His origins are debated, but he is generally considered to have been born in Edo. A swordsman of the Itto-ryu or Tennen Rishin-ryu, he joined the Shinsengumi around 1863 and became captain of the Third Unit. He is also said to have used an unusual "left-hand forward" stance. He played a ruthless role in the corps's internal discipline, including several purges. He participated in many operations including the Ikedaya Incident. After the Battle of Toba-Fushimi in 1868 he continued fighting for the former shogunate side, including for the Aizu domain. After the Meiji Restoration he changed his name to Fujita Goro through a connection with the Aizu Yamakawa family and served as a Tokyo Metropolitan Police officer. He is said to have served in the Battotai unit during the Satsuma Rebellion (1877). In his later years he worked at a museum and died in 1915 at the age of seventy-one. One of the very few principal Shinsengumi members to survive to old age.

Taciturn and composed, a loyal warrior who carried out his duties without personal interest. His manner of quietly fulfilling his responsibilities without showing emotion conveyed the formidable quality of a true swordsman.

He continued to be active as a police officer after the Meiji Restoration, leaving a profound influence on later generations as a real-life samurai who lived through the transition from Bakumatsu to Meiji. His "left-hand forward" swordsmanship and mysterious background have made him a popular character in countless novels, anime, and games.