And this may be natural、but there is no anecdote that Yamanami and Ito were laughing at it.

Tuesday, 8 January 2013

achieve

In effect、Japan succumbed to the threat of American military force (or so it was publicized in Japan at the time)、abandoned its isolationist policy that had lasted for over 200 years、and a large number of "imperialist - naturally、Japanese people during the isolationist period also knew about it through written word and hearsay" Westerners and Western culture suddenly began to flow into Japan、which naturally led to a rise in Japanese nationalism.

"The Tokugawa shogunate、which cannot refuse the unreasonable demands of the barbarians who have come aboard just four black ships、is a disgrace to Japan and cannot be trusted.

Now is the time for us true patriots to rally behind Tenshi-sama and drive the barbarians out of Japan."

As a result、patriots who sought to save the country gathered in Kyoto、where the Emperor resided、one after another、hoping to use the authority of the Imperial Court to change the policies of a weakened (or so it seemed) Tokugawa shogunate in the direction they desired.

※When abandoning its policy of national isolation、the Tokugawa shogunate, unusually、formally inquired of the Imperial Court in Kyoto as to whether this was appropriate, and tried to make it appear as if the shogunate had carried out its actions at the behest of the Imperial Court.

The Tokugawa Shogunate's policy of national isolation、which it had initiated of its own accord、was believed to have been Japan's national policy since the Age of the Gods, and so the patriots were naturally infuriated by the Shogunate's underhanded and cowardly actions.

And naturally、this series of actions by the Tokugawa shogunate set a precedent for the rest of the time. 2024061621:52(japan time).

And among these "patriots who sought to save the country" were a fair number of criminals and mentally ill people.

They quickly formed groups、"give us military funds for our national cause、for which we are putting our lives on the line" and began threatening and killing nobles and merchants.

"If those lunatics were left alone、it would have jeopardized the reputation of the Tokugawa Shogunate、and there was no telling what unforeseen events might occur to the people of Kyoto、and above all、Tenshi-sama.

I believe go-kougi must deal with this situation as soon as possible.

In that regard、I have a plan.

There are many true patriots in Edo、therefore go-kougi will recruit them widely and make them guardians of the royal castle."

Kiyokawa Hachiro、a representative figure of "patriots who sought to save the country," used his friendship with the shogunate official Yamaoka Tesshu to submit this opinion to the upper echelons of the Tokugawa shogunate in Edo.

・・・・・・・・・

"Hey、what do you think？

I joined the Shinsengumi because I heard they were a loyal organization dedicated to protecting the emperor and ensuring the safety of the royal castle.

However、when I joined the Shinsengumi、I found out what we actually do.

Isn't what we do on a daily basis only to persecute like-minded true patriots and to help the arrogant and arrogant power that is tormenting Tencho-sama？

This should not be tolerated.

Shouldn't we listen to their opinions sincerely？"

・・・・・・・・・

"Would you kill him？"

"Yes. It's a serious matter that affects morale within tai. I will punish him according to the Shinsengumi's laws."

"I don't trust his motives for joining the Shinsengumi、but he's not a spy for anyone. At least he's been an fine Shinsengumi member up until now."

"I think so、too."

"Hijikata-san、we were the ones who recognized them as comrades and welcomed them in、why don't you have a heart-to-heart talk with all members of the Shinsengumi？

So if anyone wants to leave the Shinsengumi、shouldn't they be allowed to leave and do whatever they want？

Wouldn't it be fine even if the result of the discussion was that only the members of the Shieikan remained？

If we can no longer survive in Kyoto、let's all wrap our tails around each other and run back to Edo、where we can live happily from day to day in that poor dojo."

"Yamanami-san、please don't say any more.

I don't want to incriminate you."

"I see… that’s right.

Hijikata-san、I will in my room、so please call me when the time comes. I'll act as the prosecutor."

・・・・・・・・・

Yamanami-san、why didn't you stop the execution because you were there？

He was certainly a little thoughtless、but his loyalty to the Emperor was in no way inferior to ours.

To needlessly take the life of a promising young man、isn't it the attitude of a senior to a comrade to help him develop his good qualities and correct his bad points through our own daily behavior？"

"Ito san、it was me who decided to execute him with kyokuchō's approval、so you should tell me that."

"You simply made that decision in accordance with the Shinsengumi's regulations as part of your duties、so it is unreasonable to blame you.

However、in human society、it is not enough to just dogmatically apply laws and regulations to those who have committed a crime.

