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When the Shogun Tokugawa Iemochi went to Edo (Tokyo), the Choushuu aides strived harder to lay their plans for the Toubaku (that is, Choushuu wanted to end the shogunate, the govern of the Shogun, and make the Tennou Heika (Emperor) as the true governor of Japan).
The Choushuu Ishin Shishi, led by Katsura Kogorou, Takasugi Shinsaku and Kusaka Genzui, managed to infiltrate in the Palace of the Emperor, getting aides as allies, the most proeminent of them being the Sanjou Sanetomi.
On August 13th, suddenly it was announced the "Yamato Gyoukou". This was another move of the Choushuu aides of the Emperor, who was to visit the Jinbu Emperor Tomb and after that, go to the Ise Palace. But that was only a pretext for the Choushuu men to virtually imprison the Emperor by burning the city of Kyoto and meanwhile marching with their armies to Edo to end with the Bakufu.
But this information got quickly into the ears of Matsudaira Katamori. He met with Nakagawanomiya Asahiko, a close man ("Shinnou") to the Emperor, and they realized that, if they were to face the Choushuu army, they were going to need a greater army. So they allied with the Satsuma province, which was governed by Shimazu Hisamitsu, who wasn't then against the Bakufu.
The next step was to tell the Emperor the true purposes of the visit to Kyoto. The Emperor, although he was a fervorous Joui (that is, against the foreigners), wasn't thinking of going against the Bakufu. Furthermore, the wife of the Shogun Iemochi (Kazunomiya) was Emperor's younger sister (although they had different mothers), so it wasn't difficult to convince him of delaying the visit.
Eventually, in the early morning of August 18th, there was an Imperial order, notifying the postponing of the visit. At the same time, several provinces, led by Aizu and Satsuma, were defending the palace of the Emperor, and the seven Sonnou Jouyi aides, who devised the frustrated plan, were expulsed from the palace, no more allowed to enter. Furthermore, the Choushuu province was forbidden from then on to protect the gates of Kyoto, being obliged to take all its men back to Choushuu. A cunning coup d'etat, known as the "Kinmon no Seihen" ("The Political Upheaval of the Forbidden Gates") or the "Hachigatsu Juuhachinichi no Seihen" ("The Political Upheaval of August 18th").
When the Choushuu Army was informed about what was going on, they hurried to the gates of the palace, but they faced heavy deffense protecting them. They stayed there for a while, and then finally retreated to the Myouhouin, in the east. Eventually, they went back to Choushuu, protecting the seven aides, in what is famed as "Shichigyou Ochi", "The Fly of the Seven Aides".
In this coup d'etat, Nomura Sahyoue, a man from the Public Office of Aizu, went to Mibu and requested the presence of the Mibumura Roushigumi (Shinsengumi) to protect the gates of Emperor's palace. It was the first time that the Mibumura Roushigumi (Shinsengumi) was going in for a fight as a real army, so Serizawa got carried off and he got the Roushigumi in two rows of 40 men each, with a big flag (yes, the famous Shinsengumi banner) measuring 6ft.x 6ft. and everybody was clad in the Shinsengumi jacket, with the color of Aizu (yellow). Joy was present in every member, and there were people who would be happy to die in the battle.
And it was on this day where the Mibumura Roushigumi was officially called as "Shinsengumi", with the permission of the Emperor given through his aides, Nomiya Shunkatsu and Asuka Igaten.
This day, Matsubara Chuuji (Tadaji), a bit fattish light-hearted man and Jokin, was with his head shaved, a white bandanna wrapped in the forehead and carrying a BIG naginata (a Japanese equivalent of the halberd). Serizawa Kamo led the Shinsengumi, in the middle of the Shinsengumi was Kondou Isami and in the rear, Niimi Nishiki. Yamanami Keisuke was a bit upset (he thought it was Hijikata's doing) because he couldn't wear any armor but he was going to be in the front line. But Matsubara said cheerfully, "don't worry, Yamanami sensei. I'll protect you with my fat belly", making everybody laugh.
When they got to the Hamaguri gate, there were already Aizu soldiers guarding there. Threateningly, they pointed their swords and spears to the Shinsengumi, shouting, "Who are you?!" Kondou and Niimi were intimidated, but Serizawa drew his iron fan, and he laughed, as he fanned the spears, showing the Aizu soldiers to cool down their heads, "We are the Shinsengumi, working under orders of the Aizu province. Don't misunderstand us, or you'll face the consequences."
The soldiers were surprised by the daring of Serizawa -- it's said that the Aizu men changed their views on the Shinsengumi after this day -- but quickly recovered and threatened again. Tempers were heating up and it could have almost begun a quite strange battle among allies, if the Aizu officers didn't rush to clarify all the situation.
