Matsu's House

Matsu's House was the home of the former shinobi Matsu, situated within the Mibuno Vale region of Iga, Japan.

History[edit | edit source]

On 6 October 1579, Matsu was at her home, tending to her garden, when Fujibayashi Naoe came to visit and assist her upon her father's insistence. Explaining that her crops had been stolen overnight, Matsu asked Naoe to search for the culprits while she cooked her favorite meal, misoshiru. Upon Naoe's return, Matsu served misoshiru to her as the girl revealed that two ashigaru deserters were responsible for the theft and that she had dealt with them.^[1]

While eating, an anxious Nagato came to warn Matsu and Naoe that Oda Nobukatsu was marching on Iga, and told his daughter to stay and protect Matsu. However, Naoe soon grew restless and, wishing to take part in the defense of her homeland, left with Matsu, who claimed to know how Naoe could make herself of use.^[1]

By 1582, following Iga's conquest by the Oda clan, Matsu's house had been heavily damaged and her garden destroyed. Left homeless, Matsu began sleeping on a futon inside the Fujibayashi's similarly ruined house, in hopes that both father and daughter would return. After months passed, she lost hope and decided to travel south to live out her final days in peace. However, she still believed Naoe might one day return to Iga, so she left behind a note explaining her intentions.^[2]