The Shinsengumi

NHK Shinsengumi

The shinsengumi (新撰組) were a famous police force created by the Tokugawa Shogunate at the very end of the Edo Period when order was breaking down and certain rivals were hoping to overthrow them, namely Chōshū Han in particular. Essentially their job was to guard Kyoto from the enemy and keep the peace, but armed struggles and in-fighting led to their downfall.

Still, the Shinsengumi are a very popular subject in Japanese media. I decided to write about it after watching the recent drama on NHK about the Shinsengumi late night (via TV Japan). Their blue and white uniforms are very distinct and easy to recognize, while their role as the last defenders of the Tokugawa Shogunate still earns them a lot of respect, as well as the drama surrounding the group. As for me, I enjoy the series, though it’s often hard to follow as a Japanese-language student, and I can’t watch it too often since it’s not appropriate for little children, or I am too tired at night.

The photo above was taken actually long before the current series. This was taken by me in 2005 when we visited the NHK studio in downtown Tokyo, which is actually pretty interesting. I knew a lot less Japanese then, and I didn’t know who the Shinsengumi were, but I really liked this poster. Apologies for the glare though. This drama series in 2005 was quite popular, and my wife likes it because it starred the famous and multi-talented.1 actor named Katori Shingo.

Another funny story: when we visited Kyoto in 2005, we passed over a small bridge in the old quarter, and the taxi driver pointed out a spot on the side of the road that was said to have been famous battle by the Shinsengumi, but all that was there now was a stone marker next to a Pachinko parlor. Kind of depressing, but also interesting how things can change in 100 years. Seeing war transition to peace (even in a gaudy pachinko parlor) is nice in a way. :)

It’s no doubt though that of all the samurai in ancient Japan, the Shinsengumi are still among the most famous and popular in media.

1 I liked him in Seiyukai (“Journey to the West”) and in another drama that I think was called HR (“Home Room”).


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2 Comments on “The Shinsengumi”

  1. Toshogu says:

    Very cool. Shinsengumi was actually the first Taiga that I watched when it came out in 2005. I really enjoyed it. Of course the drama glorified them and made them look very heroic. They may have been but they were also very, very violent and blood thirsty men.

  2. Doug 陀愚 says:

    Hi Toshogu,

    I totally agree (sorry for the late reply). I saw some of the 2005 drama and it seemed really good. Even the recent one also glorifies the Shinsengumi somewhat, but it also shows some of the conniving of some members. True indeed, they were violent and bloodthirsty men and a desparate gamble for a Shogunate that was already failing.


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