History UsefulNotes / TheShinsengumi

Nonetheless, the Shinsengumi was [[UndyingLoyalty dedicated to their cause]] almost to a fault, and extremely good at doing what they do. Out of the two hundred or so members, most opted to fight for the failing Shogunate until the bitter end, even after the group's dissolution. Only a few would survive to witness the new era.

Something of a popular favorite for inclusion in samurai shows, the Shinsengumi have the advantage of actually having existed in the Bakufu era of Japanese history. The group, originally called the Roushigumi (lit.: "Roushi Group," Roushi being a synonym for {{ronin}}), later changed its name to the Shinsengumi ("Newly Selected Corps") and moved to Kyoto. There, taking the side of the current shogun, they requested and were granted policing powers to deal with the revolutionaries who wished to see the return of the Emperor to power. The raid on Ikeda-ya, where the Shinsengumi managed to stop revolutionaries from setting fire to the city, is probably the most well-documented single engagement of the group during their existence. Though they only ever numbered a little more than two hundred at the very most, and were active for only about five years, they're often credited with singlehandedly delaying the Meiji side's eventual victory over the Tokugawa regime.

However, once the NostalgiaFilter is deactivated, one would find the exploits of the Shinsengumi to be more complex. The group's initial inception was not met with warm reception. Due to their diverse backgrounds, the Shinsengumi achieved a level of notoriety for being a rowdy and ill-disciplined bunch, frequently involved in brawls and causing trouble for their hosts. While the Shinsengumi managed to stop revolutionaries from setting fire to Kyoto, thus cementing their position as the guardian of Japan's ancient capital, in reality, the security of Kyoto actually belonged to a special Tokugawa police unit known as the Kyoto Mimawarigumi (京都見廻組). Their reputation in the immediate post-Tokugawa era also painted them in a negative light, until somewhat redeemed by revisionist historians post-[[UsefulNotes/MeijiRestoration Meiji Period]]. Moreover, despite their job technically being to keep the peace, they were generally (and deservedly) viewed as a threat. Like other nationalist paramilitary movements, [[WeAreStrugglingTogether inter-faction violence and assassinations]] were frequent.

Nonetheless, the Shinsengumi was loyal to their cause and extremely good at doing what they do. Out of the two hundred or so members, most opted to fight for the failing Shogunate until the bitter end, even after the group's dissolution. Only a few would survive into the new Meiji era.

Nonetheless, the Shinsengumi was loyal to their cause and extremely good at doing what they do. Out of the two hundred or so members, most opted to fight for the failing Shogunate until the bitter end, even after the group's dissolution. Only a few survivors would survive in the new Meiji era.

Something of a popular favorite for inclusion in samurai shows, the Shinsengumi have the advantage of actually having existed in the Bakufu era of Japanese history. The group, originally called the Roushigumi (lit.: "Roushi Group," Roushi being a synonym for {{ronin}}), later changed its name to the Shinsengumi ("Newly Selected Corps") and moved to Kyoto. There, taking the side of the current shogun, they requested and were granted policing powers to deal with the revolutionaries who wished to see the return of the Emperor to power. The raid on Ikeda-ya, where the Shinsengumi managed to stop revolutionaries from setting fire to the city, is probably the most well-documented single engagement of the group during their existence.

Easily recognizable by their distinctive sky-blue-and-white haori jackets. (Historically, these may have been yellow and white, but always seem to be portrayed as the blue and white style on television. The design were apparently based from their claimed SpiritualPredecessor, UsefulNotes/The47Ronin.) As something of a far right-wing PraetorianGuard, the Shinsengumi embodies the KnightTemplar trope far better than, well, [[UsefulNotes/TheKnightsTemplar the actual Knights Templar]]. Ostensibly defenders of the shogun and Japan, they soon transformed into a ruthless SecretPolice force with an unbelievably strict code of conduct, and what even [[Website/{{Wikipedia}} The Other Wiki]] has to give up on sugar-coating and describe as [[BloodKnight "an unflinching readiness to kill."]] Despite their job technically being to keep the peace, they were generally (and deservedly) viewed as a threat. Like other nationalist paramilitary movements, [[WeAreStrugglingTogether inter-faction violence and assassinations]] were frequent.

Though they only ever numbered about three hundred at the very most, and were active for only about five years, they're often credited with singlehandedly delaying the Meiji side's eventual victory over the Tokugawa regime.

* BladeOnAStick: Notably, Harada Sanosuke was a master of ''Hozoin-ryu sojutsu'', a spear style, and was said to prefer using a spear to a sword.

