Aya

Aya (綾御前, Aya Gozen) first appears in as a unique non playable character in Samurai Warriors 3 and becomes playable in its expansion. Prior to her unique appearance, she was a bodyguard in the Priestess category and is available for the player to equip before battles in Samurai Warriors 2. She is Kenshin's older sister, Kagekatsu's mother and Masakage Nagao's first wife.

Her height in Samurai Warriors 3 is 160 cm (5'3").

Role in Games
In Samurai Warriors 3, Aya is alongside her brother and son in the Uesugi army as a unique non-playable character and participates in most of the Uesugi campaigns. To uphold the morality of the army, she fights to inspire Kanetsugu and the men. Kenshin refers to her as a goddess and respectfully addresses her as "Elder sister". She dotes on her younger brother's eccentric traits, calling him "cute" or "adorable" and watches over him affectionately. Even so, she prioritizes her strong belief for universal love before family ties, hiring Kanetsugu to spread her resolute beliefs when she isn't capable of doing it herself.

She and Masanori may be saved by Takamaru early in the Murasamejo Mode. While unplayable, her character model is available for player-created edit characters by clearing Kenshin and Kanetsugu's stories.

Voice Actors

 * Umeka Shōji - Samurai Warriors 3 (Japanese)

Historical Information
Sento-In was Nagao Tamekage's second eldest daughter. She was said to either come from the same mother as Kenshin or was his older half-sister. Though better known under her Buddhist name, it was said that her given name was Ayahime.

She was engaged to Nagao Masakage sometime during 1537, and they had two sons and two daughters together. Their eldest son died at the young age of 10 so their second eldest son, Kagekatsu, was adopted into the Uesugi family under Kenshin. Their daughters are also said to have been adopted into the Uesugi and supposedly became the wives of their loyal vassals. Sento-In moved to Kasugayama Castle with her son in 1564. She was fabled to have recognized Naoe Kanetsugu's talents and recommended him to serve Kagekatsu. It was rumored that Kanetsugu tried his best to care for her in gratitude.

When the civil dispute between Kagekatsu and Kagetora took place after Kenshin's death, Sento-In tried to protect Kagetora's heir after the death of her older sister (Kagetora's wife). Although she was with Kagetora, she returned to Kikuhime and Osen no Kata's care. She died at Yonezawa Castle and was enshrined at Risen-ji. She was given the Buddhist name, Sento-In. As for why she was named as such, the reasons are still debated to this day.