The Shinsengumi (Japanese: 新選組 or 新撰組) were a special police force of the late shogunate period. Special police is a term which can mean a number of things in different countries. ... The late Tokugawa shogunate or last shogun (幕末; Bakumatsu) is the period between 1853 and 1867 during which Japan ended its isolationist foreign policy called sakoku and modernized from a feudal shogunate to the Meiji government. ...

Mannequins dressed in Shinsengumi outfits

Download high resolution version (500x732, 51 KB)Mannequins dressed as Shinsengumi in a display at Kyoto station. ... Download high resolution version (500x732, 51 KB)Mannequins dressed as Shinsengumi in a display at Kyoto station. ...

Historical background

After Japan opened up to the West in the 1860s following U.S. Commodore Matthew Perry's visits in 1853, sentiment towards the Tokugawa shogunate grew negative while citizens longed for return to power of the emperor. // The First Transcontinental Railroad in the USA was built in the six year period between 1863 and 1869. ... Matthew Calbraith Perry (1794-1858). ... 1853 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... 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. ... Sonnō jōi (尊皇攘夷) is a Japanese political philosophy and a social movement, which was derived from Neo-Confucianism; it was also a political slogan in 1850s-60s, meaning Revere the Emperor, Expel the Barbarians, or being commonly translated as The origin of the philosophy can be seen in Takenouchi Shikibu...

In 1863, the Roshigumi (浪士組), a group of 234 masterless samurai (rōnin), was founded by Kiyokawa Hachirō to act as the protectors of the Tokugawa shogun in Kyoto. Year 1863 (MDCCCLXIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... The Rōshigumi, the Kyoto Defenders, is a group of 13 masterless samurai (ronin), originally founded by Kiyokawa Hachirō in 1863. ... Graves of the forty-seven Ronin at Sengaku-ji Ronin robbing a merchants house in Japan around 1860 (1) For other uses, see Ronin (disambiguation). ... Kyoto )   is a city in the central part of the island of HonshÅ«, Japan. ...

Historical facts

Statue of Kondō Isami at Mibu Temple

Kiyokawa Hachirō formed the Rōshigumi with funding from the Tokugawa regime. However, his goal was to gather rōnin to work with the imperialists. In response, thirteen members of the Rōshigumi became the thirteen founding members of the Shinsengumi, while other members loyal to the Tokugawa government returned to Edo and formed the Shinchogumi (a special police force in Edo.) Statue of Shinsengumi member Kondo Isami at Mibudera (Mibu Temple), Kyoto, Japan I took this photograph and contribute it to the public domain. ... Statue of Shinsengumi member Kondo Isami at Mibudera (Mibu Temple), Kyoto, Japan I took this photograph and contribute it to the public domain. ...

The Shinsengumi members were originally also known as the Miburō (壬生浪), meaning "ronin of Mibu", Mibu being the town where they were stationed. However, the reputation of the Shinsengumi became tarnished quite early on, and their nickname soon changed to "Wolves of Mibu" (壬生狼, pronounced the same). Shinsengumi could be translated to "Newly Selected Corps" (Shinsen means "new chosen (ones)," while "gumi" translates to "group," "team," or "squad.") Graves of the forty-seven Ronin at Sengaku-ji Ronin robbing a merchants house in Japan around 1860 (1) For other uses, see Ronin (disambiguation). ...

The original Commanders of the Shinsengumi were Serizawa Kamo, Kondō Isami, and Shinmi Nishiki. At first, the group was composed of three major factions: Serizawa's group, Kondo's group, and Tomouchi's group (members below). However, Tomouchi and Iesato were assassinated shortly after its foundation. Serizawa Kamo(芹沢鴨; 1826?-October 30, 1863) was a famous samurai, known for being the original lead captain of the Shinsengumi. ... Kondō Isami Kondō Isami November 9, 1834 - May 17, 1868) was a Japanese official of the late Edo Period. ...

After the elimination of Tomouchi Yoshio and his third faction, the group was composed of just two factions: Serizawa's Mito group and Kondō Isami's Shiekan members, both based in the Mibu neighborhood of Kyoto. The group submitted a letter to the Aizu clan requesting permission to police Kyoto, and to counteract revolutionaries who supported the emperor against the Tokugawa shogunate. Their request was granted. Monument to the Byakkotai Samurai Aizu ) is a former feudal domain (Han), part of the modern-day Japanese prefecture of Fukushima, formerly a part of Mutsu province. ...

