Pathway to Japanese Literature

Thus Osaka came under Satsuma’s jurisdiction, Hyogo under Nagato’s, and Sakai under Tosa’s—the three domains now charged with maintaining order through imperial mandate. In early February, first the Tosa Sixth Infantry Unit entered Sakai, followed by the Eighth Infantry Unit deploying in succession. The military quarters occupied the yoriki residences and dōshin residences of Itoyamachi. When the Tosa Domain later assumed responsibility for Sakai’s civil administration, Senior Inspector Sugi Kiheita, Inspector Ikoma Seiji, and others established the Military Governor’s Office in Ōtsuji Kushiyamachi’s former assembly hall. There they tracked down seventy-three former shogunate officials who had been hiding across Kawachi and Yamato provinces, putting them to work managing affairs according to established protocols. Order returned swiftly to the city—even theater gates once sealed shut swung open again.

It was February 15th. The town magistrates learned that French soldiers were coming from Osaka to Sakai and reported this to the Military Governor’s Office. Of the sixteen foreign warships that had been anchored in Yokohama and had come to drop anchor off Tenpozan in Settsu—among those from Britain and America—there were also French ones. Sugi summoned the captains of both the Sixth and Eighth Units and ordered them to deploy to Yamato Bridge. If the French soldiers were indeed passing through with official permission, there should have been prior notification from Foreign Affairs official and former Uwajima domain lord Date Munenari, Iyo-no-kami; yet there was none. Even if their notification had been delayed, travelers to the interior were required to carry a permit. If they lacked one, there was no obligation to allow passage. Sugi waited at Yamato Bridge with Ikoma and two infantry units under their command. There, the French soldiers arrived. When they had their interpreter questioned about whether he possessed a permit, he did not have one. Because the French soldiers were few in number, they were blocked by the Tosa soldiers and turned back to Osaka.

On the same evening, as the infantry unit that had returned from Yamato Bridge was at their camp, a townsman rushed in and reported that French sailors had come ashore from the harbor. The French warship had anchored about one ri offshore from the harbor and loaded sailors onto twenty boats to land them. As the captains of both infantry units were preparing for deployment, orders arrived from the Military Governor’s Office for their dispatch. When they immediately went to investigate, they found the sailors were not committing any overt acts of violence. Yet they were intruding without restraint into shrines and temples. They forced their way into homes. They seized women and mocked them. The townspeople of Sakai—unaccustomed to foreigners since it was not an open port—were thrown into panicked flight, many shutting their doors and barricading themselves indoors. Both captains tried to reason with the sailors and send them back to their boats, but there was no interpreter present. Even when they gestured for them to leave, not a single sailor heeded them. Thereupon, the captains ordered their men to withdraw to camp. The soldiers attempted to capture nearby sailors and bind them with ropes. The sailors fled toward the pier. One among them snatched the unit flag propped against a townhouse doorway and ran off.

Both captains led their soldiers and gave chase. They could not easily catch up to the long-legged French sailors, who were accustomed to running at a gallop. The sailors were already attempting to board their boats. At this time, the Tosa Infantry Unit had firemen attached to them, and when conducting patrols in the city, they would take four or five along each time. Carrying the unit flag was also the duty of these firemen, and among them was a fireman leader named Hachimochi Umehachi. He was so adept at sprinting that even when rushing to a fire in Edo, he would not fall more than six feet behind a fast horse. This Umehachi dashed through the unit’s soldiers and chased after the sailor who had taken the unit flag. The firehook in his hand sliced through the wind and came crashing down upon the sailor’s skull. The sailor let out a cry and collapsed onto his back. Umehachi retrieved the unit flag.

Seeing this, the sailors waiting in the boats suddenly fired their pistols in unison.

Both captains instantly resolved themselves and barked the order: “Fire!” The soldiers, who had been waiting impatiently, lined up over seventy gun barrels and fired at the boats that were taking the landing party aboard. Approximately six French sailors scattered and fell. Some were injured and fell into the water. Even those unharmed suddenly leapt into the water, all hanging onto the gunwales of the boats with one hand and kicking at the waves with their feet to steer them; when bullets came, they would submerge to dodge them, then resurface and spit out seawater. The boats gradually grew distant. The total number of French sailors killed was thirteen, one of whom was a petty officer.

At that moment, Sugi rushed to the scene and ordered them to cease firing and return to their camp. As the two units were withdrawing to their camp, someone came from the Military Governor’s Office to summon the two captains. When asked by Sugi why they had opened fire without awaiting orders from their superiors, both captains explained that in the urgency of the situation, they had been unable to wait for commands. Of course they had returned fire after being shot at from the launches first; however, the Tosa soldiers had harbored ill feelings toward the French from the very beginning. This was because there had been a story circulating that when Tosa men, having been granted a brocade banner to subjugate the Matsuyama Domain, were escorting it back to their home province, the French intercepted their party in Kobe—under the pretext of mediating amity between the Imperial Court and the shogunate—and attempted to seize the brocade banner.

Sugi said to both captains, “Given that things have come to this, there’s no alternative. Because there may be a warship attack, prepare for defense.” He then dispatched Ikoma to the Foreign Affairs Office for reporting purposes and sent one lower inspector to the domain residence in Kyoto. Both captains were perplexed when ordered to defend against warships with only two platoons but dispatched scouts to the coast and decided to send several men from each unit in rotation to man the battery. At that moment, several dozen defeated soldiers of the shogunate—whom they had taken in and accommodated upon entering this area—came and said:

“If French warships should come, please make use of us.” “At the battery, there are thirty-six cannons installed during the Tokugawa family’s era, now under the custody of Lord Okabe Chikuzen-no-kami Nagahiro of Kishiwada Domain.” “We will defend with those.” “You all, please shoot those who come ashore,” they said.

Both captains dispatched those men to the battery. Before long, Kishiwada Domain also dispatched soldiers to the battery and kept watch over the Hyogo area through telescopes.

As night fell, word arrived that French launches had come to the harbor entrance. However, those launches numbered five or six, and all returned without landing. They had probably come to search for the sailors’ corpses. In fact, there were also those who said they had apparently managed to find several corpses, load them, and return.