The Shinsengumi was to protect the Sendou palace and, at night, the southern gate. Unfortunately for the Shinsengumi members, there was no battle and the first official turmoil the Shinsengumi took part ended into nothing.
As Matsudaira Katamori ordered the death of Serizawa Kamo, Kondou Isami and Hijikata Toshizou started to plan. But Serizawa was a strong man, and he had some strong comrades inside the Shinsengumi, like Niimi Nishike, whose position in the Shinsengumi was the same as Kondou's, and Hirayama Gorou, who was blind in one one, a superb swordsman. So, they decided to, first, eliminate Serizawa's acolytes and they set Niimi Nishiki, Shinsengumi Kyokuchou, as the first target.
As written before, Niimi Nishiki was a Mito Dappan Roushi, thus being from the same place as Serizawa Kamo. He's got the Menkyo Kaiden status in Shintou Munen Style from Okada Sukezaemon. When the Roushigumi was assembled first by Kiyokawa Hachirou, he was the Gochou ("Corporal") of the 3rd Unit, and he became one of the Kyokuchou when the Shinsengumi was formed.
It was in the beginning of September, 1863, when Niimi died at the age of 28. The place was the "Yamano-o", a store at the Gion district in Kyoto. The alleged reason for his death was that he hadn't complied with two articles from the Shinsengumi law, the First ("Never deviate from the path proper to man") and the Third ("It's not allowed to raise money privately"), since often did he rob money from merchants in order to have much pleasure at the red light district, ignoring his duties as a Shinsengumi member.
Unfortunately for Niimi Nishiki, Serizawa wasn't at the "Yamano-o" when Niimi was cornered by the Kondo party, because surely Serizawa wouldn't watch passively his comrade being murdered in front of his eyes. But in the end, Niimi was so cornered and pressed by the Kondou men that he committed seppuku.
In the "Moeyo Ken", the death of Niimi Nishiki was as follows (again, "Moeyo Ken" is a NOVEL, so there's plenty of fiction. I'm putting this here because I love this novel ^_^):
"----------- Hijikata-kun, it's you.", Niimi furrowed his eyebrows. It was really strange. Why Hijikata, a Fukuchou who is nothing more than his acquaintance, would come here?
"Niimi-sensei. I'm really sorry for breaking into your leisure time, but I have come here to ask for your decision."
"Decision?"
"Exactly", Hijikata answered. His face was as inscrutable as ever.
"My decision."
"Obviously."
"Hijikata-kun, you're a Fukuchou. Aren't you a bit hasty on this? There are three men who are Kyokuchou in the Shinsengumi: Serizawa-sensei, Kondou-kun and me. If it's a trivial matter, I don't mind at all if you talk to one of the two others. I believe there's no reason for you to come here, is there?"
"No, I've already talked to those two and have obtained their approval."
This statement was half a lie. But now, in the headquarters, Kondou surely would be talking to Serizawa, so it wasn't really a lie that everything had been approved.
"Anyway", said Hijikata. "This matter needs the approval of all the three Shinsengumi Kyokuchou."
"Oh, is that true? If so, I don't mind at all. You can decide on my behalf."
"Indeed? Can I really decide on your behalf?"
"Yes.", Niimi Nishiki answered in an annoyed manner. Hijikata watched as Niimi took the sake cup on his hands, and he said,
"So it has been decided. Niimi-sensei, you will have to commit seppuku right here and now."
"Wha---", Niimi grabbed his sword.
"Wait", Hijikata raised his hand. "I've got the approval just now. The word of a samurai should be absolute."
"Hi, Hijikata-kun."
"I know. I will be the kaishaku (the man who cuts the neck of the criminal, in order to shorten his suffering)."
"But, but, why me?"
"You shouldn't show fear. Niimi Nishiki-sensei had a superb fame in Edo as a Shishi ("Knight") from the Mito fief. Please, act as a samurai now."
"I'm asking the reason."
"I thought you had left it to my discretion. I've just obtained the approval of Serizawa-sensei, Kondou-sensei and Niimi Nishiki-sensei. Those three has declared that the Mito Dappan Rounin Niimi Nishiki has been convicted of robbery and blackmail, and the punishment for such crimes is seppuku."
"Wait, I'm going back to the headquarters."
"Which headquarters, I may ask?"
"Obviously, the headquarters in Mibu."
"Do you still think you're the Kyokuchou of the Shinsengumi? That status is no more. And who decided it was the Kyokuchou Niimi Nishiki who was here a few moments ago. The person who's here now isn't him anymore, but is a petty criminal Niimi Nishiki."
