Serizawa Kamo

• Birth: ?
• Death: 1863/9/18 (10/30/1863)
• Other names: Serizawa Mitsumoto, Shimomura Tsuguji
• Japanese: 芹沢 鴨 (Serizawa Kamo)

Mito

Serizawa family was Gôshi of Seizawa village in Hitachi province. Serizawa Mistumoto was adopted to Shimomura family and his name changed to Shimomura Tsuguji. Tsuguji was jailed for involvement of the "Tamatsukurigumi" which was SonnoJoi group in Mito han. But he was released in 1862 and then he changed name to "Serizawa Kamo".

Mibu Rôshigumi

He joined the Rôshigumi in Edo in 1864 and moved to Kyoto. He and Kondô Isami protested Kiyokawa Hachirô and decided to stay in Kyoto. The 24 Ronin who stayed in Kyoto called themselves as Mibu Rôshigumi and they were employed by Aizu han. However, Serizawa's violent acts became big problem in Kyoto, Aizu han secretly ordered Kondo to assassinate Serizawa. In 1863, Hijikata Toshizô, Okiya Sôji, Harada Sanosuke, Yamanami Keisuke stormed into Yagi Gennojô's house and killed Serizawa and Hirayama Gorô. Their graves are in Mibu temple Kyoto.

References

• Shinsengumi - Honor and Determination of the Mibu Rôshi (血誠新撰組-峻烈壬生浪士忠と斬), Rekishi Gunzô series #31, Gakken, Japan, 2003