Todo Heisuke

Todo Heisuke, born in Kooka 1 (1844), was a swordsman who mastered Hokushin Itto-ryu, one of the most flourishing schools of swordsmanship in the Bakumatsu era. Hokushin Itto-ryu was the school founded by Chiba Shuusaku; in Edo at that time, the Chiba dojo (Genbukai) boasted the largest scale among swordsmanship dojos and was renowned for its prosperity, with students including Sakamoto Ryoma. Heisuke displayed precocious talent within this school and is said to have reached the level of assistant instructor while still young.

Heisuke participated in the Ronin Group's ascent to Kyoto in Bunkyuu 3 (1863), and after the Shinsengumi was formed, he was appointed captain of the 8th Unit. Younger than Kondo Isami and Hijikata Toshizo, and having joined not as a fellow of the Shieikan but as a Hokushin Itto-ryu swordsman, Heisuke was regarded with particular respect within the Shinsengumi for his superior swordsmanship. As a swordsman embodying a different school within the Shinsengumi, Heisuke's presence exemplified swordsmanship's diverse traditions.

In the Ikedaya Incident of Genji 1 (1864), Heisuke also participated in fierce swordplay but sustained a serious wound. This wound, reportedly a deep cut to the forehead, remained with him for life and was passed down as "Todō's wound." Yet Heisuke's resolve to fight to the very end, despite his grave injury, exemplified the pride of a Shinsengumi swordsman.

Heisuke's beloved sword was known as Kazusa-no-suke Kaneshige. Kazusa-no-suke Kaneshige was a swordsmith of Musashi Province (Edo), active during the Kanobun period of the early Edo period. Kaneshige's blades were distinguished by their balance of sharpness and resistance to breaking, with high reliability in actual combat. The techniques of Hokushin Itto-ryu aligned with the characteristics of Kaneshige's blades, and Heisuke is said to have favored this sword. However, historical documentation for this attribution is limited, and it includes legendary elements.

In Keio 3 (1867), Heisuke and others including Ito Kashitaro withdrew from the Shinsengumi and formed the Goryoeji (also known as the Kodaiji Party). This represented a break from the Shinsengumi and signified conflict with Hijikata Toshizo. On November 18 of that year, in the Aburakoji Incident, Heisuke was ambushed by Shinsengumi forces and was killed in combat. He was 23 years old. The life of Heisuke, who fell young, is remembered as a tragedy of a swordsman who lived according to his convictions amid the turbulence of the Bakumatsu era.