Four Hitokiri of the Bakumatsu

The four hitokiri of the bakumatsu were four samurai warriors who fought during the years leading up to the Meiji Restoration in Japan (1853 - 1868). The hitokiri were feared for their skill and ferocity during battle, doing whatever it took to get the job done. They were also skilled in the use of swords and often led samurai into battle. The four hitokiri were Okada Izō, Yamada Asaemon, Kōda Rohan, and Shiranui Kyōsuke. Because they fought so hard and fought to the death, they became known as hitokiri, which literally translates to “killer of one”.