I read on
http://hajime3.hp.infoseek.co.jp/cgi-bin/bbs_06/bbs_06.cgi
(please insert the address into
http://www.nifty.com/globalgate)
Other Shinsengumi boards will also mention "Yamato" and ships and
up until this time fans will post "has anyone read Yamato?"
and the question usually does not spark a conversation, which makes
perfect sense because "Space Battleship Yamato" is a 30 year old
manga/anime which seems to have synthesized WW2 battleships with
spaceships and notable Shinsengumi figuress into new characters.
http://www.desslok.com/INFO/char.htm
reveals the real Japanese names of some of the characters
the names are not just a coincedence--- "makoto" is also painted on
one of the spaceships. Historical figures from the Aizu camp such as
Ed Schnell (Prussian arms dealer) is also in the series.
To learn more about this series please see:
http://www.shipschematics.net/yamato/links.html
Fandom for this series overlaps with Star Trek
::imagine::
Hijikata as Capt. Kirk
(^_^)