http://www.3-hajime.com/nazo5.html
Does “Muroku” exist?
Here is a passage in “Shinsengumi Ibun”
(left hearsay) by Prof. (1) Shibozawa Hiroshi:
“There is a book called ‘Muroku’ which was
quoted utterances of Saitoo Hajime, later known as Yamaguchi Ziroo. He was a masterless samurai from (2) Akashi
in Banshuua and a first-class swordsman in Shinsengumi. Muroku described that Saitoo Hajime was
scolded by Kondoo Isamu when he snidely said ‘I feel very good,’ after killing
Kusu Kojuuroo from behind who was a masterless samurai from Kyoto and worked as
a spy of (3)Choosyuu.”
Does
this book truly exist? First of
all, where and when did Prof. Shibozawa see this “Muroku.” He left three great books in the world
based on the method of dictation and writing by decoding source books. He referred various source books, and he
also described details of these resources.
However, he did not mention anything about the “Muroku.” Nobody knows where and when he saw it
Second,
there is a question about the phrase “Yamaguchi Ziroo.” When Saitoo Hajime became old and he was
in his last year, he named himself Fujita Goroo. Why is “Yamaguchi Ziroo”? Is this Prof. Shibozawa’s
misunderstanding? Or was there the
description in “Muroku” itself?
Third
question is that Saitoo Hajime himself described this. He left no memo or letter. He left only a safe document, “History
of Fujita family,” even for his own descendant. Since Saitoo Hajime was the person who
dared to say little, why did he need to describe anything and leave this for
future?
Last
question is that this is a dictation written by an unknown author. Even if “Muroku” existed, it is not
trustful because of the unknown author.
The important thing to determine the reliability of the record is who
wrote it and whose dictation it is.
Thus,
“Muroku” has many questions, and its existence is also unreliable. I, personally, think Prof. Shibozawa
made “Muroku” by himself. Anyway,
as a person who has pursued Saitoo Hajime, I hope that “Muroku” exists and that
it will appear in the future through the hands of people who have good sense.
(1) In all names, the family name comes
first before the first name.
(2) Today’s
(3)
Today’s Yamaguchi
prefecture
http://www.3-hajime.com/nazo7.html.
Did a woman Yaso
exist?
Here is a record in (1)Ganto Nanken Kanzoku Koseki made during the population survey in January 1872 (Meiji 5).
123 Goko village
Father Yuusuke (dead)
Fujita Goroo, Age 27
Wife Yaso, Age 31 In
The descendant of Sagawa Kanbee gave testimony that Fujita Goroo formally celebrated marriage through an upper matchmaker, Matsudaira Katayasu, and lower matchmakers, Sagawa Kanbee and Yamakawa Hiroshi, at Tokyo in 1874 (Meiji 7). According to this record, he had married with Yaso before this marriage. However, did this woman truly exist?
First, let’s examine what the Kanzoku Koseki is. Due to the (2) Haihanchiken in July 14th in 1971 (Meiji 4), Meiji government disestablished the old clan system, and substituted it with the prefecture system. Consequently, Meiji government made a survey on the population, formed Zinshin family record, and divided people into 4 classes: Koozoku (royal), Kazoku (nobility), Shizoku (samurai), and Heemin (common people) in January 1872. The Kanzoku koseki was made at this time. Although because of this name, people may imagine the exact record like today’s family record, it is hard to say the record is trustful at that time. This record includes many examples that people artificially declared their false names or false classes.
How
about is the case of Fujita Goroo?
His father’s name, Yuusuke and his name, Fujita Goroo are correct. However, Fujita Goroo is recorded as
being 27 years old. Since this
family record was made in 1972 and he was born in Kooka 1 (1844), he should be
(3) 29. Furthermore, even
though it recorded that he went to
Now,
how is the case of Yaso? Is she an
artificial and imaginary feature? Did she exist? If she existed, she got married with Fujita Goroo around
1871, and she divorced with him with some reasons or she had died by 1874. According to the Prof. Akama’s book, “the
mystery of Shinsengumi, Saitoo Hajime,” the elder wife, Yaso, helped a girl to
enter women’s school. With this
testimony, the possibility that Yaso existed is considered to be high.
