Career
He was a master of the Shintomunen-ryu swordsmanship style. He was originally one of the three commanders with Kondo and Serizawa but later he had his rank lowered to vice-commander. Although he took the name Niimi Nishiki, his real name remains obscure.
He is assumed to be well educated because the name Niimi Nishiki shows a play of pronunciation.
There are speculations that he could have been a spy for the Chōshū Domain and that he also had close connections with Sonnō jōi groups in Mito and Tosa Province.
