[1]

Go here and Ryoma sees a woman being harassed by some guy. Ryoma butts in asking what's all the commotion about and the woman tells Ryoma this guy has been pursuing her, trying to force her to the ground. The guy says he's just after money. The guy then gets some more guys to help him out and a fight against them begins.

After beating them, the guys run off. Ryoma asks the woman if she's okay. She's amazed with Ryoma's sword technique (even though I didn't use a sword in that fight...) saying how beautiful it is and tells him he has talent for dancing. She then introduces herself as the master of the Nichibu Dance Castle. She asks him if he'll come inside to try out dancing.

After going inside, the game explains the Traditional Japanese Dancing mini-game.

After doing the dance game, she tells him he can come down whenever he wants to learn more dancing from her.

You are rewarded with 250 Dharma.

[1]

Go here and a Doshin (type of Japanese policemen in the Edo period) talks to Ryoma. He asks him if he's seen Ebisu in this area (Ebisu = Japanese god of fishermen and luck). The policeman says he's been searching for ages but can't track him down. Ryoma wishes him luck, saying it's good that he believes in a god. The policeman points out that this "Ebisu" is not a real god - just a con artist who goes by the name of "Black Ebisu". Apparently an old man was tricked out of 30 Ryo, because the con artist told him if he paid him, he'd be blessed. Ryoma says to himself he should try to get information on his whereabouts.

[2]

Talk to the old lady here and she mentions Black Ebisu - apparently she just bumped into him! Ryoma asks where he went and she tells Ryoma she thinks he mentioned something about going to Temple Street.

[3]

Go here and Ryoma sees Black Ebisu conning another old man, trying to get money out of him. The man originally tries to offer a low amount for Ebisu's blessings, which doesn't go down too well with him! Eventually, Ebisu settles on 1 Ryo. But before he pays, Ryoma steps in. After the old man leaves (after Ryoma mentions Black Ebisu is a con artist), a fight against Black Ebisu begins.

After the fight, the policeman shows up, saying he's under arrest. Then the old lady Ryoma spoke to shows up. Ryoma tells her the guy is a con artist, but he's been caught now. The old lady doesn't believe him and then mentions that the guy who was arrested isn't the Ebisu she knows! Then Ryoma wonders if the Ebisu she bumped into was the real thing, but then thinks that can't be true!

You are rewarded with 300 Dharma.

[1]

Talk to the lady here and she asks Ryoma if he can perform at a reception for a big-name artist who's lodging here. Ryoma says if he's so famous, then surely there are other people willing to perform for him? But she says everyone is afraid(/intimidated) of him, because of his status! Ryoma asks why she thinks he's capable and she says word is out on the streets about his singing and dancing! Choose the TOP OPTION to agree to perform for the artist.

[2]

Go into the building here and select the TOP OPTION to go inside. After entering, a man asks Ryoma if he wants to drink with him, saying he's come from far away to stay here in Kyoto. Ryoma says there's someone he has to meet - but then he realises this must be the man! Ryoma asks what particular art the man specialises in and he says all of them - drawing/painting, dancing, singing, the lot! He then says to Ryoma he's heard of a singing bar here in Kyoto. After Ryoma tells him there is, he says they should head over there so he can hear Ryoma sing. You now have to play the singing bar mini game.

After singing, the man says he's impressed with Ryoma's ability! He then asks Ryoma to go and sing again (but this time you don't have to do the mini-game). He says Ryoma's singing has given him inspiration and paints a picture right there. Ryoma looks at the painting but has no idea what it's supposed to be. The man asks what he thinks of it and Ryoma just says it's great. Then he asks Ryoma what part of it he thinks is great - choose the MIDDLE OPTION to select "The Splendid Portrayal of Manliness". The man then asks what other arts Ryoma can do, besides singing and tells him he can dance too. The man then insists on seeing Ryoma dance! You now have to do the traditional Japanese dancing mini-game.

