Takayuki Yamaoka, a.k.a. Tesshuu (RͺΰASM)
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Ibaraki Prefecture's all-time first Councilor (equivalent of nowadays' Prefectural Governor). Shogunate vassal before the Meiji Restoration. Took care of the setting of the discussion between Kaishuu Katsu (CM) and Takamori Saigou (Ό½²·) when the capitulation of Edo's fort was agreed upon. Also renowned as a great swordsman.
Going alone to the enemy's territory as a Shogunate vassal . . .
His preparation skills for the conversation between Saigou and Katsu leading to the bloodless surrender of Edo castle (1868) explain why Takayuki Yamaoka (or Tesshuu) gained quite a high reputation. At this time, a great order had already been made public for the restoration of imperial rule. The first year of Meiji era had been proclaimed and a new governmental army was drawing near Edo. The city was all confused by the forced disposal by the new government of the Tokugawa family. If the new government's army had insisted on marching into Edo, resistance by the Shogunate's vassals and consequent damages could have not been avoided.
Yamaoka was a low-class Shogunate vassal whose main achievements until that point were mostly noticed in 1863, when he went to Kyoto to participate, as an expert advisor on military fencing techniques, in the planning of a Shogunate army composed of masterless samurai (Qm/Qlor Roushi/Rounin) . The plan was proposed by Hachirou Kiyokawa (΄ΝͺY1830|1863) and out of this army was born the famous Shinsengumi (Vοg )
5 years later, as the new government's army was drawing near Edo, Tesshuu devoted himself to the Tokugawa family and asked to be sent for negotiations.
Army leader Kaishuu Katsu placed his hopes in Yamaoka and sent him to Takamori Saigou with a letter. He infiltrated the new government's army from Suruga domain (now roughly corresponding to Shizuoka and Toukai area), transmitted Katsu's letter to Saigou and explained its content to him. Saigou and Yamaoka were strongly opposed to Yoshinobu Tokugawa's disposal (Ώμcμ1829|1868, the last Shogun between 1866 and 1868) and afterwards, following the talks between Saigou and Katsu, it was decided Yoshinobu should retire and be put under house arrest while the general offensive on Edo was abandoned and the Edo castle surrendered completely. From that point, Yamaoka successively filled the positions of the new government's army servant and that of regional advisor (Governor in modern times). He soon became chamberlain for the Meiji Emperor, and so a very trusted figure.
Takayuki Yamaoka was born as a member of the Ono family (strong of 108.000 liters of rice or 600 Koku Ξ), a direct retainer to the shogun. He spends his boyhood in Hida-Takayama (ςΛR, nowadays the Northern part of Gifu Prefecture) where his father was appointed as county representative. This is where he was educated and learned about fencing. At 20 years old (1855), he acceded to the position of spearman instructor for the Yamaoka family. After returning to Edo, he was admitted in the martial arts and military training center created by the Shogunate to prepare for fights against foreign enemies, and polished there his skills in fencing. While doing so, he acquired an appreciation of the Zen Buddhist religion.
Through the disturbed times of the Meiji Restoration, he continued to discipline himself while working for the new government and revived in 1880 the "swordless sword fighting style" (κ³`³¬ or Ittou-Seiden-Mutou-Ryuu) . The essential point of this style focuses on a the following concept: "your mind is the only blade you have". This emphasis is strongly influenced by the Zen philosophy.