In
my personal view, Yaso may exist.
She was the Fujita Goroo’s first wife, and, later she divorced with him
with some reasons or died. She was
an anchorage for him who worked as a spy for the police and moved around
There
are still not enough testimonies or records about this, but the future survey
will reveal the truth, and I myself continue this survey.
(1) The name of family record
(2) Disestablishment of the clan system and establishment of the prefecture system
(3) Counted using the old Japanese way of counting age
http://www.3-hajime.com/katari.html.
I inserted contents told by various people as far as I know. Nevertheless, their testimonies are
precious resources because they knew Fujita Goroo in life.
Fujita
Goroo (Telling 1)
It is not self-seeking, but how many people could write even their names
among the group of about 250 masterless samurai who were gathered in (1)
This telling by Saitoo Hajime is extremely rare. Although it is not sure when and to whom
he talked, it is one of the important resources.
(1) The old
name of
(2) This is a
metaphor that one is not enough.
(3) He was
called like this because he governed Aizu (
Fujita
Goroo (Telling 2)
When I learned swordplay at Kondoo’s ashram at (1) Yanagi-machi,
Kohinata, and Koishikawa, I presented to (2) my teacher with a sword
that I bought at a secondhand store in Yotsuya because he seemed to love the
sword very much. Even though the
sword is nameless, he thought it was similar to (3) Kotetsu, and he
treasured it
Saitoo Hajime told about Kotetcu that Kondoo Isamu loved when he met Honda
Taian from Taniyasu village and Kobayashi Sehsyuu from Asakawa town. At that time, Saitoo Hajime worked at
teacher’s college in Ocha-no-mizu.
According to this passage, Saitoo Hajime seems to have had the freedom
of (4) Shieekan before joining Shinsengumi. Moreover, Saitoo Hajime told this story
to Satoo Toshinobu when Satoo visited Saitoo.
(1) The address
of Kondoo’s ashram
(2) The teacher
here is Kondoo.
(3) The name of
the famous sword that Kondoo Isamu loved.
(4) The name of
Kondoo Isamu’s ashram
Fujita
Goroo (Telling 3)
The entire sword was made of iron, and there was a sculpture on the guard
of sword. There is no inscription,
because it seems to have been worn out.
The length may have been about 2 feet and 3 inches.
We do not know when and to whom Saitoo Hajime discussed this. Since this is also about Kondoo Isamu’s
Kotetsu, it is possible that he was talking this at the same time as that of
above passage.
Abe Juuroo’s
telling in (1) Shidan Kaisoku Kiroku
Saitoo Ichiroo/Jiro (Saitoo Hajime) was one of our comrades. Although the “Junnan Rokkoo” said that
he was a spy sent by Kondoo, it was not true. Saitoo Ichiroo was only good at (2) Yuikenjutsu,
and he got along with Kondoo because he also did not care about (3) Kinnoo
or the nation. Saitoo Ichiroo was
untidy with women. He was familiar
with a woman in (4) Shimabara, and since she became a (5) Geisya
in (6) Gion later, he often visited her in Gion. At that time, we lived in
Takadaiji. Because of this woman,
Saitoo Ichiroo escaped from us.
However, one of our members, Itoo (7) Kinoenetaroo, had an idea
for the case of emergency. There
was a man called Mizuno Yataroo from (8) Noosyuu. He was a very strong and good man, and
he used to command three thousand men.
Needless to say, he supported Kinnoo. We correlated with him, and in the case
of emergency, we accepted his offer to send soldiers. Mizuno offered us financial support as
well. On that occasion, Itoo
Kinoenetaroo left 50 yen in a drawer of his desk, and we all went out. While we were absent there, Saitoo
Ichiroo carried out this money, and he did not return. He was such an untidy man, so he spent
all this money for the woman in Gion, and he could not come back. Hence, Saitoo Ichiroo visited Kondoo
Isamu, and told him everything about our secret. Then, Kondoo was surprised at this. Since he felt that he could not leave us
anymore, he decided to attack all of us.
