Centre for Japanese Research:
Aizu bushido: Honor without Guile
Dr. Bob Tadashi Wakabayshi, York University
Date:
Friday, February 15; 4:00-5:30 PM
Time: 4 PM - 5:30 PM
Venue: C. K. Choi Building 120
In 1868-69, domains loyal to the Tokugawa bakufu failed to quash a revolt launched by Satsuma, Choshu, and their allies reputedly to restore sovereign power to the emperor and imperial court. Foremost among bakufu defenders was Aizu. Its samurai men and women accounted for 65 per cent of all battle deaths on the losing Tokugawa side, and 38 percent of all troops on both sides, in the Restoration war. As well, scores of Aizu women and boys committed seppuku rather than surrender. Popular accounts hold that, amid the ubiquitous fence-sitting and shameless side-switching in both camps, Aizu samurai alone held steadfast to honor without guile, only to be demonized as traitors to the emperor under the new regime. Latter-day sympathizers eulogized this unyielding fidelity and propagated it as "Aizu bushido"-an ethos to reform Japanese society along desirable lines.
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That's all for now
Have a great week!
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