NOTE About the
passages below: Those in bold and red are what's commonly accepted
as "true" and has circulated on the WWW.. The paragraphs with an
asterisks are my questions, comments, feelings, etc.
Saitou
Hajime was born on January 1, 1844 or January 2 since it is thought
of that he was born sometime midnight. His parents are Yamaguchi
Yuusuke and Masu. He had an older brother named Hiroaki who later on
worked various job in the Meiji in Finance, the tax bureau and
District Court secretary in Fukushima, he had a daughter named Yuki.
Saitou had an older sister named Katsu who married Toshiaki Soma
(had children with him) but she died in the 8th year of
the Meiji.
His father left the
family business to his sister (perhaps sold?) and goes on to buy the
title samurai and stocks. He was a low ranking samurai, a common
foot soldier and taught kendo to children of low ranking samurai in
the dojo’s by the Aizu-han spread in Edo (modern Tokyo) There is
“talk” that his father was involved in information gathering for a
certain intelligence group.
Note on Yuusuke's teaching, he probably didn't. I made a mistake on
reading a translation. It is said that Saitou was taught Ittou Ryu
and that it was probably "kindness" to teach a son of a low ranking
samurai.. However the case is still in point, that the disparity in
socially conscious groups is very much apparent.
*Here’s my thoughts on this… Let’s
take first the buying of the title, let’s have a reality check,
people born into a certain class usually thinks themselves better
than those who buys the title. I would think that early on this
would be an issue especially for the young Saitou if this was known,
and I believe it was known. Why? His father was assigned to teach
children of low-ranking samurai as “recognition” for his work. So I
think, yes his father was recognized and also recognized not on par
with the other samurai. How would something like this affect Saitou?
Maybe it will make him, -want- to be someone, someone skilled and of
course I think he would be aware of the prejudice and disparity. As
for Saitou following after the footsteps of his father… I’d rather
not comment, although it’s not impossible… and certainly makes quite
a “cool” idea that the son follows the footsteps of his father. But
I don’t even know what this intelligence group is and in what
capacity his father worked there (if he indeed worked as that). I do
not think a man like Yuusuke would be too involved in “intelligence
affairs” because clearly he is still considered at the bottom of the
pecking order for various reasons.
Saitou
after his genpuku studied Itto-ryu in one of the Aizu dojo in Edo.
He studied many sword styles including the Tennen Rishin Ryu and
also combat techniques like Jujuitsu. He is master of the Mugai Ryu.
*Makes sense since his father was a
teacher anyway. We don’t know when his father died so for all I know
it could be his father who got him in or it could be some other
acquaintance of his father. The Tennen Rishin Ryu I think is a given
since he later on was in the Shinsengumi. The Jujuitsu is a staple
training I believe in the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. The
Mugai Ryu is what is said in countless of websites, where he learned
it I do not know but probably while he was also training in one of
the Aizu dojos.
At
19 Saitou Hajime killed a man.
*Who? We don’t know but it is
probably a son of someone influential that he is forced to flee Edo.
If his family was so influential at this point, I wonder why they
were not able to do anything… Was it because it was dishonorable and
they disowned the son? And I’ve read also that he was sent to a few
friends of his fathers. Perhaps he even went to Aizu at one point,
how else did he get the position spy for the Daimyo in the
Shinsengumi? There are theories that his growing up days were
turbulent, perhaps he was involved in gangs like the Mafia (as we
saw in NHK), but then we have to ask where did that come from and we
do not know. It probably came from the fact that he killed a man.
Since we don’t know why, it can’t really support any of the gang
theory. But the mere fact he killed opens up many possibilities
(most of which isn’t too pretty) of his adolescent days. Was he a
bad sheep? Or was it all just an accident?
On March 4, 1863
joined the Shinsengumi. Early on the Shinsengumi had stayed in the
Yagi house, but eventually moved out. Saitou is “said” to have
stayed at the Maekawa’s and visited the Yagi house frequently.