On September 30th (lunar calendar August 18), the Chōshū clan were forced out of the Imperial court by the Tokugawa regime, the Aizu clan and the Satsuma clan. All members of the Mibu Rōshigumi were sent to aid Aizu and help keep Chōshū out of the imperial court by guarding its gates. This caused a power shift in the political arena in Kyoto, from the extreme anti-Tokugawa Chōshū forces to the pro-Tokugawa Aizu forces. The new name "Shinsengumi" was said to have been given to the group by either the Imperial Court or Matsudaira Katamori (the daimyo of the Aizu clan) for their job in guarding the gates. September 30 is the 273rd day of the year (274th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Satsuma is the name of a town in Japan, Satsuma, Kagoshima, the surrounding district, Satsuma District, Kagoshima, the former province, Satsuma Province, which is now the western half of Kagoshima Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, a revolt, the Satsuma Rebellion. ... Imperial Court in Kyoto was the nominal ruling government of Japan since 794 until the Meiji Era, in which the court was moved to Tokyo and was integrated into the Meiji government. ... Matsudaira Katamori (松平容保), (February 15, 1836−December 5, 1893) was a samurai that lived in the last days of the Edo period and the early Meiji period. ... Daimyo Matsudaira Katamori visits the residence of a retainer. ...

The Shinsengumi's greatest enemies were the imperialist-supporting ronin samurai of the Mori clan of Chōshū (and later, former ally Shimazu Clan of Satsuma.) Grave of Yamaguchi Mōri clan at Mount Koya The Mōri clan (毛利氏 Mōri-shi) was a family of daimyō, descended from Oe no Hiromoto and established themselves in Aki province. ... Grave of Satsuma clan at Mount Koya. ... Satsuma is the name of a town in Japan, Satsuma, Kagoshima, the surrounding district, Satsuma District, Kagoshima, the former province, Satsuma Province, which is now the western half of Kagoshima Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, a revolt, the Satsuma Rebellion. ...

Ironically, the reckless actions of Serizawa and Shinmi, done in the name of the Shinsengumi, caused the group to be feared in Kyoto when their job was to keep the peace. On October 19, 1863, Shinmi Nishiki, who was demoted to sub-commander due to a fight with wrestlers, was forced to commit seppuku by Hijikata and Yamanami. Less than two weeks later, Serizawa was assassinated by Kondō's faction under Matsudaira Katamori's order. October 19 is the 292nd day of the year (293rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

The Ikedaya Affair of 1864, in which they prevented the burning of Kyoto, made the Shinsengumi famous overnight; they had a surge of recruits. The Ikedaya Jiken (池田屋事件), also known as the Ikedaya Affair or Ikedaya Inn Incident, was a famous armed encounter between the Ishin Shishi, the anti-shogunate forces from Choshu (now Yamaguchi) and the Shinsengumi, the bakufus special police force on July 8, 1864 at the Ikedaya inn in Kyoto, Japan. ...

The Shinsengumi remained loyal to the Tokugawa bakufu, and when the latter collapsed, they were driven out of Kyoto. They fought to the very end. Isami Kondō was captured and beheaded by the Meiji government. Generally, the death of Toshizō Hijikata on June 20 (lunar calendar May 11), 1869 is seen as marking the end of the Shinsengumi. 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. ... For the James Clavell novel, see Shogun or for the TV Miniseries. ... The Meiji period ) denotes the 45-year reign of Emperor Meiji, running from 8 September 1868 (in the Gregorian calendar, 23 October 1868) to 30 July 1912. ... June 20 is the 171st day of the year (172nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 194 days remaining. ... A lunar calendar is a calendar oriented at the moon phase. ... May 11 is the 131st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (132nd in leap years). ... 1869 (MDCCCLXIX) is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ...

A few core members, such as Nagakura Shinpachi and Saito Hajime, survived the demise of the group.

