The shogunate confiscated Lord Asano's 53,000-koku domain the day he drew his sword, and his retainers waited 21 months to take revenge

Asano Naganori inherited the Akō domain of 53,000 koku from his father in 1675. In 1701 he was assigned to host the emperor's envoys in Edo, under the instruction of the master of ceremonies Kira Yoshinaka. On the 14th day of the 3rd month, inside Edo Castle, Asano drew his sword and wounded Kira. He was ordered to commit seppuku the same day and his domain was confiscated. His retainers lost their lord and their stipends. His brother Daigaku was confined to his house. The chief retainer Ōishi Yoshio at first pressed for the house to be restored under Daigaku. In 1702 Daigaku was sent to the custody of the Hiroshima domain, and the hope of restoration ended. On the night of the 14th day of the 12th month of 1702, 47 former retainers broke into Kira's Edo mansion and killed him. They went to Asano's grave at Sengakuji to report it. After months of debate among the shogun's advisers and scholars, the 46 in custody were ordered to commit seppuku in the 2nd month of 1703 and were buried beside their lord. Kira's heir, Yoshichika, was stripped of his house for his conduct during the raid, and the Kira main line ended. Daigaku was given a new holding of 500 koku in 1710.