Okita Souji

Lore & Background

Okita Sōji was a prodigy of the Tennen Rishin-ryū, becoming Head Coach at the Shieikan in 1861. He changed his name to Okita Sōji Fujiwara no Kaneyoshi before departing with the Rōshigumi to Kyoto on March 26, 1863. After the Rōshigumi disbanded, he helped form the Mibu Rōshigumi, later renamed the Shinsengumi on August 18, 1863. He became a Fukuchō Jokin and was involved in the Serizawa Kamo and Uchiyama Hikojiro assassinations in 1863.

In 1865, he became captain of the first unit and a kenjutsu instructor, later appointed by Kondo Isami as the fifth master of the Tennen Rishin-ryū. His signature technique, the Sandanzuki, could attack one's neck, left shoulder, and right shoulder with one strike. He owned a set of Kaga Kiyomitsu katana and wakizashi. His tuberculosis was first publicly conceived to be discovered when he fainted during the Ikedaya incident, though some sources say he contracted it after; researchers now believe he may have collapsed from anemia or heat stroke. He died on July 19, 1868, and was buried at Senshō-ji Temple in Azabu, Edo.

Reader's Guide

In the Fate franchise, the gag manga Fate/KOHA-ACE introduced the Saber-class Servant known as "Sakura Saber", the spirit of Okita Souji reimagined as a woman; she also appears as a Servant in the mobile game Fate/Grand Order and has a spin-off of her own, Fate/Type Redline. The swordsman behind the character mastered the Tennen Rishin-ryū and received the Menkyo Kaiden scroll at about eighteen. People around him found him honest, polite and good-natured, though he was a strict and quick-tempered teacher. His signature technique was the Sandanzuki.