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80-431: Bushido Blade may refer to: Bushido Blade (video game) , a 1997 3D fighting game developed by Light Weight Bushido Blade 2 , a 1998 video game, the sequel to Bushido Blade The Bushido Blade , a 1981 British-American film about a stolen samurai sword Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with

160-635: A vanilla -like smell, which is mainly attributed to coumarin . Wild species of cherry tree are widely distributed, mainly in the Northern Hemisphere. They are common in East Asia, especially in Japan , where they have been cultivated, producing many varieties. Most of the ornamental cherry trees planted in parks and other places for viewing are cultivars developed for ornamental purposes from various wild species . In order to create

240-563: A "swordsmanship simulator" rather than a fighting game. The director explained that the bushidō code of honor present in the game was not strictly the warrior's "way of dying" like that found in the Edo period 's famous Hagakure guide but emphasized the concept of one's own survival as found in teachings of earlier Japanese time periods. The musical score for Bushido Blade was created by Namco and Arika composer Shinji Hosoe with contributions by Ayako Saso and Takayuki Aihara. Much of

320-523: A 1992 paper by Hideaki Ohba of the University of Tokyo, classification in the genus Cerasus became more common. This means that (for example) the scientific name Cerasus incisa is now used in Japan instead of Prunus incisa . A culture of plum blossom viewing has existed in mainland China since ancient times, and although cherry trees have many wild species, most of them had small flowers, and

400-467: A bridge labyrinth. Some areas, such as the bamboo thicket, allow some interaction. The story mode of Bushido Blade adds another gameplay mechanic: the Bushido code. Certain moves and tactics are considered dishonorable, such as striking a foe in the back, throwing dust in their eyes, or attacking while they bow at the start of fights. Acting dishonorably will abruptly end the player's playthrough after

480-504: A certain point in the story, displaying a message berating them on their behavior. In addition to the game's single player story mode, Bushido Blade contains a two-player versus mode and a link mode that supports the PlayStation Link Cable . Other single player options include a practice mode and a first person mode. Slash mode pits the player's katana-wielding character against a long string of 100 enemies, one after

560-492: A cultivar suitable for viewing, a wild species with characteristics suitable for viewing is needed. Prunus speciosa (Oshima cherry) , which is endemic to Japan, produces many large flowers, is fragrant, easily mutates into double flowers and grows rapidly. As a result, various cultivars, known as the Cerasus Sato-zakura Group, have been produced since the 14th century and continue to contribute greatly to

640-564: A fairly large area of the country and were close to people's living areas. The development of cherry blossom viewing, and the production of cultivars, is therefore considered to have taken place primarily in Japan. Because cherry trees have mutable traits, many cultivars have been created for cherry blossom viewing, especially in Japan. Since the Heian period , the Japanese have produced cultivars by selecting superior or mutant trees from among

720-459: A few days to two weeks after Yoshino cherry does. The flowering time of cherry trees is thought to be affected by global warming and the heat island effect of urbanization . According to the record of full bloom dates of Prunus jamasakura (Yamazakura) in Kyoto , Japan, which has been recorded for about 1200 years, the time of full bloom was relatively stable from 812 to the 1800s. After that,

800-505: A few decades ago. Similarly, data from Kyoto, Japan, and Washington, D.C., United States, also indicated that blooming periods are occurring earlier in those locations as well. Although precise forecasting is generally challenging, AI predictions from Japan Meteorological Agency , have suggested that without substantial efforts to rein in climate change, the Somei-Yoshino cherry tree variety could face significant challenges and even

880-467: A greenhouse), 'Nishina haruka' (larger flowers), and 'Nishina komachi' ('lantern-like' flowers that remain partially closed) in the same way. All wild cherry trees produce small, unpalatable fruit or edible cherries , however, some cultivars have structural modifications to render the plant unable to naturally reproduce. For example, ''Prunus serrulata'' 'Hisakura' (Ichiyo) and ''Prunus serrulata'' 'Albo-rosea' Makino (Fugenzo) , which originated from

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960-620: A handful of other Square Enix titles, under the developer's "Legendary Hits" label. The game was also added to the PSone Classics roster on the Japanese PlayStation Store in 2008. In the United States, the game sold 324,083 units as of January 2003 , adding up to 712,020 units sold in Japan and the United States as of January 2003 . Bushido Blade was critically well received, primarily for

