Talk:Saitō Hajime

Added Saito's timeline

I have added a timeline of Saito's history which include his military achievements throughout his lifetime and fixed several grammar errors. Along with the photo as the both photos look far too different to be the same man and this one is the most well known and accepted one.

Untitled

I don't know which is which here, but "loose translation" and "figurative translation" are usually about the same thing. The opposite would usually be called a "literal translation" or "verbatim translation", but here, you make it sound like "loose" and "figurative" are the opposites. --John Owens (talk) 09:46, 2005 Mar 16 (UTC)

aku soku zan

Is this historical? I was certain "aku soku zan" was something the creator of Rurouni Kenshin made up.

Not exactly... not in those words. Seven 08:52, 16 May 2006 (UTC)

Contradictions

The first section describes exactly what Rurouni Kenshin portayes Saito as, but the second one says that the anime takes several liberties with the character. Who's right?

I think that's an error in writing. The portrayal of Saito in Ruroni Kenshin is said to be as accurate as possible within what is known of the character; however, the version of him in Peace Maker does their own spin on the Shisengumi. I suspect the "several liberties" was meant in reference to Peace Maker.--Mitsukai 18:17, 19 August 2005 (UTC)

The portrayal of Saito in Rurouni Kenshin is NOT as accurate as possible within what is known of the character. Please refer to Watsuki's free talk sessions or/and interviews for more information. The "several liberties" was meant in reference to Peacemaker's historical accounts. For example, in history, the Ichimura brothers joined the Shinsengumi in 1867, not 1864.Seven 21:12, 28 March 2006 (UTC)

Early Life

It is true that little is known about Saito's early life. However, he was definitely NOT a son of a ronin. (Thanks to 66.19.103.155 for correcting my typo so quickly.) Seven 04:57, 29 March 2006 (UTC)

Permission to Carry a Katana

Since I couldn't find it mentioned in historical references, I've concluded such fact to be based on fiction, mainly Rurouni Kenshin.Seven 05:29, 29 March 2006 (UTC)

The Gatotsu

I've decided to move the following edit by 71.223.58.70 to the discussion page. Seven 18:49, 1 September 2006 (UTC)

The Gatotsu sword technique that he uses in the series is similar to the description of his original sword technique, but is purely fictional, and not altogether accurate to real swordfighting. For example, Saitou's signature left-handed thrust is not portrayed accurately. He takes his right hand off his sword before he begins to move, clearly telegraphing his intent; the real left-handed thrust is used, in most sword styles, as a surprise maneuver. It is executed as a suki or thrust while stepping through, releasing the right hand at the last moment, leaving the left holding the end of the hilt. The grip-change and the step grant an extra foot or more of reach, completely changing the spacing of the fight, but it must be done suddenly to be most effective.

His left-handed technique is accurately portrayed in the anime Peacemaker Kurogane, but not in the manga (where he is introduced much later, a year after the Ikedaya Incident).

Seinan War Service

From what I've gathered, Saitou was decorated for bravery during the Seinan War for an incident where he was involved in the taking of several rebel artillery pieces on top of a hill. He was apparently given a 100 yen bonus as well, a hefty sum at a time when one yen was roughly equal to one old ryo. 128.153.205.172 06:51, 5 December 2006 (UTC)

Wikiproject Law Enforcement tag

I removed the WP:LE tag becasue this article is more approprotate in the JApan and Military Wikiproject(S)EMT1871 01:45, 14 February 2007 (UTC)

DOB

Also, it is said that his birthday is January 2nd, not February 18th. Queen of blades47 05:58, 9 August 2007 (UTC)

Saito was born on February 18, 1844 (lunar calendar date: Tenpo 15, the first day of the first month.) Seven 11:59, 9 August 2007 (UTC)

Update in Progress

Just thought I'd make a formal announcement here that I am reworking the article and adding text citations, and will hopefully be done before very long. -Tadakuni 23:02, 1 December 2007 (UTC)

Alright, I'm done my first go-through. Any assistance would be appreciated. -Tadakuni 00:14, 2 December 2007 (UTC)

Further Fiction

Saito Hajime appears as a main character, fair-haired, youthful, and solemn, in volume 5 of the manga "Ichi". I don't know the proper convention for Wikipedia edits or citations, but I thought it would be worth mentioning here. 75.133.0.148 (talk) 04:17, 2 August 2015 (UTC)

Detailed timeline

The timeline dates present here, spanning from 1844 until 1873, are based on the traditional lunisolar calendar that was in use at the time. Dates appearing 1873 and after reflect Japan's implementation of the Gregorian calendar and are Western dates.

