Harada Sanosuke
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese warrior (samurai
) who lived in the late Edo period
. He was the 10th unit captain of the Shinsengumi
, and died during the Boshin War
.
(now the city of Matsuyama
). He trained in the spear technique of the Hozoin-ryu
style, and usually used that weapon in battle instead of a sword. During his time in Matsuyama, he was once ridiculed by a Matsuyama retainer as being a peon
who was unfamiliar with how to properly commit seppuku. Harada, wishing to prove the man wrong, immediately drew his sword and attempted to commit seppuku; however, the wound was shallow, and he survived. Harada later boasted of his scar to his fellow Shinsengumi men, and the incident of his near-disembowelment is said to be the origin of the family crest he chose, which depicted a horizontal line within a circle . Later leaving the Matsuyama domain's service, he went to Edo, and trained at Kondō Isami
's Shieikan dōjō
.
separated from the Roushigumi, and formed the core of the group which later became the Shinsengumi.
Later, Harada became the tenth Unit Captain of the Shinsengumi. He trained briefly under a dojo run by Tani Sanjūrō, whom he introduced into the Shinsengumi. In 1865, Tani became the seventh Unit Captain. In Kyoto, Harada married a local woman named Masa, and briefly had a private family residence near the Shinsengumi headquarters at Nishi-Honganji. The couple had a son, whom Harada named , taking the second character from the shogun 's name. Harada was very trusted by vice-commander Hijikata. He was involved in many of the crucial missions the group faced and was very likely involved in the Serizawa Kamo
(original commander of the Shinsengumi) assassination. He was involved in the Uchiyama Hikojirō assassination, the Ikedaya Affair, and the elimination of Itō Kashitarō's Kōdaiji faction. Harada became a hatamoto
, together with the rest of Shinsengumi, in 1867.
At one time he was accused (by former Shinsengumi officer Itō Kashitarō) as the assassin of the famous Sakamoto Ryōma
. The truth behind the incident remains unclear, but according to the confession of the Tokugawa retainer Imai Nobuo, Ryōma's assassins were men of the Mimawarigumi (another Tokugawa-affiliated unit) under the hatamoto
Sasaki Tadasaburō.
Harada, together with the rest of the Shinsengumi, fought at the Battle of Toba-Fushimi
. He and his family subsequently left the Kyoto region for Edo
. He joined Shinsengumi's advance on Kai Province
, and fought at the Battle of Kōshū-Katsunuma
; however, the unit was defeated and forced to retreat. In the wake of this defeat, Harada and Nagakura left the old Shinsengumi, after disagreements with Kondō and Hijikata. According to Nagakura's version of events, Kondō wanted the surviving men to become his retainers; Nagakura, Harada, and a few others staunchly refused. Nagakura and Harada, taking with them some other Shinsengumi members, joined with a group of former Tokugawa retainers to form a new unit, the Seiheitai. Seiheitai left Edo shortly after Edo Castle's surrender, and headed north, hoping to take part in the fighting that was moving northward, toward Aizu
.
, where he was severely wounded by enemy gunfire. Two days later, he died of his wounds, while at the residence of the hatamoto
, Jinbo Yamashiro-no-kami.
There is a rumor that Harada did not die in 1868, but he survived and travelled to China and became a leader for a group of horse-riding bandits. There were reports that an old Japanese man came to the aid of the Imperial Japanese Army
in the First Sino-Japanese War
, and claimed to be Harada Sanosuke. This was reported in a newspaper in 1965, but remains unsubstantiated.
He is depicted in NHK
's Taiga drama series Shinsengumi! (played by Yamamoto Taro.)
In addition, Harada appears in the anime series Peacemaker Kurogane
, as well as in the manga it was originally based on, Shinsengumi Imon PEACE MAKER and Peacemaker Kurogane. He is also featured in Kaze Hikaru
(manga), Hakodate Youjin Buraichou Himegami (manga), Getsumei Seiki (manga) and Bakumatsu Renka Shinsengumi (video game series.)
Harada appeared in flashback sequences in Rurouni Kenshin
and also served as an inspiration for the character Sagara Sanosuke
.
Harada Sanosuke appears in anime series Hakuouki Shinsengumi Kitan".
Samurai
is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
) who lived in the late Edo period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
. He was the 10th unit captain of the Shinsengumi
Shinsengumi
The were a special police force of the late shogunate period.-Historical background:After Japan opened up to the West following U.S. Commodore Matthew Perry's visits in 1853, its political situation gradually became more and more chaotic...
, and died during the Boshin War
Boshin War
The was a civil war in Japan, fought from 1868 to 1869 between forces of the ruling Tokugawa shogunate and those seeking to return political power to the imperial court....
.
Background
Harada was born to a family of chūgen, or low-ranking quasi-samurai, who served the retainers of the Iyo-Matsuyama DomainIyo-Matsuyama Domain
The was a Japanese domain of the Edo period, with its holdings centered in modern-day Matsuyama, Ehime.-History:The Iyo-Matsuyama domain passed through several hands before settling as the fief of a branch of the Hisamatsu-Matsudaira. In the Bakumatsu period, the domain took part in the Tokugawa...