At dawn on the 16th, by order of the Foreign Affairs Office, the Tosa Domain was relieved of its Sakai policing duties and ordered to withdraw its troops. The Military Governor’s Office relayed this order and commanded both captains to withdraw to the Osaka Kurayashiki. Both captains immediately prepared and departed Sakai. They arrived at the Tosa Domain’s Nakashi merchant house on Oike-dori 6-chōme in Osaka via the Sumiyoshi Kaidō around the hour of the Sheep (1–3 PM). Ikoma Seiji, who had gone to report from the Sakai Military Governor’s Office to the Foreign Affairs Office, merely had his statement taken down. Subsequently, the Foreign Affairs Office issued a directive for either the military governor stationed in Sakai or one of the captains to present themselves. Sugi presented himself. They returned the report on the Sakai Incident submitted by Ishikawa Sekinosuke at the Tosa Domain residence in Osaka and instructed that it be rewritten in greater detail and resubmitted. Sugi tentatively accepted it, submitted a report signed by both captains, and added that if there was to be any further inquiry, he would have the persons in question present themselves.

On the 17th, following deliberations the previous day, Senior Retainer Yamauchi Hayato, Senior Inspector Hayashi Kamekichi, Inspector Tani Tomo, several lower inspectors, and the Kyoto-stationed troops led by Nagao Tarōbee were dispatched from the Kyoto residence of the Tosa Domain to Osaka. This group arrived in Osaka at nightfall, whereupon Hayashi immediately issued orders to relocate Sugi, Ikoma, and both infantry captains to the Tosa Domain residence in Nagahori.

On the 18th, through Nagao Tarōbei as intermediary, the authorities ordered both infantry captains to suspend their duties and prohibited all their subordinates from leaving the premises. Both captains proposed to Nagao that they would assume full responsibility for this incident themselves and did not wish to burden their subordinates who had acted under their orders. The soldiers of both units, through squad leaders Ikegami Yasakichi and Ōishi Jinkichi, conveyed their regards to both captains concerning the suspension of duties. Both captains impressed upon their subordinates the intent of the proposal they had made to Nagao. Before long, three infantry platoons from the Tosa Domain arrived from Kyoto and began securing the Nagahori residence, strictly challenging all who entered or exited.

Next, Senior Retainer Fukao Kanae arrived as the representative of former Tosa Domain Lord Yamauchi Tosa-no-kami Toyonobu, accompanied by Senior Inspector Kominami Gorōemon. This was because Ambassador Léon Roches from the French warship *Venus*, anchored in Osaka, had demanded reparations from the Foreign Affairs Office.

The Ambassador’s demands were immediately approved by the imperial council. The first [demand] was that the lord of Tosa Domain personally go aboard the *Venus* to apologize. The second [demand] was to put to death two officers who had commanded the Tosa Domain’s units in Sakai and twenty soldiers from the units that had killed Frenchmen—all within three days after the diplomatic documents arrived in Kyoto, at the very location where said killings had occurred. The third [demand] was that the lord of Tosa Domain pay 150,000 francs as assistance funds for the families of the slain French sailors. For this measure, the lord of Tosa Domain should have come to Osaka himself, but due to illness, he dispatched a senior retainer as his proxy.

The lower inspector accompanying Fukao summoned each of the seventy-three soldiers from the 6th and 8th Infantry Units individually to interrogate them about whether they had fired shots in Sakai. That this interrogation effectively became a test of the soldiers' courage or cowardice stemmed from human weakness—truly unavoidable. Twenty-nine admitted having fired. In the 6th Unit: Commander Minoura Inokichi; squad leader Ikegami Yasakichi; soldiers Sugimoto Kōgorō, Katsugase Sanroku, Yamamoto Tetsusuke, Morimoto Shōkichi, Kitadai Kensuke, Inada Nukinosuke, Yanase Tsunashichi, Hashizume Aihei, Okazaki Eibee, Kawatani Gintarō, Okazaki Tashirō, Mizuno Mannosuke, Kishida Kanpei, Kadota Takutarō, and Kusunose Yasujirō. In the 8th Unit: Commander Nishimura Saheiji; squad leader Ōishi Jinkichi; soldiers Takeuchi Mingorō, Yokota Tatsugorō, Doi Tokutarō, Kaneda Tokiharu, Takeuchi Yasaburō, Sakata Jiemon, Nakashiro Junkurō, Yokota Seijirō, and Tamaru Yūrokurō. Those denying having fired numbered twenty from the 6th Unit starting with Hamada Tomotarō and twenty-one from the 8th Unit starting with Nagano Minekichi—forty-one in total.

On the 19th day, those who had answered that they had not fired were moved to a merchant house at Oike-dori 6-chōme as night fell and were informed they would be sent home once preparations were complete. In contrast, those who had admitted to firing surrendered their firearms and ammunition and, under the pretext of custody, came under the surveillance of the artillery unit previously dispatched to Osaka. The 6th Unit was placed in their original Nagahori main residence, while the 8th Unit was confined to the West Residence.

On the 20th, those who had answered that they had not fired boarded a boat from in front of the Nagahori Domain Residence. Later, these people passed through Marugame and returned to Tosa via the Kitayama Road. They had been ordered into confinement for several days, but it was later decided that they should resume their normal duties.

To those who had admitted to firing, a lower inspector came accompanied by soldiers from the artillery unit and confiscated their swords. Word of the death penalty had already reached these men’s ears, so among them were those who declared they would rather die charging into a French warship than submit to execution with their hands bound. This was stopped by Doi Hachinosuke of the 8th Unit, who called it reckless. Then there were those among them who suggested they all kill each other. Because officials had come just then to confiscate their swords, several among them even attempted to take action, thinking that if they did not die now, they would never get another chance. Once again, Takeuchi Mingorō of the 8th Unit stopped them. “Since I have a matter to propose, it would be best to proceed as instructed,” he said while writing on the tatami mat with his finger: “There are two daggers in my baggage.” The group finally surrendered their swords.

