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Fuwa Kazuemon was born 1670 and died by [[seppuku]] in February 1703. His history is unique among the 47 Ako ronin who avenged the death of their lord, [[Asano Nagayori|Asano Takumi-no-Kami Nagayori]].  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 [[seppuku]] in February 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, they are unclear.  The most common speculation given out by sources are that Fuwa desired to test a new sword. So he went to one of the graveyards and dug up a freshly-buried corpse and cut it to pieces.  Asano Naganori dismissed him because this action was an offense to the living relatives of the person whose body had been buried and then mutilated.   

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, they are unclear.  The most common speculation given out by sources are that Fuwa desired to test a new sword. So he went to one of the graveyards and dug up a freshly-buried corpse and cut it to pieces.  Asano Naganori dismissed him because this action was an offense to the living relatives of the person whose body had been buried and then mutilated.   

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.   

One can only speculate about the options open to a dismissed ronin during this time.  One of the options would have been engaging in criminal activities, becoming a highwayman or being hired by a [[yakuza]] gang as a bodyguard.  However, for a man forbidden to take service under a different lord, his best hope would most likely have been to attempt to win reinstatement by his original clan lord.  To serve this motive, it would be unlikely that Fuwa would have engaged in outlaw pursuits.  Instead, he would more likely have strived to live an upright life that would not have reflected negatively upon his former lord’s reputation.   

One can only speculate about the options open to a dismissed ronin during this time.  One of the options would have been engaging in criminal activities, becoming a highwayman or being hired by a [[yakuza]] gang as a bodyguard.  However, for a man forbidden to take service under a different lord, his best hope would most likely have been to attempt to win reinstatement by his original clan lord.  To serve this motive, it would be unlikely that Fuwa would have engaged in outlaw pursuits.  Instead, he would more likely have strived to live an upright life that would not have reflected negatively upon his former lord’s reputation.   

There were few options open to law-abiding ronin in late 17th century Tokugawa Japan.  Most ronin lived in poverty. They were allowed to continue to bear a family name and wear the distinctive two swords that they wore when they were clan samurai. However, they effectively existed outside of the official class structure (samurai, farmers, artisans, merchants).  Ronin were known to teach in terakoya (neighborhood schools for commoner’s children).  Likewise, they were known to offer martial arts lessons to commoners; it is strongly speculated that the 17th century swordsman Miyamoto Musashi, who spent most of his life as a ronin, earned some of his keep that way .  Sometimes, as depicted in some chambara/jidai-geki films, ronin would engage in piecework handicrafts, fashioning fans, umbrellas, inkbrushes, insect cages, women’s hair combs and the like, selling their handcrafted wares to wholesalers; these were occupations also performed by low-ranking clan samurai needing extra earnings to survive.  A ronin could have given up any chance of samurai employment or reinstatement by renouncing his Buke status and become either a farmer, artisan, or merchant; this option would likely become feasible only if he had connections with well-established commoner families to acquire land or learn a trade.   

There were few options open to law-abiding ronin in late 17th century [[Edo Period|Tokugawa Japan]].  Most ronin lived in poverty. They were allowed to continue to bear a family name and wear the distinctive two swords that they wore when they were clan [[samurai]]. However, they effectively existed outside of the official class structure (samurai, farmers, artisans, merchants).  Ronin were known to teach in [[terakoya]] (neighborhood schools for commoner’s children).  Likewise, they were known to offer martial arts lessons to commoners; it is strongly speculated that the 17th century swordsman [[Miyamoto Musashi]], who spent most of his life as a ronin, earned some of his keep that way .  Sometimes, as depicted in some chambara/jidai-geki films, ronin would engage in piecework handicrafts, fashioning fans, umbrellas, inkbrushes, insect cages, women’s hair combs and the like, selling their handcrafted wares to wholesalers; these were occupations also performed by low-ranking clan samurai needing extra earnings to survive.  A ronin could have given up any chance of samurai employment or reinstatement by renouncing his Buke status and become either a farmer, artisan, or merchant; this option would likely become feasible only if he had connections with well-established commoner families to acquire land or learn a trade.   

   

   

Though Fuwa was known to be a skillful swordsman, there are no records that indicate that he had fought in duels, had commited crimes, or had killed anyone.  No records exist that indicated that Fuwa renounced his Buke status and became a commoner.  In order to win his reinstatement, one can only speculate that, whatever activities that Fuwa engaged in to make a living, he lived a spare, law-abiding life during this time.     

Though Fuwa was known to be a skillful swordsman, there are no records that indicate that he had fought in duels, had commited crimes, or had killed anyone.  No records exist that indicated that Fuwa renounced his Buke status and became a commoner.  In order to win his reinstatement, one can only speculate that, whatever activities that Fuwa engaged in to make a living, he lived a spare, law-abiding life during this time.