Hokkaido:4

Hokkaido was a country different from Japan for a while. Remnants of Edo shogunate established "蝦夷共和国"(Ezo Kyouwa koku, Ezo republic). However it seems there is no evidence that the governors called the country Ezo kyouwa koku. Any way, it was an independent state as a matter of practice. The state's life span was just 6 months or so.



Ezo's army and Meiji Government's army fought at Hakodate. Even though Ezo fought well, finally it lost. Amid the war a famous samurai, 土方歳三(Hijikata Toshizo), was died.(Meiji government is westernized-imperial- Japan.)



Hijikata was born into farmer's family in Musashi province(Tokyo prefecture). He studied swordsmanship of 天然理心流 (Tennen rishin ryu). Once he decided to go to Kyoto and became a member of 新撰組(Shinsengumi). Later he became a vice-president of Shinsengumi and a high-placed shogun's retainer. Mostly, farmer can't become a Samurai in the era. The reason he became it is diminished Shogun's authority. He fought many times and he won all his own wars but because Shogunate lost the wars, Hijikata lost.



The president of Ezo republic was 榎本武揚(Enomoto Takkeaki) who was a shogun's retainer. He was a commander of fleet of shogunate. He escape from Edo(Tokyo) and reached at Hakodate. He became a president of Ezo republic by election, and Hijikata became a vise-magistrate of Ezo army.



Hijikata never lost war in Hakodate too. There was no greater commander than Hijikata in Japan. Ezo was inferior in numbers to Meiji Japan, but Hijikata came up with tactics which can work miracles(in TV drama's story). But Hjikata was die in battle before Ezo implement the tactics. He made a sally to rescue behalf and he died in the battle. At last, Ezo gave in to Meiji Japan. Enomoto Takeaki filled successively key position of Meiji government.



Hijikata knew his destiny that he would die in battle. However, he decided to die as a samurai in battle. Hijikata lost so many colleague by his own command. He never wanted to survive alone. Hijikata became longing samurai, I think he wanted to live in battle as a samurai by the end of his life, and pledged to die for colleagues who have died. Hijikata Toshizo became one of the best samurai in history. Hijikata's death is plausive, I think.



A memorial park is in Hakodate. There is a gate, Ippongi gate. Hjikata went through the gate before he died. I prayed in front of stone monument of Hijikata. Although I'm not, there are many fan of Hijikata even now.



No one knows where Hijikata's bodies was buried. Some one say it is foot of Hakodate mountain and someone say it is Goryokaku fortress.



I composed poems.



1. もののふの　道（こころ）をやどす　北の風　今も揺るがぬ　函館の山



もののふの　こころをやどす　きたのかぜ　いまもゆるがぬ　はこだてのやま



Mononofu-no Kokoro-wo-yadosu kita-no-kaze imamo-yuruganu Hakodate-no-yama.



It means:



The north wind blows with Hijikata's spirit

Hakodate mountain remains unbudging







2. もののふの　夢路を通る　北の風　名を吹き上げよ　函館の山



もののふの　ゆめじをとおる　きたのかぜ　なをふきあげよ　はこだてのやま



Mononofu-no Yumeji-wo-tooru kita-no-kaze na-wo-fukiageyo hakodate-no-yama.



It means:



The north wind, sweeping past the land of dreams, blows heavenwardly to glorify Hijikata.





Today's poems were difficult to translate. But Chibisan gave me a great help. Thank you very much Chibisan!



(Once I thought I edit this blog, It seems I've click "Preview". And I edit this blog again.)



I took the photo, the mountain is Hakodate mountain.



Thank you very much for your reading my blogs about Hokkaido.