About Takahata-Fudoson and Hijikata Toshizō

Hijikata Toshizō

At Takahata-san Kongoji, the family temple of Shinsengumi member Hijikata Toshizō, there are stone monuments for both him and Kondō Isami, and a bronze statue of Hijikata. His mortuary tablet, as well as Shinsengumi’s are kept at Dainichi-dō Hall. His notes along with many other documents related to the Shinsengumi are being displayed at the Okuden hall.

1835-1869

Born in Ishida Village, Tama region, Bushu Province.

He was the youngest child of Hijikata Yoshiatsu, and his birth name was Yoshitoyo.

His father died before his birth, and he was raised by his 2nd older brother Kiroku and his wife.

Following his learning, he used to sell his family’s Ishida medicine while practicing the Tennen Rishin-ryū style of kenjutsu at his brother-in-law Satō Hikogorō’s dojo.

In 1863, he went to the capital with Kondō Isami where he served as the vice commander of the Shinsengumi.

In 1868, he led the Shinsengumi instead of Kondō Isami who was injured, and fought at the Battle of Toba-Fushimi.

After their return to Edo (the ancient name of Tokyo), they formed the Kōyō Chinbutai.

Hijikata continued to fight in Oū even after Kondō’s execution.

After the creation of the former shogunate’s Hakodate government, he became a vice-minister of the army.

He was killed by a stray bullet during the Battle of Hakodate in November 5, 1869.

Timeline

1834		Birth of Kondō Isami, the third son of Miyagawa Hisajirō in Kamiishihara Village (the current Chōfu City). His birth name is Katsugorō.
1835		Birth of Hijikata Toshizō, the fourth son of Hijikata Hayato Yoshiatsu in Ishida Village (the current Hino City).
1844		Birth of Okita Sōji (believed to be in 1842).
1858		Unification of Satō’s Tennen Rishin-ryū dojo, donator of Chinju Gozu Tennou Shrine (the old name of Yasaka-jinja Shrine).
1859		Hijikata Toshizō joins the Tennen Rishin-ryū school.
1861		Kondō Isami becomes the fourth head of Tennen Rishin-ryū.
1863	2/8	The group of ronins leave Edo (old name of Tokyo), to go to Kyoto through the mountains.
	2/23	They arrive in Kyoto.
	3/12	Kondō and Hijikata stay in Kyoto under the supervision of the Shugoshoku.
	8/18	They dispatch the old imperial palace’s defense, officially take control of Kyoto and become known as the Shinsengumi.
1864	6/5	They capture Furutaka Shuntarō, who confess. This is known as the Ikedaya Incident.
	7/19	Battle of Hamaguri Gomon.
	7/20	Battle of Yamazaki Tennouzan.
	8/2	The first order of Choshu.
	9/	Kondō heads to Edo to look for recruits.
1865	4/	Their base is moved to Nishi Hongan-ji Temple.
1865	11/4	Kondō goes to Hiroshima.
1866	9/12	Sanjō Kōsatsu Incident.
1867	3/	Itō Kashitarō leaves the Shinsengumi.
	9/	Hijikata Toshizō leaves for Edo to look for recruits.
	10/14	Restoration of Imperial rule.
	11/18	Aburanokōji Incident.
	12/7	Tenma-ya Incident
	12/9	Declaration of the restoration of Imperial rule.
	12/16	They take defence at the Fushimi magistrate’s office.
	12/18	Kondō Isami encounters difficulties at Sumizome.
1868	1/3	A battle starts at Toba-Fushimi.
	1/4	Inoue Genzaburō dies in battle.
	1/12	The warship Fujisan Maru departs from Osaka to Edo.
	1/15	The warship arrives in Shinagawa.
	3/1	As the Kōyō Chinbutai, the Shinsengumi leaves Edo for Kōfu.
	3/3	They rest at Satō’s house in Hino, and form the “Kasuga Forces” with the farmers.
	3/6	Battle of Katsunuma.
	4/3	Stationned in Nagareyama, Kondō, appears at the government army’s camp.
	4/23	Hijikata is wounded in the Battle of Utsunomiya.
	4/25	Kondō Isami is executed in Itabashi.
	5/30	Okita Sōji dies of illness in Sendagaya.
	8/21	Battle of Bonari Pass in Aizu.
	8/	Hijikata heads to Sendai.
	10/12	He leaves Sendai by boat.
	10/20	He lands in Washinoki, Hokkaido.
	10/26	He enters the Goryōkaku fortress.
1869	4/9	The government army lands.
	4/12	Battle of Futamata.
	4/29	Return to Goryōkaku.
	5/6	Naval Battle of Miyakowan. Hijikata Toshizō and Yōshū Chikanobu boards the Kaiten warship.
	5/11	On his way out of Ippongi, Hijikata receives a bullet and dies in battle.
	5/18	Capitulation of the Goryōkaku fortress.