An interesting Episode about 'Samon Motonori Goto',
second son of Matabei Mototsugu Goto

Nagamasa Kuroda, lord of Matabei Goto, entered the Battle of Sekigahara on the Tokugawa side (the Eastern Forces) in Keicho 5 (in 1600), and was awarded a stipend of 523,000 koku in the region of Chikuzen (a northern part of Kyushu Iseland) due to the distinguished war services, which were carried out under the plan made by Matabei Goto and accomplished with Matabei's brave charge at the enemy's position at the Gouto-gawa battle field.

Both of Nagamasa Kuroda and Matabei Goto seemed to get along well, but the ill will embraced by Nagamasa against Matabei at the occasion of the Battle of Korea* caused an unexpected event later. (*See another page entitled "Eposode of 'Matabei Mototsugu Goto' in the Battle of Korea")

Samon Motonori Goto, second son of Matabei Mototsugu Goto, was 12 years old when he served as a page to Nagamasa Kuroda at the Fukuoka Castle (located in Fukuoka of nothern Kyushu).. One day, when Nagamasa Kuroda held a Noh play in the castle, he commanded Samon Motonori to play kotsuzumi (a small Japanese hand drum) for musical accompaniment to the Noh play. It happened early in the spring in Keicho 11 (in 1706). Though Samon Motonori was known to be good in kotsuzumi player, he refused to play it because he thought it would be shameful for the samurai to support the Noh play musicians.

Nagamasa Koroda did not allow Samon's refusal and oppressively urged him to play kotsuzumi. Samon reluctantly played it as commanded, but could keep the matter to himself. After the play Samon left the Kuroda's castle without telling anyone and returned galloping to his father's that is called Chikuzen-Oguma Castle and located about 20 kilometers far from the Kuroda's.

"You have left the Kuroda's castle without permission. Why?" asked Matabei Goto. Having listened to his son's explanation, Matabei said only a few words, "You may go and rest."

However this was a serious matter. For Samon to leave the lord Kuroda's castle without permission meant the affair not only affecting to the life of Samon but also giving an influence to the way of living of the whole family of Goto. Considering this, after getting off the castle tower where Samon saw his father, he decided to hold himself responsible by sacrificing his life in comitting harakiri (disemboweling himself). Just as Samon was piercing himself with a dagger, a folded fan with steel frames fell from behind to knock the dagger down.

"A fool! Don't throw your life away easily!" said Matabei. Goto. Sitting cross-legged before Samon, Matabei told his son, "If the lord does not act like a lord, the subjects need not to act like subjects. Certainly, this Matabei was taken in by Yoshitaka Kuroda alias Josui-ken in my childhood and brought up by him like his son together with his real son Nagamasa. The moral indebtedness was deeper than the sea and higher than the mountain. Therefore I have devoted myself tor the Kuroda family so far. I have done for it enough. So I wouldn't regret to give up the vassal position with a stipend of 16,000 koku at most,. Tomorrow let us leave this Oguma Castle and make the mountain and the field our home." So said Matabei Goto and laughed loudly.

The next morning the father and the son of Goto left the Kuroda family.

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