Watanabe No Tsuna - in Popular Culture

In Popular Culture

• The 1985 historical fantasy novel Teito Monogatari by folklore researcher Hiroshi Aramata features a climactic scene which is a direct homage to Watanabe no Tsuna's encounter at Modoribashi bridge. In the story, Meiji era writer Koda Rohan makes a dash to stop the oni Yasunori Kato from flying away with an innocent young maiden. He grabs Kato by the legs, but is lifted up into the air with him. Desperate to free himself, Rohan slashes at Kato with his short sword and drops to the ground holding Kato's severed arm. In the first film adaptation of the novel, there is a scene at the beginning where an artist at a local festival is describing the story of Watanabe no Tsuna to an audience, foreshadowing Koda's encounter with Kato. Also in the corresponding scene of this adaptation, before Kato disappears into the air, his face turns into a demonic countenance revealing his true nature.

• Watanabe no Tsuna, is a character in the anime Otogi Zoshi.

• Watanabe, along with Raikō, Usui Sadamitsu, Sakata no Kintoki, Urabe no Suetake, Abe no Seimei, and several other well known figures in Japanese history, is featured in the Xbox video game, Otogi 2: Immortal Warriors. In the game, he has a wolf-like appearance and wields a dual-sided curved sword.

• The main character of Ogre Slayer, a manga by Kei Kusunoki, is believed to be Watanabe no Tsuna.