I’m getting quite caught up in the whole Kochouki experience.  I must say it’s rather the dizzying ride, but there’s an odd sensation of bewilderment that comes from not knowing where the history stops and the fantasy begins.  I probably haven’t checked Wikipedia when watching an anime this often in years, but I rather obsessively want to know which side of the line the series is on at any given time, and my memory is faulty enough that I generally have to call for backup at least a couple times per week.

This week really took the cake, though – not only was it name-dropping like crazy, but it was as much histrionics as history.  It doesn’t help matters that Kochouki sometimes uses lesser-known names for historical figures (Nobukatsu was always Nobuyuki in every history I read) or that so many names in the Oda clan sound so much alike.  But from a historical perspective, the most famous name introduced this week was that of Oichi (Touyama Nao).  She as indeed Nobunaga’s younger sister, and would go on to become a truly legendary figure in her own right, but much of what happened to her in this ep was seemingly original.

The trouble all starts with the fall of Saitou Dousan, The Viper (fitting for this episode) finally succumbing to the machinations of his traitorous eldest son.  This sets off all kinds of problems in Nobunagaville, both political and personal.  Kichou, for starters, knows Dousan’s death makes her already marginal political value even lower – especially as she hasn’t produced an heir – and that Nobunaga quietly pines for Kitsuno.  As well, Minoo is becoming a thorn in his side just as he’s dealing with trouble from Azai, and Kurando continues to plot against him (theoretically) on Nobukatsu’s behalf.

Prompted by Kichou’s concerns, Nobunaga is struck with the idea of marrying Oichi off to his troublesome cousin Nobukiyo.  As far as I can tell this entreaty never actually happened, and as far as I can tell Nobunaga never had an older sister named Ohana,  Perhaps it’s another name for Oinu – the older elder sister Nobunaga officially had – and perhaps Nobukiyo is actually Saji Nobukata (who Oinu actually married).  In any event Nobukiyo treats Oichi like a sack of meat at their first meeting, which upsets Ohana so much she slaps him and calls off the engagement on the spot, setting in motion of a chain of events that will tie in with the general chaos at the end of the episode.

And what splendid chaos…  A (fake) giant serpent, Kurando’s assassin targeting Nobunaga, Kichou back in ninja mode, a (real) giant serpent.  It’s quite the kerfuffle.  Nobukiyo has fallen for the older sister, as it happens (in this mythology anyway they eventually marry), and Kurando’s plan to disturb the masses with his fake serpent winds up being an outright attempt on Nobunaga’s life.  Kichou acts to protect him without letting him know the truth, trying to spare him the knowledge of the truth that his brother is still rebelling against him.  But Nobukatsu eventually discovers that Kurando is effectively acting out of self-interest, so things may sort themselves out in that camp without Nobunaga ever having to become directly involved.