Let’s Visit Historical Japan with Toukiden Kiwami Part 1 – The Age of Grace


A mystical trip across the Nara Period of historical Japan with Toukiden Kiwami’s Age of Grace.
(All game screenshots are owned by Omega Force and Tecmo Koei Games)


Hello! Welcome to my second video game tourist series! In this, we’d be visiting one of the countries most associated with video games. Japan!

The Nara Period of historical Japan, that is. Through Toukiden Kiwami’s Age of Grace!

Isolated geographically then politically for hundreds of years, Japan developed a culture that is truly different from any other civilization. Today, it shines as one of the foremost gateways to Asia too, a true melting pot of the East and West.

And in the case of geeks like me, Japan is HOLY GROUND, the country being the birthplace of Manga, Anime, and Otaku culture. Naturally, Japan is also renowned for gorgeous architecture and breathtaking natural sights. Todaiji, Himeji Castle, the Great Kamakura Buddha, Miyajima, Mount Fuji, the list just goes on and on.

About Toukiden Kiwami (討鬼伝 極), “Our Travel Vehicle”

Toukiden Kiwami is the expanded version of Toukiden: The Age of Demons, an action role-playing game developed by Omega Force and published by Tecmo Koei. Both versions are very much the standard Koei kind of game, with Anime-inspired characters, outrageous armours, and super oversized weapons.

Gameplay itself consists of expeditions into different “ages” to slay demons, known as oni, and thereafter crafting better gear from materials dropped by vanquished demons.

What’s furthermore fascinating about the ages is how they each represent a distinctive period of Japanese history. From the prehistoric Jōmon era to the pre-modern years of the Meiji Restoration, they are all there. Playing the game is like a crash course in Japanese history development, in a most energetic and colourful way.

The Story

In a nutshell, Toukiden Kiwami tells the story of a Japan ravaged by demonic invasion, the outcome of which sees historical periods jumbled up and transformed into fantastical battlegrounds.

While this is convenient for our video game tourist tour, needless to say, you aren’t going to see things like 100 feet tall lotuses or idyllic rivers of lava in real-life Japan. There is a lot of “creative re-interpretation” in this game, in other words.

Quick Links

The Age of Grace

The Age of Honor

The Age of War

The Age of Peace

The Age of Chaos

The Age of Yore

Our guide for touring medieval Japan, Atsuo Kun. I.E. … Me.

Toukiden Kiwami Player Character
Introducing … myself. Oni slayer extraordinaire.

Yes … me. I’d be doing this round personally. If you’re wondering why I chose this name, Atsuo is, well, the first name I thought of when booting the game for the first time. It was a very warm evening that night. (Atsui means hot in Japanese).

Toukiden Kiwami Travel Itinerary 1: The Age of Grace

The Nara and Heian Periods of Historical Japan

Known as Miyabi (雅) in the Japanese original, the Age of Grace is the first accessible battleground in Toukiden Kiwami. A golden world basked in evening sunlight, with towering lotuses and abandoned vermillion structures, the battleground is clearly inspired by the classical Nara and Heian periods that lasted from AD 710 to 1185. Visually, this age is also one of the most “immediately Japanese” battlegrounds within the game.

In actual history, the Nara and Heian periods are considered the formative years of the long-lasting Japanese Empire. It was during these years that several grandiose capitals were established, the most famous of which being Heijō-kyō (Nara) and Heian-kyō (Kyoto).

During the early years of the Heian period, the Heian court also successfully consolidated control over the Emishi people of Northern Honshu, a move that completed its domination of the largest island of the Japanese archipelago. Lastly, many of Japan’s most cherished structures nowadays hail from these two periods. For example, the distinctive temples and pagodas of Nara Prefecture.

(More information about Japanese historical periods here)

Real-Life References

Suzaku Gate at Reconstruction of Heijō Palace.
The reconstructed Suzaku Gate of Heijō Palace. The palace was the imperial residence during the days of Heijō-kyō. Source: Kenpei
Kasuga Taisha (shrine) in Nara.
Kasuga Taisha (shrine) in Nara. This is one of the most famous shrines from the Nara period. Source: Pundit
Yakushi-ji Temple
Yakushi-ji Temple. Another famous landmark of Nara. The current temple is a reconstruction, though.

Toukiden Kiwami: The Age of Grace Screenshots

Toukiden Kiwami Age of Grace Screenshot
Starting area for the Age of Grace. Naturally, Sakura trees are a must.
Toukiden Kiwami Age of Grace Exploration
Plenty of accommodation options in this age. Don’t expect western-style facilities, though.
Age of Grace Screenshot.
While appreciating the wonders of past years, please be careful of falling objects.
Toukiden Kiwami Age of Grace Bamboo Forest.
Our many bamboo paths provide that sensation of strolling through historical Japan.
Toukiden Kiwami Mount Fuji
No historical Japan trip, through Toukiden Kiwami or not, is complete without a viewing of Mount Fuji! Through the power of toad magic, we present this illusion to you!
Toukiden Kiwami PlayStation 4 Gameplay
At our outskirts is a large scale prototype of an autumn leaves viewing veranda. We hope to soon find an ideal location for the final design!
Toukiden Kiwami Screenshot.
When you tire from walking, please head to our famous waterfall onsens for a relaxing soak. I mean, drench.
Toukiden Kiwami Screenshot - The Age of Grace
Dinner banquets will be hosted at our Abandoned Palace facility. The many missing walls afford great views of our gardens!
Age of Grace Anomaly
Walk up an appetite, or burn off your dinner in our lovely gardens.
Toukiden Kiwami PlayStation 4: The Age of Grace
Another view of our lovely gardens.
Toukiden Kiwami! Mission Completion.
In the evenings, feel free to approach our friendly counter staff should you need anything.
The Age of Grace Anomaly Screenshot.
During free time in the morning, don’t forget to take some awesome pictures of our ruined temples! (Please do not remove any debris)




More Real-Life Japan References

Isuien Garden of Nara
Isuien Garden. One of the most visited gardens in Nara. Picture source.
Todaiji Daibutsuden and Sakura Trees
Tōdai-ji is the most well-known temple in Nara nowadays. However, the current structure is actually a reconstruction from 1709. Picture source.

Continue to our second itinerary, where we would be relive Japan’s first two shogunates!

If you’re thinking of visiting Nara in person, check out this comprehensive list of attractions!


If you enjoyed this tour of historical Japan,
consider getting a copy of Toukiden Kiwami!

Read my other Video Game Tourist posts.

Summary
Let’s Visit Historical Japan with Toukiden Kiwami Part 1 – The Age of Grace
Article Name
Let’s Visit Historical Japan with Toukiden Kiwami Part 1 – The Age of Grace
Description
In this Video Game Tourist post, let’s visit Nara, the lyrical capital of historical Japan. In Toukiden Kiwami’s Age of Grace.
Author
Scribbling Geek
Scribbling Geekhttps://www.scribblinggeek.com
Geek, gamer, writer, movie lover, photographer, and occasional graphic artist. I like to consider myself a one-stop content creator of sorts. But the truth is, I obsess over too many hobbies.

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