Kondo Isami

Kondo Isami

Japanese warrior and official of the late Edo period
Date of Birth: 09.11.1834
Country: Japan

Content:
  1. Kondō Isami: The Renowned Commander of the Shinsengumi
  2. Early Life and Training
  3. Affiliation with Kondō Shusuke
  4. Formation of the Shinsengumi
  5. The Mibu Wolves
  6. The Shinsengumi
  7. The Ikeda-ya Incident
  8. Later Years and Death
  9. Controversy Over Sakamoto Ryoma's Assassination
  10. Legacy

Kondō Isami: The Renowned Commander of the Shinsengumi

Isami Kondō, a legendary Japanese warrior and official during the late Edo period, served as the commander of the Shinsengumi, Kyoto's military police force.

Early Life and Training

Born as Katsura Gorō in 1834 to a peasant family in the village of Kami-Ishiwara (present-day Chofu, Tokyo), Isami inherited a passion for reading and history at an early age. In 1848, he began training in the Ten'nen Rishin-ryū style of swordsmanship at the Shieikan dojo.

Affiliation with Kondō Shusuke

Kondō Shusuke, the head of the Shieikan dojo, recognized Isami's talent and adopted him as a son in 1849. Isami subsequently took the name Shimazaki Katsuda, but records from the Gozu Tenno-sha shrine indicate that he later received the complete name Shimazaki Isami Fujiwara no Yoshitake.

Formation of the Shinsengumi

In 1862, Isami Kondō was appointed as the fourth-generation master of the Ten'nen Rishin-ryū style, assuming the name Kondō Isami and becoming the head of the Shieikan. The following year, the Tokugawa shogunate organized a group of ronin (masterless samurai) to protect the shogun during his travel to Kyoto.

The Mibu Wolves

Isami Kondō and his close friend Hijikata Toshizo, along with several other members of the Shieikan, joined this group. Upon reaching Kyoto, they learned the true purpose of their mission: to support anti-shogunate forces. Kondō and Hijikata refused to comply and formed the Mibu Roshigumi, a new division, under the protection of Matsudaira Katamori, governor of the Aizu domain.

The Shinsengumi

Kondō and Hijikata quickly gained control over the Mibu Roshigumi, killing their original commander and his aide. Kondō became the new commander (taichō) of the Shinsengumi, which under his leadership became renowned for its strict discipline and loyalty to the shogunate.

The Ikeda-ya Incident

The Shinsengumi gained further prominence in 1864 after their raid on the Ikeda-ya Inn, where radical imperialists were plotting against the shogunate.

Later Years and Death

After the Battle of Toba-Fushimi in January 1868, Kondō returned to Edo and served as a high-ranking official in the crumbling Tokugawa government. He fought against the imperial forces in several battles but was ultimately defeated and taken prisoner. On May 17, 1868, Kondō was executed in the Itabashi district of Tokyo.

Controversy Over Sakamoto Ryoma's Assassination

According to some accounts, Kondō Isami was executed by the new government as a scapegoat for the murder of Sakamoto Ryoma, a key figure in the Meiji Restoration. However, the true identity of Ryoma's killer remains a matter of debate.

Legacy

Several memorials to Kondō Isami exist today, including grave sites and statues. His posthumous Buddhist name, "Kanten-inden-junchu:-seigi-daikō:ji," is said to have been given to him by Matsudaira Katamori, reflecting his loyalty and unwavering spirit.

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