---- : shinsengumi ranks : ----
Now that we have gain two ( three ) new Shinsengumi members, it’s time to get cracking on who’s the top and who’s the bottom of the Shinsengumi ladder and how to PROPERLY address these Servants accordingly to their ranks back during their active days.
In the SHINSENGUMI history, there is only one person that holds this position and that would be Kondo Isami. Formerly, Serizawa Kamo was also a Commander of them alongside with Kondo but this was during their days as Roshigumi before Katamori of Aizu declared them as the Shinsengumi.
Despite being assassinated, Serizawa Kamo is still considered Commander of the Shinsengumi along side with Kondo Isami in records. Nobody in the Shinsengumi approves of Serizawa’s habits and actions but almost everybody respected him as he has a certain charisma as well having strong conviction that he and the Roshigumi were going to change the country.
Lower rank members call Serizawa as sensei and others refer to him as “san”. Hijikata included refers to Serizawa as “Serizawa-san” during their time together. Nagakura Shinpachi, who comes from the same SCHOOL as Serizawa stated at his funeral that the country has loss a great man. Though if only his habits and short temper did not get in the way.
V I C E C O M M A N D E R
We al know who that is, our lovely and infamous Demon Vice-Commander Hijikata Toshizo. This rank is the second in command for the Shinsengumi and Hijikata being Kondo’s right hand man for all matters for the Shinsengumi. Though apparently, everybody goes to Hijikata for problems relating to their work while Kondo handles more of the political side of things.
Yamanami Keisuke, formerly held this position as well before being promoted ( some says he got demoted ) to being General Secretary. Niimi Nishiki, was formerly a Commander ran of Serizawa’s faction but got demoted to Vice-Commander to work alongside with Yamanami and Hijikata and driven out of the Shinsengumi via violating their rules.
There are are total of ten Captains in the Shinsengumi. They are the leaders of their platoons. Some of them are instructors of kenjutsu ( sword training ), military tactics, spears, and other training regimen that is needed to be done for the soldiers that were just joining by. Okita Souji, Nagakura Shinpachi, and Saitou Hajime were all instructors for kenjutsu, Okita being known the most for being the strictest and scariest.
While they are the main three kenjutsu instructors, it seems that the captains rotate around with lessons.
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Those are the big three. There are plenty of other ranks and divisions, such as spies, accountants, pages. There are other instructors, such as judo instructors, spearing, horse riding, artillery, and professors. So the Shinsengumi has a wide range of talented individuals that help each other out.
NOW TO THE MOST IMPORTANT THING:
There are many different type of variations for their ranks, so if you are going to call one person one thing, you must call the other as their other variation to avoid confusion. However, the most common is Commander, Vice-Commander, and Captain in localization so please follow this format unless stated otherwise.
Commander Variations: Chief or Captain.
Vice-Commander Variations: Commander or Vice-Captain
Captains: Lieutenant Commanders or Assistant of the Vice-Captain
But for the sake of ease, please refer to Commander, Vice-Commander, and Captain.