Akashi
Akashi (明石市) is a city in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. During the Sengoku period, it was located in the southeastern part of the Kakogawa Estuary, within the province of Harima. In 1582, the Kakushiba ikki members Fujibayashi Naoe and Yasuke visited Akashi while traveling in the province.[1]
History
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In 1582, Akashi fishermen discovered a strange stone buried beneath a tree by the shore. Upon activation, this stone turned out to be a gateway to another realm. The entire population was then transported and murdered by an oni, whose restless soul was a samurai killed by peasants after murdering his own father. One of the victims was a Kakushiba ikki scout, which led to Tomiko tasking Fujibayashi Naoe and Yasuke to investigate the scout's disappearance.[2] Arriving at Akashi, Naoe and Yasuke saw the town deserted and sullen. They later found and touched the stone, which led them to be "sent" to the oni's realm. Confounded, they came across the notes from the fallen scout explaining how to leave the realm.[3] Following the instructions, they successfully returned to reality, but found that the oni had followed them. The oni fortunately lost its invulnerability, which allowed the pair to fight it. Together, they defeated the oni, who returned to its realm, ending its "curse" over Akashi while Naoe and Yasuke took the now-powerless stone back to their hideout.[4] |