Hijikata Toshizo was a prominent Japanese samurai and the vice-commander of the Shinsengumi, a special police force during the late Edo period. Born in 1835 in Kōfu, he became known for his exceptional swordsmanship and leadership skills. The Shinsengumi was formed to protect the Tokugawa shogunate and maintain order in Kyoto during a time of political turmoil. Toshizo played a crucial role in the Boshin War, which was fought between the imperial forces and the shogunate loyalists. He is remembered for his dedication to the samurai code of honor and his tragic death in 1868, which marked the end of the Shinsengumi and the samurai era in Japan.