Okita Sōji (沖田 総司 Okita Sōji, also Okita Sōshi), (1844 - July 19, 1868) was captain of the first troop of the Shinsengumi, an armed special security team in Kyoto during the late shogunate period. 1844 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... July 19 is the 200th day (201st in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 165 days remaining. ... 1868 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Mannequins dressed in Shinsengumi outfits The Shinsengumi (Japanese: 新選組) were a special police force of the late shogunate period. ... This page is about the city Kyoto. ... The late Tokugawa shogunate or last shogun (幕末; Bakumatsu) is the period between 1853 and 1867 during which Japan ended its isolationist foreign policy called sakoku and modernized from a feudal shogunate to the Meiji government. ...

Born Harumasa Sōjirō in 1844 from a samurai family, he started training in the Shieikan Dojo at the age of nine with Kondo Isami, a master of the Tennen Rishin Ryu. He proved to be a genius swordsman, and was a teacher of kenjutsu at 18. His signature technique being his Sandanzuki, which translates as "Three Piece Thrust", a technique that stabs the sword at the neck, left shoulder, and right shoulder. (This technique was said to have hit all three points almost simultaneously, but this is most likely embellishment.) Okita is usually considered one of the most talented and strongest out of the Shinsen-gumi, along with Saito Hajime and Nagakura Shinpachi. He was the 2nd youngest member in the group with Todo Heisuke being the youngest. 1844 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Kondo Isami Kondo Isami (近藤 勇 Kondō Isami, 1834 - 1868) was a chief of the Shinsen-gumi, an armed special security team in Kyoto during the late shogunate period. ... Tennen Rishin-ryu (天然理心流 Tennen Rishin ryū) was a sword style practiced by the Shinsengumi. ... Kenjutsu (Japanese: 剣術) is a classical Japanese martial art, a koryu budo. ... Saito Hajime (Fujita Goro) Saitō Hajime (æ–Žè—¤ 一 Saitō Hajime) (January 1, 1844 - September 28, 1915) was the captain of the third troop of the Shinsengumi. ... Nagakura Shinpachi (永倉 新八 Nagakura Shinpachi) was the captain of the 2nd troop of the Shinsengumi. ...

Soji wielded a famous katana called Kikuichi-monji. Legend said that before slaying his foes he would normally say "my Kikuichi-monji feels thirsty tonight".

It was rumored that his tuberculosis was discovered when he coughed blood and fainted during the Ikedaya Affair, but some sources say that he contracted the disease after that. Both are reasonable, as tuberculosis can kill quickly (weeks), or very slowly (many years). After the Boshin War, he went into a tuberculosis hospital in Edo and died at the age of 25, on May 30th, 1869. Tuberculous lungs show up on an X-ray image Tuberculosis is an infection with the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which most commonly affects the lungs (pulmonary TB) but can also affect the central nervous system (meningitis), lymphatic system, circulatory system (miliary TB), genitourinary system, bones and joints. ... The Ikedaya Jiken (池田屋事件), also known as the Ikedaya Affair, or was a famous armed encounter between the anti-shogunate forces from Chosu (now Yamaguchi) and the Shinsengumi in July 1864 in Kyoto, Japan. ... 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. ...

Okita is briefly mentioned and shown in the manga/anime series Rurouni Kenshin, which takes place during and after the Meiji Revolution in Japan. He is a main character in the anime Peacemaker Kurogane, which takes far more liberties with history. Okita is also the main character in the manga Kaze Hikaru, which is a fictional story about the Shinsengumi during the late Tokugawa shogunate. His anime, manga, and TV depictions tend to be as a handsome (sometimes beautiful and feminine) young man. Cover of Rurouni Kenshin volume 18 American Version. ... The Meiji Restoration (明治維新; Meiji Ishin), also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution or Renewal, was a chain of events that led to a change in Japans political and social structure. ... Peacemaker Kurogane (Japanese:PEACE MAKER鐵) is a historical fiction manga and anime series created by manga-ka Nanae Chrono (黒乃奈々絵 Kurono Nanae). ... Rurouni Kenshin manga, volume 1 (English version) Manga (漫画) is the Japanese word for comics; outside of Japan, it usually refers specifically to Japanese comics. ... The late Tokugawa shogunate or last shogun (幕末; Bakumatsu) is the period between 1853 and 1867 during which Japan ended its isolationist foreign policy called sakoku and modernized from a feudal shogunate to the Meiji government. ...

External link

Photograph of Okita