JAPAN GUIDE (Off the Beaten Path) SENGAKUJI - The 47 RONIN Temple

Описание: Sengakuji is a Historically signifigant tempe in the downtown of Tokyo. Easy to get to, just one stop from Shinagawa Station on the Asakusa Line. Get out at of Sengakuji Station and it is about a minute walk.
The temple is one of the more important temples in Tokyo for Buddhism, but the draw for regualr tourists would be for the grave of the 47 Ronin.
47 Ronin (or the 47 leaderless samurai clad) is an important avenge story in Japan.
Short version goes like this; Asano (leader of the Ako Clad) got in an argument with the one fo the Shogunate's Officers named Kira. Kira had a hate on for Asano and was pushing his buttons. Asano had had enough, drew his sword cutting but not killing Kira.
The Shogunate promptly sentenced Asano to perform SEPPUKU (Ritual Suicide) With apparently no due course, meanwhile nothing happened to Kira.
Asano's clad did not take the news well, so about a year and a half later they avenged their masters death by killing Kira, chopping his melon off and bringing it to Asano's grave as an offering.
After this Ako Incident as it was called happened all 47 members of the Ako clan were forced to then kill themselves.
They stayed true to Samurai form and because of this are now buried next to their leader Asano in the Sengakuji Temple.