1040-499: A larger Prunus genus. Cerasus was later converted into a section and then a subgenus , this system becoming widely accepted, but some botanists resurrected it as a genus instead. In China and Russia, where there are many more wild cherry species than in Europe, Cerasus continues to be used as a genus. In Japan, ornamental cherry trees were traditionally classified in the genus Prunus , as in Europe and North America, but after

1120-526: A nomination for " Console Fighting Game of the Year " during the AIAS ' inaugural Interactive Achievement Awards . In November 2000, Bushido Blade was voted by the readers of Weekly Famitsu magazine as number 85 in its top 100 PlayStation games of all time. In 2006, the game was ranked number 190 on 1UP.com 's list of The Greatest 200 Videogames of Their Time. In 2010, GamesRadar included Bushido Blade on

1200-497: A notable variety of which is the Himalayan wild cherry tree Prunus cerasoides . The wild Himalayan cherry, Prunus cerasoides , is native to the Himalayan region of Asia, and is common in countries such as Nepal , India , Bhutan , and Myanmar , where it is also cultivated. In 1975, three Japanese researchers proposed a theory that cherry trees originated in the Himalayan region and spread eastwards to reach Japan at

1280-465: A single preferred weapon. Characters in Bushido Blade also have the ability to run, jump, and climb within the 3D environments. Because battles are not limited to small arenas, the player is encouraged to freely explore during battle. The castle compound which most of the game takes place in acts as a large hub area of interconnected smaller areas including a cherry blossom grove, a moat, and

1360-811: A strong fragrance. Due to these favorable characteristics, the Oshima cherry has been used as a base for many Sakura cultivars (called the Sato-zakura Group ). Two such cultivars are the Yoshino cherry and Kanzan ; Yoshino cherries are actively planted in Asian countries, and Kanzan is actively planted in Western countries. "Hanami" is the many centuries-old practice of holding feasts or parties under blooming sakura ( 桜 or 櫻 ; さくら or サクラ ) or ume ( 梅 ; うめ ) trees. During

1440-491: A time before human civilisation, when the Japanese archipelago was connected to the Eurasian continent, and that cherry species differentiation was actively promoted in Japan. According to Masataka Somego, a professor at Tokyo University of Agriculture , cherry trees originated 10 million years ago in what is now Nepal and later differentiated in the Japanese archipelago, giving rise to species unique to Japan. According to

1520-592: Is around 2,000 years old, Usuzumi-zakura , which is around 1,500 years old, and Daigo-zakura , which is around 1,000 years old, are famous for their age. In the Edo period, various double-flowered cultivars were produced and planted on the banks of rivers, in Buddhist temples, in Shinto shrines, and in daimyo gardens in urban areas such as Edo ; the common people living in urban areas could enjoy them. Books from

1600-466: Is associated with the influence of Shinto , embodied in the concept of mono no aware ( 物の哀れ ) (the pathos of things). The connection between cherry blossoms and mono no aware dates back to 18th-century scholar Motoori Norinaga . The transience of the blossoms, their beauty, and their volatility have often been associated with mortality and the graceful and ready acceptance of destiny and karma. The Sakurakai , or Cherry Blossom Society,

1680-399: Is at least one popular folk song , originally meant for the shakuhachi (bamboo flute), titled " Sakura ", in addition to several later pop songs bearing the name. The flower is also used on all manner of historical and contemporary consumer goods, including kimonos , stationery, and dishware . The traditional symbolism of cherry blossoms as a metaphor for the ephemeral nature of life

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1760-700: Is considered the national flower of Japan, and is central to the custom of hanami. Sakura trees are often called Japanese cherry in English. (This is also a common name for Prunus serrulata . ) The cultivation of ornamental cherry trees began to spread in Europe and the United States in the early 20th century, particularly after Japan presented trees to the United States as a token of friendship in 1912. British plant collector Collingwood Ingram conducted important studies of Japanese cherry trees after

1840-598: Is in late August. There's an escalating concern of climate change as it poses a threat to sakura cultivars, given that they are highly susceptible to shifts in temperature and weather fluctuations. The changes, driven by climate change including warmer temperatures and earlier starts to springtime, may disrupt the timing of their blooms and potentially lead to reduced flowering and cultural significance. In 2023, it has been observed in China that cherry blossoms have reached their peak bloom weeks earlier than they previously had

