Born the youngest child of a farming family in Ishida village, Tama district, Musashi (Hino, Tokyo).
Around this time he peddled the family remedy Ishida Sanyaku while training in swordsmanship.
He formally joined Kondō Isami's Tennen Rishin-ryū school.
Going to Kyoto with Kondō, he became vice-commander of the Shinsengumi, holding it together with strict rules and earning the name "demon vice-commander".
He led men with distinction in the Ikedaya Incident.
After defeat at Toba–Fushimi he adopted Western uniform and kept fighting government forces at Utsunomiya and Aizu.
With Enomoto Takeaki and others he crossed to Ezo and fought from the Goryōkaku fortress at Hakodate.
In the Battle of Hakodate he was shot while fighting on horseback and lost his life.
Enomoto TakeakiŌtori KeisukeKondō IsamiKiyokawa Hachirō
Yoshida ShōinKiyokawa HachirōKondō IsamiHashimoto SanaiKomatsu Tatewaki (Kiyokado)Sakamoto RyōmaAtsuhime (Tenshō-in)Matsudaira Katamori
People of the Edo period ・ People by period
Based on facts found in textbooks and biographies. Uncertain points are marked as such.