Well, now Soujirou doesn't have to have do pretend swordfighting with his superior. More time for him to train and maintain those hard muscles for Chiyo.
If anyone is interested in a good period piece (Jidaigeki) about feudal Japan, The Twilight Samurai (2002) is a decent watch. The 2010 remake of Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai, is also quite good, if not more grisly.