Kiyokawa Hachiro

• Born: 1830
• Died: 1863
• Titles: Exective of Roshigumi
• Childhood Name: Motoji
• Japanese: 清河八郎 (Kiyokawa hachiro)

The life of Kiyokawa Hachiro

He was born in Kiyokawa village in Shonai han as a son of Goshi. He studied under Tojo Ichido and Azumi Ryosai in Edo and he also received a Menkyo of Hokushin Itto Ryu at Genbukan. 1855 he opened the Kiyokawa school. It was the only school that taught both study and Kenjutsu in Edo. From March to September 1855, he traveled to many places in Honshu and wrote the book "Saiyu so". After the Incident at Sakuradamon, the Kiyokawa school became a meeting place for Sonjo Roshi, they formed the "Torao party" and assassinated Henry Heusken.

• 1862, Kiyokawa submitted the "Three emergency measures" to Matsudaira Shungaku. Matsudaira took this plan and created the Roshigumi.

• 1864 February at Mibu Kyoto, Kiyokawa suddenly changed the purpose of the Roshigumi and made all but 24 people return to Edo. Those who decided to remain Kyoto included Kondo Isami, Hijikata Toshizo, Serizawa Kamo who later founded the Shinsengumi.

In April, Kiyokawa was assassinated by Bakufu assassins(Sasaki Tadasaburo) at Azabu.

The Roshigumi was renamed to Shinchogumi, and worked under Shonai han as special police force in Edo.

Kiyokawa Hachiro in Fiction

Books

• Kiyokawa Hachiro (清河八郎) Shibata Renzaburo
• Kimyonari Hachiro (奇妙なり八郎) Shiba Ryotaro
• Bakumatsu Shippuroku (幕末疾風録) Ito Hitoshi
• Kaiten no mon (回天の門) Fujisawa Shuhei

Research books

• Kiyokawa Hachiro no Meiji Ishin (清河八郎の明治維新) Takano Kiyoshi

Kiyokawa's book

• Saiyu so (西遊草)

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