Harada Sanosuke

Harada Sanosuke ( Japanese 原田 左 之 助 ; * 1840 in Iyo ; † July 6, 1868 ) was a samurai of the Bakumatsu era and the corps leader of the 10th unit of the Shinsengumi , a police unit in Kyoto , which prevent the overthrow of the shogunate in Japan wanted to.

Life

Harada Sanosuke was born in 1840 in the then Daimyat Matsuyama , Iyo Province (i.e. in the present-day city of Matsuyama , Ehime Prefecture ). As the son of a samurai from the lower nobility, he worked in his youth as a servant ( chugen ) for a wealthy samurai.

As a friend of Kondō Isamis , he often visited his Shieikan- Dōjō and when he decided to go to Kyoto to fight for the Shogunate, Harada joined him. He joined the Rōshigumi together with Kondō, Hijikata Toshizō , Okita Sōji , Nagakura Shimpachi and others and followed his companions when they separated from the troupe to later found the Shinsengumi .

There he became corps leader of the 10th unit. He trained in a dojo that Tani Sanjurō belonged to, which he was able to inspire for the Shinsengumi and which was there corps leader of the 7th unit. Vice-Commander Hijikata had great confidence in Harada, which is why he had been used in many important missions. Harada Sanosuke most likely also participated in the assassination of first commandant Serizawa Kamo . It is historically proven that Hikojirō was involved in the murder of Uchiyamada , the Ikedaya incident and the elimination of the Itō Kashitaro group. The charge of murdering Sakamoto Ryōma , with whom he was confronted during his lifetime, is not supported by sources. Harada's complicity is therefore ruled out, even if it is certain that the Shinsengumi is responsible for Sakamoto's death.

Harada Sanosuke left the Shinsengumi together with Nagakura Shinpachi in 1868, two months after the Battle of Toba-Fushimi , due to disagreements with the commander and long-time friend Kondo. He founded the Seiheitai with his friend , from which he left a short time later to join the Shogitai . Both militias also fought for the shogunate.

Harada died on July 6, 1868, at the age of 28, from his wounds from the Battle of Ueno .

Harada was not a swordsman, he used a spear and fought in the style of the Hozōin school. He is said to have been fearless but very spirited. He once tried to commit seppuku due to an argument , but it survived and has since had a scar on his abdomen. He is said to have treated his subordinates as well as his wife Masa and their child Shigeru with great care.

rumor

It was rumored that he did not die in 1868 but went to China to become the leader of a military group. There is said to have been an old man in the First Sino-Japanese War who is said to have called himself Harada Sanosuke. This information was printed in a magazine from 1965, but historians call it incorrect.

In the literature

Since the history of Shinsengumi is a popular topic in Japan, it has also been taken up in various works. So Harada appears in the character of Sagara Sanosuke in Nobuhiro Watsuki's manga Rurouni Kenshin as a light-hearted thug. Harada is also portrayed as a funny and somewhat rough samurai in the manga Peace Maker Kurogane by Nanae Chrono . The Shinsengumi is also dedicated to the manga Kaze Hikaru . He is also mentioned in the novels Moeyo Ken and Shinsengumi Keppuroku by Shiba Ryōtarō . Even TV series like the drama Shinsengumi! address the troop. There Harada is played by Yamamoto Taro .

Japanese name: As is common in Japan, the family name comes before the first name in this article . Thus Harada is the family name, Sanosuke the first name.