nntsuzu/KFTT huggingface dataset:
English: Just before his death, Toshizo handed locks of his hair to be kept as a memonto and his photograph to Tetsunosuke CHIMURA, who served him as Kosyo, and ordered Tetsunosuke to "deliver them to my family in Hino."
Japanese: 歳三は死の直前に小姓を務めていた市村鉄之助に遺髪と写真を渡し、「日野の家族の元に届けてくれ」と命じる。
English: On hearing this, Toshizo said with a glare "if you refuse, I will kill you here now".
Japanese: それを聞いた歳三は「断るとあらば、今この場で討ち果たす」と鋭い眼光を向けて言い放つ。
English: ICHIMURA left the words that "I could not tell who it was, but probably it was Mr. HIJIKATA".
Japanese: 「誰かは解りませんでしたが、おそらく土方さんだったのだと思います」と語り残している。
English: It is said that when he was a child, he often remained naked after taking a bath, and practiced Sumo with a pillar in his house.
Japanese: 幼少時には風呂から上がると、よく裸のまま家の柱で相撲の稽古をしていたと言う。
English: When his nephew (Hikogoro SATO's 3rd son, Tamekichi) fell down in the garden and cut his forehead, it is said that Taizo immediately rushed towards Tamekichi, laughed and caressed the boy saying, "the boy is wounded when he was confronting the world, so joyful, so joyful."
Japanese: 甥（佐藤彦五郎の3男・為吉）が庭先で転んで額を切った時にはすぐさま駆け付けて「男の子の向かい傷だ。めでたいめでたい」と笑ってあやしたという。
English: Nevertheless, it is said that he was awfully strong in actual fighting (it is said that he fought with no restraints, for example, by throwing the sand on the ground at his opponent and slashing or strangling him while heflinched from Toshizo's initial attack).
Japanese: しかし、実戦では滅法強かったと言われている（斬り合いの時、足下の砂を相手にぶつけてひるんだ隙に斬り伏せたり首を絞めて絞殺したりなど、縦横無尽に戦闘をしていたという）。
English: As can be seen from his photo of a later year dressed in western clothing, it is said that Toshizo was a rationalist and had the flexibility to accept useful things; for example, he owned a western pocket watch, etc.
Japanese: 後の洋装の写真などから、歳三は合理主義者で便利なものは便利と受け取る柔軟さをもっており、舶来の懐中時計なども持っていたという。
English: He once said to colleagues of Shinsen-gumi who were close to him, "probably I am reborn from Nobunaga ODA".
Japanese: 隊内の気の置けない仲間には、「自分は、織田信長の生まれ変わりだろう。」と言ったことがある。
English: It is said that he created strict rules for Shinsen-gumi, such as Jinchu Hatto and Kyokuchu Hatto, and mercilessly killed betrayers or those who did not follow the rules; he was referred to as the pitiless vice commander, and in general, he was considered to be a heartless person.
Japanese: 陣中法度、局中法度などの厳しい隊規を考案したとされ、裏切り者やはみ出し者に容赦の無い刃を浴びせた歳三は、鬼の副長と呼ばれ普段は冷酷な人物とされる。
English: However, according to Nobori NAKAJIMA who followed Toshizo up to Hakodate War, at the time of Hakodate War "he was mild and was admired by his men as if he was their mother."
Japanese: しかし、箱館戦争にまで従った新選組隊士中島登によれば、箱館戦争当時には「温和で、母のように慕われていた」という。
English: It is said that around this time, he started to often take young members of Shinsen-gumi out to meals and drink, and he listened to and advise them on their problems.
Japanese: この頃には若い隊士を度々飲食に連れ歩いたり、相談事に乗ったりするようになったともいわれている。
English: However, there is a view that this was not because he has become older, but this was a calculated action based on his realization that he has found a place to die, as well as for motivating his men who could die tomorrow in a battle.
Japanese: ただしそれも、年齢を経た結果というよりも、自分の死に場所を見つけたという悟りに近い気持ちと、明日にも闘いで命を落とすかも知れない隊士の士気を上げるための、計算の上であったとする説もある。
English: Because he was a tall (for that time), handsome man with a fair complexion and firm features he was very popular among ladies; when he was acting as the vice commander of Shinsen-gumi in Kyoto he sent to his colleagues in Hino a bundle of love letters he had received from many women so as to boast his popularity.
