Latest news with #Nobunaga
Newsweek
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
One of Nintendo's Most Unique Games Just Got a Surprise Release on Switch 2
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors Every once in a while, Nintendo uploads a new game to its Nintendo Classics service, a series of Netflix-like apps that host retro games from the company's past consoles for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers to enjoy. Today, one of the company's most interesting and unique games got released on the service: Mario Paint. Nintendo announced and released Mario Paint on its SNES Nintendo Classics app on both Switch and Switch 2 today, with the game playable after a simple update to the app. A player uses a Joy-Con 2 as a mouse in Mario Paint's coloring book game mode. A player uses a Joy-Con 2 as a mouse in Mario Paint's coloring book game mode. Nintendo Mario Paint is a classic SNES game that was released alongside a curious accessory for the SNES, the Super NES Mouse, which as the name suggests was a computer mouse for the SNES. The mouse plugged into a controller port on the console, and could then be used in various software, including Mario Paint, which was sold bundled with the mouse. The game is a collection of activities and minigames that make use of the mouse, such as a drawing suite, a coloring book, an animation tool, and a fly-swatting minigame called Gnat Attack. The most famous of the activities included in Mario Paint, though, is the music composer, which is a simple but still fairly well-featured music creation tool that lets players place notes of various kinds onto a musical clef to make a song. That song can then be played back, and can be used in the animation tool. It was one of the first music creation tools on a dedicated home console, and is remembered fondly by many in modern times. The game came to Switch 2 likely in part because of the inclusion of the mouse pointer mode on the Joy-Con 2, with each Joy-Con controller bundled with the console able to be used as a standalone mouse. Original Switch players won't be missing out, though, as Nintendo has also added USB mouse support to the app, which works just as well as the Joy-Con 2 in Mario Paint on both Switch and Switch 2. Two other games that supported the Super NES Mouse on the Nintendo Classics service are now able to be played with a Joy-Con 2 in mouse mode or a USB mouse, too, with Nobunaga's Ambition and Mario's Super Picross now updated to include support for the mouse. The update also brought improvements to the app's controls remapping and CRT filter, as well, and changed the name officially to Nintendo Classics rather than being branded Nintendo Switch Online.
The Verge
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Verge
One of Nintendo's most creative Super Nintendo games is now on the Switch
Last night, Nintendo quietly added Mario Paint to the Nintendo Switch Online's catalog of Super Nintendo games. Originally released back in 1992, Mario Paint was a unique SNES title, because although it included a handful of mini games, it was first and foremost a creative tool letting players draw, paint, animate, and even compose music using the 16-bit console. What also set Mario Paint apart from other SNES games was that it didn't rely on the console's standard gamepad. It came bundled with a two-button mouse and a plastic mouse pad that made drawing and navigating the game's on-screen menus and drag-and-drop interface much easier. In 1992, creative apps like Photoshop were still in their relative infancy —- Photoshop didn't even have its useful layers feature yet — and for many kids, Mario Paint was their first exposure to using a digital creative tool (and perhaps even a mouse). Alongside Mario Paint being added to the Switch's SNES catalog, Nintendo has enabled mouse support for the Switch's SNES app, which is compatible with games like Mario's Super Picross and Nobunaga's Ambition. On the original Switch, players can connect a compatible USB mouse to play Mario Paint, while on the Switch 2 the Joy-Con 2 controller's mouse functionality can be used. The company also recently added 19 tracks from Mario Paint to the Nintendo Music mobile app, including the three sample compositions available in the game's music sequencer. Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All by Andrew Liszewski Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Gaming Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All News Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Nintendo
Tokyo Weekender