On the 22nd, Senior Inspector Kominami arrived and conveyed to all soldiers of both the 6th and 8th Units that they were to immediately assemble in the grand hall, as there was a message to be delivered from Lord Retired. Lord Retired was the title used for Yamauchi Toyoshige from the time he relinquished his family headship to Tosa-no-kami Toyonori and adopted the name Yōdō.

Excluding the four commanders and squad leaders, twenty-five men lined up in the grand hall. Thereupon, Kominami and the other officials emerged and took their seats. Then, when they opened the golden sliding door at the front, Fukao emerged. All present prostrated themselves.

Fukao said. “This was supposed to be delivered directly by Lord Retired himself, but due to his indisposition, I shall convey it as his proxy.” “Concerning this recent Sakai Incident, as the French have brought pressure to bear upon the imperial court, it has been commanded that twenty perpetrators be handed over.” “Lord Retired is deeply grieved.” “It is His Lordship’s command that all of you offer your lives peacefully.” Having finished speaking, Fukao stood up and entered the inner chambers.

Next, Kominami conveyed Lord Toyonori’s command. “Regarding the twenty men to be handed over this time, there is no clear basis for selecting whom to include or exclude.” “The entire group shall visit Inari Shrine, worship the gods, and determine life or death through lot-drawing.” “Those who draw white lots shall be exempted.” “Those who draw lots marked for execution shall be put to death.” “Now proceed before the gods,” he declared.

The twenty-five men descended from the palace and proceeded to the Inari Shrine. Under the shrine's bell, Kominami sat holding the lots. To his right stood an inspector in attendance. At the front steps stood two lower inspectors holding a roster. Dozens of paces before the shrine's altar, artillery and infantry units from Kyoto stood arrayed. When Kominami gave instructions, the lower inspectors opened the roster and read each of the twenty-five men's names one by one. Thereupon, each man stepped forward one by one, drew a lot, opened and examined it, then handed it to the lower inspectors. The lower inspectors examined them.

At this time, those who had come to worship initially wondered in bewilderment at what was happening; when they gradually came to understand the meaning of the lot-drawing, they were all deeply moved, and among them were some who wept. Those who drew the lot for execution were ten men from the 6th Unit: Sugimoto, Katsugase, Yamamoto, Morimoto, Kitadai, Inada, Yanase, Hashizume, Okazaki Eibee, and Kawatani; and six men from the 8th Unit: Takeuchi, Yokota Tatsugorō, Doi, Kakiuchi, Kaneda, and Takeuchi—sixteen in total. When adding two commanders and two squad leaders each to this number, it became twenty. Those who drew white lots were five men from the 6th Unit starting with Okazaki Tashirō and four men from the 8th Unit starting with Sakata Jiemon.

When the lot-drawing concluded and they all withdrew to the palace, four men from the white lot group of the 8th Unit—Sakata Jiemon, Nakashiro, Yokota Seijirō, and Tamaru—drafted and submitted a jointly signed petition. "Though divided into two groups—life and death—by lot-drawing, we who have been bound as brothers from the first entreat to receive the same disposition as those who drew the execution lots." The petition was rejected outright on the grounds that the number [of those to be executed] had already been fixed.

The so-called sixteen men of the execution lot group, together with both commanders Minoura and Nishimura and both squad leaders Ikegami and Ōishi, were gathered and detained at the main residence. The white lot group was immediately stripped of their military status, placed under the custody of Tosa Domain troops, and confined to a separate room. Several days later, an order was issued for the white lot group to be sent down from Sakai to their home province via a ship’s hold, accompanied by lower inspectors who returned with them to be entrusted to their respective relatives. However, it was soon announced that no further special instructions would be given.

As night fell, the execution lot group wrote wills addressed to their parents, siblings, and other relatives back home, cut off their topknots, wrapped the wills in them, and submitted them to the lower inspectors. At that moment, officers from the five squads guarding the domain residence came to bid farewell, bringing food and drink. The commanders, squad leaders, and sixteen soldiers were each treated to separate feasts. The sixteen men had all drunk themselves into a stupor and collapsed. Amidst them, Doi Hachinosuke of the 8th Unit had been the only one refraining from drink; upon seeing the others begin to snore, he suddenly shouted in a loud voice: "Hey! Tomorrow's an important day! How do you all plan to let them kill you? Are you fine with being beheaded?"

“Hey! “An important day is tomorrow!” “How do you all plan to have them let us die?” “Are you content to be executed by beheading?”

Someone answered irritably.

“Shut up.” “I’ll sleep—tomorrow’s an important day.”

Before this man had even finished speaking, he began to snore again. Doi grabbed the shoulder of Sugimoto of the 6th Unit and shook him awake. “Hey! Even if the others don’t understand, you should. How are we to die tomorrow? Are you content to be executed by beheading?”

Sugimoto leapt up.

“Yeah.” “Good thinking.” “It’s an important matter.” “Let’s wake everyone up.”

The two men roused the entire group. Those who still refused to wake were grabbed by the shoulders and shaken vigorously. The entire group awoke and listened to the two men’s proposal. Not a single person failed to accept this with understanding. They didn’t mind dying. They had been prepared for this since the day they became soldiers and left their homeland. However, they must not die in disgrace. Therefore, they unanimously resolved to request that they be allowed to commit seppuku. The sixteen men put on their hakama and haori. They then went to the intermediaries’ office and said that, as there was urgent business, they wished to request an audience with the magistrates.

The intermediaries went in and out of the inner room, appearing to confer, and after some time responded.

“Though your request is earnest, it cannot be granted. Each of you is under confinement. It is improper to come barging in at midnight demanding to meet the magistrates,” they said.

The sixteen men became enraged.

“That is outrageous! “What is this ‘under confinement’ status? “We are men who will lay down our lives for the Imperial Nation tomorrow. “If you refuse to act as intermediaries, we won’t ask. “Step aside. “We’re coming through right now!” The group kicked up the tatami mats and tried to press forward into the inner room.

A voice came from the inner room.

“All of you, wait here for a moment.” “The senior officials will meet you,” he said.

The ones who slid open the sliding door and emerged were Kominami, Hayashi, and several lower inspectors.

