Birushana: Rising Flower of Genpei review

“The voice of the temple bells / ring the passing of all things. Even the mighty cannot long endure / they are like a spring’s night’s dream”, The Tale of the Heike.

Please note: This review contains light spoilers within a discussion of historical references and a few of the novel’s more contentious themes.

History, Toshima-based developer Otomate reminds us, is a matter of perspective. Fifteen years before the events of Birushana: Rising Flower of Genpei, the Heije Rebellion propelled the Heike clan into dominance. Now enjoying an unprecedented amount of power, they’ve committed to quashing their old rivals, the Genji clan.

Nestled in the safety of the mountains, Shanao is now the oldest living heir to the Genji dynasty. Forced into action, it’s evident that the fate of the Kurama village and its citizens rests squarely on Shanao’s shoulders. And that’s a substantial encumbrance for anyone. But when you’re a girl passing as male, the potential discovery of your identify adds further tension. Shanao’s lifelong dedication to the Genji clan pushed her into disguising her femininity, and this tenacity is one reason why she’s such an identifiable lead.

Better Than Your Average Lead

Another virtue is Shanao’s expressiveness. While her dialog is not voiced (every other character is), she consistently makes her feelings known and isn’t afraid to voice her stance. Instead of the conventional cipher of most novels that the reader is intended to empathize with, she’s a fleshed-out character. The novel flaunts branching dialog and even basic disposition tracking that influences which of the endings you’ll get to see. But Shanao’s conversations offer irreplaceable insights into her temperament.

Birushana’s incorporation of gender play injects a new twist in this retelling of Genpei War. This is the same context used in The Tale of the Heike, a collection of oral stories once told by traveling monks. This is an era of the cusp of feudalism, soon to witness an emerging samurai class. Additionally, there’s a recurring exploration of the ephemerality of life across the visual novel, which is also one of the dominant themes of Heike. Unsurprisingly, transience plays a large part in Rising Flower of Genpei storytelling, so prepare yourself for heartache.  Not only in there tragedy in the retelling of historical events, but the novel extends both good and bad ending for its five major routes.

A Shift to the Concept of Heroism

But Heike transformed conventional warrior worship. One of the lead characters, Yoshitsune Minamoto is widely considered one of Japan’s greatest heroes. And while he was remarkably masterful with sword and bow, it’s his disposition that would earn Yoshitsune a place in history. Just as caring as he was physical capable, Yoshitsune was an exceptional mix of brawn, brains, and benevolence. That blend of ideologies that would later form the groundwork for bushido. Unsurprisingly, these codes of conduct reverb across Birushana’s plotlines, making Shanao and the rest of the cast remarkable characters. You might not adore all of the routes, but there’s a wide-ranging pool. Additionally, Rising Flower of Genpei indulges us with additional chapters for several of its secondaries. Way to quell the complaints about a characters not getting their own route!

The ambiguity of Yoshitsune Minamoto’s early years has provided an opportunity for plenty of backstories. Birushana’s gender flipping of Yoshitsune into Shanao is an intriguing one, permitting players to see an alternative take of several late-Heian period historical figures. If you’re not fluent on 12^th century Japanese history, there’s little worry. Rising Flower of Genpei provides an in-game reference manual and even explains terms that don’t have a direct English translation. I think for some, the game is engrossing enough to become a catalyst that nurtures a curiosity for 12^th century history.

A Complexity to Relationships

Those who are familiar with the context might know that Benkei Musashibo pivoted from rival to Yoshitsune’s unswerving retainer, becoming the epitome of loyalty all the way up to a fateful end at the Siege of Koromogawa. Birushana finds kinship between Shanao and Benkei in a childhood spent in temples, the distress of separation from their families and a shared resentment of Heike rule. Birushana builds on his sword-stealing legend, making him a bad boy with a warm heart. He’s also a bit of a father figure type, but fortunately the novel keeps the Electra syndrome implications muted.

Shungen, serves as the obligatory childhood friend. Offering more a complex relational dynamic, he’s a complementary character. Although not the skilled warrior that Shanao is, Shugen is a master strategist. What’s remarkable about this route is the dialectic tension between romantic allegiance and being over-protective. Shungen deeply cares for Shanao but sporadically this manifests itself in a slightly dysfunctional manner. The dilemma of loving someone despite their obvious flaws is pleasingly explored here.

Then there’s Yoritomo Minamoto, Shanao’s older brother who went into exile after the Heije Rebellion. Naturally, some might be concerned with Rising Flower of Genpei flirting with the incestual. But the novel tends to focus on attraction through similarity and Shanao deep-seated longing for a familial connection. Sure, it’s a bit icky in modern context, but historically, pairings were common during the era through the world. Time, of course, can change societal norms- and I like how Birushana elegantly navigated a particularly taboo subject.

Love Blooms On and Off the Battlefield

While not nearly as subversive, cousins Noritsune Taira and Tomomori Taira have routes that reveal perspective of the Heike clan. The former is the mirror edge of Shanao, a skilled warrior burdened with the expectations of the family name. Both Shanao and Noritsune struggle being recognized for their individual qualities, building a palpable bound between rivals.

A relationship with Tomomori is contentious, offering a battle of wits between the who accomplished warriors. But mutual respect eventually grows, partially from a sense of apathy the young warrior has toward the Heike clan. While I expected the kind of pulpy plotlines that often occurs when star-crossed rivals fan for each other, occasionally Birushana broke free from expectations.

Conclusion

When it comes to the reading experience, Birushana: Rising Flower of Genpei, offers the ability to backtrack to review previous stated dialog. Mercifully, there’s an in-game flowchart that tracks your trajectory through the plotlines. There’s also a completely optional “Love Catch” system that displays different colors of blooming flowers to signal the impact of your answers. If you want to chase a partially outcome it’s appreciated, but others can simply role-play their way through Birushana. Either way, it’s a fulfilling remix of history, and one that isn’t afraid to toy with taboo.