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My Amex Blue Cash Everyday Card is my go to accessory. When I shop I can earn 3% cash back on US online retail purchases. Try on the Blue Cash Everyday Card. Learn more@americanexpress.com Explore BCE terms and cash Back Cap apply. It's just after midnight on December 14, 1702 in in Edo, the capital of Japan, 25 year old Hazama Mitsuroki creeps through the moonlit courtyard of a grand mansion, his sword raised high. Blood drips from the steel blade, staining the white snow at his feet. Almost two years ago, Hazama's master was forced to kill himself for drawing a weapon in the Imperial court. But the man his master attacked escaped punishment for his part in the dispute. So Hazama and 46 fellow samurai have come to Edo to take revenge. But their target has fled his private quarters and the warriors are now searching a sprawling estate for him. On the other side of the courtyard, Hazama spots a small wooden shed. He signals to two other samurai at his side and moves quietly toward it. Hazama grips the shed's small handle and then pulls the door open. Two white robed guards emerge from the darkness, swords raised. Hazama and his companions step back, adopting defensive stances, their own blades ready. It's three against two. There's no need to rush, so instead Hazama waits for the enemy to make the first move. One of the men lunges forward. Hazama parries and throws him off balance. Then, in one fluid motion, he swivels, slices his sword across the man's back, dropping him to the snowy ground. Turning with his blade ready, Hazama sees that the second guard has already been cut down by his companions. With the two men dead, Hazama peers into the shed and sees an old man cowering behind a stack of crates. In the dim light, his face is hard to make out, so Hazama drags him into the courtyard. The moonlight reveals a distinctive scar across the man's cheek. It's Kira Yoshihisa, the man they've come here to kill. Within minutes, Kira Yoshihisa is dead. His severed head is then paraded through the streets of Edo in grim celebration. But the samurai's quest for vengeance will claim more victims than Kira alone, because all but one of the 47 warriors who raided his mansion will be ordered to forfeit their own lives as well. On February 4, 1703 I'm still putting the finishing touches on my live show. I've got about 10 days left before we begin rehearsals and it's kind of stressful, but the reason is I'm packing this show with all sorts of entertainment. There's history, of course, but also drama, music, maps, even time series population charts. And I know you love a good data visualization. Speaking of visualizations, imagine this. The perfect seat, dead center in the theater, not too close and not too far from stage. Well, that one's been sold already. Tickets are going fast for the Dallas show, so buy yours today. And to be the first to know when we announce new dates, go to historydailylive.com to register for details. That's historydailylive.com History Daily is sponsored by Quince. The difference between stuffing a closet and building a wardrobe is all about pieces that work together and hold up over time. That's what Quince does best. Premium materials, thought, design, and everyday staples that feel easy to wear and easy to rely on even as the weather shifts. And boy, can the weather shift. Here in Dallas, we went from 50 to zero in just two days. So layers are important. Organic cotton sweaters, polos for every occasion, lighter jackets and thicker coats. Quince has them all, working directly with top factories and cutting out the middlemen. So you're not paying for brand markup, just quality clothing like the pieces we outfitted our daughter with. A new hoodie, some wide leg fleece pants, and even a bracelet that she's yet to take off. So refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to quints.com historydaily for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns. Now available in Canada too. That's Q-U-I-N-C-E.com historydaily free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.com historydaily are you really buying a car online on Autotrader right now?
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Really?
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At a playground?
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Yeah, really. Look at these listings from dealers.
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Wow, your search can really get that specific.
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Really?
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And you just put in your info and boom, Car's in your budget.
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Mom needs a second. Honey, you can really have it delivered. Really? Or I can pick it up at the dealership. One sec, sweetie. Mommy's buying a car.
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Mommy, I think your kid is walking up the slide.
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Kyle.
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Again?
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Really? Autotrader. Buy your car online? Really? If you're an H Vac technician and a call comes in, Grainger knows that you need a partner that helps you find the right product fast and hassle free. And you know that when the first problem of the day is a clanking blower motor, there's no need to break a sweat. With Grainger's easy to use website and product details, you're confident you'll soon have everything humming right along. Call 1-800-GRAINGER clickgrainger.com or just stop by Grainger. For the ones who get it done, Weight Watchers now offers access to affordable GLP1s. It works for members like I'm Haley and I've lost 100 pounds. Weight Watchers has everything I need from weight loss medications to nutrition support and help with my side effects. It's all in one place. Weight Watchers handles the insurance for you and offers affordable cash pay options. With our program, our members are losing more weight with expert nutrition and side effect support.
