From around the 1st year of Keio, prior to being defeated in Battle of Toba Fushimi, Toshizo realized that from now on war could not be fought with swords and he started to prepare western-style armaments.
歳三は鳥羽・伏見の戦いで敗北する以前の慶応元年頃から、これからは刀で戦ができない時代であると悟り、洋式の軍備を進め始める。