#ikedaya incident

[prinzrupprecht]

His healer

For some reason I just love writing about Okita a lot. This is a one shot this time. Okita x reader again..

Synopsis: AU universe where you treated Okita’s illness as one of the best doctor’s in Kyoto and slowly grew attached to him.

TW: kind of angst but mostly fluff.

WC: 943

The moment you were summoned by the leader of the Shinsengumi to check on someone’s condition, you knew you couldn’t decline the man known as Kondo Isami. He was well respected and so were his men. All you were known for was being one of the best doctors in Kyoto. You studied all sorts of medicine and healing practices.

A few days after the ikedaya incident, a young boy in his early twenties laid in his bed panting heavily. Upon finding out what his name was: Okita Souji. He was the first division captain and former chief assistant of the mibu rishigumi. You heard of the incident that lead many dead from Chousou and Tosa clans. The political chaos between the factions broke out leading many ronin began assassinating each other.

As you made your way to the Shinsegumi base holding your supplies in your bag. Many of the members were already gone on their patrols. “Oh you must be the doctor,” Kondo greeted you at the entrance as you smiled and nodded. Truth be told, you were young and talented in your field. You were quite surprised your name travelled through most of Kyoto reaching the ears of the Shinsengumi to summon you.

Okita at first was very reluctant with your help. He kept telling you that he was fine and to go away. You noticed that when he coughs and struggled to sit up, you had requested to examine his chest area with your stethoscope with a soft smile. He couldn’t figure out why someone like you kept persisting on helping him.

Overtime you kept checking on him and started to give him the necessities to treat the bacteria in his lungs. Okita started to open up to you about his life and how he became a samurai with his friends which put a smile on your face. He was very kind to you when he slowly starts to trust you’re not trying to kill him or anything. You were feeling sorry for him and his condition since you knew he wanted to help protect those close to him, but was stuck in bed for months. He talked about Kondo-san a lot so you had an idea that was his closest person to him.

“It seems that you’re recovering faster than I thought. I guess the fresh mint has been working well with your lungs. Your respiratory tract seems to be almost clear.” You had sat next to him while wondering what he was going to do next. You only had known him for about a month which didn’t feel long.

Okita was smiling and was going to say something before Kondo walked in with free tea. “You’re looking a lot better,” he noticed Souji was moving more freely thanks to your help. You couldn’t help but giggle at their interaction. The young boy was happy to be able to get back and fight for Kyoto. It was risky trying to get involved with any ronin or samurai since the risk of dying is high. You couldn’t help but feel slight attachment grow but you pushed the thought away. Kondo noticed your mind was in a different world and asked if you were alright.

“Oh yes! I’m fine. I’m thinking I should be getting back soon.” You stood up but you couldn’t help but noticed the slight frown on Okita’s features. You saw a few other Shinsengumi members in the hallway spying in on the conversation and wanted to celebrate with Souji for his recovery. You quickly slip through the door as they all seemed busy and left their base.

You had wondered what it was like being a samurai and feeling respected by the townsmen. There was a lot of trouble with Chousou domain and their affiliation with Satsuma domain as well. Maybe it was best to forget about it all and move along like you’re used to; going into peoples homes and treating civilians was mostly your job. You got some money but mostly you prefer their hospitality over the money since your family was already wealthy.

As you almost made it back to your house near the Kamo river which was relatively close to Yagitei where the Shinsegumi’s headquarters were located. You heard someone behind yell for you to wait up. You were confused hearing your name being called out, till you saw it was Okita catching up to you. “You didn’t say you were leaving for good,” Okita stopped in front of you giving you a rather sad look.

“Kondo-san said you weren’t coming back,” Okita fell silent leaving you to feel solemn.

“Okita-san, you don’t need me anymore, it seems that my job is done and I’m happy that you’re all better. So, please, don’t push yourself hard and I’ll be ready to help you or anyone else that needs me again.” You gave him a gleeful smile but it wasn’t enough for him to whine and to see you again.

“Awww, how about I come see you when we’re both free? I don’t like the idea of never seeing you again.” The last phrase had him puffing his cheeks a bit making him look cute how stubborn he was. He didn’t want to let you go? You thought over it but nodded, you would love to get to know him better even if there’s risks in getting close to him.

“Okay, than it’s settled. I’ll see you around, Okita-san.” Little did you know this was just the beginning of your new profound friendship that would blossom to something anew and future with him.

Note: sorry I promised more Anubis but I really been dying to do this piece for a long time. I’ll get back on Anubby soon~

[utapri-translations-uuuu]

Shinsengumi ~Zan'yō no Yukusue~ - Synopsis, Characters, Historical Background & Glossary

Do not retranslate/repost without permission.

Synopsis of the story

It was the end of the Edo period (Bakumatsu), when the times were beginning to change dramatically.

The Shinsengumi was created to restore order by expanding the shogunate's power once again.

What will be the fate of those who uphold a sincere heart and diligently speak of the future?

Characters

Kiryuin Van as Kondō Isami

Commander of the Shisengumi

Since childhood, he has held an extraordinary admiration for samurai. With his friendly and generous personality, he is highly trusted by his subordinates. He also possesses political skills, and even the upper echelons of the shogunate regard him as a sharp-minded individual.

Otori Eiichi as Hijikata Toshizo

Vice-commander of the Shisengumi

He has a personality that values discipline and often approaches others with a stern attitude. However, in some odd moments, he occasionally reveals an innocent side. He is also highly skilled at organizational leadership and excels in external negotiations, such as fundraising.

Otori Eiji as Okita Soji

Captain of the First Unit of the Shinsengumi

He is known for his gentle and kind demeanor. However, he is one of the strongest members of the Shinsengumi, and once he holds a sword, he can swiftly take down an enemy with his graceful technique. At times, he appears to have a somewhat philosophical outlook.

Sumeragi Kira as Nagakura Shinpachi

Captain of the Second Unit of the Shinsengumi

His swordsmanship is that of a master swordsman who has studied multiple schools, yet he is meticulous and engages in daily, steady training without overestimating his own abilities. Additionally, he possesses a single-minded dedication to relentlessly pursue his ideals.

Amakusa Shion as Saito Hajime

Captain of the Third Unit of the Shinsengumi

He has a mysterious aura and does not reveal much of his inner thoughts, but he harbors a deep passion within. He particularly respects the commander and vice-commander, and has a strong attachment to the Shinsengumi.