After dancing, the man praises Ryoma's dancing abilities. He then asks Ryoma to dance again (this time you don't have to do the mini-game). Again, the man has been struck with inspiration because of Ryoma's dancing! He does another painting, but Ryoma again has no idea what it's supposed to be! Again, Ryoma tells him it's great. The man asks what part of it he thinks is great - Choose the TOP OPTION to select "The elegance which glimmers at the heroic centre of the piece". After that, Ryoma and the man are confronted by some guys on the streets. They're after the artist, so that they can make money off him by holding him ransom to his family. The guy says he has no family, but they aren't convinced - "Isn't your son a famous artist too!?". Ryoma steps in to stop the guys from taking the artist.

After beating the guys, the artist thanks Ryoma for his help. He goes on to say that, like those guys said, his son was a famous artist. Apparently, many years ago, his son commit suicide. He said that being a master in all fields of art, and his son being an artist as well, the son was inevitably compared to him. His work wasn't valued by anyone and people kept saying he didn't inherit his father's genius. He thanks Ryoma for everything, saying he enjoyed himself today. He gives Ryoma an Ancient Amulet. You are also rewarded with 350 Dharma.

[1]

When you get to this area, a boy bumps into Ryoma. He apologises to Ryoma and says he's in a hurry, then runs off. He rushes over to a girl (Miho) and he (his name is Shinta) says he read her letter, asking her if she's serious and she says she is. Go and interact with them and we learn the girl is moving house - all the way to Edo! The boy asks why she's going and it's because her father has a new job lined up in Edo. She says they're leaving as soon as they've finished preparing. He asks why she didn't tell him sooner and she said she just couldn't. They have an argument - she says he's an idiot and doesn't understand and he says he doesn't want to see her any more! He then runs off. Her father arrives and asks her if she has said her farewells to her friend. He says they'll be leaving soon - the palanquin will arrive to pick them up, so she has to finish her preparations. Talk to the girl and she's crying because of the things she said to Shinta - she doesn't want to leave like this. She asks Ryoma if he'll do her a favour - she says if he bumps into Shinta, could he deliver a message to him - "Thank you". Ryoma asks if that's all and she says yes, then heads off to prepare.

[2]

Go here and Ryoma sees Shinta. Go up and talk to him. Ryoma says he has a message for him from Miho - "Thank you". The boy goes on to tell Ryoma they became the best of friends - he says there are barely any young girls in the area so she had no friends until last year. She always seemed so lonely, so he invited her to play with him. At first she was quiet and didn't speak to him, but after talking to her every day she eventually conversed with him and then they ended up best friends. He said he was teased by other boys for playing with a girl, but he didn't care because she's his best friend. He says she never mentioned about moving house until today, so he thinks she never considered him a great friend. Ryoma tells him about the feelings she was trying to convey to Shinta in her "thank you" - Choose the TOP OPTION to select "Thank you for being friends with me". Ryoma says Shinta was there for her when she was lonely and she's thanking him for his kindness. On the subject of not saying anything to him about moving house, Ryoma asks him to consider her feelings - Choose the BOTTOM OPTION to select "She couldn't tell you that because you're so important to her". If she had told him, they'd both be consciously aware of it and they wouldn't have enjoyed themselves up till now. The boy says he wants to see Miho one more time and say a proper farewell.

[1]

Go back here and Ryoma sees Miho and her father about to get into the palanquin and head for Edo. She says she wants to wait a little longer for her friend, but he says they can't keep the guys waiting for too long. As they leave, Shinta shows up chasing after them (how he ended up running from that direction bearing in mind he came from the Shrine I just arrived from is beyond me...). The boy collapses and Ryoma says he'll stop the palanquin for him.

After you stop the palanquin, Miho asks what's wrong and Ryoma tells her someone has something to tell her. Shinta apologises to her for what he said. She also apologises, saying she had always felt she had to tell him about moving, but was never able to say it. She cries, saying she feels she'll never see Shinta again. He tells her not to cry; he wants his farewell with her to be a happy one and tells her he'll grow up to be strong, so she doesn't have to worry about him. Then her father calls out to her, saying they have to leave now. Miho tells Shinta she'll write to him and he says he'll also write - says he'll continue writing to her all his life! Miho thanks Ryoma for delivering her message and rewards him with Rainbow-Coloured Fabric. Miho and Shinta say their goodbyes, then he calls out to her saying "thank you".

