Okita Soji
Biographical Data
Shieikan
Okita Sôji was born the son of a lower Shirakawa han Samurai. He was raised by his oldest sister Mitsu and her husband after his father died. When he was around 10, he became a pupil of Kondo Shusuke's Shieikan, the Tennen Rishin Ryu dojo. When Sôji was just 12, he defeated a Shirakawa han Kenjutsu teacher. Sôji became a head instructor of the Shieikan when he was around 19.
In 1863, he joined the Rôshigumi along with other Shieikan members.
Shinsengumi
Sôji was involved in the assassination of Tonouchi Yoshio and Serizawa Kamo.
During the Ikedaya Affair, he was one of four Shinsengumi members who raided the inside of the Ikedaya. During the 2 hour battle, Sôji fought on the 2nd floor almost alone but fell down unconscious because of either Anemia or heat. (Recent research indicates that this was not a symptom of tuberculosis) Many people who witnessed the Shinsengumi in action described Sôji as one of the best Swordman in the Shinsengumi. On the other hand, Yagi Tamesaburo told Shimozawa Kan in early Showa period "Soji was always joking" and, "He used to play with neighboring children."
Tuberculosis
Soji became seriously ill in fall of 1867. He stayed at Osaka castle with the wounded Kondo Isami during the Battle of Toba-Fushimi in January 1868. In March, he visited Sato Hikogoro in Hino as a member of the Koyo Chinbutai but had to return to Edo because of his illness. He died 2 months after Kondo's death. His grave is in Keisho-ji, Tokyo. (Keisho-ji allows visitors for Soji's grave only once a year)
Okita Soji's Sword
- Kaga Kiyomitsu 加賀清光
Okita in Fiction
Film
- Kenshi Okita Soji (剣士沖田総司) 1929
- Kengo Hiden Okita Soji (剣豪秘伝 沖田総司) 1960
- Okita Soji (沖田総司) 1974
- Bakumatsu Junjo Den (幕末純情伝) 1991
Television
- Nihon Kenkyaku Den Okita Soji (日本剣客伝 沖田総司) 1968 NET
- Okita Soji (沖田総司) 1982 CX
- Moete Chiru (燃えて散る) 1984 NTV
Books
- Okita Soji no koi (沖田総司の恋) in Shinsengumi Keppuroku (新選組血風録) Shiba Ryotaro
- Kiku ichimonji (菊一文字) in Shinsengumi Keppuroku (新選組血風録) Shiba Ryotaro
- Okita Soji (沖田総司) Ouchi Miyoko
- Okita Soji Shui (沖田総司拾遺) Ouchi Miyoko
- Okita Soji (沖田総司) Miyoshi Toru
- Okita Soji (沖田総司) Matsuda Jukkoku
- Okita Soji Omokagesho (沖田総司・おもかげ抄) Mori Makiko
- Okita Soji Ansatsuken (沖田総司・暗殺剣) Kano Atsushi
- Okita Soji Madoken (沖田総司・魔道剣) Kano Atsushi
- Okita Soji Hijoken (沖田総司・非情剣) Kano Atsushi
- Okita Soji Aika (沖田総司哀歌 ) Mori Makiko
- Sora wo Oou Mabuta (天を覆う瞼) Makabe Saori
- Soji Honoo no Gotoku (総司 炎の如く) Akiyama Kano
- Shinsengumi Ichibantai Okita Soji (新選組一番隊 沖田総司) Yuki Shihaya
- Okita Soji (沖田総司) Saotome Misugu
- Okita Soji Chiyo hanato Mae (沖田総司 血よ、花と舞え) Take Shinya
- Okita Soji Koiuta (沖田総司恋唄) Hirose Niki
- Okita Soji Zaneisho (総司残英抄) Tobe Shinjuro
- Yubae Kenshi (夕映え剣士) Kannno Kuniharu
- Hana Akari (花あかり) Miwa Yoshiko
Research Books
- Okita Soji no Subete (沖田総司のすべて) Shinjinbutsu Oraisha
- Okita Soji to Shinsengumi Taishi (沖田総司と新選組隊士) Kawai Atsushi
- Okita Soji wo Aruku (沖田総司を歩く) Oji Kazuko
- Okita Soji (沖田総司) Gakken
- Hijikata Toshizo, Okita Soji Zenshokanshu (土方歳三・沖田総司全書簡集) Kikuchi Akira
- Okita Soji Dokuhon (沖田総司読本) Shinjinbutsu Oraisha
- Okita Soji to Shinsengumi (沖田総司と新選組) Imagawa Tokuzo
- Shinsengumi Kumicho Retsuden (新選組組長列伝) Shinjinbutsu Oraisha
- Shinsengumi Meimeiden3 (新選組銘々伝3) Shinjinbutsu Oraisha
References
- Okita Soji no Subete (沖田総司のすべて) Shinjinbutsu Oraisha
- Okita Soji wo Aruku (沖田総司を歩く) Oji Kazuko
- Shinsengumi Ibun (新選組遺聞) Shimozawa Kan
- Shinsengumi Taishi Den (新選組隊士伝) Gakken
- Shinsengumi (新選組) Sekai Bunkasha
- Shinsengumi Zentaishi Tettei Guide (新選組全隊士徹底ガイド) Maeda Masaki