What Is a Shogunate? [Definition, Meaning]

The shogun is a military dictator and the leading figure of a shogunate. Though the shogun technically operated under an emperor, and it was the emperor that at times appointed the shogun, the emperor had little real power over the shogun. The position of shogun was often passed down from father to son, though not necessarily the eldest son.

There have been many shogunates that have come in and out of power, but the most popular shogunate in anime is the Tokugawa shogunate. As we mentioned earlier, the Tokugawa shogunate is a significant feature in the Sengoku, Edo, and Meiji periods which are often represented in anime. As a result, if you’ve ever watched an anime featuring some measure of historical accuracy, you’re likely to have seen or heard mentioned one of the many Tokugawa shoguns to have ruled in Japan.

Basilisk: Kouga Ninpou Chou (Basilisk)

• Episodes: 24


• Aired: Apr. 2005 – Sep. 2005

The Kouga clan and the Iga clan are two ninja clans that have been rivals for centuries. It’s only because the shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa ordered a truce between the two clans that their war was brought to a halt. They have an opportunity to solidify the peace between each other when the heirs of each clan, Gennosuke Kouga and Oboro Iga, fall in love. Unfortunately, when two of Ieyasu’s grandsons each stake their claim as heirs to the shogunate, the fragile peace between the two clans is put to an end. Each clan represents one of the two heirs and will send ten of their members to fight in a battle royale for the inheritance to the position of shogun. Gennosuke and Oboro must now choose between family or love as they participate in this deadly competition.

Ieyasu Tokugawa is the first Tokugawa shogun and the 3rd man to have unified Japan. Historically, Ieyasu actually only spent two years as shogun and quickly passed the title over to his third son Hidetada in order to ensure a smooth succession, though he still very much maintained power till his death. In Basilisk, Ieyasu orders the end of war between the Kouga clan and the Iga clan, highlighting his power, and orders its recommencement to settle who will inherit his position as shogun. The winning clan would receive the favor of the Tokugawa shogunate for a thousand years. The promise of favor for a thousand years might have been a tad optimistic considering no shogunate ever ruled for more than three hundred years. Nevertheless, Ieyasu is responsible for 250 years of peace in Japan, so perhaps there is some method to his madness in reducing a war of inheritance to a 10 versus 10 battle royale.

Basilisk: Kouga Ninpou Chou PV

---

A samurai is the sword-wielding warrior class that became famous across Japan between the 11th and 19th century. Samurai were incredibly varied; you could find bandits and criminals among the samurais as much as you could find law-abiding, honor-bound swordsmen. Furthermore, samurais weren’t only restricted to being swordsmen, especially when gunpowder weapons were introduced. During the peaceful Edo period, their role as warriors was reduced, and many ronin – a samurai without a master – emerged from lack of work.

Another effect of the peaceful Edo period is that some of the samurais that were retained began being used as a police force. The samurai worked very much like modern day police officers: enforcing the law and solving crimes.

Onihei

• Episodes: 13


• Aired: Jan. 2017 – Apr. 2017

Heizou Hasegawa is the chief officer of the Arson Theft Control division during the Edo period. His responsibility is to prevent arson and theft, solve crimes relating to them, and capture the criminals responsible for those crimes. Onihei is a police procedural and its episodic nature centers around Heizou and his Arson Theft Control team solving crimes.

Onihei gives viewers a great look at life in Japan under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate. The episodic nature of the show means that a lot of attention can be given to Heizou’s everyday life and that of his police force, his family, and the criminals he deals with. The ambiguity of the life of a samurai is in full force with Onihei, and the crimes and actions Heizou must take aren’t black and white. The law in Japan hadn’t yet been firmly established, so the morality and ethics of crimes are also up for endless debate. If you’re looking for an anime about the life of a samurai under the Tokugawa shogunate and how the shogunate enforced the law, you’ll have a hard time finding a better fit than Onihei.

Onihei Trailer

---

The Shinsengumi is a bit of a cheat; they’re an organization of samurai that worked as a special police force during the Tokugawa shogunate. The most distinctive physical feature in their depictions are their blue and white jackets. The Shinsengumi were only active from 1863 to 1869 and yet became a popular element of many animes featuring samurai. They were mostly dedicated to policing Kyoto and preventing the efforts of revolutionaries trying to bring the emperor back to power. It’s thanks to the Shinsengumi that the Tokugawa shogunate managed to stave of the Meiji period just a bit longer.

The Shinsengumi have been represented as both heroes and villains in anime depending on if the anime takes a stance for the shogunate or against it. Whatever the side, the Shinsengumi are often depicted as formidable warriors worthy of emulation. Even in more contemporary settings, it’s not unusual for organizations to look to the Shinsengumi as inspiration and take on its name.

Hakuouki (Hakuoki ~Demon of the Fleeting Blossom~)

• Episodes: 12


• Aired: Apr. 2010 – Jun. 2010

Chizuru Yukimura goes to Kyoto disguised as a man to search for Koudou, her missing father and a doctor who often travels. In Kyoto, she witnesses the brutal murder of ronin at the hands of crazed people called furies. She is saved from becoming one of their victims by the timely arrival of the Shinsengumi and returns with them to their base when she reveals her story. The Shinsengumi are also looking for her father, and together, they will try to uncover the mystery behind his disappearance.

Hakuouki retraces the history of the Shinsengumi with a fantastical lean. Many of the famed members of the Shinsengumi are present here: Hijikata Toshizou, Shinpachi Nagakura, Souji Okita, Isami Kondou and many others. Furthermore, a lot of the events the Shinsengumi were involved with are addressed: the Ikedaya Incident, the Kinmon Incident, and the Boshin War to name a few. As in reality, the Shinsengumi must protect the shogun and the shogunate by pushing back against imperialistic revolutionaries.

Hakuouki Trailer

---

Final Thoughts

by Jonathan Tshinanu