1844

• Wednesday, January 1. [Western date, Sunday, February 18.] Saitō is born Yamaguchi Hajime in Edo.

1846

• April 15. His second wife, Takagi Tokio, is born.

1862

Saitō leaves Edo for Kyoto after accidentally killing a hatamoto. He teaches in the dojo of Yoshida, a friend of his father's, and changes his name to Saitō Hajime.

(end of) The Tokugawa bakufu officially begins to recruit rōnin to suppress renegades, offering amnesty to criminals deemed worthy enough to be set free and enlist.

December -

• December 9. Matsudaira Chikaranosuke is appointed the commander of the as-yet unnamed rōshi unit.
• December 24. Matsudaira Katamori of Aizu, appointed the head of Kyoto's security forces by Tokugawa Yoshinobu, arrives in Kyoto with one thousand armed samurai. Serizawa Kamo (under his 'courtesy' name Udono Kyuou) is chosen as the commander of the Rōshi-tai.

1863

January -

(early) Saitō trains at Kondō's dojo, the Shieikan.

February -

• February 8. The Rōshigumi (浪士組, meaning "the rōnin squad"), established, leaves Edo for Kyoto.
• February 23. The Rōshi-tai arrive in Kyoto. Kiyokawa Hachirō reveals his scheme; that he had founded the Rōshigumi to work with the Imperialists and not the shogunate. Some thirteen to seventeen members dissented and remained in Kyoto.

The headquarters of the dissenters are established at the mansion of Yagi Gennojō in Yagi-tei, Mibu village. Kondō's group, of which Saitō was a part, set up residence in Maekawa Shōji’s house, which doubled as a dojo.

March -

• March 4. Tokugawa Iemochi arrives in Kyoto.
• March 10. The shogunate is ordered to take charge of the Rōshigumi members who remain in Kyoto. Saitō and others, under Kondō and Serizawa, submit a petition to the daimyō of Aizu, Matsudaira Katamori, asking to remain and join the Aizu clan in policing Kyoto.
• March 15. Saitō and the other Rōshigumi who remained in Kyoto become retainers to the Aizu clan and the Rōshigumi is renamed the Mibu Rōshigumi.
• March 22. Saitō's signature is featured, along with eighteen other names, in a petition submitted to Itakura Katsukiyo, the daimyō of the Kuwana domain.
• March 25. Attends a play (mibu-kyōgen) with Shiro Honda, an Aizu feudal soldier.

April -

(early) Kiyokawa Hachirō is killed by Tokugawa swordsmen after discovering his plan to attack a foreign settlement in Yokohama.

• April 6. After receiving an audience with Matsudaira Katamori in the clan mansion, a contest demonstration was held in front of the daimyō; Saitō was matched against Nagakura Shinpachi.
• April 17. Inoue Matsugorou holds a feast for Saitō and company in Kyoto.
• April 21. Saitō goes to Osaka to act as a guard to the shogun.

May -

• May 25. Kondō and Serizawa submit a petition to keep the shogun in Kyoto. Saitō begins his position as group leader (kumi-gashira).

June -

(end of) Minakuchi official files a complaint with Aizu regarding Serizawa's behavior.

July -

• July 15. Serizawa Kamo and several other Shinsengumi members begin a drunken brawl with sumo wrestlers. Five wrestlers are killed and several others are wounded.

August -

• August 13. Serizawa orders Yamatoya, a silk cloth store, destroyed when they could not give him money and the shop is set on fire with a cannon.
• August 18. The Mibu Rōshigumi are given the new name Shinsengumi (新選組, "New Selected Group") by Matsudaira Katamori at this time. Also on this day, the Chōshū (an anti-Tokugawa) clan were forced from the Imperial Court. The Shinsengumi are sent to aid the Aizu and guard the gates of the Imperial Court.
• August 21. The Shinsengumi are given authorization for "city control".
• August 25. Four men from Chōshū are sent by Katsura Kogoro to the Shinsengumi headquarters in Mibu as assassins, asking to join the group after leaving their clan. Kondō accepts them and informs Nagakura and the others to be on guard.

Aug (end of) Saitō and company arrest a burglar at Shijou Horikawa rice shop.

