Ezo: vast undeveloped far northern territory, one of four main Japanese islands
Fudo-do: a village in southwestern Kyoto, location of the Shin-sen-gumi's third headquarters
Fujisan Maru: a Tokugawa warship
Fukui: a Tokugawa-related feudal domain in central Honshu, on the Sea of Japan
Furudaka Shuntaro: an anti-Tokugawa Loyalist in Kyoto, arrested by the Shinsengumi
Fushimi: a town just south of Kyoto
geigi: an entertainer in the Kyoto pleasure quarters, accomplished in the arts of song and dance
geisha: an entertainer in pleasure quarters of Edo and elsewhere, accomplished in the arts of song and dance
Genji: an era name (see Table of Era Names)
Gesshin'in: a subtemple of Kodaiji, served as headquarters of Kodaiji Faction
Gion: a district in eastern Kyoto, near the Kamogawa River
GorySkaku: a modern citadel near Hakodate
Goto Shojiro: chief minister of the Lord of Tosa
Hagi: primary castle town of Choshu, located on the Sea of Japan
Hakodate: a port city on Ezo open to foreign trade, location of oppositionists' last stand
Hamaguri Gate: one of the Nine Forbidden Gates of the Imperial Palace, scene of heaviest fighting in Battle at the Forbidden Gates
han: a feudal clan or domain
Harada Sanosuke: Shieikan swordsman, founding member and officer of the Shinsengumi
Hashimoto Kaisuke: Shinsengumi corpsman, member of Kodaiji Faction
hatamoto: direct retainers of the shogun, whose annual rice revenue of less than 10,000 koku did not qualify them as daimyo
Hijikata Toshizo: assistant instructor of the Shieikan, founding member and vice commander of the Shinsengumi
Hikone: a pro-Tokugawa clan in western Japan, feudal domain of li Naosuke
Hino: a post town along the Koshu-kaido Road in Tama, just west of Edo
Hirama Jusuke: Shinsengumi officer, member of Serizawa faction, narrowly escaped assassination
Hirao, Michio: a modern Japanese history writer noted for writings about the Shinsengumi and Sakamoto Ryoma
Hirayama Goro: Shinsengumi officer, member of Serizawa faction, assassinated with Serizawa Kamo
Hiroshima: a feudal domain in southwestern Honshu, on the Inland Sea
Hokushin Itto style: style of fencing taught at Chiba Dojo
Honshu: largest of the four main Japanese islands
iai: the art of sword drawing
Ii Naosuke: Lord of Hikone, Tokugawa regent, assassinated in Edo
Ikeda'ya: an inn in Kyoto, site of notorious battle between Shinsengumi and anti-Tokugawa Loyalists
Ikumatsu: a geigi, lover-spy, and future wife of Katsura Kogoro
Imai Noburo: Mimawarigumi corpsman, suspected assassin of Sakamoto Ryoma and Nakaoka Shintaro
Inoue Genzaburo: Shieikan swordsman, founding member and officer of the Shinsengumi
Ishida: the native village of Hijikata Toshizo, located in Tama
Itabashi: a district in Edo, location of Kondo Isami's execution
Itakura Katsukiyo: Tokugawa prime minister and Lord of Matsuyama
Ito Kashitaro: staff officer of the Shinsengumi, Kodaiji Faction leader, assassinated at Aburakoji
Iwakura Tomomi: leader of anti-Bakufu faction at the Imperial Court
Joi: (literally, Expel the Barbarians): a slogan of Imperial Loyalists
Jundd Maru: a Tokugawa warship
Ka'ei: an era name (see Table of Era Names)
Kagawa Keizo: Mito samurai, staff officer of imperial forces, arrested Kondo Isami
Kagoshima: castle town of Satsuma
Kaikoku (literally, Open the Country): the official policy of the Tokugawa Bakufu after the arrival of Commodore Perry
Kaiten. flagship of the oppositionists in northern Japan
Kaiyo Maru: a Tokugawa warship
Kami'ishihara: the native village of Kondo Isami, located in Tama