The group bowed, and then Takeuchi spoke. “We honor the imperial command and offer up our lives.” “However, what we did in Sakai was carried out in obedience to our superiors’ orders.” “We do not recognize those acts as crimes.” “Therefore we cannot consent to being sentenced under the designation of ‘death penalty.’” “If it must indeed be death by execution, then we request disclosure of charges warranting this sentence.”

As he listened, wrinkles formed on Kominami’s forehead. Kominami waited until Doi’s words had concluded, then glared at the entire group.

“Silence! Why would the authorities execute innocent men? The captain gave unreasonable orders, and you all resorted to unreasonable actions.” Takeuchi did not yield in the least. “No. That does not sound like the words of the Senior Inspector. When soldiers act upon their captain’s orders, there is no room for questioning their rightness or wrongness. Because the captain gave the order to fire, we fired. If each and every soldier had to consider the right and wrong of every order given, you couldn’t wage war.”

From behind Takeuchi, one or two men edged forward on their knees.

“We are all certain that in our actions at Sakai, there is merit and no crime.” “What crime do you consider this to be?” “Please explain in greater detail now.” “We too find this impossible to comprehend.” “We too.”

The entire group’s demeanor grew increasingly fierce.

Kominami softened his expression.

“No. “That earlier statement was a slip of the tongue.” “We will deliberate and give our response, so wait here for now.”

Having said this, he stood up and withdrew into the inner room.

The group glared at the inner room and waited, but Kominami showed no sign of emerging. "What's taking so long?" "Don't let your guard down."

Whispers like these could be heard among those gathered.

After a good while, Kominami emerged again. And then, in a most solemn manner, he said: “I have reported each of your statements to His Lordship’s representative. There is now an official decision on this matter—hear it. First, regarding this incident at Sakai—both our liege lords are profoundly aggrieved. Though unwell, Lord Tosa himself proceeded to Osaka with his hair still uncut in mourning, paid immediate respects at the French warship, and then directly returned home. Is it not said that when the lord suffers disgrace, his vassals die? Having received this decree, you would do well to comport yourselves calmly as commanded. Now comes the verdict. Concerning this Sakai incident—at this juncture of renewing foreign relations—disposition has been made according to international law. Namely: You are ordered to perform seppuku tomorrow at Sakai. Let each of you accept this gratefully as service to the Imperial Nation. Moreover, since eminent officials and foreign ambassadors will witness this ceremony, prepare yourselves to display our nation’s martial spirit.”

Kominami took out the written verdict, examined it, and proclaimed as follows. When he said “Lord Tosa,” he was in fact rejecting Toyonori, the actual lord of Tosa. The sixteen exchanged glances and could not suppress their smiles. Takeuchi answered on behalf of the group.

“We humbly accept this gracious command.” “In addition, there is one further matter I wish to humbly request.” “Though this should properly be submitted to the lower inspector through formal procedures, as the senior officials are presently assembled here, I shall state it directly as a final entreaty in this life.” “From the current official decision, we understand that even under the authorities’ discretion, our humble intentions have been duly considered.” “Therefore, we earnestly beseech you—as this carries the significance of a last testament—to grant that all of us here may receive treatment befitting samurai status hereafter.”

Kominami thought for a while and said. “Since you have been ordered to commit seppuku, I find this request to be reasonable for the time being. After deliberation, we will issue a verdict, so wait here for now.”

Having said this, he rose from his seat once more.

After another considerable while, this time the lower inspector emerged and said.

“Through extraordinary deliberation in the official inquiry, you are all hereby granted treatment as samurai status. “Therefore, you are each provided with one set of silk garments.”

Having said this, he handed over the inventory.

Having received the inventory and withdrawn, they stopped by the commanders' and squad leaders' quarters to report the night's outcome. The commanders, having been entertained by the security unit's officers, had gotten pleasantly drunk and were asleep, but when their subordinates arrived in full number, they immediately rose and met with them. The sixteen had not had a single opportunity to meet with their commanders and squad leaders since being separated from them until tonight, but thanks to their discussion with the senior inspector—which had granted them permission to commit seppuku and elevated them to samurai status—they were now able to visit openly, as no one could interfere with their movements.

The commanders and squad leaders, upon hearing their subordinates’ account, rejoiced and grieved. The reason for their grief was that, though these four men had prepared themselves for death, they had not been informed of how the French Ambassador had demanded twenty lives—and thus only upon learning of the sixteen men’s fate did they grieve. The reason for their joy was that they rejoiced over the sixteen men being granted permission to commit seppuku and elevated to samurai status. The four commanders and squad leaders and their sixteen subordinates, as there was still time before dawn, suggested taking a brief nap before rising, and so they parted amicably and retired to their beds.

The 23rd was a clear day. From Kumamoto Domain under Hosokawa Etchū-no-kami Yoshinobu and Hiroshima Domain under Asano Aki-no-kami Shigenaga—both ordered to escort the twenty men to Sakai—over three hundred infantrymen were dispatched, arriving at the gate of Nagabori Tosa Domain Residence before dawn. Inside the residence, the twenty men were served food and drink. The two commanders and squad leaders wore mostly newly tailored ceremonial robes and hakama, while the remaining sixteen were clad in silk garments received the previous night. The swords were not issued within the residence. They were to be distributed at the place of seppuku.

When the group stepped out from the domain residence’s entrance clattering in their high clogs, twenty palanquins prepared by the Hosokawa and Asano families stood ready. They bowed and boarded them. The procession organizers arranged the formation. The vanguard consisted of several lower-ranking officials from both domains, followed by soldiers. Next came three individuals: Baba Hikobei, caretaker of the Hosokawa Domain; Yamakawa Kitarō, captain of the same domain; and Watanabe Kakeru, senior official of the Asano Domain. They wore military hats and hakama trousers, mounted on horses with spears held upright. Next marched several soldiers. Then came two cannons being pulled along. Following these were twenty palanquins. Each palanquin had six soldiers armed with bayonet-fitted rifles assigned to it. Around all twenty palanquins, one hundred twenty similarly armed soldiers formed an encircling guard. The rear guard comprised two cavalrymen carrying rifles. Next proceeded ten tall paper lanterns from each domain. Then came over a hundred soldiers from both domains. Maintaining some distance behind this procession followed hundreds of people—senior Tosa retainers at the forefront. The entire column stretched approximately five chō.

