Yamanami (Sannan) Keisuke (山南 敬助, February 5, 1833 – March 20, 1865) was a Japanese samurai. He was the General Secretary (Vice Commander) of the Shinsengumi, a special police force in Kyoto during the late Edo period.
The way Sannan is depicted in the Hakuōki franchise is different from his historical counterpart as he is shown to be loyal to the cause in the majority of the storylines, however, the real Yamanami Keisuke was executed by the Shinsengumi for an attempted desertion.
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Name
The name 山南 can be read both as Yamanami or Sannan. In some period records, including some of Nagakura Shinpachi’s writings, the name is misspelled as 三南 (which can only be read Sannan, not Yamanami). Yamamura Tatsuya, one of the foremost scholars on the Shinsengumi's history, suggests that the proper reading at the time would have been Sannan, and not Yamanami, since the only conceivable reason for misspelling 山南 as 三南 would have been due to the attempt to spell the way it is pronounced.[1] However, due to the fact that this surname is read as Yamanami nowadays, it is widely accepted to regard to the samurai as Yamanami Keisuke.
Despite of the standard, the Hakuōki franchise sticks to the original version of the name, therefore most characters address the vice-commander as Sannan-san or Sannan-kun.
Background
While the specifics regarding his background remain unclear, Yamanami was believed to be the son of a kenjutsu instructor associated with the Sendai domain.
Under the tutelage of Chiba Shusaku Narimasa, the founder of Hokushin Itto-ryu, Yamanami received training and eventually obtained the Menkyo Kaiden (license of total transmission) sometime before 1860.
In 1860, following his defeat at the hands of Kondō Isami in a match, Yamanami joined the Shieikan dojo of the Tennen Rishin-ryū in Edo, which was under the guidance of Kondō starting in 1861. Yamanami had a well-rounded education encompassing both literary and military arts. Known for his gentle nature and kind-heartedness, he earned great admiration from the Head Instructor (Jukutou) at the Shieikan, Okita Sōjirō (later known as Okita Sōji), who regarded him as an elder brother. In 1863, Yamanami, Kondō, and other members from the Shieikan joined the Rōshigumi, a military unit dispatched to Kyoto by the Tokugawa Bakufu.
Shinsengumi
Upon arriving in Kyoto, Kondō and his "faction" opted to stay there while the remaining members of the Rōshigumi returned to Edo. It was during this time that the Mibu Rōshigumi, which would later be known as the Shinsengumi, was formed. Yamanami assumed the role of vice-commander, serving alongside Hijikata Toshizō after Niimi Nishiki was demoted for his involvement in a violent street altercation with sumo wrestlers in Kyoto.
Yamanami was rumored to be among the Shieikan members implicated in the assassination of Serizawa Kamo in 1863. Following the purge of the Serizawa faction, he became one of the two vice-commanders, with Hijikata being the other.
During the renowned Ikedaya incident in 1864, Yamanami did not participate directly but instead remained at the group's headquarters, fulfilling his duties as a guard.[2]
Death
Following the Zenzaiya incident, Yamanami made an attempt to escape from the Shinsengumi, despite the regulations against desertion. As a consequence, he chose to perform seppuku on March 20, 1865, with Okita serving as his Kaishakunin (the individual responsible for delivering the final blow). The date corresponds to February 23 in the lunar calendar. Various speculations exist regarding Yamanami's motive for attempting to escape, including the theory that he took his own life without actually leaving the Shinsengumi. Another hypothesis suggests that Yamanami grew disillusioned with the political decisions of Tokugawa Yoshinobu and lost hope for the future of the Bakufu. Faced with a choice between his loyalty to friends and his commitment to justice, he decided to commit honorable suicide to avoid disgrace.[3]
In Romulus Hillsborough's book "Shinsengumi: The Shogun's Last Samurai Corps", there is a mention of Yamanami's escape. According to the book, the root of Yamanami's troubles seemed to stem from a philosophical disagreement and a bitter rivalry with Hijikata Toshizō, the other vice-commander. Yamanami was reportedly troubled by the growing arrogance of Kondō and Hijikata, who appeared to have forgotten the original purpose for which the members of the Shieikan had joined the corps out of loyalty and patriotism. The unwavering pursuit of power by his former comrades had overshadowed their once-pure patriotic ideals. Yamanami's discontent was further intensified when Kondō and Hijikata, dissatisfied with their cramped headquarters at Mibu, decided to relocate to the more spacious Nishihonganji Temple in the southwest of the city. The objections raised by the temple's priests were disregarded by Kondō and Hijikata. Yamanami protested what he perceived as coercion of Buddhist clergy, suggesting alternative suitable locations to Kondō. However, Kondō remained firm in his decision, prompting Yamanami to make the ultimate sacrifice. He wrote a farewell letter explaining his conscientious objection to risking his life under Kondō's command and defected from the group.[4]
According to the widely accepted theory, Yamanami fled to Otsu, but Kondō dispatched Okita to bring him back. Upon Yamanami's return to Mibu, he was ordered to commit seppuku. He requested Okita to serve as his Kaishakunin. There is also a theory suggesting that Kondo specifically chose Okita as Yamanami's Kaishakunin out of respect for their strong bond, considering Okita to be like family. Yamanami and Okita had a deep connection until the very end of Yamanami's life.
Yamanami was laid to rest at Kōen Temple (Kōenji) in Kyoto.
Prior to his death, Yamanami held the position of second-in-command within the Shinsengumi (it is worth noting that Hijikata assumed the role of second-in-command only after Yamanami's passing, dispelling the misconception that Hijikata had always held that position).