Bakumatsu

Hi...I've been doing research on the Japanese Civil War
(Bakumatsu)...i've got a timeline of what went on, however, I'm stuck
on the groups and the alliances made, namely by the Shinsengumi and
Ishinshishi...also the battle statistics, the types of fighters (just
Samurai or were the Hitokiri like in Rurouni Kenshin?), where battles
took place (is it just Edo and Kyoto?), I've been looking for a site
or book that will provide all the iformation im looking for, with
pictures and sketches. if anyone can help, it would be greatly
appriciated...thank you

Hi,
There was no hitokiri and most battles were fought between provinces claiming to be the rightful representative of the emperor. Althought the emperor was shifting alliance as was needed and no one daimyo (province) truly represented the interests of the emperor against the shogunate. The shogunate also claimed to be the rightful rep of the emperor. The two main provinces were satsuma and choshu as both had large numbers of samurai (employed and not employed) and had funds to develop a fairly modern arsenal. The shognate and these two provinces all traded with various european countries who viewed the shogunate as the rightful leaders of Japan (france) and those who viewed the provinces as countries in themselves. (England). The provinces even went as far as developing peasant militia to battle the shogunate at the border battles in choshu. Some battles were fought against the europeans and this lead to even bigger rifts between the shogunate and Choshu and satsuma. Well you can read more on your own but two books that might help you are:
Sakamoto Ryoma and the meiji restoration. By, Marius B. Jansen: This book is a good representation of bakumatsu Japan from the point of view of a individual shishi.
Choshu in the Meiji Restoration. By, Albert M. Craig. This book is good for a localized outlook on the bakumatsu period and the political battles fought behind the scenes which are often more powerful than the horribly done armed battles of the period.
Hope this is helpful.
Musashi
asstrotep <asstrotep@...> wrote: Hi...I've been doing research on the Japanese Civil War
(Bakumatsu)...i've got a timeline of what went on, however, I'm stuck
on the groups and the alliances made, namely by the Shinsengumi and
Ishinshishi...also the battle statistics, the types of fighters (just
Samurai or were the Hitokiri like in Rurouni Kenshin?), where battles
took place (is it just Edo and Kyoto?), I've been looking for a site
or book that will provide all the iformation im looking for, with
pictures and sketches. if anyone can help, it would be greatly
appriciated...thank you


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You know I've been wondering the same thing. I too am a fan of
the samurai X/Rurouni Kenshin saga. It seems to me that there
is very little information about this period available (or maybe I
just don't know where to look?). But there is hope; NHK Japan
has announced a TV drama in production based on the
Shinsengumi. It is projected for release sometime in 2004. I'm
not sure about a release to the US or on DVD but I'm hopeful. A
recently released film on the subject, by director Beat Takeshi
(who also stars), is called "Gonin". Haven't seen the film myself
but have read some reviews of it.

Brandon

--- In samuraihistory@y..., "asstrotep" wrote:
> Hi...I've been doing research on the Japanese Civil War
> (Bakumatsu)...i've got a timeline of what went on, however, I'm
stuck
> on the groups and the alliances made, namely by the
Shinsengumi and
> Ishinshishi...also the battle statistics, the types of fighters (just
> Samurai or were the Hitokiri like in Rurouni Kenshin?), where
battles
> took place (is it just Edo and Kyoto?), I've been looking for a
site
> or book that will provide all the iformation im looking for, with
> pictures and sketches. if anyone can help, it would be greatly
> appriciated...thank you

I too am a fan of the Bakumatsu but I am embarrassed to say I have never
heard of Rurouni Kenshin. His name has come up on this list several times,
is this a computer game character?
There are quite alot of good books in English on the subject and tons in
Japanese. There are many good films as well; Shinsengumi with Mifune,
Shinsengumi Shimatsuki with Ichikawa, Bakumatsu (the Ambitious), Goyokin
with Nakadai and Tamba. And my all time favorite Daibosatsu Toge with
Nakadai, alias Sword of Doom. The Beat Takeshi film you may be thinking of
is Gohatto (taboo), a story of homosexual desire among the Shinsengumi.
Directed by Oshima Nagisa, well worth it for the dojo and fight scenes which
are first class.
I would do an internet search for "Samurai Video" or Video search of
Miami for most or all of these titles.
Good Hunting
Tobaku Tomas