Enju doesn’t have it in her to murder anybody, even though she is a shinobi.
She does not have a heart of steel.
And it’s at this moment, that Goemon offers Enju her first choice. Goemon offers to break the both of them out of prison. I mean, he was already planning on breaking himself out (of course!), but he offers to take her along with him. Or she could remain in the jail cell and accept her fate of execution.
And since, our heroine is not a quitter, she accepts Goemon’s offer to “steal her away.” That way no one in her home village will be accused of helping her escape. And the two escape out into the countryside.
Due to the political games at play, the Five Elders of the country are sending their best shinobi clans to murder Enju. The prize is the coveted role of guardianship over the deceased emperor’s young son.
Enju and Goemon proceed to travel around the country, dodging enemy shinobi and getting to know each other better. Goemon is kind, gentle, and patient (and flirty…let’s not forget about flirty) with Enju as she gets used to this new lifestyle. And in turn, Enju slowly begins to open up more with Goemon. She begins to genuinely rely on him and consider him an important person in her life.
Enju is opening up to the world around her. She’s learning to understand herself. She’s learning to how to relate with people in a non-shinobi way. Her world is expanding, and her experiences are giving her a perspective she never would have gotten in the village.
However, she still judges her actions by what a shinobi should do. She’s stunned when Gekkamaru admits he abandoned the village to find her. To leave without permission is the same as being disowned. Gekkamaru would never be able to return. And he doesn’t regret his actions.
Enju shockingly says that a shinobi should never go against orders. It’s something a shinobi never does. Goemon supports Gekkamaru’s decision, and says that he left his shinobi clan because he thought it was stupid, he had to risk his life doing something because his leader told him to.
Goemon believes that everyone should have a choice. People should choose how they live.
And Enju doesn’t quite know what to think of that. She is enjoying her time with Goemon, in spite of all the assassins out for her head. But that doesn’t mean she’s stopped measuring her life and actions by shinobi ideals.
The group of three continue their travels and fighting off enemy shinobi clans. They run into a boy who’s all alone…deep in the woods…?
Yeah, that’s not suspicious at all.
Well, my suspicions were valid as the young shinobi boy is a spy sent to murder Enju by an enemy shinobi clan. Kuroyuki shows up to save Enju. The boy escapes and next brings his shinobi members to attack Enju and her traveling harem.
Enju’s compassionate heart will not allow her to abandon the boy to his injuries. She still wants to care for him, in spite of his betrayal. Everyone is shocked by Enju’s decision, especially the young boy who believes he is better off dead than alive for not completing his mission.
Enju can’t change how she feels about the boy. She doesn’t want anyone to get hurt, even her enemy. She wants the boy to stay alive. She wants him to live. And Enju, with reluctance from her three experienced shinobi men, lets the boy go.
Later that night, Goemon notices that Enju is troubled. He shares about his horrible past. Unlike Enju who was protected from the worst of shinobi training, Goemon suffered through painful, horrible training. Absolutely terrible. Enju is appalled and tells Goemon that even if he laughs if off, it still must have hurt. Goemon appreciates her concern.
It makes sense why Goemon had no qualms of walking away from the shinobi lifestyle. He had seen the very worst of it, and had been treated as nothing but a pawn. He had had terrible teachers and trainers. He never felt respect for them or an interest in obeying their orders.
This is in direct contrast to Enju who felt great respect and gratitude to her teacher Chojiro. She had always been treated as human and she did have a community that, while flawed, didn’t beat her or have her hurt herself for training. She had a positive emotional connection to the shinobi, where Goemon did not.
It also made Goemon happy to hear Enju to tell the boy to live for himself and not his shinobi clan. Goemon muses that Enju was just as tied up about her mission and orders before, but now she told the boy that his life mattered more. It really moved Goemon.
And even though Enju gave that advice to the boy, she is still wrestling with what is right and wrong. Is her life worth putting other people in danger? If she stops running from the Five Elders, she would be keeping other people safe. She doesn’t want anybody else to suffer because of her.
And for the first time, Goemon gets angry with Enju. He is giving his all to keep them alive. And he wants her to keep fighting too. He knows that if she stops running, she as good as dead. He wants her think more of herself, and not give up. He’s in it with her for the long haul. She won’t be alone. And then he says the BEST thing: “They’ll work together and just have to deflect whatever the Five Elders throw at them.”
Heavens! Confidence is so sexy!
Goemon gives Enju her second choice: do you want to live or die?
A shinobi’s life is surrounded by death. Being ready to give up one’s life for the mission is part of the job. Just how taking someone’s life is part of the job. And sacrificing one’s self for the profit of others is crucial for a shinobi as well. And that’s the part of being a shinobi that Enju had completely accepted. She was willing to die by the orders of another.
Enju has constantly shown she doesn’t have the heart of steel to take someone’s life, even if they are a danger to her. And she’s beginning to accept that part about her. She’s opened her world so much during this journey and she’s embracing herself in new ways.
And a lot of that is due to Goemon. Ever since, she met Goemon her life paradigm has been constantly challenged. Goemon doesn’t let her hide behind her learned shinobi convictions or lifestyle. He challenges her to think for herself, to live for herself.