Kamogawa: a river in KyotoKan'eiji: the Tokugawa family Buddhist temple at Ueno, served as place of self-confinement of Tokugawa Yoshinobu
Kaneko (family): a wealthy peasant household with vast landholdings in the countryside just northeast of Edo
Katsu Kaishu: commissioner of the Tokugawa Navy, a founder of the Japanese Navy, one of the most valuable personages in the Tokugawa Bakufu
Katsunuma: a town five miles east of Kofu on the Koshu-kaido Road, scene of battle between the Shinsengumi and imperial forces
Katsura Kogor5: political leader of the Choshu Loyalists, key player in overthrow of the Tokugawa Bakufu
Katsuragawa: a river in Kyoto
Kawaramachi: a district in Kyoto, on the west side of the Kamogawa River
Kawase Dazai: a Zeze samurai, involved in failed plot to kill Shogun Tokugawa lemochi
Keio: an era name (see Table of Era Names) kenjutsu (literally, sword techniques): Japanese fencing
Kiheitai (literally, Extraordinary Corps): Japan's first modern militia, founded by Takasugi Shinsaku of Choshu
Kii: a feudal domain in western Japan, one of the Three Branch Houses of the Tokugawa, native domain of Shogun Tokugawa Iemochi
kimono: a gown worn by men and women
Kinno-Tobaku (literally, Imperial Loyalism and Down with the Bakufu): a slogan of anti-Tokugawa Imperial Loyalists
kirikami: the first rank in the Tennen Rishin style of fencing
Kiyokawa Hachiro: organizer of the Roshi Corps, outspoken anti-Tokugawa dissident, assassinated in Edo
Kobe: a port town on Osaka Bay
Kodaiji: a Buddhist temple in the Higashiyama district of Kyoto
Kodaiji Faction: the name of Ito Kashitaro's group after they defected from the Shinsengumi
Kofu: a feudal domain strategically located some ninety miles west of Edo, ruled by a hereditary lord
Kojima Shikanosuke: leader of Onoji Village in Tama, close friend and patron of Kond5 Isami
koku: bushel of rice (equivalent to 44.8 U.S. gallons)
Komei: a Japanese emperor, chronic xenophobe, ruled 1846-67
Kondo Isami: master of the Shieikan, founding member and commander of the Shinsengumi
Kondo Otsune: Kondo Isami's wife
Kondo Shusuke: Kondo Isami's fencing instructor and adoptive father
Kondo Tamako: Kondo Isami's daughter
Kondo Yugoro: see Miyagawa Yugoro
Koshu-kaido: a main road connecting Edo and Kofu
Kotetsu: Kondo Isami's prize sword, which he used at the Ikeda'ya
Kumamoto: a feudal domain in west-central Kyushu, ruled by an outside lord, hotbed of anti-Tokugawa Imperial Loyalism
Kuwana: a Tokugawa-related clan in central Honshu, feudal domain of Matsudaira Sada'aki
Kyoto: Imperial Capital
Kyo'ya: an inn in southeastern Osaka
Kyushu: one of four main Japanese islands, located southwest of Honshu
Maekawa (residence): headquarters of the Shinsengumi at Mibu
makoto (literally, sincerity): symbol of the Shinsengumi
Man'en: an era name (see Table of Era Names)
Masu'ya: shop of Furudaka Shuntaro, served as hiding place of Choshu-led ronin in Kyoto
Matsudaira (Houses of): ruling families of Aizu, Kuwana, and Fukui clans, Related Houses of the Tokugawa
Matsudaira Chikaranosuke: chief fencing instructor at the Bakufu's Military Academy in Edo, helped establish Roshi Corps
Matsudaira Katamori: Lord of Aizu, protector of Kyoto, master of the Shinsengumi
Matsudaira Sada'aki: Lord of Kuwana, inspector of the Imperial Court and nobles, younger brother of Lord of Aizu
Matsumae: a feudal domain on the southern tip of Ezo, ruled by an outside lord
Matsumoto Ryojun: personal physician to the shogun, befriended and treated Kondo Isami
Meiji: an era name (see Table of Era Names), name of the emperor who ruled during that era