"G, godamn you!"
"Are you asking to be murdered, Niimi Nishiki? I'm offering you a chance to commit suicide like a man. Such generosity has been allowed by the Aizu chief (Matsudaira Katamori)."
"You---", Niimi stood up as he drawed his sword, trying to hit Hijikata. But he was drunk, and his hand wasn't firm. Hijikata easily parried it with a sword (...) Okita Souji entered the room, staying at Niimi's back, as the door leading to the side room opened, and Saitou Hajime, Harada Sanosuke and Nagakura Shinpachi also entered the room.
"Throw your sword.", said Hijikata
Niimi Nishiki had gotten pale and his legs were clearly shaking, but he didn't dare throwing his sword.
Suddenly, he felt somebody trying to run hastily behind him, and out of terror he turned himself and swinged his sword. Blood gushed out as a hand was sent flying. A thud was heard and a mad cry echoed through the room. The woman that was with Niimi was drenched in blood, her body on the floor. She cursed Niimi with the last strength she could summon and died. Her face was devilish.
Niimi became mad. He gripped the sword backwards and plunged it into the woman's chest, as he sat violently on her body.
"Hijikata, watch this."
Niimi was a man who was worth being the Kyokuchou of the Shinsengumi. Slowly he drew a paper and cleaned his sword.
"I'll watch the last of you.", said Hijikata, as he walked behind Niimi.
Niimi tried to plunge the sword into himself, but his hands refused to do such task. His eyes glared fiercely, focused on a point of the floor.
"Harada-kun, help him."
"Yes, sir."
When Harada Sanosuke was still at Iyo Matsuyama, he had once tried to split his bowels because of a trifle. Even now, there's a horizontal scar on his belly, about 20 inches wide.
"Excuse me."
Harada got behind Niimi and embraced him, holding the sword together with Niimi without even flinching.
"Niimi-sensei, this is how you do it."
And he plunged the sword. The torso of Niimi curved once, and then it bent forward. At the same time, Hijikata brought his sword down, just above Harada's head. In front of him, a neck fell.
Niimi was dead. At the same time, that meant that Serizawa lost half of his power. (...)"
But according to the "Kengou Hiwa" ("Secret Stories of Famous Swordsmen"), Serizawa was also at the "Yamano-o". According to the book, Niimi had put his hands on a woman Serizawa was long after, and he called also the Kondou party to do his showoff. Serizawa didn't like this a bit, so he started to get nervous. The Kondou party, led by Hijikata and Inoue, started to instigate the discussion between Serizawa and Niimi, and the plan went so successfully that Serizawa got very enraged with Niimi and showed everybody an evidence of Niimi wrongdoings, a paper proving that Niimi had "borrowed" 20 ryou from a man from Echizen called Yajima Toujuuroh. As a consequence, Niimi was obliged to commit seppuku at the spot, supervised by Hirayama Gorou and Toudou Heisuke. When Serizawa realized what had happened, he looked very serious -- too late. However, this story isn't reliable.
After disposing of Niimi Nishiki, the next target of Kondo Isami and Hijikata Toshizo was obviously Serizawa Kamo. And as the Shinsengumi had a meeting on September 18th, they set this day as the day of Serizawa's death.
After the meeting, a party was held, as usual. And Serizawa Kamo got quite drunken. In fact, he was so drunken that he couldn't stand on his feet, being carried by his two acolytes, Hirayama Gorou and Hirama Juusuke. They went back to the Shinsengumi headquarters in Mibu, together with three women: Ume (a woman from Hishi-ya, Serizawa's mistress), Kichiei(or Koei) from Kikyou-ya, Hirayama's mistress, and Itosato from Wachigai-ya, Hirama's mistress. They took three chambers of the headquarters in the Mibu (the Yagi Gennojoh's house, not the Maeka Shouji's house) and "slept" there. And they would face the sneak attack of the Kondou party.
According to the monk Nishimura Kanefumi, "Kichiei went out the chamber, heading for the restroom, when she faced Kondou, who let her escape unharmed. Okita Souji entered the chamber where Serizawa was sleeping, and attacked him without warning. Surprised, Serizawa woke up, and realizing everything, he drawed his wakizashi(short sword) and charged against Okita. Although Serizawa injured Okita slightly on the nose, he was also attacked by Hijikata Toshizou and, unable to resist to his wounds, finally died. His mistress (Ume) was murdered also on the spot. Hirayama Gorou was killed by Yamanami Keisuke and Harada Sanosuke." And Hirama Juusuke fled naked and alone.