After departing Nagabori and proceeding some distance, Yamakawa Kitarō approached each palanquin to offer greetings, then returned to Minoura’s palanquin and spoke as follows. “In this narrow palanquin, it must be rather cramped.” “Moreover, given the long journey ahead, keeping the blinds lowered must feel oppressive.” “Shall I have the blinds rolled up?” he said. “I am deeply grateful for your kindness.” “If permissible, then I would request it so,” answered Minoura. Thereupon, the blinds of all the palanquins were rolled up.

After proceeding a while longer, Yamakawa approached each palanquin one by one, “Since we have prepared tea and sweets, I would like to offer them to those who wish to partake,” he said. The treatment of the twenty men by both domains was exceedingly ceremonious in all matters. When they arrived near Sumiyoshi Shinkeimachi—where the Sixth and Eighth Units had once been quartered—there were those waiting by the roadside to bid them farewell. When they entered the town of Sakai, crowds had formed on both sides of the road, and from within them, frequent sobs and sighs could be heard. Some broke away from the crowd and rushed toward the palanquins, only to be rebuked by the security soldiers.

The place designated for seppuku was Myōkoku-ji Temple. The main gate was hung with curtains bearing the imperial chrysanthemum crest, the entire temple grounds were draped with curtains dyed with the crests of the Hosokawa and Asano families, and the seppuku site was enclosed by curtains bearing the Yamauchi family crest. Inside the tent erected within the gate, new straw mats were spread out completely.

When the procession arrived at Myōkoku-ji Temple’s gate, they carried the palanquins into the tent inside the gate and lined them up on the straw mats. Next, guided by samurai from both domains, the palanquins were carried into the inner courtyard and placed alongside the veranda of the main hall.

The twenty men exited the palanquins and lined up in the main hall. Hundreds of soldiers from both domains packed the surroundings of the seating area, and whenever one of the twenty men rose from his seat, four would encircle and accompany him. All twenty men chatted and laughed as usual while waiting for the appointed time to arrive. At this time, there were those among the samurai of both domains who had prepared brush, paper, and ink. They came before Minoura, who was at the head of the twenty men, and requested that he write something as a memento for posterity. Minoura Inokichi, former commander of the Sixth Infantry Unit, was of the Minamoto clan lineage, with the personal name Mototada, and went by the literary name Senzan. He was born on November 11, 1844, into a retainer-class household in Shioe Village, Tosa District, Tosa Province, which received a stipend of five retainers and fifteen koku. He was twenty-five years old that year. His grandfather was Tadahira, and his father was named Manjirō. His mother was of the Yoda clan; her name was Ume. In Ansei 4 (1857), he went to Edo for study; in Man'en 1 (1860), he became Lord Yōdō’s tutor in Edo, and in the same year returned home to be appointed assistant instructor at the Bunkan. He then served as an attendant to Lord Yōdō for seven or eight years before advancing to the rank of horse guard. He was appointed commander of the domain’s infantry platoon in November of Keiō 3 (1867), and within just three months of his service, the Sakai Incident occurred. Given such a background, Minoura had a taste for poetry and could write cursive script with distinction.

When the stationery was placed before him, Minoura offered a courteous preface—"I must apologize for its crude form"—and inscribed the seven-character quatrain he had composed mentally: "Sweep away malignant vapors to repay our nation's grace; Resolutely—why heed others' hollow words? Let this Great Principle echo through a thousand ages; A single death merits no debate at all." To expel the barbarians remained this man's essential vocation.

When the twenty men waited for some time, a Hosokawa domain samurai said that the appointed time still did not seem near. It was thus decided that they would tour the temple grounds. When they went out into the garden and looked, the temple’s interior and exterior were in a state of extreme commotion. Spectators poured in not only from Sakai’s city proper but also from Osaka, Sumiyoshi, Kawachi, and elsewhere, and no matter how they were restrained, they refused to leave. At the bell tower, several temple priests climbed up and were watching this crowd. Kakoi of the Eighth Unit noticed this, abruptly climbed up to the tower, and said to the priests.

“Reverend sirs, please step back a little.” “I am one who will commit seppuku and die today.” “Among our comrades, there are those who compose death poems and such, but such skillful things are beyond me.” “Therefore, as my farewell to this world, I wish to strike that great bell.” “There!” he declared, rolling up his sleeves and seizing the bell hammer. The priests, startled, clung to him from both sides. “Now, now—please wait.” “If the bell were to ring amidst this throng, there’s no telling what chaos might ensue.” “Please, I beg you to spare us that at least.”

“No—this is a memorial for samurai who die loyally for the nation! Don’t hold me back!”

Kakoi and the priests struggled with each other. Seeing this, two or three attendants ran to Kakoi’s side. “While an important matter lies before us, this is too childish,” they said. “What’s the point of ringing the bell and startling people?” “Think carefully about it,” they urged, stopping him. “I see,” Kakoi replied. “I got carried away and engaged in a pointless struggle.” “Enough, enough,” he said, drawing back his hand from the bell hammer. One of the attendants who had restrained Kakoi fumbled in his pocket. “Here I have a little money—it’s of no use to me anymore. Let me offer it to you reverend sirs who’ll tend to us after we die,” he said, handing the coins to the priests. Attendants who had heard the dispute between Kakoi and the priests gradually gathered.

“Here’s some here.” “Here’s some here,” they said as they took out whatever money they had and placed it all before the priests. Among them, there were those who—

“I’m not praying for your souls’ repose, but...” some added as a stipulation. The priests received the money and descended from the bell tower.

The people descended from the bell tower, “Well then, let’s go see the seppuku site now,” and started to enter the area enclosed by curtains. A Hosokawa Domain guardsman,

“It would be best if you did not proceed further,” said the Hosokawa guardsman, stopping them. “No, there’s no need for concern—we shall cause no trouble whatsoever,” they declared, and all entered the curtained enclosure.

