Synopsis

Five centuries ago, the waterways of the Seto Inland Sea were overseen and regulated by a collective known as the Murakami Pirates. Though "pirates" denotes a certain image, these mariners were not brigands; rather, they served as guardians of the region's peace. In the first installment of a two-part series, museum curator Tanaka Ken recounts their deeds, guiding us to the ruins of a former pirate stronghold. We discover their remarkable skill as sailors and their refined cultural understanding