Shinsengumi

*Shinsengumi*
Shinsengumi
新選組
	Flag of Shinsengumi
Active	August 18, 1863
Disbanded	June 23, 1869
Country	Kyoto, Japan
Allegiance	Tokugawa bakufu
Branch	Rōshigumi (disbanded in 1863); Bakufu Army;
Type	Security agency
Role	Bodyguard; Clandestine operation; Close order formation; Cordon and search; Counterintelligence; Counter-revolutionary; Covert operation; Criminal investigation; Direct fire; Force protection; Frontal assault; Hand-to-hand combat; HUMINT; Intelligence assessment; Law enforcement; Line formation; Manhunt; Patrolling; Physical security; Political warfare; Public security; Raiding; Rearguard; Reconnaissance; Swordsmanship; To protect the Tokugawa bakufu representatives and Kyoto; Tracking
Size	302
Colors	light blue, white
Engagements	Ikedaya incident; Kinmon incident; Zenzaiya incident; Akebonotei incident; Sanjo Seisatsu incident; Aburanokōji incident; Second Chōshū expedition; Tenmaya incident; Boshin War Battle of Toba–Fushimi; Battle of Kōshū-Katsunuma; Battle of Utsunomiya Castle; Battle of Shirakawa; Battle of Bonari Pass; Battle of Aizu; Battle of Miyako Bay; Battle of Futamata; Battle of Hakodate ; ;
Commanders
Notable; commanders	Serizawa Kamo (1863); Kondō Isami (1863–1868); Tonouchi Yoshio (1863); Hijikata Toshizō (1868–1869); Saitō Hajime (1868); Sōma Kazue (1869);

The Shinsengumi (新選組, "Newly Selected Corps") was a small secret police organization, elite group of swordsmen that was organized by commoners and low rank samurai, commissioned by the bakufu (military government) during Japan's Bakumatsu period (late Tokugawa shogunate) in 1863. 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 Chōshū clan had been forced from the imperial court. They gained considerable fame in the Ikedaya incident and the August 18 coup events, among others. The men were drawn from the sword schools of Edo.

Shinsengumi
新選組
Flag of Shinsengumi
Active	August 18, 1863 (1863-08-18)
Disbanded	June 23, 1869 (1869-06-23)
Country	Kyoto, Japan
Allegiance	Tokugawa bakufu
Branch	Rōshigumi (disbanded in 1863) Bakufu Army
Type	Security agency
Role	Bodyguard Clandestine operation Close order formation Cordon and search Counterintelligence Counter-revolutionary Covert operation Criminal investigation Direct fire Force protection Frontal assault Hand-to-hand combat HUMINT Intelligence assessment Law enforcement Line formation Manhunt Patrolling Physical security Political warfare Public security Raiding Rearguard Reconnaissance Swordsmanship To protect the Tokugawa bakufu representatives and Kyoto Tracking
Size	302
Colors	light blue, white
Engagements	Ikedaya incident Kinmon incident Zenzaiya incident Akebonotei incident Sanjo Seisatsu incident Aburanokōji incident Second Chōshū expedition Tenmaya incident Boshin War Battle of Toba–Fushimi Battle of Kōshū-Katsunuma Battle of Utsunomiya Castle Battle of Shirakawa Battle of Bonari Pass Battle of Aizu Battle of Miyako Bay Battle of Futamata Battle of Hakodate
Commanders
Notable commanders	Serizawa Kamo (1863) Kondō Isami (1863–1868) Tonouchi Yoshio (1863) Hijikata Toshizō (1868–1869) Saitō Hajime (1868) Sōma Kazue (1869)