Iwakura Clan

Iwakura Clan
Type	Martial Arts Clans Inazuma Clans

The Iwakura Clan is a large martial arts (and potentially familial) clan in Inazuma founded by Iwakura Michihiro five hundred years ago, after he developed his unique sword technique known as the Tengu Sweeper.

The martial arts techniques passed down by the Iwakura Clan and those affiliated with the clan is known as the Iwakura Art (Japanese: 岩蔵流). It is unclear whether there is a distinction between the Iwakura Clan and the Iwakura Art.

Overview

The Iwakura Clan is a group of martial artists that specialized in swordsmanship. Founded by Iwakura Michihiro, the clan was particularly well known and is memorialized in an Inazuman folk song as "Iwakura the Successor." Many of the members use the title "Iwakura Art" to show their affiliation to the clan dojo.

Like with other martial arts schools in Inazuma, there are several different proficiency levels in the Iwakura Art. The following are known proficiency levels:

1. Soushu (Japanese: 宗主 "Clan Head"): The highest rank within the Iwakura Art. Those at this rank who have also learned the clan's secret techniques affix their given name with "In" or "Tane" (Japanese: 胤 "lineage, descendant");
2. Menkyo Kaiden (Japanese: 免許皆伝 "Full Mastership"): A high-level rank within the Iwakura Art.
3. Okuden (Japanese: 奥伝 "Esoteric, Hidden"): A mid-level rank within the Iwakura Art. Those at this rank can become Acting Instructors (Japanese: 師範代 "assistant instructor").
4. Shoden (Japanese: 初伝 "Elementary, Basic"): A low rank within the Iwakura Art.

History

The clan was founded by Iwakura Michihiro after redemption by Teruyo of the Yougou Tengu. He eventually developed a technique known as the "Tengu Sweeper," fast and powerful enough to catch even a Tengu. His techniques were noted by an unknown person(s) while he was still alive and they developed the Maguu Kenki series to imitate him, but they malfunctioned, went out of control, and were discarded. Two such puppets found their way onto Yashiori Island, while another was stolen by members of Ako Domeki's pirate crew and wound up in the Golden Apple Archipelago after they were separated from the rest.

In recent history, Eiin was the previous Soushu of the Iwakura Clan. He was its Master when Okazaki Toraemon and Okazaki Kunihiko were adopted, by which point Iwakura Mitsunari, Shimada Shichirouji, and Yanagiha Arashi were also members of the clan. Eiin was succeeded by Mitsunari, who learned the clan's secret techniques and took up the name "Iwakura Kouin," as well as the heirloom sword.

Since the war between the Watatsumi Army and the Shogunate broke out with the announcement of the Vision Hunt Decree, the Iwakura Clan has been scattered across Inazuma. Mitsunari had his Vision confiscated as part of the decree and chose to serve the Shogunate, seeing his decision as the "path of righteousness". Arashi and Toraemon were expelled from the clan, presumably for disagreeing with his decision. The rest of the clan's members, likewise, defected and went into hiding.

During the Traveler's journey across Narukami, Kannazuka and Yashiori Island, they encountered five Iwakura Clan practitioners. For various reasons of their own, these Iwakura Clan members attempt to kill them and are killed in self-defense. After slaying several Iwakura Clan members, speaking to Mitsunari at the Kujou Encampment has the Traveler reveal that they defeated them all. Seeing this as an offense towards the clan's reputation, and to avenge his fallen juniors, Mitsunari duels the Traveler, but is defeated and dies.

Arashi and Toraemon, who had been traveling across Inazuma, eventually learned of the Traveler killing Iwakura Art practitioners. They collected their fallen brethren's swords, apart from Mitsunari's, for a memorial in Byakko Plain at the same place where Kunihiko was killed. As they finished setting up the memorial, the Traveler encountered the two. After allowing the Traveler to listen into their conversation for a bit, the two rope the Traveler into a battle to avenge their fallen members, only to meet the same fate themselves. The Traveler then collects their swords and places them on the monument soon after.

With all its known practitioners dead and left without any known heirs, the Iwakura Clan has presumably died out. The Maguu Kenki, whose combat abilities were designed based on Doukei's techniques, are now the only remaining "practitioners" of the Iwakura Art.

Known Members

500 Years Ago

• Iwakura Michihiro (Founder, split from the Mikoshi Clan)

Present Day

Name	Title	Location	Status
Eiin	Soushu	-	Unknown, presumably deceased
Iwakura Mitsunari	Soushu (Kouin)	Kujou Encampment	Killed by the Traveler
Mifune Satoshi	Okuden (Instructor)	Araumi	Killed by the Traveler
Tanba Tetsuo	Okuden (Instructor)	Tatarasuna	Killed by the Traveler
Katayama Tatsumi	Shoden	Serpent's Head	Killed by the Traveler
Okazaki Kunihiko	Shoden	Byakko Plain	Killed by the Traveler
Shimada Shichirouji	Shoden	Fort Mumei	Killed by the Traveler

Expelled

Name	Title	Location	Status
Okazaki Toraemon	Crimson Oni	Byakko Plain	Killed by the Traveler
Yanagiha Arashi	Violet Oni		Killed by the Traveler

Others

Icon	Name	Title	Location	Status	Notes
	Maguu Kenki	Ingenious Machine: Marionette Swordmaster Humanoid Automaton of Unknown Origin	Serpent's Head Fort Mumei Golden Apple Archipelago	Active Destroyed Active	Not a formal member, but essentially one as its skills were based off Michihiro's.

Notes

• The ending of the last members of the clan is played out in "Iwakura Art's Downfall."

Trivia

• The ranks in the Iwakura Art are roughly based on the real-life menkyo martial arts license system. In real-life martial arts, the term Soushu (Japanese: 宗主) is relatively uncommon; Sōke (Japanese: 宗家) is typically used instead, although their meanings are ultimately the same.
• The clan may be inspired by the Yagyuu Shinkage school, a Japanese martial art school officially patronized by the Tokugawa Shogunate. Notably the Tengu Sweeper (Japanese: 天狗抄 Tengu-Shou, "Tengu Raid") is most likely a reference to a sword technique of the same name used by the school. See Iwakura Michihiro#Trivia for other details.

Other Languages

Language	Official Name
English	Iwakura Clan
Chinese (Simplified)	岩藏家 Yánzàng-jiā‍[!][!]Assumed reading
Chinese (Traditional)	岩藏家 Yánzàng-jiā‍[!][!]Assumed reading
Japanese	岩蔵家 Iwakura-ke
Korean	이와쿠라 가문 Iwakura Gamun
Spanish	Familia Iwakura
French	Clan Iwakura
Russian	Клан Ивакура Klan Ivakura
Thai	ตระกูล Iwakura Trakun Iwakura
Vietnamese	Gia Đình Iwakura
German	Familie Iwakura
Indonesian	Klan Iwakura
Portuguese	Clã Iwakura
Turkish	Iwakura Klanı
Italian	Clan Iwakura

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