The skilled swordsman “Saito Hajime” who survived even after the Meiji Restoration, joined the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, and participated in the Satsuma Rebellion

 Saito was born in Edo in 1844 as the son of a foot soldier from the Harima domain, Akashi clan. His father later acquired a samurai rank, becoming a direct retainer of the shogunate. Through his father’s connections, Saito often visited the Edo residence of the Aizu clan, where he learned swordsmanship, including the Ono-ha Itto-ryu and Muga-ryu styles. From this time, Saito formed a deep bond with the Aizu clan. During this period, he also started frequenting the Shieikan dojo in Ichigaya, becoming friends with figures like Kondo Isami and Hijikata Toshizo.

  In 1863, after accidentally killing a man during an argument in Koishikawa (some say it was a formal duel), Saito, advised by his father, fled to a friend’s place in Kyoto. Around the same time, Kondo and other samurai of the roshi-gumi (a shogunate-sanctioned squad of masterless samurai) formed the Shinsengumi. After reuniting with Kondo, Saito was also invited. After joining the Shinsengumi, he nurtured the members in his roles, including as a Deputy Chief’s Assistant and Swordsmanship Instructor, and later led the front lines against the imperial loyalist samurai as Captain of the 3rd Unit.

  However, Saito’s real job was as a spy. He adeptly identified and purged spies from rival factions, such as the Choshu clan, within the Shinsengumi. His trustworthiness in the eyes of Kondo was evident. Later, it was revealed that besides his real name, Saito also went by aliases like “Yamaguchi Jiro”, “Ichinose Denpachi”, and “Fujita Goro”.

  When Ito Kashitaro, who joined the Shinsengumi midway, branched off to form another group called the Goryo-Eji & Kōtaiji Faction, Saito, under Kondo’s secret orders, left the Shinsengumi to join this faction, in order to spy on them for the Shinsengumi. Due to his quiet and reserved nature, Saito was never suspected by the Kōtaiji Faction. He discovered their plan to assassinate Shinsengumi leaders and informed Kondo, leading to the “Duel at Abura-Koji” between the two factions. Yet, survivors from the Kōtaiji Faction were unaware for a long time that Saito was a spy for Kondo, and that their extermination resulted from his reports. This attested to Saito’s capabilities.

  Saito later participated in Kondo’s Koyo Chinbu Team during the Kakuo War in Koshu-Katsunuma. Later, Kondo was executed, and Saito continued fighting with Hijikata up to Aizu, where he also parted with Hijikata and resisted as commander of the Aizu forces against the new government forces. Even after the Aizu clan surrendered, Saito continued fighting until he was finally persuaded to surrender by a messenger from the Aizu lord, Matsudaira Katamori. He truly fought as a warrior to the end and also repaid his debt of gratitude to the Aizu clan in this battle.

  After the Meiji Restoration, Saito, going by the name “Fujita Goro”, was placed under house arrest in the Tonami clan in Shimokita Peninsula. In 1874, he moved to Tokyo and was employed by the newly established Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. While the specifics are unknown, it seems he worked in roles similar to modern-day security, like rooting out spies. Saito also took part in the Satsuma Rebellion. He eventually rose to the rank of a police inspector at Azabu Police Station and served until 1891. After retiring, he worked at teacher-training and girls’ schools.

  Suffering from a gastric ulcer, Saito passed away on September 28, 1915. On his deathbed, sitting in seiza on his cushion, he faced the tokonoma (a decorative alcove) and died in a zen meditation pose. After the Meiji Restoration, he never spoke of his time with the Shinsengumi. Saito Hajime, aged 72 at the time of his passing.
Author: Takayuki Egami

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