Inoue Genzaburō (井上 源三郎, April 1, 1829 – January 5, 1868) was a Japanese warrior and the Captain of the 6th Unit of the Shinsengumi.
As shown in the Hakuōki franchise, Inoue shared a deep connection with Kondō Isami and Hijikata Toshizō.
Contents
|
Background
Inoue Genzaburō was born in Kitahara, Hino-juku, Musashi Province (now Hino-Honcho, Hino-shi, Tokyo) as the third son of Tozaemon Inoue, the caretaker of Hachioji Sennin Doshin.
Around 1847, he became a disciple of Kondō Shūsuke, the third head of the Tennen Rishin dojo. He practiced hard with Hijikata Toshizō and others at the dojo that Hikogoro Sato set up for Tennen Rishin-ryu training. In addition, Genzaburō was also a disciple of Kondō Isami, and it is said that he deepened his friendship with him around this time. In the first year of Manen (1860), he received the highest level of proficiency in the martial art, menkyo kaiden. However, being a diligent type who took about ten years to achieve this level, he was sometimes misunderstood and labeled as "inferior in both academics and martial arts". For his academic studies, he learned at a temple school run by Hino Yoshitaka, located near Kanekobashi in Hino-shuku.
Shinsengumi
In February of the second year of Bunkyu (1862), Ito joined the Rōshigumi along with Kondō and Hijikata. In the third year of Bunkyu (1863), after Serizawa Kamo and his faction were purged, Genzaburō assumed the role of assistant vice-commander. During the Ikedaya Incident in the first year of Genji (1864), he was in charge of commanding the detachment of Hijikata's troop. Upon receiving the news of Kondō's unit infiltrating the Ikedaya, Genzaburō and his subordinates stormed the establishment, displaying their valor by capturing eight rōnin. In the reorganization of the group in June of the first year of Keio (1865), he was appointed as the leader of the Rokuban-tai (6th Division). In June of the third year of Keio (1867), when the Shinsengumi was officially recognized as a direct vassal of the Bakufu, Genzaburō was appointed as deputy chief assistant.
Death
In January of the fourth year of Keio (1868), the Battle of Toba-Fushimi erupted. The Shinsengumi retreated to Yodo Domain. On January 5, they engaged in a fierce battle with the government forces at Yodo Senryo-matsu (the Battle of Yodo Senryo-matsu). It was during this intense confrontation that Genzaburō was struck by enemy gunfire in the abdomen and fell in battle. He passed away at the age of 39.