Katsura's wife was a famous geisha in Kyoto.

Tuesday, 23 October 2012

everyone must wake up from the dream someday

"Takasugi ran away with his lover.'"

As the Tokugawa shogunate's invasion approached、the Choshu clan fell into panic as this fact spread.

※Maybe this fact (?) was not known until now？

"Katsura seems to be alive."

At the same time、such rumors quickly spread within the Choshu clan.

Katsura Kogoro、a retainer of the Choshu clan、was a patriot from the very beginning of the turmoil at the end of the Edo period、just like Sakamoto (their relationship was good).

And Katsura was one of the leading patriots of the Choshu clan、but he kept a certain distance from the radical actions of his comrades.

※”Nige no Kogoro - 逃げの小五郎”

I don't know if that is his temperament in the first place、it is said that he had the nickname "Kogoro、the quick escaper".※

He was in Kyoto when the Choshu clan sent troops to Kyoto after the Ikedaya incident.

He worked hard to avoid war、but eventually a battle broke out、Choshu was defeated、and he disappeared after this.

※It is said that Katsura was also supposed to participate in the meeting when the Ikedaya Incident broke out、but he arrived at Ikedaya a few hours earlier than he had promised、and no one was there yet、so he went to the nearby Tsushima clan residence(?) where he had a friend and was able to avoid the incident. 2023111318:45(japantime).

Izushi 出石 is located 100 kilometers northwest of Kyoto.

He was hiding there as the owner of a small shop in the village.

It seemed like he was waiting there for an "opportunity".

But maybe not.

He made his living at the shop.

He was also accepted by the residents of the village.

Of course、with a few exceptions (I think they were two young brothers who were acquainted with Katsura)、they did not know Katsura's real identity.

"Katsura Kogoro、a retainer of the Choshu clan.

It's all a dream.

Up to now、and from now on.

When I wake up eye、there is a normal life to me as the owner of a small shop.”

"The Choshu clan is currently in an existential crisis."

That information had already been communicated to him.

"a dream."

However、he didn't move at first.

・・・・・・・・・

By the way there is a story of "Sleeping Beauty".

Everyone has to wake up from their dreams someday.

I don't know what caused him to wake up.

However、he woke up from his dream for living a normal life as the owner of a small shop in the village.

After that、he lived his real life as the revolutionary Katsura Kogoro.

And he became one of the three most important figures of the new Meiji government、named ”Kido Takayoshi”.

Wednesday, 24 October 2012

determined

"Please think about it carefully.

Currently、the Choshu clan is not in a position where it is okay to have internal feuds. 

Now is a precious time for everyone to think all about what is the best way to overcome this predicament."

Katsura、who returned to Choshu、patiently persuaded everyone regardless of the factions within the clan.

Then、when the internal situation had calmed down、Takasugi also returned to Choshu.

If things continued as they were、there was a possibility that a power struggle would begin between Katsura and Takasugi、but Takasugi (in particular) had no ambition to rise、and Katsura naturally became the central figure in organizing the Choshu clan.

Of course、Takasugi originally had a strong sense that "I come from a class that represents the Choshu samurai".

This was the era of the feudal system、so Takasugi didn't need any aspirations to rise up in the first place.

Of course that possibility exists.

(Without a doubt、he was the first person to strike a blow against Japan's feudal system itself.)

More than anything、some time later、Takasugi dies of tuberculosis.

He may have known at this time that he was about to die.

※It's just guesswork、but I think his health wasn't that bad in the eyes of others at this point. 2023111418:39(日本時間)。

One more thing.

Especially from an outsider's point of view、Takasugi suddenly ran away with his lover and then returned as if nothing had happened.

Naturally、this should be an issue that should be criticized.

"Takasugi is that kind of person."

However、in the end、that seems to be the end of the issue.

※It may be that Takasugi's condition was a well-known fact (at least among those close to Takasugi). 2023111515:09(japan time).

・・・・・・・・・

At this time、although there was an incident in which Saigo unilaterally canceled his visit to Choshu、alliance negotiations were of course continuing (there was also the energetic work of Sakamoto、Nakaoka、and others).

"We、the Satsuma clan、pledge to take responsibility for guaranteeing the safety of the Choshu clan's envoys in Kyoto and Osaka."

Finally、it was decided that Katsura would make a secret visit to the Satsuma clan residence in Kyoto in order to conclude an alliance.

Katsura seems to have been reluctant to go to Kyoto at first、due to the history of the Choshu clan's relationship with the Satsuma clan over the past few years and the feelings associated with it.

※Kyoto is where many Choshu people、including many of his friends、died.

However、it is certain that the Tokugawa shogunate will soon invade Choshu again.

It was too obvious.

He resolved to go to Kyoto.