Edo period - shogunate rule (local lords, no central government)
Bushido - samurai were not busy with war, since Edo era was a 200 year era of peace
Tokugawa (shogun) was in power, many people didn't even realize that there was an emperor
Meiji Restoration - give emperor real power, centralize government
Boshin Civil War - supporters of Tokugawa rebelled against Meiji government
EVENTS OF BYAKKOTAI STORY
Byakkotai are fighting near Inawashiro and losing
return, defeated to Wakamatsu -- arrive at Iimoriyama to see castle burning
seppuku (August 22 (or 23), 1868)
tragic twist - castle wasn't burning, and the war in Aizu continued until November 6, 1868
the Boshin Civil War continued for 11 months until June 27, 1869 when Hakodate fell
WHAT THE FUTURE HELD
people of Aizu were forced to give up clan system and follow orders of Meiji government
two options - stay here and become farmer (lowest class under shogun system) or move north to try to regain influence
4000 chose to move north to Misawa-shi, Aomori-ken -- conditions were extremely difficult, farming almost impossible, many former samurai became poor [hato-zamurai] and had to live on food that was normally used for animals