Japanese: もともと色白で引き締まった顔立ちをしており（当時としては）長身であった為、京都にて新選組副長として活動していたときなどは、日野の仲間に向けて多数の女性からの恋文をまとめて送って自慢するほどであった。
English: Soon after he went to Kyoto, a large package from him arrived in attention to Shikanosuke KOJIMA (one story says that the package was addressed to the disciples of KONDO Dojo).
Japanese: 上洛間もない頃、小島鹿之助へ（一説に近藤道場の弟子たちにとも言われる）宛て大きな荷物が届く。
English: Shikanosuke opened the package thinking that Toshizo might have sent presents from Kyoto, but the package was filled with love letters from geishas and apprentice geishas who were in love with Toshizo. The following tanka poem is said to have accompanied the letter [from Toshizo]:
Japanese: 京土産でも送って来たかと開けてみると、彼を慕う芸者・舞妓からの恋文がびっしり詰められており、以下の和歌が手紙に添えられていたという。
English: Toshizo, who had his leg wounded in Battle of Utsunomiya, was in sickbed at an inn in the castle town of Aizu Wakamatsu from around April to July of 1868 (there are different views regarding the period).
Japanese: 宇都宮の戦いで足を負傷していた歳三は、慶応4年（1868）閏4月頃から7月頃（異説あり）まで、会津若松城下の宿で病床に伏していた。
English: One day, Mitsuzo MOCHIZUKI, a vassal of the Shogunate and a public servant who was staying at the same inn as Toshizo, visited him, but Toshizo remained in his bed and said to him, "fight with us."
Japanese: ある日、同じ宿にいた幕臣で文官の望月光蔵が訪ねて来たが、歳三は寝ころんだまま「俺達と共に戦え」と言った。
English: MOCHIZUKI who got annoyed by this arrogant attitude refused by saying, "I am a public servant so I cannot fight."
Japanese: その傲慢な態度にムッときた望月は「自分は文官だから戦う事はできない」と拒否。
English: Then Toshizo spoke unreservedly "then what did you come so far away for, you coward!"
Japanese: すると歳三は「じゃあお前は何をしにこんな遠くまで来たんだ。臆病者め」と言い放った。
English: MOCHIZUKI retorted that "you were fortunate enough to seize Utsunomiya Castle, but wasn't the castle soon retaken?
Japanese: 望月も黙っておれず「幸いにもあなた達は宇都宮城を奪ったが、それをすぐに奪われたではないか。
English: It was one of the busy Chaya restaurants among Shinagawa-syuku, and the following record remains today: "On October 21st, the third year of Keio, family and disciples of the Shinsen-gumi member, Toshizo HIJIKATA, totaling 31 people rested, Hanuemon KAMAYA, fee was 9 kan and 300 mon."
Japanese: 品川宿の中でも大変賑わっていた茶屋で「慶応三年卯十月廿一日登（上）新撰組土方歳三御家族　門人共上下三十一人（休）釜屋半右衛門　九貫三百文」と言う記録が残っている。
English: A memorial of Shinsen-gumi now stands at the site of Kamaya (currently, Aomono-yokocho Station, Shinagawa-ku).
Japanese: 現在、釜屋の跡地（品川区青物横丁駅）には新撰組の記念碑が建てられている。
English: Because of the excellent performance given in "Shinsengumi Keppuroku" and "Moeyo Ken", Asahi KURIZUKA is known as a legendary figure and a great actor playing the part of Toshizo HIJIKATA.
Japanese: 『新選組血風録』や『燃えよ剣』での好演から栗塚旭が不世出の土方歳三役俳優として伝説的な存在と言われている。
English: It is well known that when Ryotaro SHIBA saw Asahi KURIZUKA wearing the uniform of Shinsen-gumi, SHIBA highly praised KURIZUKA.
Japanese: ドラマ『新選組血風録』の製作開始時に隊士服を着た栗塚旭を見た司馬遼太郎が絶賛したというエピソードが知られている。
English: Acted by Seizaburo KAWAZU "Shinsen-gumi Part 1 the Book of Kyou Rakufu-kan, Part 2 Ikedaya Incident, Part 3 Maken-Ranbu" (Director: Ryo HAGIWARA), Year 1952 by Toei.
