Okita Rintarou Fujiwara no Kanemasa(sp?)
He was Okita Mitsu’s husband and Souji’s brother-in-law. He was related to Inoue Genzaburou’s family.
Okita Soji Feature by Mori, p.10
“Inoue Sozo’s younger brother, Rintaro Kanemasa (Rintaro Mototsune’s nephew) became an adopted son/son-in-law (of the Okita family) to be the head of the Okita family…”
Mori, p.12
“During the Shieikan Period… Soji called Rintaro (Kanemasa) ‘big brother, big brother’…”
Okita Rintarou Fujiwara no Kanemasa’s family register (from 1882 or around 1882)
http://blog.drecom.jp/hinojyukuhonjin_kentoukai/monthly/200506/
(Okita Rintarou is listed as being the the eldest son of the Okita family. Okita Mistu is listed as being the the eldest daughter of Kondou Shusuke after 1886, which doesn’t match this family register.)
Okita Rintarou Mototsune(sp?)
He was Souji’s step-father and Rintarou Kanemasa’s uncle. He died in 1852.
Mori, p.10
“one was Inoue Rintaro Mototsune, who bought his samurai status (from the Okita family) after Okita Katsujiro’s death on (lunar calendar) October 20, 1845…”
Mori, p.10
“Based on the family record, it is supposed that Rintaro Kanemasa’s father-in-law, aka Soji’s (step-)father, Rintaro Mototsune, died in 1852. His wife, Soji’s mother, died on (lunar calendar) Auguest 8, 1862…”
Mori, p,13
“Okita Soji’s biological father was Katsujiro, as recorded previously, who had died early and left (him)…”
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From what I could gather,
1) Okita Souji’s biological father was indeed Katsujirou;
2) it is a fact that Rintarou Kanemasa was Katsujirou’s adopted son;
3) there were in fact two Okita Rintarou’s.
I’ve been wondering whether Rintarou Mototsune had also adopted Rintarou Kanemasa after Katsujirou because,
1) Okita Souji is listed in the death records at the family temple as being the “2nd son of Okita Rintarou Mototsune”;
2) Souji called Rintarou Kanemasa “big brother” in adulthood;
3) it’s believed that Rintarou Kanemasa was Rintarou Mototsune’s son-in-law;
4) according to Rintarou Kanemasa’s family register (from 1882 or so), he’s listed as being the eldest son of the Okita family.
Of course, this is only a theory (at most.) There hasn’t been a solid explanation in regard of the fact that Okita Souji is listed in the death records at the family temple as being the “2nd son of Okita Rintarou Mototsune.” What we could tell is that both Okita Rintarou’s were “retainers” and Rintarou Kanemasa was only going to remain as the head of the family until Okita Souji got married.