Members of the group

At its peak, the Shinsengumi had about 300 members. They were the first samurai group of the Tokugawa era to allow those from non-samurai classes like farmers and merchants to join. Previously, Japan had had a strict class hierarchy system. Many joined the group due to the desire to become samurai and be involved in political affairs. However, it is a misconception that most of the Shinsengumi members were from non-samurai classes. Out of 106 Shinsengumi members (among a total of 302 members at the time), there were 87 samurai, 8 farmers, 3 merchants, 3 medical doctors, 3 priests, and 2 craftsmen. Quite a few leaders, such as Yamanami, Okita, Nagakura, and Harada, were born samurai.

Post-Ikedaya Shinsengumi hierarchy

Commander: Kondō Isami, fourth master of the Tennen Rishin Ryū
General Secretary(Vice Commander): Yamanami Keisuke
Vice Commander: Hijikata Toshizō
Military Advisor: Ito Kashitarō
Tennen Rishin-ryu (天然理心流 Tennen Rishin ryū) was a sword style practiced by the Shinsengumi. ...

Troop Captains:

1. Okita Sōji
2. Nagakura Shinpachi
3. Saitō Hajime
4. Matsubara Chūji
5. Takeda Kanryūsai
6. Inoue Genzaburō
7. Tani Sanjūrō
8. Tōdō Heisuke
9. Suzuki Mikisaburō
10. Harada Sanosuke

Spies: Shimada Kai, Yamazaki Susumu
Takeda Kanryusai (武田 観柳斎) (? - June 22, 1867) was the fifth unit captain of the Shinsengumi which were a special police force for the Tokugawa regime. ... Yamazaki Susumu (山崎 烝) (1833? - February 6, 1868) was a Shinsengumi officer and spy (Kansatsu. ...

Shinsengumi regulations

Statue of Hijikata Toshizō, Hino, Tokyo

The code of the Shinsengumi Regulations was most likely to have been written by Hijikata Toshizō Toshizo Hijikata Shinsengumi Hino, Tokyo Tokyo Kyoto Late Tokugawa shogunate Japan I took this photograph and contribute it to the public domain. ... Toshizo Hijikata Shinsengumi Hino, Tokyo Tokyo Kyoto Late Tokugawa shogunate Japan I took this photograph and contribute it to the public domain. ... Hijikata Toshizō Statue at Takahata Fudo, Hino, Tokyo Hijikata Toshizō (土方歳三, May 31, 1835—June 20, 1869) was the deputy leader of Shinsengumi, a small-built and talented Japanese military leader who resisted the Meiji Restoration. ... Hijikata Toshizō Statue at Takahata Fudo, Hino, Tokyo Hijikata Toshizō (土方歳三, May 31, 1835—June 20, 1869) was the deputy leader of Shinsengumi, a small-built and talented Japanese military leader who resisted the Meiji Restoration. ...

The code included five articles, prohibiting the following:

1. Deviating from the samurai code (Bushido)
2. Leaving the Shinsengumi
3. Raising money privately
4. Taking part in others' litigation
5. Engaging in private fights

The penalty for breaking any rule was seppuku. In addition, the Shinsengumi had these regulations: Japanese samurai in armor, 1860s. ... “hara-kiri” redirects here. ...

1. If the leader of a unit is mortally wounded in a fight, all the members of the unit must fight and die on the spot.
2. Even in a fight where the death toll is high, it is not allowed to retrieve the bodies of the dead, except the corpse of the leader of the unit.

The most prominent of which is this: "If a Shinsengumi member engages in a fight with a stranger, be it on duty or not, if he is wounded and can't kill the enemy, allowing him to run away, even in case of a wound in the back, seppuku is ordered."

Hijikata forced them to follow extremely strict rules to make the group reflect bushido (or samurai) ideals, and to create fear within the group so that they would absolutely obey the orders of Hijikata and Kondo. These rules are a major reason why they rose to be such a strong, feared force consisting of hundreds of expert swordsmen, each endowed with official sanction and an unflinching readiness to kill.

Quite a few members were forced to commit seppuku for breaking the rules, or were killed for being spies.