1920-621: Is present during combat. Most hits will cause instant death, while traditional fighting games require many hits to deplete an opponent's health gauge. It is possible to wound an opponent without killing them. With the game's "Body Damage System," opponents are able to physically disable each other in increments with hits from an equipped weapon, slowing their attacking and running speed, or crippling their legs, forcing them to crawl. The game features eight weapons to choose from in many of its modes: katana , nodachi , long sword , saber , broadsword , naginata , rapier , and sledgehammer . Except

2000-497: Is the cherry blossom, the best man is a warrior") was evoked in the Imperial Japanese Army as a motivation during the war. Even before the war, cherry blossoms were used in propaganda to inspire the "Japanese spirit", as in the "Song of Young Japan", exulting in "warriors" who were "ready like the myriad cherry blossoms to scatter". In 1894, Sasaki Nobutsuna composed a poem, Shina seibatsu no uta (The Song of

2080-574: Is the root of the Japanese cherry tree, and the ancestor of the cherry tree is estimated to be a plant belonging to the Prunus grayana . According to HuffPost , it is a widely held consensus that the origin of the first cherry blossoms happened somewhere in the Himalayas, Eurasia but scholars posit that the blossoms may have reached Japan around several thousand years ago. In Japan, centuries of hybridization have brought about more than 300 varieties of

2160-575: Is thought that 'Kawazu-zakura' blooms earlier because Prunus campanulata from Okinawa , which did not originally grow naturally in Honshu , was crossed with the Oshima cherry. In wild species, flowering before spring is a disadvantageous feature of selection; in cultivars such as 'Kawazu-zakura', early flowering and flower characteristics are preferred, and they are propagated by grafting. Cherry trees are generally classified by species and cultivar, but in Japan they are also classified using names based on

2240-633: The sakura zensen (" cherry blossom front ") as it moves northward up the archipelago with the approach of warmer weather, via nightly forecasts following the weather segment of news programs. Since 2009, tracking of the sakura zensen has been largely taken over by private forecasting companies, with the JMA switching to focus only on data collection that than forecasting. The blossoming begins in Okinawa in January and typically reaches Kyoto and Tokyo at

2320-689: The Arakawa River bank. In Kyoto, Sano Toemon XIV, a gardener, collected various cultivars and propagated them. After World War II, these cultivars were inherited by the National Institute of Genetics , Tama Forest Science Garden and the Flower Association of Japan, and from the 1960s onwards were again used for hanami. Every year, the Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) and the public track

2400-482: The Edo period or earlier, although such depictions are anachronisms. ''Prunus'' × ''kanzakura'' 'Kawazu-zakura' is a representative cultivar that blooms before the arrival of spring. It is a natural hybrid between the Oshima cherry and Prunus campanulata and is characterized by deep pink petals. Wild cherry trees usually do not bloom in cold seasons because they cannot produce offspring if they bloom before spring, when pollinating insects become active. However, it

2480-519: The First World War . Classifying cherry trees is often confusing, since they are relatively prone to mutation and have diverse flowers and characteristics, and many varieties (a sub-classification of species), hybrids between species, and cultivars exist. Researchers have assigned different scientific names to the same type of cherry tree throughout different periods. In Europe and North America, ornamental cherry trees are classified under

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2560-520: The Muromachi period . Prunus itosakura (syn. Prunus subhirtella , Edo higan) is a wild species that grows slowly. However, it has the longest life span among cherry trees and is easy to grow into large trees. For this reason, there are many large, old specimens of this species in Japan. They are often regarded as sacred and have become landmarks that symbolize Shinto shrines , Buddhist temples, and local areas. For example, Jindai-zakura , which

2640-468: The Nara period (710–794), when the custom is said to have begun, it was ume blossoms that people admired. By the Heian period (794–1185), however, cherry blossoms were attracting more attention, and 'hanami' was synonymous with 'sakura' . From then on, in both waka and haiku , "flowers" ( 花 , hana ) meant "cherry blossoms," as implied by one of Izumi Shikibu 's poems. The custom

2720-736: The Conquest of the Chinese) to coincide with the First Sino-Japanese War . The poem compares falling cherry blossoms to the sacrifice of Japanese soldiers who fall in battles for their country and emperor. In 1932, Akiko Yosano 's poetry urged Japanese soldiers to endure suffering in China and compared the dead soldiers to cherry blossoms. Arguments that the plans for the Battle of Leyte Gulf , involving all Japanese ships, would expose Japan to danger if they failed were countered with

