Song Of The Samurai Episode 1 Recap: The Shinsengumi Begins To Take Form

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Be warned, this article contains spoilers for the first episode of Song of the Samurai! The show, Song of the Samurai, kicks off the story of the famed Shinsengumi, a special police squad. It’s a live-action adaptation of the manga Chiruran: Shinsengumi Requiem by Umemura Shinya, the creator of Record of Ragnarok. The series focuses on the Shinsengumi, who worked to protect the ruling shogunate in Japan during the late Edo period. While based on real historical figures, the characters in Song of the Samurai, particularly the main character Hijikata Toshizo, are fictionalized.

The story of Song of the Samurai starts well before Toshizo became a well-known historical figure. We first meet him as a young man traveling between martial arts schools, trying to improve his skills as a fighter. He isn’t looking for companionship, but when he realizes the fighters at the Shieikan Dojo – and their leader, Kondo Isami – could help him become the best in Japan, he unexpectedly finds himself becoming part of their group.

The main challenge facing the humble warriors of the Shieikan Dojo is their low social standing as Japan undergoes political shifts. Kondo needs official recognition as a master from the Kobusho, Japan’s military academy, but proving their skills is difficult, with opportunities constantly blocked. However, things might be turning around in the first episode of Song of the Samurai, as the ruling shogunate faces the threat of revolution.

Even though the Shinsengumi aren’t officially formed yet in the first episode of Song of the Samurai, the groundwork is definitely laid. The episode is fast-paced and thrilling, filled with exciting fights and political schemes, all starting with Toshizo’s important introduction to the dojo that would define his future.

Hijikata Toshizo Finds His Place At The Tennen Rishin-Ryu’s Shieikan Dojo

The first episode of Song of the Samurai reveals Toshizo as a traveling medicine man who goes around challenging martial artists to fights. He does this both to get stronger and to make money from their injuries. This leads him to the Shieikan Dojo, where Kondo Isami teaches a unique sword fighting style. Initially, the dojo’s students seem like an easy target, but Toshizo soon realizes he won’t be able to take advantage of them.

Toshizo fights Kondo, but quickly realizes his usual fighting tricks won’t work against someone so skilled. Kondo is much faster and stronger, easily dodging Toshizo’s clumsy attacks. Despite this, Kondo recognizes Toshizo’s determination and effort to improve. He sees a bit of himself in Toshizo, and when Toshizo manages to cut him, Kondo invites him to join the dojo, officially making him one of their own.

Saito Hajime’s Crime In Song Of The Samurai Episode 1 Explained

Shortly after Toshizo joins Kondo’s training, the Shieikan Dojo, which practices Tennen Rishin-ryu, has a chance to gain official recognition from the Kobusho. However, this progress is threatened when Saito Hajime is arrested for murder. Initially, Hajime seems unconcerned, admitting he killed a man named Yakima Ryunosuke because he disliked him. Kondo realizes he can’t interfere with the arrest without jeopardizing the dojo’s request for official status. But when the real story comes out, Kondo’s attitude changes.

In this HBO show, Hajime did kill Ryunosuke, but it wasn’t a crime. Ryunosuke had been Hajime’s training partner and looked up to him, wanting to eventually surpass him. Sadly, Ryunosuke became seriously ill with tuberculosis. Instead of dying slowly, he asked Hajime for a final duel, believing a death by Hajime’s hand would be a worthy end. Hajime granted his request.

After Toshizo learned the truth about Hajime and Ryunosuke, he pleaded with Kondo and the others to help save Hajime. Despite risking everything they’d worked for – including the possibility of never being officially recognized as part of the Kobusho – Kondo decided that protecting Ryunosuke was the right choice. Fortunately, a letter from Ryunosuke surfaced, leading to Hajime’s release, though Kondo’s hopes for official certification were already dashed.

The Shieikan Dojo’s Trip To Kyo Doesn’t Go As Planned

Song of the Samurai picks up three years later, focusing on a new opportunity for the Shieikan Dojo to prove its worth. When the 14th Shogun needed protection for a journey from Edo to Kyoto, a group called the Roshigumi was created. Kiyokawa Hachirō gathered a band of masterless samurai, or ronin, in Kyo to fulfill this duty, and Kondo and his students volunteered. But upon arrival, they discovered Kiyokawa had tricked them. Instead of protecting the Shogun, the Roshigumi was intended to support those who opposed him.

Japan was opening up to trade and ideas from the West, quickly changing a country that had long been closed off. At the same time, some people wanted to keep Japan traditional and ruled by an Emperor, not the Shogun. In Song of the Samurai, Kondo and his followers support the Shogunate and don’t want anything to do with Kiyokawa’s schemes. Their main issue, though, is that they’ve almost run out of money after traveling to Kyoto.

Kondo urgently needed to find a way for his group to earn money and plan their next move, but Kyoto offered few opportunities. The situation worsened when Serizawa Kamo, a ruthless warrior who thrived on chaos, stole and squandered all of their funds. This blatant disrespect couldn’t be overlooked, and when Kondo tried to calm things down, Okita Soji intervened to protect their dojo.

The fight between Soji and Serisawa was the most thrilling part of the first episode of Song of the Samurai. Both are incredibly skilled and fast-paced fighters, but Serisawa ultimately won. Soji would have been defeated if not for Kondo, his teacher, who intervened and stopped Serisawa’s attack. Kondo pleaded with Serisawa to spare Soji, offering to settle the score later. Serisawa agreed, enjoying the challenge, but it’s clear he’ll likely cause more trouble as the series progresses.

How Song Of The Samurai Sets Up Episode 2

The first episode of Song of the Samurai finishes before Toshizo and his companions formally become the Shinsengumi, and it’s not yet known how much longer it will take for them to reach that point in the story. However, the episode does a great job of setting up an interesting continuation in episode 2. The chapter ends with a narration by Nagakura Shinpachi, explaining that Toshizo and the others have arrived in Kyo during a time when many masterless samurai were looking for a fight. The city is filled with unrest, including trouble from an old acquaintance, and we briefly see someone who seems to be Saito Hajime.

In the first episode of Song of the Samurai, Hajime departed from his companions and hadn’t seen Kondo, Toshizo, or anyone else from the group for more than three years. The second episode suggests a reunion for the members of the Shieikan Dojo. The central mystery is whether Hajime, known for his harshness, will be a friend or an enemy when they meet again.

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2026-05-09 21:00