You are also rewarded with 300 Dharma.

[1]

Go here and talk to the man. He's looking for someone from Tosa. Ryoma thinks maybe's he's looking for him and that he knows his true identity! But then supposes he's just overthinking it. The man sees Ryoma and asks if he's from Tosa. Ryoma says he isn't and the man says he'll never read this letter... He says he got a letter written in the Tosa dialect and he wants to know what it says, but he doesn't understand the Tosa dialect! (mark this substory down under "parts of the game that won't make it into an English version if an English version does get released"). Ryoma then tells him that he can speak the Tosa dialect. The man introduces himself to Ryoma as "Fujie", owner of a Kimono shop, and says he had a customer from Tosa - a young and cute girl named "Okinu", who is exactly his type of girl! He plucked up the courage to ask her if she'd like to be a pen pal with him. But he says the first letter he got from her is in a very thick Tosa dialect! (apparently she wasn't using this dialect when speaking to him in person). He asks Ryoma to help him translate it. Choose the TOP OPTION to help him out.

This is the full letter:

"Hello Fujie, it's been a long time. How have you been? I'm really loving the kimono I bought from you! I never thought there was anyone around who makes such wonderful kimono. Thinking of you, Okinu."

Now he asks Ryoma to translate bits he's unsure of. First, choose the TOP OPTION. Then choose the MIDDLE OPTION. Finally, choose the TOP OPTION.

He thanks Ryoma and rewards him with Beautiful Silk.

Leave the area and then come back and speak to him. He says he's got another letter from Okinu and wants Ryoma's help translating. Choose the TOP OPTION to help him.

The second letter:

"Dear Fujie, thank you for the letter. How are you doing? I'm surprised that you're interested in that. Are you always doing it? Next time we meet up, we'll have to do it together! I've been feeling strange recently; whenever I think of you, I get this thumping pain in my chest. I hope I can see you soon!"

Now he asks Ryoma to translate bits he's unsure of. First, choose the MIDDLE OPTION. Next choose the TOP OPTION. Finally, choose the BOTTOM OPTION.

He thanks Ryoma and rewards him with a Platinum Lump.

Leave the area and then come back and speak to him. He says he's got another letter from Okinu and wants Ryoma's help translating. Choose the TOP OPTION to help him.

The third letter:

"Dear Fujie, I'm so happy you sent me another letter. These days, I look forward to exchanging letters with you more than anything else. I've noticed that you've become a big part of my life. In the future, even if I stumble in life, as long as I'm with you I'll be fine. That's how I've been feeling every day. I don't like cowardly people, so if you feel the same as me please tell me right away. Yours, Okinu."

Now he asks Ryoma to translate bits he's unsure of. First, choose the MIDDLE OPTION. Next choose the TOP OPTION. Finally, choose the BOTTOM OPTION.

Now the guy says he's heading over to Tosa right away to propose to her!

Leave the area and then come back and speak to him. He says he went all the way to Tosa to confess to her and they are now engaged! He thanks Ryoma again, saying without him he would never have ended up marrying her without his help. He rewards Ryoma with a Fenghuang Feather. You are also rewarded with 350 Dharma.

[1]

Go here and talk to the 6 guys. A Doshin (Edo period police) is trying to find a criminal, saying two of these 5 men are who he's looking for, but doesn't know who. He says they are a 5 man gang and apparently he had them help out with cleaning at the office, but then they ate his daifuku. He says there was no one else there so it must have been these guys. Apparently of the 5 guys, 2 of them ate the daifuku. Of course they are all saying they didn't do it so 2 of these guys are lying. The policeman asks for Ryoma's insight into this, since he's not clearheaded at the moment because they ate his daifuku. Choose the TOP OPTION to help him. They then introduce themselves, the first guy is called "Higashihara", the second guy is called "Nishiyama", the third is "Nakagawa", the fourth is "Minamino", and the last guy is "Kitajima". Now you ask each of the 5 guys for information.

Higashihara says that Kitajima is definitely one of the culprits, because he saw him with it himself.

Nishiyama says out of Higashihara and Minamino, at least one those 2 are the culprit, because those 2 were the only guys with keys to the room in which the daifuku was kept.

