Baku Historical Figure

*Baku no Kuni* (幕の国), the Country of Closing Curtains is where historical figures of the **Bakumatsu Period** live.

## **Takasugi Shinsaku**

In our world Takasugi Shinsaku was a samurai from the mid 1800's who contributed greatly to the Meiji Restoration. One of the things Shinsaku accomplished was making a militia that consisted of commoners. Under the feudal system only samurai were allowed to bear weapons so this was a significant change that increased their military strength.

After Shinsaku was sent on a mission to China (unusual at the time because of Japan's closed borders) he feared that western powers would take them over and believed that revering the emperor rather than the shogunate would be their salvation. This lead him to both become a great tactician as well as one of the leaders of an anti-Bakufu movement, beginning and winning a civil war in his home domain of Choshu. The civil war eventually resulted in the Bakufu's end and the Meiji Restoration.

Sadly Shinsaku died a year before the Restoration, only 28 years old. He is still remembered in his hometown as a mystical and energetic hero, who put all his efforts into opening the way to modernization, westernization and reforms.

**Other places you can see Takasugi Shinsaku used as a character:**

* *“Ruroni Kenshin”* (a side character in the manga and anime)
* *“GinTama”* (Takasugi Shinsuke, an early antagonist in the manga, is based on him)
* *“Hana Moyu”* (historical drama)
* *“Sun in the Last Days of the Shogunate”* (old period film)
* *“Bakumatsu Rock”* (JP PSP & PSV Rhythm Game) VNDB
* *“Bakumatsu Rock”* (Anime) MAL

**Takasugi Shinsaku in Otome:**

* *“Ishin Renka Ryouma Gaiden”* (JP PSP Game) VNDB
* *“Harukanaru Toki no Naka De 5”* & *“Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 5 Kazahanaki”* Fandisc (JP PSP Games) VNDB
* *“Urakata Hakuouki”* & *“Urakata Hakuouki ~Akatsuki no Shirabe~”* Fandisc (JP PSP Game) VNDB
* *“Ikemen Bakumatsu◆Unmei no Koi”* (JP Mobile & PSV Game) VNDB

Available in English Under the Name *“Destined to Love: Ikemen Samurai Romances”*

* *“Tsuyaga~ru”* (JP Mobile Game) VNDB
* *“Shisengumi ga Aishita Onna”* (JP Mobile Game) VNDB

Available in English Under the Name *“Era of Samurai: Code of Love”*

* *“Ren'ai Bakumatsu Kareshi ~Toki no Kanata de Hanasaku Koi~”* (JP Mobile Game) VNDB
* *“Bakumatsu”* MAL & *“Bakumatsu: Crisis”* (Anime) MAL

## **Okita Souji**

In our world Okita Souji was the First Division Captain of the Shinsengumi and one of their best swordsmen.

From an early age Okita was a prodigy with the sword. He was one of the founding members of the Shinsengumi and was involved in the assassination of Serizawa Kamo, an original commander of the Shinsengumi. His prowess with several sword types was famous and his signature move, which he invented, was called the Mumyo-ken (no light blade) or Sandanzuki (three piece thrust). It involved cutting both shoulders and the neck all in one strike.

Okita, as most Shinsengumi members, has many stories and legends involving him and his adventures. He was said to be a good natured, honest man but could be strict with his pupils. Sadly he contracted tuberculosis and died at a young age.

Other places you can see Okita Souji used as a character:

* *Shinsengumi!* (drama)
* *Okita Soji* (film)
* *Rurouni Kenshin* (manga, anime)
* *Peacemaker Kurogane* (manga, anime)
* *Kaze Hikaru* (manga)
* *Bakumatsu Rock* (anime)
* *Fate/Grand Order* (female version, game)
* *Destined to Love* (otome game)
* *Hakuouki* (otome game, anime)
* *Era of Samurai: Code of love* (otome game)
* and a lot lot more

## **Saitou Hajime**

In our world Saitou Hajime was the Third Division captain of the Shinsengumi and a gifted swordsman.

