Artist's commentary
Record of Dreams
The man's final years were simple and quiet. After he quit the brigade, he remained in Aizu, changed his name, and served the government as a policeman. Despite living a long and full life, he spoke little about his comrades he fought alongside in the past, even towards the end of his life. In the age when the life of the samurai started to fade away, this man firmly stood his ground and continued to live like a samurai.
That sounds really good in writing, but in truth, I actually have pretty loose lips. The moment I open my mouth, I just blabber about all kinds of things that may or may not be true. One time, there was this young man who was training really hard with his wooden sword at a dojo, and I just went right in and gave him this long lecture on the importance of tsuki. You know what? You don't have time to think about how to properly attack or parry. You just get really into the moment and start swinging your sword around. You get what I mean?
That's just how it was back in the day though.
They immersed themselves in fighting, laughed and cried enthusiastically, and died in a frenzy. That's how they all lived in that age. That's when I thought I should at least live my life carrying my own banner till the very end.
One member of the Shinsengumi who fought through the turbulent age of the Bakumatsu and survived. Nobody knows what was going through his mind.
"Hey guys. Did you get what you wanted in the end?"