Chuji Kunisada

Japanese: 国定忠次 - くにさだちゅうじ

A gangster from the end of the Edo period. Born the son of wealthy farmer Nagaoka Yogozaemon in Kunisadamura, Kozuke Province. His real name was Chujiro. He associated with wandering gangsters from a young age, and at the age of 21, he was given a territory and became the boss of a group of gamblers. In 1834, he assisted his subordinate Bunzo in a turf dispute and killed gambler Isaburo from Shimamura, Sai County. In 1842, he was raided by the Kanto Control Bureau during the opening of a gambling hall, and barely escaped, but had his subordinate Asajiro kill Kansuke, a henchman of the control bureau, and his son Tarokichi. After that, he was pursued severely by the control bureau, and attempted to escape to Shinshu, breaking through the checkpoint at Odo, Agatsuma County, and went into hiding. He later returned to his hometown, but in 1850 he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and was arrested by the Tokugawa shogunate and sent to Otodo Sekisho where he was crucified. After his death, he was portrayed as a heroic thief and chivalrous man in such works as "Kaei Suikoden," "The True Story of Kunisada Chuji," and "The True Story of Kunisada Chuji's Heroic Heroism," as well as in the kabuki plays "Joshu Oritateshino Oshima" and "New National Theatre" (Kunisada Chuji).
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Source : Heibonsha Encyclopedia About MyPedia Information

Japanese:

江戸末期の侠客。上野(こうずけ)国国定村の富農長岡与五左衛門の子として生まれた。本名は忠次郎。若くから遊侠の徒に交わり，21歳のとき縄張りを譲られ，博徒の親分となった。1834年縄張り争いから子分の文蔵に加勢して，佐位(さい)郡島村の博徒伊三郎を殺害，1842年賭場開帳の最中に関東取締出役の急襲を受け，かろうじて脱出したが，子分の浅次郎に取締出役の手先勘助とその子太郎吉を殺させた。以後取締出役の厳しい追及を受け，信州への脱出を企てて吾妻(あがつま)郡大戸(おおど)の関所を破り，潜伏した。のち故郷に戻ったが，1850年脳溢血(のういっけつ)で倒れてまもなく取締出役に召し捕られ，大戸関所に送られて磔刑となった。没後《嘉永水滸伝(かえいすいこでん)》《国定忠治実伝》《正本国定忠次侠勇伝》などの実録本や歌舞伎《上州織侠客大縞(じょうしゅうおりたてしのおおしま)》，新国劇《国定忠治》などによって義賊・侠客として英雄化された。
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