Okita Soji

Introduction

In the final years of the Edo Period when the samurais were engaged in their last battles, the Shinsengumi stood out for distinguishing themselves on the battlefield amidst the turmoil. They protected the shogunate in Kyoto and were the shogunate’s bushidan (group of warriors) who led the forefront of the battles. 

Okita Sōji, the captain of the Shinsengumi, is said to have been most skilled in swordsmanship. You have probably heard before that Okita died very young despite having exceptional sword-fighting skills. This article will be about Okita Sōji’s life as well as the swords he used. 

Events Leading up to the Establishment of the Shinsengumi

It is said that Okita Sōji was born under the name Okita Sōjirō in the Shirakawa Domain of Edo as the eldest son of Okita Katsujirō, a retainer of this domain. His exact birth date is unknown, but it appears that he was born in the summer of 1842 or 1844 according to the document found in the Okita family. 

In 1845, his father passes away when Sōji was only 1 to 3 years old. As he was still very young, he was unable to succeed as the head of the family. This is why Sōji’s sister Mitsu’s husband, Hayashi Rintarō took over as head of the Okita family. 

From this, Sōji became Okita Rintarō’s brother. Having an adopted son-in-law succeed as the head of the house meant that the Okita family had to leave the Shirakawa Domain. Leaving the domain caused financial difficulties for the family. 

When Sōji was 9, he won a fencing battle against an adult. He joins the Shieikan Training Hall, which was a fencing hall of the Tennen Rishin School in Ichigaya that his brother-in-law, Okita Rintarō had been a member of. He is recognized for his talents in swordsmanship by Kondō Shūsuke, the then 3rd head of the Shieikan, and becomes an apprentice.

In the Shieikan, Sōji made rapid progress, and it did not take him very long to be conferred full mastership in sword-fighting. Furthermore, Sōji, making full use of his various talents ascended to become the head boy of the Shieikan. 

As head boy, he accompanied the head to give lessons outside of school. It was also at the Shieikan that Sōji met Kondō Isami and Hijikata Toshizō who were to become the Shinsengumi’s commander and vice commander, respectively. They all practiced together to improve their sword-fighting skills which were to come into use in their activities as the Shinsengumi. 

His Success as a member of the Shinsengumi

In 1863, there was a recruitment to gather men for the “Rōshigumi” to work as security guards for the 14th Tokugawa shogun, Tokugawa Iemochi who was going to Kyoto. If one was a confident swordsman, anyone was able to join the Rōshigumi. Sōji along with Kondō and Hijikata all join the Rōshigumi. 

The Rōshigumi seemed to be a group of security guards for the shogun, but behind this recruitment was the founder Kiyokawa Hachirō’s plan to create an army detached from the shogunate by achieving “Sonnō Jōi” (revering the Emperor and expelling the foreigners). This meant the group was a group of warriors under the command of the Emperor. Sōji and the other members of Shieikan who found this out begin to rebel. 

In order to stop Kiyokawa’s plan, the shogunate has the Rōshigumi withdraw from Kyoto and go to Edo. However, Serizawa Kamo and Kondō Isami decided to remain in Kyoto to protect the shogun. Udo no Kyūou, the director of the Rōshigumi, had begun to collect men who would remain in Kyoto. 

The men who responded to this recruit were none other than Okita Sōji and Kondō Isami of the Shieikan group and Serizawa Kamo of the Mito Group. The Rōshigumi members who remained in Kyoto went under the control of the Aizu Domain which was responsible as Kyoto Shugo Shoku (maintaining order in Kyoto). They changed their name to “Mibu Rōshigumi”. 

With the Coup of August 18 in 1863, the Mibu Rōshigumi took charge of the security within Kyoto. This action becomes highly recognized, and they are granted a new group name called the “Shinsengumi”, marking its official establishment.  Later on, the Shieikan members defeat the Mito Group members including Serizawa, and the Shinsengumi became an organization with Kondō as the central figure.  

Out of all the Shieikan members, Sōji was especially skilled in swordsmanship. People other than the members of Shinsengumi also referred to him as a “genius swordsman”. For this reason, he was chosen as the captain of the first squad which consisted of selected swordsmen out of the Shinsengumi.  

In 1864, the Shinsengumi attacks the supporters of Sonnō Jōi (consisting of members of Chōshū Domain) who were hiding in Ikedaya. This is called the “Ikedaya Incident”. Sōji along with Kondō stormed into a room full of Sonnō Jōi supporters in Ikedaya. 

However, amidst the desperate battle, Sōji vomits blood and withdraws from the front line of the Ikedaya Incident. Still, he continued his activities as part of the Shinsengumi. 

In 1865, another incident occurred in which the general secretary of the Shinsengumi, Yamanami Keisuke escaped from the organization leaving a note which read “Headed for Edo”.  He had cared for Sōji like a younger brother, and Sōji had looked up to him too. 

