Battle of Utsunomiya Castle
Part of Boshin War
Utsunomiya castle during the Edo period.
Date May 10-May 14, 1868 Location Utsunomiya Castle, modern-day Tochigi Prefecture Result Withdrawal of former Shogunate forces under Otori Keisuke to Aizu Territorial changes Brief control of Utsunomiya Castle by Tokugawa partisans, subsequent loss.
Combatants
Imperial Army made up of forces from the Matsumoto, Kurohane, Mibu, Iwamurata, Suzaka, Hikone, Ogaki, Utsunomiya, and Kasama domains.	Loosely organized former Shogunate forces
Commanders
Imperial Japanese Army under Satsuma and Choshu	Otori Keisuke, Hijikata Toshizo, others.
Strength
Unknown	2,000
Casualties
Unknown	Unknown

The Battle of Utsunomiya Castle (Japanese:宇都宮城の戦い) was a battle of the Japanese Boshin War which occurred in May of 1868. It occurred as the troops of the Bakufu were heading north towards Nikkō and Aizu. The Boshin War (戊辰戦争 Boshin Sensō, literally War of the Year of the Dragon) was fought in 1868-1869 between the Tokugawa Shogunate and the pro-Imperial forces in Japan. ... The Edo period (Japanese: 江戸時代, Edo-jidai), also called Tokugawa period, is a division of Japanese history running from 1603 to 1867. ... May 10 is the 130th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (131st in leap years). ... May 14 is the 134th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (135th in leap years). ... 1868 (MDCCCLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Friday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... Tochigi Prefecture (栃木県 Tochigi-ken) is a located in the Kanto region on the island of Honshu, Japan. ... Otori Keisuke(1833-1911) Otori Keisuke during the Boshin War (center). ... Monument to the Byakkotai Samurai Aizu ) is a former feudal domain (Han), part of the modern-day Japanese prefecture of Fukushima, formerly a part of Mutsu province. ... The Imperial Japanese Army (: 大日本帝國陸軍 Shinjitai: 大日本帝国陸軍 Dai-Nippon Teikoku Rikugun) was the official ground based armed force of Japan from 1867 to 1945 when it was Imperial Japan. ... Satsuma is the name of a town in Japan, Satsuma, Kagoshima, the surrounding district, Satsuma District, Kagoshima, the former province, Satsuma Province, which is now the western half of Kagoshima Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, a revolt, the Satsuma Rebellion. ... Nagato (Ja. ... Otori Keisuke(1833-1911) Otori Keisuke during the Boshin War (center). ... Hijikata Toshizō Statue at Takahata Fudo, Hino, Tokyo Hijikata Toshizō (土方歳三)(May 31, 1835—June 20, 1869) was the deputy leader of Shinsengumi, a small-built and talented Japanese military leader who resisted the Meiji Restoration. ... The Boshin War (戊辰戦争 Boshin Sensō, literally War of the Year of the Dragon) was fought in 1868-1869 between the Tokugawa Shogunate and the pro-Imperial forces in Japan. ... The Battle of Toba-Fushimi (Japanese:鳥羽・伏見の戦い) occurred between pro-Imperial and Shogunate forces during the Boshin War in Japan. ... Combatants Empire of Japan Ezo Republic Commanders Kuroda Kiyotaka Enomoto Takeaki Strength 7,000 combatants 10 steam warships 3,000 combatants 11 steam warships Casualties 770 casualties 1 ship sunk 1 ship destroyed 1,300 killed 400 wounded 1,300 captured 2 ships sunk 3 ships captured 3 ships lost... The Boshin War (戊辰戦争 Boshin Sensō, literally War of the Year of the Dragon) was fought in 1868-1869 between the Tokugawa Shogunate and the pro-Imperial forces in Japan. ... For the James Clavell novel, see Shogun or for the TV Miniseries. ... This article is about Nikko the city; see Nikko (priest) for the founder of Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism. ... Monument to the Byakkotai Samurai Aizu ) is a former feudal domain (Han), part of the modern-day Japanese prefecture of Fukushima, formerly a part of Mutsu province. ...

Background

In the early spring of 1868, former Tokugawa retainers under Ōtori Keisuke and Hijikata Toshizō had gathered at Kōnodai (国府台), having left the shogun's capital of Edo en masse. However, there were small numbers of men of Aizu under Akizuki Noborinosuke and Kuwana troops under Tatsumi Naofumi also present, as well as a handful of former Shinsengumi, such as Shimada Kai.^[1] While much of their numbers were samurai, there were also many members of other social classes present, particularly under Ōtori's direct command. Their objective was Utsunomiya, a castle town on the road northward to Nikkō and Aizu, which was a position of vital strategic importance. The daimyō of Utsunomiya, Toda Tadatomo, was absent, as he had been charged by Tokugawa Yoshinobu with traveling to Kyoto and submitting a letter of apology and submission.^[2] However, upon his arrival in Ōtsu, he was met by Satsuma-Choshu forces, and placed under confinement, as such a message reaching the ears of the Emperor might have resulted in a premature pardon that would have complicated the Sat-Cho alliance's anti-Tokugawa military objectives.^[3] This left Utsunomiya in the hands of Tadatomo's retired predecessor, Toda Tadayuki, who also advocated surrender but was not involved in the efforts of the former Shogunate. Otori Keisuke(1833-1911) Otori Keisuke during the Boshin War (center). ... Hijikata Toshizō Statue at Takahata Fudo, Hino, Tokyo Hijikata Toshizō (土方歳三)(May 31, 1835—June 20, 1869) was the deputy leader of Shinsengumi, a small-built and talented Japanese military leader who resisted the Meiji Restoration. ... Tatsumi Naofumi in his later years Tatsumi Naofumi (立見尚文; August 21, 1845 – March 6, 1907) was a samurai in the late Edo period, who went on to be a general in the Meiji-era Imperial Japanese Army. ... The Shinsengumi (Japanese: 新選組 or 新撰組) were a special police force of the late shogunate period. ... Utsunomiya (Japanese: 宇都宮市; -shi) is a city located in Tochigi, Japan. ... Tokugawa Yoshinobu in French military uniform, c. ...

