Minister of the Right Character Analysis

The Minister of the Right is one of the most powerful men at court, just one step below the Emperor in rank. Described as being extremely vindictive, he shares his daughter Kokiden's hunger for power. However, he's slightly more willing to be persuaded to do the right thing than Kokiden is. Early on, for instance, he allows one of his daughters to marry the Minister of the Left's son Tō no Chūjō, which helps to smooth things over for a while between the two. However, when his grandson Suzaku takes the throne, the Minister of the Right bands together with Kokiden to rule in Suzaku's stead. He keeps Suzaku from promoting Genji or anyone in the Minister of the Left's household. When he later discovers Genji in bed with his daughter Oborozukiyo, the Minister of the Right goes straight to Kokiden with incriminating evidence and the two conspire to send Genji into exile. Though they're successful, the minister dies when Genji is away and after his death, Genji and his allies are able to retake the throne and return to power.