Densho Plot

Samurai Maruto has encountered his soulmate. She is almost ready to become his wife; he just needs to amaze the beauty…

Where the Sun Awakens

Once, the samurai named Maruto left his home before dawn to witness the awakening of the sun. He cherished watching the sunrise and considered this spectacle truly breathtaking.

One day, Maruto wished to see the sunrise by the riverbank. There, he met a stunning girl named Shikuro. They fell in love at first sight.

Hearts in Love

Every morning, Maruto and Shikuro met at sunrise, undeterred by the lack of sleep that could awaken the most dreadful demons even in the kindest heart. One day, the samurai realized that this could not continue!

Maruto was willing to trade his katana for a full night’s sleep; however, he could not spend a single morning without his beloved, who always greeted the dawn by the river. There was only one thing left to do: marry her so that each morning, the beauty would greet her lawful spouse, and he could finally get some rest.

It’s Not About Money

Maruto proposed to his beloved, but Shikuro was not fond of hasty decisions. The beauty agreed to marry only someone who could surprise her. Naturally, the samurai accepted this challenge…

Maruto showed Shikuro a treasury filled to the brim with gold. His lord generously rewarded him for his loyal service! The samurai aimed to impress his beloved with his wealth; yet, alas, she merely shrugged and stated that her own treasury held twice as much money—her late father had left her a substantial inheritance.

So Much Blood!

Maruto did not despair. He decided to showcase his skill in the art of the samurai sword! The samurai fought simultaneously against four warriors, each proficient in their weaponry. He defeated them all, affirming his special right to be called a master of the sword.

Shikuro did not appreciate the fight. She abhorred blood, wounds, and death. In her eyes, there was nothing truly good about it; moreover, her father had been a general who fought alongside his soldiers—he could have killed six men.

The Best Teachers on the Matter

Maruto chose to wait a bit until Shikuro’s discontent subsided. Meanwhile, he commanded his servants to summon wise men who might teach him something.

The finest mentors arrived at Maruto’s home. They taught him poetry, but it soon became apparent that he lacked the gift of arranging letters into captivating words. The samurai attempted to learn dancing, but the outcome was even more disheartening…

The mentors engaged with Maruto in various disciplines, yet it was merely a waste of time. It seemed that the only thing he excelled at was sword fighting.

The Samurai and the Artist

One of the sages, who loved to paint, introduced Maruto to the technique of Densho, in which only special black paints are permitted, and the painter must focus on landscapes. The samurai immediately succeeded in creating stunning masterpieces that were a pleasure to behold. The sage marveled at his student’s success, declaring him an artist endowed with the talent to paint in the Densho style by the gods themselves.

Maruto showed his drawings to Shikuro. The beloved was pleasantly surprised by her suitor’s talent! She agreed to become Maruto’s wife, and he promised to create magnificent paintings for her as long as he could hold a brush in his hands.