menkyo: the fourth rank in the Tennen Rishin style of fencing, a license to serve as assistant instructor
Mibu: a district in western Kyoto, location of the first Shinsengumi headquarters
Mibu Roshi: derogatory term for men of the Roshi Corps and the Shinsengumi
Mimawarigumi (literally, Patrolling Corps): a Tokugawa security force in Kyoto
Minakuchi: a feudal domain, ruled by a hereditary lord
Mito: a feudal domain northeast of Edo, one of the Three Branch Houses of the Tokugawa, native domain of Tokugawa Yoshinobu, birthplace of Imperial Loyalism
Miura Kyutaro: a high-ranking samurai of Kii Han, falsely suspected of orchestrating assassination of Sakamoto Ryoma
Miyabe Teizo: a ronin from Kumamoto, Loyalist leader, perished at the Ikeda'ya
Miyagawa Hisajiro: Kondo Isami's father
Miyagawa Katsugoro: Kondo Isami's name at birth
Miyagawa Nobukichi: Kondo Isami's cousin, Shinsengumi corps-man, killed at the Tenman'ya
Miyagawa Yugoro: Kondo Isami's nephew, witnessed execution of Kondo Isami, married Kondo Tamako, changed family name to Kondo, succeeded Kondo Isami as head of the Shieikan
Miyako Bay: scene of sea battle between oppositionists and imperial forces, on the northeastern coast of Honshu
Miyuki: a mistress of Kondo Isami in Kyoto
Mochizuki Kameyata: a Tosa Loyalist and ronin; perished in the Ikeda'ya Incident
mokuroku: the second rank in the Tennen Rishin style of fencing
Mori (House of): ruling family of Choshu
Musashi: a province west of Edo
Nagai Naomune: a chief inspector in the Tokugawa Bakufu
Nagakura Shinpachi: close associate of the Shieikan, founding member and officer of the Shinsengumi
Nagareyama: a village near the east bank of the Edogawa in the province of Shimo'usa, location of Kondo Isami's arrest
Nagasaki: an open port city in western Kyushu on the East China Sea Naito Hayato: Hijikata Toshizo's alias
Nakai Shogoro: a follower of Sakamoto Ryoma, killed at the Tenman'ya inn
Nakaoka Shintaro: a Tosa Loyalist leader, close comrade of Sakamoto Ryoma, assassinated with Ryoma
Nakayama Tadayasu: maternal grandfather and official guardian of Emperor Meiji, confidant of Iwakura Tomomi
Namamugi: a village near Edo, scene of murder of a British subject by Satsuma samurai
Nijo Castle: the Tokugawa stronghold in Kyoto
Nishihonganji: a Buddhist temple in western Kyoto, served as the second headquarters of the Shinsengumi
Nomura Risaburo: Shinsengumi corpsman, Kondo Isami's attendant, accompanied Kondo to Itabashi, killed in battle at Miyako Bay
Ogasawara Nagamichi: Lord of Karatsu and a senior councilor in the Tokugawa Bakufu
Oishi KuwajirS: an officer of the Shinsengumi
Okita Soji: genius swordsman, head of the Shieikan, founding member and officer of the Shinsengumi
Okubo Ichio: an influential official in the Tokugavva Bakufu, close ally of Katsu Kaishu
Okubo Ichizo: a Loyalist leader of Satsuma, key player in overthrow of the Tokugawa Bakufu
Okubo Yamato: Kondo Isami's alias Onoji: the native village of Kojima Shikanosuke, in Tama
Osaka: mercantile center, located in western Honshu near Kyoto Otaka: Kondo Isami's mistress in Kyoto, who bore him a daughter
Otori Keisuke: former commissioner of the Tokugawa infantry, headed oppositionist army
Otsu: a town just east of Kyoto
O'ume: the mistress of Serizawa Kamo in Kyoto
Owari: a feudal domain in central Honshu, one of the Three Branch Houses of the Tokugawa
Oyu: Kondo Isami's daughter, borne by his mistress Otaka ronin: a samurai who did not serve a feudal lord
roshi: a samurai who did not serve a feudal lord (less derogatory than ronin)
