Takasugi Shinsaku was a samurai from the Chōshū Domain of Japan who contributed significantly to the Meiji Restoration. He was the best friend of Katsura Kogorō .
Appearance[]
Shinsaku had short black hair, arced eyebrows, and dark marks around his eyes.
Shinsaku wore a white sleeveless kimono with three dark colored lines running across his chest, a black sash around his waist, sandals, a sword strapped to his waist, and carried a Shamisen Hosozao.
Personality[]
Shinsaku was an activist and a warmonger. Shinsaku was opposed to his friend's recruit of a young boy named Himura Kenshin as Hitokiri Battōsai. Takasugi belived that Kenshin suffered deeply as an assassin, due to him having to take away the lives of others in order to create the new Meiji era. While he was commanding his army, he would lead his men like a god of war.
Relationships[]
- Katsura Kogorō: Katsura was a close friend and ally of Shinsaku's.
- Himura Kenshin: Shinsaku met Kenshin when he joined the Kiheitai, and presented him to his friend Katsura Kogorō. When Katsura asked Shinsaku to let Kenshin go with him to Kyōto, Shinsaku accepted.
Abilities[]
Shinsaku had some skills with a sword but it is unknown what he is capable of.
History[]
Shinsaku had called Katsura to his location, from Kyōto, to watch the formation of the Kiheitai. When Kenshin steps up and shows his skills, Katsura asks Shinsaku to give him the boy for Kyōto. Later, Shinsaku and Katsura met with Kenshin in private, where Shinsaku listened while Katsura talked to Kenshin about becoming a hitokiri. After they finished talking and Kenshin left, Shinsaku told Katsura that he would ruin Kenshin's life and that Katsura must remain clean no matter what from now on.
Over a year later, Shinsaku was imprisoned by his own people, and was visited by Yamagata. When Yamagata informed Shinsuka about Kenshin's marriage, Shinsaku started to laugh. Yamagata said it this was no laughing matter, to which Shinsaku replied that even Katsura had Ikumatsu. Yamagata replied that the two were in different positions, which Shinsaku replied that they are not so different and that they would both defend the new era. Suddenly Shinsaku coughed up some blood and Yamagata worried about him, to which Shinsaku answered Yamagata to not worry, since he is not going to die just yet.
Five months later, Shinsaku got impatient and stood up with the Kiheitai, which caused Chōshū to become in a state of civil war. Years later, Shinsaku would command his Chōshū army during the second Chōshū Subjugation, but passed away two years afterwards, without seeing the revolution come true. On his death bed, Shinsaku left behind a poem but was only able to complete the first half.
Jinchū Arc[]
Kenshin mentions Shinsaku, when he was talking about his past to his friends.
Hokkaido Arc[]
Shinpachi mentions Shinsaku as a man that can move a thousand men.
Trivia[]
- He suffered from tuberculosis, which caused him to become a social outcast, only ever kept company by his partner Uno.
- He died right outside the last battle of the Revolution; his "death poem" was "I made an interesting place out of our boring lonely world."
Gallery[]
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