Yamanami Keisuke

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Yamanami Keisuke

Role / Field:

A prominent samurai and vice-commander of the Shinsengumi during the late Edo period.

Born:

1833

Died:

1865-03-20

Century / Era:

1833s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Yamanami Keisuke (山南 敬助; February 5, 1833 – March 20, 1865) was a Japanese samurai. He was the General Commander (総長, Sōchō) of the Shinsengumi, a special police force in Kyoto during the late Edo period. Though the details of his origin are unclear, he was thought to be the son of a kenjutsu instructor originated from the Sendai domain. Yamanami was trained under Chiba Shusaku Narimasa, the founder of the Hokushin Itto-ryu, and attained Menkyo Kaiden (license of total transmission) sometime before 1860. In 1860 after Yamanami was defeated by Kondō Isami in a match, he was enrolled at the Tennen Rishin-ryū's Shieikan dojo in Edo (which was run by Kondō from 1861.) Yamanami was particularly educated in literary and military arts, with a gentle personality and a kind heart.

Career & Major Achievements

He was very much admired by the Head Instructor (Jukutou) at the Shieikan, Okita Sōjirō (the later Okita Sōji), who called him a big brother. In 1863, Yamanami, Kondo, and other members of the Shieikan joined the Rōshigumi, the military unit being sent to Kyoto by the Tokugawa Shogunate. In Kyoto, Kondō and his "faction" remained in Kyoto while the rest of the Rōshigumi returned to Edo. Soon, the Mibu Rōshigumi (which would eventually become known as the Shinsengumi) was formed. Yamanami served as a vice-commander, alongside Hijikata Toshizō after Niimi Nishiki was demoted for instigating a vicious street brawl with sumo wrestlers in Kyoto.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Yamanami was said to be one of the Shieikan members involved in the Serizawa Kamo assassination in 1863. After the purge of the Serizawa faction, Yamanami became one of two vice-commanders (the other being Hijikata). Yamanami did not take part in the famed Ikedaya incident in 1864, instead he guarded the group's headquarters. Some time after the Ikedaya Incident he tried to escape the Shinsengumi, despite the regulation against deserters. As a result, he committed seppuku with Okita as his kaishakunin on March 20 (lunar calendar February 23), 1865.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1833: Birth of Yamanami Keisuke — A prominent samurai and vice-commander of the Shinsengumi during the late Edo period.
2. 1860: 1860 Milestone — Yamanami was trained under Chiba Shusaku Narimasa, the founder of the Hokushin Itto-ryu, and attained Menkyo Kaiden (license of total transmission) sometime before 1860.
3. 1863: 1863 Milestone — In 1863, Yamanami, Kondo, and other members of the Shieikan joined the Rōshigumi, the military unit being sent to Kyoto by the Tokugawa Shogunate.
4. 1864: 1864 Milestone — Yamanami did not take part in the famed Ikedaya incident in 1864, instead he guarded the group's headquarters.
5. 1865 (1865-03-20): Passing & Historical Legacy — Yamanami Keisuke passed away on 1865-03-20, leaving an enduring historical legacy.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Yamanami Keisuke

True or False: “Did Yamanami Keisuke serve as the second-in-command of the Shinsengumi before Hijikata Toshizō?”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): Historical records indicate that Yamanami was the second-in-command prior to his death; Hijikata assumed this role afterward.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Adam Lindsay Gordon — Contemporary (Born in 1833) (1833): Pioneering British-Australian poet, horseman, and politician of the Victorian era.
• Adrien-Marie Legendre — Contemporary (Died in 1833) (1833): Pioneering French mathematician known for Legendre polynomials and least squares method.
• Alexander Borodin — Contemporary (Born in 1833) (1833): Russian Romantic composer, chemist, and physician known for 'Prince Igor' and symphonies.
• A. P. Hill — Contemporary (Died in 1865) (1865): Confederate general who distinguished himself in the American Civil War.
• Abraham Isaac Kook — Contemporary (Born in 1865) (1865): Pioneering Orthodox Rabbi and Father of Religious Zionism.
• Abraham Lincoln — Contemporary (Died in 1865) (1865): 16th President of the United States; guided the nation through the Civil War.
• Albert, Duke of Prussia — Shared historical date (03-20 · Died) (1568): First secular ruler of the Duchy of Prussia and key figure in early Lutheranism.
• Alex Gorsky — Shared historical date (03-20 · Born) (1960): American businessman, former Chairman and CEO of Johnson & Johnson.
• Alfred Nobel — Historical peer (Born in 1833) (1833): Pioneering chemist, inventor of dynamite, and founder of the Nobel Prizes.
• Alfred von Schlieffen — Historical peer (Born in 1833) (1833): Prussian strategist known for the Schlieffen Plan, a key military doctrine.
• 1833 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1833
• 1865 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1865
• March 20 (03-20) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on March 20

Frequently Asked Questions about Yamanami Keisuke