2800-452: The Edo period of Japan. In 2007, Riken produced a new cultivar named 'Nishina zao' by irradiating cherry trees with a heavy-ion beam . This cultivar is a mutation of the green-petaled ''Prunus serrulata'' 'Gioiko' (Gyoiko) ; it is characterized by its pale yellow-green-white flowers when it blooms and pale yellow-pink flowers when they fall. Riken produced the cultivars 'Nishina otome' (blooms in both spring and autumn, or year-round in

2880-516: The European weapons, which are noticeably shorter than historical counterparts, each weapon has a realistic weight and length, giving each one fixed power, speed, and an ability to block. A variety of attack combinations can be executed by the player using button sequences with the game's "Motion Shift System," where one swing of a weapon is followed through with another. Many of these attacks are only available in one of three stances , switched using

2960-553: The Kazusa DNA Research Institute, detailed DNA research has shown that the Prunus itosakura and the Prunus speciosa , which is endemic to Japan, differentiated into independent species 5.52 million years ago. On the other hand, according to Ko Shimamoto, a professor at Nara Institute of Science and Technology , modern theories based on detailed DNA research reject the theory that the Himalayan cherry tree

3040-481: The Northern Hemisphere. Wild cherry trees, even if they are the same species, differ genetically from one individual to another. Even if they are planted in the same area, there is some variation in the time when they reach full bloom. In contrast, cultivars are clones propagated by grafting or cutting, so each tree of the same cultivar planted in the same area will come into full bloom all at once due to their genetic similarity. Some wild species, such as Edo higan and

3120-502: The Oshima cherry, have a modified pistil that develops into a leaf-like structure, and can only be propagated by artificial methods such as grafting and cutting. Cherry trees grown for their fruit are generally cultivars of the related species Prunus avium , Prunus cerasus , and Prunus fruticosa . In the present day, ornamental cherry blossom trees are distributed and cultivated worldwide. While flowering cherry trees were historically present in Europe, North America, and China,

3200-410: The audio utilizes the flute and violin , as well as a traditional Japanese instrument , the shamisen . The music was released with the soundtrack for Square's Driving Emotion Type-S , also composed by the trio, on a two-disc set in 2001 . The Bushido Blade disc contains 23 tracks. Unlike many other Square soundtracks of the era which were released by DigiCube , the music, copyrighted by Hosoe,

3280-455: The beginning of April, though recent years have trended towards earlier flowerings near the end of March. It proceeds northward and into areas of higher altitude, arriving in Hokkaido a few weeks later. Japanese locals, in addition to overseas tourists, pay close attention to these forecasts. Most Japanese schools and public buildings have cherry blossom trees planted outside of them. Since

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3360-682: The bloom date was April 5 in 1921, but it was March 31 in 2021. These records are consistent with the history of rapid increases in global mean temperature since the mid-1800s. Japanese cherry trees grown in the Southern Hemisphere will bloom at a different time of the year. For example, in Australia, while the trees in the Cowra Japanese Garden bloom in late September to mid-October, the Sydney cherry blossom festival

3440-422: The characteristics of the flowers and trees. Cherry trees with more petals than the ordinary five are classified as yae-zakura ( double-flowered sakura), and those with drooping branches are classified as shidare-zakura , or weeping cherry. Most yae-zakura and shidare-zakura are cultivars. Famous shidare-zakura cultivars include ' Shidare-zakura ', ' Beni-shidare ', and ' Yae-beni-shidare ', all derived from

3520-440: The closest you can get to the real thing without actually getting cut." Other subjects of praise for the game were the detailed graphics, continuous arenas, ability to disable opponents' limbs, and the way the amount of honor the player shows in combat affects the ending. However, some reviewers complained that trees and other objects sometimes obscure the player's view of the action. In 1999, Bushido Blade received

3600-541: The cultivars developed from them, are in full bloom before the leaves open. Yoshino cherry became popular for cherry-blossom viewing because of these characteristics of simultaneous flowering and blooming before the leaves open; it also bears many flowers and grows into a large tree. Many cultivars of the Sato-zakura group , which were developed from complex interspecific hybrids based on Oshima cherry, are often used for ornamental purposes. They generally reach full bloom

