Suzuki Mikisaburō

Suzuki Mikisaburo (July 15, 1837 – July 11, 1919) was a Japanese samurai in the late Edo period (Bakumatsu). A member of the Shinsengumi, Goryo-eji, and a police officer and government official in the Meiji era.
As shown in the Hakuōki franchise, Mikisaburō was Itō Kashitarō's brother and the Captain of the 9th unit of the Shinsengumi who later joined the Goryo-eji (Guardians of the Imperial Tomb).
==Background==
In the 8th year of the Tenpō era (1837), Suzuki Mikisaburō was born in Shizuki as the second son of Sen'emon Tadaaki, a feudal retainer of the Hitachi Shizuki Domain (Gōmetsuke). His older brother was Itō Kashitarō. He later became the son-in-law of Keijirō Ono, an English teacher.
==Shinsengumi==
In October 1864, responding to a recruitment call from an old acquaintance, Tōdō Heisuke, Mikisaburō traveled to Kyoto along with his companions, Itō Kashitarō and Shinohara Yasunosuke. Later on, he officially joined the Shinsengumi. During this time, he started calling himself Saburō Miki. In 1865, he became the Commander of the 9th Unit.
In March 1867, Miki and Itō Kashitarō separated from the Shinsengumi and joined Goryo-eji (Guardians of the Imperial Tomb). He started calling himself Mikisaburō(三樹三郎) and Mikiizumi (三木和泉) during this period. However, on November 18th of the same year, his brother Kashitarō was assassinated by the Shinsengumi. During the turmoil that followed while they were recovering his body, they managed to fend off the Shinsengumi and found refuge in the Satsuma Domain's residence (Aburanokōji Incident). 
==Boshin War==
During the Battle of Toba-Fushimi, Mikisaburō fought against the Shinsengumi at the Fushimi Magistrate's Office under the command of Nakamura Hanjirō of the Satsuma Domain's First Unit.
Later, he joined the vanguard of the Eastern Expeditionary Army. When the Sekihōtai (赤報隊, "Red Herald Regiment" – a group of Japanese political extremists) was formed on January 15th, 1868, he served as the captain of the 2nd Unit. However, Mikisaburō parted ways with Sōzō Sagara's 1st Unit and marched on the Tōkaidō. Due to suspicions arising from the false official incident involving Sōzō Sagara and others, Mikisaburō was imprisoned and held at the Awa Tokushima Domain's residence and headquarters before his treatment improved and he came under the custody of the Satsuma Domain.
Afterwards, Mikisaburō joined the 7th conscription unit of the new government's army. In June, he was assigned as a Military Bureau sergeant and traveled to Edo. During the Boshin War, Mikisaburō fought on the front lines in Hokuetsu and Aizu.
==After the war==
In July 1869, Mikisaburō became a sub-inspector at the Dajōkan (Board of Great Councilors). After the abolition of feudal domains, he changed his name to Tadayoshi (忠良). He served primarily in judicial and police roles in various places, including the Ministry of Justice, Ina Prefecture, Chiba Prefecture, and Yamagata Prefecture. In 1879, Tadayoshi took command as the chief of the Tsuruoka Police Station during the imperial visit.
After retiring from public service, his last official position being a second-rank officer in Fukushima Prefecture in January 1885, he spent the rest of his life in Ishioka Town (Ibaraki Prefecture).
==Death==
In 1919, Suzuki Mikisaburō passed away at the age of 82 due to old age. His resting place is at the Toyoji Temple in Ishioka City.
==References==
* 御陵衛士列伝 三樹三郎 - 閉鎖。（2009年2月20日時点のアーカイブ）
* 御陵衛士列伝 ご子孫・縁者の方が語る思い出ばなし - 閉鎖。（2011年10月11日時点のアーカイブ）
* 小野圭次郎「岳父鈴木三樹三郎」小野ほか『新撰組覚え書』新人物往来社、1972年
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Category:Historical counterparts