Yamawaki Masakatsu (山脇正勝)
Masakatsu YAMAWAKI (1849 - May 6, 1905) was a feudal retainer of the Kuwana Domain in the end of Edo period. Later, he became a member of the Shinsengumi. After the Meiji Restoration, He was employed by Mitsubishi Zaibatsu. He served as a translator and a president of Shanghai City Branch. Later, he served as a first center president of Nagasaki dockyard. His former name was Hayataro. His changed name was Taro OKOCHI.
He was born as the child of a feudal retainer of the Kuwana Domain, 山脇正軌, and became a page boy to Sadaaki MATSUDAIRA.
In 1868, the Boshin War broke out. He was routed in the Battle of Toba and Fushimi, and went along with his father, Juzaemon, from Edo to get to Kasuzaki City. After he liquidated a chief retainer, Gonzaemon YOSHIMURA, who belonged to the deference faction, with Teisaku TAKAGI from the same clan by a command from Sadaaki MATSUDAIRA who belonged to thoroughgoing resistance force, he followed Sadaaki and went to Ezo.
When he got to Hakodate, he joined the Shinsengumi which was under the command of Toshizo HIJIKATA with Takagi and other members. He participated in the Hakodate War.
In June 24, 1869, he surrendered to the New government army in Benten Daiba (Cape Benten Battery).
After he was released in 1872, he studied in the United States in order to escape from questioning over his liquidation of the chief retainer, and after he returned to Japan, he joined Mitsubishi. After he served as a center president of Nagasaki dockyard for thirteen years, he retired.
A cultural researcher, Barbara Teraoka is his descendant.