Japanese Samurai History - Okimoto and Byankottai

#1573 [2003-03-08 18:25:52]

Okimoto and Byankottai

by mahamayuri

Greetings

At the site related to this list, I found that Okimoto family is somehow
related with the Clan of the Mori House!

Was there a crest for Okimoto House related with the Mori Clan?
I don't know very well how Japanese Heraldic system works, but it seems to
be very different than the westerners counterparts.

What people here knows about Byankottai?
(The White Tigers Brigade).
A group of youngsters Samurais (the last ones), who was loyal to the Shogun,
and fough to their deaths the threason of the Imperial Family against the
Shogun, and against the samurais.

Am I right or wrong?

thanks

Octavio Augusto Okimoto Alves de Carvalho

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#1574 [2003-03-08 19:05:40]

Re: Okimoto and Byankottai

by iganokami

Okimoto clan and the Mori? Could you be mistaking Mori Motonari's
older brother, Mori Okimoto, as a connection to an 'Okimoto clan'?

--- In samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com, Meðal Mikit Stór-ljon
Oddhinsson wrote:

> Greetings
>
> At the site related to this list, I found that Okimoto family is

somehow

> related with the Clan of the Mori House!
>
> Was there a crest for Okimoto House related with the Mori Clan?
> I don't know very well how Japanese Heraldic system works, but it

seems to

> be very different than the westerners counterparts.
>
> What people here knows about Byankottai?
> (The White Tigers Brigade).
> A group of youngsters Samurais (the last ones), who was loyal to

the Shogun,

> and fough to their deaths the threason of the Imperial Family

against the

> Shogun, and against the samurais.
>
> Am I right or wrong?
>
> thanks
>
> Octavio Augusto Okimoto Alves de Carvalho

[Previous #1573] [Next #1575]

#1575 [2003-03-09 07:36:38]

Re: Okimoto and Byankottai

by mahamayuri

In fact is what I though.
I know little or almost nothing about the history of my family since my
grandfather died without speaking anything. He loved Japan, since he lived
at Brazil since his adulthood, but speaking japanese, but dealed things of
the past as it was already buried.

And searching on the web, it was the only place I saw "okimoto" mentioned in
History at the Samurai site..

This was the only clue I have, and I take it a little serious enough to
ask, because Okimoto family (not a clan) had its origin at the same region
of the Motonari's one. So, I am researching a possible conection.

Very around Fukuoka region. If is a mistake or not, I don't know yet.

It is about oyakoko. Even to know a little more about my origins, is to know
more about my soul, soul of my family, and the conection with one of my
roots that is Japan.

BTW, does anybody know any online reference to Byankottai History?

thanks in Advance

Octavio Augusto Okimoto Alves de Carvalho
São Paulo - SP Brazil

Date: Sun, 09 Mar 2003 03:05:40 -0000
From: "iganokami" <intp@...>
Subject: Re: Okimoto and Byankottai

Okimoto clan and the Mori? Could you be mistaking Mori Motonari's
older brother, Mori Okimoto, as a connection to an 'Okimoto clan'?

--- In samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com, Meðal Mikit Stór-ljon
Oddhinsson wrote:

> Greetings
>
> At the site related to this list, I found that Okimoto family is

somehow

> related with the Clan of the Mori House!
>
> Was there a crest for Okimoto House related with the Mori Clan?
> I don't know very well how Japanese Heraldic system works, but it

seems to

> be very different than the westerners counterparts.
>
> What people here knows about Byankottai?
> (The White Tigers Brigade).
> A group of youngsters Samurais (the last ones), who was loyal to

the Shogun,

> and fough to their deaths the threason of the Imperial Family

against the

> Shogun, and against the samurais.
>
> Am I right or wrong?
>
> thanks
>
> Octavio Augusto Okimoto Alves de Carvalho

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#1576 [2003-03-09 10:43:03]

Re: [samuraihistory] Okimoto and Byankottai

by soshuju

Octavio-
Lets say you are not exactly right but you are close. The
Byakko Tai were members of an irregular unit made up of boys 13-17
created for the defense of Aizu han. In 1868 when the forces of the
Tokugawa Shogun and those supporting his cause were pushed out of
Edo, many fled north and gathered around the banner of Matsudaira
Katamori,the lord of Aizu. As the Impperial armies of Satsuma, Choshu
and others pushed north one by one the northern han opposed to them
succumbed.
The Byakko Tai were sent to the outer line of defense on the
far side of iimoriyama hill, on the outskirts of Wakamatsu, to
relieve/reinforce regular troops fighting there. They were too little
too late, suffering many losses they were put in retreat. When they
reached the crest of the hill they could see Wakamatsu-jo burning.
Thinking all was lost, their homes, their mothers and sisters, they
resolved to die like men. 19 young boys either stabbed each other in
the throat or committed seppuku on the spot.
We know their story because one of their number survived into
old age, though he moved far from Aizu as an adult he asked to be
buried among his friends as his dying wish. So there are 20 Names on
the memorial.

Tom

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