The Battles of Kokusen’ya – Episode One

(National Diet Library, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons,  Published in 1859)

The story begins on a quiet beach near Nagasaki, Japan. A man named Ro Ikkwan once served as a high officer in the Ming dynasty of China. He lost his position in a political struggle and escaped to Japan.

There, he married a Japanese woman named Nagisa. They had a son named Watonai and lived peacefully as fishermen.

Ro Ikkwan often thought about his homeland. The Ming Empire was being attacked by the northern Tartars. The emperor had lost his capital and was forced to flee.

Ro Ikkwan felt deep sorrow, but he was old and weak. He believed he could do nothing to help his country.

One day, after a great storm, a broken ship drifted to shore. A young woman and several followers were rescued from it.

She said her name was Princess Sendan, a royal daughter of the Ming emperor. With tears in her eyes, she told them her story.

"The Tartars destroyed our capital," she said. "My father has been captured. Please, I beg you—save my country.”

Ro Ikkwan was shocked and filled with shame. His homeland was suffering, yet he was safe in another land.

Before he could speak, his brave son Watonai stepped forward.
“If Father cannot go, then I will go in his place,” he said. "I will fight to save your country and bring back our family's honor."

Nagisa, the mother, was frightened. She knew that crossing the sea meant risking death.
“Do you really have to go?” "Do you really have to go?" she asked with tears in her eyes.

“Yes,” Watonai replied. “It is my duty as a son and as a man.”

That night, Nagisa prayed in front of the household shrine. “I cannot go with them,” she whispered, “but may their hearts follow the right path.” She placed a sword on the altar and prayed for their safety.

The next morning, Ro Ikkwan and Watonai prepared to leave. They would protect Princess Sendan and sail to China.

The villagers gathered on the beach to see them off. Nagisa waved a white cloth as the ship moved away. She watched until it disappeared over the horizon.

On the deck, Watonai stood beside his father. His eyes shone with courage. He was no longer a boy. He was a young warrior, ready to fight for his father’s homeland.

This was the beginning of his great adventure—the journey that would make him known as Kokusen’ya, the man who would one day be given the emperor’s own family name.