Itō Kashitarō

Itō Kashitarō (伊东甲子太郎, January 1, 1835 – December 13, 1867) was a Japanese warrior and a Military Adviser of the Shinsengumi“新選組参謀の伊東甲子太郎、生家示す絵図見つかる”. 日本経済新聞 (2020年12月5日). 2021年2月5日閲覧。, the most powerful group of samurai which, under the orders of the Tokugawa shōgun, had to maintain order in Kyoto during the Bakumatsu period. He later led Goryo-eji (Guardians of the Imperial Tomb), a group that split from the Shinsengumi.
Unlike shown in the Hakuōki franchise, it is not clear whether the real was considered an untrustworthy and unlikeable person. On the contrary, Itō was awarded a special rank after his death, and his body was moved to Yasukuni Shrine.
==Background==
Itō Kashitarō was the firstborn son of Suzuki Senemon Tadaaki's samurai family in Hitachi-Shizuki Domain. During his early years, he was known by the name Okura. However, a series of unfortunate events unfolded when his father, Tadaaki, retired due to a disagreement with a prominent member of the domain. Okura stepped up to inherit the family estate but later faced a grim reality when it was revealed that his father had accumulated substantial debts. As a result, the family's name was wiped away, and they were banished from their homeland.
Okura embarked on a journey to MItō, where he pursued his studies. He delved into the art of swordsmanship, particularly the Shinto Munen-ryu style, under the tutelage of Kaneko Kenshiro, a samurai from MItō. He also immersed himself in the teachings of Mitō, developing a strong inclination towards loyalist ideals. Meanwhile, his father, Tadaaki, who had been expelled, established a village school called Shun-juku in Higashibashi, located in the Takahama Village (now part of Ishioka City). Okura returned home and took up the role of a teacher at the school. Later on, he joined the prestigious Itto-ryu Kenjutsu Dojo situated in Nakagawacho, Fukagawa, Edo (present-day Tokyo). His exceptional skills gained recognition from the dojo's master, Itō Seiichiro, who went on to adopt him as his son-in-law. From that point on, he became known as Itō Okura. Around August in the first year of the Genji era, he served as a retainer to Toda Ginjiro from the MItō domain.「上 拾七番組」播磨新宮池田家記録、東京大学史料編纂所 His wife's name was "Mitsu", and they had a daughter named "Ei". Notable names among his students were Uchiumi Jiro and Kanazawa Yojiro, who resided with him as dedicated disciples.浦出卓郎 (2015). “「伊東甲子太郎の家族」”. 『維新の道 no158』 (霊山歴史館).「金沢鎗次郎君」『茨城県教育家略伝』. 進文社. (1894年12月)
==Shinsengumi==
In October of the first year of the Genji era (1864), Itō Okura joined the Shinsengumi through the mediation of his fellow disciple, Tōdō Heisuke. In November of the same year, he, along with his younger brother Suzuki Mikisaburo, loyal comrades such as Shinohara Yasunosuke, Kano Washio, Hattori Takeo, and his disciples Uchiumi and Nakanishi, headed to Kyoto. It was during this time, in accordance with the zodiac year of their journey to Kyoto (Kanoe-Ne), that Itō assumed the name Itō Kashitarō. He was appointed as a staff officer and a teacher of literature. Renowned for his handsome appearance and eloquent speech, Itō commanded great respect from his peers. However, although Itō and the Shinsengumi shared a common stance of opposing foreign influence (sonnō jōi), the Shinsengumi leaned towards supporting the Bakufu, while advocating loyalty to the emperor. This difference in objectives led to some hidden contradictions between Itō and the Shinsengumi (due to Itō being an imperial nationalist).
==Guardians of the Imperial Tomb==
After completing his tour of the western provinces, on April 24, 1867, in the third year of the Keio era, Itō Kashitarō departed from the Shinsengumi, under the pretense of being assigned to the task of monitoring the movements of the Satsuma Domain and protecting the Imperial Tomb. Alongside comrades such as Shinohara and Suzuki (a total of fourteen like-minded individuals), he formed a group called Goryo-eji (Guardians of the Imperial Tomb). They established their headquarters at Tsukishin-in Temple in Higashiyama. However, they refused the request of Takeda Kanryūsai, who was experiencing a decline in influence within the Shinsengumi, to join the Goryo-eji. During this time, Itō assumed the name Itō Settsu.