3680-537: The cultivars with pendulous branches, Prunus itosakura 'Pendula' (Sidare-zakura) is considered the oldest cultivar in Japan. In the Kamakura period , when the population increased in the southern Kantō region , the Oshima cherry, which originated in Izu Oshima Island, was brought to Honshu and cultivated there; it then made its way to the capital, Kyoto . The Sato-zakura Group first appeared during

3760-413: The development of hanami (flower viewing) culture. From the modern period, cultivars are mainly propagated by grafting , which quickly produces cherry trees with the same genetic characteristics as the original individuals, and which are excellent to look at. The Japanese word sakura ( 桜 or 櫻 ; さくら or サクラ ) can mean either the tree or its flowers (see 桜 ). The cherry blossom

3840-453: The distribution of wild cherry trees with large flowers suitable for cherry blossom viewing was limited. In Europe and North America, there were few cherry species with characteristics suitable for cherry blossom viewing. In Japan, on the other hand, the Prunus speciosa (Oshima cherry) and Prunus jamasakura (Yamazakura) , which have large flowers suitable for cherry blossom viewing and tend to grow into large trees, were distributed over

3920-484: The dojo. Once led by the honorable swordsman Utsusemi, he lost his position to Hanzaki, another skilled member of the dojo, in a fierce battle. Hanzaki gained respect as the Kage leader, until he discovered a cursed sword known as Yugiri. He began to change, disregarding the group's honor and the traditions held by its students. One day, a Kage member escapes the confines of the dojo with its secrets. Several other members of

4000-677: The fiscal and school years both begin in April, in many parts of Honshu the first day of work or school coincides with the cherry blossom season. However, while most cherry blossom trees bloom in the spring, there are also lesser-known winter cherry blossoms ( fuyuzakura in Japanese) that bloom between October and December. The Japan Cherry Blossom Association has published a list of Japan's Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots ( 日本さくら名所100選 ), with at least one location in every prefecture. Many cherry species and cultivars bloom between March and April in

4080-422: The innovation of its combat system. The one-hit kills drew the most commentary, with GameSpot calling them "Bushido Blade's most exciting and preposterous feature, destined to earn it just as many fans as detractors". In an example of this, three of Electronic Gaming Monthly ' s four reviewers gave the game a 7 out of 10 or lower, contending that the appeal of its innovation quickly wears off and that

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4160-415: The list of the seven "'90s games that need HD remakes ". Cherry blossom The cherry blossom , or sakura , is the flower of trees in Prunus subgenus Cerasus . Sakura usually refers to flowers of ornamental cherry trees, such as cultivars of Prunus serrulata , not trees grown for their fruit (although these also have blossoms ). Cherry blossoms have been described as having

4240-426: The main object of hanami. Various other cultivars were cut down one after another during changes related to the rapid modernization of cities, such as the reclamation of waterways and the demolition of daimyo gardens. The gardener Takagi Magoemon and the village mayor of Kohoku Village, Shimizu Kengo, were concerned about this situation and preserved a few by planting a row of cherry trees, of various cultivars, along

4320-461: The natural crossings of wild cherry trees. They were also produced by crossing trees artificially and then breeding them by grafting and cutting . Oshima, Yamazakura, Prunus pendula f. ascendens (syn, Prunus itosakura , Edo higan) , and other varieties which grow naturally in Japan, mutate easily. The Oshima cherry, which is an endemic species in Japan, tends to mutate into a double-flowered tree, grows quickly, has many large flowers, and has

4400-484: The one-hit kills can make victory or defeat arbitrary when unskilled players are involved, while the fourth reviewer, Crispin Boyer, gave it a 9 out of 10, applauding how the one-hit kills create a dynamic where "survival depends on your level of concentration rather than how well you've memorized long strings of button taps. You must watch your opponents, read their posture and predict how they'll strike." GamePro found

4480-529: The other. Despite characters, themes and weapons similar to samurai cinema set in Feudal Japan , Bushido Blade takes place during the modern era (this is shown, for example, when the player reaches a helicopter landing pad phase set in a large city). A fictional 500-year-old dojo known as Meikyokan lies within this region, and teaches the disciplines of the master Narukagami Shinto. A society of assassins known as Kage ("Shadow") also resides within

4560-494: The period record more than 200 varieties of cherry blossoms and mention many varieties that are currently known, such as 'Kanzan' . However, this situation was limited to urban areas, and the main objects of hanami across the country were still wild species such as Prunus jamasakura (Yamazakura) and Oshima cherry. Since Japan was modernized in the Meiji period , the Yoshino cherry has spread throughout Japan, and it has become

