Yojimbo

Yojimbo was the Rokugani word for bodyguard. Yojimbo were generally bushi assigned to protect non-bushi members of the samurai caste, such as courtiers and shugenja, as well as important figures such as daimyo and generals. Legend of the Five Rings; Third Edition, p. 313 They fought defensively and rarely allowed themselves to be drawn deeply into any conflict; their only purpose was to keep their charge alive. Clan War: The Clans, p. 78
== History ==
One of the first reccorded yojimbo in history was Mirumoto, who became the yojimbo of the Kami Togashi. Around this time was also the founding of the Shiba Yojimbo school, which was inspired by the Kami Shiba kneeling before Isawa and pledging to protect the shugenja and his tribe.
=== Emerald Champions ===
The Emerald Champion was in theory the personal yojimbo of the Emperor, although other duties would sometimes keep the champion busy. The first Emerald Champion Kakita, won a tournament to hold the title. While the Emperor would traditionally have an Imperial Guard with several yojimbo, the Emerald Champion would be the first among any yojimbo.
== Duties ==
The main duties of yojimbo were to protect important members or allies who were not expected to always defend themselves. People such as courtiers and shugenja were most commonly not trained in the sword, and as such would require someone to protect them. In the case of duels of honor, a yojimbo could often be someones designated champion, although this was not necessarily always the case.
=== Failed Yojimbo ===
When a charge died under the protection of a yojimbo, the bodyguard usually atoned with seppuku, although reduction to ronin could happen if the bushi was grossly incompetent. Great Clans, p. 195
==Prestigious yojimbo school==
One of the most prestigious schools of yojimbo was that of the Shiba Yojimbo and the smaller Order of Chikai of the Phoenix Clan. Second to them would most likely be the Daidoji Yojimbo school of the Crane Clan.
=== Elite Guards ===
Every clan had a unit known as the elite guard, which served as guards and yojimbo to the most important members of the clan such as the Clan Champions or Daimyo.
* Bayushi Elite Guard
* Doji Elite Guard
* Ikoma Elite Guardian
* Matsu Elite Guard
* Shiba Elite Guard
=== Vassal families ===
Some smaller vassal families of the clans devoted their entire family to the duties of yojimbo. Notable among them was the Koshei family, vassals of the Tonbo family of the Dragonfly Clan.
== Yojimbo in clans ==
The place of a yojimbo was so important to the clans of Rokugan that each clan had at least one school dedicated to the purpose of protecting its less martial members.
Clan 	Name
Crab Clan 	
Crane Clan 	Daidoji Yojimbo
Dragon Clan 	
Lion Clan 	
Mantis Clan 	
Phoenix Clan 	Shiba Yojimbo
Scorpion Clan	Shosuro Yojimbo
Unicorn Clan 	
== See also ==
* Yojimbo/CW Meta
Category:Rokugani Language
Category:Culture