Changes

* ''Birth: [[1667]]''

* ''Birth: [[1667]]''

* ''Death: [[1701]]''

* ''Death: [[1701]]/3/14''

* ''Titles: Takumi no kami''

* ''Titles: Takumi no kami''

* ''Japanese'': 浅野 長矩 ''(Asano Naganori)''

* ''Japanese'': 浅野 長矩 ''(Asano Naganori)''

[[Image:Asano.jpg|right|200px]]

Naganori was born in [[1667]], the eldest son of [[Asano Nagatomo]], lord of Akô. In [[1701]], he was assigned by the shogunate to oversee the preparation of banquets for imperial envoys arriving in [[Edo]] on the occasion of the New Year. ''[[Koke|Kôke]]'' Kira Yoshinaka was assigned to Naganori as an instructor or guide in the pertinent ceremonial protocols. Several months later, on 1701/3/14, Asano famously attacked Kira in the Matsu-no-rôka (Pine Tree Corridor) in the Honmaru Palace of [[Edo castle]], and was sentenced the same day to commit ''[[seppuku]]''.

Asano Naganori seems to have been regarded with some distaste by many of his peers, and indeed seen as a hothead. In the [[Dokai Koshuki]], a report prepared by agents of Shogun [[Tokugawa Tsunayoshi]] concerning the lives and behavior of daimyo (and prepared long before the assault in the castle), Asano comes off looking like a fop. While the report compliments him on his intelligence and strict punishment of offences within his domain, it derides him for "sexual proligacy". It also notes that he promoted and rewarded retainers based on their ability to procure attractive women for him and to otherwise feed his ego. It notes that he was "only concerned with his personal amusement" and left the government of his domain in the hands of his servants.  

 

He seems to have been regarded with some distaste by many of his peers, and indeed seen as a hothead. In the [[Dokai Koshuki]], a report prepared by agents of Shogun [[Tokugawa Tsunayoshi]] concerning the lives and behavior of daimyo (and prepared long before the assault in the castle), Asano comes off looking like a fop. While the report compliments him on his intelligence and strict punishment of offences within his domain, it derides him for "sexual proligacy". It also notes that he promoted and rewarded retainers based on their ability to procure attractive women for him and to otherwise feed his ego. It notes that he was "only concerned with his personal amusement" and left the government of his domain in the hands of his servants.  

The report calls his retainers ([[Oishi Kuranosuke]] being the prime target) to task for the poor job they had done and brands them as disloyal for not having trained Asano properly. Asano is noted for possessing neither literary nor military skills. It appears that the chief retainers of the Asano feared losing their positions of authority within the clan and did their best to ensure Asano occupied himself primarily by indulging his libido (leaving the direct control of the clan to them).  

The report calls his retainers ([[Oishi Kuranosuke]] being the prime target) to task for the poor job they had done and brands them as disloyal for not having trained Asano properly. Asano is noted for possessing neither literary nor military skills. It appears that the chief retainers of the Asano feared losing their positions of authority within the clan and did their best to ensure Asano occupied himself primarily by indulging his libido (leaving the direct control of the clan to them).