4640-516: The plea that the Navy be permitted to "bloom as flowers of death". The last message of the forces on Peleliu was "Sakura, Sakura". Japanese pilots would paint sakura flowers on the sides of their planes before embarking on a suicide mission, or even take branches of the trees with them on their missions. A cherry blossom painted on the side of a bomber symbolized the intensity and ephemerality of life; in this way, falling cherry petals came to represent

4720-464: The point." GameSpot similarly opined, " Bushido Blade is a bold undertaking, but a remarkably successful one." Next Generation stated that "Given that Square has chosen to take a much more realistic approach to blade combat than most fighters, it could be argued that Bushido Blade is the kind of game you either love or hate. However, while it may not offer the same arcade-style button mashing or twenty hit combos of other 3D brawlers, it does offer

4800-488: The practice of cultivating ornamental cherry trees was centered in Japan, and many of the cultivars planted worldwide, such as that of Prunus × yedoensis , have been developed from Japanese hybrids. The global distribution of ornamental cherry trees, along with flower viewing festivals or hanami , largely started in the early 20th century, often as gifts from Japan. However, some regions have historically cultivated their own native species of flowering cherry trees,

4880-488: The realism of the fighting system in general to be a love-or-hate point, arguing, "[that] you must learn restraint and discipline in order to win ... is a concept that will not go over well with the Tekken and Street Fighter generation who just want a butt-kickin' good time." However, most reviewers soundly approved of the fighting system. IGN said it was "extremely innovative, yet still not so ambitious as to have lost

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4960-652: The realistic fighting engine in Bushido Blade was seen as innovative, particularly the game's unique Body Damage System. A direct sequel, Bushido Blade 2 , was released on the PlayStation a year later. Another game with a related title and gameplay, Kengo: Master of Bushido , was also developed by Lightweight for the PlayStation 2 . The bulk of the gameplay in Bushido Blade revolves around one-on-one third-person battles between two opponents. Unlike most fighting games, however, no time limit or health gauge

5040-410: The representative cultivar is Prunus serrulata 'Kanzan' . The following species, hybrids, and varieties are used for Sakura cultivars: The most popular cherry blossom cultivar in Japan is 'Somei-yoshino' (Yoshino cherry) . Its flowers are nearly pure white, tinged with the palest pink, especially near the stem. They bloom and usually fall within a week before the leaves come out. Therefore,

5120-406: The results of DNA analysis of 215 cultivars carried out by Japan's Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute in 2014, many of the cultivars that have spread around the world are hybrids produced by crossing Oshima cherry and Prunus jamasakura (Yamazakura) with various wild species. Among these cultivars, the Sato-zakura Group and many other cultivars have a large number of petals, and

5200-656: The risk of disappearing entirely from certain parts of Japan, including Miyazaki, Nagasaki, and Kagoshima prefectures in the Kyushu region by 2100. Cherry blossoms are a frequent topic in waka composition, where they commonly symbolize impermanence. Due to their characteristic of blooming en masse , cherry blossoms and are considered an enduring metaphor for the ephemeral nature of life. Cherry blossoms frequently appear in Japanese art , manga , anime , and film, as well as stage set designs for musical performances. There

5280-438: The sacrifice of youth in suicide missions to honor the emperor. The first kamikaze unit had a subunit called Yamazakura , or wild cherry blossom. The Japanese government encouraged the people to believe that the souls of downed warriors were reincarnated in the blossoms. Cherry blossoms have been used symbolically in Japanese sports; the Japan national rugby union team has used the flower as an emblem on its uniforms since

5360-425: The shoulder buttons or axis controls depending on controller layout: high, neutral, and low. The player also has a choice of six playable characters . Similar to the weapons, each one has a different level of strength and speed, and a number of unique special attacks. Some characters have a subweapon that can be thrown as well. All the characters have differing levels of proficiency with the selectable weapons and have

5440-437: The society, under penalty of death, are sent to dispatch the defector, only catching up to him (or her) within the ruins of the surrounding Yin and Yang Labyrinth Castle. In single player mode the players take on the role of the escaped assassin (independent of whatever character they choose), fighting their way out by killing their comrades one by one. Elements of the game story differ with each character selected. Bushido Blade