a day ago
- General
- Tokyo Weekender
Samurai of Christ: How a Japanese Warlord May Soon Become a Catholic Saint
Christianity in Japan got off to such a promising start. After the first Jesuit missionaries arrived in the country in the mid-16th century, they quickly converted many Japanese people by securing the favor and protection of powerful warlords. Oda ' Demon King ' Nobunaga was — somewhat ironically given his nickname — on very good terms with the Christians. Tohoku warrior Date ' One-Eyed Dragon ' Masamune even sent a samurai to meet the pope . But through a mix of paranoia, language barriers and plain old politics, the religion was banned in Japan in the early 17th century following decades of expulsions, persecution and martyrdoms. The Vatican currently recognizes hundreds of Japanese martyrs and 42 saints. Soon, that figure may rise to 43 if the church decides to canonize one Justo Takayama Ukon, a genuine Catholic samurai warlord. List of Contents: Just One Samurai Candidate for Sainthood Killing and Preaching Justo Climbs Up on the Cross Justo Takayama Ukon Ascends Related Posts Just One Samurai Candidate for Sainthood Takayama Ukon was born in 1552 or 1553 in either modern-day Nara or Osaka to Takayama Tomoteru, one of the earliest Christian converts in Japan. The Takayama family held a lot of power, and the church considered them an important ally in spreading their religion in the country. Through influence from Portuguese missionaries, Tomoteru had his son and 150 members of the clan baptized in 1564, bestowing on Ukon the name Justo (Latin: Iustus), the 'Just One.' But you know how kids are, always rebelling against their parents, rejecting Christianity in favor of Zen Buddhism and the culture of the samurai until they get into a duel at age 18 or 19, kill their opponent, but become seriously wounded and spend months recuperating, all while learning to embrace Catholicism. Just typical childhood stuff. Happens every day. Killing and Preaching After his recovery, Justo got to work expanding the Takayama family's power base and set out on numerous 'campaigns' (for lack of a better word) or 'slaughters' (for presence of a correct word). He served Nobunaga during part of the Ishiyama Honganji War (1570–1580) against Buddhist zealots led by a warrior monk who could've been shogun . Then, after Nobunaga's death, he followed Toyotomi Hideyoshi all the way to the Siege of Kagoshima (1587) during the conquest of Kyushu. He did not, as far as we know, report seeing the flying dog that supposedly terrorized Hideyoshi. In between his fighting, he was preaching Christianity and conducting mass conversions, because why bother with piecemeal proselytization when you can do things in bulk? By 1581, 70% of people around Takatsuki Castle in Osaka, one of his family's bases of operation, were Christians. He also oversaw and encouraged the construction of seminaries, orphanages, chapels and churches throughout central Japan. However, while this apparently wasn't his wish, the construction mania resulted in a few Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples being destroyed for timber, which made Justo more than a few enemies. Justo Climbs Up on the Cross In 1587, Hideyoshi Toyotomi issued an anti-Christianity edict pretty much out of nowhere, outlawing the religion and expelling missionaries. There had been some tensions between Christians and the Japanese government before, but the proclamation took many by surprise. Although it wasn't widely enforced, many Japanese saw the writing on the wall and publicly renounced Christianity. Some continued in their faith in secret as kakure kirishitan — Japan's ' hidden Christians .' Justo Takayama Ukon chose option C: He refused to apostatize and lost his lands, status and wealth, telling his tea ceremony teacher Sen no Rikyu (the most important figure in the history of chanoyu ) that denouncing Christ went against his samurai spirit. Justo then went into exile, first in Shodoshima and then in Kanazawa, for his own safety. Many other Japanese Christians weren't so lucky. In 1597, Hideyoshi had 26 Catholics (foreign and Japanese) crucified in Nagasaki. Tokugawa Ieyasu continued this policy, even ramping up the religious persecution, which erupted in 1622 during the Great Genna Martyrdom, when 55 Christians were burned alive or beheaded. Justo never lived to see it, though. After Ieyasu issued his own anti-Christianity edict back in 1614, the samurai warlord felt that he was no longer safe in Japan and set sail for the Philippines. He did not report seeing Oda