Hakuoki – Analysing Hijikata Toshizo route

Hijikata’s route felt more like a historical account than a love story so it was quite disappointing from that perspective. However it still makes for a good and compelling read. Perhaps the futility of all their struggles, knowing that at the end, the Shinsengumi would be exterminated and that the shogunate rule overturned made it too depressing.

How would I describe Hijikata? Well I didn’t quite understand why they called him the Demon initially because even though he was a strict disciplinarian, it was always peppered with a strong sense that he did it for the love of his comrades and the betterment of the Shinsengumi. He was the portrayal of the elusive leader who puts country and organisation before self. He certainly wasn’t the righteous person like Saito but seemed more like a dark knight character, doing whatever it takes (deceit, murder, self sacrifice) to remain loyal to the spirit of the Shinsengumi.

Anyway here’s how the story progresses (spoiler alert) –

1. Unlike the other characters, Hijikata’s romance counter was the hardest to increase. Right up to the end of Chapter 9 and even after making all the right choices to stick as close to him and say the right things, the counter was only 3/4 filled. I suppose this epitomises the character as someone who has to carry the weight of his whole organisation especially after the death of Kondo that he denies any love relationships.

2. I was quite taken aback when Hijikata chose to drink the Water of Life and become a fury (what?!) because I had come to expect higher standards from the leader. It is quite ironical that in trying to defend your honor against your enemies, you choose to transform into that which is morally wrong. Though I have to admit he is one hardworking donkey and one cannot help but to admire his dedication to the cause.

3. Interestingly, the most important lesson I learnt from this story is one about management. Hijikata is the kind of leader who would charge the frontlines, lead by example and inspire his men. However later when he meets Otori who is trained in more western military strategies, he was chided for doing this. Otori shared that the commander must never put himself at risk because while soldiers are replaceable, commanders aren’t. The death of a commander would lead to the collapse of the army.

While the latter is rationally sound and probably adopted in many militaries today, there is a certain attraction about the ideology that the leader leads in front not from behind and definitely not behind a keyboard. Personally I would support a leader who walks his talk and experiences my pain and can tell me how to do it better.

But then those days battles are fought using swords and skills so it makes sense for leaders to carve the way forward. Today battles are fought with guns and artillery, one would be foolhardy to think that mastery of swords can win wars. Perhaps that is what we have lost in our world as we progress and advance in technology on all fronts. We have lost the art and appreciation of the finer things in life.

4. In Hijikata’s world, there is definitely more bromance than romance. The most touching part of the story is when Sanan and Heisuke disappear into ashes as their fury powers have consumed their entire future. I suppose when you choose to love a man like this, one has to be fully dedicated to helping him achieve his vision because this man is never going to be able to love you more than his pride, honor and comrades.

It is not clear to me though at the end whether Hijikata himself burned up all his life force. In real life, he never survived the Shogunate wars. But in an interesting sort of way, the samurai code of honor and Shinsengumi live on today in modern Japan and around the world in many fiction work of art that celebrate these band of brother’s loyalty and dedication to an honorable life. That’s not a bad way to look at an otherwise depressing historical account.