It is our role as true comrades to say this directly."

Yamanami could see that Hijikata's mouth was smiling a little.

"Kondo-san、it is true that the atrocities currently being committed in Kyoto by those backed by Choshu are extremely severe.

However、most of their barbaric acts were due to their ignorance、as they did not know the truth about the Empire due to their living environment.

It is also true that、although they are a very small number、there are people among them who have deep learning and a strong sense of respect for the Emperor."

"Ito-san、you seem to know a lot about their internal affairs."

"Hijikata-san、I patrol the city of Kyoto every day, and within the scope of my authority、I also read reports from excellent intelligence agencies. If I consider these with an open mind, isn't it only natural that I would reach such a conclusion？

Hijikata-san、even if we suppress them with violence stronger than theirs、it won't solve anything unless we reform the structure of society.

We need to carefully select our opponents、but isn't it time for the Shinsengumi to talk to them and cooperate with them to find a way to improve this completely chaotic society？

Isn't that the best way to show loyalty to the Imperial Court and the Tokugawa Shogunate？

Don't you think so、Yamanami-san？"

"Huh？ ah、I wonder..."

Yamanami、absentmindedly thinking about the cherry blossoms in full bloom at Edo Oji Asukayama、was unable to respond well to Ito's sudden question.

"Now that I think about it、he was looking at me like Ito-san is looking at me now."

Strangely、this moment reminded him of the cherry blossom viewing party that everyone at Shieikan had gone to.

※☟Original text as of 7:28am, 15/12/2018(jaoan time). 2024061708:46(japan time).

Tuesday, 8 January 2013

achieve

The purpose of the establishment of Shinsengumi.
That was the maintenance of security in Kyoto.
It was also the escort of Emperor.

Ｗhen Shinsengumi establishmented、conflict of Tokugawa and Choshu did not even have surfaced yet.

Reverence for the emperor.
They were able to match by it.

・・・・・・・・・

Time had passed.
Conflict of Tokugawa and Choshu had been definitively.
　
"True king of Japan is the Emperor not Tokugawa.
Choshu has claimed so.
We also think so.

As a result、we might have worked to only strengthen the power of the Tokugawa until now.
We might be deviate from the idea of reverence for the Emperor.　
We should listen to the opinions of them for reverence for the Emperor."
Such thinking groups existed in Shinsengumi.
　
Ito joined there.
He also had it thought so.　
And weakening trend of the Tokugawa had begun gradually.

He joined Shinsengumi with his comrades.
Therefore Ito faction was present from the beginning.
　
"We should change the policy of Shinsengumi.
If this goes on、we fall behind the times.　
Kondo and Hijikata can not understand it.
We ought to achieve this in cooperation with Ito."

Wednesday, 9 January 2013

underestimated

"It's impossible for me to chase after him alone.

How many routes do you think there are to return from Kyoto to Edo？"

Okita was unusually frank in claiming this、but it wasn't just because this mission was too difficult.

"Besides、Yamanami-san is Sōchō of the Shinsengumi. If he claims that 'this is an important task for the Shinsengumi,' he has almost a free pass and can use horses and fast boats as much as he likes. By now、he must have long since gone beyond our reach.

"Ah、that makes sense.

Yamazaki-kun、please check immediately for any signs that Yamanami-san used a fast horse、fast boat、or fast palanquin."

Hijikata ordered Yamazaki in a calm voice.

One day in the latter half of March according to our current calendar、it was well after sunset when it was discovered that Yamanami had deserted from the Shinsengumi、who was off-duty that day (when Ito visited Yamanami's room to have a drink with him、he found a letter addressed to Kondo Isami on his desk).

※ Because Ito joined the Shinsengumi with the newly created title (among the Shinsengumi) of Sanbō、the position of Yamanami、who held a similar job title、became unclear、and Ito seemed to be concerned about this、thinking that he had been "disrespectful to Yamanami-san". 2024061821:56(japan time).

At this time、Kondo was in his "official residence" near the Shinsengumi camp、but Hijikata immediately sent a messenger and opened the letter in front of all the Shinsengumi executives who were present.

"Even if we search for him now、it's likely that he is staying at an inn somewhere、so we will likely end up missing him after all.

Souji、you were particularly close to Yamanami-san.

He is a master of the Hokushin Itto-ryu style of swordsmanship、but he probably won't resist if you are the only one pursuing him.

I'll prepare a horse、and you can start pursuing Yamanami-san tomorrow when the sky begins to lighten.