Events Leading to the Battle

In the days prior to the attack, the former Shogunate forces were moving quickly in the area from castle to castle, with Hijikata taking two domains-- Shimotsuma and Shimodate-- on the May 7 and May 8, respectively. However, as these domains were small and their daimyō had fled, they did not have much in terms of money or supplies, and Hijikata was unable to acquire what he had hoped for.^[4] Almost simultaneously, a peasant riot broke out in Utsunomiya, giving the former Shogunate forces the perfect opportunity to strike, which they seized without delay.^[5] Ōtori's forces launched their attack on the castle on the morning of May 10, 1868, facing off against the combined Imperial force made up of troops from Matsumoto (Shinano Province, 60,000 koku), Kurohane (Shimotsuke Province, 18,000 koku), Mibu (Shimotsuke Province, 18,000 koku), Iwamurata (Shinano Province, 18,000 koku), Suzaka (Shinano Province, 12,000 koku), Hikone (Ōmi Province, 350,000 koku), Ōgaki (Mino Province, 100,000 koku), Utsunomiya (Shimotsuke Province, 77,000 koku), and Kasama (Hitachi Province, 80,000 koku).^[6] The castle fell the same day, with Toda Tadayuki escaping to Tatebayashi han^[7]. Ōtori, leading the main element of the army, entered the castle on the 20th, and his forces emptied out the rice stored in the castle, handing it out to the townsfolk, who, as previously noted, had been rioting for the past several days.^[8] Efforts were then made to strengthen the position of Ōtori's force. A combined unit of former Shogunate retainers and Aizu men, including former Shinsengumi member Nagakura Shinpachi's unit Seiheitai,^[9] headed north to Mibu han, where they intended to hide and lie in wait; however, upon their arrival they discovered that Satsuma forces had already taken the castle. The southerners, shocked at their sudden appearance, entered the castle and mounted a defense; and while the attackers had intended to set fire to the castle town, a torrential rain began, and made that impossible. Despite their best efforts, this combined unit was not able to take Mibu Castle, and withdrew to Utsunomiya after sustaining a total of 60 men killed and wounded, including eight officers.^[10] Subsequently, the Imperial army, with Satsuma and Ōgaki forces leading the way,^[11] swept down in a souwtheastward direction over the Mibu-kaidō road on May 14, launching a counterattack which resulted in their taking of the castle on the same day.^[12] May 7 is the 127th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (128th in leap years). ... May 8 is the 128th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (129th in leap years). ... May 10 is the 130th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (131st in leap years). ... 1868 (MDCCCLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Friday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... The Shinsengumi (Japanese: 新選組 or 新撰組) were a special police force of the late shogunate period. ... Nagakura Shinpachi (永倉 æ–°å…« Nagakura Shinpachi) was the captain of the 2nd troop of the Shinsengumi. ... May 14 is the 134th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (135th in leap years). ...

Faced with defeat, Ōtori's forces withdrew northward, by way of Nikkō, on to Aizu.^[13] This article is about Nikko the city; see Nikko (priest) for the founder of Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism. ...

Aftermath

It is important to note that while the Aizu domain previously advocated surrender and peaceful negotiation first and resistance second, the entrance of massive amounts of former Shogunate troops and others, following their retreat from Utsunomiya, forced its hand firmly into the realm of armed resistance:

"...soldiers of the Shogunate, who supported continued war, began decamping en masse and leaving Edo for Aizu, which necessitated Aizu's stance to be changed to one that was pro-war. Men such as senior councilor Saigō Tanomo and agriculture magistrate Kawahara Zenzaemon continued to push for allegiance and submission, however, they were not heard, and the clouds of war spread over northeastern Japan..."^[14]

In later years, Ōtori would write an account of the battle, titled Nanka Kikō (南柯紀行), which would appear in Kyū Bakufu (舊幕府), a magazine devoted to documenting Bakumatsu history, which he helped edit.

Notes

References

• Abe Akira, “Utsunomiya-han”, in Hanshi Daijiten, Vol. 2 (Kantō). Tōkyō: Yūzankaku, 1989.
• Kikuchi Akira, Shinsengumi Hyakuichi no Nazo. Tōkyō: Shin Jinbutsu Ōraisha, 2000.
• Nagakura Shinpachi. Shinsengumi Tenmatsu-ki. Tōkyō: Shin Jinbutsu Ōraisha, 2003
• Ōtori Keisuke. "Nanka Kikō". Kyū Bakufu 1 (1898), 20-58.
• Tsunabuchi Kenjō, ed. Matsudaira Katamori no Subete Tōkyō: Shin Jinbutsu Ōraisha, 1984.
• Yamakawa Kenjirō. Aizu Boshin Senshi. Tōkyō: Tōkyō Daigaku Shuppankai, 1931.