Introduction
Editorial
by Romulus Hillsborough
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I would like to express my appreciation for your interest in my writing on Bakumatsu and Meiji Restoration history. For those of you who are not familiar with the term, Bakumatsu ("the end of the shogunate") represents the historical period beginning with the arrival to Edo of Perry's Black Ships in the summer of 1853 and ending with the final collapse of the Tokugawa Shogunate in early 1868. The Meiji Restoration indicates the abdication of the last shogun in 1867 and the subsequent restoration of rule to the Japanese emperor. This historical period has been called the dawn of modern Japan. To the best of my knowledge, Samurai History Papers is the only periodical in the English language focusing on the history and culture of the great men of the Bakumatsu and Meiji Restoration. Most of those men called themselves shishi men of high purpose. The shishi are noted for their undaunted and dynamic spirit of courage, self-sacrifice and loyalty and that spirit survives today in their fascinating history. As in my books and magazine articles, I will continue to portray the lives and spirit of the shishi both in historic and human perspectives. Thus far I have been limited to the formal constraints of books and magazines. But through this newsletter-type format, I hope to interact with my readers on a more personal basis. I therefore urge readers to submit pertinent comments, suggestions and questions to the email address of Ridgeback Press ridgebackpress@mindspring.com. I will do my best to address them in future issues. I have chosen the Shinsengumi as the subject of the feature article in this first issue of Samurai History Papers to coincide with the publication of my upcoming book, Shinsengumi: The Shogun's Last Samurai Corps. I believe that it is the first book about the Shinsengumi in English. Information about this book will be posted in the near future at the Website of Ridgeback Press: http://www.ridgebackpress.com . (Japanese terms used in Samurai History Papers can be found at the following link: http://www.ridgebackpress.com/terms.htm) In the Next Issue In the next issue of Samurai History Papers I will discuss the essential roles played by Katsu Kaishu and Sakamoto Ryoma in modernizing their nation and bringing about the revolution which was the dawn of modern Japan. The feature article will be based on a talk I have delivered on several occasions over the past year, in commemoration of a century and a half of US-Japan relations. Subscription Information Subscription cost for the quarterly Samurai History Papers is $25 per year (4 issues). Subscriptions may be purchased online at www.ridgebackpress.com, or personal check or money order mailed to the offices of Ridgeback Press. Published by
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