Nakagawa says Minamino is one of the culprits. He also says Nishiyama is not one of the culprits because he was with him the whole time.

Minamino says Nishiyama is one of the culprits, because he saw daifuku powder on his kimono.

Kitajima says out of Nakagawa and Minamino, one of them is one of the culprits.

After getting info from them all, talk to the policeman and select the TOP OPTION. Then go and speak to the 2 guys who did it and select the TOP OPTION - The culprits are the first guy (Higashihara) and the fourth guy (Minamino). After selecting the 2 culprits, confirm your choices with the TOP OPTION.

After that they confess that the daifuku just looked so delicious and they couldn't resist! Then the other guys give them a telling off about lying, followed by a speech about their friendship. After they leave, the policeman rewards Ryoma with a God Slaying Talisman. You are also rewarded with 300 Dharma.

[1]

Go here and Ryoma sees yet another "Ee Ja Nai Ka" (see substory 48 for information).

[2]

Go up to the group and talk to them. Some guys come out of a building and tell them to shut up. The group tells them they are tired of being under their rule (the shogunate). The guys then say they'll just kill the group for going against them, then Ryoma steps in to save the group, starting a fight against the guys.

After the fight, the group tells Ryoma about how they heard rumours that performing "Ee Ja Nai Ka" could change Japan, which is why they are singing and dancing. The group thanks Ryoma for his help and gives him a Heijoshin Towel. After that, they dance again and ask Ryoma to join in (lol). You are also rewarded with 350 Dharma.

[1]

Go here and speak to the old man. He mentions he's a teacher and says his students brought in a globe and want him to teach them, but is worried because he's not familiar with a globe. Ryoma mentions he's seen one before. The teacher goes on about how it's important to learn more about the world, particularly in the current times (what with foreigners from all over the place coming in). However, the teacher wants Ryoma to help him out - since Ryoma is familiar with a globe and the teacher isn't (he doesn't want to look like a fool in front of his students, or he'll lose all of them). Select the TOP OPTION to teach the students about the globe. The teacher introduces Ryoma as his student. Ryoma goes along with it (teacher is trying to save face, so Ryoma is pretending to just help rather than being the one who is actually doing the teaching!). The students start pointing to the globe asking Ryoma what the places are. The first student points to Japan - choose the TOP OPTION to select Japan. The next student points to China - choose the MIDDLE OPTION to select China. The final student asks Ryoma to point out where Great Britain is on the globe - Choose the BOTTOM OPTION. This student has a speech about how brought the globe in because he wanted to be taught at least where Japan was and knows he'll get correct information staying at this school now. The teacher confesses to not having much knowledge of the globe and had Ryoma do the teaching since he does have knowledge and that he should probably leave them. The student appreciates his honesty - the student goes on to say that learning isn't just about stuffing loads of knowledge in your heads - he says his father told him teaching the next generation about how one should be as a person is more important. He says he wants to use the teacher, and his honesty, as an example for how he should live. Turns out the students all still look up to him as a role model! The teacher gives Ryoma a European Cloth. You are also rewarded with 300 Dharma.

[1]

Go here and talk to the old lady. Choose the top option to walk her home. Ryoma asks if she lives alone and she says she does. Her legs have become weak in her old age, so it's hard for her to go out and buy stuff. She thanks Ryoma for his company and the friendship gauge with her starts. You are rewarded with 150 Dharma.

[1]

Go here and interact with the son and mother. They're having an argument over the fact the man never goes outside, hiding away in his room all the time. The mother says he'll never get married if he stays in his room all the time, but the son says he doesn't need a woman in his life. Talk to the mother and she talks to Ryoma about her son and how she's worried about him because he does nothing but stay at home all the time. She asks Ryoma if he'll have a talk with her son, to try and convince him to get out. Choose the TOP OPTION to accept.

Ryoma goes to the house with the mother and speaks with the son. Ryoma asks the mother to leave, so he can talk with the son man-to-man. Now Ryoma will wonder what to talk about. It doesn't matter what you choose here. Top option is "What are you always doing?", middle option is "Do you have any friends?", bottom option is "What do you like to do?".