Described as quiet and mysterious, Saitou was amongst the youngest members of the Shinsengumi, the same age as Okita Souji. He was amongst their most skilled swordsmen, said to be as good or even better than Okita and Nagakura Shinpachi. Besides being a captain of the force he was also in charge of finding spies within the Shinsengumi.

After some battles during the Boshin War Saitou became a leader of the Aizu Shinsengumi, fighting with them until the Battle of Aizu. He fought for a long time, being taken as a prisoner of war along with some of his comrades. Saitou is one of the few Shinsengumi core members who lived a long life, surviving the Meiji Restoration.

Other places you can see Saitou Hajime used as a character:

* *Shinsengumi!* (drama)
* *Ruroni Kenshin* (manga, anime, film)
* *Peacemaker Kurogane* (manga, anime)
* *Kaze Hikaru* (manga)
* *Yae no Sakura* (drama)
* *When the last sword is drawn* (film)
* *Hakuouki* (otome game, anime)
* *Destined to Love* (otome game)
* E*ra of Samurai: Code of love* (otome game)
* &more

## **Serizawa Kamo**

In our world Serizawa Kamo was the original commander of the Shinsengumi.

A large man known as a fierce warrior with a temper problem and violent tendencies, especially when he drank. Before the forming of the Shinsengumi Serizawa was part of another group called the Tenguto, a radical anti-foreigners group. After said group performed an assassination which admittedly Serizawa did not partake in the whole group was jailed. Once released Serizawa and his buddy Kondo Isami formed the Shinsengumi police force together.

After the formation of the Shinsengumi Serizawa caused a lot of incidents with his rowdiness (not that he didn’t before, he once beheaded 3 Tenguto members when they misbehaved with no trial). Most of the incidents were started when he was drunk and they range from getting into a fight with a whole sumo dojo and destroying a silk shop with a canon. This eventually led to Kondo Isami planning and executing Serizawa’s assassination.

Other places you can see Serizawa Kamo used as a character:

* *Shinsengumi!* (drama)
* *Kaze Hikaru* (manga)
* *Peacemaker Kurogane* (anime)
* *Hakuouki* (otome game)
* *Bakumatsu Ranka Shinsengum*i (otome game)

## **Nagakura Shinpachi**

In our world Nagakura Shinpachi was the Second Division captain of the Shinsengumi.

Shinpachi was a renowned swordsman and long time member of the Shinsengumi. He was one of the members who performed the raid on Ikedaya. After some disagreements with Kondou Isami (one of the founders and commander of the Shinsengumi) and the vice commander Hijikata Toshizou Shinpachi left the Shinsengumi and is one of the few original members who lived beyond the Meiji Restoration and died at a high age.

Other places you can see Nagakura Shinpachi used as a character:

* *Shinsengumi!* (drama)
* *Peacemaker Kurogane* (manga, anime)
* *Kaze Hikaru* (manga)
* *Hakuouki* (otome game)
* *Bakumatsu Renka Shinsengumi* (otome game)

## **Yamazaki Susumu**

In our world Yamazaki Susumu was a member of the Shinsengumi member.

Yamazaki was a doctor outside of his Shinsengumi membership but the group used his pharmacy as their headquarters in the beginning. Within the group he was an 'investigator' or spy and was fully trusted by the commanders Kondou Isami and Hijikata Toshizou. He is said to have been the one who investigated the situation that then led to the raid on Ikedaya.

Other places you can see Yamazaki Susumu used as a character:

* *Shinsengumi!* (drama)
* *Peacemaker Kurogane* (manga, anime)
* *Kaze Hikaru* (manga)
* *Hakuouki* (otome game)
* *Bakumatsu Renka Shinsengumi* (otome game)

## **Katsura Kogorou**

In our world Katsura Kogorou, aka Kido Takayoshi, was a statesman before and during the Meiji Restoration.

Katsura was one of those who worked against the shogunate and for this purpose sometimes used an alias. He began his work in Edo but after coming under suspicion was transferred to Kyoto. Katsura worked as a connection between the bureaucracy and radical samurai groups in Choshu, the ones led by Takasugi Shinsaku.

