Todo Heisuke

• Born: 1844
• Died: 1867
• Titles:Shinsengumi captain
• Japanese: 藤堂 平助 宜虎 (Todo Heisuke Yoshitora)

Todo Heisuke claimed to be the illegitimate child of Todo Takayuki of Tsu han, Ise, but the truth is unclear. He learned Hokushin Itto Ryu in Edo where he met Kondo Isami. He forehead was injured during the Ikedaya incident. In late 1864, he recruited Ito Kashitaro and his pupils in Edo. When he returned to Kyoto in 1865, he was shocked that Yamanami Keisuke had comitted Seppuku which might have effected Todo's decision to leave the Shinsengumi. In 1867, Ito Kashitaro formed Goryo Eji and Todo joined. They were assassinated in November (Incident at Aburano Koji).

Todo Heisuke's Sword

• Kazusanosuke Kaneshige 上総介兼重

The sword was too expensive for a Ronin to have so this credence to Heisuke's claim that he might have been an illegitimate child of Todo Takayuki.

References

• Shinsengumi Taishi Den (新選組隊士伝) Gakken
• Shinsengumi Zentaishi Tettei Guide (新選組全隊士徹底ガイド) Maeda Masaki