is a Japanese light novel series written by and illustrated by Miyama-Zero. It was adapted into an anime television series animated by Madhouse and Studio Gokumi that aired from July to September 2012. Sentai Filmworks has licensed the series released it with an English dub in December 2014.
Plot Suddenly finding himself in the Sengoku period, average high school student Yoshiharu Sagara is about to be killed on the battlefield. He is saved by none other than the man who would later become the respected Hideyoshi Toyotomi, but at the cost of the latter's life. Yoshiharu notices differences from what he remembers from his favorite Sengoku era video game – Nobunaga's Ambition. In particular, there are many female who should be male to his knowledge. Yoshiharu begins working under a female Nobuna Oda, who nicknames him and probably corresponds to the male Nobunaga Oda in the real history. He serves Nobuna with hopes of saving her from Nobunaga's fate to be killed at the Honnō-ji Incident, not thinking of his way back home to the present-day world.
The story gradually reveals the difficulties in Yoshiharu's attempt. In addition to Nobuna's jealousy to other female attracted by him, two other persons who have historical foreknowledge hinder Yoshiharu's way. History itself seems to have a kind of resilience; if he succeeds in stopping an event, an equivalent event will occur at another opportunity.
Yoshiharu and Nobuna strive to overcome the problems, achieving her ambition of the unification of Japan and start trade and diplomacy on the equal footing with European nations. However, the Honnō-ji Incident eventually occurs. Yoshiharu, who survived the incident, repeats travel through time and space and finally saves Nobuna from the incident. The last pages of the novel suggest that Yoshiharu successfully rewrote the historical facts. A museum in his hometown holds an exhibition featuring Nobuna Oda – the woman who unified Japan and played an important role for the international society of the Age of Exploration.
Background
The Ambition of Oda Nobuna is Mikage Kasuga's first work started in 2009, which was inspired by Noboru Yamaguchi's The Familiar of Zero (2004–2017). They share the plot that a boy comes to another world and works under a girl. Like Saito summoned to Halkeginia as Louise's familiar, Yoshiharu slips into a Sengoku world and becomes Nobuna's retainer. Kasuga recalls that such plot deviated from the pattern of those days' light novels in which someone came to a present-day Japanese school. Based on the differences between Nobuna's Sengoku world and that in the real history – as the author expresses as – this novel can be located in the tradition of isekai fantasy.
Another background is the tradition of historical fictions on Sengoku period Japan. Kasuga refers to NHK's Taiga drama series such as Ōgon no Hibi in 1978 and Dokuganryū Masamune in 1987 as well as Ryōtarō Shiba's historical novel in 1966 and its TV drama adaptation by TBS in 1981. As the title implies, The Ambition of Oda Nobuna also cites the historical simulation video game series Nobunaga's Ambition (1983–) as well as other games with their names slightly changed (volume 1). Borrowing well-known events and characters from the preceding works, it can be said to be a kind of historical novel. Several reviewers evaluate it as a well-researched historical fiction. even recommends it to high school students as useful for studying history.
However, the novel does not follow the real history. Rather, it tells a story that is impossible as the historical fact. Tatsuya Tamai regards this novel as a composition of superficial and fragmented knowledge on history that readers would have shared through video games or school textbooks. Such composition also reflects preceding works. For the figure of Danjō (Hisahide Matsunaga) in particular, Kasuga acknowledges by in 2003.
This novel characterizes many and as women. Regarding the idea to depict Nobunaga as a woman, Kasuga cites Utsukibara's another work in 1999: . In addition, mentioning bloody conflicts between brothers of Sengoku depicted in NHK Taiga dramas, Kasuga explains the motivation toward revising history to avoid such tragedies by changing their gender. Nobuna's conquest consequently tends to refrain from casualties. Such characters as Dōsan Saitō, Yoshimoto Imagawa, and Shingen Takeda survive the historical events in which their counterparts in the real history died, making differences in what subsequently occurs.
Characters
According to Tamai, character settings are the key to the composition of the fragments of knowledge to make up The Ambition of Oda Nobuna as entertainment contents. People in Kasuga's parallel world show differences from those in the real history, keeping their identity in trivial aspects. In addition to the most remarkable gender-swapping, basic properties like the dates of birth and death are often different. Moreover, each character has a strong impression based on appearance, personality, skills, habits, and the way of speaking.
The story tells how female Nobuna accomplishes her ambition of the unification of Japan in several years (Yoshiharu's monologue in volume 19), in which male Nobunaga failed after his thirty-year struggle, and how she then participates in global politics. In the beginning, Nobuna is already the head of the Oda clan in the Owari Province, but her position is instable. The story first depicts characters in the Oda clan and in its neighbors in the provinces of Mino, Mikawa, and Suruga. As Oda's reach expands, the story introduces more characters with more complex relationships among them. In addition to and their retainers, the author features a wide variety of characters: the empress and court nobles; merchants; mercenary soldiers; religious groups; and experts in literature, art, and tea ceremony. The last four volumes of the novel even introduce 16th century European political/military figures such as Elizabeth I from England, Don Juan de Austria from Spain, and Maurits van Nassau from the Netherland (as female characters), who never visited Japan in the real history.
