Next Shinsengumi Book (17): Kondo Isami’s Loyalty

As commander of the Shinsengumi, Kondo Isami was devoted to serving the shogun and his government, the Tokugawa Bakufu. The office of shogun was conferred by the Emperor; but Kondo, in his staunch loyalty to the shogun and the Bakufu, was devoted to killing or arresting the Bakufu’s enemies – i.e., so-called Imperial Loyalists hell-bent on overthrowing the Bakufu and replacing it with a new Imperial government. Therefore, some might assume that Kondo felt no loyalty to the Emperor. Nothing could be further from the truth! – as I will demonstrate in my next book.

[The photograph of Kondo Isami is in my previously published Shinsengumi: The Shogun’s Last Samurai Corps, courtesy of the descendants of Sato Hikogoro and Hino-shi Furusato Hakubutsukan Museum.]

 

“Ryoma: Life of a Renaissance Samurai”: The 20th Anniversary (11):

I am honored to be or have been personal friends with the authors of these very important books, whom I have relied upon heavily in writing my own books, including Ryoma.

坂本龍馬全集,中岡慎太郎全集, 坂本龍馬写真集(宮地佐一郎)

定本坂本龍馬伝 (松岡司)

坂本龍馬大鑑 (小美濃清明)

Thank you Mr. Miyaji, Mr. Matsuoka, Mr. Omino.


ryoma
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Katsu Kaishu’s Wife Tami, and Daughters

This undated photo, from the family photo archive of the American Descendants of Katsu Kaishu, is posted on their Facebook page, which is “For all descendants, relatives, and friends of the 6 children of Clara Whitney and Umetaro Kaji.” Umetaro Kaji was Kaishu’s son. Clara Whitney was Umetaro’s American wife. If you look at the Descendants’ Facebook page (@WhitneyKajiDescendants), you will see a recent photo of the Descendants: at front center is my good friend Douglas Stiffler, Katsu Kaishu’s great-great-grandson.

 

Katsu Kaishu is the “shogun’s last samurai” of my book Samurai Revolution.


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