Roshi Corps: forerunner of the Shinsengumi ryo: gold coin and unit of Japanese currency
Saigo Kichinosuke (a.k.a. Saigo Takamori, Saigo the Great): military leader of Satsuma, a key player in overthrow of the Tokugawa Bakufu, commander of imperial forces
Saito Hajime. close associate of the Shieikan, founding member and officer of the Shinsengumi
Sakamoto Ry5ma: a Tosa Loyalist and ronin, a key player in overthrow of the Tokugawa Bakufu, assassinated in Kyoto
sake: an alcoholic beverage made from rice
Sakuma Shozan: a leading scholar of Western thought, teacher of
Katsu Kaishu, assassinated in Kyoto
samurai: a warrior who generally served a daimyo
Sanbongi: a pleasure quarter in Kyoto, near the western bank of the Kamogawa
Sanjo-dori: a main thoroughfare in Kyoto
Sanjo Large Bridge: a bridge in Kyoto spanning the Kamogawa River
Sanjo Sanetomi: leader of the Seven Banished Nobles
Sanjo Small Bridge: a bridge in Kyoto spanning the Takasegawa Canal
Sasaki Tadasaburo: leader of the Mimawarigumi, a suspected assassin of Kiyokawa Hachiro, Sakamoto Ryoma, and Nakaoka Shintaro
Sato Hikogoro: leader of Hino Village in Tama, brother-in-law of Hijikata Toshizo, close friend and patron of Kondo Isami
Satsuma: a leading anti-Bakufu feudal domain in southern Kyushu, ruled by influential Outside Lord Shimazu Hisamitsu
Sei'i'taishogun (literally, commander in chief of the expeditionary forces against the barbarians, generally called shogun): title of the military ruler of feudal Japan
Sendai: a feudal domain in northern Japan, ruled by an outside lord
seppuku (literally, cutting the belly; also called hara-kiri): an honorable form of suicide practiced by samurai
Serizawa Kamo: Mito ronin, founding member and commander of the Shinsengumi, assassinated in Kyoto
shaku: a unit of measurement just under one foot
shamisen: a three-stringed musical instrument resembling a banjo
Shiba Tsukasa: Aizu samurai, committed seppuku for violating Bushido
Shibata Hikosaburo: Shinsengumi corpsman, forced to commit seppuku for deserting
Shieikan: Dojo of Kondo Isami
Shikoku: smallest of the four main Japanese islands, located in south, east of Kyushu
Shimabara: a pleasure quarter in western Kyoto
Shimada Kai: Shinsengumi veteran, followed Hijikata Toshizo to Ezo
Shimazu (House of): ruling family of Satsuma
Shimazu Hisamitsu: father of Satsuma daimyo, influential de facto Lord of Satsuma
Shimoda: an open port southwest of Yokohama
Shimonoseki: a port in Choshu on the western tip of Honshu
Shimonoseki Strait: strait between Honshu and Kyushu
Shimosawa, Kan: a modern Japanese history writer and novelist noted for writings about the Shinsengumi
Shimo'usa: a province northeast of Edo
shinan menkyo: fifth and highest rank in the Tennen Rishin style of fencing, a license to open a dojo and teach one's own students
Shinrai Nishiki: nominal commander of Shinsengumi, later demoted to vice commander, member of Serizawa faction, forced to commit sep-puku for violating corps regulations
Shinohara Yasunoshin: Shinsengumi officer, close confidant of Ito Kashitaro, member of Kodaiji Faction, shot Kondo Isami
Shinsengumi (literally, Newly Selected Corps): a Tokugawa security force in Kyoto
Shintokuji: a Buddhist temple in Mibu, served as headquarters for Roshi Corps
Shinto Munen style: style of fencing practiced by Serizawa Kamo
shishi: men of high purpose
Shogitai (literally, Corps of Clear Loyalty): an oppositionist corps at Ueno
shogun: see sei'i'taishogun
Shonai: a feudal domain in northern Japan
Sonno-Joi (literally, Imperial Reverence and Expel the Barbarians): a slogan of Imperial Loyalists
