Yamato
Yamato is a travelling musician and storyteller who starts most of the Mythic Tales. When you hear his music, he tells Jin an old legend that leads to a special technique, weapon or armour set.
- Role
- Supporting
Good to know
- Starts seven Mythic Tales, including the ones about Tadayori, Gosaku, Uchitsune and Kojiro.
- The Heavenly Strike, the Spirit of Yarikawa and the Undying Flame legends also come from him.
- Respectful and humble with Jin, often apologising when he upsets him.
- Gets scared easily, for example when Mongols corner him.
Who he is
Yamato knows a great deal about old myths and folk tales. He stays polite even when Jin dismisses his claim that Kojiro is still alive. He seems frightened when he passes on Kojiro's challenge, as if the ronin threatened him.
Why you want him
Following music to Yamato is how most Mythic Tales begin. Finishing them earns rewards such as the Heavenly Strike, Dance of Wrath, Way of the Flame, the Longbow and legendary armour.
- The Curse of UchitsuneThe Curse of Uchitsune is a Hiyoshi Mythic Tale in Izuhara, where you search for a legendary archer's cursed bow. Finishing it gives you the Longbow, the longest-range weapon in the game, plus Explosive Arrows.
- The Heavenly StrikeThe Heavenly Strike is the first Mythic Tale, set in Komatsu in Izuhara. You hunt a killer who wants Shigenori's legendary sword technique, and finishing it teaches you the Heavenly Strike, a fast unblockable katana attack.
- The Legend of TadayoriThe Legend of Tadayori is a Mythic Tale in Azamo, Izuhara, about a famous archer and the kami-blessed armour he wore. Finishing it gives you Tadayori's Armor, the set to wear if you fight mostly with a bow.
- The Six Blades of KojiroThe Six Blades of Kojiro is an Umugi Mythic Tale in Toyotama, where you duel five Straw Hat assassins and then Kojiro himself. It has more duels than any other single tale, and it rewards the Kensei Armor, a set that boosts Resolve and Ghost Weapons.
- The Spirit of Yarikawa's VengeanceThe Spirit of Yarikawa's Vengeance is a Mythic Tale in the Ruins of Old Yarikawa, Toyotama. You follow offering shrines to a vengeful spirit and learn the Dance of Wrath, a three-hit unblockable katana technique.
- The Unbreakable GosakuThe Unbreakable Gosaku is a Mythic Tale that starts in Akashima Village, Toyotama. You free six farmsteads to collect six keys, then open a hill in the Old Togo Rice Fields to claim Gosaku's Armor, a tanky set built around Staggering enemies.
The Undying FlameThe Undying Flame is the last Tsushima Mythic Tale, at the foot of Mount Jogaku in Kamiagata. You climb the freezing mountain from fire to fire and learn the Way of the Flame, which lets you set your katana alight with Incendiary Oil.
Related characters
- Minor
Bettomaru
Bettomaru is the master of the Way of the Flame who lives in a dojo at the top of Mount Jogaku. You climb through a snowstorm to duel him in the Mythic Tale The Undying Flame, and he teaches Jin the technique during the fight.
- Antagonist
Spirit of Yarikawa
The Spirit of Yarikawa's Vengeance is a masked warrior from Clan Yarikawa who answers prayers for revenge with the Dance of Wrath technique. You hunt the Spirit in the Mythic Tale The Spirit of Yarikawa's Vengeance to learn that technique.
- Minor
Tengu Demon
The Tengu Demon is a monk in a tengu mask who guards Uchitsune's cursed longbow. In the Mythic Tale The Curse of Uchitsune he warns Jin away twice, then duels him once Jin finds the bow.
- Antagonist
Yasuhira Koga
Yasuhira Koga is a former Clan Yarikawa retainer and swordsman who sides with the Mongols to get revenge on Lord Shimura. He is the villain of the Mythic Tale The Heavenly Strike, where he hunts the same technique you do.