The location was the open garden before the main hall. Within the curtain bearing the Yamauchi family crest stood four bamboo poles with thatch laid over them. On two coarse rush mats spread across the ground lay two new tatami mats placed upside down; these were covered with white cotton cloth and topped by a single woolen rug. Beside them sat a stack of folded woolen rugs—likely replacements for each man’s turn. At the entrance’s side stood a table bearing several sets of long and short swords. Drawing closer revealed these to be the blades confiscated at the Nagabori residence.

The people left the seppuku site and, deciding to also view the grave at Hōshū-in Temple, set out together in unison. Here, two rows of holes had been dug. In front of the holes were lined up large jars over six shaku in height. Moreover, each one had a name written and affixed to it. As they read through them, Yokota said to Doi.

“You and I ate and slept side by side in life, and look—even our jars are lined up together.” “In death too, we’ll be neighbors who can chat,” he said.

Doi suddenly leapt into a jar and shouted. “Yokota! Yokota! Yokota!” “This is quite the fitting arrangement!”

Takeuchi said. “Impatient man!” “There’s no need to rush—they’ll put you in soon enough.” “Hurry up and get out.” Doi tried to climb out of the jar, but unlike when he had entered, the rim was high and the interior slippery, making it impossible for him to escape. Yokota and Takeuchi toppled the jar sideways and pulled Doi out.

The twenty men returned to the main hall. There, food and drink prepared by both the Hosokawa and Asano domains were laid out. Dozens of helpers from the town had come to serve. The group exchanged greetings and raised their cups. Envious of those who had previously received poems from Minoura, the soldiers of both domains vied to request verses or asked for keepsakes they could carry on their persons as mementos. The people took turns grasping the brush. Since there was nothing to give as a memento, they cut off their collars and sleeves. The seppuku was finally scheduled to commence at the Hour of the Horse (noon).

Into the curtained enclosure, the seconds first took their positions. This had been decided the previous night at the Osaka Nagabori domain residence, when the guards had treated the twenty men to a feast and they had all consulted together. The names of the seconds were as follows: from the former Sixth Unit—Minoura’s was Mabeuchi (Baba) Tōtarō; Ikegami’s was Kitakawa Reihē; Sugimoto’s was Ike Shichisuke; Katsuragase’s was Yoshimura Zaikichi; Yamamoto’s was Mori Tsunema; Morimoto’s was Noguchi Kikuma; Kitadai’s was Takechi Sukeago; Inada’s was Ebara Gennosuke; Yanase’s was Kondō Shigenosuke; Hashizume’s was Yamada Yasunosuke; Okazaki’s was Tsuchikata Yōgorō; Kawatani’s was Takemoto Kensuke; from the former Eighth Unit—Nishimura’s was Kosaka Inui; Ōishi’s was Ochiai Genroku; Takeuchi’s was Kusunose Ryūhē; Yokota’s was Matsuda Hachihēji; Doi’s was Ike Shichisuke; Kakoi’s was Kōbun Sahē; Kaneda’s was Tanigawa Shinji; Takeuchi’s was Kitamori Nukinosuke. Among them, Ike Shichisuke was to serve as second for both Sugimoto and Doi. Each had tied their sword cords as sashes and waited behind the seppuku seats.

Outside the curtain, twenty additional palanquins had been placed. This was to transport the corpses to Hōshū-in Temple. Before burial, the corpses were to be transferred from the palanquins to large jars. At the inspection seats, beginning with Foreign Affairs Director Prince Yamashina, Foreign Affairs officials Major General Date, Major General Higashikuze, and senior retainers from both the Hosokawa and Asano domains sat on camp stools facing north from south. Fukao of the Tosa Domain sat facing southeast from the north. Senior Inspector Kominami and the inspectors below him lined up facing east from the northwest. The French Ambassador, accompanied by over twenty soldiers carrying rifles, sat facing east from the west front. Officials from other domains such as Satsuma, Nagato, Inaba, and Bizen were also in attendance.

The Hosokawa and Asano domain retainers informed the twenty men that preparations were complete. The twenty men transferred from the edge of the main hall into the palanquins. On both sides of the palanquins, the same guards as during the journey were stationed. The palanquins were positioned outside the curtain. The summoning official unfurled the roster and was about to read out the first name.

At this moment, the sky suddenly clouded over, and a heavy rain began to fall. The people filling the temple’s interior and exterior began raising a commotion and tried to rush toward the eaves and tree shade. It was utter chaos.

The seppuku was temporarily suspended, and beginning with Director Prince Yamashina, everyone took shelter from the rain indoors. The rain ceased at the Hour of the Sheep. The preparations were completed again at the Hour of the Monkey.

The summoning official read out, “Minoura Inokichi.” The temple grounds, inside and out, fell as silent as still water. Minoura, wearing a black woolen haori and short hakama, took his seat for seppuku. Baba, the second, stood three feet behind. After bowing to the officials including the Director Prince, Minoura pulled closer the plain wooden square tray provided by the attendant and took the dagger in his right hand. Suddenly, a thunderous voice resounded. “You French, listen! “I will not die for you.” “I die for the Imperial Nation!” “Take a good look at a Japanese man’s seppuku!” he declared.

Minoura loosened his garments, gripped the dagger in a reverse grip, plunged it deep into his left flank, cut downward three sun, dragged it rightward, then sliced upward another three sun. Because the blade had plunged deep, the wound gaped wide. Minoura discarded the dagger, thrust his right hand into the wound, grabbed the greater omentum and pulled it out while glaring at the French. Baba drew his sword and cut the nape in a single stroke, but it was shallow.

“Baba!” “What’s wrong?” “Do it quietly!” shouted Minoura. Baba’s second strike severed the cervical spine with a sharp snap.

Minoura shouted again,

“I’m not dead yet! Cut deeper!” he shouted. This voice was louder than before and echoed about three chō.

The French Ambassador, who had been observing Minoura’s conduct from the outset, found himself assailed by mounting awe and dread. Though already unsettled in his seat, when the Ambassador heard this thunderous roar at such an unforeseen moment, he finally rose to his feet, his limbs flailing uselessly. On his third attempt, Baba succeeded in severing Minoura’s head.