Japanese: 河津清三郎『新撰組第一部京洛風雲の巻、第二部池田屋騒動、第三部魔剣乱舞』（監督：萩原遼）1952年、東映
English: Acted by Norio NISHIKAWA "Hissatsu! Buraun-kan no Kaibutsu-tachi" (Director: Jyo HIROSE) (Year 1985, Hissatsu Series), by Shochiku.
Japanese: 西川のりお『必殺!ブラウン館の怪物たち』（監督：広瀬襄）（1985年、必殺シリーズ）、松竹
English: Acted by Tetsuya WATARI "Goryokaku (TV Drama)" Year-end Jidaigeki Special, by Nippon Television Network.
Japanese: 渡哲也『五稜郭(テレビドラマ)』年末時代劇スペシャル1988年、日本テレビ放送網
English: Acted by Koji YAMAMOTO "Shinsengumi !! Hijikata Toshizo Saigono Ichi-nichi" Year 2006, by NHK (sequel to "Shinsengumi !").
Japanese: 山本耕史『新選組!!土方歳三最期の一日』2006年、NHK（『新選組!』の続編）
English: Acted by Kazuhiro KOMATSU "Chio Chimorin S" (Year 2003, by theater unit pan-dan Sasa).
Japanese: 小松和弘『チオチモリンS』（2003年、演劇ユニットpan-dan笹公演）
English: Acted by Yo OIZUMI "LOOSER - Ushinai Tsuzukete Shimau Album-" (Year 2004, 10th performance of TEAM-NACS).
Japanese: 大泉洋『LOOSER～失い続けてしまうアルバム～』（2004年、TEAM-NACS第10回公演）
English: Sapporo Performance - Sapporo Factory Hall - Tokyo Performance - Ikebukuro Sunshine Theatre Encore Performance - Nippon-seinenkan.
Japanese: 札幌公演‐サッポロファクトリーホール東京公演‐池袋サンシャイン劇場　アンコール公演‐日本青年館
English: Acted by Yukihiro EDA and Megumi KOYAMA "Sakura Gasane" (Year 2007, 24th performance of Theater SK Group).
Japanese: 江田由紀浩、小山めぐみ『桜襲さくらがさね』（2007年、劇団SKグループ第24回公演）
English: Tokyo Performance - Theater Green BIG TREE THEATER Sapporo Performance - Theater Zoo.
Japanese: 東京公演‐シアターグリーンBIGTREETHEATER　札幌公演‐シアターZOO
English: Acted by Kaoru OURA "SAKURA no gotoku, Like a cherry tree" (February 2005, FA Kikaku [Theatre Division] Sakura Sakura Company) Kyoto Drama Festival.
Japanese: 大浦薫『さくらのごとく～新選組桜真説～』（2005年2月、FA企画【舞台部門】さくらさくらカンパニー）京都演劇フェスティバル
English: Acted by Kaoru OURA "SAKURA no gotoku, Like a cherry tree" (August 2006, FA Kikaku [Theatre Division] Sakura Sakura Company) Participated in the 2006 New York International Fringe Festival, and received Judges' Special Award.
Japanese: 大浦薫『さくらのごとく～新選組桜真説～』（2006年8月、FA企画【舞台部門】さくらさくらカンパニー）The2006NewYorkInternational　FringeFestival　（NY国際芸術祭）参加作品　審査員特別賞受賞
English: Acted by Kaoru OURA "Hokuten Genou - HIJIKATA Sekisomu-"(Year 2008, FA Kikaku [Theatre Division]Sakura Sakura Company History Monologue Series No. 3).
Japanese: 大浦薫『北天幻桜～土方雪想夢～』（2008年、FA企画【舞台部門】さくらさくらカンパニー歴史モノローグシリーズ第3弾）
English: Regarding works in which Toshizo HIJIKATA appears, refer also to works based on Shinsen-gumi and Category Shinsen-gumi.
Japanese: 土方歳三が登場する作品は、新選組新選組を題材にした作品、Category新選組を題材とした作品も参照のこと。
English: By Aiko KITAHARA "Kurayami kara Hijikata Toshizo Ibun" ISBN 440853241X.
Japanese: 北原亞以子『暗闇から土方歳三異聞』1995年ISBN440853241X
English: By Riichi NAKABA "Baragaki - Hijikata Toshizo Seishun-fu" Year 2000, ISBN 4062738678 (the ISBN is for pocket book version).
