The arrival of Matthew Perry's Black Ships rudely awakened Japan from 300 years of isolation from the world. Men set their eyes beyond Japan and began to demand change in society. Old clashed with the new, and thus began an age of turmoil. Amidst this confusion, one group remained true to the old ways and risked their lives to preserve the traditional shogunate system. Led by their charismatic captain, Kondo Isami, the Shinsengumi upheld the code of honor of the samurai. Tales abound of the feats of men like Kondo, Hijikata Toshizo and Okita Soshi. In general, the passion and glory of these men who lived during these turbulent times in Japanese history are given exploration.
The shogunate army is routed by the imperial forces and forced to flee the city. Shogun Yoshinobu and Matsudaira Katamori, Lord Protector of Kyoto, take flight as well, abandoning the Shinsengumi. In the final days of the shogunate, Okita succumbs to illness, Hijikata dies in the battle at Toba-Fushimi and Kondo Isamu is executed as a shogunate rebel, striving to the very end to uphold the honor of the Tokugawa samurai.
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