Sumi'ya: a house of pleasure in Shimabara, Kyoto, frequented by the Shinsengumi
Sumiyoshi: a pleasure house in Osaka
Suzuki Mikisaburo: Shinsengumi officer, younger brother of Ito Kashitaro, member of Kodaiji Faction
Takahata Fudo: a Buddhist temple in Hino
Takao: a warship of the oppositionists in northern Japan
Takasegawa: a canal in Kyoto
Takasugi Shinsaku: revolutionary commander of Choshu Army
Takechi Hanpeita: leader of Tosa Loyalist Party
Takeda Kanryusai: Shinsengumi officer, suspected traitor, murdered in Kyoto
Tama: a region in Musashi province, just west of Edo
Tamagawa: a river in Tama
tatami: thickly woven straw mats perfectly fitted together and covering the floor in traditional Japanese rooms
Ta'uchi Tomo: Shinsengumi corpsman, forced to commit seppuku for violating corps regulations
Tenmanbashi: a bridge in Osaka
Tenman'ya: an inn in western Kyoto
Tennen Rishin style: style of fencing taught at the Shieikan
Tenpo: an era name (see Table of Era Names)
Terada'ya: an inn in Fushimi
Toba-Fushimi: area at the southern approach to Kyoto where civil war broke out between the imperial forces and oppositionists loyal to the Tokugawa Bakufu
Todo Heisuke: Shieikan swordsman, founding member and officer of the Shinsengumi, member of Kodaiji Faction, killed at Aburakoji
Tokugawa (House of): ruling family of feudal Japan
Tokugawa Bakufu (a.k.a. Edo Bakufu, Bakufu): military government at Edo which dominated the Japanese nation
Tokugawa lemochi: child-lord of Kii, fourteenth Tokugawa Shogun Tokugawa lesada: feebleminded thirteenth Tokugawa Shogun
Tokugawa leyasu: founder of the Tokugawa Bakufu, first Tokugawa Shogun
Tokugawa Yoshinobu (a.k.a. Hitotsubashi Yoshinobu): fifteenth and last Tokugawa Shogun, abdicated and restored the emperor to power in 1867
Tosa: a feudal domain on the Pacific coast of southern Shikoku, ruled by influential Outside Lord Yamanouchi Yodo
Tsugaru Strait: strait between Honshu and Ezo
Tsushima: a feudal domain located in the strait between the Korean Peninsula and Kyushu, ruled by an outside lord
Uchiyama Hikojiro: official at the Osaka magistrate's office, assassinated by the Shinsengumi
Ueno: a hilly region in the northeastern part of Edo, location of Toku-gawa Yoshinobu's self-confinement
Utsunomiya: a strategically located feudal domain north of Edo
Yagi (residence): residence of the Shinsengumi leaders at Mibu
Yagi Gennojo: master of the Yagi residence
Yamaguchi: secondary castle town of Choshu
Yamanami Keisuke: assistant instructor of the Shieikan, founding member and officer of the Shinsengumi, defected before committing seppuku
Yamanouchi (House of): ruling family of Tosa
Yamanouchi Yodo: influential Lord of Tosa
Yamaoka Tetsutaro (aka Yamaoka Tesshu): low-ranking Tokugawa samurai, expert swordsman, close friend of Kiyokawa Hachiro, an overseer of Roshi Corps
Yamato'ya: a silk wholesaler in Kyoto
Yamazaki Susumu: Shinsengumi officer and spy
yarijutsu: the art of the spear
Yodogawa: a river in Osaka
Yokohama: a port city on Edo Bay west of Edo, location of foreign settlement
Yonezawa: a feudal domain in northern Japan, ruled by an outside lord
Yoshida Shoin: archetype of Japanese revolutionaries, martyred teacher of Choshu Loyalists
Yoshida Toshimaro: a Choshu Loyalist and student of Yoshida Shoin, perished in the Ikeda'ya Incident
Yoshida'ya: an inn in the Sanbongi pleasure quarter of Kyoto; also the
name of a pleasure house in Osaka
Zeze: a feudal domain in western Japan, ruled by a hereditary lord
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