(now the city of Matsuyama
Matsuyama, Ehime
is the capital city of Ehime Prefecture on the Shikoku island of Japan. It is located on the northeastern portion of the Dōgo Plain. Its name means "pine mountain." The city was founded on December 15, 1889....
). He trained in the spear technique of the Hozoin-ryu
Hozoin-ryu
is a traditional school of Japanese martial arts that specializes in the art of spearmanship . Hōzōin-ryū was founded by Hōzōin Kakuzenbō In'ei in c. 1560. In'ei was a Buddhist monk of Kōfuku-ji Temple in Nara, Japan. He adored martial arts and trained in the art of swordsmanship...
style, and usually used that weapon in battle instead of a sword. During his time in Matsuyama, he was once ridiculed by a Matsuyama retainer as being a peon
Peon
The words peon and peonage are derived from the Spanish peón . It has a range of meanings but its primary usage is to describe laborers with little control over their employment conditions.-English usage:...
who was unfamiliar with how to properly commit seppuku. Harada, wishing to prove the man wrong, immediately drew his sword and attempted to commit seppuku; however, the wound was shallow, and he survived. Harada later boasted of his scar to his fellow Shinsengumi men, and the incident of his near-disembowelment is said to be the origin of the family crest he chose, which depicted a horizontal line within a circle . Later leaving the Matsuyama domain's service, he went to Edo, and trained at Kondō Isami
Kondo Isami
was a Japanese swordsman and official of the late Edo Period, famed for his role as commander of the Shinsengumi.-Background:Isami, who was first known as Katsugorō, was born to Miyagawa Hisajirō, a farmer residing in Kami-Ishihara village in Musashi Province, now in the city of Chōfu in Western...
's Shieikan dōjō
Dojo
A is a Japanese term which literally means "place of the way". Initially, dōjōs were adjunct to temples. The term can refer to a formal training place for any of the Japanese do arts but typically it is considered the formal gathering place for students of any Japanese martial arts style to...
.
Shinsengumi period
In 1863, Harada, together with Kondō and others associated with the Shieikan, joined Kiyokawa Hachirō's Roushigumi. Shortly after, Kondō and Serizawa KamoSerizawa Kamo
Serizawa Kamo was a samurai known for being the original lead commander of the Shinsengumi. He trained in and received a licence in the Shindō Munen-ryū. "Kamo" means goose or duck in Japanese which was an odd name to call oneself at the time...
separated from the Roushigumi, and formed the core of the group which later became the Shinsengumi.
Later, Harada became the tenth Unit Captain of the Shinsengumi. He trained briefly under a dojo run by Tani Sanjūrō, whom he introduced into the Shinsengumi. In 1865, Tani became the seventh Unit Captain. In Kyoto, Harada married a local woman named Masa, and briefly had a private family residence near the Shinsengumi headquarters at Nishi-Honganji. The couple had a son, whom Harada named , taking the second character from the shogun 's name. Harada was very trusted by vice-commander Hijikata. He was involved in many of the crucial missions the group faced and was very likely involved in the Serizawa Kamo
Serizawa Kamo
Serizawa Kamo was a samurai known for being the original lead commander of the Shinsengumi. He trained in and received a licence in the Shindō Munen-ryū. "Kamo" means goose or duck in Japanese which was an odd name to call oneself at the time...
(original commander of the Shinsengumi) assassination. He was involved in the Uchiyama Hikojirō assassination, the Ikedaya Affair, and the elimination of Itō Kashitarō's Kōdaiji faction. Harada became a hatamoto
Hatamoto
A was a samurai in the direct service of the Tokugawa shogunate of feudal Japan. While all three of the shogunates in Japanese history had official retainers, in the two preceding ones, they were referred to as gokenin. However, in the Edo period, hatamoto were the upper vassals of the Tokugawa...
, together with the rest of Shinsengumi, in 1867.
At one time he was accused (by former Shinsengumi officer Itō Kashitarō) as the assassin of the famous Sakamoto Ryōma
Sakamoto Ryoma
was a leader of the movement to overthrow the Tokugawa shogunate during the Bakumatsu period in Japan. Ryōma used the alias .- Early life :Ryōma was born in Kōchi, of Tosa han . By the Japanese calendar, this was the sixth year of Tenpō...
. The truth behind the incident remains unclear, but according to the confession of the Tokugawa retainer Imai Nobuo, Ryōma's assassins were men of the Mimawarigumi (another Tokugawa-affiliated unit) under the hatamoto
Hatamoto
A was a samurai in the direct service of the Tokugawa shogunate of feudal Japan. While all three of the shogunates in Japanese history had official retainers, in the two preceding ones, they were referred to as gokenin. However, in the Edo period, hatamoto were the upper vassals of the Tokugawa...
Sasaki Tadasaburō.
