The Ghost in the Tokaido Inn

by Tom Hoobler

  “I hope I will not offend you if I say that Takezaki Genji was a true samurai.”

  The shogun stared at Judge Ooka. “If so, why did he force me to consent to his execution? Why didn’t he commit seppuku after drawing his sword in my presence?”

  “I have decided,” replied the judge, “that it was because he was a Kirishitan. Kirishitans do not commit seppuku.”

  Seikei spoke up. “Tomomi’s mother committed seppuku, in the play.”

  The judge smiled. “An intelligent comment. But she had not been a Kirishitan before she married Lord Takezaki. In the end, her samurai honor was stronger than the religion she adopted to please her husband. But her son ...” He spread his hands.

  “You see how dangerous these Kirishitan ideas are?” said the shogun. “If they were allowed to spread in Japan, then the samurai traditions would decay.”

  “I hoped you would mention that,” said the judge. “For I have a favor to ask.”

  The shogun looked at him suspiciously. “I will not ban torture,” he said. “Other judges are not so clever as you, and cannot do without it. If people didn’t fear being punished for wrongdoing, the country would be filled with thieves.”

  “Not that,” said the judge. “I know someone who is devoted to the ideal of bushido. He has shown himself to be courageous, honorable, and loyal. In every way, he is a true samurai.”

  “Name him,” said the shogun. “I will make him a judge. Better yet, send him to my court to be an official, for I need such men.”

  “There is only one problem,” said the judge. “He is not a samurai, but the son of a merchant.”

  Slowly, the shogun’s eyes moved to Seikei. “You said your father sells tea?”

  “And other things,” said Seikei.

  “Don’t tell me about them,” the shogun said with a wave of his hand. “I have too much to think about.” He looked at the judge. “Someday you will test my patience too far,” he said. “I suppose you have thought of some way to make this possible.”

  “Without violating tradition,” the judge replied. “As you know, it is common for families without a son to adopt one to carry on their name. I have no son. If you consent, and if the father of this young man agrees, I will adopt him.”

  Seikei could not believe what he was hearing. The shogun looked him over slowly. “You wish this?” he said.

  “Oh yes,” said Seikei. “All my life I have wished to be a samurai.”

  “What about your own family? Have you not an obligation to them?”

  Seikei considered. “My father has always said I have no head for business. In fact, he would be happier if Denzaburo, my younger brother, could take my place.” He hesitated, thinking of his mother. She would miss him.

  “Would I be able to visit my family?” he asked Judge Ooka.

  The judge smiled. “I would not have it any other way.” Then he turned to the shogun. “Well, my friend, what do you say?”

  “Hm,” said the shogun, eyeing Seikei. “Perhaps your father would make me a gift of tea?”

  Seikei nodded, not daring to mention that his father’s shop had some tea that was even better than the kind that the shogun had served.

  “Make sure that your actions do not disgrace me,” said the shogun. “I consent.”

  Seikei lowered his head, hiding his tears of joy.

  “I see there are some of those cakes left,” said the judge. “I think I’ll have another.”

  Author’s Note

  Judge Ooka was a real person, a friend and advisor of Yoshimune, the eighth shogun of the Tokugawa family. Yoshimune served as shogun between 1717 and 1744, and was eager to revive the samurai tradition and spirit. The story of the Forty-Seven Ronin is also a true one, which has inspired many Japanese playwrights and storytellers.

  Judge Ooka did in fact oppose torture as a way of forcing a confession from suspects. The judge’s ability to solve crimes through his amazing powers of reasoning made him famous even during his lifetime. Since then, tales about Judge Ooka have remained popular, causing some to call him the Sherlock Holmes of Japan. This story, however, comes from the imagination of the authors.

  The cover for the e-book edition of this book was designed by Ellen Hoobler. The figure in the upper right-hand corner is a ghost that was painted by Hokusai, one of Japan’s greatest artists. The symbol at the bottom right-hand corner is a “one” in the Japanese style of numbering.