Lord Tokugawa Muneharu (November 20, 1696 – November 1, 1764) the flamboyant 7th lord of Owari, based in Nagoya Castle is often depicted riding a white cow on his patrols through the castle town, dressed in gaudy clothing and smoking an elongated pipe some 3.4m long. He is often portrayed as the villain in many episodes of the TV series Aburenbo Shogun, a fictionalized story about the Shogun Yoshimune, Muneharu’s cousin. This is based on a partial truth. Muneharu did indeed invoke the ire of Shogun Yoshimune, and he was censured for his actions, but was Muneharu in the wrong?
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