Hijikata Toshizou

Hijikata Toshizou Yoshitoyo

• 1835-1869
• Shinsengumi Fukuchou also known as Oni Fukuchou
• Born in Musashi Province, Tama in the village of Hino
• Parents were wealthy farmers
• Was brought up by sister’s family because his parents died early. Father before he was born and mother five years later
• Met Kondou via Sato (Sato was married to his sister) and became Kondou’s student and will stay in the Shieikan starting 1859
• Joins the Roshitai in 1863 with Kondou
• Becomes the Fukuchou of the Shinsengumi
• Said to devise the laws in the Shinsengumi, was enforcer of the official discipline within the group by instituting “internal inspections”
• In 1868 commanded the troops in the Battle of Toba Fushimi as Kondou was in a hospital in Osaka. Suffered a defeat there by the Satsuma and Choshu clan and was forced to retreat to Edo
• After the defeat at Katsunama, he used a fake name Naito Hayato and organized the Koyou Chibuntai
• After Kondou’s surrender in Nagerayama, he fights from place to place and heads up north to Aizu
• Leaves Aizu to join the shogunate fleet of Enamoto Takeshi in Hokkaido
• When the Ezo Republic is born, he is appointed as Army Magistrate in 12 months
• The fight continues with the New Government (Imperial) Army and he dies by a snipers bullet on May 11 at Umagami. He was only 35
• Favorite blade was the Izumi Mori Kanesada
• Buddhist name: Saishin indono Makoto Takayoshi Toyohiro Koji
• Grave is in Hino-shi Tokyo, Ishida Temple