A bit late, but more pics from a recent trip to Tokyo where I visited the sites pertaining to the Chushingura, Loyal 47 samurai story. This 1st pic is where the Matsu No Roka, The Pine-tree Corridor of Edo Castle once stood. Here, in 1701, Lord Asano of Ako attacked the Chief of Protocol, Lord Kira with a short sword. The drawing of swords within Edo Castle was an offence, and Asano was obliged to cut himself open in the fashion of the Samurai. His men reformed 3 years later and attacked Kira's home to extract revenge.
After visiting Edo Castle, I went to the site where Lord Kira's mansion once stood. Out front, a festival marking the event was taking place, and this actor was dresses as Oishi Kuranosuke, the leader of Asano's samurai who stormed Lord Kira's house.
The house itself has long gone, but historical markers show the current apartment building complex sits on the area once owned by Lord Kira.
After paying my respects to Lord Kira and his men who were killed in the attack....
....I went to the Sengakuji, a temple some 11 Km away, where the attackers took Lord Kiras' head to the grave of their master, Asano, before turning themselves in to the authorities. The Loyal 47 as they've become known, were then ordered to committ seppuku, ritual suicide, and their graves sit alongside their master at the temple.
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