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The Harakiri of 艑ishi Yoshio. Photo by Sh艒sen.

Top 10 Interesting Facts about 艑ishi Yoshio

Oishi Yoshio was the chamberlain (Karo) of the Ako Domain in Harima Province (now Hyogo Prefecture), Japan, from April 24, 1659, to March 20, 1703. (1679 – 1701). He is remembered as the leader of the 47 Ronin in their 1702 vendetta, and thus the Chshingura’s hero. He is frequently referred to by his given name, Oishi Kuranosuke.Oishi held the position of Hittokaro;chief retainer of Ako Domain in Harima Province.

He rose to prominence following the Genroku Ako Incident, which is recounted in the Chushingura (The Treasury of Loyal Retainers). Kuranosuke, a position in the Bureau of Palace Storehouses, is a common name for Kuraryo’s undersecretary, Bureau of Palace Storehouses. Yoshio was his first name. Fujiwara was his surname. The Migi-Futatsudomoe was his family crest.

1. Oishi was born into an aristocratic clan

The OISHI family was a branch of the Oyama clan, descended from Hidesato FUJIWARA. The family managed the Kurita estate of Oishi manor for generations under the Omi-no-kuni shugo (Military Commissioner of Omi-no-kuni) of the Sasaki clan, and thus the family name became OISHI. Yoshinobu OISHI served Hidetsugu TOYOTOMI, but the Oishi clan later chose not to fight in conflicts such as the Onin war.

Following Hidetsugu’s defeat, Yoshikatsu OISHI (Yoshio’s great-grandfather and Yoshinobu’s illegitimate second son) was forced to enter the Buddhist priesthood in Kyoto, from which he escaped to Edo and became a ronin (masterless samurai) in Edo, where he came to serve the Asano clan.

2. He rose to prominence in his late teens

Yoshio inherited 1,500 koku and the common name Kuranosuke at the age of nineteen after his grandfather Yoshitaka died (a position of the Bureau of Palace Storehouses). His grand-uncle Yoshishige OISHI looked after him as an apprentice of the chief retainer of Ako Domain. At the age of 21, he was appointed Hittokaro (chief retainer’s head). On May 18, 1683, Yoshishige, his guardian, died, forcing Kuranosuke to become self-sufficient.

3. He was a dedicated student of Confucianism

艑ishi Yoshio. Photo by Utagawa Kuniyoshi.

Kuranosuke OISHI is said to have started studying Confucianism in Kyoto in 1693 under Jinsai ITO. He had become a disciple of Shigemoto OKUMURA of the Togun-ryu school the previous year.

People should be loyal and obedient to those of higher social rank, especially parents filial piety and master, or lord of their occupation, according to Confucianism. Loyalty and duty, or giri, were intertwined concepts. Someone who did and completed the task demonstrated loyalty to the occupation’s and the master. The concept of loyalty refers to a person’s strong attachment to a lord or master. It was the highest honor a samurai could have. Oishi Kuranosuke and his fellow ronin, master-less samurai of the Asano clan, remained loyal to their duty in upholding justice, standing before even the Shogun.

4. He was featured as the protagonist in the movie, 47 Ronin

The 47 Ronin, Genroku Chshingura, “The Treasury of Loyal Retainers of the Genroku Era” is a two-part black-and-white jidaigeki Japanese film directed by Kenji Mizoguchi and based on a play by Seika Mayama. The first installment was released on December 1, 1941, and the second installment was released on February 11, 1942. The film depicts the legendary 47 Ronin led by Yoshio Oishi, and their plot to avenge the death of their lord, Asano Naganori, by assassinating Kira Yoshinaka, a shogunate official responsible for forcing Asano to commit seppuku.

5. Yoshio became famous for his life of debauchery 

He was often spotted in the red-light district of Kuruwa. Yoshio divorced his wife and distanced himself from his family. He then frequented seedy areas, became inebriated, and socialized with prostitutes. Not only that, but he did all of this to conceal his plan for vengeance and divert attention away from himself. After hearing of the loyal deed, a man who had spat on Oishi during his destitute days is said to have felt such remorse that he came to Oishi’s grave to apologize. Such determination is surely unmatched.

6. He died by way of Seppuku at the age of 45

The Harakiri of 艑ishi Yoshio. Photo by Sh艒sen.

Kuranosuke committed seppuku by kaishaku (to assist someone in committing hara-kiri by beheading him) with the help of Ippei YASUBA, a vassal of the Hosokawa family, acting as his second. He passed away at the age of 45. His body was buried in the same temple as his lord Takuminokami ASANO, Takanawa Sengaku-ji Temple.

7. He produced one Haiku upon his death

There exists a Japanese custom of leaving a poetic short sentence on a deathbed, “Jisei no ku” (death poem). Tanka, haiku, and Chinese poetry are examples of phonology-focused poetry. Since the Middle Ages, it has been considered an East Asian custom, particularly in Japan. Oishi鈥檚 Kaiku simply states, 鈥淭he road to Buddhist paradise is straight for you, as, with Amida, we number 48鈥�

8. Yoishio was the chief of the famous 47 Ronin

The 47 Ronin break into the home of Kira Yoshinaka. Photo by Shikazaki Ryuu.

47 Ronin were a band of samurai who were left without a leader after their daimy (feudal lord) Asano Naganori was forced to commit seppuku (ritual suicide) for assaulting a powerful court official named Kira Yoshinaka. After a year of planning and waiting, the Ronin killed Kira to avenge their master’s honor. They were then sentenced to death by seppuku for the crime of murder.

9. The Oishi shrine is dedicated to him

Oishi shrine. Photo by nnh.

The shrine is set at the foot of the hills between Yamashina and Fushimi. This attractive shrine has a small museum containing many documents and illustrations related to the 47 Ronin story.

10. Oishi has a line of exclusive motorcycles named in his honor

Several parked motorcycles. Photo by Ranimiro Lotufo Neto.

Ronin Motor works’ 47 Ronin motorcycles were conceived between 2009 and 2010. The top brass at Magpul Industries decided to build a one-of-a-kind, bespoke bike based around the Buell 1125R motor, after Harley-Davidson had just discontinued their affiliation with the Buell name. Magpul decided to form Ronin Motorworks, a company in its own right that would build devastatingly beautiful motorcycles, after the idea was such a resounding success.

The name Ronin, derived from the Japanese word for a Samurai who has lost his master, was chosen to represent Buell庐 motorcycles that will continue to exist after the company’s demise.