It was the night in November 18th. I was not there because Itoo sent me to (9)
Yamato as a secret detective.
While I was not there, Itoo received an invitation letter for dinner
from Kondoo, and he visited his house. Kondoo seemed to give him the full
treatment. However, on the way Itoo
went home, four people were waiting for him around Shichijoo. All four were Kondoo’s followers. Oishi Kuwajiroo, Niyagawa Shinkichi, and
other two were not clear. They
suddenly appeared, and attacked him from behind. Even when Itoo was injured, he fought
with his own sword. However, it was
four vs. one, and he fought to death.
(The following is omitted)
The survivor of Takadaiji party, Abe, affirmed that Saitoo Hajme was not a
spy, which shows Saitoo’s cleverness as a spy and his reliable character for
the job.
(1) The name of
the record
(2) The name of
the style of swordplay. Both Kondoo
Isamu and Saitoo Hajime used this style.
(3) The idea to
aim to build the emperor-centered nation
(4) A famous
place for prostitute
(5) A kind of
prostitute
(6) A famous
place for prostitute
(7) Or
Kooshitaroo
(8) Today’s
(9) Today’s
Yamakawa
Kenjiroo’s telling
Saitoo Hajime, later Yamaguchi Jiroo, often visited me and talked this
Tenmaya’s story. Since Saitoo
Hajime felt that his enemy would come on that night, he was drinking with
wearing a chain mail. However, when
he got drunk, he was annoyed at his chain glove. Furthermore, he felt it was too
hot. He tried to take off the chain
mail, but he could not do it easily.
While he was trying to take off his chain around his hand, many people
were crushed into his room.
Therefore, he was lucky, and the chain mail became very useful
then. He said:
“In a real fight with real swords, people cannot think how to knock down
their enemy. We just fight off one’s
head (react---do not "think").
While I rampaged around in this evening as in the usual fight, one of
enemies said, ‘he is wearing something.
Don’t cut him, but thrust with sword.’ Therefore, I thought if they started to
thrust me with sword, I would wait for it.”
This is the story that Shibozawa Hiroshi heard from Yamakawa Kenjiroo who
was still in life and 77 years old at that time.
Tsuchida
Keiko’s telling
Mr. Fujita Goroo often visited my parents’ house, the Takamines. He liked drinking very much, and he
always drank when he visited us. He
was very taciturn, tall and thin.
He was dignified, and his attitudes did not deny our expectation. At that time, my father was the
principle of the teacher’s college, and Mr. Fujita Goroo was working as a
regulator there. When it rained,
the school became very crowded because many (1)jinrikisha which came to
pick up students went into the school gate. In such a rainy day, I often saw him
directing the drivers of jinrikisha in order to regulate traffic. (The following is omitted.)
Tsuchida Keiko was a daughter of Takamine Hideo who was called as an Aizu’s
prodigy and later became a genius scholar. Also, she was mother of Tsuchida Kuniyasu
who was the Superintendent General of police.
(1) Rickshaw, a
vehicle pulled by men
Kobayashi
Tochiko’s telling
Uncle, Goroo had long and tufty eyebrows and sharp eyes. He was quiet, and looked taller than his
actual height. He regularly came
back to
Kobayashi Tochiko was the 6th daughter of Takagi
Morinosuke. Takagi Morinosuke was a
younger brother of Saitoo Hajime’s wife, Tokio.
(1) The war
between the old
Fujita
Natsuko’s telling
Fujita Goroo retired the police department and became a guard of the
Fujita Natsuko was a wife of Fujita Minoru who was a grandchild of
Goroo. Mother-in-law, Midori, was a
wife of Tsutomu who was a son of Goroo.
Yagi
Tamesaburoo’s telling 1
I have never seen that Yamazaki Joo (Yamazaki Susumu) uses a stick, but he
was good at Nagamaki which was like (1) Naginata with a short
handle. I have seen that he
rampaged with shaking this Nagamaki.
As a competitor of him, Saitoo Hajime, who was a masterless samurai from
Bansyuu Akashi, often confronted at him.