Easily recognizable by their distinctive sky-blue-and-white haori jackets. (Historically, these may have been yellow and white, but always seem to be portrayed as the blue and white style on television. The design were apparently based from their claimed SpiritualPredecessor, UsefulNotes/The47Ronin.) As something of a far right-wing praetorian guard, the Shinsengumi embodies the KnightTemplar trope far better than, well, [[UsefulNotes/TheKnightsTemplar the actual Knights Templar]]. Ostensibly defenders of the shogun and Japan, they soon transformed into a ruthless SecretPolice force with an unbelievably strict code of conduct, and what even [[Website/{{Wikipedia}} The Other Wiki]] has to give up on sugar-coating and describe as [[BloodKnight "an unflinching readiness to kill."]] Despite their job technically being to keep the peace, they were generally (and deservedly) viewed as a threat. Like other nationalist paramilitary movements, [[WeAreStrugglingTogether inter-faction violence and assassinations]] were frequent.

||Serizawa Kamo||''Former'' Commander of the Shinsengumi[[note:*]]He was killed by the organization, with Kondō taking sole leadership, due to his brash attitude resulting in constant incidents with civilians and other groups.[[/note]]||

||Serizawa Kamo||''Former'' Commander of the Shinsengumi[[labelnote:*]]He was killed by the organization with Kondō taking sole leadership due to his brash attitude resulting in constant incidents with civilians and other groups.[[/labelnote]]||

* The Shinsengumi are the focus of ''VisualNovel/{{Hakuouki}}'', a RomanceGame franchise which adds a [[TheChick young]] [[BiFauxnen woman]] named Chizuru and some supernatural elements into the mix but also devotes a surprising amount of attention to the history of and politics surrounding the group. The original game and its immediate prequel were adapted into [[TheAnimeOfTheGame an anime of the same name]].

* ''Manga/ShuumatsuNoWalkureRecordOfRagnarok'' features Okita Sōji as one of the ''Einherjar'', human warriors selected to fight against Gods from various pantheons in battles to the death to determine the fate of humanity. Kondō Isami also appears to support Okita from the sidelines. Both Okita and Kondō's designs and personalities are lifted directly from ''Chiruran: Shinsengumi Requiem'', another work by Shinya Umemura, one of the authors of ''Shuumatsu''.

Easily recognizable by their distinctive sky-blue-and-white haori jackets. (Historically, these may have been yellow and white, but always seem to be portrayed as the blue and white style on television. The design were apparently based from their claimed SpiritualPredecessor, UsefulNotes/The47Ronin.) As something of a far right-wing praetorian guard, the Shinsengumi embodies the KnightTemplar trope far better than, well, [[UsefulNotes/TheKnightsTemplar the actual Knights Templar]]. Ostensibly defenders of the shogun and Japan, they soon transformed into a ruthless SecretPolice force with an unbelievably strict code of conduct, and what even [[Wiki/{{Wikipedia}} The Other Wiki]] has to give up on sugar-coating and describe as [[BloodKnight "an unflinching readiness to kill."]] Despite their job technically being to keep the peace, they were generally (and deservedly) viewed as a threat. Like other nationalist paramilitary movements, [[WeAreStrugglingTogether inter-faction violence and assassinations]] were frequent.

* The Shinsengumi also provide ThemeNaming in Anime/SpaceBattleshipYamato (and carried over into the [[Anime/SpaceBattleshipYamato2199 remake]]). Captain Okita is the first and most iconic example, but Admiral's Serizawa and Hijikata also show up, as well as second season addition Saito Hajime.

* The Shojo historical manga ''Manga/KazeHikaru'' is about a [[KidSamurai samurai's daughter]] who joins the Shinsengumi disguised as a boy in order to revenge her family's death at the hands of imperialists.

* In ''VideoGame/FateGrandOrder'', Okita Souji has a starring role in the GUDAGUDA events as a HistoricalGenderFlip of herself. Portrayed as a cheery, excitable girl with an IncurableCoughOfDeath, she's dangerous nonetheless when she gets serious. Her superior, Hijikata Toshizo, makes an appearance in the second GUDAGUDA event, leading the Shinsengumi once again, albeit only consisting of himself, Okita, and an army of defected Mini Nobus. The fifth GUDAGUDA event saw the debut of Saitou Hajime as a Saber-class Servant, Yamanami Keisuke in a non-playable but still important role, and former commander Serizawa Kamo as the ArcVillain and non-playable Saber-class Servant.

