Katsu Kokichi (Musui)

Musui is born to a concubine and subsequently raised by a wet nurse. He is adopted by the Katsu family at age seven. From the youngest of ages, Musui is rambunctious and a troublemaker. When it is time for him to begin samurai training, he would rather fence and ride horses rather than learn and read and write. He runs away from home twice in his youth, and is nearly disowned by his father. In his teens, he becomes an excellent swordfighter and uses his skills to pick fights and bully rival fencing schools.

As an adult, Musui never quite rises above his relatively lowly station, despite several schemes to get rich which involve deceit and thievery. Any money he earns is just as quickly spent in the infamous pleasure district on prostitutes and the like. Musui is a disgrace to his family, and especially his...