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1868, Japan. The country is torn apart by the Boshin War, a civil war opposing the newly restored imperial government and the forces of the Tokugawa shogunate.

History notably remembers 20 of the young members of the Byakkotai (White Tiger Unit) of the Aizu domain who committed ritual suicide when they thought that Aizu castle had been seized, a symbol of the unwavering loyalty the samurai vow to their leader.

The Byakkotai story is a strong and vibrant testimony of the samurai virtue that forms a part of the Japanese identity.

This video explains in detail the events that lead to this tragic part of Japan’s History.

#SamuraiSpiritTourism Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/SamuraiSpiritTourism/
#VisitFukushima Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa6etLJzKLPTaaH2n_FW1ZA

--- SPECIAL THANKS TO ---
ANA Strategic Research Institute Co., Ltd.
Samurai Spirit Tourism (http://iplayfukushima.com/last-samurai/samurai-spirit-tourism/index.html)
Alexander C. Bennett

--- SOURCES ---
Website of the Nisshinkan Samurai School: https://nisshinkan.jp/
Nisshinkan's Youtube Channel: http://bit.ly/2IXBxbB
Battle of Koshu-Katsunuma: https://bit.ly/2XQpG82
Battle of Ueno: https://bit.ly/2Kvc8Hb
Meiji Emperor: https://bit.ly/2Vkfp27
Tokugawa Yoshinobu: https://bit.ly/2S7bILl
Battle of Toba-Fushimi: https://bit.ly/2VmVdg8 & https://bit.ly/2ywHuKo
Aizu troops before the Battle of Toba-Fushimi: https://bit.ly/2yqWzNJ
Aizu domain troops: http://i.imgur.com/RVfZiIj.jpg
Black Tortoise: https://bit.ly/3alqZyb
Azur Dragon: https://bit.ly/2RRaJid
Vermilion bird: https://bit.ly/3cyhYU4
White Tiger: https://bit.ly/2VnVb7D
Japanese compass: https://bit.ly/3cqAq0G
Byakkotai Statues: http://bit.ly/2wjgEow
Ashigaru: https://bit.ly/3aocARZ
Attack of the Aizuwakamatsu castle during the Battle of Aizu: https://bit.ly/34QKYnl
Boshin War Map: https://bit.ly/2VADccQ
Battle of Tonoguchihara: https://bit.ly/3bqok7U
The Castle after the Battle of Aizu: https://bit.ly/2XK5HaW
Byakkotai committing Seppuku: https://bit.ly/2VjpXOS & http://bit.ly/33usc4p & https://bit.ly/34NfOxf
Aizu Castle from the air: https://bit.ly/2z6Rtqb
Ruins: https://bit.ly/3eBYeRi
Iinuma Sadakichi: https://bit.ly/2VJsKjo
Graves of the Byakkotai: https://bit.ly/2VkcO8o
Old Japanese Map: https://bit.ly/3bz38MI
A contingent of the Imperial Guard: https://bit.ly/3bldH6g
Katamori Matsudaira: https://bit.ly/2VHl9Sv
Poem: https://bit.ly/2KvcIol
Historical Reconstitution by High School Students: https://bit.ly/2VkcO8o

--- CREDITS ---
Footage by Seido Co., Ltd.:
https://www.seidoshop.com (en)
https://www.seidoshop.fr (fr)
https://www.seidoshop.jp (jp)
https://www.seidoshop.com/blogs/the-seido-blog (en)
https://www.seidoshop.fr/blogs/the-seido-blog (fr)

--- MUSIC ---
"Miyabi", Fumiko Midori, Otowabi (https://otowabi.com)

--- NARRATION ---
Brian Kamei

#Byakkotai #WhiteTigerUnit #BudoStudies