The 19th century was very eventful for Japanese history, and consequently there are several Touken Ranbu stories that are set there. Since some of these stories have overlapping casts and time periods, I decided to organize a general timeline of these events. It covers dates from the Tenpo Reforms (1841-1843) to the Satsuma Rebellion (1877) that are relevant to Touken Ranbu stories from various media and includes some Touken Danshi trivia connected to these events. I use everyone's most recognizable names, even if historically they were called differently at the time.
Works that feature this period (a - anime, m - musical, s - stage play): game; Hanamaru (a); Katsugeki (a); Bakumatsu Tenrouden (m); Musubi no Hibiki, Hajimari no Ne (m); Kousui Sanka no Yuki (m); Banryouhitou (m); Iden: Oboro no Shishitachi (s); Yamanbagiri Kunihiro Tandokukou -Nihontoushi- (s); Shiden: Tsuketari Kitan no Soumatou (s); Shiden: Shingan Mikiwameru Manako (s).
1841-1843 - Tenpo Reforms. The shogunate was declining, and the Japanese economy was suffering, so the shogunate attempted to fight it by restricting entertainment, banning luxury, regulating religion, raising taxes, reminting coins and causing inflation to worsen in the process, and relocating people from around Edo and Osaka to take their lands (and that's not even a complete list). Needless to say, these reforms were very unpopular with just about everyone and probably caused more problems than they solved.
1842 - Minamoto Kiyomaro left Edo.
1845 - Minamoto Kiyomaro returned to Edo. He got his "Yotsuya Masamune" name around this time.
1852 - Yoshida Shoin went on a study trip across the Tohoku region without written permission from his domain, which made him a deserter. He met Aizawa Seishisai during that trip. After he returned, he was stripped of his samurai status.
1853, July 8-17 - The famous "Black Ships" appeared at the entrance of Edo Bay, with commandore Matthew Perry intimidating the Japanese into granting him an audience with the country authorities. On the 14th, he was allowed to come ashore at Kurihama, where he delivered a letter from the American president demanding the opening of Japan and the establishment of a relationship between the two countries.
1854, March 31 - Treaty of Kanagawa. On Matthew Perry's second visit, Japan agreed to open its borders and sign unequal treaties, which led to further decline of the shogunate's prestige and spread of the "sonno joi" (revere the emperor, expel the barbarians) movement.
1855, January 2 - Minamoto Kiyomaro committed suicide due to deteriorating health.
1856 - Yoshida Shoin started teaching in Shoka Sonjuku.
1858-1860 - Ansei Purge. Ii Naosuke attempted to solve the growing unrest caused by the foreign affairs and the shogun succession crisis by imprisoning, exiling or executing everyone who disagreed. Tokugawa Yoshinobu was put under house arrest and Yoshida Shoin was executed as a result of the purge.
1858, August 14 - Tokugawa Iemochi became the 14th shogun.
1859, November 21 - execution of Yoshida Shoin.
1860, March 24 - Sakuradamon Incident. Ii Naosuke was assassinated near Sakurada Gate of Edo Castle by the Mito clansmen (and one Satsuma guy).
1861, August - Takechi Hanpeita established Tosa Kinnoto (Tosa Imperialist Party); its members included Sakamoto Ryoma (left next year) and Okada Izo (his name was later crossed out).
1862, January 14 - Sakamoto Ryoma met Kusaka Genzui (Yoshida Shoin's pupil) on Takechi's behalf.
1862, April 22 - Sakamoto Ryoma defected from the Tosa domain. He had Hizen with him, but at some point between 1862 and 1864 he gave it to Okada Izo.
1862, May 6 - Yoshida Toyo was assassinated by members of Tosa Kinnoto.
1862, November or December - Sakamoto Ryoma met Katsu Kaishu (he owned a Suishinshi Masahide blade). According to Katsu, Ryoma wanted to assassinate him, but a lot of people think Katsu made it up.
1863 - Sakamoto Ryoma arranged for Okada Izo to work as a bodyguard for Katsu Kaishu.