Japanese: 中場利一『バラガキ-土方歳三青春譜』2000年ISBN4062738678（ISBNは文庫版）
English: By Kenzo KITAKATA "Kokuryu no Hitsugi" Year 2002, Book 1 ISBN 4620106607, Book 2 ISBN 4620106615.
Japanese: 北方謙三『黒龍の柩』2002年上ISBN4620106607、下ISBN4620106615
English: By Hitoshi YOSHIOKA "Toshizo HIJIKATA on Mars" (Asahi Sonorama) - A SF novel which tells the adventures of Toshizo HIJIKATA, after he died in Hakodate and is reborn on Mars in "Mars Series" of Edgar Rice Burroughs.
Japanese: 吉岡平『火星の土方歳三』（朝日ソノラマ）-函館で死亡した後、エドガー・ライス・バローズの『火星シリーズ』の火星に転生した土方歳三の活躍を描くSF作品。
English: By Takeshi KANDA "Kitano Shishi Shinsetsu Hijikata Taizo den"- is focused on Hakodate War.
Japanese: 神田たけ志『北の獅子真説・土方歳三伝』-箱館戦争に焦点を絞って描かれている。
English: By Aya KANNO "Hokusou Shinsengumi"- of the short comics included in this book, "Junbaku" has Toshizo HIJIKATA as the main character, and describes his relationship with Keisuke OTORI, who served as the General of the Army.
Japanese: 菅野文『北走新選組』-収録されている短編のうち『殉白』は土方歳三を主役とし、蝦夷共和国の陸軍奉行をつとめた大鳥圭介とのからみを描く。
English: Ryoma SAKAMOTO (Jan.3, 1836-Dec.10, 1867) is a Japanese statesman and businessperson in the end of Edo era.
Japanese: 坂本龍馬（さかもとりょうま、天保6年11月15日(旧暦)（1836年1月3日）-慶応3年11月15日(旧暦)（1867年12月10日）は、幕末の日本の政治家・実業家。
English: After having fled from Tosa clan he acted as a royalist, exerting himself into establishing Kameyama-shachu, later Kaientai (a society of master less samurai), a mixture of a trading company and a political organization, mediating collaboration between Satsuma and Choshu, and realizing Taisei-hokan (the Restoration of the Imperial rule).
Japanese: 土佐藩脱藩後、貿易会社と政治組織を兼ねた亀山社中・海援隊(浪士結社)の結成、薩長連合の斡旋、大政奉還の成立に尽力するなど、志士として活動した。
English: He has gained a national reputation as a popular person since Ryotaro SHIBA had made him the leading character in his novel "Ryoma ga Yuku."
Japanese: 司馬遼太郎の小説『竜馬がゆく』の主人公とされて以来、国民的人気を誇っている。
English: There is no doubt that his first name was pronounced as "Ryoma" considering that the kanji of his first name is pronounced "Ryoma" according to "Kan-on" (the Han reading of a kanji) although pronounced "Ryuma" according to "Kan-yo on" (the special Japanese reading) (see "Kojien" the fifth edition), that his contemporaries wrote down in their diaries and letters the kanji of the phonetic equivalent of "Ryoma" to refer to Ryoma, and that Ryoma himself sometimes added his signature reading "Riyofu" to his letters.
Japanese: 「龍馬」は慣用音（『広辞苑』第5版）では「りゅうま」だが、漢音は「りょうま」で、同時代人の日記や書簡に「良馬」の当て字で記されていることもあり、また龍馬自身も書簡の中で「りよふ」と自署していることもあるため、「りょうま」と読まれていたことは間違いない。
English: Regarding the kanji character for "Ryo," the old-style character is also commonly used for Ryoma partly because Ryotaro SHIBA used the old style in his novel "Ryoma ga Yuku" and the old-style character was selected as a "Kanji Designated for Everyday Use" although Ryoma himself never used the old-style character.
Japanese: なお、「竜」は「龍」の異体字（「竜」は「龍」の古体字）で、龍馬自身は「竜」の字体を使ったことがないが、司馬遼太郎の「竜馬がゆく」で使われたことや、「竜」が常用漢字に採用されたこともあり、慣用化されている。
English: He became famed after his death rather than in life. Although he appears frequently in various novels and dramas such as Ryotaro SHIBA's, there are many who mention that these images are away from factual Ryoma.