Kondoo also liked Saitoo Hajime.
I don’t know his style of swordplay, but he was very good at it. He was one of the five greatest
swordsmen in Shinsengumi.
This shows that Saitoo Hajime had an excellent skill in swordplay.
(1) A kind of
Japanese spear
Yagi
Tamesaburoo’s telling 2
The people who stayed my house were 13 people: Serizawa Kamo, Kondoo Isamu,
Yamanami Keesuke, Hijikata Toshizoo, Nagakura, Shinpachi, Okita Sooshi, Noguchi
Kenji, Harada Sanosuke, Inoue Gensaburoo, Toodoo Heesuke, Hirama Shigesuke,
Hirayama Goroo, and Saeki Matasaburoo.
I heard that Niimi Nishiki, Kasuya Shingoroo, and Saitoo Hajime, who
stayed Nanbu Kamejiroo’s house, always stayed and slept at my house. I remember these 13 people and Saitoo
Hajime, but I don’t remember Niimi and Kasuya at all.
It seems that Saitoo Hajime made a strong impression for Yagi
Tamesaburoo. If we assume that this
telling is trustful, although Saitoo Hajime is known to have stayed at Nanbu
Kamejiroo’s house when he joined (1) Rooshi Gumi, the truth that he
stayed Yagi’s house suggests that he was more familiar with members of
Shieekan, such as Kondoo Isamu.
(1) The name of
samurai group
Nakajima
Nobori’s writing
Yamaguchi Jiroo 27 years old
He was a follower of Tokugawa, but later joined Shinsengumi in
This is a note of the part of Yamaguchi Jiroo in (1) “Senyuu Esugata”
written by the member of Shinsengumi, Nakajima Nobori. According to this, Yamaguchi Jiroo was
killed in the war at Nyoraidoo.
(1) The figures
of fellow soldiers
This smell, this shape, an old man is stirred with an old sword alone.
This song is in a songbook, (1) “Shinobugusa,” by Sagawa
Hatako. She sang this song in
memory of Fujita Goroo in life.
Hatako was a daughter of Takagi Morunosuke, and a wife of Naoaki who was
a son of Sagawa Kanbee. She was a
niece of Fujita Goroo.
(1) It means secret
or memory.
After Shinsengumi arrived in Aizu, we continued to fight. Many friends were already dead, and only
14 were left. Now, we should endure
and conquest this difficulty.
Even if we see the castle falls to the enemy, we won’t give up our will.
This is the word of Saitoo Hajime during the fight at Shiokawa. After he arrived in Aizu, he became the
captain of Shinsengumi, and continued fighting. Thus, he insisted on fighting in Aizu
and rejected escaping to
Hieta
Toshiya’s telling 1
Later in
Meiji period, I heard this story (Tenmaya affair) from Saitoo Hajime. Then, he said, “I did not know when the
enemy would come, so I was drinking with a chain mail on. But, when I got drank, I felt too
hot. I was annoyed at the chain, so
I tried to take off it. I tried to
take off the parts on my instep and middle finger, but I could not remove it
easily. I tried couple of times,
but still I could not. When I gave
up taking off it and hold the glass again, the enemy crushed into the
room. The enemy was quite clever
because there was no light and it was a small room. While I rampaged around crazily, I felt
that the enemy’s sword touched me twice or three times. But, since I did not feel any pain, I
continued to fight. Then, I heard
somebody shout, ‘he is wearing something.
Cutting does not work.
Thrust, thrust at him.’
While I thought, ‘God damn you, common,’ the war was already over. Thank to this chain mail, I was not
injured at all. That is a very useful
thing. I heard that you had never
fought with real swords. In a real
fight, it is impossible to make a plan as I attack the first enemy in this way,
and the second enemy in that way.
All we can do is to lose ourselves in cutting and thrusting, and after
the enemy has fallen on the ground, you think you are lucky for the first
time. In short, if you know how to shake
a sword quickly, you are enough to do swordplay, and this quickness determines
who gets the victory. In the
Tenmaya affair, I didn’t even know where and how I knocked down my enemy. Moreover, I didn’t know how many enemies
there were.”