Next, choose the TOP OPTION to select "Open up with casual conversation". Ryoma asks him what kind of girls he's into. The guy is taken aback and Ryoma says he surely has experience with girls and asks again about his taste in girls, but the guy says he has no experience. He says because he's always in the house he's never met with any girls, so he doesn't know what his tastes are. But he says he does have an ideal woman - long hair, beautiful, graceful, kind, will only love him forever, from a rich family, good in bed, good cook and who will support him (lol...). Ryoma points out those are some high standards (yeah, no kidding). Ryoma then goes on to give him a lecture about how he can never expect his ideal woman to have interest in a guy like him - a jobless man who does nothing. The man then says Ryoma is right and says he's never met anyone as straight with him as Ryoma. Next, choose the BOTTOM OPTION to select "give him confidence". Ryoma asks him if there's anything he's good at and he says that there is something at which he never loses to anyone, but he doesn't want to say what it is. The man goes on to say he was into swords when he was little - he used to practice everyday and had some talent for it. He says he wanted to go on to work with swords when he was older... until "that time". He said he saw someone murdered before his eyes - he was killed by a Doshin from behind while running away - that was the first time he saw someone die. He said he realised the sword was for killing people, then he ran back to his room and has been living like that since. He thanks Ryoma for talking with him, saying he has inspired him to change his ways.

After leaving, the mother thanks Ryoma. As Ryoma is about to leave, the mother shouts out to him saying she'll give him a reward, but bumps into someone. The guy threatens her but then Ryoma steps in to help her. But then the son comes out and tells the man threatening her to back off, saying he can't run off or he'll be no good forever. Then some more guys show up and a fight against them starts.

After the fight, the son talks about how he's going to take up the way of the sword once again. The mother rewards Ryoma with Rainbow-Coloured Fragment. You are also rewarded with 350 Dharma.

"Sonno Joi" was a slogan used during the Bakumatsu period meaning "Revere the Emperor, Expel the Barbarians (foreigners)".

[1]

Go here and interact with the two men. One of them is a foreigner and the other man tells the foreigner to be careful because there's a lot of hate for foreigners these days. He then goes on to talk about the Sonno Joi movement and again tells him to take care before leaving.

[2]

Go here and Ryoma sees the foreigner again. He is confronted by a group of guys supporting the Sonno Joi movement and are about to kill him. The foreigner tells them he's in Japan to teach about agriculture, so that the country can grow, so if they kill him here Japan's agriculture won't have any development. They say there's nothing a dirty foreigner like him could do to help the country. Ryoma steps in to stop them and a fight starts.

After the fight, Ryoma explains to them that foreign knowledge could help improve the country. They aren't convinced, saying Japan is for Japanese people only, then say next time they meet they'll go all out on him. Ryoma tells the foreigner that next time he bumps into guys like that he should just run away, because they won't listen to him. The foreigner thanks Ryoma for his help and walks off.

[3]

Speak to the boatman in Fushimi to travel to Mukurogai. If he's not there, try completing other substories and then come back to make him show up. Ryoma sees the foreigner here - go and speak to him. Ryoma tells him he shouldn't be here alone, with the Sonno Joi supporters out here. The foreigner tells him he wants to meet them once more - to tell them what he thinks about the country, saying they'll understand if he tells them. Then the Sonno Joi guys arrive again and threaten the foreigner. The foreigner tries to explain again, but they aren't interested. Ryoma tells the foreigner to stay back, then fights with the group.

After the fight, Ryoma gives them a lecture on how foreign influence can help the country - saying there aren't really any guys in Japan willing to put their lives on the line for Japan like this foreigner. The gang leave, saying they'll overlook this today.

You are rewarded with 350 Dharma.

[1]

Go here and Ryoma sees the "Ee Ja Nai Ka" again (see info in substory 48).

[2]

Go here and Ryoma sees 6 guys doing the Ee Ja Nai Ka singing and dancing, while an old lady is in pain on the ground. She says she was thrust to the ground by the group. Kiryu goes up to the group and tells them they can't go around causing trouble for people - they just injured an old lady! They then fight Ryoma because he made them mad.

