Loyalty

Yuranosuke's story is one of loyalty. He is the idealized samurai archetype, his sense of duty outlasting even the life of his lord. In essence, this means that Yuranosuke's loyalty is in no way compelled by external forces. There are no laws governing his behavior, no promised rewards or threatened punishments. Yuranosuke acts purely of his own accord, driven by his own sense of justice and love for his lord. In this respect, Yuranosuke is never truly a ronin, as he forever serves a master.

Not all of Lord Hangan's samurai prove so loyal as Yuranosuke. Kudayu finds fault in his lord's behavior, even suggesting that Hangan was foolish to make an enemy of Moronao. Kudayu's calculated pragmatism is soulless, leaving no room for the moral reasoning necessary to justify Lord Hangan's behavior. This explains why Kudayu later enters the employ of Moronao, the sworn enemy of his...