takahashi oden and naminosuke
historical
research
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November 1867: got married
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March 1869: found out that Naminosuke had contracted leprosy
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Went on a search for a doctor who could cure him, ultimately ended up in Yokohama
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Naminosuke died ~September 17th, 1872
account 1
historical
research
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Naminosuke's illness caused the couple to be rejected by their original neighbourhood
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Moved in with Oden's siter-in-law
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Oden earned her living as a prostitute, mainly servicing foreign men
account 2
yasha monogatari
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Naminosuke is a gambler
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After the two of them got married, Ariga Seikichi (mother's boyfriend) came and they got in a fight
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Their brawl resulted in four dead bodies, they had a momentary truce to dispose of the bodies, then parted due to money issues
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They go on the run, afraid of getting caught by authorities
yasha monogatari
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Naminosuke contracts leprosy
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They end up in Yokohama, but Oden starts to become disgusted by Naminosuke's rotting flesh
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Oden begins to go out at night, and eventually becomes a prostitute
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One of her customers, Ichi, strangles Naminosuke to death
continued.
Analysis
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Kanagaki Robun's story constantly brings up gamblers and depict the couple running away from authorities.
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Again, Oden is described as being responsible (or partially responsible) for more bodies, which does not lie in available factual information.
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Oden's decision to become a prostitute is described to be quite shallow -- a wife who does not stay loyal to her husband, who is sick and dying, playing around at night because his sickness is disgusting to her. In this situation, Oden wanted to be a prostitute, rather having to resort to prostitution for money. While her true intentions for prostitution cannot be confirmed, Robun seems desperate to paint Oden as immoral.