Mikado Nagi as Todo Heisuke

Captain of the Eight Unit of the Shinsengumi

He has a bright and straightforward disposition, and is known for speaking his mind about everything. He is considerate of his friends and always subtly attentive to his surroundings. In addition to his swordsmanship, he is also well-versed in academics, embodying the ideal of being well-rounded in both martial and literary arts.

Hyuga Yamato as Harada Sanosuke

Captain of the Tenth Unit of the Shinsengumi

Although he gives off the impression of being rough and uncouth at first glance, he is fundamentally a serious and kind-hearted person, well-regarded by those around him. He’s renowned not only for his swordsmanship but also for his mastery of the spear, often showing resourcefulness during battles.

Historical Background

Track 1→2→3

Bunkyū 3 (1863)

To Edo

To apply for the shogunate’s recruitment of soldiers, Kondo and others departed from Edo. It is said that the last to join among the seven was Saito.

The August 18 coup

The incident in which the anti-shogunate forces, including the Chōshū clan, were expelled from Kyoto. At this time, Kondō and others were dispatched, achieving notable accomplishments and earning the name Shinsengumi.

First year of Genji (1864)

Ikedaya Incident

This was an incident in which the Shinsengumi became aware of exiled anti-Shogunate factions trying to stage an incident to regain their power, and consequently carried out a purge.

Track 4

Keiō 3 (1867)

Restauration of power to the Emperor

The shogunate relinquished the political power it had held for a long time to the Imperial Court. However, the shogunate still sought to participate in the new government.

Aburanokōji Incident

This incident occurred as a result of a power struggle between a faction that split off from the Shinsengumi due to ideological differences and the Shinsengumi members that remained.

Track 5

Keiō 4 (1868)

Battle of Toba-Fushimi

The former shogunate forces rose up against the new government to restore the shogun's power. This marked the beginning of the Boshin War. The Shinsengumi also joined the battle as part of the former shogunate forces.

Battle of Hakodate

After engaging in battles across various regions, the former shogunate forces arrived in Hakodate, where they waged the final war. Also known as the Battle of Goryokaku. Hijikata and others participated.

Meiji 2 (1869)

Track 6, 7

Glossary

Headquarters (Tonsho)

The residence where the members of the Shinsengumi lived together. Due to becoming cramped, among other reasons, they relocated several times.

Lord of Aizu (Aidzu-kō)

It refers to Matsudaira Katamori, the daimyō (lord) of the Aizu Domain. He also served as the Kyoto Shugoshoku, a position established to maintain public order in Kyoto, and the Shinsengumi were under his command.

Rai San’yō

A Confucian scholar from the late Edo period. His work Nihon Gaishi (Unofficial History of Japan), which depicts the ebb and flow of the samurai class, was also a favorite of Kondo, who admired it so deeply that he even imitated the author’s handwriting.

Choshu Domain

A domain that was located in present-day Yamaguchi Prefecture. During the late Edo period, it became a stronghold for anti-shogunate forces that opposed the Shinsengumi, and was the site of a private school run by a prominent thinker.

Taijukō

This term refers to a shogun. It comes from ancient Chinese tradition. In this work, it mainly refers to Tokugawa Yoshinobu, who became the last shogun of the Edo shogunate.

Imperial Army

The military of the new government, which would later become the Meiji government. They aimed to overthrow the shogunate and establish a modern nation centered around the Emperor. Many members were from Choshu and Satsuma.

Boshin War

A war fought between the imperial army and the former shogunate army. It began with the Battle of Toba-Fushimi and ended with the Battle of Hakodate. It is the largest-scale civil war in Japanese history.

[izumi-fanclub]

A3! Event Story Translation “NEW ERA GARDEN” [Chapter 4]

An episode dedicated to Kasumi's feelings about his role and his past as a leader.

Kasumi

“Toshi-san, there’s this interesting rumor I’ve heard from an older lady.”

It’s hard to get the intonation right… The emphasis should be here…

“Kondo-san, I’ll stand guard here! I won’t let anyone escape!”

Kaede

Papa, are you playing as a woman?

Tsubaki

Or are you playing a guy?

Sakura

Which is it~?

Kasumi

Uh… Actually…

Kasumi

…Y-Yukio-san, this… is a mistake, right…?

Yukio

It’s not.

Kasumi

Eeh!? B-but I can’t believe I’m the only double cast…

Yukio

As for you, I wanted to see you play as both Kimigiku and Todo Heisuke.

You played Lady Shizuka in “Traces of a Dream” already, and just playing the beautiful Kimigiku is boring, isn’t it?

And I also want as many people as possible for the Ikedaya incident scene.

Kasumi

No, no, no, no way! I wouldn’t care much if it’s just a female only role, but I’ve been blank for too long and yet you already want me in the Ikedaya fight…!

It’s like a neighborhood kid getting caught in a gang leader fight!

Yukio

It’ll be fine. Yuzo said he’ll teach you.

Yuzo

…Yeah. Leave it to me. I’ll put you through the Shinsengumi hazing process.

Kasumi

!!!

Kasumi

(...Yuzo looked like a complete bully that time.)

This time, papa will play as two people, two roles at once, it’ll be a lot of work.

Kaede

You should practice a lot, then. Kaede and her friends always practice a lot of dances at the nursery.

Tsubaki

Do it everyday. You have to get it right.

Sakura

You’ll be able to do it after enough practice.

Kaede

Let’s play over there so we don’t get in the way.

Tsubaki

Okie!

Sakura

Good luck, papa~.

Kasumi

T-thanks…

…Sigh.

*He flips the page*

…

(In the other play I acted as Lady Shizuka after a long while of not playing female characters, and I got a lot of compliments from a lot of people. I'm looking forward to playing Kimigiku.)

(The only problem is Todo Heisuke… Hopefully… I’ll get the hang of it after some practice.)

(Now that I think about it, I remember the first time I was on stage there were three sword fights, it was a mess…)

“...Haah, haah, my bad…”

I’d be on my knees at first, it was hard to get up.

My body ached everywhere and my body felt heavy like steel.

It was as if the gravity only changed around me and pulled me down.

“...If the leader’s gonna be like this, there’s nothing to discuss, shouldn’t we just replace this guy?”

Syu-san’s bluntness and arrogance was nothing out of the ordinary, but it struck my heart this time.

I was pathetic and remorseful, I couldn’t even get myself to face them.

It was the first time I was assigned a role where I had to fight.

No matter how much I practiced, no matter how slow I took my time, I couldn’t reenact the movements properly at all.

I looked like I was doing a Lantern festival dance instead of having the form of a swordsman.

It’s no wonder that Syu-san, who taught it, was dismayed.

“Alright well, let’s leave the fight scene at that for today before you get hurt.”

