It's December, time for 'Chushingura,' the legendary 18th century tale of the 47 ronin, to be resurrected on TV and capture viewers' hearts again.</PARAGRAPH> <PHOTO> <TABLE WIDTH='300' ALIGN='RIGHT' BORDER='0'> <TR> <TD><IMG ALT='News photo' BORDER='0' SRC='../images/photos2009/nn20091222i1a.jpg' WIDTH='300' HEIGHT='506'/></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT SIZE='1'><B>Re-enacters: People dressed as samarai march from JR Tamachi Station to Sengakuji Temple in Minato Ward, Tokyo, on Dec. 14 to mark the day in 1702 when 47 ronin avenged their leader's death. They were buried at the temple after killing themselves. </B> SATOKO KAWASAKI PHOTO</FONT></TD> </TR> </TABLE> </PHOTO> <PARAGRAPH>Following are basic questions and answers about 'Chushingura' and why it remains popular:</PARAGRAPH> <PARAGRAPH><B>What is the story?</B></PARAGRAPH> <PARAGRAPH> 'Chushingura' is based on the Genroku Ako Incident. In 1701, feudal lord Asano Takuminokami Naganori drew his short sword and cut shogunate official Kira Kozukenosuke Yoshihisa, who was accompanying an envoy from the Emperor in Kyoto sent to visit the shogun in Edo –

. The shogunate ordered Asano to commit ritual suicide over the breach in acceptable behavior.

On Dec. 14, 1702, 47 samurai followers of Asano took revenge on Kira and killed him. They then subsequently dispatched themselves.

Who were Asano and Kira, and what was their relationship?

Asano was a feudal lord of the Ako clan, a domain located in present-day Hyogo Prefecture. He was also a "kyo-o-yaku," a guardian of Imperial envoys sent to Edo.