Who Is Oishi Riku?
Wife who stood behind Kuranosuke
Riku was the wife of Oishi Kuranosuke and the mother of Chikara and his siblings. She was born into the family of a senior retainer of the Toyooka domain in Tajima Province.
After the Asano house was abolished, she lived with her husband in Yamashina near Kyoto. But in Genroku 15 she was sent back with the children to her family home in Toyooka and divorced. This is thought to have been done to keep the family from being punished for the raid. Only their eldest son, Chikara, stayed with his father and took part in the raid.
She outlived her husband and son after their seppuku and raised the children who remained.
Episodes featuring this character4
NEWEpisode 4
His Lord Is Dead. He Parties Every Night.Oishi Kuranosuke, "The Daytime Lantern"
Episode 4 of the 47 Ronin series. His lord is dead and his house abolished, yet chief retainer Oishi Kuranosuke Yoshio still hopes the clan can be restored. Meanwhile he spends every night in the pleasure quarters, and the townsfolk and his own comrades all laugh at him. For one moment, in the shadows behind the party lights, he shows a stone-cold sober look. Was it an act, or the real man? Dawn comes with no answer.
19 pages
NEWEpisode 5
He Was Late Once. He Won't Wait AgainHoribe Yasubei and the Duel at Takadanobaba
Years ago, the swordsman Horibe Yasubei arrived too late to save the man who raised him in a duel. Now he pushes Oishi, the chief retainer who keeps telling everyone to wait, to strike Kira down as soon as possible. When Kira moves house and retires, Yasubei sees his chance. He storms into Yamashina, and in front of Oishi, his hand goes to his sword.
19 pages
NEWEpisode 7
Take Back Your Oath, and Walk Away AliveThe Maruyama Conference and the Returned Oaths
The last hope of restoring their late lord's house is gone, and in Maruyama, Kyoto, Oishi decides to strike down Lord Kira. First, though, he hands back the sworn oaths. Some comrades accept theirs and leave. Others throw them back and stay. Terasaka, the foot soldier who carried the box of oaths for the two messengers, is finally handed the last sheet: his own.
19 pages
NEWEpisode 8
He Learned Tea to Steal a Single DateThe Ronin in Hiding & Ōtaka Gengo
To protect his family, Oishi divorces his wife Riku, and the Ako ronin slip into Edo disguised as townsfolk. Otaka Gengo becomes a pupil of tea master Yamada Sohen and learns the day Kira will host a tea gathering at his mansion. Without a word, the ronin begin saying their goodbyes.
19 pages