Yamanami Keisuke, the second in command of the Shinsengumi, a special police force during the late Edo period, shocked many when he performed seppuku on March 20, 1865, at the age of 32.
Born in Sendai in 1833, Yamanami hailed from a lineage of sword instructors. He rose to the rank of Sensei of the Hokushin Itto Ryu, achieving the prestigious Menkyo Kaiden (master's license) at the youthful age of 27. Despite his formidable swordsmanship, Yamanami was known for his kindness and gentleness, along with his deep knowledge of literature and military arts.
Around 1860, fate crossed paths with Shinsengumi leader Kondo Issami, who bested Yamanami in a duel. This encounter led Yamanami to become Kondo's student and later an instructor at his dojo in Edo (Tokyo), eventually assuming the role of second in command of the Shinsengumi, a group often remembered as a "ruthless squad of murderers."
It is suspected that Yamanami took part in the 1863 assassination of the founding leader of the Shinsengumi, Serizawa Kamo, who was infamous for his excessive drinking and aggressive behavior.While Yamanami did not participate in the Ikedaya Incident of 1864, where Shinsengumi members thwarted a Choshu clan revolutionary group's attempt to set Kyoto ablaze, historians speculate that he was either injured or unwell during the event.
Following the Ikedaya Incident, Yamanami grew disenchanted with the government's secret police and expressed a desire to leave the Shinsengumi. However, strict rules against desertion made departure difficult. It is widely believed that Yamanami chose seppuku as an honorable way out, though the exact motive remains shrouded in mystery. His friend Okita Shoji, one of the group's finest swordsmen and captain of the First Unit, served as his Kaishakunin, or second, during the ritual.
Yamanami found his final resting place at Kyoto's Kouenji temple, chosen due to its shared family crest with the Shinsengumi's vice-commander. His funeral was attended by numerous Shinsengumi members and local residents, a testament to the respect and fondness he commanded as a samurai of great character.
See also
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Uesugi Kagetora
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Hojo Ujinao
Hojo Ujinao (1562 – December 19, 1591) was a Japanese daimyo of the late Sengoku period and the last leader of the Later Hojo clan. An important figure in Azuchi-Momoyama politics, he lost his entire domain following the Siege of Odawara (1590). Despite this, he survived, and his family continued as minor daimyo during the Edo period.
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Takeda Katsuyori
Takeda Katsuyori (1546 – April 3, 1582) was a Japanese daimyo of the Sengoku period, renowned as the head of the Takeda clan and successor to the legendary warlord Takeda Shingen. He was also the son-in-law of Hojo Ujiyasu. Katsuyori was born to Shingen and the daughter of Suwa Yorishige, known posthumously as Suwa-goryonin and by her real name, Koihime. His children included Takeda Nobukatsu and Takeda Katsuchika.
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Yasuke
Yasuke, an African page, arrived in Japan in 1579 as the attendant of the Italian Jesuit missionary Alessandro Valignano. Before the arrival of the Englishman William Adams, it is thought that Yasuke was possibly the inaugural non-Japanese samurai, arriving about twenty years earlier.
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Yamamoto Kansuke
Yamamoto Kansuke, renowned as a samurai strategist and one of Takeda Shingen's esteemed 24 Generals, hailed from the Mikawa region, known for breeding formidable warriors. Despite physical challenges—blindness in one eye, lameness in one leg, and a malformed hand—Kansuke embarked on a warrior's pilgrimage in his twenties. Traveling across the land, he honed his skills in strategy, tactics, castle construction, and warfare, engaging in various swordsmanship schools and forms.
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Yamaga Soko
Yamaga Soko was a multifaceted figure in Japanese history, renowned as a strategist, philosopher, and scholar. Later in life, he became a ronin, leaving a significant mark on the understanding of the Tokugawa period samurai.
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William Adams - Miura Anjin
William Adams, also known as Miura Anjin, holds the distinction of being one of the few non-Japanese individuals granted samurai status. Born in Gillingham, Kent, England in 1564, Adams embarked on a remarkable journey that led him to become an influential figure in Japanese history.
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Wakisaka Yasuharu
Wakisaka Yasuharu held the position of daimyo over Awaji Island before ruling over Ozu in Iyo Province. His significance in the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 cannot be overstated.