September -

• September 2. The Shinsengumi corps, including Saitō, receive imperial grant money from the court because of their defense of the Imperial Palace South Gate on August 18.
• September 18. Serizawa Kamo is assassinated at the Yagi residence after a drinking party hosted by Kondō Isami, who is under the orders of Matsudaira Katamori. There are varying accounts of which Shinsengumi members were involved, but they include an alternate rumor that Saitō was present.
• September 26. The four Chōshū spies who enlisted in August are discovered and killed.

October -

Takeda Kanryūsai joins the Shinsengumi.

1864

January -

• January 2. Saitō goes to Osaka to act as a guard to the shogun and the Tokugawa family.
• January 8. He enters the castle of shogun Tokugawa Iemochi in Osaka to provide security.
• January 14. He goes from Osaka to Fushimi as guard and escort to the shogun.
• January 15. Acts as guard to Tokugawa in his entry to Nijō-jō.

March -

• March 11. Enjoys the hanami (cherry blossom viewing ceremony) in the Chibeniman Murasaki-rou of Shimabara.

May -

• May 7. Tokugawa returns to Edo, and Saitō returns to guard Osaka.
• May 20. Uchiyama Hikojiro, a Tokugawa magistrate in Osaka, is assassinated by Kondō, Okita, Harada, Nagakura and Inoue.

June -

Saitō starts in the duty of fukuchō jokin (assistant to the vice commander).

• June 5. The raid of the Ikedaya Inn, known as the Ikedaya Incident, occurs after the Shinsengumi arrests Chōshū imperialist Furutaka Shuntaro, who informs them of plans to set fire to Kyoto and kidnap the daimyō of Aizu, Matsudaira Katamori. Saitō is part of Hijikata Toshizō's group that storms the Ikedaya Inn, acting as reinforcements for Kondō Isami's initial team.
• June 6. The Shinsengumi returned to Mibu headquarters.
• June 7. Saitō receives 17 ryō as reward money for participation in the Ikedaya Incident, 600 ryō total for the Shinsengumi.
• June 16. Saitō and company go to the front upon receiving the request of Kamatori to face the Chōshū Army who was proceeding to the capital.

July -

• July 18. The Kinmon no Hen, or the "Forbidden Gate Incident" occurs. Chōshū han clashed with Aizu and Satsuma troops near the Hamaguri Gate of the Imperial Palace. Fires were set by the retreating Chōshū han, which spread and burned Kyoto for three days.
• July 20. He and others head for Tennozan Hill, stayed in Fushimi overnight.
• July 21. Saitō climbs the Tennozan with Kondō and Nagakura to subjugate the enemy troops that fled.
• July 23. He goes to Osaka and attacks the Chōshū clan's storehouse.
• July 24. After the hunt in Osaka, he returns to the capital on the Sanjuu Ishifune (ship) of Hachiken-ya.
• July 25. Takes the responsibility of patrolling the city under the control of the Osaka magistrate.

August -

• August 13. Tokugawa bakufu orders twenty-one domains to prepare their armies for an expedition against Chōshū.
• Aug (end of) With six people, including Nagakura and Harada, Saitō submits a petition against Kondō Isami's despotism in Aizu. Matsudaira Katamora calls a meeting with Kondō and the rest of the group to settle the dispute.

September -

Sakuma Ikujiro (the son of Sakuma Shozan) enlists in the Shinsengumi to avenge his father's murder.

October -

• October 27. Itō Kashitarō joins the Shinsengumi.

November - The Gougun record was created and Saitō was drawn up as the Yonbangumi-chou (4th group head).

• November 17. Saitō and the rest of the Shinsengumi receive an award from the shogunate for their service in the Kinmon Rebellion.

1865

February - (end of) Along with Hijikata and Inoue, he negotiated the move of the headquarters to Nishi Hongan-ji.

March - Appointed as a kendo instructor. Headquarters moved to the Nishi Hongan-ji.

• March 21. Goes to Edo with Hijikata Toshizō and Itō Kashitarō for new Taishi recruitment.

April -

The Shinsengumi Taishi register of names, the Ibunroku, is drawn up.

• April 5. Saitō and company arrive at Edo.
• April 27. They leave Edo with 52 new recruits.

May -

The Hensei Omote is drawn up and Saitō becomes the captain of the Shinsengumi's third squad.

• May 9. They stay at the Kusatsu-ya.
• May 10. Arrival in Kyoto.
• May 22. The shogun and his family are guarded from Osaka to Nijo Castle in Kyoto.
• May 24. Guards the shogun Tokugawa Iemochi to Osaka.

July -

Eimeiroku was drawn up it, recording those who came from Edo.

