♥ · Yamazaki · Ayunee · · ♥

Takasugi arrived on 6/6 in Shimonoseki and by 6/15 had organized men from Kusaka’s Komyoji party and other men into the Western-style rifle company, the Kihitei.  Takasugi’s efforts were recognized by the han government and on 9/15/1863 he was raised to an office at the policymaking level, and awarded a 160 koku stipend (beyond his father’s stipend). 

In October of that year, he left the daily business of the Kihitei to his lieutenants and went to Yamaguchi to assume his new post.  One of the tasks Takasugi had to undertake was to dissuade Kijima Matabei, the commander of the Yugekitai, from leading troops back to Kyoto. (Kijima was threatening to go anyways if permission wasn’t granted.)

Takasugi went to Mitajiri on 1/24/64 to meet Kijima, who only agreed to confer with Kusaka, Kido and Shishido Kurobe in Kyoto before making a decision.

At this point, Takasugi should have reported back to the han government in Yamaguchi, but he instead accompanied Kijima to Kyoto, where the others would dissuade Kijima from his plans.  As it turned out, Kusaka, Kido and Shishido did dissuade him, but as neither Kijima or Takasugi had traveling orders, these two were in considerable trouble. Takasugi – by doing so – had set a bad example for not only Kijima but as a government official.   Also, the situation had apparently worsened – not only were the Yugekitai defecting to Kyoto, but other Choshu corps were also leaving for Kyoto.

This event led to Takasugi’s imprisonment in Noyama when he returned to Yamaguchi on 3/29/64 with Kusaka.  He was ordered to Noyama for “fleeing the han” (dappan) but likely was being punished for issues with Kijima.

Takasugi’s stint in prison involved a lot of reading. He kept a daily record during the fourth and fifth months of 1864.  This activity baffled the others. As Noyama was viewed as a last stop for terminal prisoners – to devote oneself to reading was considered a wasted activity.

In this time, Yoshida Shoin was not far from the thought of Takasugi. When asked by another prisoner why he bothered, Takasugi responded with the story of a teacher who had taught him “the principle of thought and action” (“Twenty-One Times a Valiant Samurai”) and had foreseen imprisonment and counseled Takasugi to read “and refine the spirit.”

“If you are executed in prison, today’s study will become as last night’s dreams,” the prisoner is said to have responded.

Takasugi’s response purportedly was, “Why should a man who still lives speak of death?”

Sufu Masunosuke also was not far from Takasugi.  Apparently frustrated by his colleagues’ increasing wishes to march on Kyoto, Sufu recalled that the only member of the Sonjuku in Hagi who also opposed the march was in prison, decided to seek him out.

The incident was noted as such –

Sufu drew his sword and shoulted that the gates be open. Startled at the sight of the high official, the guards complied and Sufu rode into the courtyard and shouted, “Shinsaku, where are you?”

Takasugi, hearing the greeting thrust his head out of the bars to see what was going on.

Sufu, having seen him, declared, “You have come to this because you scorned your superiors, so while you are in prison, even if for three years, you must study and become an outstanding personality,”Error running style: Style code didn't finish running in a timely fashion. Possible causes:

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