Japanese: むしろ生前より死後に有名になった人物であり、司馬遼太郎の作品を始め、小説やドラマに度々取り上げられる人物ではあるが、それらは実際の龍馬とかけ離れているのではないかという指摘は多い。
English: Particularly among historians there are many who point out this difference, one of the representatives being Rei MATSUURA.
Japanese: 歴史家の中に、特にそのような指摘をする人は多く、松浦玲などが代表格。
English: Refer to "Verification: The Legend of Ryoma" by Rei MATSUURA (Ronsosha, 2001), "Ryotaro SHIBA's "Ryoma ga Yuku" by Takamasa IKEDA ("Rekishi Hyoron" (History Review) 317, 1976), and "Ryoma's Persona and the Real Nature - Ryotaro SHIBA's "Ryoma ga Yuku" - by Hisao ITOYA (Rekishi Hyoron" (History Review 317, 1976)).
Japanese: 松浦玲『検証・龍馬伝説』（論創社、2001年）・池田敬正「司馬遼太郎「竜馬がゆく」をめぐって」（『歴史評論』317、1976年）・絲屋寿雄「竜馬の虚像・実像-司馬遼太郎「竜馬がゆく」によせて-」（『歴史評論』317、1976年）などが参考になる。
English: The representatives of historians who wrote the biography of Ryoma are Michio HIRAO, Takamasa IKEDA, and Masamichi ASUKAI.
Japanese: ちなみに、龍馬の伝記を書いた歴史家としては、平尾道雄・池田敬正・飛鳥井雅道などが代表的。
English: At the age of 14, he enrolled in Benji HINENO's dojo, a martial arts school, in Kochi castle town and learned the swordsmanship of the Oguri-ryu style that the lower-rank samurai learns.
Japanese: 14歳になり高知城下の日根野弁治の道場へ入門し、下士の習う小栗流を学ぶ。
English: In 1853, Ryoma moved to Edo (Tokyo) to master swordsmanship, and joined the dojo of Sadakichi CHIBA (commonly known as Kochiba dojo in Chiyoda-ku Ward, Tokyo), whose elder brother is Shusaku CHIBA, the founder of the Hokushin Itto-ryu style at Oke-cho.
Japanese: 1853年（嘉永6年）に剣術修行のため江戸（東京都）に出て、桶町の北辰一刀流剣術開祖千葉周作の弟の千葉定吉道場（通称：小千葉道場）（東京都千代田区）に入門した。
English: In 1857, Ryoma let one of his peers Takuma SAWABE go, who was forced to commit seppuku (ritual hara-kiri suicide) for stealing.
Japanese: 1857年（安政4年）、盗みを働き切腹沙汰となった仲間の沢辺琢磨を逃がす。
English: Ryoma is said to have been conferred the full mastership of the Hokushin Itto-ryu style, but in fact he was conferred a "certificate of the art of war using a long-handled sword in the Hokushin Itto-ryu style"; what he mastered is not a commonly-termed swordplay but correctly a long-handled sword tactics; and the certificate was not a license or a diploma certifying full mastership but the "first certificate," the lowest-ranked certificate for the Hokushin Itto-ryu style.
Japanese: 北辰一刀流免許皆伝と言われる事もあるが、実際には「北辰一刀流長刀兵法・目録」を与えられた物であり、一般にいう剣術では無く、正しくは薙刀術兵法であり、免許でもなければ皆伝でもなく、北辰一刀流としては一番低い「初目録」であった。
English: But considering the fact that Ryoma once became president of the disciples of the Chiba dojo and that his contemporaries testified to the fact that Ryoma was conferred the full mastership, the certificate of the full mastership actually conferred upon him is thought to be no longer exist (some of the personal mementos left by Ryoma have been lost by disaster or theft).
