tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940197.post6570578030968180261..comments2024-03-25T21:14:49.666-04:00Comments on Joel Swagman (Reviews / TESOL): NHK 大河ドラマ新撰組! / NHK Historical Drama: Shinsengumi!Joel Swagmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14948746083822200906noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940197.post-22380046112150869922020-03-21T21:41:02.119-04:002020-03-21T21:41:02.119-04:00Interesting. Which books would you recommend?Interesting. Which books would you recommend?Joel Swagamnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12873497310005776895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940197.post-64412234136819469482020-03-21T07:58:58.087-04:002020-03-21T07:58:58.087-04:00With respect, I groaned when I read you based your...With respect, I groaned when I read you based your entire knowledge of the Shinsengumi on Hillsborough's biased, badly written and fantastical travesty of a book. You mention how the Shinsengumi are made out to be goody two shoes in the NHK drama, well Hillsborough's book does the complete opposite and is every bit as inaccurate, demonizing them into bloodthirsty thugs with no redeeming qualities whatsoever. No wonder you couldn't stand them.<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02893587657308540582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940197.post-24929628418787350102014-08-03T21:43:21.437-04:002014-08-03T21:43:21.437-04:00Thanks a lot for the comment. The extra informati...Thanks a lot for the comment. The extra information is interesting.Joel Swagmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14948746083822200906noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940197.post-32369997924428974892014-08-03T00:03:09.503-04:002014-08-03T00:03:09.503-04:00First I must say the Shinsengumi are possibly the ...First I must say the Shinsengumi are possibly the most well known group of men that stood for the Samurai Bakufu in the period of the "Bakumatsu era", that was out of date, and it would be more accurate to compare them to one of Police, Sheriff's, FBI's and CIA's of today, rather than British during the Civil war of the US. Every domain had their differences as every department does not like infringement. They were possibly 50 men average, after the original boon at the start for cash, and joined the joui (anti samurai and pro Imperialism as so many samurai had become ronin during 260 years of no wars for expanding influence, and same years of isolationist policy and having rope lit muskets when the west had explosive cannon munitions and revolvers as pistols. Rifles were cartridges and shot one after another and ships with steam power. Even Hijikata went to Ezo (Hokkaido) and asked the new Meiji government to allow samurais to continue to police the Northern Frontier, as Saigo who joined their deadly enemies, Choshu to bring down the Bakufu, yet switched and died fighting the Meiji soldiers as to continue samurais in some capacity.Those were the Boshin Wars. He fought, ironically against the Shinsengumi, but died as a samurai in the South of Southern most mainland, Satsuma Domain, today's Kagoshima Prefecture. My Grandfather, having lost his retainership to Lord Hosokawa of Higo, today's Kumamoto, just above Kagoshima and as eldest son, emigrated to the US. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00199987544203934699noreply@blogger.com