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Fuwa Kazuemon was born 1670 and died by ceremonial decapitation on 1703/2/4 (March 20, 1703). His history is unique among the 47 Ako ronin who avenged the death of their lord, [[Asano Naganori|Asano Takumi no kami Naganori]].  Unlike the others, Fuwa had been banished from the clan, having lived as a [[ronin]] for several years before the Ako clan was disbanded.  

Fuwa Kazuemon was born 1670 and died by ceremonial decapitation on 1703/2/4 (March 20, 1703). His history is unique among the 47 Ako ronin who avenged the death of their lord, [[Asano Naganori|Asano Takumi no kami Naganori]].  Unlike the others, Fuwa had been banished from the clan, having lived as a [[ronin]] for several years before the Ako clan was disbanded.  

Fuwa Kazuemon was the son of [[Okano Jidayu]] and was adopted into the [[Fuwa clan|Fuwa]] family, retainers of the [[Asano clan]] in the Ako domain.  No evidence was found that he married or produced children. He was dismissed from the Asano clan by Lord Asano Naganori in [[1697]] and thus became a ronin at age 27.  As for the reasons for Fuwa's dismissal, it appears that he was in the habit of committing[[tsujigiri]] (Edo period thrill killing, striking down unarmed passersby at night). Fuwa was also noted for being a [[Kabukimono]], elements of the samurai class that dressed up in “gaudy kimonos” and engaged in “wild antics”. Attacks by Kabukimono gangs against civilians were not uncommon during the Edo period.     

Fuwa Kazuemon was the son of [[Okano Jidayu]] and was adopted into the [[Fuwa clan|Fuwa]] family, retainers of the [[Asano clan]] in the Ako domain.  No evidence was found that he married or produced children. He was dismissed from the Asano clan by Lord Asano Naganori in [[1697]] and thus became a ronin at age 27.  As for the reasons for Fuwa's dismissal, it appears that he was in the habit of committing [[tsujigiri]] (Edo period thrill killing, striking down unarmed passersby at night). Fuwa was also noted for being a [[Kabukimono]], elements of the samurai class that dressed up in “gaudy kimonos” and engaged in “wild antics”. Attacks by Kabukimono gangs against civilians were not uncommon during the Edo period.     

As to what Fuwa did after his dismissal, this is unknown.  One of the specifications of the [[Buke Shohatto]] that were in effect in [[1683]] stated: "...a man who has had a difference (literally hindrance) with his original lord is not to be taken into service by any other lord." So he would not have been able to obtain a position as a retainer by any other lord.   

As to what Fuwa did after his dismissal, this is unknown.  One of the specifications of the [[Buke Shohatto]] that were in effect in [[1683]] stated: "...a man who has had a difference (literally hindrance) with his original lord is not to be taken into service by any other lord." So he would not have been able to obtain a position as a retainer by any other lord.   

In 1701, upon receiving information of the death by seppuku of his former lord and the confiscation of the Ako estate, Fuwa Kazuemon rushed to Ako to offer his services in order to atone for his original offense against his lord.  According to most sources, Oishi Kuranosuke, former chief retainer of Ako, rejected Fuwa’s offers of service because of his earlier dismissal from the clan.  Fuwa kept persisting and eventually was allowed to join the league of Lord Asano’s avengers.  

In 1701, upon receiving information of the death by seppuku of his former lord and the confiscation of the Ako estate, Fuwa Kazuemon rushed to Ako to offer his services in order to atone for his original offense against his lord.  According to most sources, Oishi Kuranosuke, former chief retainer of Ako, rejected Fuwa’s offers of service because of his earlier dismissal from the clan.  Fuwa kept persisting and eventually was allowed to join the league of Lord Asano’s avengers.  

Fuwa Kazuemon repaid the faith shown to him by Oishi Kuranosuke.  Legend has it that when he traveled to Edo, he stopped by Lord Asano’s grave, bowed down deeply and sincerely apologized for the offense he had committed that had caused him to be banished. During the attack on Kira’s headquarters, he killed more of Kira’s staff than any other of the Ako ronin, although it is unclear if they were one of Kira's three-five samurai or his household servants. A letter written by Fuwa while being held under house arrest after the raids establishes that the Ronin lied about the method used to kill Lord Kira. While they claimed to have dispatched him with a single sword stroke, Fuwa claimed that “all the ronin present had stabbed and hacked Kira until he was dead. They sawed off his head…”.

Fuwa Kazuemon repaid the faith shown to him by Oishi Kuranosuke.  Legend has it that when he traveled to Edo, he stopped by Lord Asano’s grave, bowed down deeply and sincerely apologized for the offense he had committed that had caused him to be banished. During the attack on Kira’s headquarters, he killed more of Kira’s staff than any other of the Ako ronin, although it is unclear if they were one of Kira's three-five samurai or his household servants. A letter written by Fuwa while being held under house arrest after the raids establishes that the Ronin lied about the method used to kill Lord Kira. While they claimed to have dispatched him with a single spear strike, Fuwa claimed that “all the ronin present had stabbed and hacked Kira until he was dead. They sawed off his head…”.

Fuwa Kazuemon, along with his compatriots, turned himself in to the bakufu authorities. There was some discussion after the attack about whether the ronin should surrender voluntarily to the bakufu authorities or, as some advocated, should commit seppuku on the spot at Sengakuji Temple. Fuwa Kazuemon was on the side of his leader, Oishi Kuranosuke, who thought that surrender to the authorities would be best. He wrote a letter to his father where he had urged this surrender.  Some scholars have argued that the decision to surrender to the bakufu authorities was a sign that the Ako ronin were convinced that this would lead to a pardon rather than death.  However, most evidence suggests that the Ako ronin never expected anything other than their own deaths in any event.

Fuwa Kazuemon, along with his compatriots, turned himself in to the bakufu authorities. There was some discussion after the attack about whether the ronin should surrender voluntarily to the bakufu authorities or, as some advocated, should commit seppuku on the spot at Sengakuji Temple. Fuwa Kazuemon was on the side of his leader, Oishi Kuranosuke, who thought that surrender to the authorities would be best. He wrote a letter to his father where he had urged this surrender.  Some scholars have argued that the decision to surrender to the bakufu authorities was a sign that the Ako ronin were convinced that this would lead to a pardon rather than death.  However, most evidence suggests that the Ako ronin never expected anything other than their own deaths in any event.