Japanese: ただ千葉道場で塾頭を勤めたことや同世代の人物の証言に「免許皆伝を伝授された」という証言も残るため、免許皆伝状は単に現存していないものと思われる（龍馬の遺品は災害や盗難等で幾つか損失している）。
English: For details on the opinion of the "certificate of the art of war using a long-handled sword in the Hokushin Itto-ryu style" being a certificate for long-handled sword, refer to "My First Sight of Ryoma SAKAMOTO's Letter and Certificate of the Art of War Using a Long-handled Sword in the Hokushin Itto-ryu Style" by Tsukasa MATSUOKA ("Japanese History" 454, 1986) and "The Hokushin Itto-ryu Style and its Full Mastership" by Haruo DOI ("Encyclopedia of Ryoma SAKAMOTO" Shin-Jinbutsuoraisha, 1988).
Japanese: ちなみに、「北辰一刀流長刀兵法・目録」が薙刀の目録であることについては、松岡司「初見の坂本龍馬書状と北辰一刀流長刀兵法目録」（『日本歴史』454号、1986年）、土居晴夫「北辰一刀流とその免許皆伝」（『坂本龍馬事典』新人物往来社、1988年）が詳しい。
English: In March, 1861, Iguchi-mura village sword wound incident occurred in Tosa, which deepened conflict between the lower-rank samurai to which Ryoma belonged and the upper-rank samurai (refer to "Ishin Tosa Kinnoshi" (History of Support of the Emperor in Tosa during the Restoration), which reads "SAKAMOTO and other lower-rank samurai temporarily gathered at IKEDA's house and showed their enthusiasm to fight against the upper-rank samurai").
Japanese: 1861年（文久元年）、3月、土佐で井口村刃傷事件が起り、龍馬の属する下士と上士の間で対立が深まる『維新土佐勤王史』「坂本等、一時池田の宅に集合し、敢て上士に対抗する気勢を示したり」。
English: There is an anecdote that Ryoma assisted Toranoshin IKEDA, who was blamed for the incident and was forced commit seppuku (ritual hara-kiri suicide), in committing seppuku by beheading him and Ryoma pledged solidarity among the lower-rank samurai wetting his sword knot with Toranoshin's blood, but this anecdote is a fiction appearing in Shiran SAKAZAKI's novel "Kanketsu Senri no Koma."
Japanese: なお、事件の当事者で切腹した池田虎之進の介錯を龍馬が行って、その血に刀の下緒を浸しながら下士の団結を誓ったという逸話が流布しているが、これは坂崎紫瀾の小説『汗血千里駒』のフィクションである。
English: Six months later, the lower-rank samurai formed Tosa Kinnoto making Zuizan TAKECHI the leader, and Ryoma became the ninth member (the first member in Tosa).
Japanese: 半年後、下士は武市瑞山をリーダーに土佐勤王党を結成し、龍馬は9番目に加盟した（土佐では加盟第1号）。
English: It is not known exactly why Ryoma fled from Tosa clan with Sonojo SAWAMURA in March, 1862, but some point out that it is because Ryoma opposed Zuizan TAKECHI's policy to attempt to assassinate Toyo YOSHIDA.
Japanese: 1862年（文久2年）3月に沢村惣之丞とともに脱藩した理由は定かではないが、龍馬が吉田東洋暗殺を企てる武市瑞山の方針に反対だったからではないかとの指摘もある。
English: Refer to "Ryoma SAKAMOTO" by Masamichi ASUKAI (Heibonsha, 1975) and "Taisei-hokan (the Restoration of the Imperial rule) and Confidential Imperial Order to Overthrow the Tokugawa Shogunate" by Yoshihisa ISHIO (San-ichi Shobo, 1979).
Japanese: 飛鳥井雅道『坂本龍馬』（平凡社、1975年）・石尾芳久『大政奉還と討幕の密勅』（三一書房、1979年）などを参照。
English: Immediately thereafter, the assassination of Toyo YOSHIDA by Kinnoto occurred, and at the beginning Ryoma was suspected as the assassin.
Japanese: その直後に勤王党による吉田東洋の暗殺事件が起り、当初は龍馬が実行犯として疑われた。
English: After having wandered in Kyushu, Ryoma went to Edo and stayed at the Chiba dojo; "Ishin Tosa Kinnoshi (History of Support of the Emperor in Tosa during the Restoration)" reads "Ryoma traveled to Edo as free as the wind, and settled down in the place of Jutaro CHIBA, an old friend of his, located at Okecho outside Kajibashi."
