Goryokaku is a pentagon shaped fortress that was constructed at Hakodate, Hokkaido in late Edo Period. It was completed in 1864, but Edo bakufu collapsed just after its completion in 1868. And then remaining forces of Edo Bakufu barricaded in it.
Shinsen-gumi is a special forces of Edo-Bakufu and it was organized without considering member's social position but with their skills of combat. In other words, it included many members of non-samurai classes - an epoch-making trial in those days.
a typical image of Shinsen-gumi
In above photograph, the left is Kondo and the right is Hijikata. Kondo was the leader and Hijikata was the vice-leader of Shinsen-gumi. When it barricaded itself in Goryokaku, Kondo had already been executed by new government troops.
Since the two men had been tied with strong mutual trust and loyalty to Shinsen-gumi, Hijikata also had been in ready to die in the battle against new government. And in fact, Hokkaido has come to his last stage in the history as he died on his horse by an enemy gun shot there.
However, the fact that his body was not found around alleged site of his death has been arousing an eccentric theory; there are people who argue that he freed to Russia with the help of his patron trading with Russia. There was Russian consulate in Hakodate in those days.
Anyway, Shinsen-gumi surrendered to new government at Hakodate, and it also meant the surrender of Edo Bakufu. Therefore, Goryokaku has been appearing as the stage of climax in the movies and novels related to Shinsen-gumi.
According to these stories and historical records, although Hijikata Toshizo originally had been feared by the members for his strict execution of military rules including capital punishment, he became mild-tempered when they came to and barricaded in Goryokaku to the extent that some members called him 'merciful Toshi'. However, his death has still been remaining as an enigma. There is a theory that argues he was shot by an intentional friendly fire because he had been standing at the tail of the front line and saying that deserters would be cut down by his sword.
In above figure, the right is an illustration of Hijikata and the left is its drawer Nakajima Nobori, one of the members of Shinsen-gumi. Nakajima was one of the few survivor of it and lived to fifty years old managing a gun shop in Shizuoka pref - there is a movie featuring his life, a fact that proves Shinsen-gumi's popularity. There are only few members who can survive the battle against new government and lived in Meiji period, a period after Edo period.
In above photograph, the left is Nagakura Shinpachi and the right is an alleged photograph of Saito Hajime. They are also ones of the few survivors of Shinsen-gumi and they both lived to 1915. Nagakura became an instructor of Kendo and Saito became a police officer.
Since Shinsen-gumi had a character as secret police, they inevitably had incurred enmities of various individuals and organizations. And what is worth, their major and strongest supporter, Edo Bakufu, had already collapsed, which meant they were standing on dangerous situation.
In fact, Nagakura and Saito were each using a false name in their life after Shinsen-gumi, and Nagakura Shinpachi was followed around by Miki Saburo, who wanted to settle a score with him, and the fellows of Miki. Nagakura was forced to leave Tokyo, changing his name.
Goryokaku has been recognized among modern Japanese people mainly as the site of the last battle of such Shinsen-gumi. As for its characteristic shape, it was designed for defensive battle using guns. As you can see in the photo bellow, that shape enabled gunners to shoot enemies from both sides.
Goryokaku is popular among most Japanese people as a place of the last battle between new government forces and remaining forces of the previous regime, Edo Bakufu. This fortress always appear in the story of Shinsen-gumi.
Shinsen-gumi is a special forces of Edo-Bakufu and it was organized without considering member's social position but with their skills of combat. In other words, it included many members of non-samurai classes - an epoch-making trial in those days.
a typical image of Shinsen-gumi
The remaining forces was none other than Shinsen-gumi. They had high morale than ordinary samurais who were entitled their position by heredity. Therefore the Shinsen-gumi had been the core of the remaining forces along with troops of Aizu domain, the last domain which had kept the loyalty to Edo Bakufu.
Shinsen-gumi consisted of more than 200 members in its zenith, but there were about ten and several popular names who have been focused in many movies or novels. Kondo Isami, Hijikata Toshizo and Okita Soji are particularly popular among modern Japanese people.
Since the two men had been tied with strong mutual trust and loyalty to Shinsen-gumi, Hijikata also had been in ready to die in the battle against new government. And in fact, Hokkaido has come to his last stage in the history as he died on his horse by an enemy gun shot there.
However, the fact that his body was not found around alleged site of his death has been arousing an eccentric theory; there are people who argue that he freed to Russia with the help of his patron trading with Russia. There was Russian consulate in Hakodate in those days.
Anyway, Shinsen-gumi surrendered to new government at Hakodate, and it also meant the surrender of Edo Bakufu. Therefore, Goryokaku has been appearing as the stage of climax in the movies and novels related to Shinsen-gumi.
According to these stories and historical records, although Hijikata Toshizo originally had been feared by the members for his strict execution of military rules including capital punishment, he became mild-tempered when they came to and barricaded in Goryokaku to the extent that some members called him 'merciful Toshi'. However, his death has still been remaining as an enigma. There is a theory that argues he was shot by an intentional friendly fire because he had been standing at the tail of the front line and saying that deserters would be cut down by his sword.
In above photograph, the left is Nagakura Shinpachi and the right is an alleged photograph of Saito Hajime. They are also ones of the few survivors of Shinsen-gumi and they both lived to 1915. Nagakura became an instructor of Kendo and Saito became a police officer.
Since Shinsen-gumi had a character as secret police, they inevitably had incurred enmities of various individuals and organizations. And what is worth, their major and strongest supporter, Edo Bakufu, had already collapsed, which meant they were standing on dangerous situation.
In fact, Nagakura and Saito were each using a false name in their life after Shinsen-gumi, and Nagakura Shinpachi was followed around by Miki Saburo, who wanted to settle a score with him, and the fellows of Miki. Nagakura was forced to leave Tokyo, changing his name.
Goryokaku has been recognized among modern Japanese people mainly as the site of the last battle of such Shinsen-gumi. As for its characteristic shape, it was designed for defensive battle using guns. As you can see in the photo bellow, that shape enabled gunners to shoot enemies from both sides.
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