The Kunai-Taifu was a real person. “Kunai-Taifu” was the title of the 2nd in command to the Kunai-Kyo (the head of the Imperial Household). In The Accidental Samurai, the Kunai-Taifu works closely with the Kunai-Kyo, and is exceptionally diligent in doing his job. He is also a person of deep conscience in the novel. The Kunai-Taifu’s depth of conscience is best revealed in Chapter Thirteen, if you compare his initial reaction to the the guard who attempted to assassinate the Kunai-Kyo, and his reaction once the guard was physically restrained and threatened with torture if he did not reveal who sent him.

There are no known paintings of Emperor Murakami’s Kunai-Taifu. The above image is a representation of a Heian era nobleman. Despite a good deal of research I was unable to determine the proper name of Emperor Murakami’s Kunai-Taifu. Like the Kunai-Kyo, he is a likeable and complex person, who is quite serious about his duties, so as I did with Kunai-Kyo I used his title as his name in the book. This is also consistent with the way in which people in the court would have referred to him.

Kiryoku is the only character in the story that is partly fact and partly fiction. As you have probably realized by now, many of the characters in the story were real people (although as in any novel the real people may not have shared every trait depicted in the novel), and some are fictional. So why is Kiryoku part fact and part fiction?

The answer is fun and interesting, but also a bit complex. Here, I will give a basic answer. Anyone who wants more information on how I developed Kiryoku’s character should feel free to e-mail me. In The Accidental Samurai, Kiryoku is an important Abbott at Ninna-Ji. Ninna-Ji is a famous temple in Kyoto that still exists today (although it has been rebuilt several times after fires). Most Buddhist temples at that time, as many do today, had a Head Abbott and several other important Abbotts. This is important because by the time the events in The Accidental Samurai occurred, Ninna-Ji had been linked for some time to the throne. Retiring Emperors and other members of the Imperial Family had held the Head Abbott’s position since at least the time of Emperor Murakami’s grandfather. Thus, it is not surprising that the Temple was more favorable toward the Imperial Family than some other Temples might have been at that time.

In this way, Kiryoku’s character is probably quite similar to the important Abbotts at Ninna-Ji in the Tenth Century. Additionally, Ninna-Ji was linked to Kukai, an important Buddhist monk who studied in China and brought Shingon Esoteric Buddhism back to Japan in the early Ninth Century. The Accidental Samurai explains this, and the fact that the monks, including Kiryoku, spent a lot of time studying the Mandalas of the Two Realms: the Diamond Realm and the Womb Realm. This is part of the teachings of Kukai who taught that deep study and focus on the Mandalas would help people reach enlightenment.

So what is fictional about Kiryoku? First of all, his name. I was unable to find the names of high ranking Abbotts at Ninna-Ji around 964 (other than the Head Abbott, who would not likely have greeted Bar Asher when he first arrived at Ninna-Ji), so I needed to come up with a name that captured the character’s brilliant, humble, and brave nature. I struggled with this for some time until I realized that for such a character simplicity would be a compliment. Therefore, I chose 気力 (Kiryoku) which means energy and vitality.

Second, in The Accidental Samurai Kiryoku is linked to the Men of the Pear Chamber. It is unclear what relationship an important Abbott at Ninna-Ji would have had with the famous poets. Of course, it is possible there were connections there, but we do not know for sure.

Fujiwara no Akitada was a real person. He served as Emperor Murakami’s Udaijin (Minister of the Right) from 960 C.E. Prior to Akitada assuming that role, Fujiwara no Saneyori’s brother, Fujiwara no Morosuke held the role. When Morosuke died in 960, Akitada became Udaijin. Not a lot is known about Fujiwara no Akitada himself; although he was obviously a powerful member of the Fujiwara clan if he held the role of Udaijin. It is known, however, that some of his descendants are important figures in Japanese history.  The above picture is of a Heian era aristocrat. I was unable to find any pictures of Fujiwara no Akitada himself.

The Accidental Samurai is based on historical figures as well as fictional characters. Every week on Monday I will post the name of a character and readers can guess whether the character is an actual person who lived in the Tenth Century or a fictional character. Each Friday I will post the answer. This week’s character:

Fujiwara no Akitada

Minamoto no Mitsunaka was a real person. As depicted in The Accidental Samurai, Mitsunaka was loyal to a number of Fujiwara regents. While he profited a great deal from these connections, he was also loyal to most of the Emperors those regents served. He was an important Minamoto. The Minamoto were, as the book explains, relatives of the Emperor who were not close enough to be heirs to the throne and were given the honorary title, Minamoto. The Minamoto were broken into clans, or Genji, depending on what Emperor their clan descended from. Mitsunaka was a member of the powerful Seiwa Genji, who descended from Emperor Seiwa.

Several years after the events in The Accidental Samurai were set, Mitsunaka helped a Fujiwara regent force Emperor Kazan, Emperor Murakami’s grandson, to abdicate the throne so that the regent’s grandson could assume the throne. As in the novel, Mitsunaka had an estate in Tada, in Settsu province. It is not clear what his role in court politics was in 964, but we know that by 969 he was heavily involved with court politics and helped implicate Minamoto no Takaakira in a plot against the throne, which helped ingratiate him to Fujiwara power brokers.

Mitsunaka had three sons, one of whom, Minamoto no Yorimitsu, is a famous figure in Japanese folklore.

       The Accidental Samurai is based on historical figures as well as fictional characters. Every week on Monday I will post the name of a character and readers can guess whether the character is an actual person who lived in the Tenth Century or a fictional character. Each Friday I will post the answer. This week’s character:

Minamoto no Mitsunaka

Mechakucha no Kaze is a fictional character. He is one of the few characters with whose name I had some fun. In The Accidental Samurai, he is obviously what the Japanese refer to as Kiza (arrogant, pompous, and full of himself). The word Mechakucha has many meanings, but among them are:  absurdly, unreasonably, reckless and senseless. Kaze means wind. My intent with the name is a meaning akin to “extremely absurd wind.”

Kaze is a relatively minor character, but his arrogance and pettiness lead to results that tell us a lot about Bar Asher and that have important consequences for Bar Asher as the story progresses. Kaze causes the battle between the Minamoto who escort him and Bar Asher, and word of that battle eventually reaches the Emperor.