The Irregular Militia (Kiheitai) (奇兵隊, Kiheitai^?) was a volunteer militia raised by Chōshū domain during the Bakumatsu period of Japan. Lexington Minuteman representing militia minuteman John Parker A militia is the activity of one or more citizens organized to provide defense or paramilitary service, or those engaged in such activity. ... Nagato (Ja. ...

Founded in 1863 by Takasugi Shinsaku, the Kiheitai militia consisted of 300-400 men, who came from all social classes, including farmers, merchants, samurai and others. Most were from Chōshū, but a few volunteers were from other domains. The Keiheitai was known for its discipline, and use of western-style weapons and military techniques. It was unique not only in its composition (under the Tokugawa bakufu, it was illegal for non-samurai to bear weapons), but in that its leadership was determined by ability, rather than hereditary social status. The militia was partly funded by the Chōshū domain, but gained the rest of its financial support through donations by wealthy merchants and farmers. Takasugi Shinsaku (高杉 晋作 1839-1867) is a samurai who contributed to the Meiji restoration. ... Japanese samurai in armour, 1860s. ... The Tokugawa shogunate or Tokugawa bakufu (徳川幕府) (also known as the Edo bakufu) was a feudal military dictatorship of Japan established in 1603 by Tokugawa Ieyasu and ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family until 1868. ...

The Kiheitai militia saw action in the Bombardment of Shimonoseki in 1864, during which the fleets of Great Britain, France, the Netherlands, and the United States fired upon the Chōshū port city of Shimonoseki, and subsequently landed troops. As the military arm of the pro-reform faction within the Chōshū domain, the Kiheitai helped overthrow the pro-bakufu faction in the Chōshū civil war, repulsed the Chōshū Expedition sent by the Tokugawa bakufu in 1866, and played an important role in the Boshin War of 1869, which led to the Meiji Restoration. Captured battery at Shimonoseki, 1864. ... Shimonoseki (下関市; -shi) is a city located in Yamaguchi, Japan. ... The Boshin War (戊辰戦争 Boshin Sensō, literally War of the Year of the Dragon) was fought in 1868-1869 between the Tokugawa Shogunate and the pro-Imperial forces in Japan. ... The Meiji Restoration ), also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, or Renewal, was a chain of events that led to a change in Japans political and social structure. ...

Disbanded in 1868, the success of the socially-mixed unit and its western armaments and tactics was an important influence on the development of the Imperial Japanese Army, and on the later system of universal military conscription in Japan. The Imperial Japanese Army (: 大日本帝國陸軍 Shinjitai: 大日本帝国陸軍 Dai-Nippon Teikoku Rikugun) was the official ground based armed force of Japan from 1867 to 1945 when it was Imperial Japan. ...

Other Usage

The pro-Tokugawa militia defending Aizu-Wakamatsu during the Boshin War, and the forces of Saigō Takamori in the Satsuma rebellion also used the term ‘kiheitai’ to describe themselves. Aizuwakamatsu castle Aizuwakamatsu (会津若松市; -shi) is a city located in Fukushima, Japan. ... Saigō Takamoris statue in Ueno park Saigō Takamori 23 January 1827/28 — 24 September 1877), one of the most influential samurai in Japanese history, lived during the late Edo Period and early Meiji Era. ... Combatants Imperial Japanese Army Satsuma fief Commanders Ruler: Meiji Emperor CIC: Sumiyoshi Kawamura Saigo Takamori Strength 300,000 40,000 Casualties  ? about 30,000 dead The Satsuma Rebellion (Seinan Sensō 西南戦争, Southwestern War) was a revolt of the Satsuma clan samurai against the Imperial Japanese Army, which occured 11 years into...

References

• Huber, Thomas M.: The Revolutionary Origins of Modern Japan. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press, 1981.
• Craig, Albert M.: Chôshû in the Meiji Restoration. Lanham et al.: Lexington Books, 2000.