Hijikata Toshizō

Hijikata Toshizō
土方歳三
Hijikata Toshizō; 土方歳三;
	Hijikata in 1869, photograph by Tamoto Kenzō
Native name	土方歳三義豊
Birth name	Hijikata Toshizō Yoshitoyo
Other name(s)	Naitō Hayato
Nickname(s)	Oni no fukucho (鬼の副長, "Demon Vice-Commander")
Born	May 31, 1835; Musashi Province, Honshu, Japan
Died	June 20, 1869 (aged 34); Hakodate, Ezo, Japan
Cause of death	Gunshot wound
Buried	unknown
Allegiance	Tokugawa Shogunate ; Republic of Ezo
Branch	Rōshigumi (former) ; Mibu Rōshigumi・Shinsengumi;
Years of service	1863–1869
Rank	Vice-Commander ; Deputy Defence Minister
Battles / wars	Coup of August 18, 1863; Ikedaya incident; Kinmon incident; Boshin War Battle of Toba–Fushimi; Battle of Kōshū-Katsunuma; Battle of Utsunomiya Castle; Battle of Bonari Pass; Battle of Miyako Bay; Battle of Futamata; Battle of Hakodate †; ;
Relations	Hijikata Yoshiatsu (father) ; Etsu (mother) ; Hijikata Tamejiro (brother) ; Hijikata Kiroku (brother) ; Hijikata Shuu (sister) ; Kasuya Ryojin (brother) ; Satō Nobu (sister) ; Satō Hikogorō (brother-in-law)

Hijikata Toshizō (土方歳三; May 31, 1835 – June 20, 1869) was a Japanese swordsman of the Bakumatsu period and Vice-Commander (副長, Fukucho) of the Shinsengumi. As Vice-Commander, he served the Tokugawa Shogunate and co-led his group in its resistance against the imperial rule brought about by the Meiji Restoration. He fought against the Imperial Army during the Boshin War until his death at the Battle of Hakodate, which ended the war.