The was a
special police force organized by the
Bakufu (military government) during
Japan's
Bakumatsu period (late shogun) in 1864. It was active until 1869. It was founded to protect the
Shogunate representatives in
Kyoto at a time when a controversial imperial edict to exclude foreign trade from Japan had been made and the
Choshu clan had been forced from the imperial court. The men were drawn from the sword schools of
Edo. Although the Shinsengumi are lauded as brave and determined heroes in popular culture, they have been described by historians as a "ruthless murder squad".