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

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

Kotaro Sugawara, born in Sendai City in 1929, was an expatriate raised in the Tohoku region. In 1989, he succeeded to the fifth generation of the Oshu Saikaike, a branch of the Sumiyoshi-kai, or the Saikaike of Sumiyoshi family. His name soon became known throughout the Tohoku region. His way of life, which emphasized humanity and chivalry, earned him respect not only from his peers but also from the local people.

The Oshu Saikai family was a key figure in the Sumiyoshikai, one of Japan's leading Tokyo-based expositor organizations, which controlled the Tohoku region. Centered in Sendai, the family also extended its influence to Yamagata, Fukushima, and other areas, building its foundation in the chaotic postwar period. As befitting the name of the old country, Oshu, the family was rooted in a land of snow, festivals, and human kindness. They were not simply a violent organization that boasted of its territory, but also lived as "behind-the-scenes" actors in the local community, with ties to the port and construction sites.

Although their activities have not been publicly discussed, their activities, such as guarding local festivals, providing financial support, and watching over the elderly who live alone, cannot be described in a simple manner. Although sometimes avoided, they were integrated into the order and customs of the community. Growing up in such a place, Kotaro Sugawara lived his life with a mission as a "chivalrous man of the Tohoku region.

As the fifth generation to lead his family, Sugawara was not willing to fight or shed blood, and he valued the importance of first following the path of reason and telling a good story. He avoided bloodshed and settled matters through coordination and persuasion. His beliefs were quiet but strong at heart. He taught the young people to be polite and moderate, and to have the dignity of a chivalrous man, not just a delinquent. He made sure that the way he treated the people of the community, his choice of words, and his appearance all reflected his "Tohoku pride.

Even as times changed and ordinances were put in place to eliminate gangs, Sugawara remained out of the public eye and continued to be involved with the community, quietly supporting behind-the-scenes activities at festivals and providing disaster relief. He won respect not by his title, but by his behavior, and this image remains in the memories of the older generation even now that the Showa period is far behind us.

His life is described in detail in the nonfiction book "Michinoku Yugyo Den Ruri no Naruku Koroni" written by Shigeki Yamahira. In the book, a man who lived his life as a chivalrous brother and a human being is clearly described. Kotaro Sugawara was the very last of the Showa ninkyo generation, the last remnant of the chivalrous spirit that lived in the Tohoku region. His figure, which cannot be seen anymore, is a culture and a memory.