*It is generally believed that Saitou
knew Kondou and the others before Kyoto, this perhaps helped him get
into the Shinsengumi relatively easily with a “rank” too. But who
told the Aizu-han that he was a good fit in the group and could move
unnoticed and unhindered? I still wonder if he was indeed the
Daimyo’s spy but that’s probably my leanings because the Saitou that
I knew which stems from fandom and RK was very loyal to the
Shinsengumi. If he is a spy of the Aizu han then his loyalties lie
with Aizu first and foremost (perhaps at least in the beginning but
later on there are things that could indicate that he was indeed
more of an Aizu loyalist)
On 1864, the
Ikedaya incident. In August that year, joins Nagakura and a few
others to complain about Kondou’s big-headedness to the Daimyo.
*The Ikeda-ya incident made a “name”
for the Shinsengumi. It is not really after this incident that they
were taken seriously by the Bakufu. It is commonly thought that the
Shinsengumi were a bunch of wannabees. But can you really fault
people who wanted to move up the ladder when they are stricken with
a society that is divided by the classes? Much of the romanticism in
the fandom of the Shinsengumi also stems from this, the common man
or the masses can relate to this want. No wonder there’s so many
novels out there about their hardship and triumph and of course
downfall. But they represented inspiration, even if perhaps the view
itself wasn’t accurate.
*Some say he was Hijikata’s
“internal” spy and was slipped inside the complaint group to know
who perpetuated it. My only answer to this is –maybe-. Was he really
an inside spy trusted by Kondou and Hijikata? Where did that come
from? If you ask me, Saitou’s involvement with the complaint is
sincere, considering he is also the Daimyo’s spy. It was a good
cover up and a support to his reports to the Daimyo, by letting the
others like Nagakura take the lead.
As
an “internal spy" for the Shinsengumi, Saitou is thought of to have
assassinated Takeda Kanryuusai and Tani Mijuro.
*Since I have my own doubts about
this, all I will say is I’m not convinced especially since I still
wonder if he was indeed an inside spy for the Shinsengumi. There are
various accounts on who –did- kill Takeda and Tani’s death has
different accounts.
Left
with Itou Kashitarou’s group that split from the Shinsengumi but
eventually went back to the Shinsengumi. The Shinsengumi then, found
out the plot to murder Kondou. Is connected to a Geisha in Shimabara
named Aioi Tayu who eventually moves on to Gion.
*I believe this is fact. However the
stories surrounding the circumstances baffle me. Some say he left to
spy on the group on orders by Hijikata and thus was able to foil the
plot to muder Kondou… And there’s an account by Abe Juro (one of
Ito’s men) that he did truly go with Itou, that he was fickle/dirty
with women so he got into trouble by stealing money for a woman in
Shimabara (I would think Aioi) and went back to the Shinsengumi
because he was in trouble, which would also explain how the
Shinsengumi found out the plot against Kondou. Perhaps he used the
information he got as a bargaining tool to go back into the
Shinsengumi. So he was either a great spy or a tattle-tale. You
choose.
Later on
leaves the Shinsengumi and takes on the name Jiro Yamaguchi.
*It is usually believed that this is
connected with the code “Hatto”. Where a deserter of the Shinsengumi
is ordered to commit seppuku. If you think about it, the Hatto is
enforced strictly and it is common knowledge I would think to the
others that Saitou deserted. Perhaps with his help to foil Kondou’s
murder (whether he was a spy or not), he was asked to leave and
changed his name only to be later called on during the Toba-Fushimi
war by Kondou to join them. Perhaps his order to leave the
Shinsengumi for a while, and then later on be called back using the
new name was the way Kondou/Hijikata could get him back in again and
circumvent the usual punishment. After all, in a war you need all
the men you can get.
Kondou eventually
gets captured under an assumed name. Hijikata goes back and tries to
rescue him, is unsuccessful but is able to get a hair or head and
bury it. Hijikata goes back to Aizu and fights there and eventually
decides to move to Hokkaido (where he’ll meet Enamoto a genius who
was in the Navy).
*Where is Saitou in all this? From
what I know Saitou has no involvement in trying to rescue Kondou.
