Daichi

**Tokunobu Daichi** is a character in the Netflix series, *Blue Eye Samurai*, who is voiced by Patrick Gallagher.

## Biography

Daichi is Akemi's father, he is a samurai lord in Kyoto who has risen from humble beginnings through battles, dedicated service to the Shogunate, and deals with other clans and merchants. He has presumably been appointed as administrator of Kyoto (hence occupying a castle there with his infant son, despite it being the Emperor's city) but also has a personal estate and land outside or near the city, where Akemi usually stays.

Not only is he imposing in body and temperament, Daichi is a man who has fought many battles, and has the scars to prove it. Quick to react in anger, but can be softened by his daughter, although he demands and expects to be obeyed.

## History/Synopsis

#### Episode 1

Daichi summons Akemi to his castle in Kyoto, where she finds him playing with her toddler half-brother and Daichi's heir, Tomoe. Daichi indulgently lets Tomoe make a mess of the lunch banquet in front of him, saying that he will make a great lord one day simply because he knows and seeks what he wants- unlike Akemi, who has displeased him simply by voicing her opinion on who she wants to marry. He states that her duty to their family is to build their clan powerful alliances by succeeding as a wife, and many wealthy lords are considering her hand. He paternalistically compares her to a pig that was fed too many sweets and had to be slaughtered before it could reach full size, blaming himself for being too 'indulgent' of her. When Akemi protests his suggestion of the wealthy, elderly and recently-widowed Lord Saito, he becomes angry, trashing the room until she acts deferrential again. Once she plays the role of innocent daughter and suggests she is merely frightened by a marriage far away from her father and home, Daichi softens, calling her "my dove" and considers marrying her to a promising samurai at the Shindo Dojo; while this samurai in question is not wealthy, Daichi respects him due to their similarly humble origins and subsequent rise in prestige. Having already been advised by his counselor Seki (at Akemi's urging) to consider Taigen for a possible match beforehand, Daichi finally agrees to the engagement.

#### Episode 2

With Akemi's engagement to Taigen marred by his shameful defeat against a mysterious samurai, Daiichi summons Akemi and Seki to his castle again to discuss matters with Lord Chiba, the Shogun's counselor.

#### Episode 3

Daichi comes across Akemi praying to the Gods inside their estate; she apparently has been for days. He tells her not to exhaust herself, saving her requests for when she *really* needs something, as they will leave for Edo in two days regardless of her feelings on the matter. He claims she is like her mother in that she talks back often, but her mother *did* know how to 'please' him, lamenting that she wasn't here to teach Akemi how to fulfill the role of a nobleman's wife. He lays a stack of ink paintings depicting "the twelve-and-twenty positions" of sexual intercourse next to her, suggesting she familiarize herself with them for her upcoming marriage (unaware that Akemi is no longer a virgin). Impatiently, he touches her shoulder and tells her she has to talk to him at *some* point- only to realize he isn't speaking to Akemi at all, but a maid wearing her robes and makeup. Enraged, Daichi summons Seki, demanding to know where she might have run off to, and sends samurai riders out along all the roads to search for his daughter.