But Yagi Tamesaburou, son of Yagi Gennojou, tells a slightly different story. According to him, his mother was awake when the Kondo party murdered Serizawa, and he told the following to Shimozawa Kan:
"It was about ten o'clock when Serizawa, Hirayama and Hirama were back at our house (the Yagi house, one of Shisengumi's headquarters at Mibu). It seems that they had taken a kago (kind of a carriage) to the Mibu from the Sumi-ya. Hirama didn't take to drinking, but the other two were completely drunk, even unable to recognize what was happening. They were carried by some servants of ours and by Hirama to the chamber in the back.
But at midnight, the door of the house was opened. My mother was already in bed, but she was awake, so she heard the sound. She thought it was my father who was coming back, but she saw that the man was most probably Hijikata Toshizou. And this man walked noiselessly towards Serizawa's chamber and opened its door a bit to peer inside. My mother was tempted to ask, "Is it you, Hijikata-san?", but something felt wrong, so she kept quiet. At last, the man went away.
For twenty minutes, nothing happened. My mother was drowsy, but she could listen to Serizawa snoring. But then, four or five men suddenly entered the house, their swords already drawn, and they went to the Serizawa's chambers. My mother said she recognized Okita Souji and Harada Sanosuke, but she couldn't figure the other people. She thought she had seen Yamanami Keisuke also.
My mother was startled and stood up, as a scream was heard. She became worried of us (Yagi Tamesaburou and Yagi Yuunosuke, sons of Yagi Gennojou), who were sleeping near Serizawa's chambers, so she rushed to the chamber we were sleeping.
At the same time, Serizawa rolled himself, tearing the door and entering the chamber we were sleeping. However, as he took much time to flee, he was wounded countless times and bleeding heavily. To make matters worse, he didn't notice the desk in the chamber so he tripped his foot and fell down, only to be almost torn up to pieces.
And the place he died was the futon (Japanese blanket) that was covering us. Thinking about that now, it's really weird that we didn't wake up with all that fuss, but at that time we didn't even have an idea that Serizawa Kamo was lying dead on top of us. My mother was screaming madly, trying to wake us up, but we were sleeping deeply. Later she said that "I was on the edge of madness." But nevertheless, we were pulled from the blanket and when we opened our eyes, there was no sign of the murderers. All that we could see was a naked Hirama Juusuke brandishing a sword and yelling, "Where have you gone?! Where have you gone?!"
Serizawa was lying dead on the blanket, completely naked. He didn't have any sword with him. And he was so wounded that it was impossible to count how many wounds he had received. However, there was a huge injury in the neck and blood flowed from there, forming a pool of blood. I entered the chamber Serizawa was sleeping, and I found his swords half hidden in a blanket. Ume was lying dead there, her head completely messed up with blood. She was also naked when she lost her life. People were saying not to mess with her body, because her head was almost severed from her body.
Hirayama was completely beheaded. He was also naked, and it seemed that he was murdered during his sleep. There was a long gash open on his chest also."
The day when Serizawa Kamo was murdered is usually accepted to be September 18th, but new sources revealed that the correct date was September 16th.
There's been some controversy about the men who killed Serizawa Kamo. Yagi Tamesaburou says they were four/five men, including Okita, Harada and Yamanami, whereas Nishimura Kanefumi says they were Hijikata, Okita, Harada and Yamanami. Nagakura wrote that they were Hijikata, Okita, Toudou and Mikura Isetake, but it's hard to believe this hypothesis, since Mikura was discovered as a Choushuu spy. Nagakura himself admitted he didn't know a thing about the Serizawa Kamo's murder, and he said that probably the murderers were Hijikata, Okita, Inoue and Harada. But an author said that he had received some letters from Hirama Juusuke, and he assured that the murderers were Hijikata Toshizou, Okita Souji, Inoue Genzaburou and Toudou Heisuke.
To put things in a nutshell, it looks like four people were the assassins: Hijikata, Okita, and two among Yamanami, Harada, Inoue and Toudou.
In the following day after Serizawa's death, Kondou Isami addressed letters on the subject of the death, stating that Serizawa Kamo had fallen in the hands of bandits during his sleep. And on September 20th, 1863, a huge burial ceremony was held in the Maekawa Shouji's estate, attended by many high officials of Aizu and even by two officials of Mito, said to be Serizawa Kamo's elder brothers. Kondou delivered a speech as the leader of the Shinsengumi and every member of the Shinsengumi stood carrying spears, swords or guns while the coffins of Serizawa Kamo and Hirayama Gorou were buried in the Mibu temple. Serizawa's body was buried with his head north and his feet south. Even now, if you visit the Mibu temple, in the right wing of the temple there's the Shinsengumi graveyard, including Serizawa and Hirayama's graves.
