Hosoya Jūdayū (細谷 十太夫, 1839–1907), also known as Hosoya Naohide (直秀) and Hosoya Buichirō (武一郎) was a Japanese samurai who served the Date Clan of Sendai Domain. Most famously, he headed the Karasugumi ("Crow Brigade"), an elite guerilla unit during the Boshin War.
Biography[]
Jūdayū's family, the Hosoya, had served the Date Clan for generations, claiming descent from Hosoya Jinbei who drew his name from Hosoya village in Date district. Serving as senior guardsmen for the Date, the Hosoya were granted a stipend of 50 koku. The exact date of Jūdayū's birth is unknown, with some claiming as late as 1845. Both his parents died whilst he was still young, leaving him under the care of his grandfather, Sanjūrō. As a retainer for a prestigious samurai clan, Jūdayū studied many Ko-ryū, including Kenjutsu, Sōjutsu, Kyūjutsu, Hōjutsu and a form of Aikido called Bugyō. As per the wishes of Sanjūrō, Jūdayū's first job was as a temple acolyte at Chūrenji Temple in Shiogama, Miyagi Prefecture. He would later become a construction officer and later still a member of the Sendai Security force in Kyoto.
Upon the outset of the Boshin War, the Date Clan sided first with the Shogunate and then with the Ōuetsu Reppan Dōmei (奥羽越列藩同盟, Alliance of the domains of Mutsu, Dewa, and Echigo). Jūdayū was appointed as a scout officer, active across all of northern Tōhoku. It was during this time that he would lead the Karasugumi or "Crow Brigade". Named as such due to their pure black uniforms and penchant for night or ambush attacks. In honour of his achievements, his was named Captain of Pages giving him the honorary name of Buichirō.
After the defeat of the Shogunate, the Karasugumi were disbanded and Jūdayū joined first the field land reclamation project and later Imperial Japanese Army, serving in the Satsuma Rebellion where he earned an Order of the Rising Sun, and the Sino-Japanese War. Eventually he retired and returned home to become a monk, using the name Asen (鴉仙) which combined 鴉 "crow", with 仙 "Sen" for Sendai. He died in his hermitage in 1907.