September -

Inoue Genzaburou wrote to Matsugorou that Saitō and the other executives were safe. In the second Kougunroku (record) he is recorded as head of spear troop.

October -

(early) Matsudaira Katamori persuades the shogun to abandon his resignation and Saitō and the others guard the trip to Nijo Castle.

• October 4. The shogun goes to an opening of a port in Hyougo and Saitō serves as a guard.

1866

April -

• April 1. Tani Sanjurō is assassinated. There is a prevailing theory that Saitō was responsible.

June -

• June 23. Shibata Hikosaburo deserts the Shinsengumi after extorting money for personal use. He is pursued, brought back to Kyoto, and ordered to commit seppuku.

July -

• July 20. Shogun Tokugawa Iemochi dies. Tokugawa Yoshinobu succeeds him.

September -

• September 12. Thirty-four members of the Shinsengumi are sent to stop the vandalizing of bakufu bulletin boards near the Sanjō Ōhashi Bridge.

Itō and Shinohara Yasunoshin hatch a plan to gain the trust of Satsuma and Chōshū and obtain information from them by pretending to 'officially secede' from the Shinsengumi. They inform Kondō of their decision and, suspicious, Kondō sends Saitō with them to observe them as his spy.

December -

• December 25. The Imperial Prince Nakagawa gives 20 silver ryō to the Shinsengumi.

1867

January -

• January 1. [Western February 3.] Emperor Meiji ascends the throne.
• January 3. Saitō is invited by Itō Kashitarō and they drink all night with Nagakura in a corner shop in Shimabara.
• January 4. Upon approaching the Sanjō Ōhashi Bridge to return to headquarters, Saitō, Itō and Nagakura cross swords with Totsukawa samurai Nakai Shougorou and Tosa feudal retainer Nasu Sakai.

March -

Itō and twelve others, including Shinohara Yasunoshin, Suzuki Mikisaburou, Toudou Heisuke, Hashimoto Kaisuke, and Saitō (as Kondō's spy) 'secede' from the Shinsengumi.

• March 13. The splinter group receives Imperial orders to join the Guard of the Imperial Tomb (御陵衛士 - Goryō Eji) of Emperor Komei; Itō leaves ten allies with the Shinsengumi to provide him with information and to occasionally stir trouble among the ranks.

June -

• June 8. Itō's group, the Goryō Eji, becomes known as the Kodai-ji faction, after being headquartered at Gesshin-in, a sub-temple at Kodai-ji.
• June 10. All of the Shinsengumi is granted the status of hatamoto, becoming retainers of the Tokugawa shogunate. Kondō and Hijikata adopt new names and were promoted to ome-mie ijō status, a higher rank of hatamoto that permitted private audiences with the shogun.
• June 15. Five days after becoming hatamoto, the Shinsengumi move their headquarters to Fudou-dou village.
• June 22. Kondō Isami holds a farewell sake party for Takeda Kanryūsai, who had obtained permission to leave the Shinsengumi but whose secret communications with Satsuma were discovered by Hijikata, and Takeda is assassinated after the party. Despite having left the Shinsengumi as part of Itō's group months earlier, Saitō is credited with his assassination. (There is also a theory that he may have died of a stroke.)

Itō's remaining allies within the Shinsengumi decide to leave the group, citing that they didn't join to become Tokugawa retainers. The ten men request to formally join Itō's faction, but a previous agreement with Kondō and Hijikata prevents them from accepting defectors, so Itō informs them to petition the lord of Aizu instead. Four of the men wait at Aizu headquarters and are later intercepted by Shinsengumi members and killed. An official Shinsengumi report says they committed seppuku, and the remaining six are expelled from the group.

(end of) Saitō's name is missing from a register of names of those who transferred from the Shinsengumi to the Guard of the Imperial Tomb. The Goryō Eji serves under the magistrate Toda Yamatomori Tadashi with the support of the Satsuma domain.

October -

• October 14. Yoshinobu announces his abdication as shogun, formally stepping down ten days later, and restoring governing power to the emperor.

November -

• November 10. Saitō leaves the Goryō Eji and returns to the Shinsengumi headquarters in Fudou-dou village. He also begins using the false name Yamaguchi Jirō, and under this name, he once again assumes his duties as fukuchō jokin (assistant to the vice commander).
• November 15. Sakamoto Ryōma is assassinated at the Ōmiya Inn in Kyoto. Despite members of a pro-shogun group, the Mimawarigumi, confessing to his murder, initial reports accused the Shinsengumi, and Kondō in particular, of being responsible.
• November 18. The Aburanokoji Affair. The main force of the Goryō Eji, including Itō, are assassinated after Saitō reveals Itō's plan to assassinate Kondō and take over the Shinsengumi. After the confrontation four surviving Goryō Eji members present flee to the Satsuma estate.