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From Noiser in Airship I'm Lindsey Graham and this is History D. History is made Every day on this podcast. Every day, we tell the true stories of the people and events that shaped our world. Today is February 4, 1703. The 47 Ronin it's just before midday on March 14, 1701 in Edo Castle, Japan, nearly two years before the death of Kira Yoshihisa, 34 year old Asano Naganori hurries down a grand wood lined hallway. Sunlight filters through translucent paper walls, bathing his green jacket in a warm golden glow. Though Asano despises traditional court attire, today he has no choice but to wear it. He's been summoned to the capital, Edo for an annual ceremony, a ritual exchange of gifts between feudal lords like himself and representatives of the Emperor. But Asano knows that the Emperor isn't the one he needs to impress. Although the Emperor is Japan's nominal leader, real power lies with the Shogun, the supreme military commander and day to day ruler of the nation. As the Lords of Ako in southern Japan, Asano's family has served under the Shoguns for generations, but Asano himself has earned a reputation at court for his Temper, impatience and his open disdain of lavish ceremonies. To him, honor is forged on the battlefield, not in the stifling rituals of the Imperial court. Still, there are some formalities even he can't avoid. Rounding a corner, Asano spots an anxious looking official. He's eager that the ceremony go off without a hitch, so he quickly outlines what's going to happen. Asano will be ushered before the Shogun. Ritual greetings will be exchanged, and then he'll be dismissed. The official continues speaking, but Asano's attention drifts and he barely notices a side door slide open beside him. A sharp clearing of the throat snaps him back to attention. He spins around to see Kira Yoshihisa, the 60 year old master of ceremonies at the Japanese court. These two men don't get along. Kira takes every opportunity to belittle the younger Asano for his lack of sophistication and manners, while Asano believes Kira is dishonorable and corrupt. Eager to avoid any conversation, Asano nods stiffly and turns back to the official who's been briefing him on the upcoming ceremony. Akira takes offense at that. As he passes, he mutters a cutting insult, deriding Asano's entire family as little more than peasants. For Asano, this is a step too far. Kira has insulted him in front of a witness, and now he must answer for it. Asano draws his dagger and lunges forward, slashing at Kira's back. Shocked, Kira stumbles before regaining his footing. He whirls around, his face drained of color. But Asano isn't done yet. He swings the blade again, slicing Kira's face. Kira collapses to the floor, blood dripping from his cheek. Cries from the court official. Bring guards running. Only then does Asano realize the gravity of what he's done. Drawing a weapon on palace grounds is a capital offense, punishable by death. Asano has broken Imperial protocol, shamed the Shogun and dishonored his family. Breathing heavily, he surrenders his weapon to the guards without resistance and allows himself to be led away. He knows what will happen come next. Just hours later, Asano is told that he must commit seppuku, a form of ritual suicide by disembowelment. But his punishment won't end there. His lands in southern Japan will be confiscated. His family will be left destitute and his retainers will be stripped of their positions and reduced to ronin or masterless samurai. There is no appeal, and Asano can do nothing but accept the judgment in silence. Soon after he's led outside the palace to a small dais in a courtyard where official witnesses are waiting. Wearing ceremonial robes, Asano kneels beneath a black pine tree. The wind gently blows through its branches. As the ritual begins, he opens up his robes, exposing his upper body. From a small stand, he takes a nine inch dagger and positions the point against his abdomen. Beside him, an executioner raises his sword. And once Asano has plunged the knife into his own belly, this man decapitates him to ensure Asano doesn't suffer. The next day, news of Asano's death reaches his home in Ako. His samurais are stunned. Their lord is gone, and now they are masterless. Their future is uncertain. But rather than blame their misfortune on Asano and his quick temper, they will focus their anger on the man they believe provoked him, the arrogant master of ceremonies, Kira Yoshihisa. And soon they will begin plotting their revenge. History Daily is sponsored by Quince the difference between stuffing a closet and building a wardrobe is all about pieces that work together and hold up over time. That's what Quince does best. Premium materials, thoughtful design, and everyday staples that feel easy to wear and easy to rely on even as the weather shifts. And boy, can the weather shift. Here in Dallas, we went from 50 to zero in just two days, so layers are important. Organic cotton sweaters, polos for every occasion, lighter jackets and thicker coats. Quince has them all, working directly with top factories and cutting out the middlemen. So you're not paying for brand markup, just quality clothing like the pieces we outfitted our daughter with. A new hoodie, some wide leg, fleece pants, and even a bracelet that she's yet to take off. So refresh your wardrobe with quince. Go to quinte.comhistorydaily for free shipping on your order and three 365 day returns now available in Canada too. That's Q u I n c-e.comhistorydaily free shipping and 365 day returns quince.comhistorydaily if.