About Hirama Juusuke, he disappeared soon after the murder. Many years later, a Shinsengumi researcher received some memos about one person who said he was Hirama. However, it's not sure whether he was indeed Hirama or not.
And on December 28th, Noguchi Kenji, the last man loyal to Serizawa Kamo, committed seppuku. The reasons are unknown. Nagakura Shinpachi says that Noguchi had committed seppuku, but a Nishi Honganji monk called Nishimura Kanefumi wrote that Noguchi was murdered by Harada Sanosuke, who pierced Noguchi with his spear in a treacherous attack from Noguchi's back. Noguchi was only a Mokuroku from the Shintou Munen Style, given by Yurimoto Shouzou, so he wasn't as good in the sword as the other men like Niimi or Serizawa. He was 21.
According to "The Mibu Talks of the Elder Yagi Tamesaburou", this day (12/28), people were making mochi (that white Japanese sweet), when the Fukuchou Jokin ("Warrant Officer") Andou Soutarou came and helped them. When the Gochou ("Corporal") Hayashi Nobutarou saw that, he was surprised, "Jeez, that man had just cut Noguchi's head and disappeared. I search for him and here he is now, helping making mochi!" When people heard that, everybody got also surprised.
After Serizawa Kamo's death, the Shinsengumi was entirely in the hands of the Kondou Isami group. And that group was the Shinsengumi core till the very end.
One year later, the Shinsengumi was involved in the famous Ikeda Inn Affair, the affair that spread the name of the Shinsengumi throughout the country and made the Wolves of Mibu legendary, feared by common people and hated by the Ishin Shishi.
Soon after the Ikeda Inn Affair, the feud of Choushuu (Nagato) raised an army and marched towards Kyoto as retaliation. The fiefs of Satsuma and Aizu joined forces again, protecting the Gates of the Imperial Palace against the Choushuu army. It was the war known as "Kinmon no Hen".
The Shinsengumi participated in the war also, in which the Bakufu forces defeated the Choushuu army. However, there was not a few number of casualties, and therefore Kondou Isami went to Edo (now Tokyo) in order to recruit new members to the Shinsengumi. And then they reorganized the hierarchy of the Shinsengumi, creating in 1865 (1st year of the Keiou Era) the second and the most famous hierarchy of the Shinsengumi.
Souchou ("Commander", "Counselor"):
Kondou Isami Masanobu (Masayoshi) (Edo Gyofunai Dappan, Tennen Rishin Style Teacher)
Fukuchou ("Executive Officer" or "Vice Commander"):
Hijikata Toshizou Yoshitoyo (Edo Gyofunai Dappan, Tennen Rishin Style Mokuroku)
Sanbou ("Military Advisor"):
Itou Kashitarou Takeaki (Hitachi Shizuku Dappan, Shintou Munen Style and Hokushin Ittou Style Menkyo Kaiden)
Kumichou ("Captain"):
Ichibantai (1st Unit): Okita Souji (Soushi) Kaneyoshi (Fusanaga) (Shirakawa Dappan, Tennen Rishin Style Menkyo Kaiden)
Nibantai (2nd Unit): Nagakura Shinpachi Noriyuki (Matsumae Dappan, Shintou Munen Style Menkyo Kaiden)
Sanbantai (3rd Unit): Saitou Hajime (Banshuu Akashi Roushi, master of the Mugai Style)
Yonbantai (4th Unit): Matsubara Chuuji (Tadaji) (Osaka Roushi, Jiu-jutsu teacher of the Sekiguchi style)
Gobantai (5th Unit): Takeda Kanryuusai (Izumo Dappan, master of the Naganuma Style of Military Strategy)
Rokubantai (6th Unit): Inoue Genzaburou Kazushige (Edo Gyofunai Dappan, Tennen Rishin Style Mokuroku)
Shichibantai (7th Unit): Tani Sanjuurou (Osaka Roushi, Harada Sanosuke's master)
Hachibantai (8th Unit): Toudou Heisuke Nobutora (Edo Gyofunai Dappan, Hokushin Ittou Style Mokuroku)
Kyuubantai (9th Unit): Suzuki Mikisaburou (Hitachi Shizuku Dappan, Itou Kashitarou's younger brother)
Juubantai (10th Unit): Harada Sanosuke (Iyomatsuyama Dappan, Taneda Houzouin Style Menkyo Kaiden)
Gochou ("Corporal"):
Shimada Kai
Kawashima Shouji
Hayashi Nobutarou
Okuzawa Eisuke
Maeno Gorou
Abe Juurou
Kayama Takehachirou
Itou Tetsugorou
Kondou Yoshitaku
Kumebe Masachika
Kanou Washio (from Itou's group)
Nakanishi Nobori (from Itou's group)
Ohara Kouzou
Tomiyama Yabee
Nakamura Kosaburou
Ikeda Kotarou
Hashimoto Kaisuke
Ibaragi Tsukasa
(plus 2 other people)
Roushi Torishimari Yaku Narabi Kansatsu Gata(Internal Discipline and Observation Responsibles (Spies)):
Shinohara Tainoshin (from Itou's group)
Yamazaki Susumu
Arai Tadao
Ashiya Nobori
Yoshimura Kan-Ichirou
Ogata Shuntarou
Kanjou Gakari (Cleanup Operations):
Kawai Kisaburou
Note: There were two "Gochou" (Corporal) under the command of one "Kumichou" (Captain), and each "Tai" (Unit) had ten men.
