Short Fiction · Character

Maeda Narihiro

A Kaga lord so proud of his million-koku wealth that he gives away a pure gold pipe, and finds the giving sweeter than the keeping.

supporting

Also known as Narihiro, VI Thereafter Narihiro

First appearance: I

As a supporting figure in Short Fiction, Maeda Narihiro is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

The daimyo who is proud of his gold pipe and gives it away to Kōchiyama, feeling satisfaction in the loss.

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Narihiro carries a pure gold pipe as a walking emblem of his fortune, and when retainers wheedle it from him he returns home pleased rather than bereft, announcing the gift to his household. His generosity throws his three senior samurai into a council over the cost of replacing pipes for every festival visit. Their quarrel over silver versus brass turns his private vanity into a clan-wide problem of taxes and honor.

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The fuller portrait of Maeda Narihiro sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Maeda Narihiro in I

Character Web

9 connections

A slice of how Maeda Narihiro sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Rivalry
Other

Character groups

Schemes and Temptation
Diverse Figures in Moral and Social Tales
Mythic and Grotesque Figures

+4 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

Kandata’s final, selfish choice—saving only himself by grabbing the spider’s thread—reaches its emotional and…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

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Relationships

Kōchiyama Sōshun
rivalry · negative
A tense, adversarial dynamic where Kōchiyama and Maeda constantly clash over power and… How this plays out →
Ryōtetsu
rivalry · negative
Kōchiyama Sōshun
rivalry · negative
A tense, adversarial dynamic where Kōchiyama and Maeda constantly clash over power and… How this plays out →
Kōchiyama Sōshun
rivalry · negative
A tense, adversarial dynamic where Kōchiyama and Maeda constantly clash over power and… How this plays out →
Ryōtetsu
rivalry · negative

Kōchiyama Sōshun
A tense, adversarial dynamic where Kōchiyama and Maeda constantly clash over power and influence.
Ryōtetsu
Maeda and Ryōtetsu are antagonists, constantly undermining each other's plans and status.
Kōchiyama Sōshun
A tense, adversarial dynamic where Kōchiyama and Maeda constantly clash over power and influence.
Kōchiyama Sōshun
A tense, adversarial dynamic where Kōchiyama and Maeda constantly clash over power and influence.
Ryōtetsu
Maeda and Ryōtetsu are antagonists, constantly undermining each other's plans and status.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Maeda Narihiro in I

In the story

Maeda Narihiro appears across 9 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

The Pipe
The daimyo who is proud of his gold pipe and gives it away to Kōchiyama, feeling satisfaction in the loss.
I
Lord of Kanazawa Castle, proud owner of a pure gold pipe symbolizing his wealth and status.
II
Owner of the pure gold pipe that is the subject of the attendants' gossip.
III
Narihiro is smoking his gold pipe when Kōchiyama requests it. He gives it up due to social pressure and the ease of obtaining another.
IV
Feels satisfaction after giving away his gold pipe, as his pride was in the symbolic value rather than the object itself.
V
His generous act of giving away a gold pipe sparks concern among his retainers.
VI
Narihiro now carries a silver pipe, but finds it less satisfying than the gold one. He gives away silver pipes freely, and ultimately orders a return to gold pipes to avoid the attendants' requests.
VII Kōchiyama Sōshun
Narihiro is the lord whose pipe becomes the object of desire and deception among his attendants.
VIII
Narihiro's pride is challenged when his gold pipe is ignored, leading to a loss of confidence.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Maeda Narihiro unlock in the free preview.

See Maeda Narihiro in I

See Maeda Narihiro in The Pipe