Here's the story of that one time when five consorts cheated on the Emperor of Japan by engaging in orgies with low aristocrats and escaped execution. The meeting below took place some time in late September to early October of 1609 in Sunpu Castle.
“I am a bit high on my years. Forgive me, Iga^1 .” The retired lord, seated cross-legged on his raised platform, leaned forward. “What did you say the Mikado^2 wish to do?”
Itakura Katsushige, on seated on the lower floor, bent low. “Oh, Ōgosho^3 . The Mikado still wish to have all of them executed.”
“All of them?”
“Yes, Ōgosho. All of them.” Katsushige looked up. “He wants their heads displayed on pikes along the Sanjō river.”
The retired shogun frowned and bit his nails. “Even after reading my letter?”
“Yes, Ōgosho. The Mikado said he still have the authority to decide.”
“Then why did the Mikado ask for my input in the first place?” The retired lord stood up and walked forward. Katsushige frantically bent low. As low as he could. “What have you been doing in the capital^4?”
“Forgive me, Ōgosho. I have been busy carrying out the investigation of the situation to the best of my ability. I have never once forgotten my role as the Bakufu^5 ’s Deputy Administrator of the Capital.”
Katsushige could hear the great man pacing around him. He heard a sigh. “You are talented, Iga. You have been with me since my times in Mikawa*. That is the reason for your appointment.” Katsushige felt the retired lord’s heavy hands on his shoulder. “But you are not just to administer the capital. Your position also to make sure the Bakufu’s wishes are followed by the court. That is your main role.”
“My deepest apologizes, Ōgosho.” The weight on his shoulder lifted, and the Ōgosho walked back to his platform and sat back down.
“I can’t blame you too much. It is not easy dealing with the court. Especially since both Lord Nobunaga and the late Taikō^6 both paid the court so tribute. And respect.” The retired lord paused. “I suppose the Taikō didn’t pay much respect, did he?”
“No, Ōgosho.”
“Well I did. I gave the five regent families back their position. All to ensure the realm is controlled by the Tokugawa. I’ve always thought the court could be trouble. Their words carry too much weight.”
“Yes, Ōgosho.”
“How many of these criminals are there?”
“Five consorts and nine courtiers, Ōgosho.” “Nine? Was it not seven?”
“Two more have been found out as part of my investigations, Ōgosho. But they are but minor participants. They delivered messages between the consorts and courtiers.”
“Nine men and five women. All with important ties to the aristocracy. And the Mikado wants to execute all of them.” The retired lord shook his head and motioned to one of his attendants sat knelt in the corner. He quickly walked over and held out a piece of paper into which the retired lord spat into. The attendant quickly backed down. “Tell me, Iga. How did this scandal start.”
“Well, Ōgosho. Ever since Kuni of Izumo brought this new dance called Kabuki dance into the capital, it has been wildly popular.”
The retired lord nodded. “The Shogun^7 and Major General of the Right Date^8 both praised the priestess highly, though I heard word that the Mikado do not approve of this kind of vulguar entertainment. I myself prefer reading. But do continue.”
“All the courtiers, indeed everyone in the capital, jumped on the trend. The attended Kabuki performances whenever possible, and began copying the dancers. Among these was the courtier Inokuma. He was known to be good looking. Some even say he was the most handsome man in the land. And he began wearing his hair and sash in such outlandish way that people were comparing him to Hikaru Genji^9 and Ariwara no Narihara^10 . Everyone talked about him. Young and old, men and women, base and noble”
“Enough about the criminal’s looks, Iga.”
“Yes, Ōgosho. My apologies. The criminal Inokuma was good friend of the court dentist Kaneyasu. Kaneyasu’s sister is Consort Sanuki. Kaneyasu introduced the criminal to Sanuki, and she took a liking. They heard that the criminal Kazanin had illicit feelings for Consort Hirohashi, the daughter of Counselor Hirohashi, who was herself of unparalleled beauty and much beloved by the Mikado. The criminals Inokuma, Kaneyasu, and Sanuki recruited Kazanin and other criminal courtiers, mostly from the Imperial Guards Office like them to the act. These criminals arranged meeting with other consorts and would move around the palace disguised as Kabuki dancers. Their disguises were such that everyone thought they were dancers, and would sneak around the palace, or leave the palace using going to the dances as an excuse, and engage in orgies.”