** To be exact, this is usually played straight with Hijikata (not that he needs it; the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Toshizo_Hijikata.jpg real-life Hijikata]] was said to be incredibly handsome) and Okita, averted with Kondō (who is either depicted [[Manga/PeaceMakerKurogane realist]][[VisualNovel/{{Hakuouki}} ically]]) and played up to eleven with others like Saitō Hajime (or at least it was thought so, before his real portrait was published and showed him as reasonably atractive--even as an old man).

** To be exact, this is usually played straight with Hijikata (not that he needs it; the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Toshizo_Hijikata.jpg real-life Hijikata]] was said to be incredibly handsome) and Okita, averted with Kondō (who is either depicted [[Manga/PeaceMakerKurogane realist]][[VisualNovel/{{Hakuouki}} ically]] or [[Manga/{{Gintama}} worse]]) and played up to eleven with others like Saitō Hajime (or at least it was thought so, before his real portrait was published and showed him as reasonably atractive--even as an old man).

** To be exact, this is usually played straight with Hijikata (not that he needs it; the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Toshizo_Hijikata.jpg real-life Hijikata]] was said to be incredibly handsome) and Okita, averted with Kondō (who is either depicted [[Manga/PeaceMakerKurogane realist]][[VisualNovel/{{Hakuouki}} ically]] or [[Manga/{{Gintama}} worse]]) and played UpToEleven with others like Saitō Hajime (or at least it was thought so, before his real portrait was published and showed him as reasonably atractive--even as an old man).

* ''VideoGame/{{IMGCM}}'': One of limited-time events has Shinsengumi-theme, about the heroines are trapped in an Edo-era AlternateUniverse. There are also Shinsengumi dresses (with [[WhoWearsShortShorts extremely short shorts]]) for Ao, Cocoa and Kaori, which the first two can only be acquired in limited-time gacha, while the third one in completing the Shinsengumi event story.

* In ''VideoGame/ToukenRanbu'', which features [[CastFullOfPrettyBoys male]] [[AnthropomorphicPersonification personifications]] of historical Japanese swords, several characters are personifications of swords that belonged to members of the Shinsengumi. Izuminokami Kanesada and Yamatonokami Yasusada both even wear the Shinsengumi's distinctive blue and white haori, while Nagasone Kotetsu wears the rarely depicted white and black version.

* IncurableCoughOfDeath: Okita Sōji died young from tuberculosis, and he's often portrayed as romantically coughing up blood mid-battle. (He ''did'' collapse during the Ikeda-ya raid, which is often attributed to the onset of his tuberculosis, but it's unlikely the disease had progressed to the "collapsing" point since he died four years later; historians now think it might have been heat stroke).

* IncurableCoughOfDeath: Okita Sōji died young from tuberculosis, and he's often portrayed as romantically coughing up blood mid-battle (even though he expired at home; he ''did'' collapse during the Ikeda-ya raid, which is often attributed to the onset of his tuberculosis, but it's not entirely clear if this was really the case or if he actually coughed up blood during that specific incident).

* HistoricalFiction
* HistoricalDomainCharacter

Texas {{Ranger}}s were pretty much the WildWest equivalent to these guys, except their {{Badass Longcoat}}s were brown rather than blue (or yellow).

* A villain from [[Recap/LupinIIIS2E71 one episode]] of ''Anime/LupinIIIRedJacket'' plans to resurrect the Shinsengumi and force Hokkaido to become an independent nation from Japan.

* ''VideoGame/{{MGCM}}'': One of limited-time events has Shinsengumi-theme, about the heroines are trapped in an Edo-era AlternateUniverse. There are also Shinsengumi dresses (with [[WhoWearsShortShorts extremely short shorts]]) for Ao, Cocoa and Kaori, which the first two can only be acquired in limited-time gacha, while the third one in completing the Shinsengumi event story.

* ''VisualNovel/Miburo'' depicts the ascension of the GenderFlipped Shinsengumi, from their humble beginnings as a voluntary police force to an outright violent and ruthless paramilitary group, and their eventual downfall by the Boshin War. It also depicts the politics and power plays of the late Bakumatsu Period in good detail.

* In [[Franchise/{{Nasuverse}} TYPE-MOON]]'s KOHA-ACE manga, the identity of a "joke character", [[http://i.imgur.com/qbNYVbw.jpg Sakura Saber]], is revealed to be a GenderFlip of [[http://livedoor.4.blogimg.jp/otaku_blog/imgs/f/1/f15ace7e.jpg Okita Sōji]]. She, along with Hijikata Toshizo (who is not gender-flipped), have been made into playable characters in the mobile game ''VideoGame/FateGrandOrder''. Okita is one of the main characters in Fate/KOHA-ACE and its DarkerAndEdgier manga adaptation ''Webcomic/FateTypeRedline''.