Katsu Kaishuu is a historical figure who appears in Rurouni Kenshin, originally named Katsu Rintarou. Born in January 1823 in Edo to a low-ranking Tokugawa retainer, he grew up curious about the world beyond Japan—fascinated by foreign maps and Dutch cannons that hinted at a larger globe.
When Commodore Perry's arrival forced Japan to reckon with Western power, Kaishuu became instrumental in building the Shogunate's navy. More importantly, he helped shape the ideals of famous reformers like Sakamoto Ryouma, championing a military based on merit rather than birthright and social class. These innovations earned him rapid promotion and eventually his own naval academy.
In January 1860, Kaishuu commanded the Kanrin Maru on Japan's first authorized Pacific crossing. Landing in San Francisco gave him firsthand experience of American society and reinforced his vision of Japan as an equal on the world stage. He came away understanding colonialism's threat and the precarious position of colonized nations.
By 1862, the Shogunate's paranoia caught up with him. For harboring enemies of the regime, Kaishuu was placed under house arrest, his academy shut down, and his income slashed. His suggestion that the Shogun voluntarily surrender power to prevent civil war nearly got him executed.
Kaishuu's fortunes reversed in 1866 when the Shogunate desperately needed him again. As Choshu forces steamrolled through battles, he was recalled as Navy Commander and sent to negotiate peace. He succeeded, then promptly resigned, recognizing the situation was hopeless.
By 1868, with the imperial restoration underway and the Satcho army marching on Edo, Kaishuu made his most famous move. He wrote to Saigo Takamori proposing surrender on humanitarian grounds—arguing that old and new Japan needed to unite against foreign threats rather than tear themselves apart. Saigo agreed to spare Yoshinobu, the Tokugawa retainers, and the city itself. On March 14th, the two met and finalized peaceful terms.
After briefly following Yoshinobu into exile in Shizuoka, Kaishuu returned to Tokyo in 1872. Like many former Tokugawa men, he found a place in the new Meiji Government, eventually serving as Vice Minister and then Minister of the Navy from 1873 to 1878.
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