The uniform

The members of the Shinsengumi were highly visible in battle due to their distinctive uniforms. Following the orders of Shinsengumi captain Serizawa Kamo, the standard uniform consisted of the haori and hakama over a kimono, with a white cord called a tasuki crossed over the chest and tied in the back. The function of the tasuki is to prevent the sleeves of the kimono from interfering with moving the arms. The uniqueness of the uniform was most evident in the haori, which was colored asagiiro (浅葱色, generally light blue, but can also be light yellow). The haori sleeves were trimmed with "white mountain stripes", resulting in a very flashy outfit, quite unlike the usual browns, blacks, and greys found in warrior clothing. In the midst of a fight, the uniforms of the Shinsengumi provided not only a means of easy identification, but also a highly visible threat towards the enemy. Serizawa Kamo(芹沢鴨; 1826?-October 30, 1863) was a famous samurai, known for being the original lead captain of the Shinsengumi. ... Japanese woman in a kimono, ca. ... Hakama worn by an aikidoka (left of the picture) An Edo-era kamishimo outfit, consisting of a kataginu (a sleeveless jacket with exaggerated shoulders) (left) and hakama (centre). ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Depictions in media

In 2004, Japanese television broadcaster NHK began making a year-long television drama series following the history of the Shinsengumi, called 新選組! (Shinsengumi!), which airs on Sunday evenings. Actors include Kōji Yamamoto, Tatsuya Fujiwara, Joe Odagiri, and Katori Shingo of the pop idol group SMAP. It was written by Japanese director and playwright, Mitani Koki. Many other series and specials have featured the history and fiction surrounding this group. shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... NHK Broadcasting Center in Shibuya, Tokyo NHK (, Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai), or the Japan Broadcasting Corporation, is Japans public broadcaster. ... Shinsengumi! is a television series produced by Japanese broadcaster NHK. It was a popular drama about shinsengumi, the Japanese special police from the Shogun period. ... Kōji Yamamoto is a Japanese actor who stars in Shinsengumi as Hijikata Toshizō. Categories: Japanese people stubs | Japanese actors ... Shingo Katori (香取 慎吾 Katori Shingo) is a member of SMAP, a very popular idol group from the agency Johnnys Entertainment Company. ... This article or section is not written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. ... This article or section seems not to be written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia entry. ...

In 2003, a Japanese samurai drama, When the last sword is drawn [1], depicts the end of shinsengumi, focusing on various historical figures such as Saito Hajime. 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Japanese samurai in armour, 1860s. ... When the Last Sword is Drawn (壬生義士伝, Mibu gishi den) is a 2003 Japanese movie directed by Yojiro Takita. ... Saito Hajime (Fujita Goro) Saitō Hajime (斎藤一 Saitō Hajime) (February 18, 1844 - September 28, 1915) was born in Edo, Musashi Province (now Tokyo). ...

In the historical fiction manga Kaze Hikaru, a girl named Tominaga Sei disguises herself as a boy named Kamiya Seizaburo to join the Mibu-Roshigumi (later known as Shinsengumi) in order to avenge her murdered father and older brother. Manga )   (pl. ... Kaze Hikaru (風光る, literally Shining Wind or The Wind Shines) is a manga series by Taeko Watanabe. ... The Rōshigumi, the Kyoto Defenders, is a group of 13 masterless samurai (ronin), originally founded by Kiyokawa Hachirō in 1863. ...

The historical fiction anime Peacemaker Kurogane chronicles a dramatization of the events leading up to the Ikedaya Affair. The manga it was based on continues the story. The main cast of the anime Cowboy Bebop (1998) (L to R: Spike Spiegel, Jet Black, Ed Tivrusky, Faye Valentine, and Ein the dog) For the oleo-resin, see Animé (oleo-resin). ... Peacemaker Kurogane ) is a historical fiction manga and anime series created by manga-ka Nanae Chrono ). The story begins in 19th century Japan before the Meiji Restoration, while the seeds of the revolution are being planted. ... The Ikedaya Jiken (池田屋事件), also known as the Ikedaya Affair, or was a famous armed encounter between the anti-shogunate forces from Chosu (now Yamaguchi) and the Shinsengumi in July 1864 in Kyoto, Japan. ... Manga )   (pl. ...

