15 Facts About Takechi Hanpeita

Takechi Zuizan, known as Takechi Hanpeita, was a samurai of Tosa Domain during the Bakumatsu period in Japan.

Takechi Hanpeita was born in Fukii Village, Tosa Province as the son of an upper-class samurai of Tosa Domain.

Takechi Hanpeita's parents died in 1849, and the same year he married the eldest daughter of Shimamura Genjiro to support his remaining elderly grandmother.

Takechi Hanpeita opened his own dojo in 1854 and by 1855 had gathered over 120 disciples, including Nakaoka Shintaro and Okada Izo.

In May 1860, Takechi Hanpeita went on a tour of Kyushu and western Japan with a number of his closest disciples, and returned with some of the works of kokugaku scholar Hirata Atsutane, which further reinforced his belief in the Sonno joi movement.

Takechi Hanpeita was particular interested in the teachings of Choshu Yoshida Shoin as relayed to him by Kusaka.

Takechi Hanpeita dispatched the Tosa Kinnoto to Kyoto to seek a similar privilege for Tosa, which was granted.

Takechi Hanpeita drafted petitions in the name of Yamauchi Tomonori to the emperor advocating a restoration of imperial rule, whereby the five provinces of the Kinai region should be placed under direct imperial control, a national military responsible to the emperor should be created, and that future ordinances should be issued from the throne and not the shogun, and that the foreigners should be immediately expelled.

Takechi Hanpeita was sent to Edo as an official envoy of the Emperor, and was received in audience by Shogun Tokugawa Iemochi, which gave a vague and noncommittal response.

Takechi Hanpeita returned to Kyoto to receive unprecedented honors; however, he received the increasing displeasure of Yamauchi Yodo, who soon took action to suppress the Tosa Kinno-to and to prohibit their political negotiations with the Court and other domains.

Takechi Hanpeita refused suggestions that he should flee Tosa, and continued to offer unsolicited political advice to Yamauchi Yodo.

On July 3,1865 four leaders of the Tosa Kinnoto were sentenced to death by decapitation, and Takechi Hanpeita was ordered to commit seppuku by Yamauchi Yodo.

Takechi Hanpeita had been imprisoned for 1 year 8 months and 20 days.

Takechi Hanpeita received posthumous pardons in 1877, and he was posthumous promoted to Senior Fourth Court rank by the Imperial Court in 1891.

Takechi Hanpeita's grave is located on the hill above the Zuizan Shrine, a Shinto shrine dedicated to his deified spirit, which is located south of the path in front of his former residence.