“What treasonous actions.” The retired lord shook his head. “One can hardly believe it to be true. I have heard that it was the Matsushita wanting to frame the Asukai. Have you looked into this?”
“Yes I have, Ōgosho. It does seem that the Matsushita did want to get revenge on the Asukai for removing their privilege at issuing the prestigious kemari license…”
“A correct course of action I agreed upon,” the retired lord interjected.
“Yes, Ōgosho. My apologies. I misspoke.” Katsushige bowed. “The Matsushita were punished and prevented from further issuing fake kemari licenses, as per your decree. They did, therefore, wanted revenge on the Asukai, and got so by exposing this scandal, as one of the criminal courtiers is an Asukai. But the evidence is irrefutable. These seven courtiers did seduce and engage in orgies with five of the Mikado’s most beloved consorts, the consorts Hirohashi, Nakanoin, Minase, Karahashi, and Sanuki.”
“So the Mikado would like all of these criminals executed. Well I can certainly understand his anger.” The retired lord stroke his beard, bit his nails and thought. “If the Mikado had just decided without consulting me, then it would have been fine. But he asked for my directions. I can not have those scandal-loving people of the capital ridiculing the bakufu about the retired shogun who executed the empresses.”
Katsushige could not help but be impressed. He bent deep and low. “Forgive me, Ōgosho. I did not realize that the reputation of the bakufu is impacted by this scandal.”
“Iga. Remember, the reputation of the bakufu is impacted by everything that happens in this realm.”
“Yes, Ōgosho. I will forever remember.”
The retired lord once again motioned to the attendant and spit out a piece of nail. “Perhaps,” he began. “This is a good chance to start reining in the courtiers in the capital. We can show everyone that even the Mikado must listen to the bakufu.” Katsushige waited patiently for his orders. “Iga. Has the criminal Inokuma been captured?”
“Unfortunately no. Kaneyasu is being held, and all the others have been stripped of their rank and is under house arrest. But the criminal Inokuma had escaped early. We have already sent words to all bakufu officials and daimyo to search for him with a price on his head. We will have him in no time.”
“No. Do not rush.”
Katsushige could not hide his surprise. “Ōgosho?”
“Return to the capital, and tell the Mikado that the Ōgosho propose a compromise. The criminals Inokuma and Kaneyasu would be executed as he wishes, for they are the main perpetrators and lowest ranks of the courtiers. The other five courtiers engaged in the act and the consorts should be exiled to remote islands across the realm. Those two additional men you discovered in your investigation, just pardon them. They did nothing. And do not back down from this proposal. The Mikado had been hearing voices pleading for mercy from all the courtier families for months already. By the time Inokuma is brought back to the capital, the Mikado would be too exhausted to do anything but accept the proposal. If not, remind him the state of the Toyotomi right now because the late Taikō turned the capital into a bloodbath^11 .”
“That is brilliant, Ōgosho.” Katsushige had seen many times at work the mind of the man who rose from a child hostage to the de-facto ruler of Japan. But still he could not help but be impressed. “I will return to the capital right away, and I will for sure send you good news.”
“And while you’re there, send me more ancient records and law codes from the palace to read,” the retired lord added. “It’s time I write the courtiers a code of law to rein them in.”
“It will be done.”
^1 Itakura Katsushige. Styled Protector of Iga Province.
^2 The Emperor of Japan
^3 Title of Retired Shogun. In this case Tokugawa Ieyasu
^4 Kyōto
^5 Shogunate
^6 Title of Retired Kampaku (Regent). In this case pointing to Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
^7 In this case Tokugawa Hidetada.
^8 Date Masamune, lord of Sendai Domain.
^9 The protagonist of the Classical Japanese novel Tale of Genji
^10 A famously handsome poet-aristocrat of the 9th Century
^11 Toyotomi Hideyoshi famously executed all of his nephew’s relatives after his nephew’s seppuku.