ARTIST DETAILS

1835-1903

Takahashi Deishu was a martial artist and retainer to Shogunate of the Bakamatsu to the Meiji period. He was born in Edo (present Tokyo) and was the younger brother to Yamaoka Seizan, a master of sojutsu (spear fighting). At 25 years old, he became an instructor at the Japanese military academy, Kobusho, and was appointed Isenokami (Governor of Ise Province). He then became a handler of Ronin (samurais with no lord or master), but following the Battle of Toba–Fushimi, he began to serve Tokugawa Yoshinobu. His sister's husband is Yamaoka Tesshu. Alongside Yamaoka Tesshu and Katsu Kaishu, he is named one of the three Bakumatsu Sanshu.