I heard Yukio-san’s gentle voice interrupt and just bowed my head, devastated by my own shortcomings.

“...”

Yuzo looked at me like he wanted to tell me something, but with the state of my mind, I couldn't take another word, I left the rehearsal room as if to escape.

“...Today’s the day I’ll get it right.”

The next morning, I was determined and went to the rehearsal room early.

“Well, aren't you early?” “Eh, Yuzo? Why are you…”

Immediately after that, he threw a wooden sword at me and Yuzo told me to prepare myself.

“Get in form.”

Subconsciously, I handled the wooden sword as Syu-san had taught me.

“Try to move the same way as I do.”

“But, Yuzo, your role…”

“I already got your movements memorized in my head. Try to keep up the pace.”

“—T-thanks.”

Repeating it over and over and adjusting the speed, eventually I got it right for the first time.

“Yes! Finally!”

I was able to keep up with the other members at the same pace.

The joy of being able to do something I couldn’t before welled up deep inside me.

“This is just the beginning. Go show Syu-san, that this role is yours alone.”

“...Yeah!”

Yuzo usually only smacktalks me, but he helps me out so casually like this when I’m going through something difficult.

He really is a reliable childhood friend.

As a way to show my gratitude for being helped like this,

I definitely made that role mine, and mine alone.

I made up my mind and got back into the flow of things.

Kasumi

(Back then, I felt like I had to do my absolute best as the leader of the Spring Troupe.)

(...I wonder if Sakuya-kun also had a tough time with fight scenes.)

Rather, the upcoming play, Sakuya-kun might come to see it…!?

(He adores me as the first Spring Troupe leader, I can’t just show Sakuya-kun an unseemly sword fight.)

Sigh…

(I got no choice, I’ll just have to suck it up and ask Yuzo for help.)

(In the story, Kimigiku supports the Shinsengumi from the shadows, meanwhile Todo Heisuke leaves the Shinsengumi later.)

(It overlaps with my desire to support MANKAI Company in the shadows in different ways despite my departure from the theater.)

…You really are amazing, Yukio-san.

(Honestly, you’re like a wizard.)

[ Prev. ]

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[shinsengumi-archives]

Shinsengumi Films

Documentaries

Shinsengumi’s strongest swordsman, Saito Hajime, and his commitment to the Aizu clan and Matsudaira Katamori - Saito Hajime and Matsudaira Katamori from the program series “Secrets of History"

We are Shinsengumi! / Shinsengumi sanjou - The Ikedaya Incident.

Shinsengumi. Defeat at Toba-Fushimi - The defeat of the Shogunate army in 1868.

Shinsengumi no Yume - The Shinsengumi and their deaths.

The Death of Hijikata Toshizo in Hakodate - Hijikata Toshizo and his death in Hakodate.

Hijikata - A Life of Dreams and Ambition

Movies/Dramas

Shinsengumi’s Devil Commander (1957)

Shinsengumi (1958)

Shinsengumi: Last Days of the Shogunate (1960)

Restoration Fire (1961)

Shinsengumi Chronicles (1963)

Bakumatsu Zankoku Monogatari (1964)

Ansatsu (Assassination) (1964)

Shinsengumi Keppuroku (1966)

Moeyo Ken (1966)

Shinsengumi: Assassins Of Honor (1969)

Okita Soji: The Last Swordsman (1974)

The Last Samurai (1974)

Flames of Blood (1981)

Shinsengumi (1987)

Shinsengumi Keppuroku (1998)

Gohatto (1999)

When the Last Sword is Drawn (2003)

Shinsengumi! (2004)

Wachigaiya Itosato (2007)

Peacemaker Kurogane (2010)

Shinsengumi Keppuroku (2011)

Koto Nakazawa: The Beautiful Swordswoman (2017)

Moeyo Ken (2021)

Anime

Hakuouki

Peace Maker Kurogane

Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru and Katsugeki

Hijikata Toshizou: Shiro no Kiseki

Neko Neko Nihonshi (ep 5)

Rurouni Kenshin and new remake

Gintama

More lists of Shinsengumi films:

Films

Shinsengumi Media

Filmography - A list by ShinsengumiHQ of all Shinsengumi movies up to 2006

Shinsengumi in Films - A list with brief descriptions and reviews

Films about the Bakumatsu - Extensive list of films set during the end of the Edo Era

@talesofedo‘s lists of samurai movies: [1] [2]

7 Super Shinsengumi Reimaginings - List of Shinsengumi anime

Shinsengumi Anime

rarefilm dot net/tag/japanese - A site for downloading old films in HD, with many English subbed samurai movies, including ones about the Shinsengumi

[fudan-no-nijiiro]

New Audio Drama Announced: HE★VENS as the Shinsengumi!

We know all of nothing about the CD aside from the announcements on the website, which fortunately includes the casting! The Shinsengumi, who are actual historical figures that have showed up with different levels of prominence in many popular Japanese media franchises (such as One Piece, Touken Ranbu, and Golden Kamui, among others).

Personally, I'm mainly familiar with the Shinsengumi through a couple of more niche pieces of media that focus on them directly, and so I was immediately very excited to see this announcement. That said, my spotty knowledge of the Shinsengumi as well as the relatively little information we have so far means there's a lot I can only speculate about at the moment.

Some potentially spoilery speculation below the cut!

General thoughts

First, two things about the Shinsengumi as a whole that make them a great choice for the HE★VENS boys to play:

They have an inherent anti-villain vibe due to their original role as rivals to ST☆RISH. The Shinsengumi were similarly on the "wrong" side of history, being on the side of the military faction that opposed opening Japan's borders to the West…though ultimately, the political dynamics are more complex than that, which most good Shinsengumi adaptations play with to great effect. It's a fitting role for the team that was originally created as "antagonists" to Shining Agency that are nonetheless sympathetic in themselves.

The tragic element: Honestly, a group that is might be best known known for romantically, tragically (and often sexily) dying young is right in HE★VENS's more intense, melodramatic wheelhouse.

Relatedly: one key question is when in the Shinsengumi timeline the story will be set. I would guess from the chapter titles that this story is going to begin near the beginning of the Shinsengumi's founding and continue through the Ikedaya Incident, which is admittedly one of the Shinsengumi's most famous exploits. However, the subtitle (which scanned to me as something like "the path of the setting sun," not that I'm at all sure of that translation) hints at the Shinsengumi's ultimate fate: infighting, political betrayals, defeat, and ultimately dissolution, along with the tragic fates of several of its core members. Their tragic ending seems to have done a lot to cement the Shinsengumi them as sympathetic figures in Japanese popular culture more broadly, and I feel like HE★VENS would handle the pathos of it all beautifully, so I'm a little sad that it seems like it's only going to be hinted at. But still, there's theoretically hope for a second drama down the line if this one is successful, or fanworks if all else fails. (I feel positive that I'll see some excellent doujins coming out with this theme over the next several years, for instance.)

