The Bakumatsu (幕末, bakumatsu, "Late Tokugawa Shogunate"), are the final years of the Edo period (1853-1868) during which Japan ended its isolationist foreign policy, known as Sakoku, and transitioned from a feudal shogunate to the Meiji government.

The Bakumatsu started with the arrival of Commodore Matthew C. Perry's black ships to Japan on July 8, 1853. Perry's objective was to incite Japan, through force if necessary, to open its borders to trade with the United States of America. In reaction to the arrival of those black ships which would end a 220 years isolationist policy, the country was divided. The pro-imperialist Ishin Shishi (nationalist patriots) fought to return political power to the Emperor of Japan, while the shogunate forces, including the elite Shinsengumi (newly selected corps) swordsmen, fought for the Tokugawa shogunate to keep its position. The country is currently embroiled with the Boshin Wars, and the assassins class with Samurai in Kyoto. The country's peasants rise up to fight the Shogunate due to the corruption in the government hampering, and destroying the common lives the peasants have lived. The Shogunate fight to protect their emperor, and their way of life. With the Imperialists seeking more power to be seceded to the courts many wonder what will happen once, or if a Meiji reformation will happen. Samurai on both sides have their heroes, and their villains and the people see an period of ruthless bloodshed as many slayers prepare to fight each other to the death.

A simple premise for a roleplay we will be playing either the Ishin Shishi, or the Shinsengumi (whoever has the most in favor) in an attempt to fight for our side in the conflict that is happening within Kyoto. We won't be really having any massive battles this will focus more on a personal setting. I will be looking for a co-gm to help with the story which will be flexible. Depending on what the rp's in this want we can veer off into non-canon with a tokugawa victory (which didn't happen in real life) or keep with canon, and real life with a Meiji victory. This will mainly focus on assassinations, and samurai on samurai combat.

I'm definitely interested. I'd vote for the Shinsengumi, but I'd be okay fighting on either side. It was a very interesting period of history.

Glad to see some interest I've been rewatching (some of the show minus some of the filler) and was figuring it'd be fun to have an rp set in the Meiji era even if all the characters aren't Saito, or Himura.

Ooh, this looks cool! I remember having a Shinsengumi phase a while back lol, to the point of watching, like, 40 hour long episodes of a live action thingey I had to trawl the internet to find 😅 I was a normal child wat Just curious, would it be historical characters or original characters shoved into the historical scenario?

It can be either, or depending on preference. This is going to be ahistorical to make it more fun to roleplay.

I'm showing interest here

Well I hope its for the role play and not cheese cake.

@vancexentan Totally the cheesecake.

Got the perfect theme for the Shinsengumi. It's a song about Hijikata Toshizo, their leader

Alright I'll try setting up an op tomorrow. Just a reminder to everyone this is based more around Rurouni Kenshin the series rather than historical fact meaning there will be shonen aspects to some of this rp.

If anyone wants to step up too Co-GM feel free to say so.

Can I make a guy who has a third arm? So he fights with three swords? And the arm came from his best friend? Which he had sewed into his body after his buddy was exploded?

I kid. Just curious about limits on Anime-ness.

@vancexentan I'm a horrible co-gm lol. But hopefully someone else will step up.

@Reflection Rurouni Kenshin is low level shonen people can move at lightning speed roughly when high tier, and highly trained fighters can break rocks into literal dust with their bare hands. Standard Samurai, and skilled samurai are roughly normal level people. Us as shinsengumi should round about skilled to higher tier. If you haven't seen the show I recommend it its old but well done its also called Samurai X. Its realistic but still somewhat shonen-style.

@vancexentanI might be able to Co-GM if nobody else wants to. I'm pretty familiar with the show and what people ought to be capable of, and know a bit about Japanese History. I've also been known to make some pretty cool villains. Feel free to PM me.

@Raging FenrirAlright I'd appreciate the help. I'll try to get to making the OOC when I can.

What kind of character roles are you hoping to fill? Like if this was a DnD group.

@ReflectionWe're all generalized swordsmen. Samurai in the literal terms. So we're all going to be relatively similar. If someone wants to have a side specialty of being a medic, or what have you then I'll allow you to fulfill that role.

@Raging Fenrir@Renny@Reflection@NorthernKraken roleplayerguild.com/topics/178040-rur…

Here's the OOC. Its small but serviceable I'll add more to it we'll all likely be on the same squad. Did anyone have a preferred designation or should I just add one?

@NorthernKrakenAre you still in this? I'd ask Fenrir this but he has been offline for almost a day.

Most likely not unfortunately, I may have been a little overeager, and would likely have had to drop - best of luck with the rp though!