Ever wonder what life looked like at Japan during the Edo period? Clashing swords, slashing sounds, and spilling blood; everything was like a morning nightmare, especially for those loyal protector who vowed upon their swords, a group of lads on blue and flower-patterned cloaks, noble swordsmen who were compared to wild wolves, or they are better known as the Shinsengumi.
According to facts which was gathered by Japanese scholars, Edo period was an era of blood and war so the lives of the majority, especially of those shogunate representatives, or also known as the military directors who were appointed by the emperor, were highly at risked. For that matter, the Shinsengumi, translated as “new selected group”, was formed by the military government as a special police force who would not only protect the representatives but would also protect the lives of the ordinary people. Most of the Shinsengumi members were from dojos and got appointed to do the work, but there were some of them who joined by their own wills.
Now, imagine those anime which you have watched or known that have a samurai-themed plot. Mostly of those sword-wielding entities from those shows were being praised and looked upon by the townspeople whom they protected. Unfortunately for the Shinsengumi, it was the exact opposite and did not happen at all. Their blood-covered blades and their very existence were viewed as a huge threat by the people which were later on caused for the Shinsengumi’s nickname, the wild wolves. As devastating as it seems, a worse matter was yet to come to them for the imperial soldiers and the palace itself did not recognize these wise swordsmen as protectors even though they were formed by the military government. This incident forced the Shinsengumi to act on the shadows and protect humanity without the aid of anyone. Though it caused them a lot of extra work because there would be no one who would support their financial necessities but themselves alone. Later studies concluded that the sole cause of these unfortunate events which were bestowed upon the Shinsengumi was due to their lack of popularity. The Shinsengumi was only active for 5 years, from 1864 to 1869, due to the simultaneous deaths of the group's 10 captains.
War is inevitable, and because it is inevitable that is why heroes are born in everyone’s own selves, whether with acknowledgement or none. Some got recognized right away and some are unfortunate just like the Shinsengumi.