And in the meantime, there's also the video to be excited about! It'll be interesting to see if the video gets integrated into Live Emotion, and if so, when. (Possibly at the same time as analogous past ST☆RISH and QUARTET NIGHT projects, perhaps? 👀)

Cast List

Anyway, it's time for some near-baseless idol-by-idol analysis, based on my very limited Shinsengumi knowledge! Feel free to let me know what I've gotten wrong, because I'm truly just winging it for fun over here.

Van as Kondou Isami: This is a SUPER interesting choice, and how much I think Van stans will enjoy it depends largely on how much screen time Kondou actually gets. On the one hand, he's the leader, which is a fun change of pace, and since the story seems to start early in the Shinsengumi's history, there's a good chance he'll be playing a central role. I think it's a great role for Van, who's the oldest and has displayed a strong protective streak towards the other group members. Plus, since he's a bit of a jokester and usually tries to fade into the background, I think I'll enjoy seeing him playing an important role at the center of the group. That said, though, he's usually relatively absent in depictions of the Shinsengumi that I've seen, either because he traveled places separately or for, well…other, sadder reasons. Regardless, if he mainly shows up through flashbacks or something, there's a risk that he'll be severely underutilized.

Eiichi as Hijikata Toshizou: This one seems like an inevitable casting choice. Eiichi usually gets a lot of the spotlight as a passionate-yet-controlled leader who's a cut above the rest, and that fits Hijikata to a T. The most exciting part about this for me is going to be watching him play of Eiji's Okita, as their close (and literally fraternal) dynamic is definitely going to add some pathos to Hijikata's storyline.

Eiji as Okita Souji: THIS. THIS ONE. I was SO excited to see this casting!!! Okita's is an inevitably melodramatic, very dynamic, and ultimately tragic role with a wide variety of possible interpretations. It has the potential to really push Eiji's acting chops. (I don't know if we'll get behind-the-scenes depictions of the actors responding to their roles as a part of this drama, but sometimes it happens, and it'd be a treat to see Eiji's this time.) There will be more on Okita after this list, but basically, this is breakout role territory and I'm so hyped to see that Eiji's the one cast for it.

Kira as Nagakura Shinpachi: I'll admit, this character hasn't left much of an impression on me from the adaptations of Shinsengumi media that I've seen. Given both that and Nagakura's role as next in command under Hijikata, it looks a little bit to me like the role is going to be crafted to fit Kira rather than the other way around, or perhaps utilized mainly for plot convenience. I thought at first he was going to play Saitou instead and I was very excited about it, so I'll admit to some probably-unfair disappointment on that front. I think he's might play closely off Yamato's character, though, and if the plot includes any inner-party conflict, they're likely to be on the same side of it. That would be interesting to see.

Shion as Saitou Hajime: I'll be honest, I originally misread the names and thought that Kira had gotten this role, and I was very excited about it. I'm less excited for Shion to play him, partly for a silly reason: the cover art has him drawing his katana right-handed, and one of Saitou's prominent traits was being a left-handed swordsman. (Then again, maybe that will be a red herring, and Saitou revealing his true skills to the rest of the group will be part of the plot? Or perhaps they didn't do a lot of research for the cover art. It could go either way.) Still, it's usually fun to listen to Shion acting regardless of his role; I feel like I'm never sure what sort of performance we're going to get from him.

Nagi as Toudou Heisuke: At first, this seemed like a fairly straightforward choice, but then I looked into it a bit more and now I'm not so sure. (I've seen Heisuke depicted as one of the younger members of the Shinsengumi, but when I checked Wikipedia, he had the same birth year listed as several other core members.) Regardless, however, It'll be fun to hear Nagi play what will probably be a fairly openly violent and macho role, as opposed to his usual faux-superior brat facade (/affectionate). …And also, if I'm right and the climax of the story is at Ikedaya, then he's going to get a chance for some extra melodrama then as well.

Yamato as Harada Sannousuke: I mean, this role is fine, I guess? He's far enough from the "core" of the Shinsengumi as typically depicted that he gets regularly cut out from some adaptations, or at least lumped into the background with Nagakura. It's not a bad casting choice from the vibes I remember from elsewhere, in that it seems true to type. I just don't know enough about Harada to know what to get excited about. It's also possible that he'll be close with Toudou as well, so that could be fun.

Hang on, what do you know about the Shinsengumi anyway?

Despite the length of this post so far, truly not a lot! What I do know, I learned from Japanese media with a relatively low barrier of entry. In my experience, only devoted fans of either history or manga/anime know about the Shinsengumi, even in Japan, and it seems to me like their popular depictions are an important part of cultural impact. If you'd like to get a feel for those depictions and how these figures have been mythologized in popular culture, one good starting point might be the Hakuouki franchise, particularly the first game and/or anime.

Hakuouki is an old and VERY successful visual novel series. It bastardizes the Shinsengumi's actual history to hell and back (what if they were VAMPIRE-ZOMBIE BERSERKERS who were the victims of UNETHICAL MEDICAL EXPERIMENTATION?!) for kitschy dating-sim purposes, but it's silly and melodramatic and fun, much like the original UtaPri VNs. Plus, the characters are caricatured in a way that makes them very distinct from one another, so it's quick and easy to get a feel for their personalities. (Better yet, if you play the visual novel version, it lets you focus on one character at a time and get a feel for the role you're most interested in…though Harada and Shinpachi are a bit of a package set, with only one route between them.)

To give you a sense for the impact of this series, I've been to a collab cafe for Hakuouki that was running at the actual real Ikeda-ya Inn, a place where a significant battle of the Shinsengumi's took place, within the past 5 years. The game first came out in 2008. And UtaPri, which launched in a similar format (PSP rather than PS2) 2 years later, is undoubtedly very aware of the Hakuouki franchise and its popular impact.

I found an emulator version of the first game something like 10 years ago to play on PC and Mac. I couldn't tell you where, since that was several hard drives ago, but it's almost certainly still kicking around someplace. And the anime should be even easier to find.

Overall, Hakuouki's characters seem matched in a decently intuitive way with the HE★VENS members cast in each role:

Kondou (though usually not on-screen much) is the benevolent leader who'd do anything for his men.

Hijikata is the leader on the ground.

