Yamazaki Susumu
Encyclopedia
was a Shinsengumi
officer and spy
, otherwise known as a .
He was a ronin
from Osaka
and an expert in Katori Ryu. In 1863, he officially joined the Shinsengumi and in 1864, Yamazaki and Shimada Kai were assigned by Kondo Isami
to investigate the situation which led to the Ikedaya Jiken
on July 8. However, there is a theory that Yamazaki's participation in the Ikedaya Jiken is merely fiction by Shimozawa Kan and Shiba Ryotaro.
His occupation whilst in Kyoto
was as a doctor and the Shinsengumi had originally used his pharamacy as their base before moving on to its later headquarters at Nishihonganji (See Yamanami Keisuke
).
Yamazaki was said to be excellent in literary and military art
s, having been taught by his uncle. His scholastic talent was necessary when discussing politics with a court noble.
In 1865, he accompanied Kondo to Hiroshima
. It is believed that Yamazaki did not return to Kyoto
with Kondo until the next year in order to further investigate Chōshū's status.
Yamazaki studied medicine under Matsumoto Ryōjun
. According to Matsumoto, Yamazaki was a gentle and taciturn man.
In 1867, Yamazaki became a hatamoto
along with the rest of the Shinsengumi.
During the Battle of Toba-Fushimi
in 1868, Yamazaki was severely injured and died on February 6. The exact location of his death is debatable, though it is believed he had drowned whilst escaping. He had Kondo and Hijikata Toshizo
's full confidence and was one of the most faithful members of the Shinsengumi till the very end of his life.
(anime/manga), Soshite, Haru no Tsuki, Kaze Hikaru
(manga), Getsumei Seiki (manga), Bakumatsu Renka Shinsengumi (video game series) and Hakuouki: Shinsengumi Kitan
(anime/otome game
). He is also depicted in the 1999 film Gohatto
.
Even though the real Yamazaki was not a ninja
, his anime, manga, and TV depictions tend to be a well-trained ninja including Han'nya (a character loosely based on Yamazaki) from the anime/manga Rurouni Kenshin
. Additionally, the character Yamazaki Sagaru in the anime and manga Gintama
is roughly based on Yamazaki.
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...
officer and spy
SPY
SPY is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* SPY , ticker symbol for Standard & Poor's Depositary Receipts* SPY , a satirical monthly, trademarked all-caps* SPY , airport code for San Pédro, Côte d'Ivoire...
, otherwise known as a .
He was a ronin
Ronin
A or rounin was a Bushi with no lord or master during the feudal period of Japan. A samurai became masterless from the death or fall of his master, or after the loss of his master's favor or privilege....
from Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
and an expert in Katori Ryu. In 1863, he officially joined the Shinsengumi and in 1864, Yamazaki and Shimada Kai were assigned by Kondo 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...
to investigate the situation which led to the Ikedaya Jiken
Ikedaya Jiken
The , also known as the Ikedaya Affair or Ikedaya Incident, was an armed encounter between the shishi which included masterless samurai formally employed by the Chōshū and Tosa clans , and the Shinsengumi, the Bakufu's special police force in Kyoto on July 8, 1864 at the Ikedaya Inn in Kyoto,...
on July 8. However, there is a theory that Yamazaki's participation in the Ikedaya Jiken is merely fiction by Shimozawa Kan and Shiba Ryotaro.
His occupation whilst in Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
was as a doctor and the Shinsengumi had originally used his pharamacy as their base before moving on to its later headquarters at Nishihonganji (See Yamanami Keisuke
Yamanami Keisuke
was a Japanese samurai. He was the General Secretary of the Shinsengumi, a special police force in Kyoto during the late Edo period.-Background:...
).
Yamazaki was said to be excellent in literary and military art
Military art
Military art is a term describing works of art on military themes. The genre of military art is characterized by its subject matter rather than by any specific style or material used. The battle scene is one of the oldest types of art in developed civilizations, as rulers have always been keen to...
s, having been taught by his uncle. His scholastic talent was necessary when discussing politics with a court noble.
In 1865, he accompanied Kondo to Hiroshima
Hiroshima
is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region of western Honshu, the largest island of Japan. It became best known as the first city in history to be destroyed by a nuclear weapon when the United States Army Air Forces dropped an atomic bomb on it at 8:15 A.M...
. It is believed that Yamazaki did not return to Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
with Kondo until the next year in order to further investigate Chōshū's status.
Yamazaki studied medicine under Matsumoto Ryōjun
Matsumoto Jun (physician)
' was a Japanese physician who served as the personal physician to the last Shogun, Tokugawa Yoshinobu. He also studied photography with J. L. C...
. According to Matsumoto, Yamazaki was a gentle and taciturn man.
In 1867, Yamazaki 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...
along with the rest of the Shinsengumi.
During 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...
in 1868, Yamazaki was severely injured and died on February 6. The exact location of his death is debatable, though it is believed he had drowned whilst escaping. He had Kondo and Hijikata Toshizo
Hijikata Toshizo
was the vice-commander of Shinsengumi, a great swordsman and a talented Japanese military leader who resisted the Meiji Restoration.-Background:...
's full confidence and was one of the most faithful members of the Shinsengumi till the very end of his life.
Yamazaki in fiction
Yamazaki is featured in Peacemaker KuroganePeacemaker 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...
(anime/manga), Soshite, Haru no Tsuki, 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), Getsumei Seiki (manga), Bakumatsu Renka Shinsengumi (video game series) and Hakuouki: Shinsengumi Kitan
Hakuouki: Shinsengumi Kitan
is a video game series by Idea Factory, first designed for the Playstation 2 and then later ported to Playstation 3, Playstation Portable, and Nintendo DS. A Nintendo 3DS version is soon to be released as well. It has been adapted into two 12/10-episode anime series animated by Studio DEEN; the...
(anime/otome game
Otome game
An is a video game that is targeted towards a female market, where one of the main goals, besides the plot goal, is to develop a romantic relationship between the female player character and one of several male characters. This genre is most established in Japan. The label includes both visual...
). He is also depicted in the 1999 film Gohatto
Taboo (1999 film)
is a 1999 Japanese film directed by Nagisa Ōshima. It shows life in a samurai training school during the bakumatsu period, the end of the samurai era in the mid-19th century, specifically concentrating on the issue of homosexuality in the shudō tradition in the partially-closed environment.-Plot...
.
Even though the real Yamazaki was not a ninja
Ninja
A or was a covert agent or mercenary of feudal Japan specializing in unorthodox arts of war. The functions of the ninja included espionage, sabotage, infiltration, and assassination, as well as open combat in certain situations...
, his anime, manga, and TV depictions tend to be a well-trained ninja including Han'nya (a character loosely based on Yamazaki) from the anime/manga 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...
. Additionally, the character Yamazaki Sagaru in the anime and manga Gintama
Gintama
, also known as Gintama, is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Hideaki Sorachi and serialized, beginning on December 8, 2003, in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump...
is roughly based on Yamazaki.