And there were teachers:
Kenjutsu Shihan Gashira (Teachers of Kenjutsu):
Okita Souji
Ikeda Kotarou
Nagakura Shinpachi
Tanaka Torazou
Arai Tadao
Yoshimura Kan-Ichirou
Saitou Hajime
Hattori Takeo
Juujitsu Shihan Gashira (Teachers of Jiu-jitsu):
Shinohara Tainoshin
Matsubara Tadaji
Shinoda Satarou
Bungaku Shihan Gashira (Teachers of Literature and Culture):
Itou Kashitarou
Ogata Shuntarou
Mounai Yuunosuke
Takeda Kanryuusai
Tanba Yuuzou
Houjutsu Shihan Gashira (Teachers of Artillery):
Kiyohara Kiyoshi
Abe Juurou
Bajutsu Shihan Gashira (Teacher of Horsemanship):
Yasutomi Saisuke
Soujutsu Shihan Gashira (Teacher of Spear):
Tani Sanjuurou
But not everything was going fine in the Shinsengumi:
- Some months before, Yamanami Keisuke Tomonobu, one of the Kondou's friend since the Shieikan (Kondou's dojo) times and former Souchou ("Counselor") of the Shinsengumi , escaped from the troop. He was captured by Okita Souji and taken to Yagi's estate, where he committed seppuku, for breaking the 2nd Article of the Shinsengumi law. (it's a sad tale indeed, but for the sake of space I won't put the details about Yamanami's attempt to escape. Just that Yamanami escaped, but told Kondou where he was going, and Okita was sent after him. Yamanami called Okita, his very pursuer, and they met for the last time. Okita gave Yamanami a chance to escape, but he refused, accepting to go back to the Mibu headquarters and commit suicide.)
- Miura Keinosuke, a son of Sakuma Shouzan (one of the greatest thinkers during the Bakumatsu), was a source of skirmishes inside the Shinsengumi due to his insolent behavior.
- Matsubara Tadaji, Captain of the 4th Unit of the Shinsengumi, committed suicide because he got involved in a love affair.
- Kawai Kisaburou was executed because he couldn't justify a financial gap that he had created unwillingly.
- The Tani brothers (Mantarou, Sanjuurou and Kondou Shuuhei) were a major source of trouble. Tani Sanjuurou, Captain of the 7th Unit of the Shinsengumi, was eventually killed by Saitou Hajime, Captain of the 3rd Unit of the Shinsengumi.
- Tauchi Tomo was executed because he was wounded by the lover of his woman.
- The Shinsengumi changed its headquarters to the Nishi Hongan Temple, earning also the hatred of the temple's monks, especially of Nishimura Kanefumi, who later compiled the first data about the Shinsengumi. After some months, the Shinsengumi changed its headquarters again, establishing at a place that the Temple had especially built for the Shinsengumi.
- Takeda Kanryuusai, Captain of the 5th Unit of the Shinsengumi, was trying to escape the Shinsengumi and join forces with Satsuma. He was killed by Saitou Hajime.
- Finally, there were many people attempting to escape the Shinsengumi due to the harshness of the laws, and there were many people being executed. (However, Yamanami Keisuke fled from the Shinsengumi not because of the harshness of the Shinsengumi laws)
But the major affair that happened was, no doubts about it, the leaving of the Itou group from the Shinsengumi on March 10th, 3rd Year of the Keiou Era (1867). The people who left were:
Itou Kashitarou (some say Kinetarou, but Kashitarou seems to be the correct pronunciation)
Hattori Takeo
Abe Juurou
Tomiyama Yabee
Nakanishi Nobori
Suzuki Mikisaburou
Arai Tadao
Kanou Michinosuke (Washio)
Hashimoto Kaisuke
Nakaumi Jirou
Shinohara Tainoshin
Toudou Heisuke
Kiyohara Kiyoshi
Mounai Kanmotsu (Yuunosuke/Arinosuke)
Saitou Hajime
However, the 2nd Article of the Shinsengumi Law remained true: "It is not allowed to leave the Shinsengumi". Therefore, Kondou Isami and Hijikata Toshizou got a spy infiltrated in the Itou group, known as "Koudaiji Party", later "Goryou Eji". The spy was the Captain of the 3rd Unit of the Shinsengumi, Saitou Hajime, who sent detailed information while disguising himself as a heavy drunker who even robbed money to go to the pleasure quarters.
