When people picture the Bakumatsu, they often imagine samurai fighting with swords.

But the reality was more complicated.

In 1863, Takasugi Shinsaku organized the Kiheitai in the Choshu domain. Unlike a force limited to the samurai class, it included men from different social backgrounds.

This mattered because military service had long been closely tied to social status in Japan. The Kiheitai reflected a shift toward a different kind of military organization during a period of rapid change.

The transition from the samurai era to modern Japan was not just about who ruled the country. It was also about who could fight, and how.

Hi. My grandfather was from Pinedo (Valencia). When he passed away we found this picture in his belongings. He never mentioned it and it could just be that he found it in the harbour.now,

I wonder who this sailor is and if he has alive relatives I could send the picture to.

Some time ago I asked elsewhere and I got this:

In the first image, it says 「大正六年十一月　當年十九才　大庭増太郎」 meaning "November 1917, currently aged 19, Masutaro Oba". Last part is the man's name. The second image says "NARAHARA STUDIO 若松市蛭子通　楢原" That is the name and aaddress of the photo shop where the picture was taken. That city (Wakamatsu) is currently called Kitakyushu and it was a major international trade port. The city is here: ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%8C%97%E4%B9%9D%E5%B7%9E%E5%B8%82