Takeda Kanryūsai

Takeda Kanryūsai (武田 観柳斎, 1830 or 1834 – died June 22, 1867) was the captain of the fifth unit of the Shinsengumi, a special police force for the Tokugawa Bakufu. His real name was Hiroshi Fukuda (福田 廣), and his posthumous name was Norihiro (徳裕).歴史群像編集部『全国版幕末維新人物事典』学習研究社、2010年3月3日。ISBN 978-4054044630。
As shown in the Hakuōki franchise, Takeda was not the most favorable member of the Shinsengumi but was trying to get closer to Kondō Isami and Hijikata Toshizō. 
==Background==
Takeda Kanryūsai was born in a branch domain of Matsue called Motoura, where he studied medicine.鈴木亨『再現・新選組―見直される青春譜』三修社、2007年12月1日。ISBN 978-4384041439。 There is a theory that he had interactions with Tetsuishi Fujimoto and was imprisoned but managed to escape. Later, he left his domain and went to Edo, where he studied military science in the Kōshū style (Hōjō style) under the guidance of Fukushimadennosuke.『通航一覧続輯』第五巻 清文堂出版 1973年 428頁 He adopted the name "Takeda Kanryūsai" in honor of the Kai Takeda Domain. In the "Shinsengumi Kintandan Incident," Nishimura Kanbee praised him as being as skilled in martial arts as Itō, the second in command. He played an active role as a military strategist in the early days of the Shinsengumi during military exercises.『山村竜也『いっきにわかる新選組』PHP研究所、2011年4月21日。ISBN 978-4569796574。
==Shinsengumi==
In the latter half of 1863, he joined the Shinsengumi. It is said that he had the assistance of Shiga Uemon. Due to his expertise in the Kōshū style of military science, he was highly valued by Kondō as both a scholar and a warrior. On December 27 of the same year, he served as the second (the one who beheads the samurai after he has cut his stomach open) for Namiguchi Kenshiro, who performed seppuku, and accompanied him to Mitsuengi Temple to make burial arrangements ("Record of Pilgrimage").
In the first year of Genji (1864), he was appointed as an Assistant to the Vice Commander. He later held positions such as the leader of the 5th unit, literary instructor, and military strategist, and was responsible for training based on the Kōshū style of military science.
However, his behavior within the group was clearly seen as flattery towards Kondō and Hijikata Toshizō, and he became a target of animosity from Nagakura Shinpachi and others.
There is a theory that he was the one referred to as "Takeda Kanbee" who captured Furutaka Shuntaro in the Ikedaya Incident on June 5, 1864. He received a reward of 20 ryō, and also led a group of soldiers in the Meboya Incident [1]. During the Kinmon Incident, he appeared at Hino Motomune's residence, which was located outside the Yoshigaru gate of the Imperial Palace where the Shinsengumi camped, and "dealt with" two Chōshū domain samurai.浦出卓郎 (2021). “「新選組隊士武田観柳斎、禁門の変当時の動向が判明」”. 『龍馬速報』 (大阪龍馬会) 146.
In September of the same year, in order to encourage Itō Kashitarō to join, a pro-imperial, anti-foreign ideology adherent recommended by Tōdō Heisuke, Kondō returned to Edo. Takeda, along with Nagakura Shinpachi and Ogata Shuntaro, accompanied him.
From April 13 to 21 of the first year of Keio (1865), he appeared and arrested Higashi Matsuda and Nakagawa, samurai from Hiji and Nakatsu villages in Nan Kōzu town, Tanba Province. It was a serious offense for the samurai to have made contact with Hitotsubashi Yoshinobu. The torture they were subjected to was severe, and it is said that their bodies were in pain to the point of shedding "red tears".奈良勝司. “人見・中川両苗と新撰組－幕末における二つの「郷士」集団－”. 立命館創立者生誕150年記念　中川小十郎研究論文・図録集: 6～15.
After that, as the Bakufu adopted the modern French-style military system, Takeda's Kōshū style of military science became outdated, and his position within the group became unstable.
Around 1866, Takeda Kanryūsai began to lean towards anti-government ideologies and attempted to make contact with Itō Kashitarō, but was rejected by Kondō. Furthermore, he was also rejected by Itō, as they had made an agreement with Kondō to prohibit the mutual acceptance of each other's members when the Goryo Eji (Guardians of the Imperial Tomb) and Shinsengumi separated. He made a request to Kondō to be discharged from the Shinsengumi, and his request was granted at the end of September to early October of the same year, so he left the Shinsengumi.
==Death==
It was later discovered that he had secretly engaged in anti-Bakufu activities in Kyoto. On June 22, 1867, in the outskirts of Kyoto at the Kamogawa Zentorihashi (Takeda-dōri), he was assassinated. It is said that Saitō Hajime was involved in Takeda's assassination, but at that time, Saitō was participating as a spy in the Goryo Eji, so it is considered unlikely.
==References==
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Category:Historical counterparts