1863, March 26-April 10 - Roshigumi (predecessor to Shinsengumi) gathered in Edo to escort the shogun on his trip to Kyoto. After arriving in Kyoto, most men returned to Edo, but some remained in Mibu village near Kyoto, becoming known as Mibu Roshigumi.
1863, August 18 - Shinsengumi was formally established.
1864, May - Katsu Kaishu established Kobe Naval Training Center. Sakamoto Ryoma was involved in its formation and acted as one of its leaders and instructors.
1864, July 8 - Ikedaya Incident. Members of the Shinsengumi foiled the rebels' plan to set fires in Kyoto; Okita Soji collapsed during the raid. This is also when Kashuu broke.
1865, March 20 - Yamanami Keisuke committed seppuku after trying to desert the Shinsengumi.
1865, July 3 - Okada Izo was executed by decapitation (Hizen's neck scar references this) and Takechi Hanpeita committed seppuku by cutting his stomach three times (Chouson's belts reference this).
1866, March 7 - The Satsuma-Choshu (SatCho) Alliance. The Satsuma and Choshu domains were enemies, but thanks to Sakamoto Ryoma's mediation, after an unsuccessful try in the past, they formed an alliance against the shogunate. The pre-Meiji rebels and post-shogunate imperial forces I mention on this page largely refer to people from these domains and Tosa.
1866, March 9 - Teradaya Incident. Shogunate agents were about to attack the inn where Sakamoto Ryoma was staying, but Narasaki Ryo (Ryoma's future wife) noticed them and alerted Ryoma and his companion in time. Ryoma used his Smith and Wesson revolver during this skirmish and managed to escape, though he received some wounds and his hands in particular were badly injured. After the incident, Ryoma stayed at Satsuma's quarters for protection and was quickly smuggled to Satsuma domain afterwards. Later, Ryoma asked his brother to send him Mutsunokami, and he got it while in Satsuma. Also, Ryoma lost his gun in the skirmish, but got a different model afterwards, which is probably why Mutsunokami has two Smith & Wesson guns of different models in his Kiwame.
1866, August 29 - Tokugawa Yoshinobu became the 15th (and last) shogun.
1867, April 24 - Ito Kashitaro left the Shinsengumi and formed Goryo Eji. Todo Heisuke was among the people who joined his faction, as was Saito Hajime, who was spying on Ito.
1867, July 10 - Kondo Isami and the rest of the Shinsengumi became hatamoto (high ranking samurai).
1867, November 19 - Tokugawa Yoshinobu resigned from his post.
1867, December 10 - Omiya Incident. Sakamoto Ryoma and Nakaoka Shintaro were assassinated by a mysterious group (generally believed to be Mimawarigumi, but there are other theories, including that Saito Hajime (Magoroku's former master) was involved). The attack was very sudden, fast and brutal. During the skirmish, Ryoma grabbed Mutsunokami, but couldn't pull it out, and both the sword and its scabbard were damaged (presumably, this is where Mutsunokami's scar on his torso is from; also the fact that his bangs part on the right might be an allusion to Ryoma's forehead wound). Ryoma was sick at the time of the attack, and also it was his birthday according to the calendar that was used in Japan at the time. Worst. Birthday. Ever.
1867, December 13 - Aburanokoji Incident. Ito Kashitaro was invited to Kondo Isami's place, and, after he left the house drunk, he was assassinated by members of the Shinsengumi. Todo Heisuke was killed while he was trying to retrieve Ito's body.
1868, January 3 - Meiji Restoration. Emperor Meiji was recognized as both de jure and de facto ruler of Japan.
1868, January 27-31 - Battle of Toba-Fushimi, opening battle of Boshin War. A couple of weeks before it, Kondo Isami was shot in the shoulder, so he and Okita Soji weren't on the front lines for health reasons. Despite huge numerical disadvantage (15000 shogunate men vs. 5000 former rebels turned imperial men), the imperial side was better equipped (it didn't help that the shogunate side didn't anticipate a full-scale battle so a lot of their guns weren't loaded), and they steadily (and brutally) pushed back their opponents. Even worse, the emperor expressed open support of the former rebels, while Tokugawa Yoshinobu fled after promising to support his men, further tanking the morale of his troops. After the battle was lost, Enomoto Takeaki helped to evacuate the shogunate side and also took money from the Osaka Castle that he would later use to establish the Republic of Ezo.
