The Nabeshima Ghost Cat Disturbance*
The most popular plot told in Kodan and plays is as follows. Assassination of the Lord and Blood on the Go Board The Saga Domain lord, Takafusa Ryuzoji (or Takako in some versions), grew increasingly dissatisfied with the senior retainer Naoshige Nabeshima, who held the real power. Naoshige plotted to kill Takafusa to seize power, and brutally murdered him while they were playing Go. The body was secretly thrown into a moat. Mother's Suicide and Last Will to the Pet Cat Upon learning of her son's death, Takafusa's mother (Lady Otae) was overcome with grief. She had her beloved cat, "Koma," lick her own blood, telling it, "Please haunt the Nabeshima family that destroyed our house," before hanging herself. The Ghost Cat's Revenge Koma, having absorbed the mother's blood and grudge, turned into a ghost cat. It bit to death Naoshige Nabeshima's concubine (Lady Otoy) and buried her under…