And, on November 18th, The Itou group was annihilated at the affair known as "Aburanokoji no Kettou", the "Fight to Death at the Aburanokoji". Many of the Itou group survived, but the key figures, like Itou Kashitarou, Hattori Takeo and Toudou Heisuke, were killed in the episode. Saitou Hajime was much hated because of this, for the Itou party discovered - too late - who was the spy. In the manuscripts left by Mounai Yuunosuke, it's written clearly, "The one to be loathed is Saitou Hajime". But the incident at Aburanokoji wasn't forgotten, and on December 18th, Okita Souji escaped being killed and Kondou Isami was shot in the shoulder by the remaining people of the Itou party.
However, no matter how hard Kondou and Hijikata tried, the Shinsengumi was already on the way to its end, due to the numerous political affairs that were happening at that time. In January, 2nd Year of the Keiou Era, the "Sacchou Doumei", the alliance between Satsuma and Choushuu, was established by Sakamoto Ryoma, Katsura Kogorou and Saigou Takamori. On October 14th, 3rd Year of the Keiou Era, the last Shogun, Tokugawa Yoshinobu, returned the political power to the hands of the Emperor, which became known as "Taisei Houkan". And on December 9th, the Emperor assumed the political power - the "Ousei Fukko".
On November 15th, 3rd Year the Keiou Era, Sakamoto Ryoma and Nakaoka Shintarou were murdered at the Oumi-ya. Immediately, people gossiped that the murderers were Miburo - the Shinsengumi. As a proof, a sheath that was found at the place was said to belong to Harada Sanosuke, and a shoe that a Shinsengumi member had borrowed the night before was found in the garden. As a result, every Tosa men came to hate the Shinsengumi. But in the 2nd Year of the Meiji Era, a man of the Kyoto Mimawarigumi confessed that the Kyoto Mimawarigumi members, led by Sasaki Tadasaburou, had murdered Sakamoto and Nakaoka.
The Sakamoto murder influenced a lot the next affair, the last that the Shinsengumi was involved in Kyoto before the Boshin War. The Tosa men believed that Miura Yasutarou had manipulated the Shinsengumi to kill Sakamoto, so they laid plans to kill him. And on December 7th, 3rd Year of the Keiou Era, the Shinsengumi was involved in the "Tenma Inn Affair", an attempt to murder Miura. However, as Miura was guarded by Hijikata Toshizou, Saitou Hajime, Harada Sanosuke, Yoshimura Kan-Ichirou, Kishima Yoshitarou and Souma Kazue, he escaped from the hands of death.
At last, about five p.m., January 3rd, 4th year of the Keiou Era (1868), a cannon shot triggered the last and greatest battle of the Bakumatsu. It was the battle of Toba and Fushimi, the first battle of the "Boshin Sensou" ("Boshin War"). The Shisengumi took part in it, obviously, and suffered heavy losses, having about thirty casualties, including Inoue Genzaburou Kazushige, the Captain of the 6th Unit of the Shinsengumi, and Yamazaki Susumu, leader of the Shinsengumi spies. The Shinsengumi retreated to the Osaka Castle and then to Edo (Tokyo), but Yoshimura Kan-Ichirou stayed and, having denied his request to go back to his fief, he committed seppuku.
