Matsubara Chuji

Matsubara Chuji (, Matsubara Chūji) is a character featured in Ryu Ga Gotoku Ishin!/Like a Dragon: Ishin! based on the real-life historical figure of the same name. He is the Shinsengumi Captain of the Fourth Division and he shares his in-game appearance with Yu Morinaga.
== Profile ==
=== Appearance ===
Matsubara wears his hair in a high-bun and has a thin, pencil moustache.
==== Attire ====
Matsubara wears black leather armor underneath his Shinsengumi captain's haori. He always wears a headband on his forehead, which is emblazoned with the insignia of the Shinsengumi (The kanji , meaning "sincerity").
=== Personality ===
Matsubara is a dour, blunt man who does not hide his opinions, as shown by his honest, open hostility towards Sakamoto Ryoma when he is promoted to Unit Captain immediately after joining.
== Background ==
Matsubara was born in the Choshu Domain in southern Japan. After the American government made a humiliating imposition of unequal trade agreements on the Tokugawa Bakufu, Matsubara was one of the many disillusioned samurai who became part of the Ishin Shishi movement, which sought to depose the Shogunate and restore direct rule of the country to the Emperor. In his case, Matsubara participated in the movement by joining the Choshu Loyalist Party.
During the mid-1860's, he moved to Kyoto alongside the leader of the Choshu Loyalists, Katsura Kogoro, to begin plotting against the Tokugawa government. However, the Loyalists found themselves the frequent target of violence by the Shogunate's special police force, the Shinsengumi. Seeking to sabotage the Shinsengumi and acquire insider information about their operations, Katsura tasked Matsubara with infiltrating their ranks and serving as a double-agent. Matsubara complied and was so successful that he eventually worked his way up to the organization's leadership, becoming Captain of the Shinsengumi's 4th Unit.
== Involvement==
=== Ryu Ga Gotoku Ishin!/Like a Dragon: Ishin!: 1867 ===
In 1867, Matsubara is in attendance during the meeting of the Shinsengumi leadership where Sakamoto Ryoma (under the alias of Saito Hajime) is initiated into the Shinsengumi leadership as Captain of the 3rd Unit. Vice-Commander Hijikata Toshizo instructs Matsubara to give Saito a tour of the Shinsengumi's base but Matsubara refuses, since he opposes Saito's promotion on the basis that he's a recent recruit and should not be amongst the Unit Captains, even if he's a gifted swordsman. Instead, 8th Unit Captain Todo Heisuke volunteers to give the tour.
A few weeks later, Vice-Commander Hijikata briefs the Unit Captains about a plot hatched by the Choshu Loyalists: The rebels intend to set fire to the front gate of the Imperial Palace as a distraction so they can sneak in around the back and take the Emperor away from his Shogunate guards. As a response, all Shinsengumi Units will participate in a raid two nights later at Ikedaya, the inn where the Choshu rebels will be meeting to finalize the details of their plan. 
After the meeting, Matsubara goes to meet with The Crow, an informant frequently employed by the Choshu Loyalists, whom he warns about the Shinsengumi's planned raid, instructing him to pass the warning on to Katsura Kogoro. A few hours later, Matsubara meets The Crow again to hear Katsura's response. Unfortunately for Matsubara, Sakamoto happens upon this meeting, though he doesn't overhear what they were talking about. When Matsubara realizes Sakamoto knows who the Crow is, he kills the informant to ensure he won't tell Sakamoto about his betrayal.
Two nights later, Matsubara takes part in the raid at Ikedaya alongside all the other Shinsengumi captains. Thanks to his warning, the Choshu Loyalists were expecting the Shinsengumi forces and had twice as many men present as the Shinsengumi had anticipated, leading to a bloody battle that the Shogunate forces barely win. In the commotion, Katsura manages to evade capture, partly thanks to Sakamoto allowing him to escape, as repayment for a favour he'd done for him previously. After the battle is over, the Shinsengumi's leaders gather at the inn's entrance hall, where Vice-Commander Hijikata accuses Matsubara of being a traitor, since the group's spymaster, Yamazaki Susumu, had witnessed his meetings with The Crow. Matsubara tries to pass the blame onto Sakamoto, since he had also been in contact with the Crow, but the others don't believe him. When he realizes he's cornered, Matsubara mocks Hijikata and Commander Kondo Isami, saying they'll never be able to stop the Choshu rebels. He then tries to reveal the truth about Sakamoto's motives for joining the Shinsengumi, which the Crow had told him about, but he is struck down by 6th Unit Captain Inoue Genzaburo before he can do so.
==Gallery==
===Ryu Ga Gotoku Ishin!===
RGGI! - Character Render - Matsubara Chuji.jpg|Full-body Ryu Ga Gotoku Ishin! render of Matsubara
Matsubaraishin.png
===Like a Dragon: Ishin!===
LADI! - Character Render - Matsubara Chuji.png|Full-body Like a Dragon: Ishin! render of Matsubara
=== Ryu Ga Gotoku Online ===
RGGO - Card - SSR Matsubara Chuji.png|SSR Matsubara Chuji
Category:Shinsengumi
Category:Ryu Ga Gotoku Ishin! Characters
Category:Like a Dragon: Ishin! Characters
Category:Historical Figures
Category:Characters
Category:Choshu Loyalist Party
Category:Ishin Shishi
Category:Ryu Ga Gotoku Online Characters