Kaishu Katsu

Kaishu is calm, pragmatic and deeply opposed to needless bloodshed. He does not equate courage with fighting, and his historical reputation within the story rests on choosing negotiation at a moment when many samurai considered surrender dishonorable.

He can nevertheless be stern. Daigorou's timid behavior frustrates him because Kaishu wants the young man to develop the courage required to pursue his intellectual ambitions. His methods can appear harsh when their protective purpose is not immediately apparent.

Kaishu carries a strong sense of responsibility for the consequences of the Bakumatsu. He does not regard the establishment of the Meiji government as a clean break that absolves the older generation of its obligations. Instead, he believes survivors such as himself must help resolve the resentments left behind by the transition.

Kaishu is not presented primarily as a combatant in the Meiji-era storyline. His principal strengths are political judgment, negotiation, education and an unusually broad understanding of Japan's transition from the Tokugawa order.

His greatest historical achievement within the narrative is negotiating the peaceful surrender of Edo Castle. By choosing negotiation rather than a final battle, he helps spare Edo from destruction and enormous loss of life.

Kaishu is also highly educated and interested in foreign knowledge. He encourages Daigorou's scientific curiosity rather than insisting that every student follow the traditional path of the swordsman.

Kaishu enters the story when former Tokugawa retainers known as the Beni-aoi begin attacking him. Their resentment stems from the end of the shogunate: they believe Kaishu deprived warriors of their chance to fight by negotiating Edo's surrender.

The conflict also concerns money entrusted to Kaishu by the final shogun, Tokugawa Yoshinobu. Rumors of the funds attract people who see the supposed Tokugawa treasure as a means of financing political ambitions.

Itsuko is kidnapped to force Kaishu to reveal the money's location, prompting him to confront the Beni-aoi. The conspiracy is eventually traced to Tetsuma, who has manipulated the former retainers in hopes of obtaining the funds for his own political advancement.

[After the conflict, Kaishu reconciles with Shibata, acknowledging the suffering endured by former Tokugawa retainers while maintaining that preventing the destruction of Edo was the correct decision. He continues living with the responsibility of helping the new era rather than retreating into regret over the old one.](#spoiler)

Itsuko Katsu is Kaishu's daughter. He is protective of her despite their disagreements and is placed under enormous pressure when the Beni-aoi abduct her.

Daigorou Ookuma is Kaishu's student. Kaishu encourages his interest in science and foreign learning. His apparent expulsion of Daigorou is partly intended to keep the young man away from the danger surrounding the Katsu household.

Tetsuma Okubo is another student of Kaishu. Tetsuma betrays him while attempting to obtain the Tokugawa funds for his own political career.

Kenshin Himura knew of Kaishu during the Bakumatsu and encounters him again in the Meiji era. Their experiences on opposite sides of the revolution leave both men with an understanding of the human cost of political violence.

Tokugawa Yoshinobu is the final Tokugawa shogun whom Kaishu serves. Yoshinobu entrusts money to Kaishu during the collapse of the shogunate, creating the secret at the center of the later Beni-aoi conflict.

Saigou Takamori negotiates with Kaishu during the surrender of Edo. Their agreement prevents a major battle for the city.

Shibata is a former Tokugawa retainer who blames Kaishu for the suffering that follows the shogunate's collapse. After the conspiracy ends, the two reach an understanding rather than continuing their old conflict.