[For Seniors] Shinsengumi Quiz! Test your must-know knowledge with multiple-choice (three-option) questions

Battle of Goryokaku

As vice-commander of the Shinsengumi, Toshizo Hijikata distinguished himself and was feared as the “Demon Vice-Commander.” During the Boshin War, he moved north while fighting alongside the former shogunate forces across various regions, eventually crossing to Hakodate in Hokkaido. There, in the Battle of Goryokaku, he was struck down by gunfire under a fierce assault by the new government’s army in 1869 and was killed in action. A few days after his death, the former shogunate forces surrendered, bringing the Boshin War to an end.

Burn, O Sword

Moeyo Ken (Burn, O Sword) is a classic historical novel by Ryotaro Shiba that depicts the life of Toshizo Hijikata, a patriot of the late Edo period. It dramatically portrays his journey from his youth as the so-called “rowdy brat of Tama,” to his exploits in Kyoto as the vice-commander of the Shinsengumi, and finally to his valiant end in the Battle of Goryokaku. The work has been adapted many times into films, TV dramas, and stage productions, and continues to be loved by many fans across generations.

late Edo period

The Shinsengumi was an organization established in the late Edo period to maintain public order in Kyoto. During a time when Japan was undergoing great upheaval due to events such as Perry’s arrival with the Black Ships, master swordsmen like Kondo Isami and Hijikata Toshizo played central roles in defending the Tokugawa shogunate.

Isami Kondo

The commander of the Shinsengumi was Isami Kondo. He was born to a farming family in Tama, which corresponds to present-day Tokyo, but he became the fourth head of the Tennen Rishin-ryu dojo, Shieikan, a school of swordsmanship. He later distinguished himself as the commander of the Shinsengumi, an organization formed to maintain public order in Kyoto.

Sincerity

The character “Makoto” is famously known as a symbol of the Shinsengumi. Their regimental flag featured the white character “Makoto” emblazoned on a red field, with a sawtooth (dandara) pattern along the bottom. This “Makoto” embodied a firm resolve to uphold samurai loyalty and sincerity, expressing the spirit of those who raced through the upheavals at the end of the Edo period. It’s a familiar design from period dramas, so many of you have likely seen it on television.

Hajime Saito

Hajime Saitō served as captain of the Shinsengumi’s Third Unit and is hailed as one of its strongest swordsmen. Known as a taciturn and enigmatic figure, he possessed exceptional swordsmanship and survived numerous deadly battles. He lived on after the Meiji Restoration, changed his name to Gorō Fujita, and worked as a police officer for the Metropolitan Police Department, fighting in the Satsuma Rebellion and other conflicts. He remains a very popular figure in period dramas and novels, and his tumultuous life continues to captivate many people today.

Toshizo Hijikata

Toshizo Hijikata, who served as vice-commander of the Shinsengumi, supported the commander Isami Kondo and established a strict code called the “Kyokuchu Hatto” to forge the Shinsengumi into the strongest group of swordsmen. Because of his uncompromising stance—such as ordering seppuku for members who broke the rules—he was feared and called the “Demon Vice-Commander.”