Shinsengumi and "Corporate Backers"

Hi all. Am doing research again, and there's an interesting point I
thought I'd bring up. Before going to Kyoto, on 1/15/Bunkyu 3,
Hijikata Toshizo went to the house of Kojima Shikanosuke (village
headman connected to Kondo and Sato Hikogoro) in Onoji village; he
paid his respects and received a sword.

1/16, Kondo goes, does the same, receives chainmail.

1/17, Okita and Yamanami do the same, and receive other items.

(Oishi Manabu, "Shinsengumi," (Tokyo: Chuokoron-shinsha, 2001), p. 67)

This ties into the important role that the Tama people were to play in
the unit's existence. Almost like "corporate backers."

-M.

If you are new to the mailing list or haven't had a chance to read this
summary yet, then please visit :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SHQ/message/3400 and click on the link
to the uploaded file "The Farmers of Edo and the Warriors in Kyoto" a very
old article I wrote for shinsengumihq.com years ago.

It further explors the Tama network and elaborates on the issue myoe
posted.