OVA
Description
Hajime Saitō, captain of the Shinsengumi's 3rd Division, hails from Edo. His long indigo hair is typically tied in a side ponytail, with bangs obscuring the right side of his face, and he has sharp blue eyes. Standing approximately 169 centimeters tall, he initially wears a black fighting-style kimono with a white sash and scarf, later adopting Western-style black clothing. A left-handed swordsman, he wears his sword on his right side, a practical choice that sometimes drew negative attention. Trained in iai-style swordsmanship, his left-handed stance provided a strategic edge, making him one of the Shinsengumi's most formidable fighters. Kondō Isami valued this uniqueness. Despite initial rejection from dojos due to his unconventional style, his duel with Okita Souji at Shieikan proved them evenly matched, securing his acceptance.
Saitō embodies stoicism, formality, and minimal speech, rarely showing emotion and maintaining a polite detachment that earned widespread respect. He demonstrates unwavering loyalty to Toshizō Hijikata, following orders without question, yet acts on his conscience when protecting Chizuru Yukimura or remaining with the Aizu Domain. His observational skills and matter-of-fact tone made him an effective spy, notably infiltrating Itō Kashitarō’s splinter group undetected for months.
His relationship with Chizuru begins when he rescues her from Rasetsu and rogue samurai. Discovering her gender, he tests her swordsmanship to assess her suitability for patrols and repeatedly protects her, including during the Ikedaya raid. Though initially distant, he offers subtle care, reassurance, and guidance. In his visual novel route, they marry after the war, settle in Tonami, have a child, and Saitō joins the police force. The spin-off *Sweet School Life* depicts a softer personality in a modern academy setting, where he becomes more open about his feelings for Chizuru, showing shyness and flustered behavior while retaining discipline.
During the Boshin War, Saitō fights with the Shinsengumi until the Battle of Bonari Pass. Citing debt and loyalty to the Aizu Domain for their past support, he defies Hijikata’s retreat order to remain with Aizu forces. Assuming command of an Aizu unit, he overcomes initial resistance from warriors skeptical of his Western attire and left-handed stance, eventually earning their respect through tactical skill and combat prowess. In the main anime timeline, he is last seen charging the enemy to cover Hijikata’s retreat, presumed dead. Historically, and in certain game routes, he survives, adopts the name Fujita Gorō, and serves as a Tokyo police officer until his death at age 71.
Saitō grapples with the era’s transition from samurai values. Staying in Aizu reflects his commitment to bushido, viewing death in service as the ultimate honor. This internal conflict intensifies in later storylines as he questions his purpose. After consuming the Water of Life, he becomes a Rasetsu, gaining enhanced abilities at the cost of his lifespan; he vows never to use this power again to avoid leaving Chizuru alone.
Saitō embodies stoicism, formality, and minimal speech, rarely showing emotion and maintaining a polite detachment that earned widespread respect. He demonstrates unwavering loyalty to Toshizō Hijikata, following orders without question, yet acts on his conscience when protecting Chizuru Yukimura or remaining with the Aizu Domain. His observational skills and matter-of-fact tone made him an effective spy, notably infiltrating Itō Kashitarō’s splinter group undetected for months.
His relationship with Chizuru begins when he rescues her from Rasetsu and rogue samurai. Discovering her gender, he tests her swordsmanship to assess her suitability for patrols and repeatedly protects her, including during the Ikedaya raid. Though initially distant, he offers subtle care, reassurance, and guidance. In his visual novel route, they marry after the war, settle in Tonami, have a child, and Saitō joins the police force. The spin-off *Sweet School Life* depicts a softer personality in a modern academy setting, where he becomes more open about his feelings for Chizuru, showing shyness and flustered behavior while retaining discipline.
During the Boshin War, Saitō fights with the Shinsengumi until the Battle of Bonari Pass. Citing debt and loyalty to the Aizu Domain for their past support, he defies Hijikata’s retreat order to remain with Aizu forces. Assuming command of an Aizu unit, he overcomes initial resistance from warriors skeptical of his Western attire and left-handed stance, eventually earning their respect through tactical skill and combat prowess. In the main anime timeline, he is last seen charging the enemy to cover Hijikata’s retreat, presumed dead. Historically, and in certain game routes, he survives, adopts the name Fujita Gorō, and serves as a Tokyo police officer until his death at age 71.
Saitō grapples with the era’s transition from samurai values. Staying in Aizu reflects his commitment to bushido, viewing death in service as the ultimate honor. This internal conflict intensifies in later storylines as he questions his purpose. After consuming the Water of Life, he becomes a Rasetsu, gaining enhanced abilities at the cost of his lifespan; he vows never to use this power again to avoid leaving Chizuru alone.