Shōgun and Tennō

Since about 660 B.C. till now the Tennō is the ruler of japan. But aside this imperial ruler there was the opportunity to appoint a Shōgun as a military ruler in times of war. From 1192 on the title Shōgun was inheritable and so arose an interaction between two fractions ruling japan. Technically the Tennō is the highest instance of the country, but not every generation was strong enough to really rule the people. So since then till the restauration there were periods where the Shōgun had the power.

Samurai

Simple said the military nobility of japan.

Hatamoto

The Hatamotos were some sort of adviser and ‘best men’ of the Shōgun.

The Restauration

During the era of the Tokugawa shogunate japan was cut off from the outside world. After a long period of war this were over 200 years of peace and stability. But the world outside moved on and more and more visitors from other countries tried to interact with japan. So the restoration started as the powerful ‘black ships’ arrived at japan's shore and also the voiced inside the own country screaming for interaction with the world growed louder and louder. It was a time with many many reasons to fight for… more opportunities to trade, to save the country from becoming a colony of the european, for the right to learn new things in new parts of the big world… but most of all the people fought for the Shōgun or for the Tennō. The party of the Shōgun wanted the country to stay as it was, under the Tennō gathered the parties fighting for a change.

The imperial flag

As said, the Tennō is the highest instance of japan and its crest, the chrysanthemum, mark the fractions fighting for japan. So, as long as the troops of the Shōgun fought against other non-associated troops they were doing this for their country, for the shogunate. But as soon as the opposite showed the flag with the chrysanthemum above their troops the shogunate fought openly against the Tennō and committed treason on the country. This was the beginning of the end of the restaurations war.

Meiji era

The era between 1868 and 1912 in the japanese history is called Meiji, it was the regency of Tennō Mutsuhito. It was the beginning of the new japan and its spot in the world. The time after the restoration brought many changes and new things. Also the system of the country changed. It was the end of nobility and formally Samurai were now normal people, not allowed to wear a sword anymore.

Katana and wakizashi

In the history of japan are many different forms of swords, othen even changed in the same blade. Because this is a silence of its own i’m only using this two sorts of swords. The Katana is a curved longsword used with one or two hands. It was a weapon only Samurais were allowed to wear. The wakizashi is mostly the same in short. It’s about a forearm long and a knife for everybody. Samurais used it as second weapon, in narrow areas and for rituel stuff.

Taiyaki

A japanese pastry in fish-form, filled with red bean paste.

Hour of the rat

Japanese were telling the time by animals. The system used the 12 chinese zodiac and every animal stands for two hours. The hour of the rat is between 11pm and 1am at night.

Hanami

The tradition to see the cherry blossoms in spring.

Geisha, Oiran

Geishas were the artists of entertainment. They were not prostitute! Oirans were something between Geishas and courtesan. They entertained and could offer ‘more’.

Susohiki

The Susohiki is a very extravagant kimono worn by Geishas.

Okiya

The houses were Geishas lived.

Kabuki

Some sort of japanese theatre. It relies heavily on makeup and stunning visual poses to tell stories.

shaku and jō

Both are linear measures. A shaku is 10/33 meters and a jō is 10 shaku.

Places

Hakodate

A city on the island of Hokkaido in the north of Japan. The last fight of the restoration took place here.

Yoshiwara

The area of courtesan and geishas in Tokyo. I’m using it also the stories doesn’t take place in Tokyo.

Satsuma

A province in the south of japan. It was a coastal region with at least a little bit of contact to other countries during the Tokugawa regime. So it also was an area with people fighting for the opening of japan.

Edo

The old name of the city Tokyo. The name changed with the beginning of the Meiji era.

People

Iwakura

I’m using Iwakura Tomomi as the bad guy in midnight candy also he surely wasn’t a bad person. He was one of the secretary of the state in the meiji era and fought for better conditions in trading with other countries.

As the history of japan is only my hobby i’m definitiv not knowing everything about it. So please excuse occuring mistakes and inconsistency.