Clearly during the time the Daimyo of Aizu could’ve tried to rescue
Kondou, but we must remember that Aizu by now was walking a tight
rope between the court, so perhaps could not take an active part in
rescuing the Kyokuchou. Considering that Saitou’s loyalty was
probably with Aizu, I do not think he would really participate in
anything that would get Aizu into trouble. Was he asked by Hijikata
to go to Tokyo and rescue Kondou? I do not know although I’ve read
in some Japanese sites that he was, but I think that was entirely
speculation as well. But we do know that Hijikata and Saitou decided
to split. Some fans theorize that there was a big fight between
Hijikata and Saitou because of this… I think that’s all drama… After
all Hijikata did leave a few of his Shinsengumi men to Saitou so
they can defend Aizu. I would think even if they fought, Hijikata
would’ve seen that Aizu is one of their last stronghold and it was
in their best interest (for those fighting in Hokkaido – Goryokaku)
to let Saitou fight in Aizu. Through all these questions though,
only one thing is apparent to me.. Saitou’s loyalty is with the Aizu
han, which makes sense since he worked for the Daimyo, his father
was adamant on being a samurai and probably thought very highly of
Aizu.
*When I first read/heard of this...
It did disillusion me somewhat. I had always firmly believed that
Saitou’s loyalty was to the Shinsengumi but most of the info did not
point to that. In fandom and in fiction, Saitou is shown as very
loyal to the Shinsengumi (like NHK and RK). But we must remember we
are dealing with real people here, perhaps RL Saitou in time felt
brotherhood in the Shinsengumi but Japanese people are very loyal to
their clans first. If you remember, the price of deserting your clan
(han), is death. So you can see how important a clan was… And since
I think since Saitou was not really from a samurai lineage by birth,
perhaps he felt that extra need. Who knows, maybe even his father
was a big part of this.
Eventually the
Shinsengumi and the Bakufu lost the war. Aizu also lost and the
castle burned. People like Saitou was captured and deemed prisoners
of war. He is eventually released because of good behavior and then
starts to wander up north. He ends up, like a lot of Aizu people in
Aomori and starts using the name Ichinoue Denpachi.
*I have not much to say here. My only
question I guess is what made him migrate to Aomori? Perhaps just to
be with Aizu people, but then again why wander first and go to a
barren wasteland? Did someone keep tabs on the ex-POW? But it really
isn’t such a problem for me.
In Aomori on August
25, 1871 he is married to Shinoda Yaso. (Forgot to add: edit on
02/19/2006: The family records show "Fujita" however there is a
problem with the family records overlapping in years. It is
uncertain whether this is a mistake or a doctored document.) Before
meeting Yaso who was living in the Ueda house, he was staying at
Kurosawa and was working for him. Kurosawa is also the one who
adopted Tokio into his family (we don’t know when Tokio had started
living with the Kurosawa or what happened to her own family). After
2 years, 1873, Saitou and Yaso moves out of the Kurosawa house and
moves to the Ueda house. In 1874 Takagi Tokio is sent to Tokyo and
Saitou eventually follows and marries her in June 10, 1874.
Prominent people were the go-between in this marriage. Yaso dies in
1876.
*To be honest this is also one of the
parts that are controversial to me. Why? Because my vision of Saitou
is largely derived from RK, but I must continuously remind myself
that this is real people in difficult circumstances. As we see,
Saitou marries Tokio while he was still married to Yaso. We do not
know when Saitou meets Tokio, they could’ve been acquaintances
already but the fact is by the family records, Saitou marries Yaso
first. It seems that the marriage was working since it did go on for
a few years. The question is why did Saitou and Yaso moved out of
the Kurosawa house? Were they thrown out? Or did they leave on their
own? What happened in the Kurosawa’s house that Tokio also stayed
in? If Saitou had moved out with Yaso, then I think that he was
staying by his wife side. I tend to think that Saitou had honorable
intentions towards Yaso and that it was not a marriage of
convenience… Why? Because Yaso was his senior by four years for one.
As a single man living in the Kurosawa, he would have had a house he
belonged in and people who can testify where he is and what he is
doing. So that throws out the notion of it was dangerous for Saitou
being single (which I still debate whether living single during the
time was suspicious for other neighbors in the refugee settlement).