Since Yamanami had not gotten along with Kondō and Hijikata, the Shinsengumi sends Sōji to go find him. This was Hijikata’s plan as he thought Yamanami would not resist if it is Sōji who comes to seize him. 

Just as Hijikata had planned, Sōji found Yamanami in Ōumi, seized him and took him to a garrison of the Shinsengumi. Soon after, Yamanami was ordered to perform a seppuku, in which he chooses Sōji to assist him. Sōji fulfills his wish and assists him with his seppuku. Yamanami was praised by Kondō for his final moment.

The Early Death of Okita Sōji

Since Sōji had vomited blood in the Ikeya Incident of 1864, he had withdrawn from the front line after a surprise attack on the Sonnō Jōi supporters. At this point, his condition seemed to be only temporary as in 1865, he went all the way from Kyoto to Ōumi to capture Yamanami. 

However, by the year 1867, it becomes difficult for him to remain at the forefront. He goes to recuperate at Kondō’s concubine’s house. During the same year, the 15th Tokugawa shogun, Tokugawa Yoshinobu reported to the Imperial Court and the Tasei Restoration was finally implemented. This brought an end to the long Edo shogunate. 

Because the Shinsengumi were also security guards of the shogunate, they were now in an opposing position against the new government. In 1868, the Battle of Toba・Fushimi broke out. The Shinsengumi joins the former shogunate army and fights the new government forces. Sōji did not participate in this battle. 

This was due to the fact that he was wounded on the way to the battle. Sōji headed for Edo along with the shogunate army which was escaping on a ship. It has been said that it was during this time, on his way to Osaka that he developed tuberculosis. Back in Edo, the Shinsengumi changes their name to “Koyō Chinbutai” and fought in the Boshin War. 

Sōji tries to join the Koyō Chinbutai but pulls out due to his illness. Later on, the Koyō Chinbutai loses against the new government army and Kondō is arrested. He is taken to Kyoto where he is decapitated. 

Sōji was harbored by an Edo gardener, and without ever finding out that Kondō had been decapitated, he passes away from illness at a very young age in 1868. It was 2 months after Kondō’s execution. 

The exact year of his death is actually not clear and there are various theories; some say that he died at 27, but on his gravestone it reads 24 years old, and an Okita family document mentions that he died at the age of 25. 

The Swords that Okita Sōji loved 

Kashū Kiyomitsu

Sōji’s favorite sword was the Kashū Kiyomitsu. Kashū Kiyomitstu is also the name of a swordsmith of the Kaga Province. It has been said that the Kashū Kiyomitsu sword that Sōji used was the swordsmith’s 6th work. It was with this particular sword that Sōji attacked a room full of Sonnō Jōi supporters in the Ikedaya Incident.

Sōji excelled in a high-speed three-stage thrust. Apparently, he was so quick that three thrusts appeared like a single thrust. Using this skill, he defeated the leading spirits of the Restoration, but the boshi (the area from the kisaki point to where the edge patterns appear) broke during fierce combat.

Sōji tried to get it repaired but the sword was returned as it was unrepairable. He had no other choice but to dispose of his Kashūu Kiyomitsu at this point, explaining why the sword is no longer around today. But Sōji had indeed used this sword to fight up until the Ikedaya Incident.

Yamatonokami Yasusada

Yamatonokami Yasusada was a swordsmith of the Musashi Province and the style descended from the Ishido School of the Kii Province. As one of the “Mogami Oowazamono” (highest-rated swordsmiths), he also made an influence on Nagasone Kotetsu. Yamatonokami’s swords were known for their excellent sharpness and were loved by many samurais.

Yamatonokami Yasusada swords were repeatedly presented as gifts to the Edo shogunate. It has been said that among them was a sword with a blade sharp enough to slice through 5 torsos in one blow. With its sharpness, the sword was often used during the final years of the shogunate in times of tumult.

Kondō used Nagasone Kotetsu, and Sōji who looked up to him used the similar Yamatonokami Yasusada. They would have used these swords to fight together on the battlefield. Additionally, the sharpness of the Yamatonokami Yasusada sword may have contributed to further enhancing Sōji’s sword-fighting techniques.

Summary

As the captain of the first squad of the Shinsengumi, Sōji was credited for his many achievements including the Ikedaya Incident in times of turmoil leading up to the end of the shogunate. This was only possible because of Sōji’s incomparable sword-fighting skills. Therefore, Sōji’s swordsmanship should always be mentioned when we speak of the Shinsengumi’s glory.

Although he died very young from illness, Sōji was an extremely important figure who supported the Shinsengumi. If you would like to see Okita Sōji and the Shinsengumi in action, please watch the streaming service, ”samurai vs ninja’. You will be able to experience the spirit of the Shinsengumi.