Movie
Description
Hajime Saitou serves as the captain of the Shinsengumi's 3rd Division, originating from Edo. He wields exceptional left-handed swordsmanship, granting a tactical advantage due to its rarity among samurai, and employs an iai-based fighting style emphasizing swift drawing and striking.
He stands approximately 169 centimeters tall, possessing long indigo hair typically tied in a side ponytail with bangs covering the right side of his face and sharp ocean blue eyes. His initial attire is a black fighting-style kimono with a white sash and scarf, later replaced by a Western-style black outfit during the Meiji transition period. He wears his sword on the right side to accommodate his left-handed draw.
His personality is defined by extreme stoicism, formal speech, and minimal verbal expression. He demonstrates unwavering loyalty to Shinsengumi leaders Isami Kondou and Toshizou Hijikata, following orders without question. Despite his reserved nature, he exhibits protective instincts toward Chizuru Yukimura, rescuing her from attacks on multiple occasions. He mentors her in swordsmanship and provides explanations during confusing situations, while maintaining emotional distance from all individuals.
Key story involvements include saving Chizuru from Rasetsu during their first encounter. He later volunteers for undercover operations, infiltrating Itou Kashitarou's splinter group as a spy while pretending to defect from the Shinsengumi. This mission involves gathering intelligence that prevents Kondou's assassination and rescuing Chizuru from Itou's faction.
During the Shinsengumi's alliance with the Aizu Domain, he faces initial rejection from Aizu warriors due to his Western attire and left-handed swordsmanship. He earns their respect by demonstrating superior combat tactics during a siege, including ordering a tactical retreat ignored by Aizu forces. When Hijikata orders a full retreat from Aizu, Saitou chooses to remain, citing the Shinsengumi's debt to the Aizu for their sponsorship. He requests permission to carry the Shinsengumi banner during a final charge against the Chōshū army, an act intended to cover Hijikata's escape and presumed to result in his death.
Prequel content explores earlier periods, showing his initial recruitment into the Rōshigumi (later Shinsengumi) by Kondou and Hijikata. He participates in foundational events, including early combat missions in Kyoto and the establishment of the group's Rules of Conduct. His swordsmanship skills are noted as comparable to other captains like Okita Souji during training matches.
The character is inspired by the historical figure Saitō Hajime (1844–1915), the real Shinsengumi's third squad captain who survived the Bakumatsu conflicts and later worked as a police officer under the name Fujita Gorō during the Meiji era. While the fictional narrative generally adheres to this trajectory, its conclusion regarding his fate at Aizu differs from historical records where he survived.
He stands approximately 169 centimeters tall, possessing long indigo hair typically tied in a side ponytail with bangs covering the right side of his face and sharp ocean blue eyes. His initial attire is a black fighting-style kimono with a white sash and scarf, later replaced by a Western-style black outfit during the Meiji transition period. He wears his sword on the right side to accommodate his left-handed draw.
His personality is defined by extreme stoicism, formal speech, and minimal verbal expression. He demonstrates unwavering loyalty to Shinsengumi leaders Isami Kondou and Toshizou Hijikata, following orders without question. Despite his reserved nature, he exhibits protective instincts toward Chizuru Yukimura, rescuing her from attacks on multiple occasions. He mentors her in swordsmanship and provides explanations during confusing situations, while maintaining emotional distance from all individuals.
Key story involvements include saving Chizuru from Rasetsu during their first encounter. He later volunteers for undercover operations, infiltrating Itou Kashitarou's splinter group as a spy while pretending to defect from the Shinsengumi. This mission involves gathering intelligence that prevents Kondou's assassination and rescuing Chizuru from Itou's faction.
During the Shinsengumi's alliance with the Aizu Domain, he faces initial rejection from Aizu warriors due to his Western attire and left-handed swordsmanship. He earns their respect by demonstrating superior combat tactics during a siege, including ordering a tactical retreat ignored by Aizu forces. When Hijikata orders a full retreat from Aizu, Saitou chooses to remain, citing the Shinsengumi's debt to the Aizu for their sponsorship. He requests permission to carry the Shinsengumi banner during a final charge against the Chōshū army, an act intended to cover Hijikata's escape and presumed to result in his death.
Prequel content explores earlier periods, showing his initial recruitment into the Rōshigumi (later Shinsengumi) by Kondou and Hijikata. He participates in foundational events, including early combat missions in Kyoto and the establishment of the group's Rules of Conduct. His swordsmanship skills are noted as comparable to other captains like Okita Souji during training matches.
The character is inspired by the historical figure Saitō Hajime (1844–1915), the real Shinsengumi's third squad captain who survived the Bakumatsu conflicts and later worked as a police officer under the name Fujita Gorō during the Meiji era. While the fictional narrative generally adheres to this trajectory, its conclusion regarding his fate at Aizu differs from historical records where he survived.