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You'Re an H vac technician and a call comes in, Grainger knows that you need a partner that helps you find the right product fast and hassle free. And you know that when the first problem of the day is a clanking blower motor, there's no need to break a sweat. With Grainger's easy to use website and product details, you're confident you'll soon have everything humming right along. Call 1-800-GRAINGER Click grainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done.
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It's just so beautiful. Oh yeah, nice. The onion. Get a commercial auto insurance quote today@geico.com and see how much you could save. It feels good to Geico. This is the story of the One as the purchasing manager at a manufacturing plant, she knows the only thing more important than having the right safety gear is having it there when you need it. That's why she partners with Grainger for auto reordering, so her team members can count on her to have cut resistant gloves on hand and each shift can run safely and efficiently. Call 1-800-GRAINGER click granger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done. It's midnight on December 14, 1702, in Edo, Japan. Almost two years after Asano Naganori committed seppuku outside Kira Yoshihisa's mansion, 43 year old Oishi Yoshio signals his men to divide into two groups. Snow crunches softly beneath their boots as they move into position. When no one speaks, their dark armor blends into the shadows. There's no sign that anyone has noticed their approach, and Ishi intends to keep it that way. Until Asano's death, Oishi was his most trusted lieutenant. And when news of Asano's downfall reached Oishi, he formally petitioned for leniency on his master's family. But the Shogun refused to install Asano's adopted son as his successor. And that left Oishi with no choice but to surrender the family's lands to the Shogun's forces. This meant that Oishi and the other samurai who had served Asano did not get the chance to serve a new master and instead seem doomed to live out their days in disgrace as ronin. Oishi quickly reached a grim conclusion. There was only one way to restore their honor. They must avenge Asano's death by killing Kira Yoshihisa. So over the next few months, oishi quietly gathered 46 other former samurai and led them to Edo. There they waited, making homes across the city. They lived modest lives and spread rumors that they had accepted their fate. But it was all just a ruse to throw off any Suspicion about their plans. Now, at last, the time has come, and tonight Oishi and the other ronin will reclaim their honor or die in the attempt. As some other ronin hurry into the rear of the compound, Oishi helps raise two ladders against the mansion's gates. Four scouts quietly climb up and vanish over the top. A few moments later, the gates swing open. The ronin creep inside, and Oishi pauses to close the gates behind them. There can be no easy escape for their target tonight. With his plan finally in motion, Oishi removes a drum from his back. He strikes it hard, the beat echoing through the silent night. At this signal, the ronin surge forward, smashing through the mansion's doors. They tear open sliding partitions, sweeping every room, shouting for Kira to reveal himself. Terrified servants cower in corners. Kira's white robed guards draw their swords and try to fight back. But they've been caught unprepared and are swiftly cut down. Eventually, Oishi reaches Kira's private quarters and throws open the doors. But the room is empty. He crouches and places his palm on the bedding. It's still warm, so Kira can't have gone far. Oishi orders his men to spread out and search for an old man with a scar on his face. Minutes later, a sharp whistle pierces the air from the courtyard. Oishi runs across the snow to find three ronin standing over the bodies of two slain guards, but kneeling between them, trembling in thin robes, and is a pale old man. Oishi raises a lantern and holds it close. The light reveals a deep scar carved across the man's cheek. It's Kira. Yoshihisa. Oishi takes a breath to settle himself. Then he kneels in the snow until he's eye to eye with his enemy. He explains that they are here to avenge their master, whose death Kira was responsible for. But he is prepared to allow Kira to die with honor. Oishi presents the same dagger Asano used to kill himself and invites Kira to do the same. But Kira only sneers, refusing to take orders from men. He calls dishonored ronin. Shaking his head