Gate

"MEMOIRS OF AN OPIUM EATER" XXXVIII : Eighth Day, Month of the Ox It's been a cold, ugly day. The snow has been on the ground long enough to pick up the stains of mud and horse urine. Ide Michikane  wanted to go to the Licensed Quarter, and would not be dissuaded. Bored,I agreed to go as well, and begged him to invite Michisuna. Soon, a great group of us had gathered, and were waiting impatiently while servants chopped our boats free of ice for the short sail to the island. As I mentioned before, there is a large man called Gate who guards the entry to the Floating World; a samurai cannot reach the Licensed District from the dock without going through his shop, which is called "Swords Polished:'

Similarly, you cannot leave his shop unless you've left your weapons with him - along with a sum of money to polish them. I know that this is simply a ruse to allow samurai to surrender the swords of their grandfathers without losing face - but I'm told that he (or an assistant) actually does polish the swords, and does a fine job of it too. Today I realized something that I guess I must have seen before, but never really thought about. There is a strange attitude between Gate and the visitors to the island. Gate is a ronin, but he doesn't act like one- he is not diffident (like some) or sly(like others) and he lacks the habit of shame that most ronin seem to instinctively possess. He carries himself well; not with the arrogant pride of a young duelist, but like an old general. My noble friends all respond to this like pups around a grand hunting hound; they are respectful, almost humble. He always looks everyone in the eye, and sometimes they are afraid to meet his. He behaves as if he is the Governor of Teardrop Island, and Swords Polished is his estate.

SHIGEKO'S DOSSIER: I first met Gate a long time ago.I had just taken my vows; he was a sergeant in the Lion clan infantry, and went by the name Akodo Yogodayu. Yogodayu and I became close friends, and served together at Beiden Pass. The man I knew then was brash and a little arrogant - he took great pride in his ancestors' deeds ofrenown and sought to match them in valor. It was his love of his own family history that led to his downfall. In Ikoma Castle he found documentsthat contradicted what he had always been taught about his grandfather, Akodo Ippai. He never tired of telling the story of how Ippai had held Beiden Pass with only twenty samurai against a thousand Scorpions until their relief could arrive. What the document showed was that Ippai had not been present at all; he had left his men there to present a false front of greater force whilehe retreated toa superior position.The twenty men - including Ippai's own son - were left to die so that he could retreat and protect the bulk of his forces. Ippai then lied about the battle - not only to conceal his numbers (which led to a later victory) but to protect his family reputation as well. Yogodayu was devastated and asked his daimyo for permission to tell the world thetruth about his ancestor, and then commit seppuku to cleanse the stain from his family honor.

The daimyo refused, saying that a story of valor was more important than a lie from the distant past. Yogodayu was shocked that his lord would allow his family to believe a falsehood and continue to honor a coward. (At least, Yogodayu believed Ippai was a coward.) The daimyo told him that if Yogodayu felt ashamed of his family, he could be relieved of the burden. Yogodayu chose to leave his family, and has not gone by the name Yogodayu since that time. He came to Ryoko Owari and has lived here ever since. I would beg my successor not to tell Gate that you know of his past; he has suffered tremendously and deserves no punishment past what he inflicts on himself. He has a tremendous sense of honor; perhaps it is misplaced, but it is strong nonetheless. He will keep his word and be an invaluable ally to those he deems worthy.