December -

• December 7. The Tenma-ya Incident. Muira Kyutaro, a high-ranking Kii official and one of the main suspects in Sakamoto's murder, fears revenge from Sakamoto's supporters, and appeals to the Shinsengumi for protection. Saitō's squad of seven is assigned to defend him. Sixteen of Sakamoto's Kaientai, including Nakai Shougorou (who had fought Saitō on the Sanjō Ōhashi bridge), raid Muira's banquet at the Tenma-ya inn. Miyagawa Nobukichi of the Shinsengumi dies, Saitō and two others sustain injuries, and Nakai is killed.
• December 9. Due to the Tenma-ya and Aburanokoji incidents, the Shinsengumi undergoes re-organization.
• December 12. Shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu leaves for Osaka with Katamori and orders the defense of Nijo castle by the Shinsengumi.
• December 14. Nagai Naoyuki leaves for Osaka and takes the Shinsengumi with him.
• December 15. According to Nagai, the Shinsengumi's temporary headquarters are moved to Kitano Tenmangū in Osaka.
• December 18. Kondō is shot in the shoulder by surviving Goryō Eji members on his way back to Fushimi from Nijō castle. Kondō is badly wounded but escapes. The Shinsengumi set up headquarters at the Fushimi magistrate's compound.
• December 20. Kondō goes to Osaka for treatment.
• December 28.185 ryō was distributed to all the members of the Shinsengumi Taishi as an extra allowance.

1868

January -

• January 3. [January 27 on the Western calendar.] Civil war breaks out with the battle of Toba-Fushimi, beginning the Boshin war.
• January 5. Tokugawa forces attempt a counterattack but are forced to retreat by an all-out charge of the entire imperial force.
• January 6. Saitō and Nagakura serve as rear guards to protect retreating shogunate army. After finding out from a scout that Hijikata and the Aizu troops had already fallen back, Saitō returns to the surrounded Hashimoto camp, and escapes to Osaka.
• January 10. Kondō and Hijikata board the Tokugawa warship Fujisan Maru to Edo. A wounded Saitō and Okita, ill with tuberculosis, are with them. The rest of the Shinsengumi embark on the Jundō Maru.
• January 12. The Jundō Maru enters Shinagawa.
• January 15. The Fujisan Maru enters Shinagawa. The wounded, including Kondō, head for the clinic in Matsumoto Ryōjun. Saitō remains at the Kamaya before joining the others at the clinic.
• January 17. Tokugawa Yoshinobu and other officials visit the injured Aizu troops and Shinsengumi members, thanking them for their service.
• January 19. Saitō receives treatment in the clinic at Izumibashi (Matsumoto Ryōjun).
• January 27. Saitō and the rest who received treatment at the clinic in Izumibashi, with the exception of Kondō and Okita, moves to the medicine pavilion.
• January 28. Saitō whose treatment for his injury ended, moves to Ukyōnosuke's home in Kaji Hashikado.

January (end of) The Shinsengumi set up headquarters at the Edo estate of a former Jan Tokugawa official.

February -

• February 3. Hijikata obtains breech-loading rifles for the Shinsengumi.
• February 4. Katamori yields his rank of clan leader to his son, 14-year old Nobunori.
• February 15. Saitō acts as guard to former shogun Yoshinobu.
• February 27. Saitō and the Shinsengumi received 2,394 ryō from the Tokugawa bakufu.
• February 28. Saitō's guard duty to Yoshinobu ceases.

50 ryō is paid to Shinkichi Miyagawa, who was under Saitō's command when he was killed in the Tenma-ya Incident.

