Walkthrough for the tale The Tale of Sensei Ishikawa in the game Ghost of Tsushima. This page covers all main objectives, key steps, or helpful tips to guide you through the tale smoothly. Whenever possible, the guide points out locations for key items and details interactions with NPCs, among other tips. To ensure maximum clarity, in-game screenshots are included for easy-to-follow visual guidance.
Quest Group: Act 1 - Rescue Lord Shimura
Tale: Ishikawa Tale
Location: Izuhara
This tale will be unlocked after completing the prologue. To start it you have to go to the inn in Hiyoshi Springs.
(1 of 9) Sensei Ishikawa never joined our battle against the Mongols at Komoda Beach. If he's still alive, I could use his skill with a bow to help rescue Lord Shimura. But first, I have to find the sensei.
The Tale of Sensei Ishikawa
Izuhara
Sensei Ishikawa's Dojo
Izuhara
Fort Nakayama
Izuhara
When you get to the Hiyoshi Springs inn, talk to the peasant you meet there. He won't know where Ishikawa is but will offer to show you the way to his dojo.
Follow him until you get to the foot of the cliff on which the Sensei Ishikawa's Dojo is located.
Go up a cliff and examine the bloodstains and bloody footprints you find in the main building.
The footprints will lead to another building nearby. When you get inside, you'll meet Lord Ishikawa there.
He will tell you that he did not join the battle in Komodo, because he was attacked by bandits. He'll also tell you about the disappearance of his archery student named Tomoe. You will offer him your help in finding his student.
Sensei Ishikawa is looking for his missing archery student. Once we find them, both the student and the sensei will help me rescue Lord Shimura.
Follow Ishikawa. At some point, a Mongol patrol will show up on your way and you'll have to get rid of them.
A little further you'll reach a small camp. Check the rice and millet, blood and Japanese quiver. Then you'll come to the conclusion that Tomoe was most likely captured and led to the nearby fort.
Follow Ishikawa to the fort where Tomoe should be imprisoned. Halfway you'll stop and Ishikawa will give you a Half Bow.
Practice shooting a bow by hitting three consecutive lanterns standing by the road with it.
Keep following Ishikawa to Fort Nakayama. Once there, follow him to a nearby rocks from where you will be able to survey the fort for weaknesses - hornet nests, explosive barrels, and hanging lights. You'll also notice that there are many archers in the fort.
When dusk comes, a patrol will appear and you will be able to start the attack. Get a cover behind the fallen tree trunk. The best way to start is to shoot and destroy a hornet's nest with several Mongols standing by it, then when a few more Mongols approach one of the explosive barrels, shoot it. Then eliminate the remaining opponents. When you run out of arrows there should be more of them lying on the ground around and you can pick them up.
Once the patrol is destroyed, enter the fort and eliminate the Mongols there.
When you get rid of all your enemies, come up and talk to Ishikawa who will be waiting for you near the pile of dead prisoners' bodies - tied up and killed with arrows. Ishikawa will find a pendant belonging to Tomoe near them and he will ask you to investigate the fort.
Examine the Japanese arrows stuck in the target shield, a mongolian scroll with the Ishikawa's name mentioned, and a woman's kimono in one of the quarters. You will then come to the conclusion that Tomoe has switched to the Mongolian side and hands them over the knowledge about that which Ishikawa taught her.
Sensei Ishikawa's student, Tomoe, is working with the Mongols and teaching them his Way of the Bow. We need to stop her before the Mongol archers become far more dangerous adversaries.
When you go outside, you'll come across an injured prisoner. He'll confirm your guess. Tomoe joined the Mongols.
When you get to the fort's gate, Ishikawa will reveal to you that it was Tomoe and not the bandits who attacked him, because apparently he pushed her too hard. You decide to hunt Tomoe together and stop her from passing the knowledge to the Mongols.
After completing this tale, you will be able to play the tales The Tale of Lady Masako, The Sensei and the Student, The Iron Hook, Blood on the Grass.