My Edo-Era Harem

I woke up to the soft rustling of Yukiko's kimono as she left my room.

After my wife had left, I lay for a moment, staring at the brown beams of the ceiling, thinking about how I'd ended up here.

I hadn't been the best student—studying was too boring to me. Then, my professor had given me an unusual opportunity: a special assignment that promised to guarantee me a top mark.

"You'll take part in my latest DNA research project," she'd said. "We'll combine your DNA with that of a person from the Edo period."

Sure, why not, I'd thought. Who cares what they do with my DNA, right?

"Just take notes on everything you experience during the experiment," she told me. "And write a detailed report when you return. I'll make sure you graduate at the top of the class."

That promise had been all I needed to agree.

It never entered my head that "taking notes" would involve my re-emergence in the middle of the Edo period, not far from Nagano, as the heir of a samurai family.

At first, I had a pretty bad shock when I realized I was no longer myself—but some snobbish Matsuda Taro. I panicked. But then, when I realized that there was nothing I could change, I thought: If I'm stuck here, I might at least enjoy myself a little…

The door slid open and I turned in the direction of the sound. Of course, there was Takumi, calmness personified. No doubt, he wanted to give me instructions for today's ceremony.

"Good morning, young master," he bowed.

"Good morning."

"Did you spend a pleasant night with your wife?" he asked, unflappable, as always.

I climbed from under the covers. "Yes, Takumi. And, if you must know, I filled her cup as well."

"That's very good, young master," he nodded. "If you make sure to repeat that on a regular basis, I have confidence that madam will conceive very soon. She has a healthy disposition."

Yukiko getting pregnant… I tried to imagine what she would look like with a baby bump. Petite women wouldn't have huge bumps. One thing for sure, I'd still want to ravage her, even with her pregnant belly.

"Are you ready for the ceremony, young master?" asked Takumi, handing me an elaborate kimono.

"I think so," I said. "Run me through what I'm supposed to do again."

"Everything will run as arranged by the kanjo," replied Takumi, bowing. "You have to just follow his lead. When they ask you at the end whether you're ready, the customary reply is: 'I swear on my honor and on the land.'"

I sighed to myself and followed him to my father's room. It was the first time I'd seen him after my arrival into the Edo period. The room smelled of incense. He lay propped up on a couple of pillows, his face white as pale as a sheet of paper. Even though his eyes were alert, they looked empty and sad, giving me shivers. I couldn't help but notice the faint tremor in his hand as he looked at me.

A living dead, that's what he looked like.

I tried not to look back into his eyes, and took my position next to the screen closest to his bed.

I glanced around. Others were gathered, standing or seated, along the walls of the room. Everyone looked somber. A man knelt beside a low table, adjusting a bundle of documents. He must've been Matsuo, the estate manager, or kanjo. His brow was furrowed, and he glanced in turn at me and the father. There were others who looked like local officials, and a few people from the household.

Two young women caught my eye. They were standing in the corner, a few steps behind Kazuko and her chujo. My mother, father's first wife, had apparently passed away a few years ago. So these two must've been my father's young concubines, Haruko and Keiko. One stood more boldly, despite keeping her head bowed like everyone else. It must've been Haruko. As I was trying to appraise them from the corner of my eye, I caught a quick glance from Haruko in my direction.

She seems to be curious about me, too, I thought.

Finally, Matsuo got up, adjusting his robes, and walked over to me with a thick ledger in his hands. Another man placed what looked like family scrolls on the table in front of me. The room fell silent.

"Matsuda-sama," Matsuo's voice sounded loud and clear in the hushed room. "It is time for you to accept your family's possessions."

He handed me a seal and motioned to the ledger. I applied it gently, trying not to smudge the wax.

One of the officials cleared his throat, his face grave and bored. "Matsuda-sama, as head of the family, you must also confirm the oath before your father." He gestured toward my father.

I bowed deeply. "I swear on my honor and on the land," I said, trying to remember the words, "I will uphold the family's name, its legacy, and its future."

Matsuo, and the officials, bowed in unison.

Matsuo stepped forward again and opened the ledger. "Here are the tenants' tax records and the balances of the estate. I humbly present them to you and await your command."

I nodded.

I was really hoping he had a good grasp of his accounting, because that wasn't my strength. I couldn't balance my meager bank account back when I was a student, so to manage the state—it'd better be done by someone else.

After another few excruciatingly long rituals, the ceremony was over, and I returned to my room, exhausted.

"My sincerest congratulations, master," said Takumi. I've noticed that he dropped the word "young" from his greeting. I guess now I was his one and only master. Not that I expected a change in his attitude.

"I count on your devoted service, Takumi," I said, nodding.

He bowed very deeply. "I'm yours to dispose of as you wish," he intoned, solemnly.

After a moment, he rose again and noted, "Would your lordship be willing to grant an audience to Madam Haruko? She begs your permission to present her compliments."