The Shinsengumi, or "special force," were a highly qualified military police that served the Japanese government at the end of the 19th century. The Shinsengumi force was first created to work on the protection of the shogun empire, but later on became active in civil policing and fighting organized revolution attempts.



The uniqueness of the uniform was most evident in the haori, which was colored asagiiro (generally light blue, but can also be light yellow). The haori sleeves were trimmed with "white mountain stripes", resulting in a very flashy outfit, quite unlike the usual browns, blacks, and greys found in warrior clothing. In the midst of a fight, the uniforms of the Shinsengumi provided not only a means of easy identification, but also a highly visible threat towards the enemy.