Of course、do your best to avoid bringing too much shame to the Shinsengumi to the public."

After hearing the details、Kondo immediately gave this order to Okita.

・・・・・・・・・

"Souji、do you remember the route we took when we first came from Edo to Kyoto？"

"Yes、I remember roughly."

"Only search that road、ignore the others.

And the deadline is 4 days.

Think of the last day as a backup day.

Whether or not he is found、you must return within four days.

Soji、you understand？"

"I reassured him、'Yes、Hijikata-san、everything is clear'、but isn't this too much of an indefinite mission？

Okita thought this as he galloped along the highway on horseback、but in Ōtsu、about 10 kilometers from the Shinsengumi base、a voice called out to him from behind、"Okita-kun！'

"Okita-kun、you've come to arrest me、haven't you？

If so、where are you going？"

Yamanami said this with a smile and stuffed the remaining mitarashi dango into his mouth.

"Yamanami-san、are you eating something sweet like that first thing in the morning again？"

Okita retorted with a shocked look on his face.

Then、with a smile on his face、he has approached Yamanami、who was sitting on a chair in front of the dango shop.

'Hmm？I think I said the same thing to Yamanami-san here before….

Oh、Otsu was the last place we stayed the night before entering Kyoto.'

"Why are you still here？"

"My wife is with me.

I was thinking of starting a family with her in Edo."

"Wife？"

"Oh、she's a familiar geisha I've known since I came to Kyoto、and we became husband and wife yesterday.

I'd been casually talking to her about this trip for a while、but when it came down to it、it took a lot of time to prepare.

And at a woman's walking speed、the journey was inevitably slow."

"If that was the case、you should have taken a fast boat to Osaka and looked for a ship bound for Edo."

"That's not it. I've been in too much of a hurry these past few years.

As we walked together at my wife's pace、I was happy to see that we were a married couple. That's how it is."

"Where is your wife？"

"My wife is staying at the inn there.

I came here to eat dango because I remember the taste of it at this dango shop that opens at dawn.

Now that I've eaten dango、can I go back to my wife？"

"Sure、go ahead."

It was around noon the next day when the two of them returned to the Shinsengumi base.

※☟Original text as of 7:28am, 15/12/2018(jaoan time). 2024061823:33(japan time).

Wednesday, 9 January 2013

underestimated

"After all、Kondo and Hijikata are just swordsman.

They are not academic.

They can not understand the current state of this country.

I can obtained the cooperation of Ito's group now.

I have to do it as soon as possible."

Yamanami began internal reform of Shinsengumi.

At this time he might underestimated Kondo and Hijikata.

As a result、he had been lost the power struggle.

　

Mere swordsman made the huge organization.

He should was pay attention to this fact.

(Of course there was also his contribution.)　

He had been cornered by Hijikata.

Finally he escaped from Shinsengumi.

But it was failured、he was taken back to Shinsengumi base.

His kaisyaku was doing by his good friend Okita.　

・・・・・・・・・

Even after this incident、Ito was a large executive of Shinsengumi.

Before the Second Conquest to Choshu of Tokugawa、negotiation of Tokugawa and Choshu were followed at Hiroshima.

Kondo participated it as a member of Tokugawa (as Intelligence services).

Kondo's important staff was Ito at this time.

"They are not academic."

Ito also might thought so.

Later he makes the same mistake.

※If they spend a lot of time together and do not know the real value of the opponent、it's a stupid group as a whole.

Thursday, 10 January 2013

persuade

The Second Choshu Expedition ended in a complete failure、symbolizing the decline of the Tokugawa Shogunate、which had held near-absolute hegemony for 250 years.

"Only a fool would stay on a sinking ship instead of escaping."

Of course、after this、such movements became active in places of all sizes、but it cannot be said that such thoughts did not occur to the members of the Shinsengumi.

"The time has now come to realize my original ambition even before I joined the Shinsengumi."

Even within the Shinsengumi、there were secretly increasing efforts to distance themselves from the Shinsengumi using all kinds of reasons、but there was a clause in the Shinsengumi's regulations.

"The Shinsengumi will not allow anyone to withdraw from the squad.

Those who break the rules will be beheaded."

Many people、including Yamanami、have been executed under this clause (although the method of execution has not always been beheading).

・・・・・・・・・

"Kondo-san、today I want to pick a fight with you(lol)."

One afternoon、Ito visited Kondo's private room at the military base and started a conversation with Kondo and Hijikata.