After Ryoma beats them, they apologise and give Ryoma a Vermilion Cloth. You are also rewarded with 300 Dharma.

[1]

Go here and talk to the guy. He says he really wants to see Ryoma's sword. Ryoma shows him and the man praises it. Ryoma thinks he's some kind of expert with swords, so he asks for advice on what needs work on his sword, but the man says he isn't that well-informed; it's just a hobby. Ryoma leaves, but the man stops him, saying he really wants to see a sword called "Kurotetsumaru". This starts up the friendship gauge with him.

You are rewarded with 150 Dharma.

[1]

Go near here and Ryoma is confronted by some guys. They tell Ryoma to hand over some money or they'll kill him. This starts a fight against them.

After the fight, they run off. You are rewarded with 250 Dharma.

[1]

Go here and speak to Sumibozu. He tells Ryoma that, if there's anyone you want beaten up, he'll do it for you. After explaining his work to Ryoma, a man shows up looking for Sumibozu, who asks the man what guy he wants beaten. This is the guy Ryoma embarrassed at the end of Substory 7! The man notices Ryoma and tells Sumibozu that he's the guy. Ryoma doesn't remember him at first, but after he tells him about the Ee Ja Nai Ka incident, he remembers. Sumibozu fights with Ryoma, saying he's just doing his job.

After Ryoma beats Sumibozu, the other guy runs away. Sumibozu says he's never met anyone as tough as Ryoma. He says he wants to challenge Ryoma again some day, then leaves.

You are rewarded with 300 Dharma.

[1]

Go here and talk to the beggar. He asks Ryoma for some food. Choose the TOP OPTION to give him food. If you don't have any, you can buy some from shops in Fushimi (interestingly, you can also give him sake instead if you want). After giving him food, he thanks Ryoma and the friendship gauge with him starts. You are rewarded with 150 Dharma.

[1]

Go inside the bathhouse (TOP OPTION). Ryoma takes off his clothes and gets into a bath. After a while, Ryoma gets out and goes to get his clothes, but notices they are missing! He turns around to see a man carrying his clothes and chases after him.

After catching him, the guy says he never thought Ryoma would go chasing after him in the streets. Then 3 Okappiki (basically like Edo period policemen) arrive and Ryoma tells the theif that his number's up! Ryoma then notices the 3 guys are looking at him and he tells them he's not the thief; the other guy is. "So you must be the guy who's been running naked around the streets, huh!?" one says. Ryoma explains that his clothes were stolen, so he ran after the man. They aren't interested in his excuses and are about to arrest him, but he makes a run for it. Lose the police and then get your way back to the bathhouse without being seen by them.

Ryoma puts his clothes back on and then the police arrive. They apologise for what happened - it seems the misunderstanding has been cleared up. Ryoma asks what happened to the thief and they tell him some other police got hold of him after he tried to get away. Apparently that thief has been stealing clothes from there for a while and the bathhouse attendant gives you a reward for putting an end to it. He gives you a Crystal. You are also rewarded with 300 Dharma.

[1]

Go here and Ryoma notices a queue for Inarizushi. Go to the back of the line and select the TOP OPTION to line up. Unfortunately, the man sells out before Kiryu can get some! Kiryu thinks to himself that he'd like to try some of this inarizushi, so he'll come back again another time.

Leave the area and then come back to see a new queue (I went into Terada Inn, went out and back to the inarizushi seller again). Again, go to the back of the queue and line up. Unfortunately for Ryoma, the man again sells out before Ryoma can get some! Kiryu says to himself he'll come back again another time.

Again, leave the area and then come back and get in line. Ryoma finally gets to have one! The man in line behind Ryoma was not so lucky - the seller is out of Inarizushi. Ryoma is about to sit down somewhere and eat it, but the man who was in line behind him bumps into him and steals his Inarizushi! After shouting out, "That's MY inarizushi!", Ryoma chases after him.