After the battle of Toba and Fushimi, the Shinsengumi regrouped again in Edo (Tokyo), and the third hierarchy of the Shinsengumi was established. This time, the Shinsengumi had only 44 members:
Taichou ("Commander"):
Kondou Isami Masanobu (Masayoshi) (Edo Gyofunai Dappan, Tennen Rishin Style Teacher)
Fukuchou ("Executive Officer" or "Vice Commander"):
Hijikata Toshizou Yoshitoyo (Edo Gyofunai Dappan, Tennen Rishin Style Mokuroku)
Fukuchou Jokin("Captain and Aide of the Vice Commander"):
Okita Souji (Soushi) Kaneyoshi (Fusanaga) (Shirakawa Dappan, Tennen Rishin Style Menkyo Kaiden)
Nagakura Shinpachi Noriyuki (Matsumae Dappan, Shintou Munen Style Menkyo Kaiden)
Harada Sanosuke (Iyomatsuyama Dappan, Taneda Houzouin Style Menkyo Kaiden)
Ogata Shuntarou (Kumamoto Roushi, a scholar)
Saitou Hajime (Banshuu Akashi Roushi, master of the Mugai Style)
Roushi Chouyaku (Investigations Division):
Ooishi Kuwajirou
Kawamura Hayato
Kaikeigata (Accounting Division):
Kishijima Yutarou
Yauchi Kennosuke
Nakamura Gendou
Ootani Isao
Yasutomi Saisuke
Kanzaki Kazujizou
Gochou ("Corporal"):
Shimada Kai
Hayashi Nobutarou
Kohara Kouzou
Kondou Gisuke
Shimura Takezou
Kumebe Masachika
Ozeki Seiichirou
Maeno Gorou
Nakamura Kosaburou
And on February 28th, the Bakufu formed the "Kouyou Chinbutai", based on the Shinsengumi. However, when the "Kouyou Chinbutai" was formed, most of the Shinsengumi members had fled, having only about 20 members. On March 6th, the Kouyou Chinbutai battled in Katsunuma, trying to defeat the "Kangun" (Meiji Ishin Army) in the Koufu Castle, but they lost. Already many had fled also from the Kouyou Chinbutai, realizing that they were in a hopeless battle.
The Shinsengumi retreated from the battle, gathering at the estate of Ookubo Shuzen. However, when they decided that the Shinsengumi would head to Aizu, Kondou and Hijikata had a violent discussion with Nagakura and Harada. Thus, they split a six-year partnership. Harada Sanosuke and Nagakura Shinpachi formed the Seiheitai and headed to Aizu, but Harada left the Seiheitai and went to Edo, joining the Shougitai.
On April 1st, the Shinsengumi changed its headquarters from Edo to Nagareyama. And on April 3rd, they were surrounded by the "Kangun" (Army of the Emperor - the Army of the Satsuma and Choushuu). Kondou Isami, disguised as "Ookubo Yamato", went to apologise for shooting against the "Kangun", but Arima Fujita knew Kondou Isami and such disguise fell to the ground. He was arrested, and despite Arima Fujita's efforts, Kondou Isami was treated as a most despicable man by Kagawa Keizou and Tani Tateki (Moribe), two men who hated the Shinsengumi since the murder of Sakamoto Ryoma. Finally, on April 25th, 4th Year of the Keiou Era (1868), Kondou Isami was beheaded in Itabashi. He was 35.
Meanwhile, Okita Souji, due to his TB (tuberculosis), was still in Edo. Everybody was surprised at his naturality, always joking and laughing, despite his imminent death. However he was reduced to little more than skin and bone. When the news about Kondou Isami's death reached Edo, nobody told him about Kondou Isami's death, and Okita kept asking about Kondou Isami till the very end. Eventually, on May 30th, he died after trying to slay a black cat. He was 25.
In April, 4th Year of the Keiou Era (1st Year of the Meiji Era), Hijikata joined forces with Ootori Keisuke, forming the last Army of the Bakufu. They fought in the Utsunomiya, but they lost again to the "Kangun", and they retreated to Aizu. On April 5th, Hijikata led the Shinsengumi to Aizu, and met Matsudaira Katamori. In the next day, the Shinsengumi was sent to help the Bakufu forces in Shirakawa, but given Hijikata's wounds, Yamaguchi Jirou (Saitou Hajime) became the leader of the Shinsengumi, who adopted guerilla tactics against the overwhelming Army of the Emperor. Nevertheless, the Shinsengumi lost the battle of Bonari on August 21st, and retreated to Aizu Wakamatsu Castle. And on September 4th, the Shinsengumi, led by Saitou Hajime, engaged in a fierce battle, where almost everyone from the twenty members of the Shinsengumi died. However, Saitou Hajime survived and lived to see the Meiji Era (as we know ^_^)
On October 20th, Hijikata Toshizou and the last members of the Shinsengumi arrived in Hokkaido, establishing the Goryoukaku as their HQ. On December 15th, Hijikata was appointed as Army Minister of the newly founded Ezo country, who had Enomoto Takeaki as its ruler. However, it was obvious that the Meiji Government would not let it be, and in the following year (1869), 2nd Year of the Meiji Era, the Kangun started attacking Hokkaido. Hijikata led the Shinsengumi to some victories, but eventually he had to retreat back to Hakodate, on May 1st. On May 11th, the Meiji Government Army started its final attack, and Hijikata died from a gunshot wound during the battle. He was 35, and Hijikata's death marks the end of the Shinsengumi.