Age: 37
Gender: Male
Role: Sake House Owner
Appearance:
Left: Saizo's current appearance - Right: A younger Saizo in his samurai days
Saizo stands at about 6'1" and has a built and muscled body. His skin is fair but slightly rough and is filled with large scars. His hair is short and black and he usually wears it combed back. He commonly dons peasant style kimonos with blue hues and a pair of wooden sandals for footwear. He also sports a dragon tattoo running from his left shoulder down to his left arm.
Personality: To customers, Saizo acts very hospitable since his revenue depends on it. He tends to act very fatherly to those younger or less mature than him, often pitching in an advise or two even if it is uncalled for. He has an enormous amount of patience in him but when that is exhausted, expect a violent explosion from him afterwards. He values the Sweet Gourd very much to the point of taking up his sword again for its welfare. He doesn't particularly enjoy discussing his past especially if his past glories is compared to his less than desirable state at present. Saizo would very much like a quiet life but he is (or seems to be) a hijinx magnet and is often thrust into less than conventional situations.
Bio: Saizo is the owner of the Sweet Gourd izakaya located in the Hinin district of Edo. Before becoming a hinin, Saizo was a well-reputed retainer for the Tokugawa clan. He is a direct descendant of the legendary samurai, Tadakatsu Honda though he had managed to forge his own name through his dedication, bravery and skill. He had risked his live several times for the safety of his daimyo, Tokugawa Hidemasa and his scars were proof of that. Competition was fierce between the retainers of the Tokugawa and many envied Saizo as he was the most trusted retainer then. A scandal broke out that caused Saizo his position about a forbidden affair between him and one of Hidemasa's daughters. Pressured by the public clamor from the scandal, Hidemasa was forced to dismiss Saizo. Luckily, he was spared from committing seppuku as a consolation for his years of great servitude to the Tokugawa.
For a while, Saizo became a ronin before eventually settling in the Hinin district of Edo. With what little fortune he had left, he purchased a home and a small warehouse. He then transformed the warehouse into an izakaya which came to be known as the Sweet Gourd. Unfortunately for him, his little business venture has yet to pick up but he remains resolute in the idea that it will one day become a successful establishment.
"The Sweet Gourd will prosper... eventually...?"
Other Information/Trivia:
a. Despite running a sake house, Saizo rarely consumes sake or alcohol at that.
b. He has good alcohol tolerance.
c. He does not completely deny the scandal that turned him into a hinin, hinting that there is some truth to it.
d. He still has his swords and has managed to evade surrendering them to the authorities.
e. Saizo hates people who refer to his izakaya as "that ratty sake house".
Theme Song: T.M. Revolution - HEART OF SWORD