After catching him, Ryoma asks him if he was so desperate to have one that he had to steal it, but the man says the reason he stole it is because his son is bedridden with an illness and has no appetite, after several days he hasn't eaten anything. However, today his son told him he wanted to try the inarizushi from that seller - apparently the son had one once and hasn't forgotten how nice it is. So he went straight out to get in line, but they were sold out before he could get one. Ryoma lets the man have the inarizushi for his son. The man asks if he's sure, and Ryoma says it's no problem (then thinks to himself he can always queue up for it again another time). However, the man tells him it was the chance to get one, because the seller is moving somewhere else to sell the inarizushi! After the man leaves, Ryoma thinks to himself (...I'll just have a dango then, I guess). You are rewarded with 300 Dharma.

[1]

Go here and Ryoma sees a woman waiting for the boat to Mukurogai. Ryoma says it's no place for a lady to go alone. She says she wants some perfume from there - she says men aren't into her and so she wants the perfume to make herself more attractive. Apparently the only place you can get it is from a guy on the black market. Select the TOP OPTION to tell her you'll get the perfume for her. She gives you 3 Ryo to pay for the perfume. Next, speak to the boatman and travel to Mukurogai. If he isn't there, then try doing other substories - he wasn't there for me at first, but then I completed a bunch more substories and he finally showed up.

[2]

Go here and speak to the merchant. He mistakingly thinks Ryoma is here to get him, so he fights.

After the fight, Ryoma explains he's mistaken and he's just here to buy something. Ryoma asks him for the perfume and the man gives it to him. Ryoma asks how much it is, but he says he'll give it to him for free because of the trouble he gave him. Ryoma wonders (out loud) if this can really attract men, then the merchant says he can try it out and puts some on Ryoma! After Ryoma takes the perfume off the man, the man just stares at him, before finally saying "I love you"! Look like the perfume works, lol! Ryoma makes a run for it, starting a chase.

[1]

Run all the way back here after losing him. You can go through the gates to the north of Mukurogai for this chase. Watch out though, because he pops out of nowhere a couple of times during the chase! You have to lose him before you can go to the destination. The woman sees Ryoma and asks about the perfume. He hands it over to her and she thanks him. Ryoma warns her that it can be dangerous, so she should use it with care.

You are rewarded with 300 Dharma.

[1]

Go here and speak to the postman (he's wearing a green shirt). Ryoma asks what's wrong and the postman asks for directions. He thanks Ryoma and runs off. Ryoma can't believe he just had to give directions to a postman!

Leave the area and then come back to the same place and speak to him again. He says he still can't find the place and came back here. The postman admits he has no sense of direction! He says he's always done this work with his father, but he has fallen ill and now he's left to do this himself (and he can't do it without his dad). He asks Ryoma again for the directions and Ryoma tells him. The postman thanks him and runs off.

Again, leave the area and then come back and speak to him. Ryoma asks him if he found the place and he says he did this time! The postman is worried that because he can't find anywhere he won't be able to do his deliveries. Ryoma offers to help him out. The postman gives Ryoma a package to deliver. This begins the friendship gauge with the postman. You can come back to him for more packages to deliver and build up the friendship gauge. You are also rewarded with 150 Dharma.

[1]

Go here and a man stops Ryoma, asking him if he wants to have some fun in his brothel. Ryoma says no, because he's busy. The man tries to convince him. He talks about how they are so young and their skin is soft and plump like a baby's. He also says they all have "tight-fitting, soft and fair skin". Choose the TOP OPTION to go to his brothel. Once inside, he gives Ryoma a choice of 3 types and asks what kind he wants. It doesn't make a difference what option you choose.

He asks Ryoma to wait, then a little while later the man returns with a Sumo Wrestler. Not quite what Ryoma expected, but the man says the Sumo Wrestler is soft and plump like he said (so he wasn't lying - he never actually said they were girls!). Ryoma says he's leaving, but the man is telling him he has to pay the fee of 10 Ryo. Choose the TOP OPTION to refuse to pay. This leads to a fight against 3 Sumo Wrestlers.

The man apologises to Ryoma and says he actually is trying to run a legit business, with a brothel aimed at people who are into Sumo Wrestlers. Apparently there are a surprising amount of people who like this sort of thing.

The man gives you 3 Ryo as an apology. You are also rewarded with 300 Dharma.