5520-437: The subgenus Cerasus ("true cherries"), within the genus Prunus . Cerasus consists of about 100 species of cherry tree, but does not include bush cherries , bird cherries , or cherry laurels (other non- Cerasus species in Prunus are plums , peaches , apricots , and almonds ). Cerasus was originally named as a genus in 1700 by de Tournefort . In 1753, Linnaeus combined it with several other groupings to form

5600-692: The team's first international matches in the 1930s, depicted as a "bud, half-open and full-bloomed". The team is known as the "Brave Blossoms" ( ブレイブ・ブロッサムズ ), and has had their current logo since 1952. The cherry blossom is also seen in the logo of the Japan Cricket Association and the Japan national American football team . Cherry blossoms are a prevalent symbol in irezumi , the traditional art of Japanese tattoos. In this art form, cherry blossoms are often combined with other classic Japanese symbols like koi fish , dragons , or tigers . The cherry blossom remains symbolic today. It

5680-575: The time of full color rapidly became earlier, and in 2021, the earliest full bloom date in 1200 years was recorded. The average peak bloom day in the 1850s was around April 17, but by the 2020s, it was April 5; the average temperature rose by about 3.4 °C (6.1 °F) during this time. According to the record of full bloom dates of the Yoshino cherry in the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C. ,

5760-489: The title Bushido Blade . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bushido_Blade&oldid=1219873431 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Bushido Blade (video game) Upon its release,

5840-470: The trees look nearly white from top to bottom. The cultivar takes its name from the village of Somei, which is now part of Toshima in Tokyo. It was developed in the mid- to late-19th century, at the end of the Edo period and the beginning of the Meiji period . The 'Somei-yoshino' is so widely associated with cherry blossoms that jidaigeki and other works of fiction often show the trees being cultivated in

5920-411: The wild species Prunus itosakura (syn, Prunus subhirtella or Edo higan) . The color of cherry blossoms is generally a gradation between white and red, but there are cultivars with unusual colors such as yellow and green. The representative cultivars of these colors are ''Prunus serrulata'' 'Grandiflora' A. Wagner (Ukon) and ''Prunus serrulata'' 'Gioiko' Koidz (Gyoiko) , which were developed in

6000-579: Was added, replacing the yellow flash that appears during a fatal blow. Despite the North American-exclusive inclusion of graphic violence , the ESRB rated the game Teen, while the ELSPA gave the European release a more restrictive 18+ rating. In Japan, Bushido Blade was the 25th best selling game of 1997 in Japan, selling nearly 387,937 copies. The game was later reprinted, along with

6080-534: Was originally limited to the elite of the Imperial Court but soon spread to samurai society and, by the Edo period , to the common people as well. Tokugawa Yoshimune planted areas of cherry blossom trees to encourage this. Under the sakura trees, people held cheerful feasts where they ate, and drank sake . Since a book written in the Heian period mentions "weeping cherry" ( しだり櫻; 糸櫻 ) , one of

6160-727: Was published by his own Super Sweep Records company. Bushido Blade also uses voice acting from voice actors such as Chikao Ōtsuka , Makio Inoue , and Hidekatsu Shibata . Originally slated for a February 1997 release in Japan, Bushido Blade was pushed back to March to make room for the debut of Square's Aques line of sports games in February. Bushido Blade was presold in convenience stores in Japan prior to its release, similar to Square's decision to presell its hit Final Fantasy VII in Lawson stores. The North American release of Bushido Blade had one minor graphical change: blood

6240-407: Was the first title developed by Lightweight , a partially-owned subsidiary of the game's publisher Square at the time of its release. The project was directed by Shuhiko Nakata, who wished to add tension to the traditional fighting game formula by having the possibility of a one-hit kill. However, Nakata stated that hit detection was implemented for the torso, head, and limbs to make the game more of

6320-506: Was the name chosen by young officers within the Imperial Japanese Army in September 1930 for their secret society established to reorganize the state along totalitarian militaristic lines, via a military coup d'état if necessary. During World War II , cherry blossoms were used as a symbol to motivate the Japanese people and stoke nationalism and militarism. The Japanese proverb hana wa sakuragi, hito wa bushi ("the best blossom

6400-634: Was used for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics mascot, Someity . It is also a common way to indicate the start of spring, such as in the Animal Crossing series of video games, where many of the game's trees are flowering cherries. Japan has a wide diversity of cherry trees, including hundreds of cultivars . By one classification method, there are more than 600 cultivars in Japan, while the Tokyo Shimbun claims that there are 800. According to

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