Since its release in 2005, its popularity has led to it being made into a series, with cumulative sales of over 4 million copies as of 2017. In addition to games, it has also been adapted into an anime series, as well as a stage play, TV drama, and movie. The Gakuen BASARA we're introducing today is an official school parody based on the Sengoku BASARA series.
Tokugawa Ieyasu's Profile
Source: Gakuen BASARA ©CAPCOM/Private BASARA Academy
He is a high school boy in Class 1-2. His best subject is Japanese, but he struggles with science. In the original Sengoku BASARA, he serves as the general of the Tokugawa army. He is a rare character in Sengoku BASARA who has common sense, and often takes on the role of straight man to those around him. His character doesn't seem to change much in Gakuen BASARA either.
Appearance
Source: Gakuen Basara ©CAPCOM/Private Basara Academy
His hair is short and spiky. He has a muscular, stocky build. The uniform no longer resembles a uniform, with the left sleeve rolled up to the shoulder, making it look like a one-sided tank top. The pants are more like knickerbockers.
Tokugawa Ieyasu in Sengoku BASARA
Source: Gakuen BASARA ©CAPCOM/Private BASARA Academy
He is a general of the Tokugawa army and is beloved by the samurai of Mikawa. Apparently, Okawa was instructed to portray the character as "around 15 years old (up to 2 Hero Gaiden) or 19 years old (from 3 onwards)." He's one of the few sensible, tsukkomi (comedian) characters in Sengoku BASARA. As a child, he's generally treated like a child by everyone, and most characters he meets refer to him by his childhood name, "Takechiyo." As an adult (young adult), he matures both physically and mentally, becoming the commander-in-chief of the Eastern Army.
Tokugawa Ieyasu's sudden rise to popularity
While aware of his own immaturity in relying on Honda Tadakatsu, the young daimyo strives for a peaceful world without conflict. He is repeatedly kidnapped by warlords who have their eye on Tadakatsu's overwhelming fighting prowess, and, just like in history, he becomes a hostage daimyo. In "3," he matures rapidly into adulthood, becoming one of the unexpected protagonists. After numerous battles with the Takeda army, he even becomes one of the inheritors of the "Spirit of the Tiger." He opposed Toyotomi Hideyoshi's military unification of Japan and defeated him. He then left the Toyotomi army, determined to unify the country through the power of bonds.
Tokugawa Ieyasu's Battles in Sengoku BASARA
While struggling with the guilt and contradictions of the sorrows that arose on his path to national peace, he resolved to bear them all. His murder of Hideyoshi earned him the intense hatred of Ishida Mitsunari, who had worshipped Hideyoshi. His relationship with his friend Maeda Keiji also changed. Furthermore, as the ruler of Mikawa, he became more active than ever. While he secretly felt lonely, he always maintained a smile and never gave off a dark shadow. To bear the inevitable hardships of war, he chose to injure himself, discarding his beloved spear and fighting only with his fists. At a banquet, Matsunaga Hisahide declared, "I will send you to death and allow you to live in solitude," sarcastically remarking, "How unrestrained."
Fighting Style
Source: Gakuen Basara ©CAPCOM/Private Basara Academy
His weapon is a spear bearing the chrysanthemum crest. It appears to be highly flexible, and when the spear is thrust into the ground, it can be used to launch the opponent into the air, or even launch the spear into the air with the force of the return. He is also skilled in close combat using both fists and his body. In particular, the headbutt he uses with "Heart Resistance Stone" is extremely powerful and has a wide, deadly range. It is so powerful that it has even led to the saying "he will rule the world with the power of his headbutts."
In Gakuen BASARA, he runs for student council president.
Source: Gakuen BASARA ©CAPCOM/Private BASARA Academy
Despite being a first-year student, he recalls third-year student Toyotomi Hideyoshi and runs for student council president himself. Due to a recall not only from Ieyasu but also from the other students, Toyotomi Hideyoshi was forced to step down from his position as chairman.
Voice actor: Toshiki Masuda
Source: Gakuen BASARA ©CAPCOM/Private BASARA Academy
The voice actor for Tokugawa Ieyasu in Gakuen BASARA is Toshiki Masuda, a voice actor and stage actor. While the cast from Sengoku BASARA is generally carried over to Gakuen BASARA, the role of Tokugawa Ieyasu was previously played by Toru Okawa in Sengoku BASARA, but it appears that Toshiki Masuda has been chosen instead.
Toshiki Masuda's Profile
Masuda enrolled in the Broadcast Voice Actor Department at Tokyo Announce Academy in 2008. The following year, while still a student at the vocational school, he auditioned for the musical "The Prince of Tennis" and won. He made his acting debut as Seiichi Yukimura. Despite his success as a stage actor, his desire to become a voice actor never faded, and in 2010, he transferred to the voice acting department at Space Craft Entertainment.
Summary
The anime adaptation of "Gakuen BASARA" was announced following the popularity of the comic. As part of the hugely popular Sengoku BASARA series, it has been generating considerable buzz even before it airs. Tokugawa Ieyasu has also been a popular character since the Sengoku BASARA series. Be sure to check out the original manga and the anime.