Hieta
Toshiya’s telling 2
Saitoo Hajime is from Bansyuu Akashi, and was a right hand of Kondoo Isamu. He was a captain of the third party, but once he falsely withdrew from Shinsengumi, and work as a spy in the group of (1) Goryooeji of (2) Gesshin-in. Soon after we arrived at the station in Horikawa, I found somebody taking off his shoes at the back door. Since some members bowed to him or took care of him, I wondered who he was. In the evening, at dinner, a notice was put on the wall. It said, “Captain, Saitoo Hajime, who traveled for an official purpose, came back today. His position is restored as before.” Therefore, I thought that the man I saw a short while ago was Saitoo Hajime. His swordplay was excellent.
(1)
The group who guarded the royal family’s house.
(2)
The name of place
From “Shinsengumi’s
account”
Saitoo was
the first or second best swordsman in Shinsengumi, and he had a habit of killing.
This was
Nishimura Kanehumi’s impression of Saitoo Hajime. Nishimura described his impression like
this in the section of assassination of Takeda Kanryuusai in “Shinsengumi’s
account.” Of course, there was a
prejudice. However, this judgment
may be natural because Shimsengumi was known to be wild and rough, and Saitoo
Hajime was one of the best swordsmen in Shinsengumi. Importantly, this also valued his skill
as a swordsman.
http://www.3-hajime.com/hitobito.html
What kinds
of people are there around Saitoo Hajime?
1. Family and relatives
Shinoda Yaso
She was the
first wife of Saitoo Hajime.
According to the Jinshin family record made in March 1872 (Meiji 5), she
was 31 years old at that time.
Counting backward, she was born in 1842 (Tempo 13). However, considering the fact that
Fujita Goroo was recorded to be 27 years old, and she was 4 years older than
him, she was born in 1840 (Tempo 11).
She was the first daughter of Shinoda Uchizoo who was a samurai in
Aizu. After her older brother died
in (1) Kinmon no hen, and her father died of disease, she loved with
other brothers. Later, they moved
to Tonami. In Tonami, first she
lived at the house of Ueda Shichiroo who was a son of Ueda Hachiroouemon, but
later moved to the house of Kurasawa Heijiuemon who was a counselor in Tonami
clan. Fujita Goroo also lived at
Kurasawa’s house. They got married
interceded by Kurasawa on August 25th in 1871. Later, they moved to Ueda Shichiroo’s
house on February 10th in 1873.
On
(1)
Political change in 1864, the war between Aizu and
Satsuma vs. Choosyuu
Takagi Tokio
Saitoo
Hajime’s second wife. She was born
on April 15th in 1846 (Kooka 3). She was the first daughter of a couple,
Takagi Kojuuroo and Katsuko. Her
real name was Sada, and served for a princess, Teru, as a teacher
of writing. Niijima
Yaeko talked about Tokio in her reminiscence talking. When the castle was besieged during the Aizu
War in 1868 (Keioo 4), both Tokio and Yaeko stayed in the castle. “After entering the castle, women were first
taking care of injured people.
However, I heard in the evening that we would sortie at night so that I
started to cut my hair in order to join the fighting. When I had a trouble in cutting my hair,
the sister of Takagi Morinosuke, Tokio helped me cut my hair.” This time, Tokio’s younger brother,
Morinosuke, was a member of group organized by younger boys in the castle. After the war, Tokio moved to Tonami
with other samurai of Aizu. In
1874, Tokio got married with Saito Hajime through an upper-matchmaker,
Matsudaira Katayasu and lower-matchmakers, Yamakawa Hiroshi and Sagawa
kanbee. She had the first son,
Tsutomu on February 15th in 1876, and the second son, Tsuyoshi on
October 4th in 1879, and the third son, Tasuo, on July 1st
in 1886. In 1907, Tokio planted
cherry blossoms with ten women from Aizu at
(1)
1 sen = 1/100 yen
(2)
The record of Japanese Women
Takagi Morinosuke
Saitoo
Hajime’s brother-in-law. He was
born as the first son of Takagi Kojuuroo in
Yamaguchi Yuusuke
Saitoo
Hajime’s father. The birth year is
unknown. According to “the history
of Fujita family,” He was from lower samurai’s family in Akasi. He handed over patrimony to his younger
sister, and he went to
Yamaguchi Masu
Saitoo
Hajime’s mother. Everything is
unknown except that she was a farmer in
Yamaguchi Hiroaki
Saitoo
Hajime’s older brother. The first
volume of (1) “Tokyo Kyooikushi Shiryoo Taikee” inserts Hiroaki’s
application to open the school.
