#Maybe Sorachi didn't see his views on women as an issue which is oof

[suchine-toki]

Thoughts about Hijikata Toushirou

I think one of the most intriguing aspects of Hijikata's character is his internal conflict between his responsibilities as the Vice-Commander of the Shinsengumi and his personal desires. As the second-in-command, Hijikata is burdened with immense pressure to uphold the honor and integrity of the organization, often at the expense of his own happiness.

Initially, his deep sense of duty and loyalty to protect Edo is mainly associated with how he feels about Kondo, their dynamic being integral to the structure and dynamics of the Shinsengumi. They both possess a strong sense of responsibility and honor, and, despite their differing leadership styles and personalities, they share the common goal of keeping peace.

Eventually, this evolves into a drive of his own, something he wants to do for himself. He wants to protect Edo because all the people who are important to him live there. That is what leads him to challenge authority when he believes it’s necessary to achieve justice, despite being a stern and disciplined leader.

Yes, Edo is where the people important to him still live. One of the problems I’ve with the character is how he was written during the Mitsuba arc and, although he was portrayed as a great man who only wants the woman he loves to be happy, he assumed and made the decision for her about what he thought would make her happy, and even when she was dying he didn't visit her.

Hijikata is a more traditional guy, and I wouldn't be surprised if Sorachi wanted him to represent the typical Japanese man. There’s a reason the title of the chapter in which Mitsuba dies is called “German Suplex Any Woman Who Asks, 'Which Is More Important, Me or Your Work?” (132 of the manga). But I still would’ve liked his more traditional views on gender, which are presented on more than one occasion, to be treated as something to overcome.

But that’s tied to another problem, which is that Hijikata barely has a relationship with the women throughout the series, or many other characters to be honest. Having so much screen time, his interactions with the rest of the cast are usually limited to the Shinsengumi and the Yorozuya, mostly Gintoki. He later has a rivalry with Isaburo that has more substance, but the character is killed relatively soon after.

Overall, Hijikata is a standout character in Gintama, thanks to his complex personality, love for mayonnaise, internal struggles, and dynamic relationships with some characters. Still, I think Sorachi limited his relationships too much. He introduced a love interest to the story and then killed her in the same arc (and never mentioned her again), he introduced a brother who’d already died, he makes him form a friendship with the hardboiled detective that is then forgotten, and so on.