Saitou's reticent and mysterious.

Toudou's the youngest.

Shinpachi and Harada were kind of off doing their own thing. (This one is a little off, notably)

And then there's one great big notable exception.

Hakuouki's Souji Okita is sardonic, critical, and at times outright aggressive, with a mean sense of humor and an intentional bad-boy vibe. This seems like a stretch for everyone's favorite cinnamon roll, especially playing against a Hijikata played by Eiichi. So instead, I'm going to guess the Okita we'll get will be a bit different. Perhaps something like this:

(Yep, that guy is based on the same historical figure!)

The shoujo manga Kaze Hikaru's Souji Okita is a light-hearted jokester with a sweet disposition, who plays the airhead to Hijikata's more serious attitude…unless he's in a fight, in which case he turns into a bit of an amoral killing machine. He's also the romantic lead of the series, which totals 45 volumes. (It seems as though the licensed volumes are still being released in English, and the manga's serialization only ended in 2020. Gotta respect a long-running franchise!)

What do both of these otherwise very disparate depictions have in common? Three things stand out to me:

their near-fanatical loyalty to Hijikata and Kondou,

their determination to never surrender, and

their refusal to give in to their impending fate. (I don't think said fate will show up in this particular drama—though I could be wrong!—but either way, I won't go into it for now. You can find out about it easily enough if you go looking.)

So yeah, I think you can see why I'm very interested to see how Eiji's Okita turns out! Whether it's closer to one or the other of these two, or its own thing entirely, I believe it'll be fascinating.

In conclusion, as someone who's enjoyed the Shinsengumi stories I've encountered in the past, I'm very excited to listen to the drama and watch the music video when they come out in October!

[kumoriyami-xiuzhen]

Hakuoki - Record of Curious Tales: Katana and Samurai #5, Kashuu Kiyomitsu

Honestly, I felt super unmotivated to translate today, to the point where I really did think about skipping doing something this week. Feeling more than a little out of sorts though I'm almost certain that it's because of the weather... as I do abysmally whenever the temperature starts to increase.

Anyway, this was originally published in 電撃Girl’s Style 2016年3月号... feeling too annoyed to check this beyond making sure that the names used were correct right now.

Hakuoki - Record of Curious Tales: Katana and Samurai #5, Kashuu Kiyomitsu

Translation by KumoriYami

Eighth month of the first year of Genji——. During the Ikedaya Incident during the 6th month, Okita Souji was injured and vomited blood after fighting with Kazama, and had to rest in his futon while he recovered. In the same month, when the Akebonotei Incident and the Kinmon Incident [Hamaguri Gate Rebellion] occurred, he could only stay at headquarters on standby so he spent the time leisurely/not doing anything. In the eight month, when Souji had almost recovered and wanted to return to the troop, he disovered a major problem——the tip of the katana he used during the Ikedaya Incident had been partiall damaged.

"The way this is, it can't be used anymore..." As he gazed at the unsheathed blade, Souji sighed and muttered to himself. Damage to the blade could be repaired through polishing and the length of the sword could be changed to a preferred length through forging, but if the tip of the sword was missing, nothing could be done.. "I actually... really liked this katana." Souji looked at the damaged tip of the sword and recalled when he first received this katana. It was when Souji and Kondou were still in Edo, and with everyone else from Shiekan when they were preparing participate in the Roshigumi recruitment for maintaining the law and order in Kyoto.

On that day, everyone had been busy preparing to leave for Kyoto, except for Souji, who had nothing to do, and gazed thoughtlessly at the sky outside of the dojo. "Souji, Souji. Come here for a moment." Upon hearing that voice, Souji turned around voice, the head office turned around and saw Kondou Shusai, the former head of Tennins Rishin-ryu, who was now referred to as Dai-sensei. "Shusai-sensei, what is it?" As Souji walked over, Shusai kept an eye in the direction of the dojo, and lowered his voice to ask: "Actually, it's about Isami... have you heard about the katana he's planning to bring to Kyoto?" "Kondou-san's katana? He was happily showing me that he obtained a Kiyomaro blade." "Hmm, Kiyomaro Minamoto , who is also called the Masamune of Yotsuya? That's a truly good thing. "Yes, that's why Kondou-san was very happy." "I see... Kiyomaru, is it...." Shusai nodded his head in acknowledgement as if he had shaken off a heavy burden, and then spoke to Souji. "By the way, Souji. What are you going to do for your sword?" "Mine? The one I have now is fine, and as long as my swordsmanship is good, all blades are the same." "No, no, it's not like that. A samurai needs to have the appearance of a samurai, but there will be times when people look at their swords, right? That's why it's necessary to wear a sword that isn't embarrassing, not to mention, having a good sword will be even more useful in actual combat. After speaking, Shusai handed Souji the katana with a black sheath that was in his hands. "You can take this with you." "This is...?" "Nn, this is my farewell gift from me for you, Souji." As he spoke, Shusai grabbed the hilt of the sword with his right hand an unsheathed the blade. The blade shone brightly in the sunlight. "Kashuu Kiyomitsu… I chose the work of the 6th generation Kiyomitsu, who is also commonly known as "Beggar Kiyomitsu." The blade has a shallow curve and is two shaku and four sun long, and is slightly longer than the standard length. Since you're good at stabbing, it should be perfect for Souji, right?" Souji gazed at the blade with undisguised joy in his eyes. "The undulating patterns and cross-eyes in the design are also quite nice... It looks like it will be able to kill very well [I guess? I was really confused with the first part of this.]." "Nn. This will absolutely do so." As if the two were thinking of the same situation, they both smiled with excitement. "But, is it really okay for me to receive this? This.. was prepared for Kondou-san, right? I think it'd still be better to give it to him..." " What, so you already realized it… Well, it's fine, Isami seems to have found his own sword. After all, it's a sword that he's entrusted his life to so it's best for him to personally satisfied with it, so I cant interfere from the side." "I understand. Then, I'll bring it to Kyoto instead of Kondou-san/in place of Kondou-san, I'll bring it to Kyoto!" "Is that alright?" "No problem!" As Souji received Kashuu Kiyomits from Shusai, he smiled like a child and kept gazing at it for a long time.

"...Shusai-sensei, it really could kill very well." Souji returned Kiyomitsu, whose tip had been broken, to its sheath and pondered carefully. In order for him to return to active duty, he needed to prepare a new sword. What should he do for that sword…. In actuality, he wanted the same sword as Kondou but it was too expensive and he couldn't afford to buy it… A few days later, Souji chose a katana named Yamato no Kami Yasusada. The reason was that it resembled Kondou's Kotetsu.

