YAMAOKA Tesshuu 山岡鉄舟
Also known as: Yamaoka Tetsutarou
(Affiliation: Technically Tokugawa - under Katsu)
First appearance: Ep 1
One of Katsu's subordinates.
Voiced by OOKAWA Tooru.
Yamaoka Tesshuu is one of Katsu Kaishuu's trusted men, is entrusted with transporting an important letter from Katsu to Saigou Takamori, when Ibaragi Soutetsu cuts in. He's the guy who goes "SEI SEI SEI SEI". ...Don't ask me about that.
The real Yamaoka Tesshuu
In real life, Yamaoka existed (1836-1888) and did indeed transport the letter under Katsu's orders.
He was said to be unusually tall and was an extremely prolific calligrapher, as well as a skilled swordsman who started the Ittou Shouden Mutou school of swordsmanship. It embodied his notion of there being no enemy but just the mere style and movement of the sword. As befitting a person like this he died in seiza after having composed a death poem.
You can still buy/see some of his calligraphy online. I personally like this one. He was known as one of the three "Shuus" of the Bakumatsu, along with Katsu (Kaishuu) and Takahashi Deishuu.
Despite being an official of the Tokugawa government (and a direct retainer a.k.a. hatamoto no less), he was actually linked to the short-lived sonno-joi (anti-foreigner, pro-emperor) group Kobi no Kai (虎尾の会), started by Kiyokawa Hachirou (清川八郎) who founded the Roshigumi, predecessor to the Shinsengumi. There he was a close associate of Imuta Shouhei 伊牟田尚平. Coincidentially, one of the members was Masumitsu Kyuunosuke (see below)...
The Kobi no Kai carried out activities like the murder of the American consulate assistant Henry Heusken in 1861.
Apparently Yamaoka is the one who brought Masumitsu over to Katsu's residence just in time before his death sentence. But not many places seem to say that.
Check out this page for more on the Real Yamaoka Tesshuu if you like - or an entire Japanese blog devoted to him...
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MASUMITSU Kyuunosuke 益満休之助
(Affiliation: Anti-Tokugawa (Satsuma) -> Katsu's side)
First appearance: Ep 1
Not really Katsu's subordinate but works for him anyway
Voiced by AMADA Masato.
In the anime, Masumitsu goes along with Yamaoka to deliver Katsu's letter to Saigou, as per history. When they are confronted by Ibaragi Soutetsu, the hot-headed Masumitsu is the first to charge at him.
Later, he suggests Katsu make a renewed attempt to contact Saigou, which they end up doing. After that, he goes back to the Satsuma forces... and... well, we'll let you find out the rest.
The real Masumitsu Kyuunosuke
Interestingly, the real Masumitsu Kyuunosuke (1841-1868) was a fiercly anti-foreigner Satsuma country samurai and certainly not on the Tokugawa side at all. He was part of the Kobi no Kai which Yamaoka was linked to, and reportedly had direct involvement in the murder of the assistant to the American Legation, Henry Heusken, in 1861.
Furthermore, Masumitsu was directed by Saigou Takamori to create a ruckus in Edo in early 1868 with 500 (?) other ronin by committing a series of arson attacks. (This is apparently one of the things that provoked the Battle of Toba-Fushimi, the beginning of the Boshin War.)
Tokugawa Yoshinobu, who had only recently resigned, retaliated by sending his own troops to burn down the Satsuma residence in Edo, as well as arrest the various anti-Tokugawa people hiding in there.
So how did he end up helping Katsu, a Tokugawa official? Well, Masumitsu was caught in the earlier raid and was later sent to be imprisoned under Katsu. But in March, Katsu found out about Saigou's intention to invade Edo and sent Yamaoka with a letter to Saigou, stationed in Sunpu.
He also sent Masumitsu along since Masumitsu was from Satsuma and knew Saigou, and hence could guide Yamaoka along and vouch for him, as well as help converse in the distinctly different Kagoshima/Satsuma dialect. It is said that Saigou believed Masumitsu to be dead, but upon seeing him alive Saigou was thankful to Katsu for not having him killed - something that certainly didn't hurt relations between the two.
I personally think the fact that Masumitsu escored Yamaoka with no trouble is partly due to the fact that they knew each other from the Kobi no Kai - and I wouldn't be surprised if Masumitsu was impressed and respectful of Katsu.
Sadly, the real Masumitsu died in May 1868 (lunar?) at the young age of 28. And I don't know what from. A battle, I would think.
