Fuyukawa Jitsuko

Name = Fuyukawa Jitsuko

Age = 27

Nationality = Japanese

Affiliation = Fuyukawa Clan

Character traits = noble, cold-blooded, ruthless, short-spoken, modest

Appearance = short black hair, fair skin, tall, grey eyes, smooth features, small breasts, slim build, geta (footwear), dark grey Japanese traditional robe, blue belt, samurai shoulder pads.

Likes = tea ceremonies, rock climbing, oden soup, horses, fencing, her family

Dislikes = swimming, politics, sweet food, injustice, hostile actions against her family, cucumbers

BACKSTORY

Jitsuko Fuyukawa was born on December 1, 1588, as the eldest daughter and a key representative of the Fuyukawa clan — a relatively small yet influential samurai family. The clan’s main trade revolved around mining ore and crafting weapons, but territorially, Fuyukawa lands were much smaller than those of its neighbors. Despite this, the clan maintained strong ties with the powerful Toyotomi family.

Jitsuko had two siblings: her younger brother Daijiro and her sister Honoka. Unlike Honoka, a refined yet capricious girl, Jitsuko preferred the company of Daijiro. From childhood, the two were inseparable, often engaging in mischievous pranks — stealing fruits, climbing mountains, and exploring their surroundings. However, during one of their adventures, Daijiro lost his footing and fell into a mountain stream. Jitsuko managed to pull him ashore, but in the process, she was swept away by the current and nearly drowned, surviving only thanks to the intervention of local fishermen. This harrowing experience left her with a deep-seated fear of water.

Unlike her sister, Jitsuko underwent combat training, learning the fundamentals of swordsmanship. Though their father never intended for her to become a samurai — believing it to be strictly a man's duty — he upheld the conviction that a true woman should be capable of defending her home and family when necessary.

Upon reaching adulthood, Honoka married the son of a wealthy landowner and left the family estate, while Daijiro followed in their father’s footsteps and became a samurai. Jitsuko, however, remained unmarried — many suitors deemed her too unremarkable for a bride. Resigned to her fate, she dedicated herself to managing the household alongside her mother.

During the civil war, the Fuyukawa clan sided against Tokugawa Ieyasu’s forces, a fatal miscalculation. In the decisive Battle of Sekigahara (1600), Tokugawa emerged victorious. Jitsuko’s father was captured and executed, while Daijiro barely escaped with his life, returning home blind from his injuries. Soon after, their mother, overcome with grief, took her own life.

For the next few years, Jitsuko devoted herself to caring for her disabled brother, desperately trying to keep the remnants of the Fuyukawa clan intact. But with Tokugawa now the undisputed ruler of Japan, she knew it was only a matter of time before his forces reached their lands to punish those who had defied him. Understanding the danger, she secretly sent Daijiro north, away from the capital, while she remained behind — clinging to a fragile hope for the future.

Her worst fears soon materialized. The Fuyukawa stronghold fell under siege, and a large force descended upon the clan’s castle...

PERSONALITY

Jitsuko is a calm and composed woman, always striving to keep her emotions in check and rarely succumbing to anger.

Above all, she values her family — her loyalty to the clan is unwavering, and she is willing to fight to the last drop of blood to protect it. Skilled in weaponry, she wields the naginata and katana with precision and has a strong understanding of archery. However, she lacks real combat experience — she has never taken a life — but is fully prepared to cross that line if necessary.

Due to a childhood trauma, Jitsuko harbors a deep fear of water and rivers. She cannot swim and dreads the idea of falling into a current, believing in the presence of kappas lurking beneath the surface.

While not deeply religious, Jitsuko adheres to the core principles of Shintoism. She also firmly believes in yokai and mythical creatures, treating tales of the supernatural with respect. Her knowledge is largely confined to her homeland and the early Edo period. Though she has heard of Europeans — whom she knows as the "southern barbarians" — and has seen gunpowder weapons on rare occasions, she seldom leaves the borders of her native province. As a result, she relies heavily on rumors and secondhand accounts.