at the old man's intransigence, Oishi stands and draws his sword. Realizing that escape is impossible, Kira lowers his head. Ishi then swings his blade. With a single stroke, Kira's head drops into the snow, his frail body crumpling to the ground beside it. At last, Asano Naganori is avenged. As dawn breaks, the 47 Ronin carry Kira's head through the city of Edo. But despite the early hour. The streets are far from quiet. Word of the attack has already spread. Kira was not a popular man, and many of Ito's citizens cheer as the ronin pass by brandishing his head. Then, just outside the city, the ronin reach Sengakuji Temple. There they place their gruesome trophy on the tomb of their dead master. Oishi then sends one of the younger ronin to Asano's widow, Inako, to inform her of the success of their mission. From the temple grounds, Oishi gazes out over the city's snow covered rooftops and exhales slowly. Unlike the messenger, he knows he will never return to his home again. The south the Shogun will not forgive what they've done today. All that remains for the ronin is to wait for the authorities to find them and punish them, and hope that they will be granted the same final honor as their master. History Daily is sponsored by Quince. The difference between stuffing a closet and building a wardrobe is all about pieces that work together and hold up over time. That's what Quince does best. Premium materials, thoughtful design, and everyday staples that feel easy to wear and easy to rely on even as the weather shifts. And boy, can the weather shift. Here in Dallas, we went from 50 to zero in just two days, so layers are important. Organic cotton sweaters, Polos for every occasion, lighter jackets and thicker coats. Quince has them all, working directly with top factories and cutting out the middlemen. So you're not paying for brand markup, just quality clothing like the pieces we outfitted our daughter with. A new hoodie, some wide leg, fleece pants, and even a bracelet that she's yet to take off. So refresh your wardrobe with Quint's. Go to Quint's.comhistorydaily for free shipping on your order. And 365 day returns now available in Canada too. That's Q-U-I-N-C-E.comhistorydaily free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.comhistorydaily. It's February 4, 1703, at Edo Castle, Japan. A month after the 47 Ronan killed Kira. Yoshihisa, the 57 year old Shogun of Japan, summons a counselor to his great hall. Beneath towering wooden beams and gleaming golden arches, this man bows and delivers his report. Oishi Yoshio, the leader of the ronin, has just carried out his sentence and committed seppuku. The Shogun nods his head in acknowledgment. Reaching the decision to condemn the ronin was not easy. All across Edo, many commoners openly praised the ronin for avenging their master. But at court, Kira's allies argued just as fiercely that the nighttime raid was lawless violence, not honorable conduct. The shogun weighed the arguments carefully. The ronin broke imperial law, and punishment was unavoidable. Yet condemning them as ordinary criminals would have undermined the code that sustained samurai rule. In the end, the shogun chose a middle path. By ordering the ronin to commit seppuku, he upheld the law while granting them an honorable death, one that satisfied tradition, political necessity, and public sentiment. And now the matter is settled. All the ronin are dead except one. The man who carried word of the mission's success to Asano's widow has been spared. Because of his young age and low rank, the shogun has granted him a pardon. And by the time this last ronin dies four decades later, the story of his comrades will be famous all across Japan. In the years that follow, their tale of honor and sacrifice will be retold on stage again and again. But even in the modern world, this story will find an eager audience, with dozens of television shows and movies bringing the dramatic events to new generations long after the deaths of all but one of the Ronin on February 4, 1703. Next on History Daily, February 5, 1985. The mayors of Rome and Carthage sign a treaty of friendship, officially ending the third Punic War after more than 2,000 years. From Noiser and Airship, this is History Daily. Hosted, edited and executive produced by me, Lindsey Graham. Audio editing by Mohamed Shazi Sound design by Molly Bach Music by Thrum. This episode is written and researched by Angus Gavin McClark. Edited by Scott Reeves. Managing producer, Emily Burke. Executive producers are William Simpson for Airship and Pascal Hughes for Noiser.