Chivalrous men in Ruri-no-kuni: Memories of Kotaro Sugawara and the Oshu Saikai Family (1929-1999)

Chivalrous men in Ruri-no-kuni: Memories of Kotaro Sugawara and the Oshu Saikai Family (1929-1999)

Born in Sendai, Kotaro Sugawara was the last of the chivalrous men nurtured in the Tohoku region, born in 1929. He was a man of honor and integrity, and his attitude of using words rather than blood was regarded as outdated, but he still won the respect of the people.

The Oshu Saikai Family was a prominent local gang rooted in postwar Sendai, and its power extended over a wide area, including Yamagata and Fukushima. The Oshu Saikai were not just a violent organization, but were involved in many aspects of the local community, including ports, construction, and local festivals, and were the face of the local community. Although they were sometimes avoided, the people accepted them as a "necessary back order.

The fifth generation Sugawara instilled a sense of civility in the younger generation and quietly continued to be involved in festivals and disaster relief efforts. Even in this era of violent exclusion, the presence of an "invisible pillar" like Sugawara is deeply etched in the memory of the local community. A lineage of chivalry that has now disappeared certainly existed here.