According to this, he was 38 years old in 1873 (Meiji 6). Counting backward, he was born in 1836
(Tempo 7). However, his resume
reserved in Fukushima Local Curt showed that he was born on June 1st
in 1843 (Tempo 14). Considering the
age difference between brothers, the possibility that he was born in 1843 is
higher. According to his resume, he
was known by the name of Kimata, and he worked for the Department of the
Interior in 1874 (Meiji 7). Later,
he worked for the Ministry of Finance and tax office. Then, he worked as a counselor of
Higashishirakawa-gun in
(1)
Sooma Katsu (Hisa)
Saitoo
Haime’s older sister. She was born
in 1842 (Tempo 13). Later, she got
married with Sooma Tshiaki, and had four children, such as Teru and Toshikazu. The first child, Teru was born on
October 7th in 1863 (Bunkyuu 3), which means that she got married
before 1863. Later, she changed her
name to Hisa. She died on June 1st
in 1875. She was 33 years old. Her grave is at Ryoosenin temple at
Syoonan-cho, Higashikatsuchika-gun, Chiba-pre.
Yamaguchi Yukiko
The first
daughter of Hiroaki who is an older brother of Saitoo Hajime. She was born in 1869 (Meiji 2). She was an elementary school teacher,
but she died of disease. Due to her death, Yamaguchi family was extinct. The information about the Yamaguchs and
the place of family graves is unknown.
Sooma Toshiaki
Saitoo
Haime’s brother-in-law. He worked
for Kasama clan as a doctor, but later he opened his own hospital at Iida-machi
in
2. People in Aizu
Matsudaira Katayasu
He was born on
(1) Today’s
(2) Today’s
(3) A political group who aim to respect emperor and drive out of the foreign force.
(4) Today’s
(5)
A part of today’s Mie prefecture
(6)
A part of today’s
(7)
To return the right to govern from Edo Bakuhu to
emperor.
He was born
on September 5th in 1831.
When he was a child, his name was Masaru. Later, he named himself as Kiyonao. His father was Aizu’s samurai, Sagawa
Naomichi, and his mother was Toshiko.
When his lord, Matsudaira Katayasu, was appointed as a guard of
(1)
The name of post
(2)
The name of post
(3)
The movement to attack
He was born
on November 6th in 1845 (Kooka 2). Brother of Oyama Yutematsu and Yamakawa
Kenjiroo. He was known by the name
of Yoshichiroo. Another name as a
poet was Toryuushi. He became an
aide of Matsudaira Katayasu, and dealt with difficult problems. He was chosen as a member of dispatch to
(1)
The island in the north of
(2)
The idea to drive out of the foreign force.
He was born
on July 17th in 1854 (Ansee 1).
Younger brother of Yamakawa Hiroshi and Oyama Sutematsu. During the Boshin War, he joined
(1)Byakkotai, but due to his age, he was discharged. He went to the
(1)
Army group organized by boys in teenagers.
3.
Police
He was born
on May 11th in 1834 (Tempo 5).
He was from (1) Satsuma.
He had other names, such as Seenoshin or Ryuusen. He was the first son of Satsuma samurai,
Kawaji Toshiai, and Etsuko. He was
in full activity in the Kinmon No Hen and the Toba and Fushimi War. Because of this activity, Saigoo Takamri
came to know him. After Meiji government
arose, he became a president of
(1)
Today’s
(2)
Suggested draft
http://www.3-hajime.com/seikaku.html
How were
Saitoo Hajime’s life attitudes? These
are based on the stories of his descendant and people who knew him in life.