Next to be summoned was Nishimura, a man of gentle disposition. Family name: Minamoto. Given name: Ujitomo. He lived in Tosa District, Enokuchi Village. He was a mounted guard with a stipend of 40 koku. Born in the seventh month of the second year of Kōka (1845), he was twenty-four years old that year. He had become commander of an infantry platoon in August of Keiō 3 (1867). Nishimura, wearing his military uniform, took his seat for seppuku but carefully undid each button of his garment one by one. He took the dagger, thrust it into his left side, pulled it slightly to the right, then—apparently deeming the cut too shallow—plunged it deeper and drew it slowly rightward. Kosaka, the second, seemed somewhat flustered; while Nishimura was still pulling to the right, he cut from behind. The head flew about three ken (approximately 5.4 meters).

Next was Ikegami, with Kitagawa acting as second.

Next was Ōishi, a man of striking stature. First, he stroked his abdomen two or three times with both hands. He then took the sword, stabbed his left flank with his right hand, pressed the back of the blade with his left hand to cut downward, placed his left hand over his right to draw it across to his right flank, and upon reaching it, pressed the back of the blade once more with his left hand to slice upward. Then he placed his sword beside him, spread both hands, and shouted, “I leave the rest to you!” Ochiai, the second, mishandled his duty and severed the head on the seventh stroke. The seppuku blade moved smoothly and without hesitation; the one who performed the most skillful execution was this Ōishi.

Next, Sugimoto, Katsuragase, Yamamoto, Morimoto, Kitajo, Inada, and Yanase proceeded in order to commit seppuku. Among them, Yanase first dragged his sword from left to right, then pulled it back from right to left, causing his intestines to spill out from the wound.

Next was the twelfth man: Hashizume. By the time Hashizume emerged and took his seat, the surroundings had grown dark, and lanterns were lit in the main hall. The French Ambassador had until now been unable to bear his anxiety, rising and sitting restlessly. This anxiety gradually spread to the soldiers standing with rifles in hand. Their postures had all slackened, and they began waving their hands and whispering to each other about something. Just as Hashizume took his seat for seppuku, the Ambassador uttered something; then the soldiers surrounded him in their midst, left their inspection posts, and—without bowing to our imperial family members or officials—hurriedly exited beyond the curtains. Now, upon crossing the garden and exiting the temple gate, the soldiers surrounding the Ambassador immediately broke into a gallop and raced toward the port.

At the seppuku seat, Hashizume loosened his garments and attempted to position the dagger into his abdomen. At that moment, an official rushed over and shouted, “Wait!” To Hashizume, who had stopped his hands in surprise, the official explained that the French Ambassador had left and requested that he temporarily refrain from committing seppuku. Hashizume returned to where the eight remaining men were and explained the details. If they were to die, they all wished to perish in a single instant—such was the emotion that now gripped the nine men. They felt frustrated at being stopped and wanted to lunge at the one who had halted them to say something. They wanted to ask for the reason.

The group went to Kominami’s waiting room, and Hashizume spoke up.

“Why have you halted our seppuku under imperial command? We have come to receive an explanation of this.”

Kominami replied. “Your concern is indeed reasonable in part, but French officials were required to witness the seppuku. Since they withdrew, we had no choice but to suspend proceedings. At this very moment, senior councilors from seven domains—Satsuma, Nagato, Inaba, Bizen, Higo, and Aki—have gone to negotiate at the French warship. For now, return to your seats and you are to await further instructions.”

The nine men had no choice but to withdraw to the main hall. Retainers of the Hosokawa and Asano domains served an evening meal and compelled those who claimed to have no appetite to take up their chopsticks, then provided bedding and made them lie down. Around midnight, retainers from both domains arrived and informed them that the elders of the seven domains would now be attending. The nine men sprang up to greet them. When three of the seven domain elders leaned forward and spoke in turn, what they heard was roughly this: "We went to the French warship and demanded their reason for leaving." "However," they continued, "the French Ambassador declared that while he admired how Tosa's men disregarded their lives in public service, he could not endure witnessing such a harrowing spectacle and would therefore petition the Japanese government to spare those remaining." "Tomorrow morning, through General Date's mediation, we shall likely receive the imperial decree." "You must all refrain from rash action and await further imperial instructions." The nine men bowed in solemn acceptance.

After a day’s interval, on the 25th, retainers from both domains arrived and informed them that the nine men were to withdraw to Osaka headquarters, and that Hashizume, Okazaki, and Kawatani of the 6th Unit would be entrusted to Aki Domain, while Takeuchi, Yokota, Doi, Kakuchi, Kaneda, and Takeuchi of the 8th Unit would be placed under Higo Domain’s custody. Nine palanquins were carried and set down in the temple’s spacious garden. As the group was about to board the palanquins, Hashizume bit through his own tongue, blood streaming from his mouth as he collapsed. He regretted that a complication had arisen when it was his turn, after his colleagues had died honorably. Fortunately, the tongue wound was not severe enough to endanger his life, but the Asano retainers—determined to withdraw swiftly to Osaka before another disturbance could arise—hurried the palanquins carrying Hashizume and the other two men as though racing couriers. The Hosokawa retainers called out, attempting to slow their pace, but the Asano retainers paid no heed. Finally, the Hosokawa retainers also broke into a run.

When they arrived in Osaka, the nine palanquins were temporarily halted in front of the Tosa domain residence in Nagahori. Kominami came out to the gate and admonished Hashizume. From there, the members of both domains split up and each took back the people they had been entrusted with. A doctor was assigned to Hashizume, and a nurse was also provided from the Tosa Domain.

The nine men were treated very hospitably by both the Hosokawa and Asano families. Among them, the Hosokawa family declared that this marked their third honorable duty—having taken custody of the Akō rōnin during the Genroku era and the Mito rōnin who had assassinated Ii Kamon-no-kami in the first year of Man’en—and treated them with utmost care upon utmost care. They handed over newly made striped lined garments to be used as nightclothes. The bedding consisted of three layers of futon, and foot soldiers spread out the tatami mats. Every other day, a bath was prepared. They handed over hand towels and white paper. For all three daily meals, dishes accompanied by grilled items were invariably served, and the captain would perform a poison inspection. In the afternoon, tea was served with an assortment of confections. Fruit was served from time to time. For utility purposes, two or three foot soldiers were stationed on the veranda. The hand-washing ladle was handled by the foot soldiers. At night, a night watch was stationed. Those who came to pay their respects lowered their heads to the veranda planks. They lent them books to read. When they fell ill, a doctor was summoned to compound the medicine before their eyes and decoct it before their eyes. Such was the general manner of their treatment.

