Shinsengumi

Shinsengumi
Japanese Name:	真選組
Romaji Translation:	Shinsengumi

Shinsengumi is the special military police force, that formed the law-enforcement entity of Edo. With Shige Shige's death after being poisoned as a result of Nobu Nobu's assassin, same time when Intendent and commander, Matsudaira and Kondou were about to be beheaded during Nobu Nobu's reign, Shinsengumi had been disbanded in Chapter 525, until it was later revived in Chapter 529 as special force and a face of Boshin War rebellion under the alliance with Mimawarigumi and other Jouishishi factions for the late-Shige Shige sake against Nobu Nobu's tyranny to restore Edo to peace.

Introduction

They are the service of the ruling Shogunate, in the world of Gintama. Though their main tasks usually involve going after groups/individuals in anti-government or terrorist activities, they do perform regular police duties such as street patrols. In Episode 172 they were also tasked with interrogation of dangerous criminals when other departments are unable to make any headway.

Because they serve under the government, they have been given various negative labels, such as:

• The Dogs of Bakufu (幕府の犬 Bakufu no Inu) by the Jouishishi,
• Tax Revenue Robbers (税金泥棒 Zeikindorobou) by Sakata Gintoki.

History

Kondo Isao, Hijikata Toushirou and Okita Sougo left their hometown Bushuu to Edo looking for sucess. However, being a group of Ronin was trouble and Matsudaira Katakuriko claims that he was the one that picked up Kondo's group and helped them create the Shinsengumi.

Main Regulations

Original Version

In the original Shinsengumi's Kyokuchuu Hatto (局中法度), there were 5 main regulations, namely:

• Do not betray the bushido creed (士道ニ背キ間敷事).

• Do not desert the troop (局ヲ脱スルヲ不許).

• Do not willfully obtain funds (勝手ニ金策致不可).

• Do not willfully get involved in disputes (勝手ニ訴訟取扱不可).

• Do not engage in personal fights (私ノ闘争ヲ不許).

• Personnel in breach of the afore-mentioned conditions will be ordered to undergo seppuku (右条々相背候者切腹申付ベク候也).

Gintama Version

In Gintama, the Demonic Vice-Commander (「鬼の副長」) Hijikata Toushirou formulated the Kyokuchuu Hatto, known as the 45 Regulations that form the disciplinary framework for Shinsengumi members.

Kondou stipulated a new Regulation 46 to treat Shinpachi well in the Pen-pal chapter as reported by Okita (ep.127).

• Regulation 1:
• Regulation 2:
• Regulation 3:
• Regulation 4: In the event that the chief is absent, then the Vice captain is to take over the right to command, and the commanders are to carry out his orders (recited by Okita in [[Chapter 529]
• Regulation 10:

• Regulation 12: No comics other than that of MAGAZINE are allowed to be read within the confines of the station (recited by Hijikata in Episode 105).
• Regulation 17: Turn off handphones during meetings and important ceremonies (recited by Hijikata in Episode 105).
• Regulation 20:
• Regulation 21: Personnel conspiring with the enemy shall be punished (recited by Okita in Episode 103).
• Regulation 25:
• Regulation 25 (Supplementary Regulation): All personnel must consume 5 bottles of mayonnaise each everyday (recited by Hijikata in Episode 185).
• Regulation 45: All warriors following the path of bushido must achieve enlightenment upon death and are forbidden to turn into ghosts (recited by Hijikata in Episode 105).
• Regulation 47: Keep to protect your own life, even if that will mean to violate all the other rules!” (recited by Hijikata in chapter 535).

• Regulation ?: Smoking is forbidden.

For more details on the historical precedent Shinsengumi 新選組, refer to Historical Precedents.

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Hierarchy

SHINSENGUMI 真選組 Organization Chart Police Superintendent Matsudaira Katakuriko 松平 片栗虎 | Shinsengumi 真選組 | Commander Kondou Isao 近藤 勲 Adviser Itou Kamotarou 伊東 鴨太郎 | Vice-Commander Hijikata Toushirou 土方 十四郎 | | | | | | | | | | | | Spies Yamazaki Sagaru 山崎 退 Shinohara Shinnoshin 篠原 進之進 Yoshimura Oretaro 吉村 折太郎 1st Division Captain Okita Sougo 沖田 総悟 2nd Division Captain Nagakura Shinshichi 永倉 新七 3rd Division Captain Saitou Shimaru 斉藤 終 4th Division Captain Sugihara Chuji 杉原 忠司 5th Division Captain Takeda Kannensai 武田 観念斎 6th Division Captain Inoue Genjiro 井上 源二郎 7th Division Captain Oka Sanjuro 丘 三十郎 8th Division Captain Todo Bokosuke 藤堂 凹助 9th Division Captain Niki Jiro 二木 二郎 10th Division Captain Harada Unosuke 原田 右之助 | Kumanaku Seizou 隈無 清蔵 | Kamiyama 神山 Revised organisation chart from http://gintama.wikkii.com/

Members

Commander

Kondou Isao 近藤 勲

Vice-Commander

Vice-Commander Hijikata Toushirou 土方 十四郎

Vice-Commander Assistant Sasaki Tetsunosuke

1st Division

Okita Sougo 沖田 総悟

Kumanaku Seizou 隈無 清蔵

Kamiyama 神山

3rd Division

Saitou Shimaru 斉藤 終

10th Division

Harada Unosuke 原田 右之助

Spies

Yamazaki Sagaru 山崎 退

Shinohara Shinnoshin 篠原 進之進

Deceased

Advisor Itou Kamotarou 伊東 鴨太郎

Trivia

• In the original Shinsengumi (新選組), the character for 'Shin' (新) literally means new. In the Gintama version, the character for 'Shin' (真) literally means 'real' or 'true'. There is a possibility of the manga author's pun here as there are many other characters that can be read as 'shin', which the author did not choose.
• Shinsengumi's police cars are white, where as Mimawarigumi's police cars are black, which is a contradiction to their trademark colours.

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