Samurai Executioner Volume 6: Shinko the Kappa

"Shinko the Kappa," Volume 6 in the collected "Samurai Executioner" tales of Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima, continues our look at crime and punishment in Edo-period Japan. There are six stories in this particular volume and they represent an interesting combination of those that deal with intriguing ways of trying to prevent Kubikiri Asa, better known as Decapitator Asaemon, from carrying out an execution and those that deal with the flora of Japan. There are also a pair of surprising weddings along the way. The title of this volume, the release of which I have been waiting for patiently for some time, comes from a character who is central to a rare two-part story from Koike and Kojima (apparently it takes a while for Marc Miyake to do the translations and for SNO Cone Studios to do the requisite lettering and retouching). Just remember that, "Punished is not the man himself, but the evil that resides in him": (23) "Gobari Sandosu" is the best story in this collection. The former refers to those who work in the five domains: racketeers, gamblers, the night soil collectors of Kasai, the forty-eight bands of firefighters, and the Orisuke servants of the Daimyo's, while the latter are those in the three long sword-wearing professions. A man who is the heir of the Kyakujiri group in charge of night soil collection (i.e., sanitation workers) is due to be executed, but he has connections across the Gobari and the Sandosu, and they will do everything in their power to prevent the Executioner from carrying out his charge. However, they have no idea who they are dealing with and what makes this a standout story is that Asa does more than find a way to cut off this guy's head. He also diffuses the situation in a surprising way. (24) "To Be a Sunflower" is the final request of a condemned man who made it a point of honor always to kill his victims face-to-face and never from behind. We learn both how he got his nickname as the "Sunflower," and the irony of his final request at the moment of execution. (25) "Penpen Grass" is a rare flashback episode as a condemned man threatens to make the executioner's roof grow penpen grass (Shepherd's Purse). This sends Asaemon down memory lane when the other kids made fun of the headchopper's son because of the penpen grass growing on the roof. The young Yoshitsugu learns about why the grass is considered curse and then circumstances teach him that it has other value as well. Certainly it is interesting to see a different representation of the relationship between father and son than what we saw in "Lone Wolf & Cub." (26) "Shinko the Kappa" is a mysterious woman with a turtle-like demon ("kappa" is a water sprite) tattooed on her back and the ability to swim like a fish. She has been stealing the weapons of men around Edo in what proves to be an attempt to blackmail the authorities from carrying out an execution. In what is the first of a two-part story, Shinko is captured by Kasajiro, the legendary