==Death==
Three days after the Omiya Incident (the incident involving involving Sakamoto Ryōma, Nakaoka Shintaro, and Ryōma's servant Tokichi Yamada), on December 13, 1867, in the eleventh month of the third year of the Keio era, Itō was summoned by Kondō and received hospitality at the residence of his mistress. In a state of intoxication, Itō was assassinated in front of the gate of Honko-ji Temple in Aburanokoji (hence the name — the Aburanokoji Incident) on his way home by Kuwajiro Oishi, a member of the Shinsengumi, and several others. He was 32 years old at the time of his death.
It is said that Itō shouted, "Traitors, reveal yourselves!" before his demise. The plot to assassinate him while intoxicated is believed to be due to the fear of Itō's swordsmanship skills as the master of the Hokushin Itto-ryu school. His body was left on the street, serving as a decoy to lure out the Goryo-eiji. When the Goryo-eiji members arrived to retrieve the body, they were ambushed by the Shinsengumi, resulting in a battle in which Tōdō Heisuke and others were killed.
Itō's grave is located at Kaikoji Temple in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto. On March 13, 1868, in the fourth year of the Keio era, his remains were moved by the Goryo-eiji from Koenji Temple in Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto.
==Trivia==
*The Itō Dojo in Fukagawa Nakagawacho flourished, boasting a considerable number of students and disciples, reaching the scale of a small hatamoto domain. 
*In the third year of the Keio era (1867), Itō submitted four petitions to the Imperial Court. In the third petition, which was presented shortly after the Taisei Hokan (restoration of imperial rule), he advocated for the establishment of a new government centered around the nobility, promoting the slogan of "Ichigo Isshin" (Unity and Harmony) to seek talented individuals from across the country, and proposed that the five provinces in the Kinai region be under the direct control of the new government, advocating for a system where all citizens would carry weapons. In the first petition, he opposed the opening of Kobe port, but in the third petition, he advocated for "Great Openness, Great Strengthening of the Country," demonstrating a mindset that leaned towards active international trade and the policy of building a prosperous and strong nation through military development (although he still opposed the opening of Kobe port as it went against the wishes of Emperor Komei). Additionally, it is reported that at the time of his assassination, there was a draft of a fifth petition in his pocket, which closely resembled a copy of the third petition. It is said that he intended to include Kondō in this draft. According to the contemporary primary source "Chokireki of the Keio year Choin of the Tottori Domain", Yoshii Koshuke of the Satsuma Domain is recorded as saying that this petition was "completely reasonable" when discussing it with Nakané Yūe, a retainer of the Echizen Domain. In addition, in a letter addressed to Kyunosuke Masumitsu and Shohei Imuta, Yoshii expressed his regret over Ito's death, saying, "Sakamoto Ryoma Seinosuke Ishikawa (Shintaro Nakaoka) was assassinated at the Itō Kashitarō cup."『会津藩庁記録　自文久３年至明治元年』3巻 東京大学史料編纂所 
*Matsumura Rei evaluates these petitions as having a moderate ideology similar to that of Sakamoto Ryōma, and it is very unique to put a court noble at the top and make the five provinces of the Kinai region under direct control. Additionally, Ichi Koichi points out that it is clear that the common belief that Itō conspired with Satsuma is completely wrong, as there is absolutely no evidence of contact between Itō and Satsuma, and the content of these petitions is completely different from the opinions of Satsuma's armed pro-government faction. 
*After leaving the Shinsengumi, Itō taught English to his comrades. 
*After the Meiji Restoration, Oishi, the perpetrator of Itō's assassination, was sentenced to death for his crime, and Soma Shukei, who was also suspected, was exiled to Niijima Island. 
*In the seventh year of Taisho (1918), Itō was posthumously awarded the rank of Fifth Rank, and in April of Showa 7 (1932), he was enshrined at Yasukuni Shrine. 
*Kondō Isami welcomed Itō's membership, but it is said that Hijikata Toshizō was wary of him as a strategist. 
*In response to the seppuku of Yamanami Keisuke, Itō composed four waka poems. 
*The grave of his adopted son Suzuki Arata (a police officer in Hyogo Prefecture) is located at Daikokuten Fukukaiji Temple in Hyogo Ward, Kobe City. 
==References==
__NOTOC__
__NOEDITSECTION__
Category:Historical counterparts