---end---

i did not edit this. will do so later if i remember... maybe?

also i don't want tokuen ranbu info! i want sword history info! 😤

references used:

https://nihonto.com/yasusada/

https://shinsengumi-archives.tumblr.com/post/653115494539362304/kashu-kiyomitsu-the-sword-soji-okita-used-at

https://www.japanesewiki.com/person/Shusuke%20KONDO.html

[trixibebe]

Ikedaya Incident :3

Okay, I went and read this and man what we could've had in Ishin, c'mon.

Main takeaways:

Tani went inside and stabbed a couple of guys with his spear, enjoying it a lot.

Todo taking off his protective headband, him getting jumped and slashed across the forehead

thus he fainted and went into a coma for several days (Nagakura saved him).

Tani later made fun of Todo for carelessly taking his headgear off and fainting from shock.

[rz-jocelyn]

[VIDEO] KimiYuki: Episode 17 dated August 21, 2024

THE STORY UP TO NOW

The Shinsengumi has seen both its downs (the assassination of Serizawa Kamo) and ups (the Ikedaya Incident). But, life doesn't stop throwing curve balls their way, and the death of Yamanami Keisuke, who committed seppuku, has shaken the group to its core.

Meanwhile, the plot to overthrow the Tokugawa shogunate thickens.

Amidst all this, Fukakusa Kyujuro has been able to get revenge for the death of his father, but rather than the joy he expected, he finds that he is lost, especially with the troubles in the Shinsengumi.

It is here that he runs, yet again, into Sakamoto Ryoma.

STREAMING LINK

To watch Episode 17, please refer to this link: HERE

The episode will be available until 0.45 (Japan time) on August 29, 2024.

Sato Ryuji also appeared in Episode 02 of the drama, which is still available to watch as well.

To watch Episode 02, please refer to this link: HERE

NOTE: For more information on how to use TVer (the website with the episodes), please refer to this link: HERE

Source: ( x )

[honmakurara]

The way we could be

It's festival time, in Kyoto. They're out for an informal evening, sharing hopefully sweet memories of a summer that maybe won't ever be the same again in the near future, should they take up more police duties as Shinsengumi members. As they relax, Kondo has (also improper) thoughts.

The (awesome) S1 KimiYuki finale left me with so many conflicting emotions, to the point I really needed to hope for the best for the guys. Yeah I know that we all know that history does not agree with my hopes, but please let me dream, at least. The story is set slightly before the Ikedaya incident.

Toshizo looks hot.

Quite a lot, Kondo has to admit to himself, as he watches his deputy stroll quietly along the Kamo riverbanks with their comrades, wearing comfortable yukatas and geta clogs.

They're out for an informal evening, sharing hopefully sweet memories of a summer that maybe won't ever be the same again in the near future, should they take up more police duties as Shinsengumi members.

The night in Kyoto is thick with the traditional humidity of July; the sky is clear and carpeted with stars, though. Even the mere fact of being simply alive feels nice, thus being able to enjoy what youth has to offer.

There's Yamanami in a dark green robe, squealing here and there and everywhere like the mother hen that he is, and there's the pretty Daisaku ignoring him just like usual, wearing a nice violet blue attire.

There's Kyuujiro casting huge puppy eyes to everyone and everything around him, confessing to them all that he's always been so busy helping out at his father's place, during matsuri periods, that he's rarely had the chance to spend a full evening out with friends.

There's Saito staying silent as usual but strolling nonetheless with them, glancing with intense eyes at Okita beside him, the latter wrapped up in a crimson red yukata embroidered with sumptuous pink and black flowers.

The young swordsman looks so fascinating that he draws all the attention as he simply walks his way down the riverbank sides, so it's no wonder that Saito always feels like guarding him from curious and prying eyes around them.

And then there's Toshizo, who looks at all of them with the benevolent eyes of a father; well, almost, for he's also scolding Sanosuke as the latter tries to awkwardly seduce a pretty young girl nearby. 

Toshizo frowns slightly when Namunosuke is about to take Shinnojo in his arms for the umpteenth time, but eventually resolves not saying a word in the end, folding both arms over his chest with a deeper furrow marking his brows.

Kondo chuckles.

They all look so carefree it's almost painful to think they have all decided to commit themselves for a greater but also definitely brutal sake; their future might probably be grim, should they not succeed...

(keep reading @ao3 )

[kyndaris]

Tosa Calling

Although I know it's been a year since Like a Dragon: Ishin! released, it wasn't until I came back from my trip to Japan that I managed to find some time to sink into the hefty title. I know, I know. It's shameful! But in my defence, last year I was swamped with games. And lengthy ones to boot!

I mean, given the evidence, I think, dear readers, it would not be wrong for me to ask that y'all give a gal a break. Especially because playing video games and writing up my impressions of them is a hobby. And having a full-time job does not make playing games, reading books and writing stories any easier. Throw in the FOMO from watching whatever is popular on streaming and also socialising with real-life people, I think the fact I manage to get through games at such a steady clip is a commendable exercise.

Anyway, back to the topic at hand. Or, at controller, if you'll pardon the terrible attempt at wordplay.

Unlike the Yakuza games that came before it, Like a Dragon: Ishin! is a game set in the mid-1800s as Japan grappled with foreign diplomatic and military pressure to change. And instead of stepping into the shoes of Kiryu Kazuma, players are thrust into the shoes of one Sakamoto Ryoma - a real-life historical figure who advocated for democracy, return of power to the Imperial Court, abolition of feudalism and the modernisation of Japan during the Bakumatsu period.

Of course, Like a Dragon: Ishin! does take a more fanciful approach to their interpretation of history as they have Ryoma playing double-duty with another real-life historical figure: Saito Hajime - Captain of the Shinsengumi's 3rd Division.

But, hey, what's a bit of artistic licence to give us some excellent blockbuster action scenes and build up a conspiracy about the Tosa loyalist party and the best interests of the budding nation of Japan? Why not even throw in a fight with Scottish merchant Thomas Glover too (which was passingly strange for me to deal with considering I visited Glover Garden while I was in Nagasaki while in Japan and failed to find nary a mention of how the man duked it out with Ryoma with a set of twin pistols)?

As always, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio keeps the main story dramatic and relatively grounded with Ryoma on a quest for revenge when his adoptive father Yoshida Toyo is assassinated. The majority of the game then takes place in Kyo (the modern day equivalent being Kyoto) as Ryoma tries to hunt down the man responsible. He does so by deducing the style of swordplay and looking for dojos who teach Tennen Rishin.

