Hijikata Toshizo
Shieikan
Toshizo was born in a wealthy farmer family in Tama district, Musashi. He practiced Kenjutsu in many dojo while he was working as a medicine peddler. One day, Toshizo met Kondo Isami at Sato Hikogoro's dojo and he became pupil of Tennen Rishin ryu. In 1863, Toshizo and other Shieikan members joined Roshigumi.
Shinsengumi
Kondo Isami and Hijikata Toshizo ruled Shinsengumi completely after eliminating Serizawa Kamo's Mito group.
Kyokuchu Hatto(The Shinsengumi Regulations) is believed to be Hijikata's idea. Many of Shinsengumi members lost their lives because of the strict regulations.
On the Ikedaya Affair, Hijikata's troop arrived Ikedaya later than Kondo's troop. Hijikata first secured around Ikedaya to not let Aizu and Kuwana han samurai in. As the result, Shinsengumi received all the fame and prizes.
Boshin war
Hijikata commanded Shinsengumi at the Battle of Toba-Fushimi , the Battle of Yodo-Senryomatsu(1868 January) instead of wounded Kondo Isami. Shinsengumi lost many members at the battles. Then Hijikata realized "The age of swords is over."
When Kondo was captured at Nagareyama, Hijikata went back to Edo where already occupied by the imperial army to appeal Katsu Kaishu for Kondo's life.
Hijikata then headed to Utsunomiya with several Shinsengumi members (Saito Hajime took most of members to Aizu) , joined Bakufu troops.
He was injured his foot in April and sent to Aizu. But he was unable to come back to the front line until August. Kondo's grave in Aizu was built during the time.
Hakodate
Hijikata and Bakufu troops occupied Goryokaku in October, Matsumae castle in November. They declared "Republic of Ezo" (Enomoto Takeaki as the president), Hijikata was appointed to be the Ezo Army Bugyo Nami.
1869 March, they attacked Miyako bay to take over the battleship Kotetsu kan but failed.
April, the Imperial troops started landing on Ezo. Hijikata was guarding Futamataguchi but had to return Goryokaku because the Imperial army was getting close to Goryokaku..
May 11, Hijikata took small unit to save Shinsengumi in Benten Daiba where surrounded by the Imperial army. Hijikata was shot at Ippongi. His body is believed to be buried in Goryokaku or Ganjo-ji.
2 months after his death, his page Ichimura Tetsunosuke visited Sato Hikogoro's house and handed Hijikata's photograph, hair and death poem.
Hijikata's grave sites are
- Sekiden-ji (Hino city.Tokyo)
- Shomyo-ji (Hakodate city, Hokkaido)
Hijikata in Fiction
Film
- Moeyo Ken (燃えよ剣) 1966 (Director: Ichimura Taiichi)
Television
- Shinsengumi Keppuroku (新選組血風録) NET 1965-66
- Moeyo Ken (燃えよ剣) NET 1970
- Shinsengumi Keppuroku (新選組血風録) ANB 1999
- Shinsengumi! Hijikata Toshizo Saigo no 1nichi (新選組!! 土方歳三最期の一日) NHK 2006
Books
- Shinsengumi Keppuroku (新選組血風録) Shiba Ryotaro
- Moeyo Ken (燃えよ剣) Shiba Ryotaro
- Wachigai-ya Itosato (輪違屋糸里) Asada Jiro
- Hijikata Toshizo Sange (土方歳三散華) Hirose Niki
- Baragaki (バラガキ) Nakaba Toshikazu
- Toshizo Ikite Mata (歳三往きてまた) Akiyama Kano
- Toshizo kara no dengon (歳三からの伝言) Kitahara Aiko
- Hijikata Toshizo (土方歳三) Gaku Shinya
- Hijikata Toshizo Ruten no ken (土方歳三流転の剣) Kimura Shinichi
- Ibun Hijikata Toshizo no Saigo (異聞 土方歳三の最期 ) Nakamura Chuji