1868, March 29 - Battle of Koshu-Katsunuma. Kondo Isami and his men (now renamed Koyo Chinbutai) were sent to suppress the uprising at Kofu Castle, but by the time they got there, it was already captured by imperial forces. In the ensuing battle, the imperial side was at great numerical advantage (10:1), so they quickly overpowered the shogunate side, who lost 60% of their men. Nagakura Shinpachi, Harada Sanosuke and some other Shinsengumi men left the group after the battle due to disagreements with Kondo.
1868, April 25 - Kondo Isami moved his unit to Nagareyama. Next day, they were ambushed and Kondo arrested. Katsu Kaishu tried to earn him a pardon, but his request was denied.
1868, May 10-14 - Battle of Utsunomiya Castle. Hijikata Toshizou was shot in the leg during battle.
1868, May 17 - Kondo Isami was executed. He was blamed for Sakamoto Ryoma's assassination.
1868, July 19 - Okita Soji died from tuberculosis.
1868, October 6-November 6 - Battle of Aizu. Samurai of Aizu region were close to the shogunate during Bakumatsu, so the SatCho alliance considered them enemies of the emperor. After the Battle of Bonari Pass (the first day of the conflict), the remaining Shinsengumi split between Saito Hajime, who continued to fight for Aizu, and Hijikata Toshizou, who went with Enomoto Takeaki to Ezo.
1869, January 27 - establishment of Republic of Ezo, Enomoto Takeaki was elected as its president.
1869, June 14 - Hijikata Toshizou entrusted Izuminokami and some of his other belongings to his page and sent him away to give these items to his brother-in-law.
1869, June 20 - Hijikata Toshizou was fatally shot while riding a horse during the Battle of Hakodate.
1869, June 26-27 - Enomoto Takeaki surrendered, Republic of Ezo collapsed, Boshin War ended.
1876, March 28 - Sword Abolishment Edict. Former samurai were forbidden to carry swords in public, which led to a lot of unrest.
1877, January 29-September 24 - Satsuma Rebellion. Even though Saigo Takamori was one of the key figures in the defeat of Tokugawa shogunate, he grew dissatisfied with the new government because the rapid changes in society left the daimyo and the former samurai obsolete. Saigo was very popular with his people and the samurai who lost their privileges, so once the situation reached the boiling point in Satsuma, he agreed to lead the rebellion against the government. They marched towards Tokyo, but were stalled at Kumamoto Castle, and after a lengthy siege were forced to retreat. Eventually, Saigo died during the Battle of Shiroyama, ending the last major uprising against the Meiji government (and also basically bankrupting the country because subjugating his rebellion was very costly).
Stage Play Touken Ranbu Kaihen Ikusayu no Adabana no Kioku English Subtitles
Kaihen is "the covid version" of Kiden, yes, but also not quite! I feel like it really deserves being seen for all the effort put into it, and I hope more people will give it a try now. Some of the solutions they came up with to make this play happen are super impressive!
Link and disclaimers here 🡇
Kaihen Ikusayu no Adabana no Kioku English Subtitles
These soft subtitles were timed to the Bluray version and will also fit the DMM Archive.
Please read!
All translations are done by me without using MTL. Editor credits, if applicable, are included.
I provide subtitle files only and encourage supporting the original productions by purchasing the video through official means (you can ask me for pointers on how to do that).
DO NOT make hardsubbed videos using my subtitles and especially do not upload any clips, gifs, screenshots etc to any public streaming websites, social media and the like. If I notice this happening I will take the files down forever. Please, we have a hard enough time getting to see these stages as it is. Let's be sensible.
If you would like to buy me a coffee for the efforts, I would never say no to that ;)
a bit of a longshot but if anyone is willing to share their touken ranbu stages/musicals (performances, backstages, clips, etc.), please hit me up 🙏 recently got back in the groove of watching stages and i miss them all so much.. 😔
