Shinsengumi! (2004)

Japan, July 1853. Scores of people lined the beaches at Uraga Harbor near the Shogunate Capitol of Edo. They came to get a glimpse of the American Fleet of Commodore Perry's infamous Black Ships that arrived on Japan's shores to deliver an ultimatum to open the country from 250 years of Isolation. Among them a is an impressionable low ranking Samurai & fencing instructor named Kondo Isami (Katori Shingo) and another low ranking Samurai turned Medicine peddler & playboy Hijikata Toshizou (Yamamoto Koji) who were both frightened and awed by the sight of such military might that has sent the country into crisis. Together, they will join with the young sword progeny Okita Soji (Fujiwara Tatsuya) who will join a group of ronin that will head to the Imperial Capitol in Kyoto to help preserve order for the Shogun. Betrayed by their initial leader in Kyoto, factions of ronin form and alliances are forged into what became the Shinsengumi; The Special Elite Corps. Under the auspicious of the Bakufu in Edo and the watchful eye of the Aizu Lord Matsudaira Katamori (Tsutsui Michitaka) the Shinsengumi will assume patrol duties in the suburb of Mibu. Tensions & chaos from allegations of abuse and corruption from the Serizawa faction lead to the assassination of its temperamental leader Serizawa Kamo (Sato Kochi) leaving the charismatic Kondo Isami in charge. Together with his old friend Hijikata promoted to serve as his Vice Commander & unit disciplinarian that would clean up the reputation of The Wolves of Mibu. They instill the strict code of Bushido and reconstitute the Shinsengumi under the Makoto Banner into a viable force whose task it was to protect the Shogun and root out anti-Shogunate plotters. But tragically, history is not on their side. Though believing they are doing what they believe is in Japan's best interests, these young idealistic Samurai will follow Kondo Isami in this 43rd NHK Taiga Drama into tragedy and into legend.