Something had happened in the Kurosawa house that eventually led
the couple to move out. Perhaps to distance themselves. Now we could
play devil’s advocate and say there was flirting going on between
Saitou and Tokio but I think that notion is more for the romantic
fan of the couple. I tend to think that he moved out because perhaps
staying there was making his already sick wife (Yaso) experience
something she shouldn’t. Perhaps rumors that he was cheating or
flirting a bit too much? But if we can say that of Saitou, we might
as well say it of Tokio. Perhaps Tokio also had her eye on the guy?
Either way, they do move out and the mere fact that Saitou moved
Yaso out and went with her, makes me think that she was his priority
during the time. If Saitou was acting in a dishonorable manner, I
doubt the Ueda house would let him stay there with Yaso who was an
original inhabitant there. So why in the end did he marry Tokio
while still married to Yaso? Why such high officials were the
go-between? Tokio during this time was still un-wed when she should
be on her way. Did she somehow picked out Saitou knowing having have
heard of his contributions during the war and actually seeing how he
was in the Kurosawa while still with Yaso and suggested it to
Teruhime? They would make a great couple after all, a lady in
waiting to the princess and a war hero. Did the go-betweens agree? I
sincerely doubt it was Saitou who asked that he be divorced from his
sick wife Yaso. Perhaps there was pressure for him coming from the
outside to divorce his wife Yaso and marry Tokio instead. Tokio
presented many connections and was younger than Yaso. So is Saitou
just a jerk? Maybe since we do have accounts that he was fickle with
women… But then again how do you explain him moving out with Yaso to
settle in someone elses house? And why did he not marry Tokio right
away if it was indeed “hot love”? Remember he did not follow Tokio
right away when she moved to Tokyo. It was several months. I do not
think it was a willful marriage on his part to be frank. But then
again who really knows? The union is unnatural in my eyes and all I
know is that Yaso died in 1876 and life went on for the Fujitas.
Perhaps eventually Saitou thought, it was for the good of the clan
but it still leaves a weary feeling on me and makes me doubt the
usual happy and loving portrayals of Saitou and Tokio in fiction.
The real man had something happen to him in Aomori, whether by his
hand, Tokios, Yaso’s or the people around them. I feel sad. Hell
this and the countless other not happy circumstances, probably
enforced his drinking… The real guy drank heavily and if you asked
me was a functioning alcoholic. Either way, I feel sorry for his
first wife.
In June 1, 1875 his
sister Katsu dies. In December 15, 1876 his first son Tsutomu is
born.
*I always wondered what was his
relationship with his siblings especially after he killed that man.
There are accounts that he was thrown out of the house of course, so
it makes me wonder what was the relations later on. If he even
visited Katsu.
*It’s interesting to note that it is
a full two years after his marriage that he has a son. So this rules
out the hot love theory again. Some would say it was hard to bear
healthy children during the time, but then we should have record of
them losing a child or something. Perhaps he was so busy with his
line of work but during this time Tokio was still a house wife. I
still think love wasn’t a full factor at this time. But it is
natural that a man eventually has a son to the wife he comes home
to. It must be weird to have received news about his first wife (who
I really think is his first love), but at least his son was born and
that certainly should’ve made him happy. Perhaps this is the point
where he closes the chapter on his first wife and decide to move on
with Tokio. After all what can you do with a dead woman?
On June 1, 1875 his
sister Katsu dies. In December 15, 1876 his first son Tsutomu is
born.
*I always wondered what was his
relationship with his siblings especially after he killed that man.
There are accounts that he was thrown out of the house of course, so
it makes me wonder what was the relations later on. If he even
visited Katsu.
*It’s interesting to note that it is
a full two years after his marriage that he has a son. So this rules
out the hot love theory again. Some would say it was hard to bear
healthy children during the time, but then we should have record of
them losing a child or something. Perhaps he was so busy with his
line of work but during this time Tokio was still a house wife. I
still think love wasn’t a full factor at this time. But it is
natural that a man eventually has a son to the wife he comes home
to. It must be weird to have received news about his first wife (who
I really think is his first love), but at least his son was born and
that certainly should’ve made him happy. Perhaps this is the point
where he closes the chapter on his first wife and decide to move on
with Tokio. After all what can you do with a dead woman?