March -

• March 1. [March 24 on the Western calendar.] Sagara Sozo is arrested, and executed the following day.
• March 4. The Shinsengumi march through a heavy snowstorm on their way towards Kofu.
• March 5. The Shinsengumi receive intelligence that Kofu castle has been taken by imperial forces, who are led by Itagaki Taisuke of Tosa. They reach the town of Katsunuma, five miles east of Kofu, and prepare a barrier and their cannon.
• March 6. The battle of Katsunuma. The Shinsengumi are attacked at noon by imperial troop, and scatter and retreat to Edo after two hours of fighting. Eight members of the Shinsengumi die with more than thirty wounded. Imperial count is one dead and twelve wounded.
• March 9. Shinsengumi travel through Hino under the cover of night to Edo.
• March 11. Saitō's unit arrives in Edo.
• March 12. Saitō, Nagakura, Harada, and Ogato Shuntarō remain in Edo while Kumebe Masachika takes the injured Shinsengumi soldiers to Aizu for treatment.
• March 13. Kondō and Hijikata leave Edo with over one hundred members of the Shinsengumi and establish temporary headquarters at the Kaneko family estate northwest of Edo.
• March 15. An attack on Edo castle is called off.

March (mid) Nagakura, Harada, and several others leave the Shinsengumi to join their allies in Aizu.

April -

• April 1. The Shinsengumi depart the Kaneko estate.
• April 2. Setting up their headquarters in Nagareyama, the Shinsengumi is recorded to have 227 members at this time. Kagawa Keizo of Mito, a staff officer in command of 300 imperial troops, receives word that an armed unit has set up camp in Nagareyama.
• April 3. Two hundred of Kagawa's imperial troops surprise the Shinsengumi in Nagareyama during training. Kagawa, along with Vice Staff Officer Arima Tota of Satsuma order Kondō back to their camp in Koshigawa, suspecting 'Okubo Yamato' is indeed Kondō Isami.
• April 4. Kondō is taken to Itabashi for questioning, where former Shinsengumi member Kano Michinosuke (a possible survivor from Itō's group) positively identifies him. Meanwhile Hijikata goes to Edo to ask Katsu Kaishu for aid in getting Kondō pardoned.
• April 5. A messenger arrives in Itabashi with a letter allegedly written by Katsu Kaishu requesting that Kondō's life be spared. There are questions by Kawaga's forces, however, regarding the authenticity of Kaishu's authorship, and the messenger is arrested and the request is denied.
• April 8. Kondō's trial in Itabashi begins, and is proceeded over by representatives from Satsuma, Chōshū, Tosa, Hikone, Mito, and others.
• April 11. Hijikata and Shimada Kai join some three thousand plus opposition troops and leave Edo; Hijikata is chosen to lead one of the three units, and they head north to Utsunomiya.
• April 24. The Shinsengumi are driven from Utsunomiya, and march to Aizu. Hijikata sustains a gunshot wound to the foot during the fighting.
• April 25. Kondō Isami is executed Yokokura Kisoji, his execution witnessed by Kondō's 17 year old nephew, Miyagawa Yugoro.
• April 28. Kondō's headless body is brought to Ryugenji temple for burial. His head is displayed at Itabashi for three days, then brought to Kyoto.
• April 29. Hijikata's wound receives treatment. Opposition forces reach Aizu-Wakamatsu. And the Shinsengumi (about 130 members), who now fall under the command of Yamaguchi Jiro (Saitō), are dispatched to assist bakufu forces at Shirakawa.

May -

• May 1. Battle of Ueno and destruction of shōgitai.
• May 17. Harada Sanosuke dies at the age of 28, after the shōgitai's final stand at Ueno hill in Edo.
• May 30. Okita dies of tuberculosis in a private residence in Edo at the age of 25.

June -

• June 4. Aizu lord Katamori meets with Saitō.

July -

(early estimate) Hijikata is well enough to rejoin his troops on the front lines but isn't yet recovered enough to fight, and is forced to retreat.

• July 17. Emperor Meiji issues the edict renaming Edo to Tokyo.

August -

• August 21. The Battle of Bonari Pass in Aizu. Itagaki Taisuke leads Chōshū and Satsuma samurai from Nihonmatsu (northeast of Aizu-Wakamatsu) in to the Bonari Pass, seizes Inawashiro, and crosses the Nippashi river. One of the unit commanders, Oshima Torao, is shot, and Saitō and the Shinsengumi arrive to cover the retreat of Oshima's unit with small-arms fire.
• August 22. Saitō and Hijikata meet at Inawashiro castle and stay at the Saitoya in Wakamatsu. Imperial forces begin attacks on Aizu-Wakamatsu, and the castle falls after a month of fighting.

September -

• September 4–5. Battle of the Nyorai-dō in Aizu, in which almost all of the remaining twenty Shinsengumi members are killed. Saito, under Yamaguchi Jiro, as well as Ikeda Shichizaburou, Kumebe Masachika, Yoshida Toratarou, Kawai Tetsugorou, Shimura Takezou, and listed to have escaped the battle and are thought to have joined Sagawa Kanbei's forces.
• September 8. Era name changes from Keio to Meiji.

