HISTORY
Fight with rikishi
The Mibu-dera Temple organized a once-in-a-lifetime sumo match for Kyoto’s general public in association with the Mibu Rōshigumi. By courtesy of both Kyoto and Osaka’s rikishi, or sumo wrestlers, the joint performances were held on 7 August 1863 at the Gion and Mibu-dera’s open area. It was amazing for the rōnin to establish such a good rapport with the rikishi in the first place. It however turned out that their friendship had grown out of blows from their earlier encounter in Osaka.
Back on 15 July, Serizawa Kamo and his team were entrusted with an operation in Osaka. In the evening they took the opportunity to walk around and enjoy the cooling breeze on a boat along the Yodogawa River. Given the limited space on board, only Okita Sōji, Nagakura Shinpachi, Saitō Hajime and Hirama Jusuke were equipped with katanas while the rest of the group including Serizawa Kamo, Yamanami Keisuke, Shimada Kai and Noguchi Kenji carried the wakizashi, a shorter blade sword more suited for indoor fighting. Along the ride Saitō Hajime suffered from a stomachache and the group immediately looked for available lodging around the Shijimibashi Bridge. Just as they were crossing, a group of rikishi also happened to be on the bridge’s other end. The rikishi, at the time, were prominent figures. The acclaimed sportsmen were reputable in the community given the popularity of sumo in light of its tradition, professionalism and entertainment. Relying on their strength and overwhelming body size, they were also Sonnō jōi frontline activist. Without taking Serizawa Kamo’s identity as a samurai into consideration, one of the rikishi remained in the middle of the path and regrettably had no intention of giving way. Agitated by his arrogance and rudeness, after quarrelling for a moment Serizawa Kamo drew out his wakizashi and dealt him a deadly blow without warning.
Persevering in avenging the injured, the companions launched an attack outside their lodging using wooden clubs. Faced with the raid, the team did not hesitate to counter-move. The fight subsequently ended with five rikishi deaths and a total of sixteen casualties. They immediately respectively filed reports to Osaka’s machi-bugyō or Magistrates, each claiming responsibility of the others over the violent abuse.
From today’s perspective, no denial of the responsibility would be conferred upon the assailant. In general Serizawa Kamo has been held accountable in today’s scripts given his hot temper and brutality. The fight with rikishi is just one of the listed evil deeds. However, when reviewing historical incidents, one should consider the period’s local context and culture and set aside any subjective or up-to-date understanding.
During the Edo period, sumo was a popular form of entertainment and a celebrated rikishi’s death garnered the full glare of publicity. In comparison, it was at this time when the newly established Mibu Rōshigumi was notorious for extortion and fighting. In social classes however, samurai enjoyed a respected standing with katanas being a status symbol, the bugyō issued a verdict that the rikishi had demonstrated a discourteous and disrespectful towards the elite class. The rikishi was at fault and his offensiveness deserved blame. The toshiyori, or sumo elders, were convinced and led their team issue a treaty to Mibu Rōshigumi and apologize. They were then reconciled with one another and even agreed to arrange sumo matches in Kyoto, more especially for the rōshigumi. That was how the performances Gion and Mibu-dera came to be.
According to Nagakura Shinpachi’s recollections, Serizawa Kamo, as a token of appreciation, liked to prepare a sumptuous feast for the rikishi. Yet, given financial constraints, he caught fish from the Shintokuji’s Benten pond as an alternative to serve as a meal. The rikishi enjoyed the feast very much yet left the fishes untouched. They were afraid of disrespecting the Gods as the Benten pond was associated with Benzaiten, one of the shichifukujin or Seven Gods of Fortune in the Japanese mythology. Serizawa Kamo asked, while finding it hilarious, “how could a man being loyal to his country be frowned upon by the Gods?”. The banquet was enjoyed by both parties and they kept in contact.
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