After the Meiji Restoration Katsura was one of the three great nobles who led the restoration. He became an imperial adviser and helped, among other things, with abolishing the han system and drafting the Five Charter Oath.

Other places you can see Katsura Kogorou used as a character:

* *Shinsengumi!* (drama)
* *Rurouni Kenshin* (manga, anime, film)
* *Ryomaden* (drama)
* *Bakumatsu Rock* (anime)
* *Destined to Love* (otome game)

## **Shinguu Umanosuke**

In our world Shinguu Umanosuke was a swordsman and sailor who worked with Sakamoto Ryouma.

After studying in Edo Shinguu studied at the Kobe Navy and joined the Kameyama Company formed in Nagasaki. He was part of the reformists and worked with not only Ryouma but also Takasugi Shinsaku and Katsura Kogorou. He held an important role during the Meiji Restoration.

Other places you can see Shinguu Umanosuke used as a character:

* literally nowhere

## **Shimada Sakigake**

In our world Shimada Sakigake, aka Shimada Kai, was a member of the Shinsengumi.

He participated in the Ikedaya affair and is said to have saved Kondou Isami, the Shinsengumi's commander's, life once when he was shot by slapping Kondou's horse to race him out of the battlezone. Shimada survived the Meiji Restoration and opened a dojo, which fell on hard times as swordsmanship fell out of style. Despite being offered to work for the new government he refused.

Other places you can see Shimada Sakigake used as a character:

* *Hakuouki* (otome game)

## **Hijikata Toshizou**

In our world Hijikata Toshizou was the vice commander of the Shinsengumi.

Described as tall and handsome, Hijikata was a skilled swordsman and friend of Kondou Isami. When Kondou along with Serizawa Kamo and Nimi Nishiki became the leaders of the Shinsengumi Hijikata worked under them and once Serizawa and Nishiki began to abuse their power Hijikata found proof of Nishiki's actions and had him commit seppuku and he participated in Serizawa's assassination. After that Kondou became the sole leader and Hijikata and another named Sannan his vice commanders.

Hijikata was a strict on the rules and harsh during training, earning him the nickname of Demon Vice Commander. After Kondou died Hijikata led the Shinsengumi in a last battle against the new government. He knew it was not a battle he could win but fought bravely till his death anyways, claiming before it that it would be a shame if no one was willing to go down with the dying shogunate he believed in.

Other places you can see Hijikata Toshizou used as a character:

* *Gohatto* (film)
* *Yae no Sakura* (drama)
* *Shinsengumi!!* (drama)
* *Asa ga Kita* (drama)
* *Kaze Hikaru* (manga)
* *Peacemaker Kurogane* (manga, anime)
* *Fate Grand/Order* (game)
* *Hakuouki* (otome game)
* *Destined to Love* (otome game)
* *Era of Samurai* (otome game)
* and many many many more

## **Sakamoto Ryouma**

In our world Sakamoto Ryouma was an important reformist and negotiator for the Meiji Restoration.

Ryouma was from a low ranking samurai family and studied swordsmanship from a young age. He became a part of the revolutionaries in his home province of Tosa which wanted reforms of the province. Ryouma, however, believed reforms were needed in the whole of Japan and so left his clan, something that was punishable by death. He therefore often went by the pseudonym Saitani Umetarou, especially later as he worked against the shogun and was hunted by the Shinsengumi.

Ryouma was extremely important in the Meiji Restoration, especially for getting the two enemy provinces of Choshu and Satsuma to ally with each other against the shogunate. The leader of the revolutionaries on the Choushuu side was Takasugi Shinsaku. He also worked towards creating a modern navy and was an important negotiator on many more occasions. He was assassinated shortly before the actual Meiji Restoration took place.

Other places you can see Sakamoto Ryouma used as a character:

* *Ryomaden* (drama)
* *Jin* (manga, drama)
* *Shinsengumi!!* (drama)
* *Ryu ga gotoku ishin* (game)
* *Shura no Toki* (manga, anime)
* *My Samurai Romance* (otome game)
* *Destined to Love* (otome game)
* *Hakuouki* (otome game)