Japanese: 龍馬は九州などを放浪した後、江戸へ入り千葉道場に身を寄せる『維新土佐勤王史』「坂本は飄然として江戸に下り、彼の旧識なる鍛冶橋外桶町の千葉重太郎方に草蛙を解きぬ」。
English: Regarding the fact that with a referral from Shungaku, Ryoma met Kaishu KATSU and became a disciple of KATSU in December, one theory has it that Ryoma met KATSU to kill him but there are lots of different theories and the correct historical evidence has not yet been confirmed.
Japanese: 春嶽の紹介状を携え、12月、勝海舟に面会して弟子となる一説には勝を暗殺するために面会に行ったとされるが、これには色々と異説があり、正確な史実は確定していない。
English: However, it is true that many met KATSU to kill him but were admonished instead to end up becoming disciples of KATSU.
Japanese: ただし、勝を殺そうとして、逆に諭されて勝の弟子になった人間がたくさんいるのは事実。
English: These various theories are described in detail in "Kaishu KATSU" by Toru HARUNA ("Encyclopedia of Ryoma SAKAMOTO" Shin-Jinbutsuoraisha, 1988).
Japanese: 諸説を、春名徹「勝海舟」（『坂本龍馬事典』新人物往来社、1988年）が詳しくまとめている。
English: In 1863, Ryoma exerted himself into establishing Kobe Navy Training Center that KATSU promoted and Ryoma became president of the trainees of Kobe Navy School opened earlier than the Training Center, but some historians including Rei MATSUURA who is eminent as the researcher of Kaishu KATSU are skeptical about the theory of Ryoma being president of the trainees.
Japanese: 1863年（文久3年）、勝が進める神戸海軍操練所の設立に尽力し、操練所よりも先に開設された神戸海軍塾の塾頭をつとめるただし、勝海舟の研究者として著名な歴史家の松浦玲をはじめとして何人かの歴史家は、龍馬が塾頭を務めたという説には懐疑的である。
English: For details, refer to "Verification: The Legend of Ryoma" by Rei MATSUURA (Ronsosha, 2001), and "Dream for the Navy Jointly Owned by Asian-countries, Shared with Mentor" by Yusuke HAMAGUCHI ("New Historical Figures Series (4) Creation of the Restoration Ryoma SAKAMOTO" GAKKEN, 2006).
Japanese: 詳しくは松浦玲『検証・龍馬伝説』（論創社、2001年）・濱口裕介「師とともに目指したアジア諸国共有海軍への夢」（『新・歴史群像シリーズ(4)維新創世坂本龍馬』学習研究社、2006年）を参照。
English: The political change on August 18 expelled Sonno joi (revere the Emperor and expel the barbarians) royalists from Kyoto, which resulted in destruction in Tosa Kinnoto by the Tosa clan.
Japanese: 八月十八日の政変で京から尊攘派が駆逐され、土佐勤王党も藩によって壊滅状態となる。
English: In 1864, Kobe Navy Training Center was founded, but some researchers point out that Ryoma might not have been able to enroll in the Center partly because master less samurai was not entitled to enroll ("Verification: The Legend of Ryoma" by Rei MATSUURA).
Japanese: 1864年（文久4年改元して元治元年）、神戸海軍操練所が創設されたしかし浪人は入所資格を認められなかったこともあり、龍馬は入所できなかったのではないかと指摘している研究者もいる（松浦玲『検証・龍馬伝説』など）。
English: At around that time, Ryoma started an emigration plan to Ezochi (Hokkaido) to try to save the Sonno joi (revere the Emperor and expel the barbarians) royalists in Kyoto, where the oppression was escalating, but this plan was derailed after the occurrence of Ikedaya incident.
Japanese: 龍馬はこの頃、弾圧が激しさを増していた京の尊攘過激派を救うべく蝦夷地への移住計画を開始するが、池田屋事件によって頓挫した。
English: Since a number of the Navy School trainees fought on the Choshu side in Kinmon no hen incident as a reprisal for Ikedaya incident, the Navy School was cracked down on by the Shogunate and KATSU was removed from his position.
Japanese: 池田屋事件への報復である禁門の変で、長州側に多数の海軍塾生が加わっていたため、海軍塾は幕府から弾圧され、勝も解任された。
English: Although Ryoma lost support from KATSU, Ryoma asked Kichinosuke SAIGO (Takamori SAIGO) for help on referral from KATSU, and Ryoma was harbored at Satsuma clan's house in Osaka, on which some point out that Satsuma clan helped Ryoma because they thought that Ryoma would be of vital use to navigation skills ("Verification: The Legend of Ryoma" by Rei MATSUURA).