October -

• October 13. Emperor Meiji arrives in Tokyo.
• October 20. Hijikata and the last remaining members of the Shinsengumi arrive in Hokkaido and establish headquarters at Goryōkaku.
• October 26. Goryōkaku is taken by imperialist forces.

November 5. Aizu officially surrenders.

1869

January -

• January 4–9. Saitō is moved from Aizu-Wakamatsu to Takada and prays at Amida-ji temple. Aida Kakuzaemon, an Aizu feudal soldier, records Saitō's false name Ichinose Denpachi at this time, and Saitō's pentinence group is relocated to Higashihonganji temple on September 15.

April (mid) Hijikata leads two hundred and thirty troops against six hundred to defend Hakodate at Futamata. After sixteen hours of fighting, 35,000 rounds of spent ammunition and only one of them killed, Hijikata's foces are forced to retreat. The enemy attacks again the next day and Hijikata's forces give strong resistance, and the following night Hijikata leads his men on a successful camp raid.

May -

• May 1. Hijikata retreats to Hakodate.
• May 5. Hijikata gives Ichimura Tetsunosuke a letter, poem, and a portrait to deliver to his family.
• May 11. Imperial forces drive the rebels back to Hakodate and surround them by land and sea. Hijikata retreats to defend the city and his shot in the belly while on horseback, leading his troops in battle. Hijikata dies at the age of 34.
• May 15. The remaining Shinsengumi surrender.

September -

• September 2. Saitō and others were permitted the right to bear a surname and carry a sword by the Meiji government.

1870

June. Saitō, now Fujita Gorō, relocates to Tonami (Aomori) and lives among other Aizu refugees.

1871

August -

Tokio Takagi becomes Kurasawa's adopted daughter.

• August 25. Saitō marries Shinoda Yaso who is a daughter of an old Aizu feudal retainer. He acted as bodyguard for Matsudaira Kataharu who was the feudal lord of Tonami when he goes to Tokyo for the abolition of clans and establishment of prefectural system. It is said that at this time two haori coats were received.

1872

January 29. Tonami draws up a register of Gonohe village where Saitō is currently residing.

March - The census is concluded. In the Jinsaru register Shinoda Yaso and Fujita Goro (Saitō) are living at 132 residence.

1873

Gregorian calendar is adopted by Emperor Meiji. (December 3, 1872 of the lunar calendar is converted to January 1, 1873.)

February 10. Saitō moves from Kurasawa's mansion to Shichirou Ueda's house which was where Yaso originally lived in.

1874

June 10. Saitō leaves Yaso in Gonohe and goes to Tokyo and marries Takagi Tokio. (It is unknown if divorce or Yaso's death is the cause as there are discrepancies in the dates, and there exists the possibility of the documents being doctored.)

1875

June 1. Saitō's older sister Katsu dies. He assists Matsumoto Ryōjun, Nagakura Shinpachi and others in erecting a monument for Kondō Isami, Hijikata Toshizō, and fallen of the Shinsengumi at Jutoku-ji temple boundary in Itabashi, Tokyo.

1876

March 26. The Haitōrei Edict, the act banning former samurai from carrying swords, is passed.

July 20. Fujita Yaso moves into Kurasawa Hiejiuemon's house, the last record of Yaso found in the family register.

December 15. Eldest son Tsutomu is born.

1877

February -

• February 20. Saitō enters the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department to fight in the Seinan war, which had started two days prior. There he is appointed by the Assistant Police Inspected and is enlisted under the Hagihara-tai upon departure for the front.

May -

• May 8. Saitō is in the gathering in front of the Metropolitan Police department that sailed from Yokohama port to Kyushu that evening. Saitō serves as semi-captain of the second troop.
• May 20. Visit in the Kobe port.
• May 21. Arrives and disembarks at Saganoseki port and encamps at Tokou temple.
• May 22. Saitō arrives at Ōita-chi through Tsurusaki.
• May 25. Saitō's unit proceeds to Takeda-kuchi to battle Saigō's troops. They capture Hoshiyama mountain and search for lodging in a town at the foot of the mountain.
• May 27. The government forces send troops (with the exception of the second platoon) to fight Saigō's troops at the front but meet with trouble. Saitō and the second platoon make a detour and attack Saigō's army at the rear and was made to retreat back towards Hoshiyama mountain.
• May 30. The government troops march with the exception of Saitō's division.

