A Shadow Standing at the End of the Snow--Giichi Sato, Akita Don (1928-2002)

A Shadow Standing at the End of the Snow--Giichi Sato, Akita Don (1928-2002)

In the frozen north, there was a man who was always a man of his word. He was Giichi Sato, president of the Sato Kai, an affiliate of the Kyokuto Kai. He was born in Goshogawara City, Aomori Prefecture, and at the age of 17, he entered the world of the Kyokudo, where he was expected by Matsugoro Tanihata of the Kyokuto Sekiguchi family to become a member. He established the Sato Kai, which bears his name, and established a firm foothold from Tohoku to Hokkaido.

From the 1980s to the 1990s, he was exposed to a storm of conflict. The first and second Aomori wars with the Ume family of the Inagawa-kai, the "Michinoku War" with the Hane clan of the Yamaguchigumi V, and even internal conflicts - all were tests for him. However, Sato, hating unnecessary bloodshed, quietly but steadfastly carried on his path.

In his later years, when he was diagnosed with terminal cancer, he was unfazed and refused medical treatment. The day before his death, he shaved his beard, dunked himself in hot water, and quietly said, "I did what I had to do as a human being. In 2002, at the age of 74, he passed away as if the snow had stopped falling.

At an old tavern in the port town, there are still people who quietly mention his name. Giichi Sato was the last chivalrous man in the snow country.