Harada, together with the rest of the Shinsengumi, fought at the Battle of Toba-Fushimi
Battle of Toba-Fushimi
The occurred between pro-Imperial and Tokugawa shogunate forces during the Boshin War in Japan. The battle started on 27 January 1868 , when the forces of the Tokugawa shogunate and the allied forces of Chōshū, Satsuma and Tosa domains clashed near Fushimi...
. He and his family subsequently left the Kyoto region for Edo
Edo
, also romanized as Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of the Japanese capital Tokyo, and was the seat of power for the Tokugawa shogunate which ruled Japan from 1603 to 1868...
. He joined Shinsengumi's advance on Kai Province
Kai Province
, also known as , is an old province in Japan in the area of Yamanashi Prefecture. It lies in central Honshū, west of Tokyo, in a landlocked mountainous region that includes Mount Fuji along its border with Shizuoka Prefecture....
, and fought at the Battle of Kōshū-Katsunuma
Battle of Koshu-Katsunuma
The was a battle between pro-Imperial and Tokugawa shogunate forces during the Boshin War in Japan. The battle followed the Battle of Toba-Fushimi on 29 March 1868 .-Prelude:...
; however, the unit was defeated and forced to retreat. In the wake of this defeat, Harada and Nagakura left the old Shinsengumi, after disagreements with Kondō and Hijikata. According to Nagakura's version of events, Kondō wanted the surviving men to become his retainers; Nagakura, Harada, and a few others staunchly refused. Nagakura and Harada, taking with them some other Shinsengumi members, joined with a group of former Tokugawa retainers to form a new unit, the Seiheitai. Seiheitai left Edo shortly after Edo Castle's surrender, and headed north, hoping to take part in the fighting that was moving northward, toward Aizu
Aizu
is an area comprising the westernmost third of Fukushima Prefecture in Japan. The principal city of the area is Aizuwakamatsu.During the Edo period, Aizu was a feudal domain known as and part of Mutsu Province.-History:...
.
Death
After Seiheitai's departure from Edo, Harada, wishing to be with his wife and child, returned to the city. However, he was unable to leave the city, and so he joined the Shōgitai, which also sided with the Tokugawa regime. Harada fought at the Battle of UenoBattle of Ueno
The Battle of Ueno was a battle of the Boshin War, which occurred on July 4, 1868 , between the troops of the Shōgitai under Shibusawa Seiichirō and Amano Hachirō, and Imperial "Kangun" troops....
, where he was severely wounded by enemy gunfire. Two days later, he died of his wounds, while at the residence of the hatamoto
Hatamoto
A was a samurai in the direct service of the Tokugawa shogunate of feudal Japan. While all three of the shogunates in Japanese history had official retainers, in the two preceding ones, they were referred to as gokenin. However, in the Edo period, hatamoto were the upper vassals of the Tokugawa...
, Jinbo Yamashiro-no-kami.
There is a rumor that Harada did not die in 1868, but he survived and travelled to China and became a leader for a group of horse-riding bandits. There were reports that an old Japanese man came to the aid of the Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
in the First Sino-Japanese War
First Sino-Japanese War
The First Sino-Japanese War was fought between Qing Dynasty China and Meiji Japan, primarily over control of Korea...
, and claimed to be Harada Sanosuke. This was reported in a newspaper in 1965, but remains unsubstantiated.
Harada in Fiction
Harada Sanosuke appears in Shiba Ryoutarou's novels Moeyo Ken and Shinsengumi Keppuroku.He is depicted in NHK
NHK
NHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
's Taiga drama series Shinsengumi! (played by Yamamoto Taro.)
In addition, Harada appears in the anime series Peacemaker Kurogane
Peacemaker Kurogane
is a historical fiction manga series written and illustrated created by . It is unrelated to the Peace Maker manga by Ryōji Minagawa. The story begins in 19th century Japan before the Meiji Restoration, a chain of events that led to enormous changes in Japan's political and social structure while...
, as well as in the manga it was originally based on, Shinsengumi Imon PEACE MAKER and Peacemaker Kurogane. He is also featured in Kaze Hikaru
Kaze Hikaru
is a Japanese manga series by Taeko Watanabe.Kaze Hikaru is set in the bakumatsu. After her father and older brother are murdered, Tominaga Sei decides to pose as a boy named so that she can join the Mibu-Roshigumi and avenge their deaths...
(manga), Hakodate Youjin Buraichou Himegami (manga), Getsumei Seiki (manga) and Bakumatsu Renka Shinsengumi (video game series.)
Harada appeared in flashback sequences in Rurouni Kenshin
Rurouni Kenshin
, also known as Rurouni Kenshin and Samurai X, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Nobuhiro Watsuki. The fictional setting takes place during the early Meiji period in Japan. The story is about a fictional assassin named Himura Kenshin, from the Bakumatsu who becomes a wanderer to...
and also served as an inspiration for the character Sagara Sanosuke
Sagara Sanosuke
is a fictional character from the Rurouni Kenshin manga and anime series created by Nobuhiro Watsuki. He is known as Sanosuke Sagara in the English adaptation of the anime and is nicknamed Sano...
.
Harada Sanosuke appears in anime series Hakuouki Shinsengumi Kitan".