Nobunaga anywhere there. Justo Takayama Ukon Ascends Justo was welcomed warmly in Manila by the Catholic Church, which wanted to use him as a rallying symbol for an invasion of Japan to forcefully convert the country. But Justo wanted nothing to do with it. He was tired from facing so much hatred because of his faith, and died a little over a month after arriving in the Philippines, seemingly from exhaustion, but Pope Francis officially classified it as suffering for his faith to make him a martyr in 2016. Calls for the Catholic Church to recognize Justo Takayama's contributions to Christianity started as early as 1630, but better late than never. On February 7, 2017, Justo Takayama Ukon was officially beatified in Osaka with an audience of 10,000 faithful. His feast day is February 3. Finally, in 2023, Thomas Aquino Manyo Maeda, the Archbishop of Osaka-Takamatsu, confirmed that the Vatican is looking into possible miracles connected to Justo, the final step before canonization. If everything goes right, soon Roman Catholics around the world will be able to pray to an honest-to-god samurai warlord saint who fought under the Demon King. If this is a ploy to get more people interested in Catholicism, then all we can say is 'well played.' Discover Tokyo, Every Week Get the city's best stories, under-the-radar spots and exclusive invites delivered straight to your inbox. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy . Related Posts Vatican Returns '26 Martyrs of Japan' Portraits to Japan After 94 Years The Story of Japan's Hidden Christians Uncover Nagasaki's Hidden History
Japan Today
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Today
Hotel in Osaka offering shaved ice based on historical Japanese warlords
By SoraNews24 Although it's been destroyed and rebuilt several times over the centuries, Osaka Castle remains a specular landmark in the middle of Osaka City. It was also a critical location during the Sengoku Period of Japanese history as warlords vied, supported, and betrayed each other in an attempt to unite the country under their own leadership. When staying in Osaka, the DoubleTree by Hilton Osaka Castle hotel offers some of the best views of the castle, and starting 1 July will also be serving some edible history to go with its view. What better way to battle the brutal heat of a Japanese summer than with some shaved ice warlords on your side? ▼ Osaka Castle (left) and the DoubleTree by Hilton Osaka Castle (right) Shaved ice might sound like a chintzy menu item, but in Japan, it's sometimes done in the form of haute cuisine as is the case with these three offerings. First, Oda Nobunaga was the first of the great generals to attempt to unify Japan and came within reach of succeeding had he not been ambushed in Kyoto and driven to commit seppuku there. ▼ Uji Matcha Azuki Nobunaga (3,500 yen) So perhaps it's fitting for Nobunaga's shaved ice to be based on the region of his last stand with a matcha flavoring from Uji, Kyoto Prefecture. Matcha, along with its common companion of sweet azuki beans, as well as some raspberry cream, condensed milk, shiratama rice dumplings, and a chocolate ornament all come together to represent the legendary leader's armor with a distinctively Japanese taste. While Nobunaga laid much of the groundwork for the unification of Japan, it was Toyotomi Hideyoshi who picked up where he left off and continued the mission further west. He successfully unified Japan for a time and settled in Osaka, building Osaka Castle to be the strongest fortress in the country. However, he died of natural causes shortly after and passed his position on to his son Toyotomi Hideyori. ▼ Mango & Cider Hideyoshi (2,500 yen) Hideyoshi's shaved ice has been given a rich flavor of mango and Osaka-style blue soda. In honor of his work to create Osaka Castle, the treat has a towering white-and-gold look topped with a candy sword resting on a cloud of foam and a candy paulownia leaf resembling a halo. The power vacuum left by Hideyoshi was then seized by Tokugawa Ieyasu, who eventually saw Hideyori as a threat and stormed Osaka Castle in 1615 to remove him from the equation, thus securing his control over all of Japan for centuries. ▼ Whole Melon Ieyasu (5,000 yen) Ieyasu's armor was decorated with a fern leaf motif as a symbol of longevity and prosperity, as is his shaved ice, featuring ferns crafted from cream puffs and chocolate sitting atop flakes of ice and melon scoops all inside an entire half melon with black tea jelly inside. It also comes with melon ice cream, melon syrup, and foam on the