Oda Clan The status of the Oda clan as the of the Owari Province was established by the previous head Nobuhide. When he deceased, his daughter Nobuna inherited his position. The succession was not welcomed by those who supported Nobukatsu, a younger brother of Nobuna. They thus had an internal conflict, when Yoshiharu suddenly appeared on the field of the battle between Oda and Imagawa. (volume 1)
Nobuna unifies her clan, negotiates with the neighbor , and defeats the Imagawa at the Battle of Okehazama (volume 1). She then conquers the Mino Province (volume 2) and marches into the capital Kyoto (volume 3). The expansion of Oda power so frightens other political forces that they form an anti-Oda alliance. Nobuna also expands her network and seeks allies. The focus of the story is thus on the people around the Oda clan.
A modern-day teenager who slipped into this strange Sengoku world. He has characteristics reminiscent of Hideyoshi Toyotomi including his nickname Saru. Grown up in a peaceful society, he had no combat skill except for the extraordinary reflexes to dodge attacks. Through experiences in battlefields, he is becoming an excellent warrior and commander. He is afraid of Nobuna's fate. Because she forbade him from telling it to her, Yoshiharu alone started his struggle to alter history. Being fond of women, he also alters history by saving other female . He does not think of returning his present-day home, as a rare case for light novel characters in 2009.
The of Owari. Known as the "Big Fool of Owari", her figure resembles the depiction of Nobunaga in historical materials. She is an ambitious teenage girl who plans conquer Japan to make it able to stand on equal ground with advanced European nations. For her cruel acts driven by anger, she is compared to , an enemy of Buddha, despite her really kind heart. She develops feelings for Yoshiharu with tsundere attitudes, entering into a secret love relationship.
Nicknamed , she is a brilliant swordsmaster, sniper, tactician, and strategist. She served the Saitō in Mino and later becomes Nobuna's general. Jūbei wants to be acknowledged by others, especially by Nobuna – whom she admires. Her inability to read the atmosphere often cause troubles. After saving Yoshiharu's life in volume 4, Jūbei begins to develop feelings for him, admitting her love in volume 11. The story reminds readers of the historical fact that Mitsuhide killed Nobunaga at Honnō-ji. As well as readers, Yoshiharu has been bothered thinking of the fates of Jūbei and Nobuna since volume 2.
Nicknamed , she is the most brave general of the Oda. She was an aide to Nobuna's brother, but her true loyalty lay with Nobuna. After his failed rebellion, she became Nobuna's vassal (volume 1). She wears a steel breastplate that accentuates the shape of her bosom and is easily angered by those who stare at it. She becomes the of Echizen in volume 7.
Nicknamed , she serves the Oda as a tactician. She always remains calm and makes appropriate decisions based on the situation. She also has a habit of assigning "points" to indicate her approval or disapproval of anything from battle strategies to bad jokes. She is considered to be the big sister overseeing the group of Oda vassals and cares for Nobuna greatly. She governs over Wakasa (volume 7) and oversees the construction of the Azuchi Castle (volume 9).
Also known as , she is a of the Yamato Province. She is called "The Witch of Civil Wars" and is able to change her pipe into a spear or a sword and can use teleportation and illusion magic in anime. She allied with the Miyoshi Three and sought to burn the country to the ground. During the Battle at Kiyomizu Temple, however, Danjō finds people who would accept her. She surrenders and joins the Oda. She was acquainted with Dōsan in the past. She respects Nobuna's naive and hopeful dreams. In volume 9, she attempts to clear infame rumors about Nobuna. She declares a rebellion against the Oda and finally kills herself to bear the blame of Nobuna's past actions.
A ninja who stutters and bites her tongue (described with hiragana and almost unreadable in novel) whenever she has to speak extensively. She serves Yoshiharu after her former master Tōkichirō Kinoshita suddenly died. She is also the leader of , a task force of militiamen, brigands, and hunters who adore her. Very little is known about her past as she does not talk about herself much. Due her small build, she is a very capable spy and is able to infiltrate prisons and castles. She is also strong in close combat.
She is a young girl and spear wielder with the tiger headdress and the big red spear. Although having the formal name , she is called Inuchiyo. She is also part of Yoshiharu's loyal followers and serves as his personal bodyguard. In novel, unlike her anime counterpart, she does not initially wear her tiger headdress. After cutting down Nobukatsu's page, she is temporarily exiled. When she returns during the Battle of Okehazama, she shows her appearance with the tiger headdress for the first time.
A gifted strategist serving Yoshiharu. She was a general of the Saitō clan, but she defected to the Oda in volume 2. She swears her loyalty to Yoshiharu and, through serving him, help Nobuna achieve her ambition. As an Onmyōji, she can summon powerful Shikigami familiars. She suffers from poor health, expecting that her life will be short. An early plot of the novel prepared a story following the real history, in which Hanbē dies and Kanbē replaces her position. The author did not use it. Hanbē recovers from a critical condition in volume 9 and continues to support Yoshiharu throughout the story.