Notes
The nation of Japan as we know it today existed as a collection of 270 Han (provinced) each ruled by leader known as Daimgo. The ruling authority was the Tokugawa Bakufu (Tokugawa Military Regime) and was controlled by the Shogun, a military leader from the Tokugawa Lineage who based his operation out of Edo or modern day Tokyo.
Japan existed like this from 1603 - 1867 near end of Tokugawa Dynasty, times became very chaotic and there were many rebellions. The aristocratic class of samurai began fighting once again, among the various Han. This period of times is known Bakamatsu.
In 1867, in an unpreendented move, in order to avoid further bloodshed the Shogun relinquished his power to a young emperor name Meiji, who's authority was located in Tokyo. This ended the chaos in Japan that existed during Bakumatsu. This is the Meiji Restoration
In the Bakumatsu, there were two predominant political groups, the Ishin Shishi, who faught to bring power to the emperor, and the Shinsen Gume, or the Military Force depending the Tokugawa Shogunate.
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