Saitoo
Hajime’s life attitudes were exactly like samurai
1. Even
when it was very hot, he never bared his one shoulder or (1) wound a towel
around his neck.
2. When he
wore shoes, he always wore them decently, and never walked with dragging his
shoes.
3. When he
sat down, he always (2) sat on his heels , he never sat cross-legged or
sideways.
4. He
always used clean loincloth. It was
changed everyday. It was very
white, starchy, no wrinkle, and dried in the sun. It was as if ironed well.
5. Usually,
he was extremely quiet.
6. He liked
to drink. When he drank with Takagi
Morinosuke or Yamakawa Kenjiroo, he often talked about the Boshin War sadly,
angrily, and excitingly.
7. When he
worked for the Women’s Teacher’s College, he regulated the traffic around the
gate in a rainy day.
They show
that he was very neat and quiet.
(1)
This towel around his neck must be used to wipe his
sweat.
(2)
Seeza, Japanese formal style of sitting.
http://www.3-hajime.com/dekigoto10.html
When he died…
(
Saitoo Hajime died of stomach ulcer as Fujita Goroo in
Septermber 28th in 1915 (Taisyoo 15). He was 72 years old. He was a neat and quiet swordsman. The
way he died was very impressive.
While he liked to drink and talk about the Boshin War with Takagi
Morinosuke or Yamakawa Kenjiroo, he was suffered from stomach ulcer in his last
year. When no medicine worked any
more, he realized his time was near and had his family carry his body to
tokonoma (alcove). There he sat on
his heels on Japanese cushions.
Since he was hard to breathe because of phlegm in his throat, Midori who
was a wife of his first son, Tsutomu, had to remove this phlegm with chopsticks
with cotton around them without break.
However, his stormy life finally ended.
This behavior in his death shows his awareness as
Mugai style swordsman.
There are two Mugai style swordsmen who died in the
same way. One is Kimata, the Second
of Mugai style who was adopted by Tsuji Gettan. Tsuji Gettan was the person who started
the Mugai style. The other is
Morishita Gonbee who was from (1) Tosa and one of leading students of
Tsuji Gettan. These two persons
also died with sitting on their heels in the same way as Saitoo did. It showed his strong will to continue to
challenge himself until his death.
His way of death is the most salient example to show Saitoo Hajime’s
life.
(1)
Today’s Koochi prefecture
http://www.3-hajime.com/dekigoto13.html
In 1877,
Saigoo Takamori, who lost the (1) Seekanron and quit being a politician,
raised a riot against the Meiji Government with people who had been the (2) Shizoku
and had dissatisfaction at the new system.
At that time, most of policemen consisted of people from Satsuma. However, since most of them went back to
Satsuma with Saigoo, the Meiji Government hurriedly recruited new
policemen. Therefore, many samurai
who had served for Edo Bakuhi were also recruited. Not only the
samurai in Aizu or Kuwana but also the members of Shinsengumi were recruited,
and they formed the Shinsen Ryodan. When Kitino Toshiaki, who was in the
side of Saigoo, heard this name, he was surprised that he thought Shinsengumi
still existed and it was coming to attack them. However, Saitoo
Hajime was not in this group. He
served as an inspector, and he was in the (3) Bungo police troop. Hagiwara Sadamoto commanded this group,
and Saitoo Hajime commanded 107 people in the second small group of the big
group as Fujita Goroo. He attacked
the enemy in Mikawautchi (Usuki county in
(1)
The movement to
(2)
The samurai class
(3)
Today’s
Reporter,
Oba, who reported in Bungo from July 1st to 7th, mailed
this article.
This is a
report in the front in Bungo. They
set a position for the attack of Mikawauchi. On July 12th, all soldiers
around there went to Mikawauchi.
The forth policemen army was divided into two groups. One group attacked the enemy from the
front, and the other attached them from their back. The enemy, about 30 people, gave up
fighting, and ran away. Taking
advantage of this victory, the loyalist army took over the fort in
Mikawauchi. When they advanced more
toward