December 14th: Today in 1702 the 47 Ronin, former Samurai servants of disgraced lord, took their revenge on the the Samurai lord who had caused their master’s disgrace and death. They had waited for more than a year to allow the Lord to let his guard down then assaulted his home in carefully planned attack. They found him hiding and offered to allow him to kill himself as one of his rank was supposed to do in the circumstance. He refused and was held down and killed. After taking the head to the grave of their master the 47 sent the youngest of them to their former home to let the family know that revenge had been taken, then turned themselves in. Their methods were questioned but by most they were considered heroes, rather than treat them as common murderers they were allowed to kill themselves except the youngest who was pardoned when he returned from his errand.

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