Harada Sanosuke | |
|---|---|
| Native name | 原田 左之助 |
| Born | 1840 (1840) Iyo-Matsuyama Domain,Japan |
| Died | July 6, 1868(1868-07-06) (aged 27–28) Ueno,Edo,Japan |
| Allegiance | Tokugawa bakufu |
| Service | Rōshigumi (former) Mibu Rōshigumi (former) Shinsengumi (former) Seiheitai (former) Shōgitai |
| Years of service | 1863–1868 |
| Battles / wars | Ikedaya incident Sanjo Seisatsu incident Aburanokōji incident Boshin War |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | Harada Shigeru (son) |
Harada Sanosuke (原田 左之助, 1840 – July 6, 1868) was a Japanese warrior (samurai) who lived in the lateEdo period. He was the 10th unit captain of theShinsengumi, and died during theBoshin War.
Harada was born to a family ofchūgen, or low-ranking quasi-samurai, who served the retainers of theIyo-Matsuyama Domain (now the city ofMatsuyama).[1] He trained in the spear technique of theHōzōin-ryū style, and usually used that weapon in battle instead of a sword.[2] During his time in Matsuyama, he was once ridiculed by a Matsuyama retainer as being apeon who was unfamiliar with how to properly commitseppuku.[2] Harada, wishing to prove the man wrong, immediately drew his sword and attempted to commit seppuku; however, the wound was shallow, and he survived.[2] Harada later boasted of his scar to his fellow Shinsengumi men, and the incident of his near-disembowelment is said to be the origin of the family crest he chose, which depicted a horizontal line, thekanji for one, within a circle (maru ni ichimonji (丸に一文字)).[2] Later leaving the Matsuyama domain's service, he went to Edo, and trained atKondō Isami's Shieikandōjō.[3]
In 1863, Harada, together with Kondō and others associated with the Shieikan, joined Kiyokawa Hachirō'sRōshigumi and departed forKyoto. Shortly after reaching Kyoto, the Rōshigumi was disbanded and most of its members returned to Edo. Harada, Kondō,Serizawa Kamo and several others remained behind and formed the core of the group known asMibu Rōshigumi, which later became the Shinsengumi.
Later, Harada became the Captain of the Shinsengumi tenth Unit. He was trained briefly under a dojo run byTani Sanjūrō, whom he introduced into the Shinsengumi. In 1865, Tani became the seventh Unit Captain. In Kyoto, Harada married a local woman namedSugawara Masa (菅原まさ), and briefly had a private family residence near the Shinsengumi headquarters at Nishi-Honganji.[2] The couple had a son, whom Harada named Shigeru (茂), taking the second character from the shōgunIemochi (家茂)'s name.[2] Harada was very trusted by vice-commander Hijikata. He was involved in many of the crucial missions the group faced and was very likely involved in theSerizawa Kamo (original commander of the Shinsengumi) assassination. He was involved in theUchiyama Hikojirō's assassination, theIkedaya incident, and theSanjo Seisatsu incident.
Harada became ahatamoto, together with the rest of Shinsengumi, in June 1867.[4] At one time he was accused (by former Shinsengumi memberItō Kashitarō) as one of the assassins of theSakamoto Ryōma andNakaoka Shintarō who were murdered on December 10, 1867.[5] The truth behind the incident remains unclear, but according to the confession of the Tokugawa retainerImai Nobuo later in 1870, the assassins were men of theMimawarigumi (another Tokugawa-affiliated unit) under thehatamotoSasaki Tadasaburō.[6]
Later on December 13, 1867, he,Nagakura Shinpachi and several Shinsengumi members were involved in the ambush of Itō Kashitarō'sGoryō EjiKōdai-ji faction during theAburanokōji incident.
In January 1868, Harada, together with the rest of the Shinsengumi, fought at theBattle of Toba–Fushimi against the Imperial forces. He and his family subsequently left the Kyoto region forEdo. In March, the Shinsengumi was renamed toKōyō Chinbutai (甲陽鎮撫隊,Pacification Corps) and advanced onKai Province, and fought at theBattle of Kōshū-Katsunuma, however, the unit was defeated and forced to retreat back to Edo. In the wake of this defeat, Harada andNagakura Shinpachi left the Kōyō Chinbutai after disagreements with Kondō and Hijikata.[7] According to Nagakura's version of events, Kondō wanted the surviving men to become his retainers; Nagakura, Harada, and a few others staunchly refused.[8] Nagakura and Harada, taking with them some other Shinsengumi members, joined with a group of former Tokugawa retainers to form a new unit, theSeiheitai.[9] Seiheitai left Edo shortly after Edo Castle's surrender, and headed north, hoping to take part in the fighting that was moving northward, towardAizu.
After Seiheitai's departure from Edo, Harada, wishing to be with his wife and child, returned to the city. However, he was unable to leave the city, and so he joined theShōgitai, which also sided with the Tokugawa regime.[10] Harada fought at theBattle of Ueno, where he was severely wounded by enemy gunfire.[10] Two days later on July 6, 1868, he died of his wounds, while at the residence of thehatamoto, JinboYamashiro-no-kami.[11]
There is a rumor that Harada did not die in 1868, but he survived and travelled to China and became a leader for a group of horse-riding bandits.[12] There were reports that an old Japanese man came to the aid of theImperial Japanese Army in theFirst Sino-Japanese War, and claimed to be Harada Sanosuke.[7] This was reported in a newspaper in 1965, but remains unsubstantiated.
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Harada Sanosuke appears inShiba Ryōtarō's novelsMoeyo Ken andShinsengumi Keppuroku.
He is depicted inNHK's Taiga drama seriesShinsengumi! (played byYamamoto Taro.)
In addition, Harada appears in the anime seriesPeacemaker Kurogane, as well as in the manga it was originally based on,Shinsengumi Imon PEACE MAKER andPeacemaker Kurogane. He is also featured inKaze Hikaru (manga),Hakodate Youjin Buraichou Himegami (manga),Getsumei Seiki (manga) andBakumatsu Renka Shinsengumi (video game series.)
Harada appeared in flashback sequences inRurouni Kenshin and also served as an inspiration for the characterSagara Sanosuke.[13]
Harada Sanosuke appears as a major character in theotome game and anime seriesHakuouki Shinsengumi Kitan.
Harada Sanosuke appears as a minor antagonist inRyu Ga Gotoku Studio's 2014action-adventure game gameLike a Dragon: Ishin! and its 2023remake. He shares his appearance and voice with series antagonist Masato Aizawa.
Harada Sanosuke appeared in the 2024 drama "With You I Bloom: The Shinsengumi Youth Chronicle" based on the 1963 Shinsengumi manga byOsamu Tezuka. He was portrayed byTotaro[14]
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