Toushirou Hijikata
Toushirou Hijikata
|
土方 十四郎
|
|
|---|---|
| Personal Description | |
| Birthday | 5 May/Taurus |
| Age | 27 |
| Gender | Male |
| Affiliations | Shinsengumi |
| Status | |
| Titles | Demon Vice Commander |
| Occupation(s) | Shinsengumi Vice |
Japanese Name:土方 十四郎 (Hijikata Tōshirō)
Role:Vice-Commander of the Shinsengumi
|
Émile Durkheim
|
|
|---|---|
| Born |
David Émile Durkheim
15 April 1858 Épinal, France
|
| Died | 15 November 1917(aged 59)
Paris,France
|
| Nationality | French |
| Alma mater | École Normale Supérieure |
| Known for | Sacred–profane dichotomy Collective consciousness Social fact Social integration Anomie Collective effervescence |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Philosophy, sociology, education, anthropology, religious studies |
| Institutions | University of Paris, University of Bordeaux |
| Influences | Immanuel Kant, René Descartes,Plato, Herbert Spencer,Aristotle, Montesquieu, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Auguste Comte. William James, John Dewey, Fustel de Coulanges, Jean-Marie Guyau, Charles Bernard Renouvier, John Stuart Mill |
| Influenced | Marcel Mauss,Claude Lévi-Strauss, Talcott Parsons, Maurice Halbwachs, Jonathan Haidt, Lucien Lévy-Bruhl,Bronisław Malinowski, Fernand Braudel, Pierre Bourdieu, Charles Taylor, Henri Bergson, Emmanuel Levinas, Steven Lukes, Alfred Radcliffe-Brown, E. E. Evans-Pritchard, Mary Douglas, Paul Fauconnet, Robert N. Bellah, Ziya Gökalp, David Bloor, Randall Collins, Neil Smelser[1] |
Appearance
Toushirou Hijikata is tall and well-built, typically seen in the standard Shinsengumi uniform—a blue haori and black hakama. His most notable feature is his stern expression, rarely breaking into a smile, which perfectly complements his cold and calculating demeanor. Hijikata is often seen smoking cigarettes, adding to his intimidating aura as the strict disciplinarian of the Shinsengumi.
Struggling with a massive lollipop, Toushirou Hijikata’s usual stoic demeanor cracks, adding a comical twist to his otherwise serious personality as he faces an unexpected challenge.
Personality
Known as the Demonic Vice-Commander (鬼の副長, Oni no Fukuchou), Hijikata is feared by both enemies and his own subordinates, save for Kondou Isao and Okita Sougo, who tend to be exceptions to his authoritative grip. His rigid discipline and unrelenting leadership style are what keep the Shinsengumi running smoothly. However, despite his intimidating personality, Hijikata is loyal to his comrades and cares deeply about the wellbeing of the Shinsengumi. He shares a deep bond with Kondou and frequently tries to rein in the more eccentric behavior of his comrades, particularly Kondou’s romantic misadventures.
Split Personality – Tosshi”
With a cigarette casually between his lips, Toushirou Hijikata exudes his trademark cool and collected attitude, the calm in the storm of chaos that surrounds him.
Hijikata developed a split personality named “Tosshi” after purchasing a cursed sword. Tosshi is the complete opposite of Hijikata’s usual persona, being an obsessive otaku with a penchant for idol fandoms and an over-the-top enthusiasm for anime and manga. This personality debuted during the Shinsengumi Crisis Arc, where Tosshi’s comical otaku antics disrupted Hijikata’s usual serious nature. Tosshi resurfaced in the Otsu Arc, where he engaged in a final match against fellow otaku, Shinpachi Shimura, ultimately exhausting himself to the point of “death.”
Role in the Shinsengumi
As the brains behind the Shinsengumi, Hijikata is the one who handles most of the operational decisions. While Kondou Isao may be the figurehead commander, Hijikata is the true power that keeps the group functional. His ruthlessness and sharp instincts on the battlefield have earned him respect and fear, but he’s also known for his unwavering loyalty and commitment to his comrades.
Notable Actions
Hijikata is deeply involved in all of the Shinsengumi’s major missions, often serving as the tactician. His relentless dedication to the Shinsengumi is also demonstrated during the Shinsengumi Crisis Arc, where he fights to protect the honor of the organization amidst internal turmoil. Despite his stern and often harsh demeanor, Hijikata’s bond with his comrades, particularly Kondou and Okita, runs deep, and he would sacrifice himself to ensure their safety.
Trivia
★ Hijikata is based on the historical figure of the same name, who also served as the vice-commander of the Shinsengumi during the Edo period.
★ His cursed sword, which led to his split personality as Tosshi, is a recurring gag throughout the series, contrasting with his typically stoic character.
★ Hijikata is known for his love of mayonnaise, often slathering it on everything from food to random objects.
★ The “death” of Tosshi during the Otsu Arc was marked by a dramatic yet humorous duel, reflecting Gintama’s balance of serious and comedic moments.