Otomo Jikai

Reju no Otomo Jikai was the shugo, or minor daimyō, at Closed Shell Castle. Reju Ume was his nieces and heir. Sins of Regret, p. 14 Reju Jinzaburō was his yōjimbō. Sins of Regret, p. 18
== Disgraced ==
Jikai was fascinated by gaijin culture. Sins of Regret, p. 2 He was a celebrated poet who once lived in Otosan Uchi, taking promising youths under his wing and teaching them composition. One day a young student called Daidoji Eisaku was knocked down by a horse, and trampled his right hand. The child's father, Daidoji Gombei, hold Jikai accountable for the accident. Jikai's wife, Seppun Azusa, stepped forward to defend him from Gombei's ensuing challenge, who deliberately injured her by slicing the nerves in one wrist, rendering her right hand useless. Jikai and Azusa were disgraced, receiving merciful sentences, sent away to rule an insignificant tract of land. Jikai became bitter, lonely, and ashamed of his position and his past. Sins of Regret, p. 14 Jikai was unaware that his rival Miya Shinako was responsible for Jikai's downfall. She had ordered a servant to startle the horses on that day his student was injured, but her intent was to injure Jikai so he would be unable to compete in the poetry contest they had arranged. Sins of Regret, p. 15
== Station ==
The post of daimyō at Closed Shell Castle had been left unfilled for a number of years, the lands managed by a steward until Reju Jikai moved into the castle with his samurai. He was a harsh master who overtaxed the villagers. He had no sympathy for their plight, and his magistrate's demands might drive them to starvation—or to take drastic measures. Path of Waves, p. 123 Jikai had been sent to Closed Shell Castle as punishment. The daimyō above him, Otomo Itsuki, had little sympathy for Jikai. Sins of Regret, p. 12 The daimyō had few pleasures left, but takagari with his favorite falcon, Toppi, still brought him some joy. Sins of Regret, p. 24
=== Crops Ruined ===
When the crops of the the castle's village, Twin Blessings Village, were ruined, villagers believed the local kami had been offended by Jikai's behavior. His magistrate demonstrated no mercy when the villagers were unable to pay the annual rice tax. Jikai ordered his samurai to destroy the local way station, and the rōnin Rin took his orders a step further, trapping everyone inside the main building and burned them alive. A group of samurai went to the castle and spoke on their behalf. They eventually uncovered Otomo Nobu, the steward, who had been working toward overthrowing Jikai, gradually turning both samurai and peasants against him. Sins of Regret, pp. 2, 8
== See also ==
* Reju Jikai/Meta
Reju Jikai