Weber, Till (Text) / Lunyakov, Sascha (Illustrationen) Bakumatsu

From Samurai to Soldiers - Japan in the 1860s
From the early 17th century until the 1860s, Japan was ruled by samurai led by the Shoguns of the powerful Tokugawa dynasty. The long period of peace following almost incessant civil war had negative effects on the proficiency of these feudal warriors. When industrialized Western powers whose armies and navies were equipped with the most modern weapons began to take interest in Japan in the 1850s, a tumultuous period of reforms and radical changes ensued Bakumatsu. From this time emerged a country which had thoroughly albeit painfully rid itself of former taboos: modern rifles and artillery produced new tactics, while modern uniforms replaced the samurais former splendour in arms. Now even non-samurai could become fighting men. By the 1870s, the Emperor Meiji ruled over a new Japan which no longer had any use for its ancient warrior élite.

The Zeughaus Verlags third volume of the history of the samurai provides a detailed overview of the opposing parties as well as their respective military reforms. The reader is introduced to the various modern and traditional-minded combatants, from lowly but efficient regular infantry to the gallant desperadoes filling the ranks of the Shinsengumi. Rag-tag militias replaced proud and resplendently attired samurai fighting for a lost cause. Tactics, arms, clothing and equipment are presented in detail. The author describes the campaigns and battles which changed the countrys face between 1866 and 1869, and introduces the protagonists of the struggle which culminated in modern Japans entrance onto the world stage.

Introduction

About this book

Conflicts and civil war in the 1860s


The Military Revolution - Military Reforms in Japan from 1841 to 1868

Reforms of the shogunate

The opponents - Satsuma and Choshu
Firearms - from the matchlock barbette
to the Gatling Gun

The role of foreign arms dealers


Shogunate, emperors and allies - an overview of the most important principalities and their insignia and badges

Tokugawa and allies

Satsuma, Choshu and allies

Other troop insignia


The combatants

Shishi - men with noble goals or madmen?
Shinsengumi - shining heroes or terror gang?
terror gang?

Samurai - the last hurrah of the old feudal warriors
Modern infantry

Shotai - militias


Campaigns and battles of the 1860s

The second punitive expedition against Choshu in 1866
"
In this sign you will be victorious" - The Battle of Toba-Fushimi from (3-6 January 1868)

Day 1 - 3 January 1868

Day 2 - 4 January 1868

Day 3 - 5 January 1868

Day 4 - 6 January 1868

Epilogue

From Kyoto to Edo

The Battle of Ueno, 15 May 1868

The Hokuetsu War in Nagaoka, May to August 1868

The bloody siege of Aizu-Wakamatsu,
6.10.-6.11.1868

Sendai, Yonezawa and Shonai in the Boshin War

The last hurrah of the shogunate party in
Hokkaido - Hakodate surrenders on 27 June 1869


Outstanding personalities of the

Bakumatsu period

The young savages of Choshu

Katsu Kaishu and Saigo Takamori

Jules Brunet, the true Last Samurai

What came after the battle or the experiences of Dr William Willis

Imai Nobuo (1841-1918) and the long road to a bourgeois life
to a bourgeois life

Literature and sources used