Akazaya Reputations, Revisited
We've done one like this before that's one of those "evergreen" posts that people seem to consistently stumble across and like. The idea was pretty simple. What's like, the general vibe citizens of Wano have about the individual retainers? That was a historical perspective though, essentially what legends did Wano tell quietly under Kaido's heel?
This time, let's update that. Now that everyone's settled into new positions and Yamato's tour has given the country a new story to tell post-restoration...what kinda of answer are you going to get asking random common folk of the country about these figures? Obviously Yamato is this fun celebrity that can kinda do whatever he wants. Teaching Yamato anything traditional is a great way to bring back cultural things that were lost and all, he just gets to do whatever and Wano's on board checking it out. Like Shigesato Itoi. The rest?
Kin'emon: For us, we talk about Kiku being the one where the "out of time" theme is strongest because she's introduced in Wano. For regular folks in-universe? This one is wild. Because he's completely untouched by the twenty years and was already the legendary right-hand-man of Kozuki Oden. That plus being the brilliant strategist and honestly even still being lovey-dovey with Tsuru after so many years and her big burn? This man is tragically popular and doesn't know how to handle that. Fortunately his reputation as the master strategist keeps people from trying to take advantage of a man who is...trying his best at municipal government. Remember, as per the SBS Kin's sorta like the mayor of the Flower Capital itself. He bumbles into several major policy wins because people misunderstood his original word salad edicts. Which is fortunate because many of them were intended to be more stodgy and rigid than would be popular.
Denjiro: No matter how virtuous, everyone's on their guard around someone they know is a good liar. Denjiro has always been a bit shifty though and he likes the reputation so he'll take credit for subterfuge he didn't actually do. His position as Boss Kyoshiro gave him a lot of experience at this type of stuff, no one's gonna try to be cute negotiating with Shogun Momo if Denjiro's in the room. I mentioned this during the cover serial, but I like the interpretation Denji took Kibi because it was the most desolate region of the country. He knows he's up to the tall task and likely still has a lot of everyday connections from his role over the past 20 years. He knows how to let Momo look good for it, but savvy folk will know who's really behind the smooth immediate rebuilding process. He is also the one who often interprets Kin's word salad edicts into a functional good idea he surely meant.
Kiku <3: Gonna be pop-u-lar... Seriously, you get the story of the Yokozuna, the tragic loss of Izo, and the icy resolve to face (and potentially ultimately forgive) the traitor on top of a pretty face and skillset that lends itself well to governance? If Denjiro is the one who's actually writing things like new tax policies and building bureaucracies, I see Kiku as the one rebuilding arts and culture. Like, every festival every high-end tailor in the country is lobbying to doll up the Lady Daimyo because it's an amazing advertisement. Performers beg to put on a show for the last scion of the Hanayanagi School. And because total sweetiepop these are probably open to the public which really makes you well-liked. It's also cute to think of how much she could end up like Olin because aside from the sweet Daimyo room and an audience hall I bet her entire compound is a giant orphanage. Finally...I might not be (they're too happy to have the friendship) but the people of Wano are definitely YamaKiku shippers. Especially after the famed novelist Orumi writes this story about the dog boy and his peculiarly worldly ladyfriend and how they go around fighting demons. She'll call it...Inuyokai.
Kanjuro: It made the retainers & Momo look incredibly noble to try and downplay his betrayal. But too many people know and it's explicit at the end the full lesson of why Kanjuro & Orochi ended up the way they did still hasn't quite stuck. Can't really tamper with such a great final stamp. Wano is reflecting the author's home country, the final point is we're not quite ready for the world until we're ready to actually address some deep cultural rot that masquerades as tradition. But...there are people who see that light at the end of the tunnel and those people are guiding a new generation forward. Speaking of, Hiyori is essentially functioning in the role the shogun's wife typically would until Momo actually gets married. Which in this context would be quieter than say, a modern First Lady.
Raizo: Look, stop asking why the Daimyo of Udon hasn't taken a bride. Just...if I have to explain this one to you you're not gonna get it. Otherwise dude's well-liked but never the headliner. I mean, he got what he wanted in a position that he fulfills openly out of the shadows. He's very sharp and really aside from his dating woes I can't really think of anything sketchy about Raizo. Udon's in good hands, the truth is when it comes to government boring is a truly blessed thing. And Raizo has that combination of technical acumen but hesitance to take big swings that'll make him a good, consistent benign presence. The ones who take bigger risks will have some misses too. Raizo's dependable and consistent. That Kabuki show about the ninja duel with Fukurokuju will be lit.
Inuarashi: Kuri's in good hands. I often end up lumping Inu/Neko in together for stuff like this but here their main difference matters. Inu's always been the one with the more dignified samurai attitude. One of the most traditional in the group. Even if the Minks were less known in the past, it isn't hard to realize twenty years of experience as a Duke make him a great hand here. But...I also wouldn't be surprised if he ran into backlash at points because that experience on Zou entrenched ways of going about things that won't work in Wano. He's still dealing with a much larger population where everyone isn't super strong to begin with.
Nekomamushi: Being the head Yakuza...fun role! His style probably translates to the new digs better too. I don't have much to say other than he'll probably go down as a good-natured rascal who keeps the wayward boys in line like the Yakuza should do on paper. But uh...no one in Wano trusts cats anymore. Like, they won't talk about shady business in front of a cat because everyone thinks they all report back to him. Denjiro encouraged these rumors heavily and one time when someone asked Kiku she was quick to realize how fun it would be to maintain the illusion as well.
Kawamatsu: Can I be honest? Kawamatsu and Hakumai is one of the biggest wildcards here. Like...he's the good natured legendary kappa samurai so the people like him. We saw the masks at the play. But he also doesn't really have experience running things or even just being the little bookworm like Kiku. But he's also a sports hero. That probably keeps him doing well. Especially since he's the type I could see not being innovative but in government where the other four can try different approaches waiting and going with the one that worked best can be a solid strategy as long as everyone doesn't do it. You can have good and bad leaders who are more active or hands off. I could see Kawamatsu as the good kind of hands off one.
It's weird to think like 10-15 years from now they might have some bitter splits or be the figureheads for various factions. Though I do think when you have a great restoration like this the first generation of leaders tends to avoid the worst of that. They'd all have a lot of benefit of the doubt from the people and no matter what divisions arise I doubt Raizo and Denjiro are going to spark a civil war against each other. Half of Ringo would rush to be a peacekeeping force leering at both sides because you're making their Lady Daimyo sad.
I would love to see the silly little Kabuki shows and kamishibai and all that about Momo and his father's legendary retainers.