Another popular historical fiction manga, Rurouni Kenshin, which also became an anime, includes Saito in his post-Shinsengumi job in the Meiji's police department, as Gorō Fujita. Saito is also featured in Rurouni Kenshin's OVA, localized in America as Samurai X. Both the OVA and manga show scenes of the Shinsengumi around the time of the Ikedaya Affair. Saito often quotes "Aku Soku Zan" (Destroy-Evil-Immediately) as being the Shinsengumi's one and only rule. It must be noted that "Aku-Soku-Zan" is fictional. In addition, several of the other Shinsengumi members are briefly seen in the series. Manga )   (pl. ... Rurouni Kenshin manga, volume 1 (English version) Rurouni Kenshin (るろうに剣心) is a set of anime and manga series created by artist Nobuhiro Watsuki, set during the early years of the Meiji Era in Japan. ... The main cast of the anime Cowboy Bebop (1998) (L to R: Spike Spiegel, Jet Black, Ed Tivrusky, Faye Valentine, and Ein the dog) For the oleo-resin, see Animé (oleo-resin). ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ...

The 1999 film Gohatto depicts the Shinsengumi a year after the Ikedaya Affair. Gohatto (御法度) aka Taboo (1999) is a Japanese film directed by Nagisa Oshima. ...

The SNK Playmore video game series The Last Blade features two fictional Shinsengumi members: Keiichiro Washizuka and Kojiroh Sanada, as part of the fictional Shinsengumi Zero Squadron. Additionally, another character, Shikyoh, is a former Shisengumi member which Sanada is tasked with hunting down. SNK Playmore (formerly SNK) is a Japanese video game hardware and software company. ... Namcos Pac-Man was a hit, and became a universal phenomenon. ... The Last Blade (幕末浪漫 月華の剣士: Bakumatsu Roman Gekka no Kenshi which roughy tranlates as Bakumatsu Romance The Swordsman of Moon Flower), or LB for short, is a fighting game series created by SNK for the Neo-Geo arcade and home system. ... Keiichiro Washizuka Keiichiro Washizuka is a character in the Last Blade fighting game series. ... Kojiroh Sanada is a video game character in The Last Blade series. ... Shikyoh is a video game character in The Last Blade series. ...

The Shinsengumi were made into anime girls in the eroge Kyosatsu♥Shinsengumi, and also in Line-Kill Spirits. An eroge (erotic game) is a Japanese video or computer game that features erotic content, usually in the form of anime-style artwork. ... Line-Kill Spirits (行殺！スピリッツ) is a fighting game made by a doujin soft group calling themselves Game Programming Study Club, released in the Winter Comiket of 2005. ...

Hijikata and Okita played a major part in the third arc of the anime and volume 2-3 of the manga series Shura no Toki. Shura no Toki ) is an anime. ...

Hijikata Toshizou Shiro no Kiseki was an one episode OVA based on the Shinsengumi after the Meiji Restoration took place. A human ovum An ovum (loosely, egg or egg cell) is a female sex cell or gamete. ...

The Sword of Doom (1966) is about Ryunosuke who at one point joins the Shinsengumi under Serizawa Kamo, Ryunosuke receives orders to kill Kondo. The Sword of Doom, known in Japan as Dai-bosatsu tōge (大菩薩峠) (Daibosatsu Pass), is a samurai movie released in 1966. ...

In the anime Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto, the main character Akizuki Yōjirō has a past with Okita and Hijikata. Episode 9 and 10 depict Okita's last days. Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto ) is a Japanese anime series, created by Ryōsuke Takahashi and Sunrise. ...

The Playstation 2 games Fu-un Shinsengumi and Fu-un Bakumatsuden follow the history of the group. Fu-un Shinsengumi is a game created by Genki for the Playstation 2. ...

Further reading

• Shinsengumi: The Shogun's Last Samurai Corps, by Romulus Hillsborough (2005) ISBN 0804836272
• Samurai Sketches: From the Bloody Final Years of the Shogun, by Romulus Hillsborough (2001) ISBN 0966740181

External links

• Shinsengumi Headquarters Website created to address the needs of those who are interested in the history, related film/TV/anime, fanfiction, fanart and various incarnations of the Shinsengumi.
• Hajimenokizu A site dedicated to Saitou Hajime and the Shinsengumi in various fictional and historical incarnations.
• Samurai Archives - Shinsengumi