It isn't long before he is informed that the Tennen-Rishi is practiced by the Shinsengumi. Ryoma soon joins the organisation, hoping to whittle down who among the captains was the killer.

Along the way, he must deal with a second 'Sakamoto Ryoma' who is trading with guns and other weapons to the Satsuma Domain and hatch a civil war in Japan in order to take out the Shogunate that had reined for nigh on 300 years. It later turns out that this second 'Sakamoto Ryoma' is his brother and leader of the Tosa Loyalist Party: Takechi Hanpeita (another real-life historical figure).

While the game does incorporate actual historical events such as the Ikedaya incident and the assassination of Sakamoto Ryoma at Omiya Inn, it does certainly take quite a few liberties of the actual events. Like how the person assassinated at Omiya Inn was just a stand-in and both the actual Ryoma and his brother Takechi survived for a final battle back in Tosa as they engage in battle due to competing ideologies.

From a gameplay perspective, Ishin! only really incorporates one of the fighting styles from the Yakuza games. This, being of course, the brawler style. As Ryoma is a samurai, he also had a swordsman style (my default one that I used for most of the game) and mixed it up with the occasional use of a revolver. While these all had a variety of different abilities, I found myself focusing on swordsman and wild dance throughout most of my playthrough as they easily ripped through the fodder you faced on the streets and were mighty effective against bosses as well.

Unlike the other games, Ishin! also introduced the concept of troopers. This boosted Ryoma's health and granted him additional abilities that could be triggered in the midst of battle, such as triggering additional damage or conjuring a gravity well to draw all the enemies to one part of the battle arena.

This helped mix-up the combat, especially after hours of using the same moves and combos throughout the game.

Boss battles, too, forced me to vary my strategy. Rather than brute forcing my way through most enemies, I'd often have to play more defensively - seeking to use my stronger attacks only when necessary and throwing in the occasional heat action to give Ryoma some breathing space.

But while the story and the combat are worthy of praise, it was the side content in Ishin! that stole my heart. I loved all the wacky stories Ryoma somehow got suckered into. As is RGG tradition, there are also numerous minigames such as singing and buyo dancing. True, it didn't have a crane minigame but it DID allow me to play rock, paper, scissors with a geisha.

And my gosh, I have never been so glad my mother doesn't often see what I'm playing when I first went through the song: Truehearted Samurai. Initially, I was confused there were live-action actors. Then, I was bewildered when they started acting flirtatious even as I was trying to nail most of the notes for the very fast-paced song.

To be fair, the Sensual Healing portion of the geisha interactions also earned a raised eyebrow from me.

As for buyo dancing, it was probably the most tame of the mini-games (at least when it came to salacious material), but it was difficult to master. I'm no slouch when it comes to rhythm games and I very much enjoyed the dancing mini-games in Yakuza 5 and Lost Judgment but Ishin! was a different beast entirely with how it implemented its controls.

Overall though, Ishin! is a must-play for Yakuza fans. Though its replaced the shady crime drama with an historical period plot, it still retains the heart and soul of the Yakuza games. Especially because many of the character models have been reused, like Kiryu Kazuma acting as both Sakamoto Ryoma and Saito Hajime. Then there's Goro Majima as Okita Soji and Taiga Saejima as Nagakura Shinpachi.

Oft times, I had to ask myself if I wasn't just playing another Yakuza game with just a historical skin on top.

True, maybe I should have instead dived into Rise of the Ronin (I will play this game eventually as I've actually bought it), but Ishin! took precedence. Besides, it's not every day that one gets to play as THE Sakamoto Ryoma.

For anyone who might say otherwise, I'll shall simply retort with: ee ja nai ka.

[fierce-little-miana]

Really really cute moment between Souji and Chizuru post Ikedaya incident. Sure Souji calls her weird, but I really like how their dynamic started to work even that early.

Bonus round: Chizuru is joining the Souji apologists club already

[todayisafridaynight]

the ishin hijikata megacomp because im mentally ill

timestamps below:

Chapter 1: "Escaping Home"

0:00 - 1:33 | A Killer with Two Lives

Chapter 3, "Mibu Wolves" 

1:34 - 2:57 | Men of Tennen Rishin

2:58 - 5:44 | Captain of the Third

Chapter 4, "Joint Struggle"

5:45 - 6:34 | The Wolves' Den

6:35 - 12:49 | Just Deserts

Chapter 6, "The Ikedaya Incident" 

12:50 - 13:53 | Overtures 

13:54 - 14:37 | Slippery Kogoro 

14:38 - 20:27 | The Purge at Ikedaya

Chapter 10, "True Identities" 

20:28 - 21:53 | First Division, March 

21:54 - 25:40 | Death of the Miburoshigumi

Chapter 12, "Kyo Ablaze"

25:41 - 32:13 | The Treacherous Goryo Eji

Chapter 13, "The Assassination of Sakamoto Ryoma"

32:14 - 34:25 | Last of the Shinsengumi

34:26 - 39:14 | For the Sake of Kyo 

39:15 - 41:30 | Stories to Tell

41:31 - 44:01 | The Omiya Incident

44:02 - 45:17 | Sakamoto Ryoma Assassinated

Finale, "Dawn Breaks"

45:18 - 46:58 | Returning Home

46:59 - 49:20 | The Man in Kochi Castle

49:20 - 54:46 | Hope for Our Future Brethren

[sinful-liesel]

Blackstar Theater Starless - Ikedaya Incident ⚔️

※Please DO NOT REPOST anywhere!

My heart! (//▽//) ♡

[sir-yeehaw-paws]

..FAIR ENOUGH

(Can’t say ‘violent love triangles’ was what I’d anticipate but. Alright)

ALLLRIGHTY  THEN..but did Ikumatsu REALLY have to suffer such indignity for your little point here, Takeda?

(Pretend the subtitle didn’t cut off) but if he killed Inoue then I guess he killed Yamazaki too? We haven’t figured out who did that just yet.

NO excuse I just like having Izo’s sword carry on.

[shinsengumi-archives]

Okita Souji's work schedule

During the Edo period, low-ranking samurai working at Edo Castle had a "three-day shift," working two days and taking the third day off.

Working hours were shorter than now, and the work was divided into morning, evening, and night shifts.

This may sound somewhat enviable, but the pay was low, and the workers ended up working long hours at their own side jobs.

On the other hand, what was the work schedule like for the Shinsengumi, who were paid well but had to work hard?

Since there are no historical materials about the service shifts of the Shinsengumi members, I would like to speculate based on some records.

