Asano Naganori
The story tells of a group of samurai who were left leaderless after their "daimyō" (feudal lord) Asano Naganori was compelled to perform "seppuku" (ritual suicide) for assaulting a court official named Kira Yoshinaka, whose title was "Kōzuke no suke". After waiting and planning for a year, the "rōnin" avenged their master's honor by killing Kira. They were then obliged to commit "seppuku" for the crime of murder. This true story was popularized in Japanese culture as emblematic of the loyalty, sacrifice, persistence, and honor that people should display in their daily lives. The popularity of the tale grew during the Meiji era, during which Japan underwent rapid modernization, and the legend became entrenched within discourses of national heritage and identity.