"Kondo-san、considering the current situation、isn't it a problem for the Shinsengumi to continue to exist as a single organization as before？

No、there is no problem with continuing to exist as one organization、but in this increasingly chaotic situation、is it the right attitude for us、who protect the security of the royal castle、to continue to appear that way on the surface？

"Sorry、I don't quite understand what you mean、what do you mean？"

"Hijikata-san、in short、I would like to humbly establish a Shinsengumi detachment solely for the defense of the Imperial Palace.

Of course、I would like to do this with the approval of not only you but all the other people involved."

"The establishment of a Shinsengumi detachment？"

"Yes Kondo-san、the establishment of a secret detachment.

Every time I patrol the city、I have always been concerned about the lax security around the Imperial Palace.

I dare say that there are no Japanese people who would dare harm Tenshi-sama、but you all know better than anyone that there were Japanese people who tried to abduct Tenshi-sama？

We are now in a situation where it would not be surprising if something like the Ikedaya Incident were to happen again at any time."

"I see what you're saying、but why 'secret'？"

"If we don't do that、the fish won't take the bait、Hijikata-san.

Naturally、if we create such an organization、enemy spies will continue to try to infiltrate it、just as we are doing.

We have well-established ways of dealing with them as an organization、but I don't think that's enough anymore."

"Not enough？"

"Yes、I think it's time for us to become bait and jump into the enemy's mouth. 

I want to create an organization that can have friendly exchanges with Satsuma and Choshu.

Only then will we be able to find a way out of the situation."

"Of course our investigators are doing a good job、but don't you think they're just as well-equipped to deal with spies as we are？"

"Yeah、I think so.

But unlike us、they're big slow bulls、and they've got a lot of different people inside.

That's why I want to peacefully leave the Shinsengumi and peacefully establish a new organization to guard the Imperial Palace that has friendly relations with the Shinsengumi.

Yes、that's why I have to be the one to carry out this mission."

"Ito-san、I understand your aspirations very well！"

Hijikata was about to say something、but Kondo raised a loud voice to interrupt him.

Ito-san、as the head of the Shinsengumi、I approve of your plan to establish a new organization.

As comrades with the same aspirations、let's continue to work together for Tenchou-sama."

"Thank you Kondo-san. 

In that regard、I have a plan for reorganizing the organization. Could you please listen to it？"

・・・・・・・・・

Thus、on April 24, 1867 in our modern calendar、Ito formed a new organization called "Goryo Eji"、whose main purpose was to guard the Imperial Palace.

"Ito-kun、I'd like to join the Goryoeji too？"

Soon after、Takeda Kanryusai、one of the Shinsengumi's senior leaders、secretly approached Ito about the idea.

"'We do not make private transfers between mutual organizations.'

As you know very well、upon establishing Goryo Eji、I made this pledge with Kondo Kyokucho.

If Takeda-san wishes to transfer from Shinsengumi to Goryo Eji、please obtain permission from Kondo Kyokucho and Hijikata Fuku Kyokucho.

Also、anyone who wishes to join Goryo Eji must take not only a martial arts exam、but also an academic exam that we have prepared. Is that okay？"

Takeda、who was found dead on the outskirts of Kyoto shortly thereafter、never approached Goryo Eji with a similar proposal.

※☟Original text as of 7:28am, 15/12/2018(jaoan time). 2024062008:52(japan time).

Thursday, 10 January 2013

persuade

The Second Conquest to Choshu of Tokugawa.

It was a complete defeat of Tokugawa.

After this、the situation of Tokugawa had more deteriorated.

"I can not bear to ride forever on a sinking ship."

Of course I think there was that thought in their.

After that、movements to move away from Shinsengumi was activated.

Its maximum was Ito's offshoot activities.

"Withdrawal from Shinsengumi will never forgive.

Any person who violates is the death penalty."

There was this rule in Shinsengumi.

Many people were killed by it.

"I’m unlike the others.

I have trusted from Kondo.

Therefore his persuade is possible."

Ito was attempting withdrawal from Shinsengumi in peace.

"Soldiers of Kyoto guard exist surely.

But there is no true guardsmen for the Emperor.

Just now、that is the most necessary thing.

I think trying to establish it.

Would you agree it?"

Ito asked to Kondo.

"You noticed it well.

Let's work hard for Japan with each other."

Kondo replied.

　

After that、Ito was established Goryo Eishi.

※Kondo was fully aware of the fact that he had no academics on his own、his little spare time was spent、such as study of the history of Japan (for example it was also used as practice of Kanji).※