On March 2nd, an order was issued exempting them from the death penalty and commanding their return to their home province. On the following day, a captain from the Tosa Domain led soldiers to retrieve the nine men from the Hosokawa and Asano domains. Both domains hosted a banquet of seven dishes and two courses and expressed their regret at parting. On the 14th, the nine men—assigned one lower inspector and two overseers—boarded a boat from Kizugawaguchi; on the 15th, they departed Senbonmatsu; and on the 16th, they arrived at Urado Port in the dead of night. On the 17th, as they headed toward the South Meeting Hall, the path from Matsugahana west to Obiya-chō was filled with crowds who had come to see those involved in the Sakai Incident. At the South Meeting Hall, the lower inspector handed over the nine men to the custodial officials, who received them and entrusted each to their respective relatives. The nine men at this time met with their parents, wives, and children—to whom they had once sent farewell letters and locks of hair—after a long separation.

On May 20th, a summons from the South Meeting Hall came to the nine men. The individuals were to appear at the Hour of the Snake (9–11 AM), while those who had biological fathers or children were also to have said fathers or children appear at half-past the Hour of the Snake (10 AM). At the South Meeting Hall, an inspector was in attendance, and a lower inspector issued a three-article directive. Their stipends and rice allowances were confiscated, and they were ordered into exile west of the Togawa River. The first article stated that they were permitted to appear as they were, in their hakama and swords. The second article stated that those who had biological children would have their children enlisted as soldiers and be granted two fuchi stipends and four koku of rice. The third article stated that those without biological children would be granted two fuchi stipends as assistants at their place of exile and that these would be disbursed from the storehouse in Hata Nakamura. The nine men, after conferring, lodged their petition through Hashizume: “We had resolved to die for the nation due to the French demands. Therefore, we were permitted to commit seppuku and were treated as samurai. Subsequently, as the French petitioned for clemency, our death sentences were commuted. Therefore, being innocent, we ought to be treated as samurai. Until we are informed why we are being sentenced to exile,” they declared, “we cannot readily comply.” The inspector said in a bewildered manner: “Your doubts are most unreasonable. However, this sentence of exile shall be considered a punishment commensurate with the suffering of the eleven men who took their own lives.” He concluded: “I must ask you to reluctantly comply.”

The nine men said with a wry smile, “We too are deeply pained by the deaths of the eleven men day and night. If you tell us this punishment equals their suffering, we’ve no words to contest.” They all stated their compliance. The nine men departed as exiles wearing hakama and swords—an unprecedented allowance—but having been long confined and physically weakened, they complained of foot pain upon reaching Asakura Village in Tosa District and rode in palanquins. Their place of exile was Nyūda Village in Hata District. Through arrangements by Village Headman Uga Sukenosuke, they were initially separated into individual farmhouses, but after several days he housed eight together in a vacant dwelling. Yokota Hitori was taken in by the priest of Shinshō-ji Temple—a Hokke Sect temple three ri west in Arioka Village—due to a personal connection.

The nine men held a memorial service at Shinshō-ji Temple for their eleven colleagues who had died at Myōkoku-ji Temple, and beginning the following day, they started providing the villagers with education in both civil and martial arts. Takeuchi taught the recitation of the Four Books; Doi and Takeuchi instructed swordsmanship; and the others each imparted various arts as they saw fit.

Nyūda Village was a place where epidemics prevailed from summer to autumn. In August, Kawatani, Yokota, and Doi developed fevers. Doi’s wife came from Yasu Village in Kami District, nursing him day and night without rest. Yokota’s son Tsunejirō, as his mother was ill, though a mere nine-year-old child, walked thirty *ri* alone to come and nurse his father. These two gradually began to recover, yet Kawatani alone fell ill and died on September 4th at the age of twenty-six.

On November 17th, the inspectors’ office issued an official summons to Hashizume and the other nine men. The eight surviving men bid farewell at Kawatani’s grave, departed Nyūda Village, and arrived in Kōchi on the 27th. When they immediately presented themselves at the inspector’s office, a notification was delivered via written documents to each, stating: “In accordance with His Majesty’s Accession Celebration and by Imperial Grace, your return residence is hereby permitted; furthermore, it is decreed that the soldiers [so-and-so] and their fathers shall have their prior years of service counted.” This was because the eight men had received a special pardon on account of Emperor Meiji’s accession on August 27th—the term “soldier” here referring to regular foot soldiers. No official decision regarding samurai status treatment was ever made.

For the eleven who died at Myōkoku-ji Temple, the Tosa Domain erected eleven stone monuments at Hōshū-in. The monuments stood in a row from Minoura at the head to Yanase. Beneath the rear eaves of Hōshū-in Temple’s main hall, nine large jars lay inverted upon cut stones. These were the relics of the nine men who had been meant to be among them but were not. In Sakai, people never ceased to make pilgrimages, calling the eleven stone monuments “Honorable Regrets” and the nine jars “Honorable Survivors.”

Among the eleven men, Minoura [Inokichi] had no sons, so his household was temporarily extinguished; however, on March 8, 1870, they had Minoura Kōzō—a man of the same surname—reestablish the family name through his second son Kusukichi, ranking him third-class lower seat and granting seven koku and three to of rice. Subsequently, at Kōzō’s request, Inokichi’s daughter was arranged to marry Kusukichi.

Nishimura’s father, Kiyozaemon, had died early, and because his grandfather Katsuhei was still alive, the family headship was restored to his grandfather. Later, an adopted heir came from the Kakei clan.

The children of squad leaders and below, as well as soldiers—even if young—were generally taken in by soldiers and, upon growing up, served.