grandfather/grandmother...

His grandfather is in charge of the dojo; he is called "the living rules of the family" (YST Encyclopedia). He is strict and healthy despite his age, and largely responsible for Seiji's upbringing. He is unsatisfied with his son-in-law who uses martial arts as a means to live (i.e. policeman). Seiji's grandfather is—I assume—the only male exception to the "women of higher rank" rule.

The grandmother is, well, the grandmother. *weak laugh* During "Korinden," she faints after hearing of Seiji's critical condition in the hospital (i.e. his accident: he is hit by a car/motorcycle in an attempt to save Reiko's—the daughter of a former dojo student—life).


mother/father...

His mother is—most likely—the eldest Date daughter and second only to her father in the family dojo. This is natural, since women have more power/are of higher rank in the Date family (odd, for a traditional Japanese family). She is said to have a stronger personality than her husband (i.e. choleric/more aggressive) and teaches kendo.

Seiji's father married into the Date family (i.e. he adopted the wife's last name) and practices kendo. He makes a living as a policeman (i.e. meaning he is Japanese; foreigners are not allowed to enter the police force). He has a weaker personality (i.e. passive) than his wife.


sisters...

Yayoi is at least four years older than Seiji. She practices kendo, speaks formal Japanese, and is a medical student with a wicked sense of humor. Yayoi would use Seiji as a dress-up doll (i.e. in his childhood)—she keeps a picture of him with ribbons in his hair. Though Yayoi is often given blame for Seiji's strong dislike of women (i.e. speaking with), such an assumption is speculation only (i.e. unofficial). (YST Encyclopedia states only that Yayoi "influenced him," so you can make of it what you want. There is no "official" reason as to why Seiji has a hard time dealing with women.)

Satsuki is at least two years younger than Seiji and has no interest in kendo. She speaks informally, unlike her elder siblings, and calls Seiji "Ni-chan" (i.e. "brother" and/or "big brother"). Like Yayoi, Satsuki has black hair (i.e. in contrast to Seiji's blonde). She is possibly the reason for Seiji being protective of women and children.


students...

Youko is a former dojo student, who makes a brief appearance in the Korinden CD drama. She arrives in Sendai (i.e. Seiji's hometown) with her daughter, Reiko, during the Fall Festival. Seiji later saves Reiko from being killed in an accident (i.e. pushes her out of the way of incoming traffic). Youko teases Seiji relentlessly (a habit Reiko seems to have inherited), much like she did as a student:

Youko: "It's winter already. Time's so fast, just in an instant. I want the teacher to see Reiko's dancing, too. Is the teacher in?"

Seiji: "No. Grandfather and mother are both at the Shindo temple now since they are in charge of the Festival this year. I'm going to meet my mother now. Care to join me?"

Youko: "Oh! I'm so glad I can have a date with you!"

Seiji: "That, that is not what I meant!"

Youko: "You haven't change your reactions to this kind of teasing a bit! And it makes me just want to tease you more."

Kazamatsuri Shingo is a kendo practitioner whom Seiji fights prior to discovering the Korin Yoroi. Shingo and Seiji battle in the Junior's Tournament, and while Shingo loses, he throws something (presumably dirt) into Seiji's left eye. Seiji strikes Shingo unconscious (i.e. punches him in the face), and is sent to the "hanare" for a time-out. Having demonstrated the concept of "Rei," the Korin Yoroi appears. Shingo later comes to, and the truth revealed. On a side note, Satsuki—Seiji's younger sister—tells him to defeat Shingo because she "doesn't like him."


the past...

Seiji was rebellious in his younger years. He was trained in bonzai and bamboo-flute in order to teach him restraint.

When Seiji was a child, he was very sick. Dr. Tokita, a character from the CD drama, "Korinden," states, "I can't believe that you came back from the dead twice" (this is a rather ambiguous sentence—Seiji may have "almost died" once before, or recovered from illnesses they didn't think possible). Dr. Tokita informs us—and Seiji, who has no memory of this—that Seiji's parents dressed him up as a young girl "wearing a gaudy kimono and having bobbed black hair," in order to protect their important heir. This is not an unusual practice, especially for clans such as the emperor's clan, or the Shungun's clan (i.e. sons to carry the family line). It follows a belief that girls are easier to raise (i.e. stronger immunity, so to speak) than boys.

Seiji's eyes are very sharp, and seeing both made children cry (i.e. when he was younger). His older sister, Yayoi, suggested he cover his right eye so his gaze would seem less intimidating.

During Seiji's rebellious childhood, Seiji took the family's sacred sword and played with it in the courtyard. While playing, he broke one of his grandfather's bonzais. His grandfather never noticed because a tulip was placed there, though Seiji dreaded the punishment that would come if his grandfather ever found out.


nobility...

Seiji's family, Date, is descended from Date Masamune, a famous general who built a castle in Sendai, the capital of Miyagi. He had only one eye, and was often called the "One-Eyed Dragon" (i.e. Touma makes reference to this in Episode 2). Seiji may live on the outskirts of Sendai, in the family dojo, which he will one day inherit. He is known as the "young master."


<< information