Hakuouki Character Introduction
I think this might come in handy when comparing with the version in Reimeiroku.
Shinsengumi Hierarchy in Hakuouki.
The system used in Hakuouki (and most drama, game, comic about Shinsengumi) is based on the record in July 1865, which was the peak of Shinsengumi: full 10 squads, around 150 skilled swordsmen.
Actually their positions were changed quite often (adjusted about once per 6 months). Squads were also merged during important battles. Therefore they don't keep the same squad number all the time.
In history:
☆General Commander (Sannan) and Military Advisor (Itou) were simply "advisors" without actual power.
☆Captains, inspectors, and accountants were all directly under the command of Vice Commander (Hijikata).
☆Each squad captain led 2 corporals, and each corporal led 5 common soldiers, giving 13 men in a squad. Patrolling the streets was always two squads at a time. 26 men marching together was quite a sight.
Commander (局長)
General Commander (総長)
Vice Commander (副長)
Accountant
(勘定方)
Position: Captain (組長)
Rank: Assistant of Vice Commander (副長助勤)
Position: Inspector (監察方)
Rank: Officer in Service
(諸士調役)
Corporal (伍長)
Common Soldier (平隊士)
Note:
I arrange the table this way to show they're all directly under Hijikata's command. However, the Assistants of Vice Commander rank higher than the Inspectors.
Therefore, while the Assistants often address each other by first name or nickname (eg. Souji, Sano), the Inspectors address them by family name +san (eg. Okita-san, Harada-san) or +captain to show respect, and speak to them in a polite way. Hence when Souji & Yamazaki are quarreling, Shimada reminds Yamazaki, "this isn't the proper attitude toward a captain".
Shinsengumi Character Introduction
Hijikata Toshizo
He is Kondou's right-hand man, and the one with real power in Shinsengumi.
Also known as the "Devil Vice Commander". Actually he's being strict to keep Shinsengumi in one piece. Very few people know the struggle inside him.
Often addressed as "Hijikata-san". Kondou calls him by nickname "Toshi".
Okita Souji
Position: Captain of First Squad. Fencing Instructor.
He's a genius in sword skill. Although he's always smiling and joking, he can become merciless when wielding a sword.
Often addressed as "Souji".
Saitou Hajime
Position: Captain of Third Squad. Fencing Instructor.
He's a taciturn and shy loner. Left-handed. A master in Iaidō. His sword skill is one of the best in Shinsengumi.
Often addressed as "Saitou", or "Hajime-kun" (only by Heisuke and Souji).
Toudou Heisuke
Position: Captain of Eighth Squad. (The youngest of Shinsengumi executives.)
He's a typical Edo boy who loves festivals. Spirited, he's often the first one to jump into battle.
Often addressed as "Heisuke".
Harada Sanosuke
Position: Captain of Tenth Squad.
Although he gets into quarrel easily, he is warm-hearted, and has a strong sense of obligation. He wields a spear better than a sword.
Often addressed as "Sano".
Kondou Isami
He is the Commander and representive of Shinsengumi.
He has high dignity, is well-trained in sword, yet is still warm-hearted and sentimental. He believed that it's a genuine samurai to help the shogunate.
Often addressed as "Kondou-san".
Sannan Keisuke
Position: General Commander.
He's always smiling and speaks in a soft manner. Behind the smile, he holds Shinsengumi in one piece cleverly.
Often addressed as "Sannan-san".
BTW he addresses everyone as "last name + kun", like "Hijikata-kun".
Nagakura Shinpachi
Position: Captain of Second Squad. Fencing Instructor.
He's an Edo guy who loves sword skills, sake, and women. It's in his personality to dislike unjust things. His sword skill is one of the best in Shinsengumi.
Often addressed as "Shinpachi".
Inoue Genzaburou
Position: Captain of Sixth Squad.
He's the senior among them, and is loved for his sincere and honest personality.
Kondou, Hijikata, and him are from the same hometown and the same dojo. He supports them wholeheartedly.
Often addressed as "Gen-san".
Yamazaki Susumu
Position: Inspector.
He's an inspector inside Shinsengumi, and a secret agent outside.
He's very loyal to shinsengumi and Vice Commander, and respects Hijikata.
Often addressed as "Yamazaki".
Shimada Kai
Position: Inspector. Supervisor. Corporal of Second Squad.
Inspector and secret agent of Shinsengumi. He's a giant and has amazing physical strength.*
Often addressed as "Shimada".
Itou Kashitarou
Position: Military Advisor.
He's invited into Shinsengumi for his knowledge and sword skill.
Often addressed as "Itou-san".
*Note:
Shimada's amazing strength and why it's emphasized in his profile everywhere.
On the first day of the Battle Of Toba-Fushimi, Nagakura Shinpachi and his suicide team tried to take down the enemy cannon base. However, they were completely supressed under gunfire, and forced to retreat. During the retreat, they had to climb over a wall (about 2 meters high) built around their base. Shinpachi was held down by his heavy equipment (chain mail, two swords, two rifles, bags of gunpowder), and too exhausted to climb over. As enemy gunfire closing in on him, Shimada reached his rifle down and shouted "grab this!" Then he pulled Shinpachi all the way up the wall.
This story was in Nagakura Shinpachi's memoirs. He was eternally grateful to Shimada for saving his life.
(Battle Of Toba-Fushimi took place at Ch4 in Hakuouki game, and #12 in Hakuouki anime. Too bad we don't get to see this touching scene from Chizuru's viewpoint.)