Joins the Tokyo
Metropolitan Police Department (TMPD), unknown date. He becomes a
Police Inspector there and went up in rank quite fast. He also was
involved in the Seinan war (Southwestern rebellion headed by Saigo).
During the Meiji restoration he starts using the name Fujita Goro
which was given to him by the Daimyo.
*We
do not know when he joined the TMPD nor how. He could’ve been one of
those people who were recruited by Kawaji (you remember his name
from RK?) the Chief of Police who hails from Satsuma. During the
restoration, samurai virtually loss their place in society and had a
hard time finding jobs. This caused unrest which eventually led to
the Seinan war, that he fought in. If you ask me this was a good
idea by the Meiji to recruit not only their people but also from the
opposing sides to get jobs in the government. In a way I look at it
as damage control –and- also unifies the supposed disposed off
classes. Go on and read on the Seinan war in SHQ and other sources.
The only thing to note here is that joining the military was a good
move on Saitou’s part since it did help him go up the ladder quickly
than the others. Of course there’s the small question of who is
advising him on his career moves. As I’ve mentioned before, Saitou
is known to be a –good- drinker and in my eyes a functioning
alcoholic. Having spent many years with alcoholics (don’t ask), I
can attest that some of them were workaholics and did great work… Oh
and yes, it is said that RL Saitou values his new name Fujita
highly, again we see he thinks highly of Aizu or at least Matsudaira
Katamori. It is also said that when he was asked for a burial name
(it is religious Shinto tradition to adopt a name) he refused to get
another one. I wonder if he finally got tired of all the name
changing or it’s another proof that he values the name Fujita
highly.
In 1886, third son
was born and adopted into the Namuzawa family. His name was Tatsuo
Namuzawa. The Namuzawa was a prominent clan Retainer who also was a
cousin of Tokio, they had no heir.
*Another thing that doesn’t sit well
with me but this is probably just me applying my modern values and
personal experience to the situation. We do not know of the
couple’s true feelings about having to give up their third son…
However, considering the big gap between Tatsuo and Tsuyoshi (who is
the second son), it can be theorized that the couple had a son
purely out of request. Again this shows the loyalty of the Fujita’s
to their clan, to save a lineage of a prominent retainer of the Aizu
clan they –had- a kid. I do not know if anyone objected, but if
anyone did, I would place my bet first on the father only because it
was most probable that the Namuzawa approached Tokio first since
they are related. Of course in the end it had to be a decision on
both their parts. I just plainly did not like this decision.
On
1891 he retired from the TMPD. He then became a museum guard and
later on a teacher in the school that Tokio worked in.
*Not much to say here only that you
should go on and read more about his life in the Meiji. I personally
do not think there is a lot of controversy here. I mean they are at
a point where life is getting some form of normalcy. The Meiji era
presents a time of change, in thought, technology and science, and
more open to the west. We can all fantasize on how the couple
adjusted to the times. How they kept in contact with other Aizu
people, how Saitou kept in contact with his family, other
Shinsengumi and Nagakura etc. I certainly think it is a nice slow
down for the Saitou and Tokio, it’s believed that the couple were
hard workers and with Saitou’s position in the TMPD it is believed
that they probably did not see each other a lot while he was
working… It doesn’t take a genius to see that.
Tatsuo finds out he
is adopted from an aunt and is –not- happy about it. After Fujita
Goro dies on Sept 28, 1915, Tokio sends a letter to his son.
*Well duh! I can tell you now that I
believe Tatsuo’s reaction to this was dead on accurate and –normal-.
Come on.. All your life you are led to believe one thing and then
find out another. Whether Goro and Tokio was sorry in the end,
although is important, does little to the situation. The fact
remains that Tatsuo was given up and felt probably betrayed his
whole life when this little revelation came about. Although the
decision was borne (probably) out of loyalty to the clan, one can’t
deny that on a personal level, especially in the son’s case, no one
wants to feel they existed because of that. I still wonder why Tokio
waited to send a letter (well I don’t know the contents of the
letter) after his father dies. What the heck is in that letter? Why
wait until Goro is dead? What did he do this time? I think the
letter was done out of guilt to be honest. So it leads me to
believe, that perhaps Goro wasn’t happy with the arrangement for his
son.
