Editing Horizon:Volume 7C Preface (section)

==Installation==
[[Image:Horizon7C_0000c.jpg|thumb]]
Niwa Nagahide


Historically, he was the #2 retainer during the Nobunaga era.

Since he also constructed Azuchi Castle, he was very much a domestic affairs type, but he also accomplished a lot during his military service under Nobunaga. He had almost no mistakes in his military career, so he was quite the well-behaved commander.

He received a lot of focus among the retainers, but that was gradually taken away by Shibata, Hashiba, and Akechi. That was mostly due to bad luck, or because the Oda clan’s policies and trends didn’t really work out in his favor. You could say he could do anything, but he let the specialists handle the special cases. He was more what you would call talented than a genius.

But the Oda clan was at war, so while the specialists were always out fighting on the front line, I think they also needed someone like Niwa who could tie everything together and act as the rear guard.

In a way, I think it was Niwa and the other middle management types who supported Hashiba and the others.

Since Nobunaga kept him close by and ordered him to provide assistance or supplies to the other forces, I expect the two of them had a pretty good relationship built up.

Of course, he later died of stomach cancer (probably), so we can only guess at how well he and the other commanders got along. Yes.

Anyway, the difference in power continued to grow since he always took the indoor tasks, but after Nobunaga’s death, he saw the times trending toward Hashiba and supported him. Niwa’s policy was to take good care of the Oda clan, while Hashiba’s policy was to make a retainer out of Oda, so he kept some distance between them.

After Hashiba’s rule began, records say Hashiba was angry with Niwa for not visiting the capital, so Niwa replied by saying “Your rule has brought peace, so I am using this chance to relax and get some rest. And after all the help I gave you, do not demand I visit you.” Hashiba realized how immature he had been and the two of them grew even closer than before.

Hashiba made sure to repay Niwa for supporting him after Nobunaga’s death and for taking his side during the Battle of Shizugatake fought against Shibata.

There was a great difference in position between the two of them by then, but he ultimately made Niwa a daimyo with a territory worth 1.23 million koku. There was probably some self-interest involved in that decision, but it still shows the relationship between Hashiba and Niwa.


In Horizon, I made her a coordinator who can quickly move between nations.

I gave her an animalistic look because (while I’m not Takigawa) I think it’s cute that the name can be read as Niwa or Niu.

And due to the story of a worm or a monster leaving the historical Niwa’s stomach after his suicide, I designed her to fight with a lightning beast residing inside her.

She is generally a good person, but she bases everything on what will benefit the nation she belongs to.

She will make coldhearted decisions and she is a performer who can be very harsh to her enemies.

It gives her some trouble because she is aware of it, but she stands in a position where she can survey all the others.


(Kawakami Minoru)


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