Shinsengumi新選組 新撰組alternative words: Shinsen gumi, Shinsen-gumi keywords: meiji revolution , office related topics: Bakumatsu , Meiji revolution , Edo shogunate related web sites: http://www.toshizo.com , http://www.geocities.com/oozarumayo/shinsengumi.html , http://www.interq.or.jp/tokyo/toshizo/ explanation: In 1862, in order to assure the security of Kyoto city, Edo shogunate formed a special police force by recruiting among masterless samurai and farmers good in sword technique. Initially called Roshitai, after an internal conflict, Serizawa Kamo then Kondo Isami and Hijikata Toshizo took the control of group and the name changed to Shinsengumi. They provoked terrors among pro imperial samurai with Ikedaya incident in 1864. Shinsengumi disappeared with the defeat of Tokugawa regime in 1868. | |