- Yamazaki Susumu
nihongo|Yamazaki Susumu|山崎烝|(1833? -
February 6 ,1868 ) was aShinsengumi officer andspy ("Kansatsu").He was a
ronin fromOsaka and an expert in" Katori Ryu". In 1863, he officially joined the Shinsengumi and in 1864, Yamazaki andShimada Kai were assigned byKondo Isami to investigate the situation which led to theIkedaya Jiken onJuly 8 . However, there is a theory that Yamazaki's participation in the Ikedaya Jiken is merely fiction byShimozawa Kan andShiba Ryotaro .He occupation whilst in
Kyoto was as a doctor and the Shinsengumi had originally used his pharamacy as their base before moving on to its later headquarters at [Nishihonganji] (SeeYamanami Keisuke ).Yamazaki was said to be excellent in
literary andmilitary art s, having been taught by his uncle. His scholastic talent was necessary when discussing politics with a court noble.In 1865, he accompanied Kondo to
Hiroshima . It is believed that Yamazaki did not return toKyoto with Kondo until the next year in order to further investigate Chōshū's status.Yamazaki studied medicine under
Matsumoto Ryoujun . According to Matsumoto, Yamazaki was a gentle and taciturn man.In 1867, Yamazaki became a
hatamoto along with the rest of the Shinsengumi.During the
Battle of Toba-Fushimi in 1868, Yamazaki was severely injured and died on February 6th. The exact location of his death is debatable, though it is believed he had drowned whilst escaping. He had Kondo andHijikata Toshizo 's full confidence and was one of the most faithful member of the Shinsengumi till the very end of his life.Yamazaki in Fiction
Yamazaki is featured in "
Peacemaker Kurogane " (anime /manga ), "Soshite, Haru no Tsuki ", "Kaze Hikaru " (manga), "Getsumei Seiki " (manga) and "Bakumatsu Renka Shinsengumi " (video game series.) He is also depicted in the 1999 film "Gohatto".Even though the real Yamazaki was not a
ninja , his anime, manga, and TV depictions tend to be a well-trained ninja including Han'nya (a character loosely based on Yamazaki) from the anime/manga "Rurouni Kenshin ". Additionally, the character Yamazaki Sagaru in the anime and mangaGintama is roughly based on Yamazaki.References
* "
Rekishi Dokuhon ", December 1997 issue "The Ten Captains of The Late Tokugawa Period's Strongest Shinsengumi"*"Shinsengumi Chronicle". Tokyo: Shin Jinbutsu Oraisha, 2003. ISBN 4-404-03065-7
*"Shinsengumi Encyclopedia". Tokyo: Shin Jinbutsu Oraisha, 1978.
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