庭番
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わ
ば
ん
Meanings
1
garden watchman; garden keeper
Historical role: a person who guarded or maintained a garden, often in a daimyo's residence or similar estate.
In the Edo period, daimyo residences had garden watchmen who maintained and guarded the gardens.
2
guard of the inner garden
Specifically a guard assigned to the inner garden, often associated with the shogunate's intelligence network (御庭番).
See also: 御庭番
The oniwaban served as the shogun's direct covert agents, guarding the inner garden.