Talk:Date Sōdō

Shibata Geki killed Harada Kai

For your information: This story was the basis for Meiboku Sendai Hagi, one of the most famous plays in Japanese history.

My grandparents family are direct descendants of the Shibata Family, leaders of the Date clan. My grandmother's ancestor was Shibata Geki, the highest administrator ("Bugyo") in the Date Clan. During interrogation, Harada Kai fled along with another man. None of those being questioned had been disarmed and carried wakizashi. Harada had a mental break down and fled the room. He was chased by Shibata Geki and killed. Shibata confronted the men by himself (It was 3 against 1, if i remember correctly) and later died from wounds he suffered during the sword confrontation.

Other information passed down in our family (This is oral history and I have no written documentation): Harada Kai attempted to poison the infant heir Tsunemura, but was unsuccessful according to official accounts.

By unofficial accounts, he succeeded, but the death was covered up. Shibata reported the matter to the Tokugawa's inspector general and covered hundreds of miles on the urgent trip. He secured a replacement infant from the House of Mito (Tokugawa) and replaced the dead infant so that no one would notice. This story was passed down in our family by people who were actually present at the event. in the 1600's. For this reason, Shibata was seen as a heroic figure. The main family line of Shibata continued to rule the Date Clan in the hereditary position until the Meiji Restoration.