Shinsengumi Hierarchy in Hakuouki.
The system used in Hakuouki (and most drama, game, comic about Shinsengumi) is based on the record in July 1865, which was the peak of Shinsengumi: full 10 squads, around 150 skilled swordsmen.
Actually their positions were changed quite often (adjusted about once per 6 months). Squads were also merged during important battles. Therefore they don't keep the same squad number all the time.
In history:
☆General Commander (Sannan) and Military Advisor (Itou) were simply "advisors" without actual power.
☆Captains, inspectors, and accountants were all directly under the command of Vice Commander (Hijikata).
☆Each squad captain led 2 corporals, and each corporal led 5 common soldiers, giving 13 men in a squad. Patrolling the streets was always two squads at a time. 26 men marching together was quite a sight.
Commander (局長)
General Commander (総長)
Vice Commander (副長)
Accountant
(勘定方)
Position: Captain (組長)
Rank: Assistant of Vice Commander (副長助勤)
Position: Inspector (監察方)
Rank: Officer in Service
(諸士調役)
Corporal (伍長)
Common Soldier (平隊士)
Note:
I arrange the table this way to show they're all directly under Hijikata's command. However, the Assistants of Vice Commander rank higher than the Inspectors.
Therefore, while the Assistants often address each other by first name or nickname (eg. Souji, Sano), the Inspectors address them by family name +san (eg. Okita-san, Harada-san) or +captain to show respect, and speak to them in a polite way. Hence when Souji & Yamazaki are quarreling, Shimada reminds Yamazaki, "this isn't the proper attitude toward a captain".
Shinsengumi Character Introduction
Hijikata Toshizo
He is Kondou's right-hand man, and the one with real power in Shinsengumi.
Also known as the "Devil Vice Commander". Actually he's being strict to keep Shinsengumi in one piece. Very few people know the struggle inside him.
Often addressed as "Hijikata-san". Kondou calls him by nickname "Toshi".
Okita Souji
Position: Captain of First Squad. Fencing Instructor.
He's a genius in sword skill. Although he's always smiling and joking, he can become merciless when wielding a sword.
Often addressed as "Souji".
Saitou Hajime
Position: Captain of Third Squad. Fencing Instructor.
He's a taciturn and shy loner. Left-handed. A master in Iaidō. His sword skill is one of the best in Shinsengumi.
Often addressed as "Saitou", or "Hajime-kun" (only by Heisuke and Souji).
Toudou Heisuke
Position: Captain of Eighth Squad. (The youngest of Shinsengumi executives.)
He's a typical Edo boy who loves festivals. Spirited, he's often the first one to jump into battle.
Often addressed as "Heisuke".
Harada Sanosuke
Position: Captain of Tenth Squad.
Although he gets into quarrel easily, he is warm-hearted, and has a strong sense of obligation. He wields a spear better than a sword.
Often addressed as "Sano".
Kondou Isami
He is the Commander and representive of Shinsengumi.
He has high dignity, is well-trained in sword, yet is still warm-hearted and sentimental. He believed that it's a genuine samurai to help the shogunate.
Often addressed as "Kondou-san".
Sannan Keisuke
Position: General Commander.
He's always smiling and speaks in a soft manner. Behind the smile, he holds Shinsengumi in one piece cleverly.
Often addressed as "Sannan-san".
BTW he addresses everyone as "last name + kun", like "Hijikata-kun".
Nagakura Shinpachi
Position: Captain of Second Squad. Fencing Instructor.
He's an Edo guy who loves sword skills, sake, and women. It's in his personality to dislike unjust things. His sword skill is one of the best in Shinsengumi.
Often addressed as "Shinpachi".
Inoue Genzaburou
Position: Captain of Sixth Squad.
He's the senior among them, and is loved for his sincere and honest personality.
Kondou, Hijikata, and him are from the same hometown and the same dojo. He supports them wholeheartedly.
Often addressed as "Gen-san".
Yamazaki Susumu
Position: Inspector.
He's an inspector inside Shinsengumi, and a secret agent outside.
He's very loyal to shinsengumi and Vice Commander, and respects Hijikata.
Often addressed as "Yamazaki".
Shimada Kai
Position: Inspector. Supervisor. Corporal of Second Squad.
Inspector and secret agent of Shinsengumi. He's a giant and has amazing physical strength.*
Often addressed as "Shimada".
Itou Kashitarou
Position: Military Advisor.
He's invited into Shinsengumi for his knowledge and sword skill.
Often addressed as "Itou-san".
*Note:
Shimada's amazing strength and why it's emphasized in his profile everywhere.
On the first day of the Battle Of Toba-Fushimi, Nagakura Shinpachi and his suicide team tried to take down the enemy cannon base. However, they were completely supressed under gunfire, and forced to retreat. During the retreat, they had to climb over a wall (about 2 meters high) built around their base. Shinpachi was held down by his heavy equipment (chain mail, two swords, two rifles, bags of gunpowder), and too exhausted to climb over. As enemy gunfire closing in on him, Shimada reached his rifle down and shouted "grab this!" Then he pulled Shinpachi all the way up the wall.
This story was in Nagakura Shinpachi's memoirs. He was eternally grateful to Shimada for saving his life.
(Battle Of Toba-Fushimi took place at Ch4 in Hakuouki game, and #12 in Hakuouki anime. Too bad we don't get to see this touching scene from Chizuru's viewpoint.)