Japanese: 勝の庇護を失った龍馬であるが、勝の紹介で西郷吉之助（西郷隆盛）を頼って大阪の薩摩藩邸に保護されるこれには、薩摩藩側が龍馬らの航海技術に利用価値を感じた点も大きいと指摘されている（松浦玲『検証・龍馬伝説』など）。
English: In 1865, Shintaro NAKAOKA and other royalists visited Ryoma who moved to Satsuma clan's house in Kyoto.
Japanese: 1865年（元治2年改元して慶応元年）、京の薩摩藩邸に移った龍馬の元に中岡慎太郎らが訪問。
English: With the assistance of Satsuma clan, Ryoma together with his peers who also fled from Tosa clan established shachu (Kameyama-shachu, later Kaientai (ronin's association)) in Nagasaki and carried on trade of goods and arms.
Japanese: 薩摩藩の援助により、土佐脱藩の仲間と共に長崎で社中（亀山社中・のちに海援隊_(浪士結社)）を組織し、物産・武器の貿易を行った。
English: In this year, Ryoma achieved a crucial mission entrusted by Toshimichi OKUBO and Takamori SAIGO to deliver an OKUBO's letter, which is famous for its phrase, "Unjustifiable Imperial order is not Imperial order," to the Choshu clan's high-ranking official. "Politics in the End of Edo Era and Satsuma Clan" by Suguru SASAKI (Yoshikawa kobunkan, 2004).
Japanese: この年、「非義勅命は勅命にあらず」という文言で有名な大久保利通の書簡を、長州藩重役に届けるという重大な任務を龍馬が大久保や西郷隆盛に任されている。佐々木克『幕末政治と薩摩藩』（吉川弘文館、2004年）。
English: In January, 1866, the meeting between Kogoro KATSURA (Takayoshi KIDO) from Nagatonokuni and Takamori SAIGO from Satsuma was held in Kyoto by Ryoma SAKAMOTO's mediation to achieve Satsuma-Choshu Alliance.
Japanese: 1866年（慶応2年）、1月、坂本龍馬の斡旋により、京都で長門国の木戸孝允（木戸孝允）と薩摩の西郷隆盛が会見し、薩長同盟（薩長盟約）が結ばれた。
English: This means a single ronin provided guarantee to the Alliance forged between the giant clans, from which we can see how Ryoma gained trust.
Japanese: 天下の大藩同士の同盟に一介の素浪人が保証を与えたものであって、彼がいかに信を得ていたかがわかる。
English: Although Satuma-Choshu Alliance is considered as the Ryoma's major achievement, there is also a theory that Ryoma was in fact instructed by Satsuma clan including SAIGO and Kiyotada KOMATSU to work on the achievement for the Alliance (Tadamasa AOYAMA), and therefore there are divided evaluations over what kind of role Ryoma played for Satsuma-Choshu Alliance.
Japanese: なお薩長同盟については龍馬最大の功績と言われるが、実際には、西郷や小松清廉ら薩摩藩の指示を受けて動いていたという説もあり（青山忠正など）、薩長連合に果たした役割の重要性については評価が分かれている。
English: Starting with the Tadamasa AOYAMA's theory, Satsuma-Choshu Alliance has been a hotly-debated issue among scholars including Norimasa KANBASHI, Tsugunobu MIYAKE, Masato MIYACHI, Hidenao TAKAHASHI and Suguru SASAKI.
Japanese: その後、青山忠正を皮切りに、芳即正・三宅紹宣・宮地正人・高橋秀直・佐々木克などの研究者を中心に薩長同盟についての議論が盛んである。
English: For the trend of study on Satsuma-Choshu Alliance, refer to "Reality of the Alliance and The Role Ryoma Played therein" by Sakujin KIRINO ("New Historical Figures Series (4) Creation of the Restoration Ryoma SAKAMOTO" GAKKEN, 2006).
Japanese: 薩長同盟研究の動向については、桐野作人「同盟の実相と龍馬の果たした役割とは？」（『新・歴史群像シリーズ(4)維新創世坂本龍馬』学習研究社、2006年）が詳しくまとめている。