The Shinsengumi was a special police force organized by the Bakufu (military government) during Japan's Bakumatsu period (late shogun) in 1864. It was founded to protect the Shogunate representatives in Kyoto at a time when a controversial imperial edict to exclude foreign trade from Japan had been made and the Choshu clan had been forced from the imperial court. The men were drawn from the sword schools of Edo.
Although the Shinsengumi are lauded as brave and determined heroes in popular culture, they have been described by historians as a "ruthless murder squad", something the swords in Touken Ranbu seem to have inherited.
Kondo Isami was the commander and Chief of the Shinsengumi, and was the owner of Nagasone Kotetsu. Hijikata Toshizou was the Vice-Chief and owned Izumi no Kami Kanesada and Horikawa Kunihiro. Kashuu Kiyomitsu and Yamato no Kami Yasusada were owned by the 7th Division Captain, Okita Souji.