Since the Shinsengumi were often mobilized for emergencies, there were relatively few incidents, and I have referred to the events from the first year of the Genji Era to the second year of the Keio Era, when the organization seemed to be in place after the assassination of Serizawa Kamo.

Off-duty days?

In the first year of the Genji era, Tomizawa Chuemon, the village head of Hino and a fellow student, went to Kyoto and wrote in his diary that he often visited the headquarters.

According to this, on 2/2, Hijikata, Inoue, and Okita were at the headquarters from around noon to evening.

The following month, on 3/5, they attended the Peach Blossom Banquet hosted by Kondo and others. Kondo, Hijikata, Inoue, Okita, Todo and others were there and returned home the next morning.

On March 11, a cherry blossom viewing party was held. Kondo, Hijikata, Inoue, Okita, Toudou, and Takeda Kanryusai attended. After the banquet, they moved to Shimabara for an after-party, so it's likely that they returned home in the morning on this day as well.

Although we do not know the start time of either banquet, they must have been off duty that day or the next day.

The next month, on April 11, a farewell party was held for Tomizawa who had completed what he set out to do and was returning home. This was attended by Kondo, Hijikata, Inoue, and Okita. Since the party was held in the evening, it cannot be said that they were off duty.

Work days

Except for emergency dispatches such as the Ikedaya Incident, there is nothing that shows Okita's work days in the First Squad.

The mistaken arrest that caused trouble with the Higo clan was introduced in the article "Okita Souji's Apology Conference". If this was the work of the First Squad, 9/8 of Keio 1 is a work day.

On the other hand, for some reason, an attendance record still exists for Takeda Kanryusai and the 7th Squad.

Takeda was involved in the capture of Masuya (Furutaka Shuntaro) on 6/5 of the first year of the Genji era and the Akebonotei Incident on 6/10. It is believed that he belonged to the 3rd Squad at that time.

In the 7th Squad, Yano Shigetaro was captured on 5/12 in the leap month of Keio 1. On 9/12 of the following year, there is a record of Sanosuke Harada leading his unit to the Sanjo Noticeboard Incident.

It's noteworthy that in the Sanjo Noticeboard Incident, it's clear from the subsequent historical materials that Squads 3, 5, and 7 were deployed.

Although the 1st squadron was not dispatched, the other odd-numbered squads were all dispatched together, probably because they were on the same shift.

Morning shift, night shift, 3-day shift?

Then, assuming that the "Peach Blossom Banquet" was off-duty, I created a shift based on the same "three-day shift" as that of Edo Castle.

Then, the "Tomizawa's Farewell Party" was also off-duty for odd-numbered teams.

Also, Hijikata Kennosuke, a member of the Sennin Doshin (Thousand Men Army) who had come to Kyoto, visited the headquarters and held a drinking party on September 18, Keio 1 (1865) [edit: corrected typo], also off-duty, and Okita and Inoue of the First and Third Corps attended all the parties.

Furthermore, none of the days when Takeda and 7th Squad were deployed fell on off-duty days, but rather on work days.

However, 2/2, when Tomizawa visited, was a work day on this shift. Considering that Okita and the others were drinking until the evening, they may have been on a different shift before the "Peach Blossom Party," or they may have been on duty from the evening.

Since the Sanjo Noticeboard incident also did not involve the First Squad, it's also possible that they were on morning-duty on this day.

This is just a hypothesis, but I think that the Shinsengumi took turns off-duty for each even-numbered and odd-numbered squad, and that there was a morning shift and an evening shift on working days.

There is a high possibility that the work interval is a "3 days shift", but if it's based on odd or even numbers, there will be days when all employees are dispatched, so there may have been another group.

However, when Iba Hachiro went to Kyoto, he worked once every four days. Other diaries from the same period show consecutive days of work and consecutive holidays, which are irregular and depend on the organization.

The Shinsengumi's work schedule was announced in the morning, so even if there was a general schedule, it would have varied.

Incidentally, according to this schedule, the day Okita wrote a letter to his hometown informing them of Sannan's death fell on a day he was off duty.

It may have taken him a long time to write that painful letter...

References

「新選組日誌　(上)」 菊地明・伊東成郎・山村竜也

「日本人は昔から働き者?知ると深い「江戸の労働」 濱田浩一郎

「幕末武士の京都グルメ日記　「伊庭八郎征西日記」を読む」　山村竜也　幻冬舎

「慶応元年御進発御用日記  十九歳の長州出兵記録」　日野の古文書を読む会研究部会　日野市郷土資料館

「新選組史料大全」　菊地明

[bakumatsu-assassin]

Personal Head Cannon - Bloodshed In Kyoto

Continued from this

In addition to the frequent assaults on foreigners orchestrated by the samurai, the city of Kyoto, renowned as Japan's ancient capital, had transformed into a breeding ground for political turmoil. Shogunate officials and political leaders operating within the Bakufu framework found themselves in the crosshairs of not only the Tozama Hans but also rival clans. These factions frequently engaged in skirmishes along the city's intricate canal network, and the tensions occasionally spilled over into altercations within tea houses and inns.

At this juncture of the ongoing conflict between the Assassins and Templars, the Templars had incorporated a multitude of the Assassins' techniques and skills to further their own objectives. Both factions, Assassins and Templars alike, targeted Shogunate members and Imperial Restorationists with significant bounties placed on their heads for contract assassinations.

The dreaded Black Cross, serving as formidable inquisitors within the Templar Order, assumed the role of Assassin Hunters. They operated as an internal police force targeting corrupt members of the Order and those who strayed from its core ideals. While operating in the city, Assassins often found themselves ambushed by individual Black Cross operatives during their assignments. Subsequently, they would claim the bounties on fallen members after successfully carrying out their mission.

In parallel to their skill sets resembling those of the Assassins, members of the Black Cross also employ an array of equipment at their disposal. This arsenal includes smoke bombs, concealed weaponry, firearms, poisons, explosives, traps, and an assortment of utilities that individual Black Cross operatives are well-equipped with.

In an effort to mitigate this impending danger, the Assassins proactively sought aid from the Shinsengumi officers to secure some respite and uphold their operational capabilities. This elite group of swordsmen had been meticulously assembled, consisting of commoners and lower-ranking samurai, all with the explicit duty of protecting Shogunate representatives in Kyoto. Selected from diverse sword schools in Edo, these individuals had gained significant recognition, largely owing to their participation in the noteworthy Ikedaya incident.

....

Nevertheless, despite the implementation of these protective measures, assassinations continued to occur with disturbing regularity. Both Assassins and Templars remained locked in a fierce struggle, each vying for control over the destiny of Japan.