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Susumu Yamazaki (山崎 烝 Yamazaki Susumu) is a an officer in the Shinsengumi, a medic and a member of the Watch who reports to Hijikata. His main job is espionage and treatment of the wounded.
Yamazaki appears in the story later than the main characters as he is busy spying on the Chōshū samurai along with Shimada. He spends majority of the time gathering intel and informing Hijikata about everything that is happening both inside and outside the Shinsengumi. When on duty, Yamazaki wears a black ninja outfit. Coming from a family of an acupuncturist, Yamazaki also has medical skills and is the one to treat wounded warriors during and after battles and keep their medical records.
Yamazaki is based on the historical Yamazaki Susumu.
Appearance
Susumu is relatively short standing at 5"5', he has a very peculiar haircut in which almost all of his hair is cut extremely short, except for a small amount, which he keeps tied in a long ponytail that reaches the lower middle of his back. He usually wears a light-green kimono with a dark green trim and very curious sleeves, which look to be sewn of with thick cord, and wears simple black pants that tie at his ankles.
When Susumu is not wearing his usual clothes, He is usually wearing his "Ninja" outfit complete with a mask, headband & a big black scarf.
Personality
Susumu may be perceived as an aloof, reserved and strict individual due to his emotionless way of speaking and appearing only in times of need. However, he actually has quite close ties to most of the captains, he is very passionate about his work, and he is especially loyal to and respectful of Hijikata.
Susumu obeys orders without questions and often appears to explain something to Chizuru and/or stop her from reckless actions. His swordsmanship level remains a mystery as he once claimed he might not be able to protect Chizuru if danger appears, however, he is never shown injured or losing a battle even when being outnumbered.
Story
This article contains major SPOILERS. Be careful if you do not know the full story yet.
First Season
We need you more than you could ever need us, you're the head and we the limbs you can lose an arm, but if the head goes the body dies, we need you.—Susumu Yamazaki, to Toshizou Hijikata, at the end of Hakuouki: Shinsengumi Kitan
Susumu Yamazaki is a special member of the Shinsengumi who is both an intelligence officer (spy) and a medic. He is often seen gathering information for the Shinsengumi pretending to be working, sitting in a restaurant or being a homeless beggar. He is usually the one to deliver messages (the job he later shares with Chizuru). Being a Shinsengumi medic, he is the one to treat wounded soldiers, and he is also the one to gather all medical information from Dr. Ryojun Matsumoto in one notebook to then later give it to Chizuru for safe-keeping in case he was to suddenly die as she was the only one he could trust with treating the Shinsengumi.
At the end of the first season, he stops the dangerous fight between Kazama and Hijikata by throwing himself in Hijikata's path, impaling himself on Hijikata's sword. During their journey on the ship, he dies after telling Chizuru to take care of herself and the Shinsengumi. The Shinsengumi try to give him a decent burial by throwing his body overboard into the ocean.
Third Season
Yamazaki joins the Rōshigumi at the end of Episode 6 of Reimeiroku. He introduces himself as a son of an acupuncturist which is why he has some medical knowledge.
In Episode 7 Yamazaki confronts Ryuunosuke and asks him why he stays with the corps despite not being a member, because Yamazaki is not convinced with the answer that Serizawa refuses to let the kid go. When Ryuunosuke insists that there is no other reason, Yamazaki offers him a piece of advice - leave as soon as possible. At the same time Hijikata summons both Yamazaki and Shimada to inform them that they have been assigned to be Inspectors, and their task now is spying on certain people.
Later on, Yamazaki stumbles upon Ryuunosuke in the city and reprimands him for his behavior asking him whether he has only come to flirt with a geisha. He demands that Ryuunosuke decided whether he is staying or leaving expressing his annoyance with Ryuunosuke's unclear position: not a member but still tags along. As the kid attempts to blame Serizawa for staying, Yamazaki harshly interrupts him and accuses him of not being able to act on his own volition. He goes as far as to call him a pet dog, and Ryuunosule punches him in the face claiming that the Rōshigumi is behind the times pretending to be samurai. Yamazaki punches him back, and they keep fighting. When the argument is over, Yamazaki shares his story as a son of an acupuncturist who pretended to be a rogue samurai because of dreaming to be a real warrior. After he joined the Rōshigumi and heard Hijikata saying that everyone is going to be treated as a warrior regardless of their upbringing, Yamazaki thought he could become a samurai.
In the next episodes, Yamazaki makes brief appearances reporting to Hijikata.
Movies
Yamazaki's involvement in the story stays small in the movies, however, there are some extra scenes with him showing why he was given the job of a spy. For example, before Kondou's group raids Ikedaya, Yamazaki goes there disguised as a traveler and asks if it is possible to stay there tonight and gets rejected (which gives the squad a hint).
At the end of the first movie, Yamazaki comes and informs Hijikata that the Satchō have raised the Emperor's banner. The fight between Hijikata and Kazama is stopped by Amagiri alone, which means Yamazaki does not die by Hijikata's hands hence there is no scene with the Shinsengumi leaving on a ship and burying Yamazaki in the sea. Despite staying alive, Yamazaki does not make significant appearances in the second movie.
Sweet School Life
In the short OVA Yamazaki is a Second Year Form Two (2-2) student who works under Sannan in the Health Committee at Hakuou Academy. He appears very briefly next to Sannan who offers Shinpachi a secret serum that is meant to heal any wounds, and Yamazaki, knowing what it is and effects it brings, tries to stop Shinpachi but fails.
Trivia
- It is true that both the real-life and fictional Yamazaki were part of the Shinsengumi watch, however, real-life Yamazaki was never recorded as being dressed as a ninja in order to gather information.
- Susumu's route appeared only in the remake of the original game called Kyoto Winds and Edo Blossoms.
- Susumu was the second significant Shinsengumi member to die (The first was Genzaburou Inoue).