side. It isn't necessary to stay at the DoubleTree by Hilton Osaka Castle hotel to enjoy these high-class desserts. One only needs to head up to the Lounge & Bar Sen on the sixth floor where a nice view of the castle can also be enjoyed. They'll only be available for the summer until 30 September though, so be sure to try some before they're history. Restaurant information Lounge & Bar Sen / ラウンジ＆バー SEN（舟） DoubleTree by Hilton Osaka Castle ダブルツリーbyヒルトン大阪城 Osaka-fu, Osaka-shi, Chuo-ku, Otemae 1-1-1 大阪府大阪市中央区大手前1丁目1番1号 Hours: 11:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. Website Source, images: PR Times Read more stories from SoraNews24. -- New hotel with Osaka Castle view is one of the best places to stay in Japan -- Beautiful afternoon tea lounge lets you look at and eat Osaka Castle【Taste test】 -- It's officially Ponyo time as Ghibli character appears as new anime accessory line and clock【Pics】 External Link © SoraNews24
SoraNews24
30-06-2025
- SoraNews24
Hotel in Osaka offering shaved ice based on historical Japanese warlords
Nobunaga's edible ambition. Although it's been destroyed and rebuilt several times over the centuries, Osaka Castle remains a specular landmark in the middle of Osaka City. It was also a critical location during the Sengoku Period of Japanese history as warlords vied, supported, and betrayed each other in an attempt to unite the country under their own leadership. When staying in Osaka, the DoubleTree by Hilton Osaka Castle hotel offers some of the best views of the castle, and starting 1 July will also be serving some edible history to go with its view. What better way to battle the brutal heat of a Japanese summer than with some shaved ice warlords on your side? ▼ Osaka Castle (left) and the DoubleTree by Hilton Osaka Castle (right) Shaved ice might sound like a chintzy menu item, but in Japan, it's sometimes done in the form of haute cuisine as is the case with these three offerings. First, Oda Nobunaga was the first of the great generals to attempt to unify Japan and came within reach of succeeding had he not been ambushed in Kyoto and driven to commit seppuku there. ▼ Uji Matcha Azuki Nobunaga (3,500 yen [US$24]) So perhaps it's fitting for Nobunaga's shaved ice to be based on the region of his last stand with a matcha flavoring from Uji, Kyoto Prefecture. Matcha, along with its common companion of sweet azuki beans, as well as some raspberry cream, condensed milk, shiratama rice dumplings, and a chocolate ornament all come together to represent the legendary leader's armor with a distinctively Japanese taste. While Nobunaga laid much of the groundwork for the unification of Japan, it was Toyotomi Hideyoshi who picked up where he left off and continued the mission further west. He successfully unified Japan for a time and settled in Osaka, building Osaka Castle to be the strongest fortress in the country. However, he died of natural causes shortly after and passed his position on to his son Toyotomi Hideyori. ▼ Mango & Cider Hideyoshi (2,500 yen) Hideyoshi's shaved ice has been given a rich flavor of mango and Osaka-style blue soda. In honor of his work to create Osaka Castle, the treat has a towering white-and-gold look topped with a candy sword resting on a cloud of foam and a candy paulownia leaf resembling a halo. The power vacuum left by Hideyoshi was then seized by Tokugawa Ieyasu, who eventually saw Hideyori as a threat and stormed Osaka Castle in 1615 to remove him from the equation, thus securing his control over all of Japan for centuries. ▼ Whole Melon Ieyasu (5,000 yen) Ieyasu's armor was decorated with a fern leaf motif as a symbol of longevity and prosperity, as is his shaved ice, featuring ferns crafted from cream puffs and chocolate sitting atop flakes of ice and melon scoops all inside an entire half melon with black tea jelly inside. It also comes with melon ice cream, melon syrup, and foam on the side. It isn't necessary to stay at the DoubleTree by Hilton Osaka Castle hotel to enjoy these high-class desserts. One only needs to head up to the Lounge & Bar Sen on the sixth floor where a nice view of the castle can also be enjoyed. They'll only be available for the summer until 30 September though, so be sure to try some before they're history. Restaurant information Lounge & Bar Sen / ラウンジ＆バー SEN（舟） DoubleTree by Hilton Osaka Castle ダブルツリーbyヒルトン大阪城 Osaka-fu, Osaka-shi, Chuo-ku, Otemae 1-1-1 大阪府大阪市中央区大手前1丁目1番1号 Hours: 11:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. Website Source, images: PR Times ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
