Sanro Kunimune Is Still Practicing His Singing at the Citadel Today

Saburo Kunimune, the treasured sword of Nikko Toshogu Shrine, Tokugawa Ieyasu's beloved blade, and the founder of the Soshu tradition. Those titles sound impressive, but he's really just an old man (as he calls himself) who likes singing, dressing in flamboyant clothes, and sunning himself on the veranda.

After arriving at the citadel, he discovered it was home to all kinds of swords.

Some were much older than him, and some much younger.

Some were proper, some weren't, and some looked proper but were anything but.

And what he liked best was sitting on the veranda, eyes half-closed, watching the citadel grow livelier by the day.

Sometimes he sang, sometimes he tapped out a rhythm, and sometimes he poked someone on the nose with his folding fan.

Isn't that what peace looks like?

When there's no war, sit down and bask in the sun.

If someone wants to hear a song, sing it for them.

If no one does, sing it for the wind.

These are small, everyday stories, too trivial to mention.

About sunlight falling on golden fingernails, songs drifting through the corridors, two old swords sitting side by side without saying a word, and sleeves getting rumpled when the short swords come rushing over.

No main plot, no outline, and no story that absolutely has to be told.

Just a citadel, and a sword who likes to sing.

Theme: A story to keep on file.