the reserch of ishikawa goemon

Goemon and his child who are being boiled in big pot.Goemon, whose full name is Ishikawa Goemon, is the most famous 'THIEF' in Japan. As a proof of it, there're many many novels, plays ,even games that he based on. Actually it isn't clear whether he existed,however there're many legends about him. Generally he is known as BIG thief on Edo era -about 400 years ago-, and then he was excuted by king in big pot with boiling oil(see the left pic), among japanese people. But most people should think he wasn't bad guy, no, or rather he was a friend of general public. Beause it has been said he stole large sum of money from bad guys who filled their's pockets, on the other he gave the money to poor people. Yes, as it were he was 'Robin Hood' in Japan.

-The legend of Goemon on the fictions-

This is the story on the some novels and dramas...

According to ancient literatures, he was excuted on 1594, when the king called Toyotomi Hideyoshi ruled. Goemon stole into king's castle (Fushimi castle) to assassinate the king. Because general people had been afflict to despotic administration by him.
By the way, there was a mystical incense burner in king's room. It sounds when a suspicious person tries to come in the room.
Goemon broke into the room, but as expected, the incense burner sounds to tell the master invasion of Goemon. At last he was captured by king's close associates. At that time he dared to say to the king,
'It is you who are the robber who stole the whole country!'

On August 23, 1594, he and his family(include his children) were excuted on a riverside which called 'Sanjogawara'. As I mentioned, they were boiled with red-hot oil in big iron pot. Anyway, at least this seems to be certainly historical fact.

-Goemon and samurai and ninja - the connection-

Some non Japanese people seems to think Goemon is a SAMURAI or NINJA:) But this might be true.
Some materials say he was a samurai whose name was Sanada Kuranoshin. He quited a samurai then became a thief at Kyoto, as Ishikawa Goemon. Also other story that he was a samurai exists. His father was a cheaf retainer of small area's ruler. But he was killed by the trick of assassin from the king(Needless to say the king's name was Hideyoshi). Shuriken(ninja stars) In addtion, there's a legend that he was a ninja. According to some materials, he was born in Iga. You know, Iga is the most famous district as a ninja's one. At that time he was a pupil of great ninja. But he was banished bacause of intrigue to Kyoto.

I don't promise these stories are true, but after all, existing of many legends allow that he was a real hero among people.

- who is the second character on "Ganbare goemon" ??-

Nezumi KozoHis name are Nezumi kozo. This name is just a nick name, but I don't know the exact name. 'Nezumi' allows 'rat', 'kozo' allows 'boy, guy, etc.' Similarly to Goemon, he was known as also a 'righteous thief' on edo era, and he is popular amoung us like Goemon.

It is said that he stole the money of 3,121.2ryo in his life. 'Ryo' was a denomination at that time. 1ryo corresponds to about 80,000 yen, so 3,121ryo allows 249,780,000yen!(I have ever heard that 1ryo was equal to a living cost of general family in a year.)

If you have a question about him or this page, feel free to mail me. Otherwise if you have a suggestion or correction, tell me please! I do not think this page's contents are perfectly correct!!