- 2011-02-24 (木) 9:30
- History of Tokyo | Life in Tokyo

Sengakuji Temple (泉岳寺) is located in Takanawa, which is near Shinagawa.
Sengakuji was founded in 1612 by Monan Sokan (門庵宗関), on the command of the Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu (徳川家康). After the first temple was burnt down in 1641, it was rebuilted in the present location.
Sengakuji is famous for the episode of the 47 Samurai of Ako (赤穂四十七士).
In the 18th century, Asano Naganori (浅野長矩), the Daimyo (大名, feudal lord) of Ako (赤穂) was forced to Seppuku (切腹, suicide, the word ‘Harakiri’ may be better known), due to the plot of Kira Yoshinaka (吉良義央), Asano’s superior. 47 of Asano’s men killed Kira for revenge. For committing the crime of murder, the 47 Samurais were sentenced to Seppuku. The graves of Asano and the 47 Samurais are in Sengakuji.
This true story gained big popularity, matched to the Japanese ideal of loyalty, sacrifice, persistence, and honor. Dramatized stories were made, and were out on theaters. “Chushingura (忠臣蔵)”, the fiction story of the Ako Samurais, is still a famous play of Kabuki (歌舞伎).

At Sengakuji, there is a memorial hall of Ako Samurais, where items connected to Ako Samurais are exhibited. Also, Gishisai (義士祭, festival for Ako Samurais) is held every December 13th and 14th.
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