In the late 16th and early 17th century of
feudal Japan, the great warrior samurai class
was struggling to maintain its once proud
identity.
Japan was at peace for roughly 100 years and
was experiencing political stability throughout
the land.
Lord Asano Naganori was chosen by the shogun
Tokugawa Tsunayoshi to be one of many daimyo
invited to Edo to entertain the Imperial family’s
envoys.
Assigned to assist Lord Asano was the Shogun’s
highest-ranking master of protocol, Kira Yoshinaka.
He was instructed to educate the Lord on matters
of proper court etiquette.
The two had many disagreements and disliked
each other immensely.
Kira expected a monetary show of appreciation
for his troubles, while Asano believed this
was his duty and was what was expected from
his title.
Kira didn’t take kindly to such disrespect
towards a superior and continued to embarrass
Asano at every possible moment.
The two’s dislike all came to a head when
just before the ceremony was about to begin
Kira called Lord Asano a country boor with
no manners.
Unable to withstand the insults any longer,
Lord Asano lunged at Kira with his sword striking
him in his face.
Drawing a sword in the Shogun’s palace was
a serious offense and attacking another man,
specifically a superior, would earn you a
one-way ticket to paradise.
When questioned about his crimes, Lord Asano
showed no remorse saying he only regrets he
did not kill Kira.
The Shogun handed down Lord Asano the honorable
death sentence of hara-kiri, but also seized
his 50,000-koku fief at Ako in Harima.
When news got back to Asano’s castle, his
ex-retainers, now ronin, exchanged heated
debate, but ultimately settled on Oishi Yoshio’s
suggestion to surrender the castle peacefully
and focus on a plan for revenge.
Understanding the code of loyalty between
a lord and his vassals, Kira became extremely
paranoid.
He increased his personal guards and lived
a life of self-imposed house arrest.
Oishi and his men took menial jobs and adopted
factitious characters of drunken ronin wasting
their time in brothels.
With all eyes on Oishi, he divorced his wife,
frequented red-light districts, and was often
found in drunken brawls with the lowest of
men.
Their goal was to wait for Kira and his men
to let their guard down and strike when Kira
accepted their saddened lives as reality.
This was ultimately the outcome and after
two years had passed on December 14, 1702
a cold snowy night in Edo, Oishi
and his men decided tonight’s the night
like Betty Wright.
Oishi and his men attacked Kira’s mansion
taking everyone off guard.
After a long fought battle Kira was found
cowering in an outhouse.
Oishi gave him the opportunity to commit seppuku,
but apparently his reply did not come fast enough
As a result, Oishi gracefully decapitated Kira
with the same sword that Lord Asano scarred him with just two years prior
The men took Kira’s bloody head, wrapped
it in loincloth, placed it a bucket, and marched
to Sengakuji where their Lord Asano’s shrine
had been erected.
They first washed the bloody head of Kira
at the temple’s well and then presented
the head to their lord’s shrine.
After their offering was completed the 46
remaining ronin
turned themselves in and were prepared
to commit hara-kiri for their crimes.
On March 20, 1703, just three months after the attack on Kira's mansion the 46 ronin followed through
with their final duty and opened their bellies.
Their bodies were later cremated and buried
at Sengakuji alongside their Lord - Asano Naganori.
