The Forty-Seven Ronin, Who Avenged Their Lord in 1703 and Were Sentenced to the Death They Expected
In 1701 Lord Asano drew his sword against the court official Kira inside Edo Castle and was ordered to die the same day. His leaderless samurai — ronin — waited nearly two years, then stormed Kira's mansion in the snow, took his head to their master's grave, and surrendered. The shogunate's verdict: honourable seppuku for all 46 who stood trial. Japan has argued about them ever since.
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