Monai Arinosuke — The Shinsengumi's "Hundred Skills"

One member was nicknamed "the hundred skills." Mōnai Arinosuke. It meant he was good at everything.

Contents

Who Was Monai Arinosuke?

Mōnai was the Shinsengumi's instructor in letters, an inspector, and later one of the Goryō Eji.

He was born on 26 March 1835, second son of Mōnai Hirotane, a steward of the Tsugaru domain.

He was killed in the Aburanokōji affair on 13 December 1867, aged thirty-two.

Monai Arinosuke's Learning

Mōnai came from a samurai household, but after leaving his domain he worked in Edo as a private tutor, on the strength of his scholarship.

He lived by learning.

In October 1864 he went up to Kyoto with Ito Kashitaro's party on the understanding they would join, and did. He served as instructor in letters, as an officer responsible for the members, and as inspector.

Ito was brought into the corps for his learning, and Mōnai was valued for the same thing. Takeda Kanryusai and Ogata Shuntaro also held the letters instructorship, which shows the corps always kept someone teaching reading and writing.

Monai Arinosuke's "Hundred Skills"

He was good with his hands at anything.

Hence "Mōnai's hundred skills."

His particular strengths were the short sword and archery.

The archery is striking. The Shinsengumi's famous bowman was Ando Hayataro, who set the standing national record in the long-range shooting at the Tōdai-ji Great Buddha Hall — but Mōnai used a bow too.

Inside a body that reads as a sword outfit were specialists in spear, jūjutsu, military science, archery and gunnery.

How Monai Arinosuke Died

He received the Goryō Eji commission with Ito Kashitaro, Suzuki Mikisaburo and Shinohara Tainoshin, and left the Shinsengumi.

On 18 November 1867 by the old calendar, the Shinsengumi assassinated Ito near the Kizuyabashi crossing on Aburanokōji. The body was then moved to Shichijō-Aburanokōji.

Seven men, Suzuki Mikisaburo among them, went to collect it — some sources say eight.

The waiting Shinsengumi hacked Mōnai down along with Todo Heisuke and Hattori Takeo.

He was thirty-two.

The three men who died that day were three different kinds of man. Hattori was among the best fighters in the corps, who wore mail and held a wall alone. Todo was the man who had introduced Ito to the Shinsengumi in the first place. And Mōnai was a scholar who had made his living teaching.

The four who got out were Suzuki, Shinohara, Kano Washio and Tomiyama Yahei.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Monai Arinosuke?

The Shinsengumi's instructor in letters and an inspector, who later defected with the Goryō Eji. Second son of a Tsugaru domain steward, he had worked as a tutor in Edo.

What does "Monai's hundred skills" mean?

It was his nickname, from his being competent at anything he tried. His particular strengths were the short sword and archery.

How did Monai Arinosuke die?

In the Aburanokōji affair of 13 December 1867. He went to collect Ito Kashitaro's body and was cut down by the waiting Shinsengumi along with Todo Heisuke and Hattori Takeo, aged thirty-two.

Who died in the Aburanokoji affair?

Ito Kashitaro, plus Todo Heisuke, Hattori Takeo and Mōnai Arinosuke. Four others, including Suzuki Mikisaburo, escaped.

Monai Arinosuke Timeline

For the men killed beside him see Todo Heisuke and Hattori Takeo; for those who escaped, Suzuki Mikisaburo and Shinohara Tainoshin; for the roster, the Shinsengumi members; for the corps, the Shinsengumi.