Mother of Shinjo Arimako and soon mother-in-law of Shosuro Mukai.
Tadaji's Memoirs
It has been a joy watching this new generation of Unicorn grow up in an Otosan Uchi that welcomes them, that views them as belonging every bit as much as any Crane or Lion. The Emperor’s Utaku have been a part of that shift, of course, but the most important change, in my opinion, has been Empress Kimi—or rather, the friends she brought with her from Otosan Uchi who became central members of her court.
Take young Arimako, for example, just engaged to the son of Governor Highikawa. A Shinjo engaged to a Shosuro, and it has engendered hardly any remarks. Why should it, when the Empress’s own brother, Shosuro Jocho, spends so much time with the Unicorn and counts Utaku Rima and Ide Michesune among his closest friends? I would be remiss in not mentioning my own years-long friendship with T____, which perhaps makes me biased, but there is strength to be had in alliance between the Unicorn and the Scorpion.
Shinjo Shineba, Arimako’s mother, actually sought me out when arranging for her daughter’s future. She asked if I thought this match could be a good one. I was happy to reassure her. A shrewd woman, she sees the power of a future governor, not the mask of a Scorpion.