June -

• June 1. Saitō's unit marches to Utaeda to the police recruitment corps, and the corp asks for assistance from Chōshū. Troops arrive at Rokkayama.
• June 6. Encamped in Nakatsu.
• June 7. Unit advances and encamps at Hisabe village.
• June 21. Saitō is appointed as sentry of Komanaki peak.
• June 23. Leaves Shigeoka and goes to Kurosawa village.
• June 24. Encamped at the Todoroki Koshi inn.
• June 25. Second platoon fights at Todoroki gorge, taking the base at Maruichi ridge, but retreat due to lack of reinforcements.
• June 28. Fierce fighting with Saigō's army around Shigeoka.

July -

• July 12. Second platoon advances to Mikawauchi towards Todoroki. At two in the morning Saitō leads his group from the right, from Morisaki village to Fukuhara and passing Yakio gorge, to engage Saigō's army in battle and successfully forces them back. Saitō presses forward to Takatokoyama and then attacks Saigō's military encampment and sustains a gunshot wound. He is later sent to the Saeki Ohashi bandage facility in Dainichi temple at Saeki Jōka.

October -

• October 28. Returns to Tokyo from Kyūshū.

1878

March 30. Saitō is appointed as Probationary Assistant Police Inspector by the Metropolitan Police Department.

1879

August 4. Appointed as Assistant Police Inspector.

October -

• October 4. Second son Tsuyoshi was born.
• October 8. He is awarded 100 yen for services rendered in the Seinan war.

1881

January 9. Receives a monthly salary of 15 yen after appointment by the Department of the Army.

September 9. Is dismissed from the appointment of the Department of the Army.

November 11. Is appointed as a police sergeant by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department with the salary of 12 yen.

1882

November 26. Saitō participates in a kendo tournament sponsored by the department, and fights Tomiyama Madoka to a draw.

December 7. Salary becomes 15 yen.

1885

July - Promoted as Assistant Police Inspector.

1886

February 7. Salary becomes 18 yen.

March 29. Midori Nishino, who marries Saitō's eldest son Tsutomu, is born.

July 1. Third son Tatsuo is born.

1887

Tatsuo (Saitō's youngest son) is adopted to the Namuzawa family, as Namuzawa Shichiro's son.

1888

November 1. Saitō is appointed as Police Inspector.

1890

January 23. Saitō, while working for the Aso Police Station, defeats Watanabe Yutaka in a kendo tournament sponsored by the Metropolitan Police Department.

April 2. Saitō retires from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. With Hideo's assistance he gets work as a museum guard in Tokyo National Museum with the salary of 12 yen.

1894

August - Yukiko, who is the daughter of Saitō's elder brother Hiroaki, dies.

1896

January 13. A permanent change of registered domicile is done from 269 Gonohe, Sannohe-gun Aomori to 17, Wase-cho Fukushima.

1897

March 31. For professional diligence in duty 10 yen is granted.

1898

April 23. Monthly salary becomes 15 yen.

December 19. For professional diligence in duty 12 yen is granted.

1899

February 27. Retires from the Tokyo Educational Museum. Visits Yamakawa Hiroshi frequently and is said to say he wants his bones to be buried beside the fallen Aizu soldiers at Amida-ji temple.

April 13. Receives 30 yen due to having worked for the Tokyo National Museum for seven years or more. Upon retiring Saitō goes to work for the Tokyo Women's Normal School as a clerk and accountant.

1904

June 1. Souma Toshiaki, Saitō's brother-in-law (Katsu's husband) passes away. Hideko Fujita, an expert in the tea ceremony from Gonohe, goes to Tokyo at 23 and lodges in the Saitō house (Fujita house).

1907

October - Tokio plants cherry blossoms in Amida-ji Temple for those killed in action during the Aizu war.

1908

While currently residing in Tokyo, Tokio becomes a promoter for purchasing graves for the Aizu dead. She contributes 250 sen (a sen is hundredth of a yen).

1909

February 27. Saitō retires from the Tokyo Women's Normal School.

1912

February 9. Saitō's grandson from his son Fujita Tsutomu is born.

1913

November 12. Tokio's name appears in the "Aizu Association Bulletin" for being promoter for purchasing graves for Aizu people killed in war.

1914

January 26. The Amida-ji Temple grave purchase was recorded in "Aizu Association Bulletin". Saitō himself contributes 10,000 yen.

1915

September 28. Saitō leaves the hospital to return home and dies of a stomach ulcer.