And yes, the anime Masumitsu died in episode 10 also in May 1868 (lunar calendar), at the age of 28, in the war of Ueno. :(
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Also known as: Yamaoka Tetsutarou
(Affiliation: Technically Tokugawa - under Katsu)
First appearance: Ep 1
One of Katsu's subordinates.
Voiced by OOKAWA Tooru.
Yamaoka Tesshuu is one of Katsu Kaishuu's trusted men, is entrusted with transporting an important letter from Katsu to Saigou Takamori, when Ibaragi Soutetsu cuts in. He's the guy who goes "SEI SEI SEI SEI". ...Don't ask me about that.
The real Yamaoka Tesshuu
In real life, Yamaoka existed (1836-1888) and did indeed transport the letter under Katsu's orders.
He was said to be unusually tall and was an extremely prolific calligrapher, as well as a skilled swordsman who started the Ittou Shouden Mutou school of swordsmanship. It embodied his notion of there being no enemy but just the mere style and movement of the sword. As befitting a person like this he died in seiza after having composed a death poem.
You can still buy/see some of his calligraphy online. I personally like this one. He was known as one of the three "Shuus" of the Bakumatsu, along with Katsu (Kaishuu) and Takahashi Deishuu.
Despite being an official of the Tokugawa government (and a direct retainer a.k.a. hatamoto no less), he was actually linked to the short-lived sonno-joi (anti-foreigner, pro-emperor) group Kobi no Kai (虎尾の会), started by Kiyokawa Hachirou (清川八郎) who founded the Roshigumi, predecessor to the Shinsengumi. There he was a close associate of Imuta Shouhei 伊牟田尚平. Coincidentially, one of the members was Masumitsu Kyuunosuke (see below)...
The Kobi no Kai carried out activities like the murder of the American consulate assistant Henry Heusken in 1861.
Apparently Yamaoka is the one who brought Masumitsu over to Katsu's residence just in time before his death sentence. But not many places seem to say that.
Check out this page for more on the Real Yamaoka Tesshuu if you like - or an entire Japanese blog devoted to him...
Return to Characters page
---
MASUMITSU Kyuunosuke 益満休之助
(Affiliation: Anti-Tokugawa (Satsuma) -> Katsu's side)
First appearance: Ep 1
Not really Katsu's subordinate but works for him anyway
Voiced by AMADA Masato.
In the anime, Masumitsu goes along with Yamaoka to deliver Katsu's letter to Saigou, as per history. When they are confronted by Ibaragi Soutetsu, the hot-headed Masumitsu is the first to charge at him.
Later, he suggests Katsu make a renewed attempt to contact Saigou, which they end up doing. After that, he goes back to the Satsuma forces... and... well, we'll let you find out the rest.
The real Masumitsu Kyuunosuke
Interestingly, the real Masumitsu Kyuunosuke (1841-1868) was a fiercly anti-foreigner Satsuma country samurai and certainly not on the Tokugawa side at all. He was part of the Kobi no Kai which Yamaoka was linked to, and reportedly had direct involvement in the murder of the assistant to the American Legation, Henry Heusken, in 1861.
Furthermore, Masumitsu was directed by Saigou Takamori to create a ruckus in Edo in early 1868 with 500 (?) other ronin by committing a series of arson attacks. (This is apparently one of the things that provoked the Battle of Toba-Fushimi, the beginning of the Boshin War.)
Tokugawa Yoshinobu, who had only recently resigned, retaliated by sending his own troops to burn down the Satsuma residence in Edo, as well as arrest the various anti-Tokugawa people hiding in there.
So how did he end up helping Katsu, a Tokugawa official? Well, Masumitsu was caught in the earlier raid and was later sent to be imprisoned under Katsu. But in March, Katsu found out about Saigou's intention to invade Edo and sent Yamaoka with a letter to Saigou, stationed in Sunpu.
He also sent Masumitsu along since Masumitsu was from Satsuma and knew Saigou, and hence could guide Yamaoka along and vouch for him, as well as help converse in the distinctly different Kagoshima/Satsuma dialect. It is said that Saigou believed Masumitsu to be dead, but upon seeing him alive Saigou was thankful to Katsu for not having him killed - something that certainly didn't hurt relations between the two.
I personally think the fact that Masumitsu escored Yamaoka with no trouble is partly due to the fact that they knew each other from the Kobi no Kai - and I wouldn't be surprised if Masumitsu was impressed and respectful of Katsu.
Sadly, the real Masumitsu died in May 1868 (lunar?) at the young age of 28. And I don't know what from. A battle, I would think.
And yes, the anime Masumitsu died in episode 10 also in May 1868 (lunar calendar), at the age of 28, in the war of Ueno. :(
Return to Characters page
