Taro Kurohayashi

Kurobayahsi Tarou Akihito

Commonly known as Tarou, was born in 1537 and grew up in Kyoto with his mother and father. His father was a Bushi of low but honorable standing forming one of the many Bushi who were valued more for their art than for their martial practice. Taro's father was one of four maintenance architects working to maintain the Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion). The Ginkakuji was built shortly after the sengoku jidai (the age of the country at war) as a sign of the growing influence of Buddhism. Taro and his father saw little of each other due to Taro's academic and martial training and had little attachment other than blood. Taro dabbled in Sumi (the Sung style of ink painting), hoping to earn artistic prestige like his father but was better with the Naginata than the brush. Taro was eventually enlisted in the Daimyo's secondary guard. Taro was content with his life as a royal guard and earned more than his father who had grown even more distant. He courted a minor nobles daughter and sired a son who he named Ichimaru.

By the middle of the 16th century, several of the most powerful warlords were competing for control over the whole country. One of them was Oda Nobunaga. He made the first big steps towards unification of Japan by capturing Kyoto in 1568 and overthrowing the Muromachi bakufu in 1573. Unfortunately for Taro Kurohayashi, he was sworn to defend Muromachi and failed. As a direct result of this failure his first wife and son left him to his fate. Taro sold his sword and his services as a laborer to the Portuguese traders and Jesuit missionaries who had arrived in Kyushu. The Portuguese traders had been welcomed by most despite Buddhist opposition for the potential of military gain through newly introduced firearms. He was eventually valued as a translator with the Portuguese traders and given passage to the distant lands of the north.