ShoNuff ShoGun, Chapter VI

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Part the sixth: (Glossary)

Anjin-san's Daring Coup

As Chapter V drew to a close, Toranaga, clad only in his shorts fled the mounting wrath of the crowd, leaving Anjin-san as the senior male present of those that had gathered to watch the mighty Shogun's quite unexpected spontaneous and totally ridiculous song-and-dance routine.

... our tale sallies forth once again ...

Now, suddenly realizing that he was both the HMFIC and head hancho, Anjin-san, recalling the Latin phrase carpe diem from his boyhood days at Eton, did indeed seize the day declaring to the now unruly mob that he was taking over the place lock, stock, and barrel.

That done, he immediately demoted Toranaga to Junior Hetsurau, placed him under house arrest, and sent him straight to his room without any dinner.

Later on decided the Anjin, after being booked the former aristocrat would be issued a set of prison oranges then confined to the general population of the cold and wet, dark, squalid, rat-infested dungeons which lay far far faaaaar beneath the great halls of Nihon castle.

As additional punishment for his cruel, haughty, arrogant attitude, disrespect to the Samurai tradition, his heritage, revered ancestors, the Japanese way and Code of the West, the Anjin also ordered that Toranaga be placed on a strict and limited diet, subjecting him to an unvarying menu of whale meat, daikon pickle, miso soup, ramen and hot tea for a period of up to, but not less than 30 days.

Not altogether heartless, the Anjin grudgingly conceded the former Shogun a single bowl of rice along with limited use of both soy sauce and wasabi at each meal... BUT ...

There were to be NO bacon double-cheeseburgers, fries, or diet cola for Toranaga - none at ALL!

Then to begin a weaning period from his rude, crude, vulgar, archaic, primitive and uncouth table manners, the one-time Lord was to be denied the use of chopsticks when taking his meals.  Instead, a single spoon, fork, and dull butter knife would be provided.

Although ostensibly adding insult to injury, Anjin-san firmly believed that this was a very necessary first step towards Toranaga's ultimate rehabilitation.

"Was it enough?" he wondered. Not entirely convinced that these penalties alone would suffice, the Anjin further directed guards to deny Toranaga his afternoon snack of hot buttered popcorn.

No hot buttered popcorn for Toranaga - no popcorn of any kind
at ALL!! .the kitchen was firmly instructed.

Harsh? - Most certainly! - even bordering on cruel-and-unusual punishment; but both appropriate, and quite necessary ... mused Anjin-sama, now Shogun, Master and new High Lord of The Canton sagely to himself ...

At the end of the prescribed disciplinary period of restricted fare,
3o days or before whichever came last, he would review Toranaga's countless vile and loathsome transgressions, determine if he had made the necessary attitude adjustments, and at that time decide upon his ultimate fate.

Yes! - That, should do it up quite nicely!! Anjin-san said out-loud.

Slapping his knee smartly, he rose, satisfied at last with the judgment administered to Toranaga.

Starvation rations, a long stretch in a cold dungeon cell without his Ipod, and loss of privileges to the tennis courts should teach Toranaga proper respect for the superiority of gaijin cuisine as well as an appreciation for hauté réchauffe... reasoned the Anjin.

When he is denied the vital necessities essential to life itself, he'll come around to doing things the proper way in short order and
like it, sure as Bob's-your-Uncle.

Having solved the immediate problem of the ex-Shogun, Anjin-san now turned his full attention to his new subjects and their possible reactions to his daring coup d'état.

The haunting all-invasive question, as ever, pervaded his thoughts;

Would - the people accept him as their Lord, Liege, and Master?

What to DO...

... to be continued ...

Click here and find out Anjin-san's brilliant
strategy to win the hearts of the people in

Chapter VII of
 ShoNuff ShoGun