Goemon doesn’t want her to throw her life away because somebody else orders her to for their benefit. So, now, he challenges her further.
Does she want to live for herself?
She doesn’t know. She knows she’s being indecisive, but she still has not arrived at an answer. BUT. She’s open to looking for an answer.
THIS IS HUGE FOR ENJU!
She isn’t turning away from the decision and avoiding it. She wants to know for herself what she believes.
Well, it takes her getting kidnapped by one of Goemon’s old shinobi clans (that he as the leader of), and a daring rescue staged by Goemon, but after they escape, Enju finally admits to Goeomon that she wants to live her life for herself! She is going to value herself more. She’s not going to give up, and she’s going to fight for the future she wants. And she tells Goemon that he is the reason for her ability to see everything differently. She tells him he protected her and saved her (in more ways than one). She is truly grateful to have him in her life.
Not to complain…. But.
I’m not really sure when she came to this “I want to live for myself” realization. I don’t feel we witness the moment, when this thought developed within her heart. I was honestly kind of surprised when the moment happened. Like, oh, I can “read” your thoughts, yet I didn’t know you were feeling this strongly about it. But cool! I’m glad you want to live for yourself! Yay!
And then everything is challenged…again…
Now, I didn’t for one second believe Goemon actually betrayed Enju. The writers had put way too much work into establishing his character as kind, courteous, being anti the shinobi lifestyle, and anti-violence for this sudden change to be believable. Like it’s really not. I knew at once this was Goemon’s master plan (and the writers were never subtle about his strategic genius, either). And maybe that’s why I was able to enjoy this part of the route? I wasn’t sitting on pins and needles, stressed that my man had betrayed Enju. I was giddy with anticipation to see how he pulled everything off.
Yes. I LOVE me a smart, calculating, strategic man!
I really think the point of the “betrayal” was to force Enju to take responsibility for her new convictions. Enju had gone from having the support of Chojiro, her friends, and her village to having the support of Goemon. She had never stood on her own two feet, taking complete responsibility for what she believed in. But when Goemon “betrayed” her, Enju did not have him, or anyone, to rely on. She had to rely on what she believed for herself. She was hurt, confused, and her trust in Goemon did take a small hit (like seriously, Goemon, this was a HUGE risk), but she never gave up hope in herself or Goemon. She trusted the connection and relationship she had built with Goemon wasn’t a complete sham and she decided to stay strong.
Of course, Goemon pulls through with the help of Chojiro and company. They escape from the clutches of the Five Elders in style. It’s Goemon’s heist of the century! He got the girl and the gold. And to me the most impressive thing he does, is avoid a conflict between Enju and Chojiro, Ennosuke, Kyara, and Kasumi. He maneuvers everyone so they are fighting on the same side!
In the end, the hero and heroine ride off into the sunset together. Enju says good-bye to the Koga shinobi, completely at peace with no longer being a shinobi. She’s excited for the peaceful future she will share with Goemon. Our beautiful girl is able to choose the kind of person she wants to be and how she wants to live her life. She is writing her own story, with her own convictions that were hard won.
A lovely ending.
-Final Thoughts-
Goemon. Is. Perfect. He hits many of my favorite character traits for a hero, and, to me, he is great! He is the man I would want to have by my side if I ever found myself a wanted person on the run in the wilderness (and, hopefully that never happens). Goemon is a steady, calm influence in Enju’s life that allows her decide who she wants to be. Goemon gives Enju the freedom to be who she is, and not force herself to change to meet the reality of being a shinobi. He affirms that she is wonderful just the way she is. Given that, his character arc revolves around the whole “I’ve found a girl I want to dedicate my life for” troupe, which I enjoy!
Enju’s coming-of-age, self-discovery journey was the core of the route. This was her story. Enju’s personality doesn’t change, but the way she sees the world and sees herself goes through a complete transformation. And that’s what’s beautiful about this story. Enju learns she doesn’t have to change to be valued. Goemon valued her just the way she was. She could keep her pure, open-heart and still make a difference in the world and have a beautiful life.
This was a great route for me. With our kind, dependable, easy-going hero the route read like a fun action-adventure story, with a “heist” twist at the end. With Goemon, as the hero, I was able to relax into the route and just enjoy it from start to finish. You don’t lose anyone, which keeps the route light-hearted even though it does delve into some heavy topics. I enjoyed Enju, and her banters with Goemom made me laugh one second, and sigh with happiness the next. They were just too cute!
However, the route wasn’t flawless. I still don’t understand the “magical” components of ninjitsu, like Geomon’s powers. Are they hallucinations, are they magic? Like I don’t know. And the betrayal “twist” wasn’t convincing at all. How had Gekkamaru rejoined the shinobi clan at the end? I thought he would be disowned if he left to help Enju? What happened to Kuroyuki in the end? Did I miss something in route? Like there are some questions that remain. Also, I wish we had a more defining moment when everything clicked for Enju and she decided she wanted to live for herself. I kind of felt like that whole conversation with Goemon kind of came out of left field.
While not flawless, I still thoroughly enjoyed this route. It will definitely be one I replay in the future!
Otomes as Novels 