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 Menkyo of Hokushin Itto Ryu at Genbukan. 1855 he opened Kiyokawa school. It was the only school that teaches both study and Kenjutsu in Edo. From March to September 1855, he traveled many places in Honshu and wrote a book "Saiyu so". After the Incident at Sakuradamon, the Kiyokawa school became a salon for Sonjo Roshi, they formed "Torao party" and assassinated Henry Heusken.
1862, Kiyokawa submitted "Three emergency measures" to Matsudaira Shungaku. Matsudaira took this plan and created Roshigumi.
1864 Februaly at Mibu Kyoto, Kiyokawa suddenly changed purpose of Roshigumi and made them return to Edo except 24 people who decided to remain Kyoto included Kondo Isami, Hijikata Toshizo, Serizawa Kamo who later became Shinsengumi.
In April, Kiyokawa was assassinated by Bakufu's assassins(Sasaki Tadasaburo) at Azabu.
The Roshigumi was renamed to Shinchogumi, worked under Shonai han for security of 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)