Saitou Hajime was born on February 18, 1844 as Yamaguchi Hajime in Edo, Musashi Province. He is most famous for serving as captain of the third unit of the Shinsengumi. But Saitou was one of the few members to survive the Bakumatsu as a Tokugawa supporter. Later becoming a Police Officer working undercover during the Meiji Restoration under the name of Gorou Fujita.
According to records published by his family, Saitou Hajime fled Edo in 1862 after killing a Hatamoto or High Ranking Samurai. He established himself in Kyoto teaching martial arts and kenjutsu.
Saitou Hajime and The Shinsengumi
Being one of the youngest members of the Shinsengumi he was among the most gifted swordsmen as well. His later work as an undercover Police officer during the Meiji restoration reinforced the rumours about Saitou Hajime being a spy for the Aizu Domain, nowadays Fukushima Prefecture. Despite heavy connections to Aizu, his descendants dispute Saitou’s role as a spy. He executed various corrupted members of the Shinsengumi. Making some historians believe he was responsible for weeding out spies inside the units.
Saitou Hajime was part of Hijikata Toshizou’s group during the Ikedaya Incident. July 1964. And after the Kinmon riot he was assigned to captain of the fourth unit and condecorated by the Shogun.
Most of the members of the Shinsengumi were lower ranked Samurai and even commoners expecting to become Samurai after service. Saitou Hajime became a Hatamoto in 1867. A high ranked samurai. And together with other six members of the Shinsengumi fought against sixteen assassins who were trying to avenge the assassination of Sakamoto Ryoma.
Known as Fujita Gorou after the Shinsengumi
Saitou Hajime survives the Bakumatsu and returns to Aizu domain. He married the daughter of one of the Domain retainers, Takagi Tokio. They had three children. During Saigou Takamori’s rebellion, he fought on the Imperial side as part of the Police forces. Saigou was a leader of the Satsuma Clan, key domain in the Emperor side against the Shogun and the Shinsengumi during the Bakumatsu.
As a Police officer he was the only one granted the right to carry a Katana. And in 1875 he assisted Matsumoto Ryojun (personal physician to Tokugawa Yoshinobu, the last Shogun) in setting up a memorial at Itabashi, Tokyo: Grave of the Shinsengumi.
He died from a stomach ulcer at age 72, in 1915. Saitou Hajime became a heavy drinker during his last years. And the legend says he passed away sitting in the formal seiza position.